Urban City Research Articles

Smart city development and improvement of quality of life in urban cities of Sri Lanka: citizen-centric approach

Smart city development and improvement of quality of life in urban cities of Sri Lanka: citizen-centric approach

Should I Stay, or Should I Go Now? Neighborhood, Family, and Youth Predictors of Intracity Mobility.

The effects of residential mobility on youth development outcomes related to violence and victimization have traditionally been understood from an outward mobility perspective. Less attention has been paid to predictors of intracity moves, a more common mobility practice. Research, however, should identify factors associated with intracity mobility before scholars can explore and fully understand the impacts of moving within the city on youth development outcomes such as violence and victimization and whether they are akin to those identified for moves beyond city limits. Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, we apply a multilevel ecological framework to assess neighborhood, family, and youth factors associated with intracity mobility. We employed hierarchical generalized linear modeling to examine within and between-neighborhood models of intracity mobility among youth and their families who moved within Chicago (N = 426) and those who did not (N = 867). Our investigation highlights as important factors family dynamics instability and aggression and violence at the neighborhood level. Findings show that parental divorce/separation, harsh disciplinary practices, negative school experiences such as racial/ethnic conflict, gangs, or heightened security measures, and exposure to violence predict intracity mobility. Critically, negative school experiences proved to be a robust determinant of moving as cross-level interactions suggest neighborhood crime significantly shapes how these experiences inform intracity mobility. This study emphasizes the importance of examining mobility beyond urban city limits, noting distinct predictors of intracity mobility across systemic levels. The findings fill a gap in our understanding of neighborhood turnover and stability, while also providing a foundation for exploring within and between-neighborhood differences in intracity mobility.

New urbanization construction and city economic resilience-based on multi-period DID tests for 278 cities

As a key measure to realize Chinese-style modernization, the construction of new urbanization injects new vitality into China ‘s urban economic growth by building a modern industrial system, and it is also of great significance to improve urban economic resilience. This study examines data from 278 Chinese cities spanning the period 2006–2022, utilizing a multi-period Difference-in-Differences model and a moderating effect model to investigate the impact of new urbanization on cities' economic resilience. The findings indicate that the adoption of modern urbanization significantly enhances cities' economic resilience. Notably, when examined from the perspectives of geographical location, urban scale, urban agglomeration, and urban economic development level, the impact of new urbanization is particularly pronounced in the eastern region, small cities, non-urban agglomeration cities, and cities with lower levels of economic development. The mechanism test demonstrates that new urbanization affects cities’ economic resilience by fostering technological innovation and upgrading the industrial structure. Essentially, technological innovation and industrial restructuring serve as intermediaries in fortifying economic resilience through the implementation of new urbanization. As a result, recommendations are formulated to bolster the resilience of urban economies.

Social experiences, life satisfaction, and social support of immigrant families with young children in a highly urban city

ABSTRACT Grounding this study in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, the authors used a survey that includes psychometrically sound measures, to investigate the social experiences of 54 immigrant families with young children and the factors that shape their perceptions of life satisfaction and social support in a highly urban city. Results show persistent challenges related to discrimination and access to resources. Despite these challenges, participants’ overall satisfaction with life was rated high and positively correlated with their comfort with practicing their culture and with their perceived social support. Implications involve the need to design evidence-based policies and programmes that promote immigrant families’ wellbeing.

URBAN PLANNING AND THE URBANISATION PROCESS IN SERBIA IN THE EARLY 1950s

After suffering extensive damage caused by the Second World War, Serbia went through a reconstruction period. Between 1944 and the mid1950s, the government prioritised economic growth and worked on rebuilding and modernising the infrastructure, urban structures, and systems. Urban planning was seen as crucial in creating the conditions for state development. Societal and five-year plans, supported by urban plans, enabled accelerated economic progress and growth. The urban planning profession was institutionalised, with planning theory and practice introduced alongside social, economic, and political changes. Through an examination of the activities of the Urban Planning Institute of the People’s Republic of Serbia, established in 1946, this paper rethinks the link between urban planning and the social aspect of the planned economy in response to the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation of cities.

Stable isotope compositions, source apportionment and transformation processes of carbonaceous aerosols in PM10 in the urban city of Hyderabad, India

This study apportions sources of carbonaceous aerosols using isotopic characteristics of total carbon (TC) and elemental carbon (EC) in PM10 aerosols using filter-based CTO-375 method for pre-monsoon (summer), post-monsoon, and winter (2019–2021) over Hyderabad, India. Highest secondary organic carbon, SOC (primary organic carbon, POC) of 13.78 ± 10.25 (7.87 ± 2.48) μg/m3 was during post-monsoon 2020 (2019), while lowest was 8.90 ± 5.55 (4.18 ± 0.92) μg/m3 during pre-monsoon 2021 (post-monsoon 2020), respectively. Average effective carbon ratio (ECR) > 1 indicates dominance of light scattering aerosols during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. δ13CTC and δ13CEC varied from – 28.1 to – 24.7 ‰ (avg. – 26.5 ± 0.7) and - 32.5 to – 24.6 ‰ (avg. – 27.4 ± 1.1), indicating contribution from C3 plant burning and liquid fuel combustion. Positive value of δ13COC – δ13CEC and heavier δ13CTC, along with gradual enrichment in δ13CTC and δ13CEC from December 2020 to March 2021, suggested photochemical aging of carbonaceous aerosols. Lighter δ13CTC and OC/EC > 4 for all seasons indicates dominance of biomass burning (wood and crop residue burning), photochemical oxidation and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. The tropical study experiences dominance of lighter δ13CEC compared to subtropical, high latitude regions.

El cuerpo despreciable de Pablo: Los conflictos de poder-somático en las primeras comunidades paulinas

This work aims to delve into discussions concerning the relationship between body and power within the early conflicts of Pauline Christianity. Ideals and ideological transmission, particularly pertaining to a somatic classification of power in the most urbanized cities of the Roman Empire in the 1st century, compelled Paul to employ a rhetoric of suffering in order to uphold his somatic (apostolic) legitimacy. Within the symbolism of Roman power, Paul does not embody the hegemonic stereotype of a divine emissary. In this context, the apostle introduces the discourse of the Crucified body, “bearing in the body the death of Jesus everywhere” (2 Cor 2:4). This serves as a response to accusations and ideological discourses that politically disdain bodies, diverging from the ideals of the Greco-Roman elite.

Evaluation of Urban Resilience and Its Influencing Factors: A Case Study of the Yichang–Jingzhou–Jingmen–Enshi Urban Agglomeration in China

With the increasing frequency of various uncertainties and disturbances faced by urban systems, urban resilience is one of the vital components of the sustainability of modern cities. An indicator system is constructed to measure the resilience levels of the Yichang–Jingzhou–Jingmen–Enshi (YJJE) urban agglomeration during 2010–2023 based on four domains—economy, ecology, society, and infrastructure. This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal differentiation of resilience in YJJE in conjunction with the entropy weight method, Getis–Ord Gi* model, and robustness testing. Then, the factor contribution model is used to discern key driving elements of urban resilience. Finally, the CA-Markov model is implemented to predict urban resilience in 2030. The results reveal that the values of resilience in YJJE increase at a rate of 3.25%/a and continue to rise, with the differences among cities narrowing over the examined period. Furthermore, the urban resilience exhibits a significant spatially heterogeneity distribution, with Xiling, Wujiagang, Xiaoting, Yidu, Zhijiang, Dianjun, Dangyang, Yuan’an, Yiling, and Duodao being the high-value agglomerations of urban resilience, and Hefeng, Jianli, Shishou, and Wufeng being the low-value agglomerations of urban resilience. The marked heterogeneity of resilience in the YJJE urban agglomeration reflects the disparity in economic progress across the study area. The total amount of urban social retail, financial expenditure per capita, GDP per capita, park green space area, urban disposable income per capita, and number of buses per 10,000 people surface as the key influencing factors in relation to urban resilience. Finally, the levels of resilience among cities within YJJE will reach the medium level or higher than medium level in 2030. Xiling, Wujiagang, Xiaoting, Zhijiang, Dianjun, Dangyang, and Yuan’an will remain significant hot spots of urban resilience, while Jianli will remain a significant cold spot. In a nutshell, this paper can provide scientific references and policy recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers on the aspects of urban resilience and sustainable city.

Sociodigital Determinants of eHealth Literacy and Related Impact on Health Outcomes and eHealth Use in Korean Older Adults: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey.

eHealth literacy is an essential skill for pursuing electronic health information, particularly for older people whose health needs increase with age. South Korea is now at the intersection of a rapidly digitalizing society and an increasingly aged population. eHealth literacy enables older people to maximize the effective use of emerging digital technology for their health and quality of life. Understanding the eHealth literacy of Korean older adults is critical to eliminating the gray digital divide and inequity in health information access. This study aims to investigate factors influencing eHealth literacy in older Korean adults and its impact on health outcomes and eHealth use. This was a cross-sectional survey. Community-dwelling older adults 65 years and older in 2 urban cities in South Korea were included. eHealth literacy was measured by the eHealth Literacy Scale. Ordinal logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with eHealth literacy and multivariate ANOVA for the impact of eHealth literacy on health outcomes and eHealth use. In total, 434 participants were analyzed. A total of 22.3% (97/434) of participants had high eHealth literacy skills. Increasing age, higher monthly income, and time spent on the internet were significantly associated with eHealth literacy (P<.001), and social media users were 3.97 times (adjusted odds ratio 3.97, 95% CI 1.02-15.43; P=.04) more likely to have higher skill. Higher eHealth literacy was associated with better self-perceived health and frequent use of digital technologies for accessing health and care services (P<.001). Disparity in socioeconomic status and engagement on the internet and social media can result in different levels of eHealth literacy skills, which can have consequential impacts on health outcomes and eHealth use. Tailored eHealth interventions, grounded on the social and digital determinants of eHealth literacy, could facilitate eHealth information access among older adults and foster a digitally inclusive healthy aging community.

Art in the city reduces the feeling of anxiety, stress, and negative mood: A field study examining the impact of artistic intervention in urban public space on well-being

Promoting urban well-being is a significant societal task in the context of rapid urbanization. Past research has highlighted that interaction with urban green spaces, such as parks and forests, is key in promoting urban well-being. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the potential in promoting well-being from non-nature elements. In the present study, we explored whether interacting with art could enhance well-being in urban street contexts. In our field experiment, we built two interventions on urban streets, decorating them with either laminated art prints or green elements. We measured subjective and physiological well-being before and after the interaction with the interventions. With this paradigm, we assessed if, not only green, but also artistic interventions can improve well-being. Our results showed that, after interacting with the artistic intervention in an urban environment, the participants reported reduced feelings of anxiety, stress, and negative mood as they did with the green intervention. Further, our results indicate that improvements in well-being were linked to participants’ evaluations of the testing location (restorativeness), of aesthetic quality of the intervention (e.g., beauty, meaningfulness), and of their overall experience (e.g., enjoyment). These findings have significant implications in promoting urban well-being and city planning, as they highlight the potential of art as a novel tool for enhancing urban well-being.

Evaluation of Airborne Lead Pollution and Its Association with Children's Urinary Lead Levels

Despite the measures taken by most countries, lead pollution still poses an environmental and health risk to humans, especially children. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate lead in the air and its impact on children's health. Lead samples from the air and children's urine were collected from three different areas within Kerbala Governorate: the urban city center residential areas, and rural areas as a reference area for comparison. A suspended dust collector was used to collect lead samples, and then the lead concentration was measured using an atomic spectrometer after digesting them with acids. The results of the study showed that the highest concentration of lead was in the center of the urban area (3.150 ?g/m3) and its mean concentration in the air was 1.703 (?g/m3), which is higher than the US Environmental Protection Agency limits, with statistically significant differences between the study areas p &lt; 0.01. The mean concentration of lead in children's urine was 0.622 (?g/dL) with statistically significant differences between the areas p &lt; 0.01. Pearson's correlation coefficient indicated a significant positive correlation between the concentration of lead in the air and children's urine (r = 0.651; p &lt; 0.05). This means that high lead concentrations in children's urine are due to lead air pollution and are an indicator of lead pollution in the environment and warn of potential risks to children's health. Therefore, the study recommends reducing lead emission sources and conducting periodic examinations.

Metaheuristic tuned decentralized PID controller based active suspension system for railway vehicle

AbstractA high‐speed railway system is one of the sustainable alternatives to other modes of transportation and may connect the most congested urban cities with minimum carbon emissions. However, the vibration intensity increases as the train's operating speed increases, resulting in deteriorated ride comfort and stability. Hence, this article investigates a 27‐degree‐of‐freedom (DOF) dynamic model of railway vehicles with an improved active suspension system. The decentralized control structure performs the controlling action with five optimized Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controllers that suppress the vehicle body's vertical, lateral, pitch, roll, and yaw motions. Further, to optimize the PID parameters, three metaheuristic optimization techniques, Genetic algorithm (GA), Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO), and Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA), are utilized, and their simulated results are compared with the passive system as well as other conventional tuning technique. Moreover, the performance of the proposed control strategy is evaluated in the frequency domain under random track irregularities, and the results are characterized in terms of power spectral densities (PSDs). The simulated results show that among the proposed metaheuristic algorithms, FPA outperforms with a significant reduction in vehicle vibration compared to other tuning methods. The percentage reduction of the vertical, lateral, pitch, rolls, and yaw accelerations is 71.4%, 35.1%, 52.8%, 48.1%, and 38.2%, respectively, ensuring enhanced vehicle ride comfort.

A Multidisciplinary Approach for the Sustainable Technical Design of a Connected, Automated, Shared and Electric Vehicle Fleet for Inner Cities

The increasing volume of personal motorized vehicles (PMVs) in cities has become a serious issue leading to congestion, noise, air pollution and high land consumption. To ensure the sustainability of urban transportation, it is imperative to transition the current transportation paradigm toward a more sustainable state. Transitions within socio-technical systems often arise from niche innovation. Therefore, this paper pursues the technical optimization of such a niche innovation by applying a technical sustainability perspective on an innovative mobility and logistics concept within a case study. This case study is based on a centrally managed connected, automated, shared and electric (CASE) vehicle fleet which might replace PMV use in urban city centers of the future. The key technical system components of the envisioned mobility and logistics concept are analyzed and optimized with regard to economic, ecological and social sustainability dimensions to maximize the overall sustainability of the ecosystem. Specifically, this paper identifies key challenges and proposes possible solutions across the vehicle components as well as the orchestration of the vehicles’ operations within the envisioned mobility and logistics concept. Thereby, the case study gives an example of how different engineering disciplines can contribute to different sustainability dimensions, highlighting the interdependences. Finally, the discussion concludes that the early integration of sustainability considerations in the technical optimization efforts of innovative transportation systems can provide an important building block for the transition of the current transportation paradigm to a more sustainable state.

The Effect of the Opening of Chengdu-Chongqing High-speed Rail on the Urbanization of Cities Along the Rail Line

The Effect of the Opening of Chengdu-Chongqing High-speed Rail on the Urbanization of Cities Along the Rail Line

Factors influencing willingness to pay for improved solid waste collection services among households in urban cities in Uganda: empirical evidence from Lira City

Waste management in Lira City, Uganda faces significant challenges, particularly in the area of waste collection. Pollution and health risks from uncollected waste are rampant, posing serious threats to human health and the environment. This persistent problem demands urgent attention and effective solutions to improve waste collection and safeguard the well-being of the community and the natural surroundings. This study aimed to assess households’ willingness to pay for improved waste collection services, examine their waste management practices, and identify influencing factors. We employed a multistage sampling technique to randomly select 585 household heads and conducted key informant interviews with city officials and private waste collectors. Data analysis was conducted with STATA 17 and results showed that 48.12% of households were willing to pay an average of UGX 3012 ($0.84) per month for better services. Factors including education level, occupation, distance to waste collection sites, and environmental awareness significantly influenced this willingness. The study highlights a significant gap in public awareness and understanding of efficient solid waste management practices and concludes that enhancing public awareness is crucial for improving environmental health and safety in Lira City.

Using composite indicators and city dashboards to promote place-based policy interventions

Spatial inequality is a common urban phenomena in cities around the world, where stark contrasts in a variety of different social and economic outcomes paint a vivid picture of compound inequalities. Tackling these influences from a policy perspective remains challenging, as political economies often span multiple actors and municipal bodies, lacking effective policy instruments to challenge multiple forms of inequality at once. This paper provides a new data-driven perspective, which seeks to improve how policy is developed when trying to mitigate the impacts of compound inequality. Utilising a place-based approach, we present an evidence base which has been co-produced with policymakers, comprising composite spatial indicators and a city dashboard for Liverpool City Region. The assembled evidence base highlights clear patterns of compound inequality across the region, identifying places in greatest need of support. In the paper we discuss how this evidence base is now being used to distribute investment from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, generating positive outcomes for people and places across the region. Finally, we conclude by reflecting on the benefits of building collaborative relationships between academics and policymakers, and the utility of our approach, which uses urban indicators and city dashboards, which we argue can secure a more equitable future for cities globally.

Public Opinion on Child Labour in Urban Areas

Child labour is the most inhuman evil practices in the society .The main aim of the study is to create awareness among employment of children in urban cities. India is sadly the home to the largest number of child labourers in the world. The census found an increase in the number of child labourers from 11.28 million in 1991 to 12.59 million in 2001. M.V. Foundation in Andhra Pradesh found nearly 400,000 children, mostly girls between seven and 14 years of age, toiling for 14-16 hours a day in cottonseed production across the country of which 90% are employed in Andhra Pradesh. For instance, political opponents often reach opposite conclusions from the same facts, and editorial cartoonists often exaggerate facts to make their point. First, the "assertion" may be spoken, written, pictured, or maybe gestured. For the purpose of the study, descriptive research is used. Descriptive research helps to accurately portray the characteristics of a particular individual, situation or group. Convenience sampling method is used in this study to collect the samples. When population elements are selected for inclusion in the sample based on access is called convenience sampling. The statistical tool used is graphical representation .The total number of responses collected in the survey is around 200. It was found that the constitution makes it mandatory for the Government to protect and promote freedoms, and to assure every citizen a decent standard of living. In this study Children are actually future components inside the shape of awesome instructors, scientists, judges, rulers, docs, planners, engineers, politicians on whom the complete society founded (rests). Unfortunately tens of millions of kids are deprived of their childhood and right to training and there via they're subjected to exploitation and abuse. The age of the kid has been in another way described in different laws. The final outcome of the study is that the government has to strict the existing laws to ensure and safeguard the children from being exploited and discriminated against in the name of employment.

Sustainable Waste Management and Service Quality Delivery in Nigeria

Waste disposal, collection and treatment is an indispensable facet in the developmental phases of rural and urban cities across the globe. The accumulation, disposal and treatment of waste in urban centers have become a predicament to both private and public stakeholders in Uyo metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The objective of this study is to examine sustainable waste management and service quality delivery in Nigeria. The issues to be addressed by this study include; attitude of residents towards waste disposal, non-conformity with modern waste collection/treatment processes, and the waste management infrastructural gaps. The study adopted the 9 Development Band global theory of waste and development - using Integrated Sustainable Waste Management – ISWM approaches, with a model elucidating the effects of waste management on environmental footprint. Descriptive survey technique was adopted in which, questionnaire was administered to 384 respondents in the metropolis, as well as the conduct of in-depth interview to obtain additional information on issues that were not clarified in the structured questionnaire. Data collected from the field were collated and analyzed using Pearson Correlations Analysis Technique, to ascertain the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The findings of the study revealed unwholesome and unsustainable approaches in waste disposal/management, and suggest effective service delivery approaches in line with the 9DB model ISWM. The study recommends that residents should dispose waste in line with established waste disposal procedures, waste management authorities should adopt efficient and sustainable waste collection and treatment approaches. If these suggestions are implemented; it could reduce the metropolis environmental footprint, mitigate on the current global climate change challenges, and promote the UN-SDG - 11 which anchors on the need for sustainable cities and communities.

Innovative Application of Intelligent Internet of Things in Smart Cities

The Internet of Things, as an important component of the new generation of information technology system, regards the Internet as the main carrier of information, enabling all ordinary physical objects that can be independently addressed to achieve interconnectivity. This is the key to promoting urban modernization and building smart cities. This paper analyzes and studies the application of Internet of Things technology in smart cities. Based on the understanding of relevant concepts, it aims to understand the relationship between IoT technologies and smart city construction, clarify the role of Internet of Things in smart city construction, and the challenges currently faced by IoT technologies in smart city application. Therefore, taking the smart community as the starting point, the application of the smart Internet of Things in the smart community is completed through eight steps: demand analysis, planning and design, sensor and device deployment, data collection, data storage, data analysis, control and scheduling, and user application development. The experiment results show that after establishing a smart community control platform based on smart IoT technologies, the failure rate of the comprehensive information sending end, receiving end, output system, and hardware system is low, the user experience satisfaction is high, and the platform performance is strong.

Behavioural attitudes of three-wheeled taxi drivers towards mitigation of on-road air pollution in urban cities in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study from South Asia

ObjectivesIn recent years, urban areas across South Asia have experienced alarming levels of air pollution, primarily attributed to the rapid growth of motorised transportation. Three-wheeled taxis, commonly known as ‘tuk-tuks’,...