Sustainable Modes Research Articles

E-mobility Concept implementation in the function of sustainable Tourism development managing

Planning as sustainable mobility function requires new approaches and new planning concepts that encourage the transition to cleaner and more sustainable transport modes such as walking, cycling, public transport, new patterns of car use and ownership, and the adoption and use of new technologies as indispensable support for sustainable mobility development. This approach aims to satisfy the mobility needs with a healthier environment and a better quality of life, since healthy and ecologically clean environments are becoming more attractive, both for the local population and for tourists, which can be especially important for those local communities with special tourist potential and developed tourist offer. Given the fact that electric mobility contributes significantly to the climate change mitigation through the reduction of pollutant emissions using different types of electric vehicles, it is necessary to consider the possibility of using e-mobility in order to strengthen the offer of tourist destinations while simultaneously protecting these areas from excessive noise, pollution, usurpation and deterioration of the quality and appearance of tourist areas. Considering that the city of East Sarajevo, as one of the tourist attractive local communities in terms of the diversity of the tourist offer with a scattered concentration of tourist destinations on predominantly hilly terrain, this paper will present the concept of introducing a bike-sharing system, an electric bus and an eco-taxi vehicle in the function of tourists transportation system with supporting infrastructure development plan, all based on tourist demand data analysis.

Application of sustainable transport at the university campus level in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

University campuses are considered small cities where all ages and backgrounds come together to study and work. Hence, applying sustainability policies to improve the travel behavior of university passengers can have significant benefits. In this study, several binomial logits were modeled to evaluate the choice of active modes and the willingness of university passengers to accept different types of policies on sustainable modes. Besides, transportation modes were examined for their share, accessibility, and feasibility. The questionnaire and variable correlations were analyzed by SPSS, and the models’ coefficients were estimated using NLOGIT software. This study is unique in several aspects. It simultaneously investigates both intra- and inter-campus travels under two different conditions (before and during COVID-19) at different levels. Furthermore, it estimates several brand-new variables whose effects have long been unknown to policymakers. Our methods and findings were validated using data from the University of Isfahan, Iran. Results indicated that factors such as type of policies, attendance history, inter and intra modes, accessibility, frequency of visits, occupation, education, and destinations affected the mode choice. The analysis of policies indicates that it can be of value to shift the mode choice of campus commuters towards more sustainable practices.

Impact of urban morphology on Urban Heat Island in Manchester's transit-oriented development

This study delves into the relationship between urban morphology and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in Manchester's transit-oriented development (TOD). Using various analytical methods, including context analysis, remote sensing, SPSS correlation and the Sankey analysis, the research examines both weekday and weekend data of Manchester Piccadilly and East Didsbury TODs. Remote sensing analysis reveals Manchester Piccadilly TOD as a UHI hotspot due to concentrated human activities and low Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). East Didsbury TOD, on the other hand, experiences lower UHI intensity because of its lower building and population density. The findings highlight the significant impact of land use and urban morphology on UHI intensity. The paper highlights how TOD-generated commercial and entertainment activities contribute to UHI levels in different locations in Manchester. Factors such as high population density and a higher percentage of workers exacerbate the UHI effect in TODs. The relationship between building heights and UHI challenges the conventional assumption of a positive correlation between floor area ratio (FAR) and UHI. These insights are crucial for TOD planning, emphasising the need to carefully consider land use, population density, and building characteristics in shaping the TOD locations. Implementing measures such as reducing heat emissions from commercial and entertainment activities can lessen the UHI intensity. Providing effective shading in TOD streets and shortening the distance to transit stations can encourage sustainable transportation modes like walking and cycling. Ultimately, this paper enhances understanding of the intricate connections between urban morphology and UHI, facilitating the development of environmentally friendly TOD.

A Systematic Literature Review on Health Benefits, Incentives, and Applications to Promote Walking in Urban Areas

The transportation sector contributes significantly to global warming, as well as to urban fabric problems such as traffic congestion, traffic accidents, noise pollution, and air pollution. A shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources and from motorized to non-motorized modes is now considered essential to create sustainable communities. Walking is a sustainable transport mode and several studies have focused on factors affecting it, including travel behavior and sociodemographics. In this study, we conduct a systematic literature review to identify and record walking benefits, the financial incentives that encourage travelers to walk, and applications that support it. Financial incentives are found to have short-term effects, and their success depends on the level and structure of the incentives as well as the characteristics of the participants. In addition, non-financial incentives, such as improving infrastructure and pedestrian safety, or providing information and education about the benefits of walking, may also promote it as a main mode of transport.

Estimating time-saving benefits and mode shifts from improvements of sustainable transport modes in Cambridge, UK

This paper compares the impacts of sustainable transport alternatives to cars for small cities, in terms of mode shifts and time-saving benefits. This paper develops a new land use-transport interaction model with a detail multi-modal network, which can be quickly set up and used for small cities and their low-density exurbs. Whilst many existing models for small cities tend to focus on car traffic, treating non-car modes as a side-show, this model tests all modes on an equal footing. We use this model in a case study area that includes the city of Cambridge and its environs, a fast-growing low-density area. Three groups of sustainable transport alternatives under public discussion are tested, including Cambridge Autonomous Metro, demand responsive buses, and improving cycling and walking infrastructure. We find that in the case study area improving walking and cycling infrastructure is by far the most effective for modal shift from the car and accruing the highest time-saving benefits, as it reduces car commuting mode share from 56% to 49% for the suburbs of Cambridge. Demand responsive buses appear to be the second most effective option in reducing car trips. Metros, contrary to existing expectations, would achieve the least.

Assessment of Pedestrians Crossing Behaviour at Mid-Blocks Under Mixed Traffic Conditions in Urban Contexts

Pedestrians are an integral part of urban transportation infrastructure systems, which is also sustainable mode of transportation system. But they are particularly at risk in isolated mid-block sites that have different levels of traffic. The purpose of this study is to investigate, analyze, and simulate pedestrian behavior at Uncontrolled Midblock Crossings in Hyderabad (Hitech city to Habsiguda) under Mixed Traffic Conditions. Particularly, the Mid-Block Crossing Behavior and Pedestrian Crossing Speed. A field survey needs to be conducted using during the project by using any kind of survey techniques, such as Video-graphic technique, manually. Different locations are to be identified, and to be chosen in accordance to Pedestrian traffic and Pedestrians Crossing at Midblock. The Survey should be carried out as per the standards and done during the peak hours. The overall Pedestrian Speed should be determined by using the pedestrian field survey. An Interview method Survey was done to determine the exact Age of Pedestrians at the Study Locations. The data that is required for analysis of pedestrian behaviour at the Mid-Block Crossings are included with Speed of vehicles, Crossing Speeds of Pedestrians, individual characteristics (Gender, Age etc.) as well as the type of Crossing Behaviour. The Pedestrian Crossing Speeds and the Cumulative Speeds were determined and the variations in accordance to Age and Gender were obtained for the selected locations. And further it can be extended to predict the Gap size of the locations by using the log Normal Regression Model and A Binary Logit Model can be examined to find the effects of behavioural aspects of parameters on the Gender (Male and Female) coded as a discrete variable.

A Tale of Two Cities and Cycling: Halifax, Canada versus Seville, Spain

Cycling is one of the most sustainable modes or urban transportation and cities around the world are taking steps to create safe cycling infrastructure to accelerate cycling uptake across all ages and abilities. There is considerable variability in how cycling infrastructure is planned, implemented and funded. In this commentary, we compare the actions and experiences of the Canadian city of Halifax and the Spanish city of Seville. We identify three lessons to implement a minimum grid to promote cycling. The first lesson is to invest and mobilize sufficient funds to build a complete network quickly. The second is to create institutional bodies with sufficient authority to implement the network. The third is to use best practice designs from the start. Comparing the processes of these two cities helps to illustrate some of the institutional and bureaucratic barriers that other cities can learn from.

Preferensi Masyarakat Terhadap Ketersediaan Bus Trans Jakarta Sebagai Moda Alternatif

Halim Perdana Kusuma International Airport has a quite significant increasing number of passengers since it was operated commercially in 2014. The number of passengers in 2018 reached 7,446,544 people of a daily average passengers of 20,685 people. There are some advanced modes available in the airport; conventional taxis, online taxis and a number of bus from Damri. As the international airport located not far from the city center, closely linked to issues of congestion and air pollution, the urban public transportation is one of the solutions to meet people’s mobility needs, including travel to and/or from the airport. This study analyzes that people prefer Trans Jakarta bus infrastructure to be built in the airport as the new alternative mode to support onward travel to and/or from the airport. The data collection was carried out using an online survey and processed using Descriptive analysis method. The results of the research show that 64.8% of the respondents stated that the current advanced modes of transportation in the airport have not fully provided for the community who use them as the alternative modes and 95.8% of the respondents are willing to switch to Trans Jakarta bus when the infrastructure has been built. This study also analyzes the factors could influence respondents’ interests to provide recommendations to formulate the sustainable public transportation modes policies.

Transition towards sustainable mobility: the role of transport optimization

Although the concept of a transition towards sustainability has been introduced about 30 years ago, there is still a lack of progress. Transport emissions have not decreased in the last decade. However, they need to be reduced substantially to meet climate goals. The cornerstones of a transition can be summarized with the avoid-shift-improve paradigm: Traffic should be avoided as much as possible, any unavoidable traffic should be shifted to sustainable modes of transport and finally fuel and vehicle technologies should be improved. The goal of this paper is to find out how and where transport optimization can contribute to a transition towards sustainable mobility. It identifies concepts based on the avoid-shift-improve approach for which transport optimization can be used, describes the existing literature and points out research directions.

Biomanufacturing of bioactive compounds: current situation, challenges, and future perspectives

Biomanufacturing uses biological systems, including cells, microorganisms, and enzymes, to produce natural or synthetic molecules with biological activities for use in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agriculture. These bioactive compounds are expected to play important roles in improving the quality of life and prolonging its length. Fortunately, recent advances in synthetic biology and automation technologies have accelerated the development of biomanufacturing, enabling us to create new products and replace conventional methods in a more sustainable manner. As of now, the role of biomanufacturing in the growth and innovation of bioeconomy is steadily increasing, and this techbology becomes a prevalent technology in global markets. To gain a comprehensive understanding of this field, this article presents a retrospective review of Bloomage Biotechnology's Research and Development and briefly reviews the developments of biomanufacturing and offers insights into the futre prospects. In conclusion, biomanufacturing will continue to be an important, environmentally friendly, and sustainable production mode in the ongoing development of bioeconomy.

Exploring the potential and viability of inland waterway transport as a sustainable passenger transportation solution in emerging countries

The mounting transportation challenges and the ever-increasing usage of private vehicles in emerging countries necessitate an investigation into alternative sustainable modes of transportation. A three-stage behavioral based methodology is proposed for evaluating the viability of Inland Waterway Transportation (IWT) as a sustainable solution to the passenger transportation challenges faced by emerging nations. The approach includes identification of intervention areas, development of econometric models and recommendation of the best operational scenarios. The intervention areas are identified based on Importance Satisfaction Analysis and econometric models are developed to quantify benefit. The study identified nine key intervention areas in terms of qualitative and quantitative attributes, which served as the starting point for subsequent analysis and evaluation. The result showed substantially higher WTP values for the qualitative attributes (safety, security, and crowding level) of IWT, which indicates the pressing need for improvements in these attributes. The study clearly shows the possibility of enhancing the service quality of IWT without putting additional financial burden on the Government. The recommended scenario offers substantial benefits to travelers as compared to the base scenario. The study offers both short-term and long-term strategies to enhance IWT services, providing improvements without fare increments in the short term. Upon adopting the short-term scenario and gaining public acceptance, the recommended long-term scenario, which includes fare increments, can be gradually implemented. Although the findings are specific to the case studied, the methodology and experience can be applied to enhance IWT services wherever applicable.

Utilizing Social Media Data for Estimating Transit Performance Metrics

In this paper, a methodology using text and sentiment analysis of social media data is proposed to determine performance metrics that customers frequently mentioned when riding the New York Transit system and how they compare to those reported by the transit agency. This method is carried out by analyzing Twitter data collected from users mentioning their transit experience and recognizing trends regarding sentiment. The results show that customers mostly express negative over positive experiences about their transit services in terms of perceptions and expectations. Transit users are more critical about wait times and delays and notice the positive factors during service, such as system aesthetics, train speed, station cleanliness, and safety (in that order). The data analyzed also provides insights on locations and transit lines where there are frequent occurrences of customer issues. The proposed methodology provides a relevant contribution from a practical viewpoint because performance metrics are important factors to consider by transit operators which are exploring new practices to retain and attract ridership, given that transit systems are generally considered among the sustainable modes of transportation.

An exploratory analysis of factors that encourage students to choose sustainable modes in travelling to schools: evidence from Victoria, Australia

ABSTRACT Travelling using sustainable modes, such as active transport and public transport, improves students’ well-being and mental health, and bolsters sustainability. This study aims to investigate factors that encourage students to use sustainable modes which are public transport and active transport. The random parameters (mixed) logit was employed using the Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel and Activity (VISTA) data from Victoria, Australia to comprehensively explore trip attributes, socio-demographics, and built environment factors impacts on school travel mode choice. The inadequacy of model validation in previous research was addressed with the inclusion of the model accuracy test, which arguably is as equally important as behavioural inference. The result showed that travel distance and destination to primary school were the biggest contributors to mode choice probability, negatively affecting sustainable mode choice. The model produced an excellent overall accuracy (85.80%). This research elaborated on the inference of factors affecting mode choice and thus provided recommendations to help develop policies supporting sustainable transportation plans to improve students’ well-being.

Aeromasculinities and the fallacy of sustainable aviation

Despite growing recognition of the material impacts of fossil fuel extraction and use, many economic sectors remain highly dependent on these fuels. Amid growing pressure to - at a minimum - appear to be doing something, businesses increasingly communicate the actions they (seek to) take to reduce their environmental impacts. Oftentimes they aim to build a sense of compatible coexistence of the sector with particular modes of sustainability. For air transport, ‘sustainable aviation’ has emerged as a container term for a suite of actions proposed by sectoral actors in seeking to align the sector with social and environmental sustainability. This paper critically interrogates ‘sustainable aviation’ through an analysis of the websites and reports of 14 international and regional airlines. Our analysis reveals the multiple and diverse ways that dominant logics (1) underpin the status quo, (2) depend on ‘the science’, (3) support techno-organisational changes and (4) prioritise sectoral growth. By recognising the gendered nature of environmentalism, we suggest that ‘sustainable aviation’ can be viewed as an active enactment of aeromasculinities – a gendered system of thinking, being and doing which forecloses radical action and change required for a climate-safe and just energy future.

Compost and chemical fertilizer triggered pedospheric compartment’s varied response and phyto-morphological alterations in Helianthus annuus

Chemical fertilization of soils has been adopted as a productivity-boosting mode for many years but it is marked by excessive synthetic chemical utilization and significant persistence in the ecological matrices. Current research has for the first adopted a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable mode of soil fertilization and consequent growth augmentation of Helianthus annuus by utilization of kitchen waste and garden waste-based processed compost. Comparative analysis of the prepared compost with chemical fertilizer expressed a profound responsiveness of the soils towards compost in pot experiments conducted at Rawalpindi, Pakistan for assessment of soil quality after modification with compost. Soil amendments were varied including compost amended soil (CAS), di-ammonium phosphate amended soil (DAS), urea amended soil(UAS), and control soil (CS). Organic matter of CAS i.e. 4.67% and 4.91% and micro and macro nutrients excelled in other amendments signifying the potential of CAS to be adopted as a future green manure as an effective substitute to chemical fertilizers. Heavy metals i.e. Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu concentration determination of soil treatments expressed a slightly higher trend but within permissible limits. Helianthus annuus grown in treated soils expressed outstanding phyto-morphological aspects in CAS and UAS. Composting as an organic fertilizer provides a cost-effective, ecologically friendly, and sustainable way to improve soil fertility. As a result, high-quality, reasonably priced compost will be produced, offering a practical and efficient waste disposal alternative.

Crowding multipliers on shared transportation in New York City: The effects of COVID-19 and implications for a sustainable future

The COVID-19 pandemic has added to the challenge of decarbonizing the transportation sector, as shared modes were perceived as more dangerous during the health emergency. If these behaviors persist, drawing riders to more sustainable modes may be more difficult. This study investigates measures how crowding multipliers in New York City for the subway, ridehailing, and microtransit changed during and after the pandemic. We used Bayesian techniques to estimate two mixed logit models based on stated preference data. Results show that post-pandemic crowding multipliers are either similar or lower than during the pandemic, depending on the transportation mode and masking compliance. Additionally, vaccination requirements did not significantly affect respondents’ choices, but respondents were willing to pay to reduce their transportation mode’s carbon footprint. The study suggests that commuters’ aversion to crowding will gradually decrease, but whether crowding multipliers will return to pre-pandemic levels or a post-pandemic ”new normal” remains uncertain.

Factors influencing the usage of bicycles on university campuses: A case study of universities in Thailand

University campuses usually consist of many buildings with different functions, e.g., classrooms, laboratories, offices, and cafeterias. In turn, students and university employees may commute between these buildings several times a day. Organizing in-campus transportation suitable for the campus’ characteristics and the travel behavior of the community is, therefore, a critical and challenging task. This paper focuses on using a bicycle as a mode of transport on university campuses. We analyzed the traveler’s demographic, behaviors, and their attitudes toward cycling by conducting a survey covering students, faculty, and staff in several universities. In total, we have collected 1,433 responses from 19 universities across Thailand. According to the responses, most undergrad students use motorcycles and public transport as their primary modes of transport. In contrast, postgrad students, faculty, and staff mainly use private cars. Only 2.9% of all respondents use bicycles regularly. By applying Binary Logistic Regression to the responses data, we found that the demographic factors, including residency and mode of transport, are important determinants of bicycle use on university campuses. Also, lacking dedicated bicycle lanes and long travel times are main obstacles preventing people from cycling within university campuses. Based on these results, the study suggests that improving the availability and accessibility of bicycle facilities could encourage more people to use bicycles as a sustainable mode of transport on university campuses.

Changes in biogenic volatile organic compound emissions in response to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation

Abstract. Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from the terrestrial biosphere play a significant role in major atmospheric processes. BVOCs are highly reactive compounds that influence the atmosphere's oxidation capacity and also serve as precursors for the formation of aerosols that influence global radiation budgets. Emissions depend on the response of vegetation to atmospheric conditions (primarily temperature and light), as well as other stresses, e.g. from droughts and herbivory. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a naturally occurring cycle arising from anomalies in the sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical Pacific. ENSO perturbs the natural seasonality of weather systems on both global and regional scales and is considered the most significant driver of climate variability. Several studies have evaluated the sensitivity of BVOC fluxes during ENSO events using historical transient simulations. While this approach employs realistic scenarios, it is difficult to assess the impact of ENSO alone given the multiple types of climate forcing, e.g. from anthropogenic emissions of CO2 and aerosol. In this study, a global atmospheric chemistry–climate model with enabled interactive vegetation was used to conduct two sets of simulations: (1) isolated ENSO event simulations, in which a single ENSO event is used to perturb otherwise baseline conditions, and (2) sustained ENSO simulations, in which the same ENSO conditions are reproduced for an extended period of time. From the isolated ENSO events, we present global and regional BVOC emission changes resulting from the immediate response of vegetation to atmospheric states. More focus is given to the sustained ENSO simulations, which have the benefit of reducing the internal variability for more robust statistics when linking atmospheric and vegetation variables with BVOC flux anomalies. Additionally, these simulations explore long-term changes in the biosphere with potential shifts in vegetation in this possible climate mode, accounting for the prospect of increased intensity and frequency of ENSO with climate change. Our results show that strong El Niño events increase global isoprene emission fluxes by 2.9 % and that one single ENSO event perturbs the Earth system so markedly that BVOC emission fluxes do not return to baseline emissions within several years after the event. We show that persistent ENSO conditions shift the vegetation to a new quasi-equilibrium state, leading to an amplification of BVOC emission changes with up to a 19 % increase in isoprene fluxes over the Amazon. We provide evidence that BVOC-induced changes in plant phenology, such as the leaf area index (LAI), have a significant influence on BVOC emissions in the sustained ENSO climate mode.

Research Progress of Power Generation Technology Using Gravity Energy Storage in a Context of Carbon Neutrality

As the global economy improves by leaps and bounds, the skyrocketing energy consumption caused by the increase in population and rapidly developing in urbanization and industrialization has brought many serious challenges, such as global warming, environmental pollution, ecological damage, and resource scarcity. To solve these problems, countries are actively developing and utilizing energy resources to generate electricity, such as solar photovoltaics, wind, geothermal energy, ocean energy, and biomass. However, they cannot meet the growing electricity demand because of their intermittency and instability, and geographical constraints. Thus, the quest to discover innovative, sustainable, and effective modes of energy conversion and storage has emerged as one of the foremost critical concerns on the global stage. Compared to traditional electrochemical energy storage technologies, gravity storage offers higher safety, larger storage capacity, and lower environmental damage and significantly reduces the dependence on geographical conditions and water resources, with great potential for application.

Do spatial practices legitimize the values promoted by organizations? An ethno-architectural survey of governance and sustainable development in coworking spaces

ABSTRACT Compared to traditional organizations, a coworking organization needs to be clearly distinguished, recognized and identified in its environment. The question of legitimacy is therefore relevant for coworking spaces. We investigate their spatial practices through Lefebvre’s spatial triad, and how they affect their organizational legitimacy, in order to establish whether these practices support the values promoted by coworking organizations. Based on an ethno-architectural survey, interviews and an analysis of their websites, we focus on two main values promoted by the collaborative spaces we investigated: alternative modes of governance and sustainability. We found that their spatial practices did not fully align with these values. We introduce the concept of spatial legitimacy, and our ethno-architectural survey contributes in methodological terms to the analysis of spatial practices in the field of organizational studies.