Suburban Zone Research Articles

Enhancing sustainable urban areas through digital green infrastructure: achieving tangible outcomes

The object of this research is integrating green infrastructure into sustainable urbanization zones within the context of digitalization. The problem addressed is the difficulty of ensuring urban sustainability without considering the green infrastructure in urban and suburban areas. The article argues that city sustainability cannot be effectively addressed without integrating green corridors that connect urban and suburban zones. The research proposes using optimization and simulation models to plan and manage the expansion of green corridors in sustainable urban areas. The results highlight the importance of a joint approach to green infrastructure development in urban and suburban areas, showing that interconnectivity is crucial for long-term environmental sustainability. Findings were interpreted by illustrating how simulation models can be used to assess the effectiveness of green infrastructure in real-time. The research demonstrates that the digital modeling of green corridors enhances planning precision, ensuring better connectivity between the city and surrounding areas. The key features that solved the problem include an optimization model, which enabled efficient planning for green corridor expansion, improving connectivity between urban and suburban areas. The paper uses digital simulation tools that allow for real-time assessment of green infrastructure's sustainability impact, leading to better-informed decision-making. The results are applicable in urban planning and sustainability management within rapidly urbanizing cities. The findings are most effective when cities have access to digital tools and aim to enhance green infrastructure's role in sustainability strategies

The Ritual of Homebuying in Desert Cities: A Visual Ethnography

ABSTRACTThe process of home‐buying is commonly discussed and understood in terms of both asset acquisition and its connection to speculative financial practices utilized to attempt to correct for structural market crises. These dimensions further the possibilities for potential wealth accumulation that assist individuals, families, and corporate actors. This visual essay, emerging out of a decade‐long investigation of the housing market in the American state of Arizona, USA, is the result of a collaboration between a visual ethnographer and a sociologist, which aimed to nuance an understanding of housing markets along social, spatial, and historical axes. The essay reveals connections between interpersonal dynamics of taste‐making and, contrary to dominant liberal economic logic, the sometimes‐limited horizons of choices for families attempting to engage in what we describe as “the ritual of homebuying.” Socially and historically, we discuss how the practice involves the enlistment of a number of peripheral actors attempting to facilitate the home‐buying process who use tactics to draw families into the housing market. Spatially, families with aspiring middle‐class values are, often enough, driven to peripheral urban and suburban zones to try to align their budgets and their ideals. Ultimately then, what turns out to be decisive is the narrow set of parameters as defined by the web of actors inside the real estate market, rather than, as some agents within the real estate industry abstractly argue, “what the market will bear.” Put differently, what the market will bear is narrowly defined choices that intersect with cultural values.

A novel multi‐target TBD scheme for GNSS‐based passive bistatic radar

AbstractGlobal Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)‐based passive bistatic radar (PBR) systems hold promise for use as low‐altitude surveillance mechanisms in critical urban and suburban zones, attributed to their low power consumption, good concealment, and worldwide reach. However, the increasing demand for airspace regulation presents challenges for multi‐target tracking. Additionally, the limited power budget of GNSS signals results in low target SNR, restricting the detection range. Hence, a novel multi‐target track‐before‐detect (TBD) scheme is proposed. This strategy employs a dual‐channel coarse focusing (DCCF)‐based cluster centroid extraction algorithm to identify potential target information in the range Doppler (RD) domain. Subsequently, a modified cardinalised probability hypothesis density (MCPHD) filter is utilised, enhanced with a birth target intensity estimation module assisted by Doppler and a trajectory management module, to accurately track multiple targets under conditions of low SNR. Simulation results and performance analysis using the Optimal Sub‐pattern Assignment (OSPA) metric confirm the effectiveness of our approach. Furthermore, in a real‐world experiment using the GPS L5 signal as an illuminator, the authors successfully processed experimental data to track a civil aircraft over 10 frames, demonstrating the practical applicability of the proposed method in GNSS‐based PBR systems.

Rural development: the basis for the realization of agrarian policy

Among the problems currently existing in the regions of Kazakhstan is the increasing outflow of able-bodied population from rural areas and localization in the suburban zone of cities. The aim- is to identify the causes of deterioration of the demographic situation in rural settlements (RS) and to develop recommendations for stabilization of the rural economy in the West Kazakhstan region. Methods - retrospective when obtaining data for past periods of time, comparative analysis - to compare the information obtained, on the basis of economic and statistical method the selection and analysis of statistical indicators of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, used information from scientific institutions, official sources, defined absolute and relative parameters, average values. Results - it is shown that the main factors of degradation of most rural areas of Western Kazakhstan are the lack of a clear vision of the role and place of rural residents and rural areas in the socio-economic development of the republic, weakening of state regulation in the sectors of agriculture. Conclusions - the prospects for building the capacity of rural areas of the West Kazakhstan region is associated with a number of interrelated problems that need to be solved as soon as possible, primarily modernization of social and technical infrastructure, increasing the motivation of the economically active part of the rural population in mastering new knowledge and technologies, which will increase labor income and effective demand of rural residents for goods and services. The study indicates that in rural areas the situation with investment and expansion of small business activities is ambiguous. It is necessary to emphasize the small business entities in the sphere of agrarian production and the formation of social facilities - housing, catering enterprises, social and cultural facilities, education, pre-school education, sports and recreational facilities. This author's position provides for the possibility of forming greater investment attractiveness and attracting extra-budgetary sources of financing. Elimination of environmental barriers will require improvement of the current regulatory and legal framework.

Spatial distribution, source apportionment, and risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl substances in urban soils of a typical densely urbanized and industrialized city, Northeast China

As an important capital city of intensive urbanization and industrialization in Northeast China, Changchun has experienced extremely rapid development, with diverse sectors such as automobile manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, optoelectronics, and pharmaceutical decoration. However, data on the levels and profiles of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in urban soils of Changchun is limited. This study investigated 17 PFASs across various functional zones within the main urban area of Changchun. ∑PFAS concentrations in the soils ranged from 0.236 to 6.483 ng/g, averaging 1.820 ng/g. Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) were more prevalent than perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs), and short-chain PFASs (C ≤ 6) were the predominant residues. PFAS concentrations varied across functional zones, with commercial markets exhibiting the highest levels, followed by industrial areas, residential areas, suburban zones, and transportation areas. Molecular diagnostic ratio and PCA-MLR analysis identified industrial production processes of consumer goods and wastewater treatment plants as the primary sources of soil PFAS contamination. There were no obvious health risks of soil ∑PFASs, while soil PFOS and PFHxS may have an impact on the richness and diversity of soil microbial communities in some certain locations. This study provides new data on PFAS residues in soils influenced by diverse contamination sources within a key industrial city in Northeast China, offering valuable insights for prioritizing remediation and restoration efforts.

Suburban Autonomy? The Case of Inter‐Suburban Commuting Outside Prague

AbstractThis paper aims to map daily mobility to work and services within the suburban zone of Prague and to explain temporal changes in the structuration of the suburban zone during the day. This involves the identification of local centres outside Prague's administrative boundaries, defining their catchment areas, and exploring the temporal variability of daily mobility. Using mobile phone data, the paper identifies the main flows of commuting to work and mobility for services or leisure activities. The focus on two distinct timeframes presented in two synthetic maps compares the mobility patterns of these activities. Empirical findings identify 53 local centres of inter‐suburban mobility and delimitate their commuting areas. Noticeable variation in mobility patterns throughout the day was observed. Beyond empirical insights relevant to Prague and similar Central and Eastern European cities, the paper contributes to theoretical knowledge by introducing a hierarchical classification of mobility relationships within metropolitan areas.

Hydrochemical aspects of water exchange through the bottom of headwater stream in suburban zone on the example of the Malina watercourse in Zgierz (Central Poland)

Among the many factors determining the quality of river waters, the influence of the hyporheic zone (HZ) is gaining in importance. Watercourses that exist in the higher parts of catchments are relatively steep and shallow, and the topography of their valleys activate hyporheic flow. The main goal of this work is to assess the impact of the HZ on the hydrochemical state of the head watercourse of the Malina in the suburbs of the city of Zgierz with the focus on biogenic compounds. The riverbed of this stream was researched across two distinct stretches: erosive and accumulative, which differ in the conditions for the hyporheic zone’s interaction with the riverbed. The nutrients are delivered to the stream mainly in the erosive stretch and are related to the inflow of nutrient-rich groundwater from the urbanised catchment. The pollutants transported down by the stream are then delivered to the HZ in the accumulative stretch, where nitrates are denitrified and phosphates are deposited with the suspension. Ammonium nitrogen, in turn, is introduced into the stream from the HZ as a result of either the process of ammonification of organic matter deposited in sediments or inflow with polluted groundwater. The results indicate that the winter season is the most important period in shaping the interaction of river waters with the underlying hyporheic zone, in which the causal side of the relationship should be associated with the subchannel environment, and the effects are recorded in the river waters.

Differences in the environmental awareness of the Polish population

Motives: A fundamental tenet of sustainable development (SD) posits that all human endeavors should prioritize ecological safety. This underscores the significance of the knowledge about the ways in which these activities manifest in social attitudes, as an indicator of environmental awareness (EA) levels. Given the relevance of environmental EA, this issue should be examined across diverse communities and social groups, such as urban and rural residents, to catalyze the adoption of SD principles. It is assumed that the concentration of the population and societal structures in urban centers stimulate the development of concepts and solutions that subsequently disseminate to rural areas through urbanization and modernization patterns. Consequently, the potential disparities in EA and pro-environmental behaviors should be analyzed based on community members’ place of residence and economic status. Aim: The objective of this study was to assess differences in EA levels within the Polish population in the context of SD principles, based on demographic and social characteristics, as well as the respondents’ place of residence. Results: The study revealed several connections between attitudes toward sustainability and pro- -environmental activities. The identified attitudes were associated with demographic, economic, and spatial factors. The results indicate that EA levels are relatively high among Polish residents, irrespective of spatial distribution. Furthermore, significantly higher levels of EA-related activities were noted among urban dwellers, particularly the young and well-educated. Interestingly, a similar trend was noted among the residents of suburban zones. In contrast, rural inhabitants exhibited lower levels of EA compared to their urban counterparts.

Transformácia tradičnej ľudovej kultúry v suburbiách Bratislavy a jej postavenie v rámci Bratislavského samosprávneho kraja

The study deals with the transformation of traditional folk culture in the suburban zones and the participation of the municipality in the preservation of a living cultural heritage in its periphery. Settlements around Bratislava try to preserve their genius loci. They find inspiration in local traditional culture that is transformed into new forms and functions. The first part of the study explains the Bratislava Self-Governing Region’s support to the living cultural heritage. The second part focusses on periodic events in the public space, which have the character of festivals and in which the inspiration by the local traditional culture can be clearly identified. The conclusion of the study includes an analysis of these events in terms of cultural policy, participants, current functions and forms, commodification, and the degree to which the authenticity of the tradition is maintained.

Unravelling the paradox of spatial homogeneity: An analysis of land use planning and monofunctional development in Wroclaw, Poland

Processes of urban development progressing across Europe, with built-up areas expanding at a faster rate than the population, especially in the Central and Eastern Europe region. The importance of ensuring a high quality of urban life and effective environmental planning is widely acknowledged for the sustainable development of functional urban areas. While the literature extensively covers the implementation stage of monofunctional development in Polish suburban zones, the origins of spatial homogeneity in planning have received limited attention in research. This paper aims to assess local zoning plans and examine the diversity of urban planning in the subregion of Wroclaw, Poland. Employing exploratory experts interviews and landscape metrics such as Patch Richness Density and Simpson Diversity Index, along with spatial statistics as the Hot Spot tool and Cluster and Outlier analysis, the findings reveal that monofunctional residential development in Polish functional urban areas may result from a complex interplay of various economic, institutional, educational, professional responsibility, and political, social, as well as historical factors on the urban planning stage. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the extent and spatial distribution of planning diversity, opening paths for further discussions on the professional requirements of urban planners.

Expansion of the process of the mammary glands of cats in the conditions of the city of Lviv and the suburban zone of the regional center

Expansion of the process of the mammary glands of cats in the conditions of the city of Lviv and the suburban zone of the regional center

Basic principles of urban transformation of the suburban zone of a megapolis greater samara. Part 1

The contradictions that exist today between a reasonable balance of planning, communication, industrial, environmental processes and the organization of the urban planning structure of a megapolis are formed in the orbit of current challenges for Russia. The author examines new concepts aimed at creating international transport and logistics corridors and scientific and production clusters in accordance with the strategy of neo-industrialization and the draft Urban Planning Doctrine of Russia developed by the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences. Using the example of the Volga region megapolis Greater Samara, the following are considered: the basic urban planning principles for regulating the transformation of the suburbs of the megapolis; spatial structure of multihub systems. Promising models of the supporting framework of territories with scientific and practical organization of space are proposed, considered according to the spheres of their action: architectural, urban planning, management, environmental, economic. The author relies on the scientific works of architects, urban planners, economic geographers, urban ecologists and other specialists studying urban processes.

ПРИРОДНЫЕ ПРЕДПОСЫЛКИ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ РЕКРЕАЦИОННОГО КОМПЛЕКСА НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ ПРИГОРОДНОЙ ЗОНЫ Г. ТАМБОВА

The article considers the recreational potential of the territory of the suburban zone of the city of Tambov, as well as a set of natural factors and properties of this geographical environment, favorable for the formation and development of recreational complex. The physical and geographical position, natural conditions, relief, hydrography, climate and vegetation cover of the territory are analyzed, and natural resources for recreation and tourism are estimated. The main directions and opportunities for the development of the recreational complex, including the organization of ecological trails, the creation of recreation areas, the development of sports tourism and infrastructure have been identified.

RELATIONS BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL AND NON-AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES ON FARMS LOCATED IN THE KRAKOW METROPOLITAN AREA

The aim of the article is to assess the impact of non-agricultural activities conducted by a farmer on his agricultural activity. The subject of the research were various forms of economic activity developed on agricultural farms located in communes in the urbanized area of the Krakow Metropolitan Area. Field research was conducted in 2020-2022 among entrepreneurs and municipal councilors of randomly selected 21 territorial units. As a result of increasing urbanization and increasingly stronger suburbanization, contemporary transformations of urban spaces have changed the relationship between metropolitan cores and their surroundings. The transfer of metropolitan functions to the suburban zone is increasingly changing the conditions and possibilities of shaping spatial systems, including rural areas. Owners of farms located in the zones of direct influence of large cities attempt to de-agriculturalize their business or make efforts to diversify it. The relationship between agriculture and non-agricultural economic activity in entities operating in the metropolitan area is thought-provoking. The research results have shown that in most cases, non-agricultural activities have a destructive impact on the agricultural production of farms located in Krakow’s impact zones.

Species richness patterns and community structure of land snail communities along an urban-rural gradient in river floodplains

Urbanisation is widely considered as having a large impact on most native species. However, the species response to urbanisation varies among taxonomic groups, and its generalisation might lead to contradictory or incorrect management decisions in urban planning. Land snails, as an understudied group in this sense, are good subjects to study the impact of urbanisation due to their low dispersal capabilities and mobility. The study aimed to determine how land snail diversity patterns and community structure are influenced by urbanisation through an urban-to-rural gradient. A total of 59 terrestrial gastropod species and more than 4600 individuals were recorded at 24 alluvial sites distributed along an urban-to-rural gradient in three Slovak cities (Bratislava, Zvolen and Prešov). Most species belonged to euryecious, hygrophilous and forest specialist ecological groups; seven species were non-native to Slovakia. The results clearly highlight the negative effect of densely built areas on land snail community structure, since the proportion of indigenous and specialist species decreased progressively towards urban sites. The highest mean number of species was found in suburban zones and the lowest in urban zones, suggesting that most species favour intermediate levels of urbanisation. Some species (e.g. Arion vulgaris) were evenly distributed along the urbanisation gradient, supporting the importance of river floodplains as bio-corridors for the dispersal of gastropods.

Mobile data for studying public space, and trips in Mexico City: a study case of six suburban zones

Abstract This study uses anonymized GPS traces to explore travel patterns within six suburban zones and a central area in Mexico City. The descriptive analysis presented in this paper profiles trips by distance and investigates their distribution within each zone. It examines the prevalence of local trips, walkability, and the availability and spread of entertainment sites within 15-min isochrones accessible by foot, bicycle, transit, and private vehicle. Notably, the central zone boasts diverse entertainment offerings, commendable walkability, and a substantial proportion of short and long trips. It is found that GPS traces are within their home. However, the share of long trips for the inhabitants of central zones is considerably more significant than that for the suburbs. The study highlights suburban zones that could benefit from governmental intervention to enhance transportation and pedestrian conditions. Additionally, it identifies other suburban zones that resemble the central areas in terms of walkability, trip distribution by distances, and the accessibility of entertainment places.

Innovative pro-environmental technologies and the model of public management in suburban zones in Poland

Innovative pro-environmental technologies and the model of public management in suburban zones in Poland

Polish-Romanian Joint Research Projects with a Focus on Internal Peripheries in Poland and Romania – Role of Endogenous and Exogenous Factors in Their Development Processes

Scientific collaboration between Polish and Romanian geographers is based on a very good and long tradition. It was long developed between human and physical geographers alike. The common bilateral projects had in view aspects related to the impact of natural and human process on the planning of mountain and hilly areas, the social-economic transformations in the Romanian and Polish suburban zones, the regional development in Central and Eastern Europe, the socio-economic development of rural areas in Poland and Romania. The last bilateral project on Internal peripheries in Polish and Romanian regions – role of endogenous and exogenous factors in their development processes, coordinated by Prof. Konrad Czapiewski from the Polish side, had as main research findings identifying common solutions serving the practical problems connected with the economic and social development of the internal peripheries in both countries.

ECOLOGICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH ON AIR POLLUTION OF UKRAINIANS

The possibilities of human impact on nature are constantly growing and have already reached a level where humans can devastate the planet, destroy all living beings, and completely alter the climate. High levels of pollution are characteristic of areas around regional centers in Ukraine, especially in the suburban zone of industrially developed Kyiv. The higher the pollution level, the greater the risk to the health of the population and the state of the environment. Long-term pollution of the atmospheric air with sulfur dioxide, carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, and other harmful substances negatively affects human health. This can result in an increase in overall morbidity caused by damage to specific organs and body systems, such as respiratory diseases (pneumonia, bronchial asthma, and other non-specific lung diseases) and cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, myocardial infarction, chronic diseases, etc.). The purpose of the article is to identify negative factors that affect the worsening of the environmental situation in the country and individual regions. The main task of my work is the analysis of negative changes in the ecological state of Boyarka and advocacy of possible ways to improve the ecological situation in the city. This study also shows the importance of chemistry as a science in the understanding and development of current environmental problems of our time. On the basis of a systemic approach, the tasks of creating ecologically safe living conditions for the population of suburban areas of the city were solved by conducting noise protection measures. Experimental studies were carried out using modern acoustic measuring devices "Octava-101" and "Ekofizika-Octava". Data processing involved the use of mathematical statistical methods. Mathematical and statistical methods were used to assess the reliability of experimental results. The main results of the article were the measures (economic, legal, urban planning, etc.) to solve the environmental problems of the city of Boyarka.

Introducing shared, electric, autonomous vehicles (SAEVs) in sub-urban zones: Simulating the case of Vienna

Shared, autonomous electric vehicles (SAEVs) are expected to enter the market in the coming decades. Using MATSim, we simulate a use case where SAEVs are introduced in multiple suburban zones at the outskirts of Vienna (Austria), which are characterized by relatively low population density, but have access to at least one rail-based public transport stop. For all combinations of different fleet sizes and fare levels, we find that a relatively small share of car trips by residents of these zones (7%–14%) are replaced by SAEVs, generating CO2 emissions reductions of 5%–11%. Moreover, 23%–35% of trips previously undertaken by foot or bicycle are replaced by SAEVs, as well as 10%–20% of public transport trips. The potential of SAEVs to reduce the use and ownership of private vehicles in suburban areas therefore seems to be rather limited, which is also reflected in our finding that one SAEV usually replaces only 2–4 private vehicles. The potential becomes somewhat larger when the usage and ownership of private cars is assumed to become more expensive, leading to 17%–20% of car trips being replaced by SAEVs and generating CO2 emissions reductions of up to 32%.