Sustainable Development Planning Research Articles

How urban–rural differences and ageing affect residents’ occupancy patterns – An empirical study based on China national time use survey

Occupancy behavior plays a crucial role in residential community planning, building design, and energy system optimization for sustainable development, particularly in the face of climate change. Research on residential occupancy behavior often lacks comprehensive empirical data and fails to account for the diversity of influencing factors such as demographic features and urban–rural distinctions. This study utilizes a national time-use survey to examine occupancy patterns in urban and rural households, aiming to identify key factors influencing these patterns. A K-shaped cluster analysis was applied to extract typical occupancy patterns for weekdays and weekends, with a subsequent comparison between urban and rural data. The study also analyzed the impact of demographic and social factors on total hours spent at home. The results indicate that urban residents tend to concentrate their occupancy on weekdays, while weekends show more dispersed patterns. Furthermore, time spent at home by urban residents is positively correlated with the age of family members and negatively correlated with working status and education level. Given the aging demographic, older urban families are likely to spend more time at home on weekdays. These findings contribute to a better understanding of residential occupancy behavior in China.

Towards the sustainable development of water security: A new copula-based risk assessment system

Water security is deeply intertwined with ecosystems, society and the economy, and is a frequent focal point of sustainable development. This study investigates the water security (WS) of Inner Mongolia, a dryland region in northern China. Specifically, an indicator system integrating the principles of Stability (S), Cooperation (C), and Resilience (R) was constructed to quantitatively and comprehensively assess water security. Risk probability was calculated by the constructed system by combining its output with a copula function. The findings revealed that: (1) WS-SCR levels in the study area gradually increased from 2001 to 2021. The periods multi-year average was 0.42, which is at the threshold level of security; (2) Based on a standard deviation ellipse, the spatial distribution of WS-SCR levels changed from northeast to southwest and back to northeast. The centroid of change shifted from east to west and back to east; (3) Key drivers influencing water security included GDP per capita (S3), agricultural irrigation water consumption per unit area (C4), comprehensive water use per capita (C5), reclaimed water use rate (C8), fertilizer application per unit of farmland (R4), and population density (R5); (4) The S-C, S-R, and C-R relationships within the study area were best modelled by the Clayton copula function, whereas the S-C-R relationship was most accurately modelled by using a Frank copula function. The three-dimensional joint risk probability S-C-R (S≤0.4, C≤0.4, R≤0.4) is 0.226; the probability that R was insecure increased with increasing S or C index values. This study provides a scientific foundation for the long-term planning and management of sustainable water security development in Eurasian drylands.

Integrating carbon and water footprint into nature-based solution (NBS) for urban planning in a highly built-up area in Guangzhou, China

Stormwater management problems have been deteriorated with the high frequency and intensity of precipitation owing to rapid urbanization and climate variability, especially in urban highly built-up area. Nature-based solutions (NBS) have emerged as a powerful measure for rising these challenges due to their ability to mitigate urban waterlogging and increase carbon sequestration. Identifying optimal locations for NBS implementation remains a critical research focus. This study integrates carbon and water footprint accounting into NBS-based planning for sustainable urban development in central Guangzhou, China, to enhance urban flooding mitigation and carbon sequestration. Through carbon-water footprint analysis and weighting, we prioritized NBS planning. To achieve the objectives of increasing sequestered carbon and reducing urban runoff, three types of NBS—green roofs, permeable pavements, and bioretention systems—were optimized for a high-priority town street. The results showed that the implementation of green roof and permeable pavement reduced the surface runoff by 3.58 %, while the biological retention system reduced the runoff gray water by 27 %. Moreover, the application of green roof and biological retention increased the carbon sequestration by 2.57 million kg CO2-eq (life cycle). The findings of this study provide comprehensive insights into optimization of NBS planning based on carbon-water footprint accounting, facilitating to enhance mitigation of urban flooding vulnerability and carbon sequestration.

Optimizing green and gray infrastructure planning for sustainable urban development

The anticipated increase in urban population of 2.5 billion people by 2050 poses significant environmental challenges. While the various environmental impacts of urbanisation have been studied individually, integrated approaches are rare. This study introduces a spatially explicit model to assess urbanization’s effects on ecosystem services (green infrastructure availability, cooling, stormwater retention) and the environmental impact of building construction (material demand, greenhouse gas emissions, land use). Applied to the Netherlands from 2018 to 2050, our results show that integrating green infrastructure development with building construction could increase green areas by up to 5% and stabilize or increase ecosystem service provisioning. Dense building construction with green infrastructure development is generally more beneficial across the Netherlands, reducing resource use and enhancing ecosystem services. Conversely, sparse construction with green infrastructure is more advantageous for newly built areas. These findings offer insights into the environmental consequences of urbanization, guiding sustainable urban planning practices.

On the Internationalization of English Teaching System in the Planning of Sustainable Development of Future Renewable Energy

Energy is an essential element of human production and business activities. At present, China's energy development and utilization is facing the contradiction between increasing environmental pressure and high emission energy consumption structure. Based on the optimal power flow algorithm, this paper optimizes the scheduling and international teaching of the power system with a high proportion of renewable energy. The probability density function of fan output and photovoltaic output is obtained by wind speed and light intensity model, and the probability density function of load is also proposed. Then, interruptible load, microgrid and energy storage are used as flexible resources to improve the system’s flexibility to meet the random fluctuations caused by a high proportion of wind and light, so as to maintain the stable operation of the power grid. The mathematical model of process optimization power flow satisfying process constraints is a nonlinear time-varying system. The key to process optimization power flow algorithm is to find a simple and effective linearization and discretization method that is in line with the actual power network. On the basis of ensuring the accuracy of the model, the theory, model and algorithm of the process optimization power flow are studied on the basis of the proposed linear time period, the approximate linear time variability of the node voltage, and the goal of greatly simplifying the problem. Finally, through simulation analysis, comparing the results of model 1 and model 2, we can see that from the point of view of the power abandonment cost, the power abandonment cost of model 1 is 2.29 million yuan, which is less than the 8 million yuan of model 2. From the perspective of depth peaking and start-stop times, the total depth peaking of model 1 is 331 times, which is greater than that of model 2, 258 times. The total start-stop of model 1 is 15 times, which is more than 9 times of model 2, so the total cost of optimized electricity of wind and light in model 2 is less than that in model 1. According to the optimal scheduling model of wind and light renewable energy, the effective utilization rate of renewable energy in China is low, and the teaching system should pay attention to this problem. Therefore, this paper puts forward an international English teaching strategy for the utilization rate of renewable energy.

THE ROLE OF DHAKA'S COMMUNITY-BASED PARKS IN IMPROVING CHILDREN’S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

This study focused on the significance of Community Park for enhancing children’s mental and physical health at the grassroots level of the community of Dhaka city. To assess the practical scenario both primary and secondary data was used in this study. Convenience sampling techniques have been applied to collect data with a pre-designed structured questionnaire. To reach the study goal, regression analyses have been applied to see the correlation between children’s health and community park activities. Furthermore,categorized the impact to understand the vulnerability. The evidence identified that such community park contributes significantly to children's physical and mental well-being, fostering a positive impact on their holistic development. The study findings demonstrated that ∼ 80% of children think community parks significantly contribute to maintaining their mental wellbeing. Similarly, 61% of children expressed that park activities reduce their stress and anxiety. In addition, regular activities impact on their physical growth which was expressed by 90% of respondents. The result also finds out a strong correlation between the physical and mental health of the children. In addition, it analyzed the correlation of impact between their education and health. Besides, the study also assesses the levels of severity of depression, anxiety, and sleeping disorders in children after covid-19 pandemic. Indeed, results also disclose numerous factors such as infrastructural conditions, greenery stock, safety measures, children's activities and communityparticipation in the community parks. The novelty of the study will help public health experts, psychologists, urban planners, environmentalists, policymakers, public representatives to take an ecofriendly sustainable development plan, thereby fostering a positive impact on children’s holistic development. Furthermore, this study provides some recommendations to increase the overall health conditions of the park’s children's zone.

Impact of Climate-Related Financial Policy on Sustainable Development

This paper investigates the effectiveness of climate-related financial policies (CRFPs) in promoting sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using data from a sample of 71 countries between 2016 and 2021, we find robust evidence showing that CRFPs play a crucial role in assisting countries to achieve their sustainable development plans. However, the impact of CRFPs varies across different individual development goals. We find that CRFPs have the potential to foster food security, well-being, education quality, clean energy, innovation, decent work, innovation, equality, sustainable cities, marine life and peace. However, the CRFPs appear to hinder progress in responsible consumption and production as well as climate action. Our research further highlights the idea that institutional quality can act as a supporting mechanism to strengthen the positive impact of CRFPs on sustainable development in a country. Finally, we find that the implementation of CRFPs in advanced economies is more effective in promoting a country’s achievement of the SDGs. This study provides important policy implications of reinforcing institutional frameworks, fostering international partnerships and adopting holistic approaches that contribute to diverse facets of sustainable development.

Identifying managed aquifer recharge and rain water harvesting sites and structures for storing non-conventional water using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis approach

In arid climates, conventional water resources are severely limited and stressed in the face of rapid population growth and future climate change. So, it is necessary to find alternative non-conventional water resources for use in drought situations. Additionally, the non-conventional water resources in these areas are not sufficient to meet future water demand. Therefore, non-conventional water resources can be adopted as a strategic reserve to bridge the gap between water supply and demand in case of emergency and drought events. These resources might include rainwater harvesting, treated wastewater, and desalinated seawater. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) can be applied to store these resources in the hydrogeological system using Geo information System—Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (GIS-MCDA) approach for determining the suitable MAR location for storage. North-west Kingdom of Saudi Arabia area was chosen for this study because it is extremely arid, has high potential for social and economic development, and it has newly constructed non-conventional water infrastructures distributed throughout the area including water desalination plants, Tertiary Sewage Effluent (TSE) waste water plants, and flash-flood storage dams. To identify the suitable MAR site location and structure, different data related to aquifer hydrogeology, surface hydrology, hydrometeorology, and water quality were applied. Then, GIS-MCDA holistic approach was applied with aid of ordered weighting average (OWA) technique. Finally, two maps were created to show the MAR location and structure type. Potential map indicates that ~ 18.85% of the area is suitable for MAR installations. About 0.17% of the total area exhibited very high potential, where infiltration ponds can be applied, 1.86% had high potential for construction of check dams with diversion channels, and 16.82% had moderate potential for installation of recharge wells. Additionally, 56 MAR structures were proposed and a map showing their locations has been created. Thus, results indicated that the study area is promising for MAR installation. These maps could aid the decision makers to propose a sustainable development plan for the future water resources of the area.

The impact of sustainable development policy for resource-based cities on green technology innovation: Firm-level evidence from China

The sustainable development policy targeting resource-based cities (RBC) is a critical measure initiated by China's government to transform these cities. Green technology innovation (GTI) has surfaced as a pivotal route in achieving sustainable development in RBCs. However, whether implementing this policy can induce GTI remains underexplored. To fill this gap, exploiting the National Plan for Sustainable Development of Resource-based Cities (2013–2020) (NPSDRC) as a quasi-natural experiment, we employ the difference-in-differences (DID) method to examine the influence of NPSDRC on corporate GTI and potential mechanisms. We observe that NPSDRC significantly reduces the GTI of RBC enterprises. Mechanism analysis reveals that NPSDRC escalates environmental governance costs and decreases R&D investment, impeding corporate GTI. Meanwhile, our findings suggest that providing more bank loans and tax incentives could weaken this adverse effect on corporate GTI. Heterogeneity results indicate that non-SOEs, enterprises with weak financing capabilities, enterprises with long-sighted vision, and high energy consumption enterprises are more susceptible to the influence of NPSDRC. This study offers empirical evidence for countries seeking to employ policies to drive the transformation of RBCs.

Visualizing a Sustainable Future in Rural Romania: Agrotourism and Vernacular Architecture

In Romania, rural communities grapple with decades of depopulation and economic decline, endangering the natural and cultural richness of their landscapes. The implementation of Romania’s 2030 sustainable development plan presents an opportunity to reverse these trends by merging economic and community development with cultural preservation. This paper examines the potential for creating new livelihood opportunities through a program that integrates sustainable agrotourism with culturally appropriate vernacular architecture in Romania’s distinct rural regions. Focusing on two such regions characterized by significant rural population decline yet endowed with ecological services capable of supporting a diverse rural economy, we collaborated with an architect and landscape engineer to devise three specific and detailed agritourist housing scenarios. These scenarios draw upon local architectural forms harmonious with the vernacular landscape, providing accommodations for agrotourism guests and facilitating craft workshops for visitors interested in rural crafts and traditions. We evaluated the cultural appropriateness of the architectural designs through a social survey and assessed the broader social utility of the development plan via an expansive cost–benefit analysis, treating the project’s sustainability features as quasi-public goods. Such interdisciplinary endeavours are essential for effectively bridging conceptually driven social analysis with pragmatic design and planning strategies, essential for achieving sustainable futures for rural communities and landscapes, as exemplified by rural Romania.

Incentive mechanism for allocating wastewater discharge responsibility based on cooperative game theory

Clarifying responsibility for wastewater discharges and enhancing reasonable allocation of wastewater emission permits are critical for controlling wastewater discharge in the context global sustainable development plans. The traditional wastewater allocation approach has several drawbacks, such as sub-regional "free-riding," imbalanced regional development and demand, and unfair allocation mechanism. This study developed a model based on cooperative game theory to allocate responsibility for wastewater discharge in China's Tuojiang River Basin. In this model, the level of impact of a watershed sub-region on the water environment is determined, according to which the wastewater discharge responsibility is assigned. The stronger the impact of upstream sub-regions on downstream wastewater discharge, the greater the responsibility for wastewater discharge. Furthermore, by implementing the wastewater cooperation model, sub-regions can monitor and incentivize each other, through which wastewater discharges can be reduced by 16.38%, compared to the baseline mechanism and overall discharges can be reduced by 5007.99 tons. This study provides recommendations for appropriate management authorities to improve the allocation of wastewater discharge responsibility at the watershed scale.

Sustainable Development and the Rights of Future Generations in the Iraqi Constitution of 2005: A Comparative Study

It seems we are sleepwalking towards a climate catastrophe," and "The era of global warming has ended, and the era of global boiling has begun," are two quotes from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the first in March 2022 and the latter in July 2023. He warns of countries neglecting their climate commitments and many, both developed and others, not adhering to the implementation of sustainable development plans. Sustainable development is no longer just a term or concept to be added to the field of other terms and concepts; it is an urgent necessity, and neglecting it signals a serious danger. The World Commission on Environment and Development defines it in its 1987 report titled "Our Common Future" presented to the United Nations as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It is clear that the issue of sustainable development is not new or emergent; it was discussed in the 1980s. Nor is it a secondary or marginal issue; it is supported by the United Nations. It is surprising that the Iraqi Constitution of 2005 does not mention sustainable development, even though it was written nearly a quarter-century after the term became widespread. The current constitution refers to the word "development" without specifying its meaning or content, whereas some constitutions, such as the amended Egyptian Constitution of 2014, clearly and explicitly refer to sustainable development and the rights of future generations. Respecting the rights of future generations is one of the most important topics that constitutional lawmakers should include at the core of the constitutional document to grant it both substantive and formal supremacy, giving it the necessary priority and care.

Modeling the United Oscillation and Wave of economic policy and urban planning employing spatial population dynamics.

Modern urban dynamics are increasingly shaped by the interplay between economic policy and urban planning, yet often lack an integrated approach. This study bridges this gap by examining the dynamic equilibrium between these two realms using the "Oscillation and Wave Framework." Specifically, we focus on the impact of variations in congestion parameter λ on urban sectoral spatial distribution and population dynamics. Our approach utilizes an advanced agent-based model to simulate interactions within an urban economic landscape, offering a detailed analysis of the relationship between agglomeration economies and congestion diseconomies. The results highlight the significant influence of congestion parameter adjustments on urban patterns, particularly in terms of cluster density and development. Therefore, this study not only provides a deeper understanding of the intricate balance between economic and urban planning factors but also emphasizes the necessity of incorporating these insights into urban planning and policy formulation for sustainable urban development. The findings also have important practical implications for addressing the dynamic complexities of urban environments, especially the interactions between different industries and their role in shaping urban structures.

Auctions to reveal consumers’ willingness to pay for low-carbon hydrogen projects: combining lessons from renewables and natural-gas industries

Abstract Low-carbon hydrogen is expected to play a key role in realizing net-zero and sustainable development plans. Nonetheless, there is a gap between the cost of producing low-carbon hydrogen and its potential users’ willingness to pay for such hydrogen. To implement support for the development of the industry, we propose using low-carbon hydrogen long-term agreements allocated through auction mechanisms. The objectives are 2-fold: (i) matching supply and demand volumes considering the time horizon and geographical delivery point specification and (ii) allocating the subsidy. This perspective article innovates by proposing a reference price indexed to liquid to natural-gas prices, which is the main product that low-carbon hydrogen aims to substitute. The premium and the production cost are defined through a double-sided auction. This aims to minimize the public policy funds required to incentivize the low-carbon hydrogen market while facilitating long-term agreements and mitigating price risks that may hinder investment.

Refining Long-Time Series of Urban Built-Up-Area Extraction Based on Night-Time Light—A Case Study of the Dongting Lake Area in China

By studying the development law of urbanization, the problems of disorderly expansion and resource wastage in urban built-up areas can be effectively avoided, which is crucial for the long-term sustainable development of cities. This study proposes a high-precision urban built-up-area extraction method for county-level cities for small and medium-sized towns in county-level regions. Our process is based on the Defense Meteorological Satellite/Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) and the NASA/NOAA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which develops long-term series of coordinated night-time light (NTL) datasets. We then combined this with the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) to calculate the Vegetation-Adjusted NTL Urban Index (VANUI). We combine land use data and a support vector machine (SVM) for semi-supervised classification learning to propose a high-precision urban built-up-area extraction method for county-level cities. We achieved the following results: (1) we fit binary polynomials to the DMSP/OLS and VIIRS NTL datasets based on the correspondence of the mean values to construct a consistent time series of NTL data. (2) Our method effectively improves the accuracy of urban built-up-area extraction, especially for county-level cities, with an overall accuracy of 91.84% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.83. (3) Our method can perform a long-time series of urban built-up-area extraction, and, by studying the spatial and temporal changes in urban built-up areas, it can provide valuable information for sustainable urban development and urban planning.

Assessing groundwater behavior and future trends in the Ardabil Aquifer: A comparative study of groundwater modeling system and categorical gradient boosting hybrid model

Rapid population growth and rising demand have led to increased groundwater extraction, underscoring the importance of effective water resource management. While groundwater models are practical tools, their reliance on extensive hydrogeological and hydrological data can pose challenges when such data is unavailable or inaccessible. In this study, two modeling approaches were employed for the prediction and characterization of groundwater behavior in Ardabil Plain from October 2010 to March 2021. Initially, groundwater behavior was modeled using Modflow. Subsequently, the groundwater behavior was modeled within the same time frame using the hybrid CatBoost-AOA model. Groundwater levels were then determined using these two models until the year 2031. The CatBoost-AOA hybrid method showed the highest agreement (correlation coefficient: 0.9977). Modflow and CatBoost models predicted a decline of 0.77 and 0.85 m, respectively, until 2031. This study aims to guide sustainable development planning, with CatBoost-AOA providing a simplified and efficient alternative for accurately forecasting groundwater fluctuations.

High-resolution estimates of water availability for the Iberian Peninsula under climate scenarios

Water availability is of paramount importance for sustainable development and environmental planning, specifically in regions such as the Iberian Peninsula, renowned for diverse landscapes and varying climatic conditions. Due to climate change, understanding the potential impacts on water resources becomes essential for effective water management strategies. This research effort aims to assess future potential water availability for the Iberian Peninsula in different climate scenarios, employing cutting-edge water resource modelling techniques integrated within a geographic information system (GIS) framework. In this study, potential water availability is defined as the annual demand for water that can be satisfied at a specific point in the fluvial network with certain reliability. An ensemble of state-of-the-art climate models is utilised to project runoff for the Iberian Peninsula during the mid- and late-twenty-first century periods. These climate projections were subsequently processed using the GIS-based water resource management model, WAAPA, to derive potential water availability under a range of realistic hypotheses. The results indicate that anticipated shifts in precipitation patterns will lead to alterations in hydrological regimes across the region, significantly impacting future water availability. By using GIS-based methodologies, we can facilitate the identification of vulnerable areas susceptible to changes in water availability, offering spatially explicit information along the main rivers of the Iberian Peninsula for decision-makers and stakeholders. High-resolution spatial outputs from this research and detailed water availability estimates serve as valuable input for integrated water resource management and climate change adaptation planning. By combining advanced GIS-based hydrological modelling with climate scenarios, this research presents a robust framework for assessing water resources amidst a changing climate, applicable to other regions struggling with analogous challenges. Ultimately, our study provides vital insights for policymakers and stakeholders, empowering them to make informed decisions and devise adaptive measures to ensure sustainable use of water resources despite uncertain future climatic conditions.

Promoting sustainable communities through affordable housing. A case study of Beirut, Lebanon

Promoting sustainable communities aims at creating both environmentally and socially responsible living environments. This paper explores the role of affordable housing in promoting the long-term sustainability of a community within healthy living conditions by closely examining the relationship between affordable housing, urban development policies, and sustainability, with the capital of Lebanon, Beirut, serving as a case study. The first part of the paper focuses on the current building laws issued in the official newspaper in 2004 using a content analysis methodology to demonstrate the impact of the changes in the laws on the new morphology and social fabric of the city through the creation of a favorable environment for big developers, wealthy property owners, and real estate agencies and, at the expense of old city residents and low-income families. The second part of the paper uses the qualitative analysis methodology to justify the presence of large unused stock of residential units in Beirut, referring to information from multiple data sources selected based on their applicability to sustainable development, affordable housing, and urban planning in areas related to the case study, Beirut. This part then investigates the potential presented by this stock of residential units in Beirut to increase the supply of affordable housing and foster a sustainable community. This paper argues that the promoted vertical expansion of the city weighs heavily on the environment and fails to provide a diverse mix of housing units, excluding a significant portion of the community from the city. Alternative development models aligning with principles of sustainable development and challenging the current building laws can promote social inclusivity, reduce urban sprawl, and minimize environmental impacts associated with new constructions, thus preserving the city’s physical and social fabric.

A comparative exploration of youth participation in local sustainable development: insights from Italian metropolitan cities

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the extent of public participation of youth in strategic planning for local sustainable development, emphasising the establishment of a positive dialogue process between public administration and young people. Previous studies and international guidelines recognise youth as an essential group in the territorial sustainability process but also require a framework for processes and modalities for youth participation.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis was carried out according to a multiple-case study approach conducted from the secondary sources (e.g. planning documents enabling sustainable development at the local level) developed by the 14 Italian metropolitan cities to assess the state-of-the-art and establish similarities and differences concerning the engagement levels found in the literature.FindingsAlthough almost all the sample has undertaken a youth engagement process, this research demonstrates that only 6 out of 14 metropolitan cities - corresponding to 43% of the sample - have promoted highly engagement-intensive forms, underlining a total absence of a standardised and recursive approach in which the younger generation is consistently an integral part of sustainability strategies.Originality/valueThis research is innovative as it addresses practical and theoretical objectives simultaneously. The study underlines the adoption of engagement processes by metropolitan cities by considering the participatory methods implemented and providing a framework for enhancing forms of dialogue between young people and public authorities, contributing to the advancement of theoretical understanding and practical implementation.

Spatial Interactions of a City-Region Using GIS and Survey-based Data

The concept of spatial interaction deduced from Newton’s first law of motion, which has been extended from interactions between two points of elements e.g., two cities to interactions between other points of other elements in a system, e.g., more than two cities, can be applied to elucidate settlements spatial interaction at the regional scale, particularly a city-region as a system. Elucidating the levels of spatial interactions in city-regions is crucial to support decision-making processes in regional development planning and policies, which in turn contributes to sustainable regional developments if implemented fully. The current study, therefore, combined Geographic Information Systems and survey-based data to evaluate the level of spatial interactions of a city-region as a system to support sustainable regional development planning and policies using the defined Abuja city-region as a case study. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of residents, land cover maps that were produced using Remote Sensing processes of satellite image classification, and urban and regional land use plans. An integrated analysis was deployed, including descriptive statistics and spatial analysis through extraction, digitization, overlay, clipping, and geometrical calculation processes. Key findings showed that the work location for most residents in satellite settlements is Abuja city. Also, the study showed that while Lugbe, Kubwa, and Old Karu settlements have the highest level of spatial interaction with Abuja city, Kuje and Gwagwalada settlements have the lowest level of spatial interaction. The findings and their associated implications of the current study are useful to support decision-makers in planning and policies for the spatial distribution of urban infrastructures across settlements that make up defined city-regions in Sub-Saharan Africa in particular and in the Global South in general