Urban Clusters Research Articles

Cluster Dimensions of the Space of a New Residential District of Ukrainian ‘Post-Socialist’ City

The article presents research material devoted to new dimensions of the spatial organization of residential areas of Ukrainian “post-socialist” city. He is currently faced with the challenges of military actions aimed at destroying the urban environment of Ukrainian cities. Residential areas of the micro-district type of the “post-socialist” city are mostly built on the basis of the postulates of functionalism. In the theory and practice of urban planning, they did not foresee the vulnerability of objects of necessary and social infrastructure. The criteria of centrality, as focus of concentration of functions of the spatial organization of the city, are currently being transformed into criteria of dispersion. Functional zoning acquires the multiplicative nature of multidimensional functional zoning. Fractal urbanism methodology assumes local freedom and global cohesion of individual urban planning elements. New exponential organizational structures with innovative digital technologies create “breakthrough” models of development. One of which is the urban planning cluster. The new residential area “Levada-2” in the city of Poltava (Ukraine) is presented, which demonstrates the latest approaches in the cluster organization of living space.

Spatial correlation effect of haze pollution in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China.

With the rapid development of industry, haze pollution has become an urgent environmental problem. This study innovatively utilizes network-based methods to investigate the spatial correlation effects of haze pollution transmission between urban clusters in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. A spatial correlation network of haze pollution in the Yangtze River Economic Belt was constructed using 328 urban meteorological data collection points as research samples, and its structural characteristics were examined. Main findings are as follows: (1) The spatial correlation network of PM2.5 in the Yangtze River Economic Belt urban agglomeration exhibits typical network structural characteristics: obvious spatial correlation within the network. (2) Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanchang, Yichang, Changsha and Yueyang are located at the center of the spatial network. They have more receiving and sending relationships. (3) 36 cities can be divided into four types: bilateral overflow, net beneficiary, net overflow and broker. Each type has different functional characteristics and linkage effects in the network. (4) Haze pollution positively correlates with the city's synergistic development capacity and urbanization rate, the higher the city's development level and the higher the Urbanization rate, the stronger its haze pollution capacity. This study provides new insights into the study of the spatial correlation and impact of haze pollution.

Cluster Dimensions of the Space of a New Residential District of Ukrainian ‘Post-Socialist’ City

The article presents research material devoted to new dimensions of the spatial organization of residential areas of Ukrainian “post-socialist” city. He is currently faced with the challenges of military actions aimed at destroying the urban environment of Ukrainian cities. Residential areas of the micro-district type of the “post-socialist” city are mostly built on the basis of the postulates of functionalism. In the theory and practice of urban planning, they did not foresee the vulnerability of objects of necessary and social infrastructure. The criteria of centrality, as focus of concentration of functions of the spatial organization of the city, are currently being transformed into criteria of dispersion. Functional zoning acquires the multiplicative nature of multidimensional functional zoning. Fractal urbanism methodology assumes local freedom and global cohesion of individual urban planning elements. New exponential organizational structures with innovative digital technologies create “breakthrough” models of development. One of which is the urban planning cluster. The new residential area “Levada-2” in the city of Poltava (Ukraine) is presented, which demonstrates the latest approaches in the cluster organization of living space.

Discovering and Ranking Urban Social Clusters Out of Streaming Social Media Datasets

ABSTRACTUrban social media mining is the process of discovering urban patterns from spatio‐temporal social media datasets. Urban social clusters are the clusters formed by the social media posts of users living in cities at a certain time and place. Discovering and identifying urban social clusters is of great importance for urban and regional planning, target audience identification, a better understanding of city dynamics and so forth. Discovering and ranking urban social clusters out of streaming social media datasets require efficient filtering approaches and mining algorithms. In the literature, there are several studies performed that address the discovery of the importance of urban clusters. Most of these studies take into account the spatial expansions over time and the changes in the numbers of elements within clusters when identifying the significance of urban clusters. However, in contrast to these studies, we have also considered cluster temporal formation stability, spatial density variation, and the impact of meta‐information on urban social clusters. In this study, Temporal, Spatial, and Meta Important Urban Social Clusters Miner (TSMIUSC‐Miner) algorithm is proposed. In the proposed algorithm, urban social clusters are discovered, and their importance relative to each other are compared and ranked. The temporal, spatial and meta importance scores of the clusters are calculated and then, the clusters that satisfy predefined score thresholds are discovered. The performance of the proposed TSMIUSC‐Miner algorithm compared with that of a naive approach using real‐life streaming Twitter/X dataset. The results showed that the proposed TSMIUSC‐Miner algorithm outperforms the naive approach in terms of execution time.

From urban clusters to megaregions: mapping Australia’s evolving urban regions

This study employs percolation theory to investigate the hierarchical organisation of Australian urban centres through the connectivity of their road networks. The analysis demonstrates how discrete urban clusters have developed into integrated regional entities, delineating the pivotal distance thresholds that regulate these urban transitions. The study reveals the interconnections between disparate urban clusters, shaped by their functional differentiation and historical development. Furthermore, the study identifies a dichotomy of urban agglomeration forces and a persistent spatial disconnection between Australia’s wider urban landscape. This highlights the interplay between urban densification and peripheral growth. It suggests the need for new thinking on potential integrated governance structures that bridge urban development with broader social and economic policies across regional and national scales. Additionally, the study emphasises the growing importance of national coordination in Australian urban development planning to ensure regional consistency, equity, and productivity.

Factors Influencing Water Resource Levels under the Water Resource Carrying Capacity Framework: A Dynamic Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data

Most existing evaluation frameworks for water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) neglect the interdependencies between subsystems. To fill this gap, we introduce a dynamic qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) model to evaluate WRCC and apply it to a vital economic development corridor, the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). Ecological, social, and economic subsystems are defined as condition subsystems, while the water resource subsystem is defined as the outcome subsystem. The entropy weight method is used to calculate and calibrate the comprehensive score of each subsystem. By analyzing the necessity of a single condition subsystem and the sufficiency of condition subsystem configuration via a dynamic QCA, we qualitatively analyze the impact extent and pathways of the ecological, social, and economic subsystems on the water resource subsystem within the WRCC framework. The results reveal generally stable water resource levels despite regional variances, thereby pinpointing the influence pathways, including ecological–social and ecological–economic configurations. The 2011–2015 period saw poor stability, which subsequently improved until 2019 before declining in 2020 in the YREB. The middle-reach urban cluster showed the highest stability, which was less impacted by condition subsystems. These findings could enable provinces and municipalities to tailor policies and enhance subsystem levels for better water resource management.

Evidence for global increases in urban ammonia pollution and their drivers

Ammonia (NH3) affects air quality, human health, and life expectancy through its important role in forming fine particulate matter. However, the spatial patterns and trends of NH3 concentrations in the urban environment remain unknown worldwide. Here we use satellite measurements to produce a global distribution of NH3 at fine resolution, and then identify, categorize and quantify NH3 air concentrations in urban clusters throughout the world, as well as explore associated trends and drivers. Based on satellite records, a significant increase is evident in global urban NH3 concentrations between 2008 and 2019, with an annual increase of 1.2 % yr−1. Our results show that the decline of acidic gas (NOx/SO2) explains the largest part of the increasing NH3 concentrations (42 %), exceeding the contribution of local NH3 emissions. Our results also show that increasing temperature can explain 20 % of the increase in urban NH3 concentrations implying that efforts to reduce NH3 emissions need to be greatly strengthened to compensate for increases in urban NH3 pollution induced by global warming and so improve the urban environment.

Unlocking Sustainable Growth in Urban Agglomerations: A Case Study of Carbon Emissions Trading in China

Amid global efforts to combat climate change, China’s targets for reaching carbon peak and achieving carbon neutrality are critical for enhancing environmental governance and promoting sustainable economic growth. This study investigates the impacts of experimental carbon emissions trading markets on industrial coordination within a typical inland urban cluster in China, employing innovative regression control methods (RCM) to analyze changes in regional industrial dynamics. The analysis reveals significant findings: firstly, the establishment of carbon emissions trading markets has tangibly influenced industrial coordination across the economic zone; and secondly, while industrial coordination within the manufacturing sectors has seen a substantial increase, coordination in the productive service sectors remains relatively unchanged. These outcomes highlight the differential effects of carbon market policies on various sectors and underscore the importance of targeted interventions in achieving broader environmental and economic objectives.

Urban Patterns from Space: A Remote Sensing Based Comparison Between France and Germany

AbstractThis article presents two novel methods on how to derive and visualise settlement patterns from space: a non-parametric approach called multi-scale homogeneity and a parametric, unsupervised approach known as hierarchical multi-scale clustering that models the urban clusters with the help of Gaussian bell curves. The main advantage of remote sensing based acquisition and fully automated evaluation methods is their consistency over large coverages. The Global Urban Footprint-Density (GUF-DenS) indicating the degree of impervious surfaces worldwide serves as database. The geographical focus lies on the neighbouring central-European countries France and Germany. Assuming that the centralist and federal administrative systems resulting from the individual history show a certain impact on the urban patterns, both countries are first examined separately, then together as union. The numerical comparison proofs the expected differences: the settlement pattern of the capital Paris as the largest metropolitan region in France is dominating, whereas several economic clusters of more of less similar size like Rhine–Ruhr and Rhine–Main characterise the German urban landscape. The most interesting and unexpected findings are located along the border, where neighbouring urban ellipses overlay in the separate processing and form transnational clusters when processed as union. One can interpret that the national border does not play a role in the urban development (any longer). The temporal change of the settlement patterns as effect of the regional planning strategies or the opening of the inner-European border cannot be derived from the mono-temporal GUF-DenS and thus, will be subject to future studies.

Urban street clusters: unraveling the associations of street characteristics on urban vibrancy dynamics in age, time, and day

Understanding urban vibrancy has been considered crucial to promoting human activities and interactions in public open spaces. Recent advancements in urban big data have facilitated the potential to understand and measure vibrancy patterns throughout cities. While streets are considered the center stage of human activity, previous studies have often overlooked their multifaceted nature and their association with urban vibrancy. In this study, we incorporate multi-source big data and combine a set of features that comprehensively describe the scale, function, and topology of street segments in two Seoul districts: Jung-gu and Gangnam-gu. Using these features, we employ a machine learning clustering technique to classify them into five distinct typologies. Then, with street-level aggregated mobile phone tracking data, we investigate whether street typology characteristics are associated with urban vibrancy with respect to age groups, time of day, and day types (weekends/weekdays). The results show varying relationships between street characteristics with age-, time- and day-vibrancy measures by the identified street typology. Further, we contrast the results of the two districts to evaluate urban vibrancy differences in organic and planned urban layouts. This study enables a more nuanced understanding of urban streets to better comprehend their impact on people’s use of street space. The derived novel insights could assist planners and designers to better pinpoint street management solutions for different age- and time-dependent needs based on the complexities in urban vibrancy dynamics.

Urban residential clustering and mobility of ethnic groups: impact of fertility

We studied residential clustering and mobility of ethnic minorities using a theoretical framework based on null models of spatial distributions and movements of populations. Using microdata from population registers we compared the patterns of clustering amongst various socioethnic groups living in and around the capital region of Finland. The models enabled us to connect the factors influencing intraurban migration to the spatial patterns that have developed over time. The observed clustering seems to be a combined effect of fertility and the tendency to migrate locally. The models also highlight the importance of factors like proximity to the city centre, neighbourhood income levels, and similarity of socioeconomic profiles. While the demonstrated relationship between clustering, mobility, and fertility is based on a limited number of observations, it could serve as a motivation for future research in different urban settings. Overall, these insights are expected to contribute to our understanding of demographic dynamics in culturally diverse environments.

Surface and canopy urban heat island disparities across 2064 urban clusters in China

The vast majority of urban heat island (UHI) studies are now derived from surface temperatures, substituting for the original air temperature-based definition. The disparities in hourly surface-canopy UHI effects (SUHI, CUHI) and the contrasting mechanisms are currently poorly understood. Here, we use high-resolution hourly LST and air temperature data from 2064 urban clusters in China to estimate SUHI and CUHI intensities and their driving mechanisms during the summer and winter of 2022. Across all urban clusters, we find that SUHI is on average ten times higher than the CUHI in the summer (0.97 VS. 0.09 °C) yet nearly triple that in the winter (0.30 VS. 0.11 °C), with SUHI exceeding CUHI in 91.5 % and 65.7 % of urban clusters, respectively. Seasonal and hourly analyses on SUHI/CUHI confirm typically opposite hysteresis variations (magnitude, peak, and timing of occurrence) and more correlated surface-canopy UHIs patterns during the night. We further demonstrate that SUHI magnitude can be largely explained by biophysical factors, urban attributes, and climate contexts, whereas CUHI interferes with additional constraints linked to ground-air energy transfer and advective dissipation. The improvement of urban greenery aids summer cooling efficiently in equatorial and boreal regions, while albedo measures are relevant in mitigating nocturnal warming in arid regions. Our findings support multiple technologies as ideas for urban three-dimensional UHIs (surface, canopy and boundary) and energy mechanisms, and the urgent need for ambitious urban heat mitigation strategies to minimize future climate change impacts.

Spatiotemporal coupling analysis between green total factor productivity and urban e-commerce development in China’s eight urban clusters

The coordinated development of urban e-commerce and green total factor productivity (GTFP) plays a crucial role in achieving high-quality development. This paper selects relevant data from the eight major urban agglomerations in China for research. A model that described the coupling coordination between the regions’ GTFP and urban e-commerce was presented. Then, unfold the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of their coupling coordination from the “dynamic and static”, “overall and regional” dimensions. The results indicate: (1) The coupling coordination degree between two systems within China’s eight urban agglomerations exhibits an upward trend with fluctuations, transitioning from a state of near dysfunction to good coordination. (2) The spatial heterogeneity in the coupling coordination degree between the two systems in China’s eight major urban agglomerations is evident, with an overall downward trend and exhibiting a “V-shaped” pattern of “decline-rise”.(3) The coupling coordination degree between two systems across China’s eight urban agglomerations exhibits a trend toward centralization, with an amelioration of bipolar differentiation, and a progressive attenuation of spatial heterogeneity.

Prevalence Of Anemia, Its Diagnose, Causes and Treatment: - A Case Study of Faridabad District In Haryana

Epidemiological information and disease prevalence studies have always been vital for planning control strategies and monitoring the impact of interventions to control such diseases. The present study is an outcome of a medical camp done under the aegis of PMGY an NGO model worldwide. Being assisted by hospitals and clinics run by the state and philanthropists, the NGO provides charitable medical services, free treatment, free medicines, and even free food and clothes to underprivileged sections of society. Keeping in view the mission of the NGO, and the poor mass of underprivileged people, this study has been devised to assess the prevalence, symptoms, causes and treatment of anemia in Faridabad mostly for two reasons. Firstly, because the locality is the operating field of the NGO and secondly, because anemia is at the highest prevalence, as found in our first observation of patients coming to the slum outreach camps and clinics under study. This will help make effective strategies of intervention, control and dissemination of health-related awareness & better preventative care and treatment to the target group i.e. the poor and underprivileged sections of the society. This cross-sectional study focuses on residents of the Faridabad district who were clinically assessed and treated for free. Seven rural and 19 urban clusters where nearly 750 people with underprivileged backgrounds came forward for the study. People with ongoing ailments were assessed alongside healthy individuals who required regular health checkups with utmost precaution to prevent community transmission. The treatment protocol revolved around palliative and curative treatment for symptomatic cases and preventative care only, when necessary, for asymptomatic cases.

Unlocking sustainable groundwater governance in secondary cities: Lessons from the assessment of groundwater vulnerability in a Coastal City of India

Groundwater contamination and vulnerability in urbanised areas have emerged as pressing environmental concerns that require urgent and sustained attention. Certain land use practices, such as agriculture, urban development, and industrial activities, can introduce pollutants into the groundwater system and degrade its quality and represent a significant threat to rapidly growing cities that requires robust intervention and management strategies. This paper investigates the groundwater vulnerability of a coastal city, Kozhikode, located in South India. A GIS-based mapping of the groundwater vulnerability of the region was performed using the DRASTICA model, which is an adapted version of the conventional DRASTIC model. In addition, an ethnographic study was also conducted to assess the groundwater governance of the city and to suggest suitable management strategies. The study revealed that the main urban clusters in Kozhikode City (29.2 %) are highly vulnerable to groundwater contamination indicating the impact of anthropogenic activities in this areas. 41.78% of the area showed a moderate level of vulnerability. The low-vulnerable zone occupies a less populated and highland area of the city, covering an area of 28.9 %. The study utilised the concentration of nitrates in the groundwater of the study area as a validation tool for the results obtained. Furthermore, the investigation identified governance gaps within the city, including ineffective implementation of laws and regulations, low levels of awareness, lack of institutional capacity and inadequate monitoring practices, all contributing to groundwater vulnerability. To address these challenges, the study suggests that effective groundwater management requires a multifaceted approach, involving both technical and socioeconomic and cultural aspects. This can be achieved through collaborative efforts, policy revisions, community engagement, and effective enforcement, which will strive the fastest growing city toward the sustainable management of its groundwater resources.

Analysis of the Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Carbon Emission Decoupling in the Hu-Bao-O-Yu City Cluster under the “Double Carbon” Target

The Hu-Bao-O-Yu urban area is a major source of carbon emissions in China. It is also a major source of energy exports and high-end chemicals in China. Reaching peak carbon emissions early is especially important for meeting the national peak goal. For urban areas that rely on natural resources, we need to make it clearer how carbon emissions and economic growth affect each other and slowly break the strong link between the two. Therefore, in this paper, based on the data on carbon emissions, the decoupling state and the driving mechanism of carbon emissions in the Hu-Bao-O-Yu City group are researched by using the Tapio decoupling model and GDIM method. A new decoupling index model is constructed by combining GDIM and the traditional decoupling model. The main findings are as follows: (1) The Hu-Bao-O-Yu urban agglomeration, Ordos City, Baotou City and Yulin City have significant growth trends in annual carbon emissions, with Yulin City being the most important carbon source for the Hu-Bao-O-Yu urban agglomeration and its economic contribution to carbon emissions of the whole urban agglomeration is the most efficient. (2) The decoupling of Hu-Bao-O-Yu, Huhhot City, Baotou City, and Ordos City is dominated by expansionary negative decoupling, whereas Yulin City has strong negative decoupling. (3) The Hu-Bao-O-Yu urban cluster mainly affects the carbon intensity of fixed asset investments and output carbon intensity, which is a key part of the carbon separation process. The energy scale and structure also play a part in this process over time. (4) Changes in GDP per capita are a bigger part of changes in carbon emissions in the Hu-Bao-O-Yu urban agglomeration. These changes also determine the direction for changes in carbon emissions in the Hu-Bao-O-Yu urban agglomeration. In the future, the Hu-Bao-O-Yu urban agglomeration needs to coordinate its economic growth. Ordos and Yulin need to speed up the optimisation and transformation of their energy structures. Baotou needs to push for the low-carbon transformation of its industries. Huhhot needs to do more research on carbon sequestration technology and spend more on environmental protection. This will make the Hu-Bao-O-Yu urban agglomeration a resource-saving urban agglomeration and improve its ability to reduce emissions.

Spatial dynamics of transport accessibility and regional efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration

Transport accessibility is crucial for defining urban clusters and evaluating a region's centrality and connectivity. To foster equitable growth in urban conglomerates, it is crucial to understand the relationship between transport accessibility and regional development. This study introduces the concept of 'regional efficiency'—the effectiveness of converting regional inputs into outputs—determined via the super-efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis methodology, to assess the progression of regional development. Employing a combination of bivariate spatial autocorrelation and spatial regression analysis, this research elucidates the spatial dynamics between transport accessibility and regional efficiency, both at macro and micro levels. A binary Logit model identifies the factors affecting the Moran's I correlation between regional efficiency and transport accessibility. Based on the diverse urban characteristics within a single conglomerate, tailored development strategies are suggested. Focusing on the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration in China as a case study, four distinct spatial clusters—High–High (HH), Low–Low (LL), High–Low (HL), and Low–High (LH)—are identified, based on the local correlation between regional efficiency and transport accessibility. The findings reveal that regions with a High–High Moran's I correlation between road accessibility and regional efficiency predominantly located in the eastern sectors of the Yangtze River Delta, exhibiting effective regional efficiency. These regions are characterized by superior road accessibility, aligning well with their regional efficiency metrics. For air accessibility, cities classified under the HH category, including Shanghai and its neighboring cities, demonstrate a significant spatial correlation with regional efficiency. Population density and urban tier are key predictors of the significance of the Moran's I correlation between road accessibility and regional efficiency. In contrast, for air accessibility, these factors assume an inverse role. The identified cluster types (HH, LL, LH, and HL) are proposed as predictive indicators for the significance of the Moran's I relationship between air accessibility and regional efficiency.

Study on the Theme Evolution and Synergy Assessment of China’s New Energy Vehicle Policy Texts

Drawing on data from 133 Chinese New Energy Vehicle (NEV) policy documents from 2007 to 2023, this study utilizes Dynamic Topic Modelling (DTM), social network analysis and a quantitative model to investigate the evolutionary path of policy themes and the coordination effects. The following results were obtained. (1) A thematic cross-sectional analysis identified six core policy themes, namely, coordinated promotion of technology and finance, industry development and safety standardisation, market service and technical support systems, promotion strategy and urban cluster development, industrial capital and safety supervision mechanisms, and policy support and market expansion. The analysis also mapped the distribution of hot spots within these themes. (2) The keyword co-occurrence network of the NEV policy indicated that the network structure evolved from an initial ‘overall dispersion–theme concentration’, comprising 16 policy themes, to an ‘overall stability–theme coordination’, consisting of 14 policy themes. (3) The coordination degrees across the three types of policies exhibited a consistent upward spiral, with the comprehensive coordination index surging from 30 in 2007 to 951 in 2023, underscoring the complementary effects among policy instruments. These conclusions offer valuable insights for government departments to understand NEV development trends and dynamically adjust policy themes accordingly.

Hidden structural information reconstruction and seismic response analysis of high‐rise residential shear wall buildings with limited structural data

AbstractThe high‐rise residential shear wall structure is a crucial component of urban building clusters, while the limited availability of detailed structural information becomes a critical bottleneck in improving the accuracy of seismic performance assessment for high‐rise residential shear wall buildings in urban areas. Based on easily obtainable yet limited structural data at the urban scale, this paper proposes a method to address the shortcomings of existing research on reconstructing hidden structural information and enhance the accuracy of structural seismic performance assessment. It includes a physics‐constrained generative adversarial network module and a fuzzy inference system module to reconstruct the spatial arrangement of shear walls, and material strength grades within buildings, respectively. Validated against two actual buildings, the method outperforms the widely used simplified analysis method at the urban scale, achieving 85.9% accuracy in predicting damage states across various floors.

Spatial-temporal response of the regional ecological quality to urban settlement development

ABSTRACT Based on the objective evaluation of the regional ecological quality (Urban Cluster in Mid-inner Zhejiang) by Remote Sensing based Ecological Index (RSEI), it was proposed to study the spatial-temporal response of the regional ecological quality to the urban built-up areas, impervious surface, land use and “production-living-ecological” space under urban settlement change to quantitatively describe the mechanism of human activities’ influence on the regional ecology. The results showed that: (1) From 1985 to 2020, the RSEI of the Urban Cluster in Mid-inner Zhejiang was above 0.50 as a whole, showing a trend of first decreasing and then increasing with a slight decrease in some parts. (2) From the perspective of the urban built-up areas, it was dominated by ecological level 2–3, gradually changing from ecological level 3 to ecological level 2. (3) From the perspective of the impervious surface, it was dominated by ecological level 2–3, accounting for more than 75.00% of the total study area. (4) From the perspective of land use, the cropland, forestland, water and construction land were mainly ecological level 2–4, 3–4, 3–4 and 2–3. (5) From the perspective of “production-living-ecological” space, production space, ecological space and living space were dominated by ecological level 3, 3–4 and 2–3. The results can deepen the understanding of the impact of urban settlement development on the regional ecological quality, avoid the unbalanced situation of blindly pursuing socio-economic development while ignoring the ecological environment, which scientifically helps the sustainable construction and high-quality development of the Urban Cluster in Mid-inner Zhejiang.