Territorial Planning Research Articles

Depopulation and Changes in Habitat Type in Rural Areas in Aragón (Spain)

Objective: The study aims to examine recent transformations in rural habitats undergoing depopulation in Aragón, Spain, between 2010 and 2018. It seeks to verify changes in habitat concentration patterns and identify the underlying factors. Theoretical Framework: Drawing upon theories of rural exodus and demographic shifts, the research employs the Colas Index (Colas, 1945) to analyze habitat types—dispersed or concentrated. It recognizes the influence of agricultural changes, service provision challenges, and territorial dynamics on rural settlement patterns (Escolano and de la Riva, 2003; Nuninger et al., 2021). Method: The investigation focuses on depopulated municipalities in Aragón, utilizing a comparative analysis of the Colas Index from 2010 to 2018. Administrative boundaries define the study's territorial units, enabling the quantification of habitat changes and an assessment of their direction. The analysis integrates demographic and settlement dynamics to understand habitat evolution. Results and Discussion: Findings indicate varied habitat transformation processes across municipalities, confirming the heterogeneity of the rural landscape (Pinilla and Sáez, 2017). While transformations are not universal, they challenge the traditional link between depopulation and habitat concentration. The Colas Index proves valuable for characterizing habitat dispersion levels, yet its limitations in concentrated areas are acknowledged. Methodological constraints related to administrative boundaries and the complexity of rural-urban continua are also discussed. Research Implications: This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of depopulation impacts on rural habitats, informing territorial planning and demographic policies. It underscores the need for tailored strategies that consider local habitat variability and the potential for revitalization efforts in select areas. Originality/Value: By highlighting the diversity of habitat transitions amidst depopulation, the research offers fresh insights into rural settlement dynamics. Its value lies in demonstrating that depopulation no longer universally leads to habitat concentration, thus updating the scholarly discourse on rural transformation in Spain.

Time Series approach to map areas of Agricultural Plastic Waste generation

Abstract. The escalating presence of plastics in agriculture has raised concerns regarding Agricultural Plastic Waste (APW). Hitherto, a lack of comprehensive plasticulture data impedes effective waste management strategies, potentially resulting in plastic pollution and contributing to microplastic formation. APW locations and quantities are pivotal for territorial planning and the formulation of public policies on waste management and land use. Remote detection of agri-plastics has garnered increased consideration, particularly in mapping plastic-mulched farmlands (PMFs) dispersed in extensive regions. This study investigates whether the use of satellite image time series can map PMFs accurately. We assessed pixel-based classification using a 16-day composite time series of Sentinel-2 imagery (S2-16D) obtained from the Brazil Data Cube project. The Plastic-Mulched Landcover Index (PMLI) was joined into S2-16D bands because it is an index focused on PMF detection. Four classifiers (RF, MLP, L-TAE, and TCNN) were compared through agreed classification metrics. The most promising outcome showed an overall accuracy of 100% employing L-TAE but with visible noise in the map. The time series enhanced accuracy while minimizing background confusion, offering a viable solution for PMF detection. The PMF map presented herein represents an initial stride toward fostering circularity in plasticulture throughout South America.

Toward Smart Urban Management: Integrating Geographic Information Systems and Geology for Underground Bearing Capacity Prediction in Casablanca City, Morocco

To effectively manage the sustainable urban development of cities, it is crucial to quickly understand the geological and geotechnical attributes of the underground. Carrying out such studies entails significant investments and focused reconnaissance efforts, which might not align seamlessly with large-scale territorial planning initiatives within a city accommodating more than 3 million inhabitants, like Casablanca in Morocco. Additionally, various specific investigations have been conducted by municipal authorities in recent times. The primary aim of this study is to furnish city managers and planners with a tool for informed decision-making, enabling them to explore the geological and geotechnical properties of soil foundations using Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and geostatistics. This database, initially intended for utilization by developers and construction engineers, stands to economize a substantial amount of time and resources. During the urban planning of cities and prior to determining land usage (five- or seven-floor structures), comprehending the mechanical traits (bearing capacity, water levels, etc.) of the soil is crucial. To this end, geological and geotechnical maps, along with a collection of 100 surveys, were gathered and incorporated into a GIS system. These diverse data sources converged to reveal that the underlying composition of the surveyed area comprises silts, calcarenites, marls, graywackes, and siltstones. These formations are attributed to the Middle Cambrian and the Holocene epochs. The resultant geotechnical findings were integrated into the GIS and subjected to interpolation using ordinary kriging. This procedure yielded two distinct maps: one illustrating bearing capacity and the other depicting the substratum. The bearing capacity of the soil in the study zone is rated as moderate, fluctuating between two and four bars. The depth of the foundation remains relatively shallow, ranging from 0.8 m to 4.5 m. The outcomes are highly promising, affirming that the soil in Casablanca boasts commendable geotechnical attributes capable of enduring substantial loads and stresses. Consequently, redirecting future urban planning in the region toward vertical expansion seems judicious, safeguarding Casablanca’s remaining green spaces and the small agricultural belt. The results of this work help to better plan the urban development of the city of Casablanca in a smarter way, thus preserving space, agriculture, and the environment while promoting sustainability. In addition, the databases and maps created through this paper aim for a balanced financial management of city expenditures in urban planning.

New urban agenda: sustainable development goals, urban mobility and healthy cities

The trends of modern urban planning are studied, namely two of its urban planning concepts - “Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility” and “Healthy City”, their theoretical development within the framework of adopted documents, agendas and programs for sustainable development. The goals of sustainable development are studied, the achievement of which is devoted to the documents “New Urban Development Program” and the declaration “Agenda for Sustainable Development for the period up to 2030”. It is concluded that sustainable development considers the integration of goals in territorial planning, environmental protection and public health, achieving social and gender equality, housing policy, and transport development as the basis for unified urban planning.

Forest fates: Unraveling the peri-urban social-ecological trajectories in Mexico City's conservation land.

Peri-urban areas provide multiple ecosystem services, but face critical challenges, including deforestation, unplanned urban sprawl, and environmental pollution and degradation. To address these issues, environmental public policy instruments have been implemented. This paper aims to investigate the social ecological trajectories of a peri-urban area of Mexico City and the role of environmental public policy instruments in addressing land use change. Focusing on four watersheds of the southern periphery of the city, we analyze land use change drivers through neural networks and Markov chains, and we develop two land use scenarios for the next 20years: one characterized by business as usual and another with a more restrictive land use regime. Our findings show that infrastructure drivers are the most critical factor overall, when combined with the historical social ecological trajectory of the study area. The impact of environmental public policy instruments on future trajectories demonstrates their potential to decrease deforestation. The results provide insights for the integrated territorial planning of peri-urban areas with similar social ecological dynamics and developing context.

Assessment of Mortality Attributable to Air Pollution in the Urban Area of Pisa (Central Italy) Characterized by Multi-Source Exposures

Air pollution is one of the main risk factors for human health. The aim of this study was to provide an Integrated Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (IEHIA) tool to estimate the impacts on both environment and human health in Pisa municipality (central Italy). For each pollutant considered (PM2.5, PM10, and NO2), both Population-Weighted Exposure (PWE) and Attributable Deaths (ADs) were calculated considering the difference between the PWE and the latest air quality guidelines suggested by the World Health Organization. The PWEs were 16.1 µg/m3, 24.9 µg/m3, and 25.9 µg/m3 for PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, respectively. The ADs from natural causes due to exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were 63, 29, and 51, respectively. The AD distribution was mainly concentrated in urban areas for particulate matter and in urban and suburban areas for NO2. The results highlighted significantly higher levels of air pollution than the reference levels, with a percentage of ADs from natural causes of approximately 6% of the total mortality in Pisa. IEHIA offers support for environmental and health policies and territorial planning. The authors recommend the adoption of prevention measures aimed at mitigating air pollution in critical areas, with a consequent reduction in avoidable mortality.

Multi-Objective Optimization of Urban Gas Station Site Selection Under Territorial Spatial Planning Constraints

The traditional process for selecting urban gas station sites often emphasizes economic benefits and return on investment, frequently overlooking mandatory and guiding constraints established by territorial spatial planning regulations. This neglect can compromise the effective layout and future growth of cities, potentially affecting their long-term development. To address this issue, this study develops a systematic framework for urban gas station site selection that integrates both mandatory and guiding constraints. By conducting detailed analyses of feasible construction areas and fuel demand, the framework quantifies relevant indicators and establishes a comprehensive index system for site selection. A multi-objective optimization model employing genetic algorithms was utilized to maximize fuel demand coverage, minimize inter-station redundancy, and achieve optimal site coverage. This framework was applied to the central urban area of Lishui City, China, as a case study. The site selection schemes achieved a coverage rate exceeding 90%, an inter-station redundancy rate around 30%, and a demand coverage rate surpassing 90%, optimizing the key objectives. Compared to traditional methods that often ignore territorial spatial planning constraints, this framework effectively avoids conflicts with urban planning and regulatory requirements. It enhances infrastructure coordination, supports environmental sustainability, and exhibits strong adaptability to diverse urban contexts, thus offering valuable support for practical decision-making.

Nesting landscape character and personality assessment to intensify rural landscape regionality and uniqueness

Urbanization impacts and homogenization pressures are threatening rural landscapes worldwide, leading to the loss of their regionality and uniqueness. Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) measures and identifies the uniqueness and distinctiveness of landscapes, making the unique value of rural resources easier to understand, protect, and perpetuate. Originating in the UK in the 1970s, LCA has become the mainstream approach for identifying landscape characteristics and is now a tool for managing landscape changes globally. Landscape Personality Assessment (LPA) offers another perspective for effectively measuring and analyzing landscape characteristics but has not been widely applied since its proposal. To distinguish between these two perspectives on landscape uniqueness identification, this paper conducted a literature review and comparison study, summarizing and comparing the characteristics of LCA and LPA in terms of evaluation scale, dimensions, indicators, and supported types of practices, further clarifying their respective strengths and weaknesses. To complement each other's perspectives on landscape characteristic identification, a framework nesting LCA and LPA was proposed to address the issue of the loss of rural landscape regionality in territorial spatial planning. This framework aims to couple evaluations of multi-level spatial characteristics and combine the identification of multi-temporal landscape characteristics. The goal is to enrich the theoretical and methodological system of rural landscape characteristic evaluation and provide more tools for the planning and conservation of the regionality of rural landscapes globally.

An Improved Framework of Major Function-Oriented Zoning Based on Carrying Capacity: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region

Major function-oriented zoning, a key spatial planning strategy in China, aims to coordinate resource endowments, socio-economic development, and subsequent planning initiatives. However, the existing framework for major function-oriented zoning relies predominantly on socio-economic statistical indicators at the regional level, often neglecting the critical role of carrying capacity. To address this limitation, we assessed both the current state and dynamic trends of the carrying capacity to identify risk and advantageous zones for major functions, with the objective of optimizing major function-oriented zoning in the Yangtze River Delta region, China. Our findings indicate that 47 counties are experiencing significant pressure under the current carrying capacity, while 57 counties exhibit a deteriorating trend in their capacity. Over half of the counties are categorized as having an overloaded carrying capacity. Based on this analysis, 66 counties have been designated as risk zones for major functions. Consequently, the optimization of major function-oriented zoning requires adjustments in 10 counties, incorporating the identified risk and advantageous zones to enhance spatial planning efficacy. This study proposes an enhanced methodological framework for major function-oriented zoning by fully integrating carrying capacity assessments, offering substantial support for territorial spatial planning in China. We believe that these improvements contribute significantly to more resilient and sustainable regional development strategies.

Spatiotemporal Pattern Analysis and Prediction of Carbon Storage Based on Land Use and Cover Change: A Case Study of Jiangsu Coastal Cities in China

Accurate estimation of terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage and the scientific formulation of ecological conservation and land use policies are essential for promoting regional low-carbon sustainable development and achieving the goal of “carbon neutrality.” In this study, the FLUS–InVEST model was used to evaluate the carbon stocks of the Jiangsu coastal zone in China from 1995 to 2020 and scientifically forecast the changes in carbon stocks in 2030 under three scenarios: natural exploitation, ecological protection, and economic development. The results are as follows: (1) From 1995 to 2020, carbon storage in the coastal zone initially remained stable before declining, a trend closely linked to the accelerated urbanization and economic growth of Jiangsu Province. (2) By 2030, carbon storage under the three scenarios exhibits a pattern of “S1 decrease–S2 increase–S3 decrease,” with a more significant increase in construction land under the natural development and economic development scenarios compared to the ecological protection scenario. (3) The sensitivity of carbon storage to land use changes varies across scenarios. In the natural development scenario, carbon storage is most affected by forest reduction and construction land expansion. In the ecological protection scenario, it is more responsive to increases in non-construction land. In the economic development scenario, the expansion of construction land leads to the most significant decrease in carbon storage. Therefore, when formulating future territorial spatial planning policies and urban development strategies, it is essential to consider ecological protection and economic development scenarios comprehensively, taking into account carbon sequestration capabilities. This approach will ensure effective conservation and restoration of damaged ecosystems while safeguarding the robust development of urban economies and societies.

Potential and investment attractiveness of improved forestry projects under increasing climatic challenges

The aim is to justify the potential and provide an assessment of the effectiveness of investing in forest climate projects for improved forestry.A systematic approach was used for a comprehensive, structured and dynamic study of the potential of project activities (forest‐climatic projects) to improve forest productivity. The investment efficiency of forest‐climatic projects on improved forestry is determined taking into account the life cycle of project solutions. To conduct an express assessment of investment attractiveness of forest‐climatic projects, the coefficient characterizing the efficiency of investment for the produce of carbon units was used.It has been revealed that the regions of the Northwestern, Ural and Siberian Federal Districts have the greatest potential of areas of plots (over 2 million ha) for the realization of forest‐climatic projects on improved forestry. It has been shown that for the implementation of forest‐climatic projects on improved forestry in the conditions of the Central forest‐steppe per 1 ha investments of up to 100 thousand rubles are required. For climatic projects on improved forestry, the minimum investment per unit area will be from 97–111 thousand rubles per 1 ha, taking into account the life cycle of the project.The actual practice‐oriented task in the field of forestry has been solved. It consisted in substantiating the investment attractiveness of natural solutions aimed at increasing the carbon depositing functions of forest ecosystems. Calculated potential of areas for the implementation of forest‐climatic projects on improved forestry is an important tool for territorial planning and ensuring sustainable development of regional systems.

Land Space and High-Speed Transportation Coordinated Development Evaluation in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration of China

There is a complex interaction between national land space and transportation. China is accelerating its strategy of building a strong transportation country and territorial spatial planning, which requires evaluating and strengthening the coordination relationship between transport and land space to promote development. Taking the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration in China as an example, this study analyze the high-speed transportation construction and land space development process, evaluates the coupling and coordination degree between high-speed transportation and land space, as well as the “development-protection” situation in the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 by means of the coupling and coordination model, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and GIS analysis. The result shows: (1) high-speed transportation construction and territorial space development have been active for a long time, and most of the cities have maintained a high level of increase in these two indicators. In terms of protection indicators, Tangshan and other coastal cities have been lagging behind for a long time without any improvement trend. (2) The coupling and coordination level between high-speed transportation and development is high, with slight weakening over time, with an average annual decrease of less than 0.09%. The change in the coupling coordination level with protection shows the wave dynamics of ‘low-middle-low’. (3) In the future, high-speed transportation will have a significant impact on land space in the country for a long time. In this regard, it is suggested to: (1) promote the construction of high-speed transportation for network, systematic, and serial development; (2) accelerate the extension of the high-speed transportation advantages of the existing growth poles of Beijing and Tianjin; and (3) develop Shijiazhuang and Langfang as the new growth poles. This study will promote the integration of transportation and urban planning, which will contribute to the development of high-quality synergistic urban agglomerations around the world.

A Tribute to Jaume Porta Casanellas and His Influence on Soil Science

This article provides personal and professional assessments from disciples, colleagues and friends of Jaume Porta Casanellas (Barcelona, 1944; Lleida, 2023), a prominent soil scientist. He began his agricultural engineering studies at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) where he met Marta López-Acevedo, his wife and outstanding collaborator. At UPM, he started his early work in soil science under the guidance of Professor Carlos Roquero who became his mentor and friend. Jaume Porta was a dedicated, passionate soil scientist who engaged extensively in teaching and research in Soil Science, while also excelling as a manager. He emerged as a leader due to his initiatives in promoting Soil Science in Catalonia and Spain, and for his forward-thinking vision, evident in his decisions as Rector of the University of Lleida, which have significantly contributed to the city’s development. From the beginning, he advocated for detailed (1:25,000) soil mapping of Catalonia to enhance territorial planning and agricultural progress. His primary research focus was on salt-affected soils and soils with gypsum, alongside soil erosion and conservation. Porta devoted a lot of effort to improve soil field descriptions with his Agenda de campo. He played a key role in standardizing soil analytical methods, establishing large series laboratories in Spain, notably the LAF in Sidamon (Lleida), and aligning Spanish soil labs with the international GLOSOLAN network. As president of the SECS, he energized activities and encouraged member participation. His educational publications, mainly his comprehensive textbook Edafología, are considered fundamental in Soil Science across Spanish-speaking countries, as is the Multilingual Dictionary of Soil Science, representing the pinnacle of his efforts to rigorously disseminate soil science concepts and terms in Spanish, Catalan, Galician, and Portuguese. He contributed significantly to international Soil Science courses in Mexico and played a key role in establishing the JADE postgraduate training program. He facilitated the creation and international visibility of the Spanish Journal of Soil Science. Additionally, he advocated for the establishment of the Soil Sciences Documentation Centre (Ce.SECS) to preserve historical publications and the legacy of soil scientists. Jaume Porta’s enduring impact, both professionally and personally, will be felt for years to come.

Research and development of automation subroutine for forecasting the number and load of cargo vehicles depending on the stochastic formation of dangerous goods collection centers

The issues of forecasting the load of vehicles, route networks, formation of collection centers for cargo flows, including dangerous goods, in territorial planning systems determine the need for transition from deterministic models to dynamic models with the possibility of taking into account the influence of the external environment. Existing information transportation systems in the sphere of work with dangerous goods are based on deterministic models and allow to study the problems of forecasting changes to a limited extent. Models of routing networks construction on cargo vehicles are limitedly applicable when there is a task of dangerous goods transportation taking into account the presence of a distributed system of accumulation centers both in the city and, for example, within a large transport hub, seaport with different terminals. The paper presents routing models adapted to the conditions of dangerous goods transportation. Determining transport efficiency and the main costs of transport enterprises is the scheme of traffic flows, fixed in the territorial scheme. The task of the study is to develop a separate automation toolkit for decision making on the number and type of specialized transport (depending on the load capacity) to work with dangerous goods and large-sized objects within the existing flow scheme. On the basis of the research of the group of companies the conclusion is presented that today the task of choosing the optimal amount of transport by carriers is solved, as a rule, not systematically, but by operative construction of a set of routes, and does not involve primary analysis of the territory and parameters of accumulation sites. The presented study considers a new approach to the analysis of the system of transportation of hazardous waste, associated large cargoes, in terms of assessing the necessary list of universal structured input data, which are primary principled and characterize the complexity of work in the selected facility, terminal. To solve the problem of forecasting the load of vehicles is offered developed a new automation subprogram based on the organization of client-server access to data, and implemented in the internal programming language “1C. Management of motor transport” (version ММT 8.2). The presented automation subprogram provides data connectivity on volumes of dangerous goods cargo flows, cargo flow collection centers, available data on vehicles and planned data on removal schedules. Work of the subprogram provides integration of work with other databases of transport companies and allows to carry out modeling of various variants of placement of centers of collection of dangerous goods, centers of cargo flows with high accuracy. The obtained results allow to determine the required number of vehicles, their load taking into account different types and technical capabilities, as well as to determine the required number of vehicle trips in the serviced area taking into account the dynamic influence of the external environment. The presented methodology of working with data, performed in a separate automation subprogram, presented routing models, adapted to the transportation of dangerous goods, can be applied to various transport systems, including sea cargo ports and terminals, which determines the universality of the presented approach.

Future prospectives in plantain agro-chain by foresight-by-scenarios and Delphi analysis

Purpose This paper aims to identify future scenarios and convergent technologies regarding the plantain chain in the region of Quindío, Colombia. It proposes the definition of key variables, convergent technologies, future objectives, future scenarios and hypotheses based on stakeholders’ and experts’ opinions collected through questionnaires, surveys and workshops. Design/methodology/approach The present analysis seeks to identify and anticipate the future routes for the improvement of scientific, technological, innovative and skills management of the plantain agroindustrial chain in the region of Quindío, Colombia using the foresight-by-scenarios and, Delphi methodologies and finally validating the results with artificial intelligence code and natural language processing. Findings After the analysis of 100 initial variables, the results suggested the identification of five key variables defined by the stakeholders and matrix-based multiplication applied to a classification (MICMAC) analysis such as “weather,” “financing and economy,” “grouping and associativity,” “crop” and “territorial planning and raw material.” Moreover, the definition of four future objectives along with the matrix of alliances and conflicts, tactics, objectives and recommendations (MACTOR) analysis suggested scenarios according to the probability. The most possible, probable and desirable scenario, was the cooccurrence of the five proposed hypotheses. Furthermore, the Delphi analysis allowed us to define nine subgroups from 116 subtopics including: “plantain varieties,” “plantain agroindustry,” “waste use” and “crop,” among others. Research limitations/implications Due to the specificity of the analyzed agro-chain, the study only encompasses the plantain and banana sectors. However, the implications are related to the generation of projects in the selected technologies. Practical implications This paper includes implications for the development of prospective studies combining two or more different methodologies such as foresight-by-scenarios and Delphi method at the same time and further comparing the results with artificial intelligence analysis. Social implications The generation of public policies in the sector and input for governmental analysis and tools for decision-making with a well-grounded, systematic and rational point of view. Originality/value This work describes for the first time, the implementation of the Delphi method regarding an important agroindustry sector such as plantain and banana prospective study. Furthermore, it explains the alignment of two methodologies; foresight-by-scenarios and the Delphi method related to the sectorial approaches, and convergent technologies and innovations, respectively. Moreover, a complementary bibliometric analysis with global terms related to the plantain or banana agroindustry was also included. In a novel way, we also applied an artificial intelligence code using Python software to contrast the results previously obtained in the foresight-by-scenarios method.

Re-arquitecturar los territorios, un desafío ineluctable para la sostenibilidad compartida

The dynamic - historical reading of the planning, andthe balances of what we consider as a structural “bad urbanrural development” of the territories (at least since the 60s), is essential. This position, although open to debate, has become evident taking into account the also dynamic reading of the great challenges of sustainable transitions and "resilience”, that have marked planning and management intentions in Central American planning history. This statement necessarily leads torethinking global architectures inherited (built form, forms of management and planning, governance) to define the intensities of the changes. Moving towards this, implies to define the method and the transition system to be implemented, and to define the instruments that allow rehabilitating, reconstructing,remodeling, “re-architecturing” territories and institutions inherited. However, the re-architecture proposed will depend on the collective clarity, first of the pasts carried over, and second the desired futures. Accounting for the "arts" or the "politicalsocialinstitutional techniques" that created (and continue to do) the "metropolitan areas", is today an essential stage to be able to move towards new development models. Indeed, many local and metropolitan challenges, such as the “right to sustainable housing for all” (which has a high component of physicalconstructive design), contain high probabilities of never being effective in the current and trending context. Given that the current political, institutional, economic and social capacities, to make considerable changes in the management of the territories, seem to be compromised. Forging new capabilities and new abilities (financial, environmental, social, and including technical-constructive) is a collective challenge. And collectively conceiving a new urban planning and territorial planning (corrective – preventive and collaborative) is an urgency. ILIA: Investigaciones Latinoamericanas en Ingeniería y Arquitectura, No. 01, 2024: 167-173.

Exploring the Configurational Relationships between Urban Heat Island Patterns and the Built Environment: A Case Study of Beijing

The spatial heterogeneity of land surface temperature (LST) within cities is profoundly influenced by the built environment. Although significant progress has been made in the study of the urban thermal environment, there is still a lack of research on how the pattern and structural layout of the built environment affects the thermal environment. In this study, we take the Fifth Ring Road of Beijing as an example, invert the urban LST on the basis of multisource spatial data, characterize the built environment, and use k-means cluster analysis to investigate the main influencing factors of the LST in different functional areas and building patterns within the city, as well as the spatial relationship between the built environment and the urban LST. The results show the following: (1) The urban heat island (UHI) effect occurs to varying degrees over a large part of the study area, and these UHI areas are mainly concentrated in the southwestern part of the city, forming a large contiguous area between the second and fifth ring roads. (2) Class 1 is dominated by transport blocks, Class 3 is dominated by commercial blocks, and Class 5 is dominated by green space blocks, with a clustering index of 0.38. (3) The high-density, high-height class (HH-Class 2) has a greater number of blocks distributed in a ring shape around the periphery of the second ring road. The high-density, low-height class (HL-Class 2) has a relatively small number of blocks but a relatively large area, and the largest blocks are located in the western part of the study area. (4) In the HH and HL building patterns, extreme heat scenarios often occur; from the perspective of functional areas, the probability of extreme heat in the transport block is much higher than that of other functional areas, and except for the HH scenario, the green space functional area plays a very important role in reducing the temperature. This study explores the characteristics of the built environment that influence the urban LST from the perspective of different urban functional zones in cities to provide decision support for quantitative territorial spatial planning, optimization, and management.

Coupling Coordination Measurement and Multi-dimensional Conflict Diagnosis among Territorial Space Functions

Exploring the relationship between urban, agricultural, and ecological functions is crucial for optimizing the territorial spatial patterns and achieving balanced territorial spatial development. Based on the classification system of "urban-agricultural-ecological" territorial spatial planning and with the help of multi-source data, including land use, population density, nighttime light, road network, precipitation, and county statistical data from 2010 to 2020, we constructed an evaluation index system of territorial space functions at the grid scale in the Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone. The coupling coordination levels among territorial space functions was measured using the coupling coordination degree model and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Moreover, the multi-dimensional function conflict identification model was used to diagnose the type and intensity of function conflicts. The results showed that： ① The urban function was mainly improved, accounting for 75.67%. The grids with high function evaluation index were mainly located in the south of the study area, whereas the intensity of urban function improvement in the north was higher than that in the south. Otherwise, the agricultural and ecological functions were mainly reduced, accounting for 77.44 % and 57.66%, respectively, and the majority of grids with a significant decrease were distributed in the south of Poyang Lake. ② From 2010 to 2020, the coupling coordination type was dominated by an imbalance recession, accounting for 53.87% and 49.89 %, respectively. However, the number of grids with crucial imbalance and primary coordination was reduced, and the coupling coordination types tended to change from both ends to the middle. The coupling coordination hot spots were mainly concentrated in the southern plain, whereas the cold spots were mainly distributed in the northern mountainous and hilly areas, both of which showed a reducing trend. However, in the north of Poyang Lake, a small number of hot spots, distributed along the lake area with relatively flat terrain, showed an expanding trend. ③ The intensity of four territorial space function conflicts was mainly moderate or severe. In addition to the slight positive trend of 'urban-agricultural' function conflict, the function conflicts of "urban-ecological", "agricultural-ecological", and "urban-agricultural-ecological" were all aggravated. The grids with aggravating conflicts were mainly distributed in the Ganjiang River and Fuhe River Basin. The major reason for the aggravation was that the urban function increased obviously, whereas the ecological and agricultural functions decreased significantly. In conclusion, in both the coupling coordination types and multi-dimensional conflicts among territorial space functions, significant spatial differences existed； thus, proposing optimization strategies according to local conditions is necessary. Additionally, the protection of ecological and agricultural spaces during each stage of urbanization development must be focused.

Theoretical concepts about alluvial fans and debris cones: case studies of an Alluvial Fan in São Desidério (Bahia, Brazil) and a Debris Cone at Mount Somma, near the Vesuvius Volcano (Naples, Italy)

Analyzing the last 24 years of the Brazilian Journal of Geomorphology and the National Symposiums of Geomorphology (SINAGEO), it is evident that there is a lack of studies on alluvial fans in Brazil and in Portuguese literature. The situation is even more unclear concerning debris cones. This paper aims to provide a concise and comprehensive bibliographic review of alluvial fans and debris cones in Portuguese and to the Brazilian geomorphological science. These features are crucial for understanding and studying the relationship between form and process, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, sensitivity to climate variations, risks associated with mass movements on slopes, and more effective territorial planning by human actions. Additionally, the paper seeks to clarify the main theoretical and conceptual distinctions between alluvial fans and debris cones, proposing a new classification based on two particularly illustrative case studies. Do alluvial fans and debris cones represent the same or different depositional forms in the landscape? To this end, the methodology includes a detailed theoretical and conceptual review of the topic, a survey of relevant data about the subject in the main means of the Brazilian geomorphological community dissemination, a proposal of a new classification to differentiate these forms, and the mapping, characterization, comparison and analysis of two specific study areas: an Alluvial Fan identified in São Desidério (Bahia, Brazil) and a Debris Cone identified in Mount Somma, the ancient crater of the current Vesuvius Volcano (Naples, Italy).

Voluntary Planning and City Networks: A Systematic Bibliometric Review Addressing Current Issues for Sustainable and Climate-Responsive Planning

Over the years, energy saving and climate change have sparked a challenge in developing innovative spatial and urban planning tools, methods, and approaches for urban areas and territorial management. This challenge has pointed out a gap in the traditional planning framework in tackling energy and climate issues, highlighting the need for renovated spatial planning practices. The current effective measures carried out by the complex network of stakeholders (public and private) are fragmented, and the role of city networks in shaping decisions and interventions has emerged. In particular, among the approaches for urban and territorial planning and the development of climate-responsive measures, this research adopts a specific focus on voluntary planning. The authors, through a literature review and an analysis of nine city networks, investigated how this approach addresses energy and climate issues and how it is linked to the city networks in designing investments and interventions within the urban context. From the authors’ perspective, city networks are the operative component in designing local experiences and applications, contributing to achievement of the global energy and climate targets according to the current policies. In this context, successful results with respect to climate and energy challenges is expressed in the degree of the awareness and the commitment achieved by the local communities. Moreover, reaching the climate and energy goals is a representation of the outcome of the interaction between the (public or private) actors involved and the degree of a city’s climate-responsiveness, rather than from a normative constraint or an institutional framework.