Urban Citizens Research Articles

Securing Smart Cities: A Cybersecurity Perspective on Integrating IoT, AI, and Machine Learning for Digital Twin Creation

The burgeoning evolution of smart cities, characterized by the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML), heralds a transformative era in urban management and citizen engagement. These technological advancements promise enhanced efficiency in city operations, improved public services, and a sustainable urban environment. However, the complexity and interconnectedness inherent in these systems introduce significant cybersecurity challenges, necessitating innovative approaches to safeguard the digital infrastructure of smart cities. This paper aims to explore the cybersecurity landscape of smart cities from the perspective of integrating IoT, AI, and ML for the creation of digital twins, offering a comprehensive analysis of the opportunities and threats within this domain. Smart cities leverage IoT to connect various components of the urban infrastructure, including transportation systems, utilities, and public services, creating an integrated network of devices that communicate and share data. The incorporation of AI and ML into this framework facilitates intelligent decision-making, enabling the automation of services and the optimization of resources. This synergy enhances the quality of life for residents, promotes economic development, and supports sustainable environmental practices. However, the dependence on digital technologies also exposes smart cities to a range of cybersecurity risks, from data breaches and privacy violations to the disruption of critical infrastructure. The integration of IoT, AI, and ML in smart cities, while offering unprecedented opportunities for urban innovation, also amplifies the complexity of the cybersecurity landscape. IoT devices, often designed with minimal security features, become potential entry points for cyber attacks. The vast amount of data generated and processed by these devices, if compromised, could lead to significant privacy and security breaches. AI and ML models, for their part, are susceptible to manipulation and bias, which can undermine the integrity of decision-making processes. The interconnectivity of systems means that a breach in one sector could have cascading effects throughout the city's infrastructure. Against this backdrop, the paper investigates the role of digital twins in mitigating cybersecurity risks in smart cities. Digital twins, digital replicas of physical entities or systems, offer a powerful tool for simulating and analyzing smart city operations, including cybersecurity scenarios. By mirroring the city's infrastructure in a virtual environment, digital twins allow for the identification of vulnerabilities, the simulation of cyber attacks, and the evaluation of potential impacts. This proactive approach to cybersecurity enables city administrators to anticipate threats and implement protective measures before real-world systems are compromised. The research questions guiding this inquiry include: How can the integration of IoT, AI, and ML enhance the resilience of smart cities against cyber threats? What are the specific cybersecurity challenges presented by these technologies, and how can they be addressed? And, most crucially, what role can digital twins play in fortifying the cybersecurity defenses of smart cities? To address these questions, the paper begins with a review of the current state of smart city technology, focusing on the integration of IoT, AI, and ML. It then delves into the cybersecurity challenges unique to this technological landscape, drawing on recent examples of cyber incidents in smart cities. The analysis highlights the vulnerabilities introduced by the widespread use of IoT devices and the complexities of securing AI and ML systems. Following this, the discussion turns to the potential of digital twins as a cybersecurity tool, examining how they can be employed to detect vulnerabilities, simulate attacks, and plan responses. The paper argues that while the integration of IoT, AI, and ML in smart cities presents significant cybersecurity challenges, it also offers opportunities for innovative solutions. Digital twins emerge as a promising approach to enhancing the cybersecurity posture of smart cities, enabling a dynamic and proactive defense mechanism. By facilitating the simulation of cyber threats in a controlled environment, digital twins allow city administrators to identify weaknesses, test the efficacy of protective measures, and develop more resilient urban infrastructures. In conclusion, the integration of IoT, AI, and ML in smart cities represents a double-edged sword, offering both remarkable opportunities for urban innovation and formidable cybersecurity challenges. This paper underscores the critical importance of adopting a cybersecurity perspective in the development and management of smart cities, highlighting the potential of digital twins as a strategic tool in mitigating these risks. As smart cities continue to evolve, embracing these technologies in a secure and responsible manner will be paramount in realizing their full potential while safeguarding the digital and physical well-being of urban populations.

Evaluating the impact of urban landscape elements on the sense of security and local belonging-case study: Tongdejie, China

Introduction: The urban landscape is a pivotal element shaping the urban space and significantly influences its desirability or undesirability. It has a profound connection with people and their living environment, playing a crucial role in providing identity and a sense of peace to citizens. As urbanization expands and population density increases, the importance of security as a basic need within the urban structure becomes even more significant. A confusing, unattractive, or monotonous urban space can adversely affect citizens’ feelings and reduce their sense of security.Methods: In this research, we investigated the relationship between urban landscape components and the sense of local belonging, as well as the relationship between the sense of security and the urban landscape. We sought to understand how the design and planning of the urban landscape can have a positive impact on urban life and increase citizens’ sense of belonging to the city and its surroundings.Results: Our findings revealed a positive and significant correlation between the sense of local belonging and the sense of security. Living in a safe, attractive, and desirable environment fosters and strengthens feelings of belonging to the environment. This strengthening of the sense of belonging increases residents’ satisfaction and enhances the quality of life in cities.Discussion: The urban landscape serves as a powerful tool that, when optimally designed, can positively influence urban life and enhance citizens’ sense of belonging to their city and its surrounding environment. By prioritizing security and creating aesthetically pleasing and engaging urban spaces, cities can significantly improve the well-being and quality of life of their residents.

Diagnosing the Causes of Failing Waste Collection in Belize, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, and Paraguay Using Dynamic Modeling

Most developing countries fail to provide waste collection services to all their citizens, which leads to many adverse effects. Nevertheless, research has not yet succeeded in explaining the underlying causes. We drew up a quantitative system dynamics model that can be used to diagnose the complex societal system that is leading to poor waste collection. The model describes demographic, social, economic, financial, participatory, and governance processes that may play a role. It is calibrated against real-life datasets for six Latin American countries. The calibration shows adequate performance of the model. Strong population growth appears to have a dual effect. It leads to an increase in available budgets for collection but also tends to dilute the available budget per inhabitant. Processes on the growth of GDP, government revenues, and quality of governance strongly improve access of citizens to waste collection. They do so separately but also because they reinforce each other. But, there are differences per country. Progress in Belize seems to be hampered mostly by low governance quality. For Bolivia, the hurdle seems to consist of an inability to increase public revenues and absorb new urban citizens. Ecuador and Paraguay would also benefit from increased revenues along with an ability to increase public participation. The Dominican Republic and Panama reveal an overall passivity to improve their services. This model may be useful for decision makers globally to develop effective interventions.

Analysis of the micro-drainage infrastructure on an avenue in the city of Aracaju-SE

The urban drainage system plays a vital role in the lives of people living in urban areas, protecting properties and citizens during heavy rainfall, preventing erosion on streets and public roads, and other benefits. To create an efficient drainage system, attention must be paid to the design, execution, and supervision of works by qualified professionals, as well as the maintenance of existing works. Because of the above, this article aims to analyze the micro-drainage infrastructure of Avenida Edélzio Vieira de Melo, in the city of Aracaju-SE. Initially, an in loco visit was made to assess the state of conservation and the presence of waste in the gutters and gutter inlet. It was observed that 51.2% of the gutter inlets are located in an undesirable way; 60.5% are partially or totally degraded and 81.4% have solid waste disposal. About the manholes, 90% are inadequately located, 80% are partially or totally degraded, and, finally, 70% are level with the sidewalk. The conclusion is that the devices need to be cleaned more frequently, and the population needs to be made more aware not to throw garbage in the street, since the presence of solid waste negatively affects the functioning of the drainage network. Finally, the location of the devices (manholes and gutter inlets) affects their efficiency, and durability and interferes with the comfort of those who use the road.

The Science Fiction of the Past, the Reality of the Present – Smart Cities

The concept of “smart cities” has gained recognition in the last few years because of the increasing urban population coupled with rise in the number of urban problems. Smart cities – usage of information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance the standard of living, thereby, represents a digital solution for the urban communities that aims for economic growth and sustainability. The present paper offers an overview of this innovative concept. Smart Mobility, Smart Economy, Smart People, Smart Environment, Smart Living and Smart Governance are the six pillars of a smart city. However, the article puts an emphasis on smart governance, while providing a brief description of all the other dimensions. By highlighting some of the benefits and challenges that smart governance offers to urban citizens, it presents the significance of collaboration between different stakeholders including citizens, public institutions and government officials. In conclusion, the study argues smart governance is essential for promoting good governance practices but there is a need to consider the other factors such as social inclusion and basic human rights while adopting this new method in decision-making process. Keywords: smart governance, smart cities, sustainability, technology

Socio-Economic Dynamics Inhibiting Inclusive Urban Economic Development: Implications for Sustainable Urban Development in South African Cities

Globally, the need for sustainable urban development has never been more urgent than it is now. This is because estimates indicate that more than half of the global population will be living in urban areas by 2050, with South Africa estimated at 80%. This paper focuses on socio-economic nuances that impede sustainable urban development, as well as the strategies that can accelerate sustainable and inclusive urban development in South Africa. Through a literature-review methodology, the analysis identified the following issues as impediments to sustainable urban development in South Africa: informality, lack of consultations with urban citizens, unresolved apartheid legacies, crime and insecurity, and migration intricacies in South Africa. The paper also establishes prospective strategies to accelerate sustainable urban development, such as working with informality and not against it, promoting inclusivity and access to resources, accelerating policy reforms, investing in rural towns, and investing in superior technology and innovation. These findings imply that there is a need to seek alternative development models and approaches, to address poverty, unemployment, and poor housing, aspects that negatively impact urban development planning and sustainable development. The paper recommends inclusive urban housing as a remedy to address the challenges of access, affordability, and the quality of housing facilities in urban areas.

Examining climate change awareness and climate-friendly activities of urban residents: A case study in Košice

As the impact of climate change begins to be felt all around the world, the vulnerability of urban areas due to their population density, high concentration of economic activities and the altered characteristics of the physical environment is becoming increasingly apparent. As a result, cities will play a crucial role in tackling climate change by fostering mitigation activities and managing and coordinating the adaptation process. Research has shown that engagement and awareness among citizens is vital in the promotion of effective adaptation policies, but studies have also drawn attention to the significance of the so-called “awareness-action gap,” the absence of a direct link between awareness and action. This study contributes to the ongoing debate over the awareness-action nexus by discussing the factors that can affect the adaptation and mitigation activities of urban citizens using the Slovak city of Košice as a case study. Data was collected using a survey conducted with local residents as part of the preparations for the city’s first adaptation strategy on climate change. The paper uses a two-step analysis to investigate the socio-economic, psychological and contextual factors associated with climate change awareness and climate-friendly activities. The results of the standard linear regression model indicate that self-assessed vulnerability is a determining factor in both the level of climate change awareness and the likelihood of individuals to take action. In the second step, we find that the factors which influence engagement in climate-friendly activities differ depending on the costs involved in implementing the activities. The exploratory analysis conducted using a machine learning algorithm suggests that the awareness-action nexus may be non-linear in nature. The main findings of this study imply that communication strategies should place a primary emphasis on individuals’ vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change. The paper contributes to the existing research by providing a case study of a generally under-researched geographical area of Central Europe. In addition, the analysis provides a specific context of urban area and implications for local policymakers, something that has been lacking the in literature looking primarily at data at the country level.

Guiding to available parking spots with AR device

Parking congestion has become a pressing issue in urban areas, leading to increased traffic congestion and environmental pollution. This paper presents a comprehensive study on intelligent parking systems aimed at addressing these challenges. The study targets urban drivers, transport authorities and citizens who are affected by parking difficulties and traffic congestion. Intelligent Parking System is a technology-driven solution that aims to optimise parking space utilisation and reduce traffic congestion. It efficiently guides drivers to available parking spaces through real-time data collection and analysis. The study was conducted in Unity3D environment over a period of 2 weeks and covered the phases of system design, development, testing and implementation. The main motivation for this research was to mitigate the negative effects of parking congestion. Intelligent parking systems have the potential to increase traffic efficiency, reduce air pollution and improve the overall quality of life in cities. Server and Unity models were used in the study. Real-time sensors collect parking occupancy data, which is processed to provide real-time parking availability information to drivers via the server. In conclusion, this paper presents an intelligent parking system that can solve the challenges of parking congestion. By utilising server technology and data-driven insights, the project aims to improve the way cities manage parking and contribute to more sustainable urban mobility.

ICT-based environmental participation in China: Same, same but digital?

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been credited with the potential to alter the dynamics of environmental governance by empowering citizens, enhancing accountability and improving government efficiency. However, in non-democratic contexts the link between ICTs and public participation is far from clear. Taking the case of China, this study investigates urban Chinese citizens’ use of digital technologies for environmental participation and the factors explaining (non)engagement. Drawing on an online survey with 2912 participants in 2021, we find surprisingly high levels of participation that is not hampered by regime-related factors such as trust in governmental institutions or concerns about the risks of taking action online. This shows that digital technologies have significant participatory potential also under restrictive conditions. However, our findings also show several major limitations of ICTs. Participation in our study is driven by citizens who are digitally skilled, environmentally concerned and also active in the offline sphere. This points, first, to a digital participation opportunity gap that could exclude the less digitally skilled and tech-savvy. Second, this supports the “reinforcement hypothesis” that ICTs are used by the already active and do not suffice to draw new social groups into the policy process. Third, in our study digital environmental participation is limited by citizens’ attribution of responsibility to the government, an unintended consequence of China’s “environmental authoritarianism” that curtails ICTs from unfolding their full potential. Together, our findings contribute to the debate on digital authoritarianism and the opportunities and limitations of ICTs for environmental participation in non-democratic contexts.

Green streetism precarity in Kumasi, Ghana

There is much interest in urban green space planning and management; yet little attention has been paid to the notions of green streetism in African cities. This paper responds to this lacuna by using a case study of Kumasi (Ghana) to: (i) examine the character of urban green space; (ii) analyze agency knowledge on green streetism; and (iii) assess agency strategies for changing the phase of green streetism. Using secondary document analysis and interview with seven urban planning agencies, findings show a rapid decline of urban green space in Kumasi from about 31% of the total land area in 2013 to about 3% in 2022. Despite all respondents reporting knowledge on green streetism, they identified resource constraints, nonchalant attitude of some urban citizens and poor maintenance practices as major barriers to green streetism development and management in the city. Strategies for reviving green streetism are further discussed, within the context of African urbanization.

The Impact of Digital Financial Inclusion on Urban and Rural Citizens' Consumption in Zhejiang Province

In order to create a harmonized society, it is important to reduce the urban-rural consumption disparity. Digital financial inclusion plays a major role in weakening the rural-urban consumption gaps and promoting common prosperity. Zhejiang Province is located in southeastern China, with a large population and developed economy. For the past few years, moreover, its rapid growth in the field of digital economy has enabled it to lay a deep foundation for the growth of digital financial inclusion. This paper explores the influence of the current growth of digital inclusive finance on the consumption of urban and rural residents in Zhejiang Province by selecting each city's panel data at the prefecture level in Zhejiang Province during the period of 2011-2021.Results displayed: firstly, as digital financial inclusion grows in Zhejiang, both rural and urban consumers will benefit from it;Secondly, the growth of digital financial inclusion will have a more remarkable effect on the consumption of rural residents than that of urban residents, i.e., urban-rural consumption disparities in Zhejiang Province can be narrowed by digital financial inclusion.

Model Pure Community-smart Cities (PCSC) Components Assessment in Lembah Klang, Malaysia from Society 5.0 to Madani Society

Pure community is one of the elements that must be present to create a holistic smart city that is not only focused on economic development. This study aims to measure the level of development of the pure community in the cities of the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The research was conducted at the Klang Valley, Peninsular Malaysia. This study uses cluster sampling to select the respondents. Stratified sampling is a technique used for dividing the population into specific characteristics, and then using simple random sampling, samples are taken from each population. Overall, the level of pure community in Malaysia’s Klang Valley shows that they have a high value of good citizens. Despite this, it is crucial to put a guideline that allows the involvement of urban citizens to carry out mutual responsibilities in the location of their residence to be more organized. The government should be able to create an appropriate task force in the housing area that involves shared responsibility between the city’s residents.
 Keywords: smart city development, pure community, Model PCSC

Citizen science and social innovation as citizen empowerment tools to address urban health challenges: The case of the urban health citizen laboratory in Barcelona, Spain.

Urban health faces significant challenges due to the rapid growth of cities and the concentration of population in urban settings that have a strong impact on people's health. The approach to characterize and address these challenges requires increased societal involvement and interdisciplinary solutions to ensure their effectiveness and democratic nature. With this purpose, it is necessary to explore methodologies for citizen participation that foster a critical understanding of the environment and promote their active role in generating scientific knowledge and change. This article describes the creation of a collaborative space for experimentation and learning that, through the intersection of citizen science and social innovation, aims to engage citizens in the research and diagnosis of their local environment, as well as in the design and implementation of local solutions, while raising awareness about the main challenges to urban health. Through a collaborative and participatory framework, the community identified relevant challenges to urban health they wanted to investigate, co-designed and developed the methodology for data collection and analysis, and ultimately, they devised, designed, and implemented innovative solutions based on the scientific evidence obtained. The framework and results of this project hold potential interest for the scientific community, facilities, institutions, and society by offering an innovative and participatory approach to addressing the present and future urban health challenges.

Development and validation of instrument to measure citywide inclusive sanitation (CWIS Scale) for Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)

Universal access to safe and adequate sanitation is a critical public health and environmental issue, particularly in low-income urban areas. The Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) approach seeks to address the challenge of meeting the universal access to sanitation for all, including the most vulnerable groups. The six key criteria in CWIS are: (1) equity; (2) safety; (3) sustainability; (4) responsibility; (5) accountability; and (6) Resource Planning and Management. This study aimed to develop and validate survey instruments for CWIS measurement in urban areas of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). First, we specified the domains based on the six CWIS criteria by, adding the vulnerability criterion to the equation. We developed candidate items for each domain by reviewing the relevant literature. Face validity was determined through cognitive interviews, and content validity was determined through the evaluation of two experts. We added, removed, merged, and rephrased items based on the results of cognitive interviews and feedback from subject matter experts. We piloted the instrument and conducted statistical analysis to ensure the validity and reliability of the ‘scales and indices. The CWIS survey modules address a recognized need for greater emphasis on inclusive sanitation. We provide researchers and policymakers with tools to measure CWIS sub-constructs in a valid and reliable manner to generate data for improved targeting, design, implementation, and evaluation of strategies to improve sanitation access for vulnerable and marginalized urban citizens.

Aproximación conceptual del término “Diseasogenic”, desde una perspectiva urbanística

The rapid urban growth in the Anthropocene poses social challenges for well-being. The term "diseasogenic," originating from the Global North, highlights the relationship between cities and health. The objectives of this study were i) to propose the concept of "pathogenic city" as equivalent to "diseasogenic" based on academic publications from the Global South and ii) to provide a unified operational definition within the framework of urban planning. In this systematic review, using Google Scholar, the content of 7 English-language scientific publications containing "diseasogenic" and 9 Spanish-language publications containing "entornos patógenos" and "ciudad patógena" was analyzed from 27 and 16 initially detected scientific publications, respectively. In English, 3 conference papers, 2 book chapters, 1 scientific article, and 1 review article were analyzed. In Spanish, 9 scientific articles were reviewed. This state-of-the-art review on the application, usage, and operational definition of the term 'diseasogenic' from an urban-architectural perspective is a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory investigation. The results revealed the relationship between "diseasogenic" and "pathogenic city" and their interaction with urban planning and citizen health management. It is concluded that an emerging definition of urban pathologies fosters identification between the Global North and South, recognizing points of convergence in the impacts of cities on urban and individual health of their occupants regardless of the hemisphere they inhabit.

Smart Transportation System Evolution: a Comprehensive Mapping and Analysis

Smart transportation is an important trend worldwide, reducing accidents, traffic jams, and pollution. It uses technology and communication to parse errors and monitor everything online. This research aims to determine how to implement a smart transportation system to provide convenience for users and the city. Smart transportation systems are designed to reduce accidents, pollution, and other problems. However, many cities still need to implement them and require government approval. This research aims to implement the system in every city to ensure citizens can use it more. This research uses a qualitative and bibliometric analysis approach to analyze bibliographic research data in journals from 2012 to 2022. The cluster obtained from software shows that smart transportation uses the most electricity from ordinary transportation and requires a ready implementation system. Other topics related to implementing an intelligent transportation system, such as benefits and how to implement it, are obtained. The conclusion is that smart transportation must be implemented to reduce risks and make urban citizens feel more secure and comfortable using it.

Extensive husbandry and animal welfare are important for acceptance of rabbit meat production among Swedish youth

Global meat production and consumption are increasingly unsustainable. One way to counteract this development is to change the type of meat consumed. Rabbit meat has relatively lower climate impact than many other types of meat, but consumer acceptance is crucial for a socially sustainable production. In this study we examine the acceptance of industrial, extensive and urban rabbit production among Swedish senior high school youth, 17 to 19 yr old. An electronic survey was sent to ten randomly selected senior high school classes with 17 to 19 year-old students. The survey included inquiries about background, scaled responses and open-end questions with the opportunity to comment. A total of 111 students completed the survey, of which 62 were women, 74 from rural areas and 91 with previous animal experience. Extensive production was more accepted than industrial and urban production, while no difference was observed between industrial and urban production. Thus, the results advocate a farming system with more animal movement, less productivity and higher space requirements. In general, male respondents were more accepting of all production systems than women, while no difference could be detected between rural and urban citizens. The scaling shows that animal welfare, local production and meat quality was given priority over climate impact, biodiversity and price. Our study suggests useful prerequisites to consider for the meat industry in general, and for the development of Swedish rabbit production.

What are the key and catalytic external factors affecting the vitality of urban blue-green space? a case study of Nanjing Main Districts, China

In recent years, urban blue-green space has received increasing attention as an important carrier of urban spatial vitality. It has become increasingly clear that urban blue-green spaces both cities and citizens, though these concepts of spatial vitality and the underlying mechanisms influencing spatial vitality have yet to be explored in depth. Using blue-green spaces in the Nanjing Main Districts as an example, this study employs precise Location Based Services (LBS) data as a proxy for spatial vitality to explore the influence of external factors and their interaction(s) on spatial vitality. The results demonstrate that (1) functional mixing and walking accessibility are the dominant external factors affecting blue-green spatial vitality; (2) the interaction of external factors has a significant impact on spatial vitality, and finally (3), that public transportation accessibility and regional economic conditions are the catalytic factors affecting spatial vitality, explaining the contradictory research results discovered by other scholars. This study provides a foundation for the planning and construction of urban blue-green spaces.

From Heritage to Identity: The Role of City Authenticity in Shaping Local Community Identity and Cultural Preservation

This comprehensive study aims to investigate the role of urban heritage authenticity in shaping citizen identity, with a specific focus on historic cities. By examining the relationship between the perceived authenticity of urban heritage and citizen identity, this research sheds light on the significance of authenticity in interpreting cities' historical evolution and identity. The study employs a three-dimensional measure of urban identity, encompassing cognitive, affective, and evaluative aspects, to establish a connection between urban identity and citizen participation in local initiatives through personal and social norms. To comprehensively explore the impact of city authenticity on citizen identity formation, the research utilises a combination of survey questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis. Three prominent historic cities also serve as case studies: Kampung Kauman in Surakarta, Kampung Laweyan in Surakarta, and Kampung Trusmi in Cirebon. This study contributes to our comprehensive understanding of the role of urban heritage authenticity in shaping citizen identity. The research emphasises the significance of authenticity in interpreting the historical evolution and identity of cities, showcasing its influence on citizens' perceptions, engagement in local initiatives, and overall sense of place. The case studies are practical examples of how authenticity fosters community identity and cultural heritage preservation. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, and community stakeholders, guiding their efforts to promote and preserve the authentic character of historic cities.

Rekognicje celne jako źródło do dziejów Ormian kamienieckich w drugiej połowie XVI wieku

CUSTOMS RECOGNITIONS AS A SOURCE FOR STUDYING THE HISTORY OF KAMIENIEC ARMENIANS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 16TH CENTURY
 Armenians were among the constituent ethnic groups in the society of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Actively participating in trade, they were subject to legal regulations in as much as other urban citizens. Customs recognitions, or testimonies given by merchants enjoying customs freedom, serve as evidence of this process. The article analyzes the overall trade activities of Armenians from Kamieniec Podolski [Kamianets-Podilskyi] at Lublin fairs based on these recognitions. On their basis, it discusses the significance of customs exemptions as one of the privileges of Kamieniec residents, as well as the intensity of trade relations between this city and Lublin, and the range of goods exchanged. Additionally, it addresses the Armenians’ knowledge of legal practices and their ability to use the Polish and Ruthenian languages. An annex includes the edition of customs recognitions, which are an interesting source for studying economic history, diplomatics, and sigillography.