Typical Suburban Research Articles

Prospective associations between neighborhood features and body mass index in Montreal adolescents.

PurposeTo investigate the association between the neighborhood built environment and trajectories of body mass index (BMI) in youth. MethodsData were collected in a prospective study of 1293 adolescents in Montreal. Built environment variables were obtained from public databases for road networks, land use, and the Canadian Census. Anthropometric data were collected when participants were ages 12.5, 15 and 17 years. We undertook hierarchical cluster analysis to identify contrasting neighborhood types based on features of the built environment (e.g., vegetation, population density, walkability). Associations between neighborhood type and trajectories of BMI z-score (BMIz) were estimated using multivariable linear mixed regression analyses, stratified by sex. ResultsWe identified three neighborhood types: Urban, Suburban, and Village. In contrast to the Urban type, the Suburban type was characterized by more vegetation, few services and low population density. Village and Suburban types were similar, but the former had greater land use diversity, population density with more parks and a denser food environment. Among girls, living in Urban types was associated with decreasing BMIz trajectories. Living in Village types was associated with increasing BMIz trajectories. No associations were observed among boys. ConclusionsNeighborhoods characterized by greater opportunities for active living appear to be less obesogenic, particularly among girls.

Applying modified-data mining techniques to assess public transportation vulnerable urban and suburban city areas

To guarantee the right to move for residents in areas where public transportation is insufficient, research is needed to identify vulnerable areas and prepare measures. This paper defines the vulnerable regions of public transportation within various city types in Korea. In order to identify appropriate areas to apply the Demand Responsive Transit (DRT), the regions with vulnerability were compared with a specific city (Yangsan-si) which already the DRT system was successfully adopted. To collect monthly bus data, web-data crawling method was performed and processed with coordinating program by matching GPS coordinate. The public transportation demand was predicted for each grid cell size (100 m, 250 m, and 500 m) by different methodologies. Various data mining models based on regression were analyzed to predict bus demand of vulnerable areas. Among models, a modified model was suggested to combine Automated machine learning models for high prediction performance. The modified model outperformed other methods as 0.685 and prediction performance was appropriate at 100 m rectangle grid. Regional characters of DRT bus allocation areas were extracted by K-means clustering method and differentiate urban and suburban types. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into conditions that DRT bus stop can be installed. The urban bus stop areas located in metropolitan cities and the suburban bus stop allocation areas located in countryside. The study results can be used as policy data for the successful introduction to prevent social exclusion and improve resident welfare in the future.

Quasi Real-Time XRF Spectrometer in Source Apportionment of PM10 in a Typical Suburban Area

Quasi Real-Time XRF Spectrometer in Source Apportionment of PM10 in a Typical Suburban Area

An Application of a LPWAN for Upgrading Proximal Soil Sensing Systems.

In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT), based on low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) wireless communication technology, has developed rapidly. On the one hand, the IoT makes it possible to conduct low-cost, low-power, wide-coverage, and real-time soil monitoring in fields. On the other hand, many proximal soil sensor devices designed based on conventional communication methods that are stored in an inventory face elimination. Considering the idea of saving resources and costs, this paper applied LPWAN technology to an inventoried proximal soil sensor device, by designing an attachment hardware system (AHS) and realizing technical upgrades. The results of the experimental tests proved that the sensor device, after upgrading, could work for several years with only a battery power supply, and the effective wireless communication coverage was nearly 1 km in a typical suburban farming environment. Therefore, the new device not only retained the original mature sensing technology of the sensor device, but also exhibited ultralow power consumption and long-distance transmission, which are advantages of the LPWAN; gave full play to the application value and economic value of the devices stored in inventory; and saved resources and costs. The proposed approach also provides a reference for applying LPWAN technology to a wider range of inventoried sensor devices for technical upgrading.

Characterization of VOCs during Nonheating and Heating Periods in the Typical Suburban Area of Beijing, China: Sources and Health Assessment

In recent years, the “coal to electricity” project (CTEP) using clean energy instead of coal for heating has been implemented by Beijing government to cope with air pollution. However, VOC pollution after CTEP was rarely studied in suburbs of Beijing. To fill this exigency, 116 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were observed during nonheating (P1) and heating (P2) periods in suburban Beijing. The results showed that the total of VOCs (TVOCs) was positively correlated with PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, and SO2 but negatively correlated with O3 and wind speed. The average TVOCs concentration was 19.43 ± 12.41 ppbv in P1 and 16.25 ± 8.01 ppbv in P2. Aromatics and oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) were the main contributors to ozone formation potential (OFP). Seven sources of VOCs identified by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model were industrial source, coal combustion, fuel evaporation, gasoline vehicle exhaust, diesel vehicle exhaust, background and biogenic sources, and solvent usage. The contribution of coal combustion to VOCs increased significantly during P2, whereas industrial sources, fuel evaporation, and solvent usage exhibited opposite trends. The potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) were used to analyze the source distributions. The results showed that VOC pollution was caused mainly by air mass from southern Hebei during P1 but by local emissions during P2. Therefore, although the contribution of coal combustion after heating increased, TVOCs concentration during P2 was lower than that during P1. Chronic noncarcinogenic risks of all selected VOC species were below the safe level, while the carcinogenic risks of most selected VOC species were above the acceptable risk level, especially for tetrachloromethane and 1,2-dichloroethane. The cancer risks posed by gasoline vehicle emissions, industrial enterprises, and coal combustion should be paid more attention.

The Evaluation of the Impact of a Saharan Event on Particulate Matter Using Compositional Data Analysis

The proposed approach based on compositional data analysis was applied on simultaneous measurements of the mineral element concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 from a typical suburban site with and without a Saharan event. The suburban site is located in the city of Rome. The selected mineral elements were Al, Si, Ca, Fe, Ti, Mg, and Sr. The data relating to these elements are reported in a previous study. The considered elements are mainly related to mineral matter. The proposed approach allows statistically validating that the mineral element concentrations of PM during days with a Saharan event differ from those without a Saharan event in terms of mineral element composition and size distribution. In particular, the results showed that the compositional data analysis applied to simultaneous measurements of mineral element concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 is a helpful technique that can be used to study environmental sites affected by natural sources such as Saharan events. Moreover, the presented technique can be handy in all those conditions where it is important to discriminate whether the occurrence of an exceedance or a violation of the daily limit value established for PM could also be due to natural sources.

A Real-Time Rule-Based Energy Management Strategy With Multi-Objective Optimization for a Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Energy management strategy (EMS) has a great impact on securing fuel cell durability, battery charge sustenance, and fuel saving in fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles (FCHEVs). This study aims to develop EMS that can be applied in real-time to satisfy above conditions. Real time power separation was performed using rule-based EMS. A genetic algorithm (GA) was implemented to calculate the optimal battery charge/discharge criterion that simultaneously satisfies the minimum hydrogen consumption rate, battery charge rate preservation, and high fuel cell efficiency. The battery charge/discharge parameter values vary according to driving patterns, and in this paper, typical suburban, urban, and highway driving conditions are considered. For the real-time application of this research method, the effectiveness was demonstrated by applying the driving conditions of unknown patterns. The effect on the initial battery SOC on EMS was analyzed, and in order to verify the superiority of this method, it was compared and analyzed with EMS results using dynamic programming and fuzzy logic under the same driving cycles. The effectiveness of this research method was verified through simulation, and it was confirmed through experiments for real-time application. Since there is a limit to the experiment using an actual fuel cell vehicle, the experiment was performed using a fuel cell and battery. This method can be applied to real fuel cell vehicles in the same way.

Mapping the Challenges to the Sustainable Operation of Suburban Villages in a Metropolis: A Comparative Case Study from the Lens of Three Stakeholder-Led Approaches

In the rapid urbanization and land development process, the integration of urban and rural areas has accelerated. Alongside this trend, the sustainable operation of suburban villages in metropolitan areas face many difficulties and challenges, especially in terms of the efficient use of land and the coordination of stakeholders’ interests. However, there remains a lack of systematic case studies in the literature targeted toward suburban villages in metropolises. This study selects three typical suburban villages in the metropolis of Jiangning District, Nanjing (i.e., a metropolis in China) to narrow this research gap. We collected primary data based on field investigations, structural interviews, and professional documents. With three typical villages employed as comparative case studies, we developed a theoretical framework to systematically analyze the operation process and the challenges faced by suburban villages in the metropolis. The results revealed the different application scenarios of three stakeholder-led models, including the state-owned enterprise-led model, the grassroots government-led model, and the private capital-led model, in the sustainable operation of metropolis-based suburban villages. The findings shed new light on selecting an appropriate path to boost the sustainable endogenous development of rural areas. This study extends existing research on the sustainable operation of suburban villages in the metropolis, providing practical guidance on aligning stakeholder-led models to better integrate urban and rural areas.

경상남도 자립형 어촌계 입지유형별 공간적 효율성 분석에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study is to analyze the production efficiency of fishing village in Gyeongsangnam-do using Bootstrap-DEA. This study analyzed 40 capture fishery type fishing village in Gyeongsangnam-do. First, the study estimates technical, pure technical, and scale efficiency of each fishing village based on traditional DEA under the assumption of CRS and VRS. The average value of technical efficiency for fishing village was estimated at 0.45 in the CCR model and the average pure technical efficiency value in the BCC model was estimated at 0.69. As a result, we show that both CCR and BCC models can reduce inputs to improve efficiency. Second, Estimation of efficiency by location type in the Bootstrap-CCR model showed that most of the top groups were suburban, and coastal villages were mostly inefficient. On the other hand, the Bootstrap-BCC model showed that the coastal village DMU A36 had the highest pure technology efficiency. Third, as a result of analyzing the impact of returns to scale in 40 fishing village, the portion of coastal village types was the highest among the fishing village operating on the constant returns to scale. Next, out of 29 fishing village with the increasing returns to scale, suburban type accounted for 18, and coastal village type accounted for 5 out of 7 fishing villages with the decreasing returns to scale.

Photolysis rate in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region: Reconstruction and long-term trend

With the increasingly severe ozone pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in recent years, NO2 photolysis has attracted our attention as the main source of tropospheric ozone generation. The photolysis rate of NO2 (J(NO2)) is of great importance for the quantification of photochemical ozone generation and photochemical pollution research, but its long-term changes in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region remain unclear. An efficient reconstruction method for J(NO2) was established via simulations with the troposphere ultraviolet and visible radiation (TUV) model and the observations of J(NO2) and total ultraviolet (UV) radiation at a typical suburban site in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. We introduced the cloud modification factor in this method which improved the R2 value between the calculated and observed J(NO2) values from 0.64 to 0.94 over the TUV clear-sky simulation level. A long-term (2005–2019) J(NO2) dataset in Xianghe was reconstructed by applying this method. The annual mean J(NO2) value reached 3.5*10−3 s−1 from2005 to 2019. The annual mean J(NO2) value fluctuated slightly from 2005 to 2012 but increased evidently in the last 7 years. The increase rates of the annual mean J(NO2) value and O(3P) generation via NO2 photolysis were 1.3*10−4 s−1 per year and 1.1*10−3 ppb•s−1 per year, respectively, from 2013 to 2019. From 2005 to 2019, J(NO2) exhibited the sharpest increasing trend in summer, but increased the least in spring. The monthly mean J(NO2) value was the highest in May and the lowest in November. Our results demonstrated that to control the ozone concentration in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, we must pay more attention to the reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the year-by-year increase in ambient J(NO2).

The “Classification - Strategies” method for the eco-transition of “mine-city” system-taking Xuzhou city as an example

The transition of coal-exhausted city (CEC) has been a worldwide problem, the transition planning of the CEC is a synergetic procedure. When we look into the transition problem of a larger CEC, the difficulties for the city planner come from the synchronicity, otherness and complexity of the “Mine-City” system. Xuzhou City is the largest CEC in the world and has the most complex “Mine-City system”. The researches on the transition of Xuzhou would be a good example to the complex “Mine-City” system planning in the world. The bio-city is the best transition target for Xuzhou city. Based on this understanding, a “Classification-Strategy” method for Xuzhou city's eco-transition is proposed. The “Mine-City” system of Xuzhou is classified into 3 basic types: urban type, rural type and suburban type. The corresponding practical strategies are proposed. The “Classification-Strategy” method has the advantages of simple and practical, and can give the city planner a more comprehensive consideration of the planning elements during the eco-transition of the “Mine-City” system.

Location Choice in Minority Group Suburbanization: The Case of Metropolitan Chicago

This paper is a study of suburbanization of African-Americans and Hispanics in metropolitan Chicago. There are at least three different types of suburbs; satellite cities with their own employment bases, spillover suburbs adjacent to the central city, and newer commuter suburbs attractive to middle-class households. The study includes data on five satellite cities and 109 spillover and other of suburbs in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties in metropolitan Chicago. African-American suburbanization was concentrated in spillover suburbs and the suburbs of southern Cook County – locations that already had substantial African-American populations. However, nearly all of the suburbs had an increase in African-American population. The suburbanization of Hispanics reflects the much larger growth of this group. From 1990 to 2010 the satellite cities and the suburbs generally more than doubled in their percentages of Hispanic population. Suburbs with lower income levels in 1990 tended to attract more Hispanics.

Testing the Spatial Assimilation Model on Black Ethnic Immigrant Locational Outcomes within Mature and Developing Suburbs

This study investigates black ethnic immigrant group differences in residential outcomes between developing and mature suburbs. It evaluates the extent to which foreign-born black ethnic groups’ socioeconomic status (SES) and acculturation characteristics agree with the outlines of the spatial assimilation model. Binomial logistic regression models are calculated, using data from the 2012–2016 IPUMS ACS, to examine the impact of place of birth/nativity status, SES, acculturation, family/household characteristics, and region on residence in developing versus mature suburbs within U.S. metropolitan areas. The results reveal mixed results for the expectations of the spatial assimilation model. On the one hand, and in agreement with the spatial assimilation model, residence in mature and developing suburbs is a function of increments in household income and educational levels. On the other hand, the multivariate results reveal suburban type residential outcomes that vary by place of birth and nativity status. The effects of acculturation also reveal findings that diverge from the expectations of the spatial assimilation model.

Methodology to evaluate the uncertainty of train exterior noise prediction

Noise emissions play a key role in the development of environment-friendly rolling stock. Noise limits given by EU directives for interoperability purposes but also by internal directives of the different countries where any kind of rolling stock operates have to be respected for train approval. Exterior noise predictions are used nowadays to validate the design of new rolling stock. These predictions are used within the companies to evaluate the different design options, to optimize costs, to assess the risks and for virtual certification in cases where existing products are modified. Potentially predictions could be used in the future for a complete virtual certification of the train allowing to decrease or even to completely avoid the noise tests that are currently carried out by the train manufacturers. As a consequence, the cost of the certification process will be reduced. One of the challenges for a complete virtual certification is the assessment of uncertainties in the predictions as probably this will not be accepted by the stakeholders without a defined and validated uncertainty assessment. This work presents a methodology to estimate the uncertainty of the predictions of train noise emissions. An example of the application of the proposed framework for uncertainty evaluation is provided for a typical suburban rolling stock showing the feasibility of its use for railway exterior noise predictions but potentially also for interior noise calculations and for different applications other than railway.

Suburban status and neighbourhood change

This article examines suburban neighbourhood trajectories from 1970 to 2010 in the 100 most populous metropolitan areas in the US within the context of discussions around suburban decline and reinvestment. A weighted composite index of neighbourhood change indicators was used to identify the relative status of urban and suburban neighbourhoods. Index values were ranked by metropolitan area, and neighbourhoods were assigned to a corresponding quartile. The quartiles formed a status trajectory sequence, categorised as Reduced, Reduced with recovery, Stable or Improved. Neighbourhood trajectories were compared across city and suburb as well as across prewar, postwar, and modern suburban types. Despite increased discussion around suburban decline and suburban poverty, suburban neighbourhoods maintained a higher status than the city, were more likely to recover from reduced status and had higher frequencies of status improvement. The majority of suburban neighbourhoods occupied the highest status ranking in all decades. Stability was the most common trajectory for suburbs, and stable suburban neighbourhoods were higher status than stable urban neighbourhoods. The findings highlight geographies of neighbourhood inequalities and contribute to our understanding of regional and suburban neighbourhood change dynamics.

Types of suburbs in post-socialist Poland and their potential for creating public spaces

The aim of this article is to distinguish types of the suburbs that are typical for post-socialist European countries. The typology organizes the variety of suburban forms according to the degree to which they favour the creation of public spaces, or the access to such spaces in the city or nearby town. A new typology is based on six criteria: (1) the level of neighbourhood (spatial scale), (2) the time when the neighbourhood was erected, (3) spatial interaction with the nearest town/city, (4) the prevailing type of investment, (5) street layout, (6) access to the city centre by public transport. Suburbs are diversified in terms of their potential for the establishment of public spaces. It has been proved that individual housing in the form of neighbourhoods which are planned, densely populated and based on street grid is the most preferred type from the perspective of building social capital. The typology was developed for Warsaw Metropolitan Region, although it may be applied also in the research of post-socialist countries other than Poland and urban regions within them.

Expansion features of Irkutsk suburban areas’ development

This article is devoted to the problems of spatial development of the suburban zone of the city of Irkutsk in post-Soviet realities. The paper presents some features of suburbanization in Russia, as well as geographic factors that influence the formation and development of the Irkutsk agglomeration, such as high dependence on the poly-highway; a special model of industrial development; Baikal factor. Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of development in various directions and spatial differentiation of various types of suburbs. The reasons and consequences of such development are considered. A typology of the Irkutsk suburban area is presented based on the nature of the settlements with a brief description.

City Bus Powertrain Comparison: Driving Cycle Variation and Passenger Load Sensitivity Analysis

Alternative powertrains are rapidly increasing in popularity in city buses. Hence, it is vitally important to understand the factors affecting the performance of the powertrains in order to operate them on appropriate routes and as efficiently as possible. To that end, this paper presents an exhaustive driving cycle and passenger load sensitivity analysis for the most common city bus powertrain topologies. Three-thousand synthetic cycles were generated for a typical suburban bus route based on measured cycles and passenger numbers from the route. The cycles were simulated with six bus models: compressed natural gas, diesel, parallel hybrid, series hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell hybrid, and battery electric bus. Twenty reference cycles featuring various types of routes were simulated for comparison. Correlations between energy consumption and the various driving cycle parameters and passenger loads were examined. Further analysis was conducted with variance decomposition. Aggressiveness and stop frequency had the highest correlation with the consumption. The diesel bus was the most sensitive to aggressiveness. The parallel hybrid had a lower statistical dispersion of consumption than the series hybrid on the suburban route. On the varied routes, the opposite was true. The performance of the parallel hybrid powertrain deteriorated significantly on cycles with high aggressiveness and stop frequency. In general, the high correlation between aggressiveness and energy consumption implies that particular attention must be paid to limiting high-speed accelerations of city buses.

Suburban revalorization: Residential infill and rehabilitation in Baltimore County’s older suburbs

This paper is a critical examination of redevelopment in the older suburbs of Baltimore County, Maryland between 2000 and 2014. Using exploratory spatial analysis techniques and qualitative methods, we identify the location of concentrated forms of suburban redevelopment, capturing incremental changes to single-family suburban homes in the form of residential rehabilitation, and new construction as well as larger-scale infill in the form of single-family subdivisions and apartments. We find that redevelopment among older suburbs is multifaceted, encompassing reinvestment in single-family housing in old elite residential suburban neighborhoods; the replacement of publicly subsidized apartment complexes with market rate, single-family dwellings in formerly industrial suburbs; the replacement of waterfront postwar housing with more expensive structures in formerly industrial suburbs; and the densification of older edge suburban core areas. The local planning regime has been instrumental in the redevelopment process across suburban types. Based on our findings, we suggest that suburban planners take a more active role in considering the potential direct and indirect displacement of low-income residents from redeveloped suburban spaces. This is imperative as inner-ring suburban devalorization occurs and suburban poverty grows.

Installation of under sleeper pads on ballasted railway tracks: An economic analysis of their potential implementation

This study examines the economic impact of installing under sleeper pads in two different routes in the UK: the London-Portsmouth line and a section of the East Coast Main Line. The Portsmouth line is a typical suburban route with a high proportion of commuters whereas the East Coast Main Line is a higher speed line with less users and more distance between stations. The cost implications of this intervention are assessed through a stochastic application of cost benefit analysis underpinned with a sensitivity analysis. Using an industry-specific model, vehicle track interaction strategic model, as well as the results of laboratory experiments conducted at the University of Southampton, we are able to offer a set of conclusions. Increased reliability, improved ride quality and reduced vibration are important benefits for the users, higher in total terms on the Portsmouth line than on the East Coast Main Line, but smaller when the comparison is made on a per capita basis. In other words, the investment brings a higher absolute efficiency gain for the Portsmouth line but a higher relative efficiency gain for the East Coast Main Line. It is found that under sleeper pads can lead to substantial financial savings; these are higher for the East Coast Main Line than the Portsmouth line. Finally, depending on assumptions concerning noise impacts, under sleeper pads are likely to have substantial wider social benefits; these are much higher for the Portsmouth line than the East Coast Main Line. Although these conclusions are based on a UK case study, they could be applicable to any railway operation in a developed region facing high maintenance costs and growing demand.