Urban Construction Research Articles

Fine Shear-Wave Velocity Structures of Subsurface beneath the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area with Dense Seismic Array and SPAC Method

Abstract We apply the spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) method to construct the 3D subsurface shear-wave velocity structure model using the short-period dense seismic array (containing 725 nodal geophones) located at the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay area (GBA). We first divided the dense array into numerous subarrays, with each subarray consisting of nine nodal geophones, and obtained 562 subarrays that can provide 1D VS profiles of the same quantity. Then, the SPAC method and genetic algorithm are utilized to extract the dispersion curve of the Rayleigh wave from the raw microtremor data and invert VS structure, respectively. Finally, a 3D VS structure model from the surface to 3.3 km depth is derived by combining all 1D VS structures. Relatively low-velocity anomalies above 700 m are considered unconsolidated shallow sediments as well as relatively high-velocity anomalies beneath 1100 m are attributed to consolidated granite bedrock. Meanwhile, low-velocity anomalies that are identified through the vertical VS profile at a depth of about 900–3000 m can be contributed to the fractured zone, and striped low-velocity anomalies in the horizontal VS maps reveal the location of the deeply buried faults in the study area. The results also mean that the SPAC method combined with the records of short-period dense seismic array can be effectively applied to image subsurface structures in high-populated urban area. The development of this noise-resistance and environment-friendly geophysical technique provides a reliable and effective way to explore the complicated subsurface geological structures, which is of great significance to urban engineering construction and earthquake disaster reduction work in densely populated urban agglomerations.

Administrative-led urbanization and urban carbon emission intensity: Evidence from city-county merger in China

Cities in China are concentrated areas of energy consumption and carbon emission. Thus, controlling urban carbon emission intensity is the key to achieving “carbon neutrality” and “carbon peak” goals. Administrative urbanization, for which city–county merger (CCM) plays an important role, is yet to be examined to understand whether it intensified carbon emissions. This study uses panel data of 269 cities from 2008 to 2019 and staggered difference-in-differences method to analyze the impact of administrative-led urbanization on urban carbon emission intensity. The results reveal that the CCM significantly increased urban carbon emission intensity. A mechanism test shows that the CCM can increase carbon emission intensity by inhibiting industrial structure upgrading and promoting urban infrastructure construction. Heterogeneity analysis shows that there is no significant regional difference in carbon intensity; however, regional difference has a more significant positive impact on carbon intensity of sub-provincial cities, general prefecture-level cities, and strong counties with districts.

Assessing Traffic Noise and Its Impact on High-Rise Apartment Buildings Adjacent to an Urban Expressway: A Case Study in Chengdu, China

With rapid urbanization, traffic growth has accelerated in some cities in China. Due to strict urban construction land utilization policies, many high-rise apartment buildings have been constructed adjacent to expressways. To better understand the impact of urban traffic noise on the residents of high residential buildings adjacent to expressways and the differences in noise impacts on different floors, on-site noise monitoring and questionnaires for building residents have been conducted. The characteristics of traffic noise were analyzed based on the measured data, and factors, including time periods and building floors, were considered. According to the results of the questionnaire survey, 56.06% of the male respondents and 54.55% of the female respondents think that the impact of traffic noise on high-rise buildings is “high” or “very high”; 50.53% of the respondents who were in “good” or “very good” condition thought that the traffic noise has a “significant impact” or “very significant impact” on their sleep and daily life. In addition, 25% of respondents living on floors 4–10 and 62.5% of respondents living on floors 11–20 considered the traffic noise to have a “significant impact” or “very significant impact” on their sleep and daily life. The on-site noise monitoring results show that the noise levels (LAeq) outside the windows of the studied buildings remain significantly elevated, with daytime noise on working days ranging from 56 to 70 dB(A), and on weekends ranging from 50 to 65 dB(A). During the four time periods on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., the average LAeq levels on floors 11–20 are higher than those on floors 4–10 by 4.04 dB(A), 4.92 dB(A), 4.06 dB(A), and 2.67 dB(A), respectively. Similarly, during these time periods on weekends, the levels on floors 11–20 are higher than those on floors 4–10 by 4.96 dB(A), 6.32 dB(A), 5.28 dB(A), and 5.24 dB(A), respectively. This indicates that floors 4–10 of the building experience relatively lower noise levels, while floors 11–20 are subjected to comparatively higher levels of noise disturbance.

Study on the Expansion Potential of Artificial Oases in Xinjiang by Coupling Geomorphic Features and Hierarchical Clustering

The study of the expansion potential of artificial oases based on remote sensing data is of great significance for the rational allocation of water resources and urban planning in arid areas. Based on the spatio-temporal relationship between morphogenetic landform types and the development of artificial oases in Xinjiang, this study explored the development pattern of artificial oases in the past 30 years by using trend analysis and centroid migration analysis, constructing a series of landform–artificial oasis change indices, and investigating the suitability of different landforms for the development of artificial oases based on geomorphological location by adopting a hierarchical clustering method. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the area of artificial oases in the whole territory continued to increase, with significant expansion to the south from 2005 to 2010. (2) Six categories of landform types for artificial oasis development were created based on the clustering results. Of these, 7.39% and 6.15% of the area’s geomorphological types belonged to the first and second suitability classes, respectively. (3) The optimal scale for analyzing the suitability of landforms for the development of artificial oases over the past 30 years in the whole area was 8 km, which could explain more than 96% of the changes in the growth of artificial oases. The distribution of landforms of first- and second-class suitability within the 8 km buffer zone of an artificial oasis in the year 2020 was 10.55% and 9.90%, respectively, and landforms of first-class suitability were mainly concentrated in the near plain side of the urban agglomerations located on the northern and southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, and the urban agglomerations at the southern edge of Altai Mountains. This study quantified the potential of different geomorphological types for the development of artificial oases and provided a basis for site selection in future artificial oasis planning and urban construction.

Smart urban management identification by integrating optical flow characteristics and HSV space

n smart cities, sanitation workers are the key to urban construction. Accurate targeting of sanitation workers can help managers better monitor and manage them. Pedestrian detection is the core and key component of object detection technology. The difficulty of pedestrian detection in the actual feature recognition is still how to quickly and accurately identify the identity in the complex video scene. To realize the effective detection of sanitation workers, the study designs an identity identification scheme conducive to the friendly management of smart urban management. Since the optical flow feature extraction method and HSV color space extraction method can not meet the actual detection efficiency, this study innovatively integrates the two methods to improve the detection accuracy of the mode. Meanwhile, the study also introduces PCA algorithm to identify the specific identity of sanitation workers. In the actual detection of sanitation workers, the identification rate of two sanitation workers is high, and the similarity is 98.61%. This technology greatly reduces the false detection rate of actual detection and improves the detection accuracy.

Influence of land use change on habitat quality: a case study of coal mining subsidence areas.

Revealing the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and key driving processes behind the habitat quality is of great significance for the scientific management of production, living, and ecological spaces in resource-based cities, as well as for the efficient allocation of resources. Focusing on the largest coal-mining subsidence area in Jiangsu Province of China, this study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of land use intensity, morphology, and functionality across different time periods. It evaluates the habitat quality characteristics of the Pan'an Lake area by utilizing the InVEST model, spatial autocorrelation, and hotspot analysis techniques. Subsequently, by employing the GTWR model, it quantifies the influence of key factors, unveiling the spatially varying characteristics of their impact on habitat quality. The findings reveal a notable surge in construction activity within the Pan'an Lake area, indicative of pronounced human intervention. Concurrently, habitat degradation intensifies, alongside an expanding spatial heterogeneity in degradation levels. The worst habitat quality occurs during the periods of coal mining and large-scale urban construction. The escalation in land use intensity emerges as the primary catalyst for habitat quality decline in the Pan'an Lake area, with other factors exhibiting spatial variability in their effects and intensities across different stages.

Surface Deformation Monitoring and Subsidence Mechanism Analysis in Beijing based on Time-series InSAR

Abstract. This article uses 43 Sentinel-1A image datasets covering Beijing to obtain time series surface deformation information in the study area from January 2022 to October 2023. It analyzes the causes of land subsidence by integrating precipitation and urban construction. The main research results are as follows: (1) Three distinct subsidence areas are identified in the eastern part of Chaoyang District in Beijing (Subsidence Area A), the northwestern part of Tongzhou District in Beijing (Subsidence Area B), and Yanjiao Town in Hebei Province (Subsidence Area B), which is adjacent to Beijing. Subsidence Areas A and B exhibit a dispersed pattern, with maximum land subsidence rates exceeding −30 mm/year. In contrast, Subsidence Areas C displays a funnel-shaped subsidence, where the majority of areas experience land subsidence rates exceeding −25 mm/year, with a maximum rate reaching −45 mm/year. (2) Precipitation has a significant impact on surface deformation in the study area, and there is a strong correlation between precipitation and land subsidence, with correlation values of 0.77, 0.77, and 0.74, respectively. (3) Urban construction has a certain impact on land subsidence, but the degree of impact varies in different regions.

Homes in flux: Evaluating personal and social dynamics amid urban variability and mass-produced prototype housing

Amidst the ever-evolving landscape of global urbanization, this research delves into the profound repercussions of dynamic shifts in residential settings on both personal and social interconnectedness. Focusing on the evolution into novel urban constructs and gated enclaves—underscored by the influx of mass-produced prototype houses, with Egypt serving as our representative context of a global phenomenon—we offer a nuanced examination of how these transitions mold individuals' perceptions of personal and social connectedness. Employing a survey instrument administered to a sample of 298 respondents, encompassing retrospectives on childhood homes alongside present-day residences, our inquiry unveils a multifaceted narrative that enriches the tapestry of environmental psychology scholarship. Contrary to expectations, the advent of new cities appears to wield no significance over personal or social bonds, while gated communities surprisingly exhibit a notable positive significance solely with personal connectedness, with no significant relationship observed for social connectedness expected from the label of community. Furthermore, apartments and standalone villas prototype typologies manifest divergent impacts on connectedness, defying conventional assumptions. Gender emerges as a pertinent covariate, intricately intertwined with the present-day sense of personal connectedness. These revelations underscore the intricate nexus of factors dictating residential connectedness, advocating for a holistic integration of tangled personal, social, and physical attributes in residential urban planning and housing architecture. Our study advocates for sustained exploration into the intricate mechanisms underpinning the nexus between residential milieus and interpersonal bonds, urging a nuanced understanding of cultural, geographical, and individual nuances to inform interpersonal sustainable paradigm that promotes social interaction and personal well-being.

Urban amenity and urban economic resilience: evidence from China.

Under the influence of multiple uncertain factors at home and abroad, urban amenities, as the underlying support for urban renewal activities, are of great significance in enhancing urban economic resilience. The panel data of Chinese cities from 2011 to 2019 is used in this study. Urban amenity is measured from artificial amenities and climate amenities, respectively. By using a two-way fixed effects model, we empirically test the impact of urban amenities on urban economic resilience. The key findings of this study are as follows. (1) Urban amenities can significantly enhance urban economic resilience. (2) Heterogeneity analysis shows that there are regional differences in the role of urban amenities in promoting urban economic resilience, with cities in the eastern region, strong environmental regulations, and high urbanization rates benefiting more. (3) We further find that urban amenities mainly enhance economic resilience by promoting population agglomeration, attracting labor migration, improving the quality of human capital, and stimulating urban innovation. Our conclusions recommend to rationally allocate and optimize urban amenity resources, strengthen urban planning and construction management, and create a more livable urban environment, thereby enhancing urban economic resilience.

Application of image rendering based on improved neural networks and sensors in landscape design

Landscape planning and design is an indispensable part of modern urban construction. In landscape design, rendering technology can transform designers' imagination into actual images, allowing people to better understand the design intent. In order to solve the problem of insufficient precision in image rendering in landscape design, this paper proposes a landscape design image rendering technology based on improved neural network technology. This technology combines stereo matching algorithms, which evaluate the corrected stereo images to calculate the differences between the real scene and the underlying model. The stereo matching algorithm is based on the basic model and obtains accurate depth information from a wide range image pair, making the rendered landscape image more realistic and precise. The experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the landscape design image rendering system through two important aspects: processing speed and parallax accuracy. The development of image rendering technology in landscape design cannot be separated from the mutual promotion of theory and practice. The technology proposed in this article has certain practical value and hopes to make more positive contributions to urban construction and cultural inheritance.

Impact of changing urban typologies on residential vegetation and its climate-effects – A case study from Helsinki, Finland

Residential green spaces are an integral part of urban green infrastructure and its role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Various urban typologies and changing planning practices affect the amount and structure of residential greenery, which has a direct impact on climate benefits. While urban green and its climate benefits have received increasing attention, there is still limited knowledge on how changing planning practices and related urban typologies impact residential vegetation and its capacity to deliver climate benefits. This paper aims to address this gap by determining the impact of planning practices on residential vegetation, focussing specifically on climate mitigation and adaptation. With the case study of Helsinki, characterized by a high share of green areas, the paper first examines how construction year and urban density affect the amount and structure of vegetation on residential properties. Second, it estimates the carbon sequestration and summer temperatures in the present-day climate. The paper applies spatial modelling and regression analysis to estimate the impact of construction year on the studied dependent variables, while controlling density via gross floor area of buildings. The study demonstrates that the average amount of residential vegetation, as measured using canopy and vegetation cover, has declined 15 percentage points from the 1970 s to early 2010 s and the canopy to low vegetation ratio has decreased constantly over the periods studied. The decline of the canopy cover in particular has reduced the climate benefits of residential vegetation. The paper highlights the significant impact of gross floor area and planning practices on urban vegetation cover and the climate benefits it provides. It also stresses the importance of ensuring sufficient tree cover and permeable surfaces in cities with progressive climate mitigation agenda throughout the chain of urban planning, construction, and subsequent property management stages.

Reflections on the Application of Digital Design in Future Urban Construction

As globalization deepens, it brings new opportunities for urban construction. With the acceleration of urban planning processes and the pressures of population growth, higher demands are placed on urban construction. At the same time, rapid developments in science and technology provide new ideas and directions for urban construction. Digital design, as an emerging design concept and technical method, is becoming an important support for future urban construction. By utilizing advanced technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, digital design can achieve comprehensive optimization of urban planning, architectural design and construction, and urban management and services, bringing revolutionary changes to urban construction. Therefore, this paper explains the technological basis of digital design in current urban construction to provide a background for understanding its application. It then delves into the specific application advantages of digital design in three aspects: urban planning, architectural design and construction, and urban management and services. However, digital design still faces multiple challenges in application, such as technology, security, and privacy issues, which need to be addressed through corresponding strategies. Through in-depth research and practice, it is believed that digital design will bring more sustainable solutions to future urban construction.

The Specific Application and Meaning Expression of Folk Art in Urban Landscape Design Under the Optimized Interactive Genetic Algorithm

With the rapid and stable growth of China's economy and the rapid development of urban construction, urban complexes have sprung up in major cities. The lag in urban ecological environmental protection, maintenance and construction has brought great pressure to the needs of today's urban residents in terms of life, safety, and sense of belonging. In the major cities with many high-rise buildings in contemporary China, land resources are becoming more and more scarce, and the urban ecological environment is in urgent need of recycling, and due to the blind imitation of Western culture and design mode and the neglect of my country's traditional regional culture, the urban landscape lacks interaction, resonance, and sense of belonging with citizens, and the phenomenon of landscape similarity emerges in various cities, focusing on the landscape space of urban complexes. There are also these problems. Urban residents urgently need a third space that can adjust their physical, mental, and spiritual needs. How to design an urban complex landscape that meets the aesthetic needs and humanistic needs of contemporary cities and has regional characteristics has become the first important task of my research. Folk art is an artistic treasure created by the working people in their production and life. Folk art is the embodiment of cultural regionality and the foundation of national culture. It awakens people's awareness of the importance of local culture, awakens people's sense of belonging, and is closer to the local public life. Today, the living soil and social and humanistic environment of folk art are in the process of urbanization in our country, and there is a trend of gradual disappearance of lifestyle changes. How to make the contemporary urban complex landscape an organic soil for the survival, expression, application, and development of folk art is an important task in contemporary urban landscape design. Based on optimization, related concepts such as symbols, folk art symbols, urban complexes, urban complex landscape design, etc. have been sorted out. The relevant experimental results show that the construction land accuracy of the logistic regression model based on genetic algorithm has increased from 78.0% to 85.3%. kappa increased from 74.5% to 81.2%. Research shows that the logistic regression parameter optimization method based on genetic algorithm has better simulation effect than the conventional logistic regression method and is more suitable for the situation of unbalanced data distribution and many data features in the simulation of large-scale urban land dynamic changes.

Are there interactions between the urban and rural construction land use transition? Evidence from Jiangsu province in China

The interactive feedback between the transition of urban construction land (UCL) and rural construction land (RCL) lies at the forefront of land use transition (LUT) research, and can shape the intrinsic driving forces for land system sustainable transition and urban-rural integrated development. This study innovatively investigated the interactive feedback between UCL and RCL transition. First, a theoretical analytical framework was proposed. Second, a spatial simultaneous equation model (SSEM) was employed to examine the interactive feedback between UCL and RCL transitions in Jiangsu Province, China, from 2000 to 2020. The main findings were as follows: The interactive feedback between UCL and RCL transitions followed two paths. The first interactive feedback path was driven by the interaction of urban and rural factors, whereas the second was driven by the integrated management of urban and rural land. UCL and RCL transition witnessed a positive interactive feedback relation. Specifically, a 1% increase in UCL transition led to a 0.535% increase in RCL transition, and a 1% increase in RCL transition resulted in a 0.579% increase in UCL transition. The two aspects exhibited complex spatial interaction effects. The UCL transition in the subject city had positive and negative effects on the UCL and RCL transitions of neighboring cities, respectively. The RCL transition had positive effect on the RCL transition in neighboring cities. The key to regulation is to make the mutual feedback pathways unobstructed through innovative policies in terms of both direct and indirect regulation. This study contributes to advance research on LUT and provides scientific evidence for urban–rural integrated development.

Study on the influence of water supply and drainage pipeline damage on urban silt ground collapse

Underground drainage pipelines play crucial roles in urban construction and development. Over time, these pipelines may incur damage and leakage due to aging and changes in surrounding loads. Ruptures and leaks in pipelines can lead to water seepage through cracks, resulting in erosion of surrounding soil layers and the formation of underground cavities. The loss of support in the soil above these cavities can lead to structural instability and eventual ground collapse. Such collapses can disrupt urban transportation systems, leading to significant social and economic consequences. This study specifically investigates ground collapse phenomena resulting from damage to drainage pipelines in silty soil within the Yellow River flood area in Zhengzhou City. By considering the influence of seepage velocity at the damaged pipeline section, the study differentiates between seepage erosion and scour erosion, conducting theoretical analyses and calculations for each scenario. The results show that ① when the surrounding area of the pipeline is damaged and the slow seepage rate causes a change in the critical groundwater level ΔH ≥ (Lσt )/((1 – n)γw), the soil around the pipeline will be damaged by seep erosion; ② when the water flow velocity at the damaged area of the pipeline is reached V 0 = 2λ(γs – γw )a 2 B 2/(9μ(B 2 – b 2)), the water flow impacts the soil and causes erosion damage. The critical pressure within the pipeline can be derived from the stress state where the pipeline is damaged P1=ρ2[2λ(γs−γw)a2B2/(9μ(B2−b2))] ; ③ the underground cavity formed by water flow erosion is assumed to be an “soil arch.” The stress analysis on it obtains the critical span of the “soil arch” when the “soil arch” is damaged 2b = [2c(H + h) + Kaγ(H + h)2 tan φ – P]/(H + h/3). This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the management of silty ground collapse in the Yellow River flood area.

Mechanical characterization of lining under three-dimensional complex load during shield posture adjustment

The shield tunneling method is widely used in urban underpass construction. However, research on the mechanical characteristics of segments during construction is insufficient. Throughout the shield tunneling construction process, segments undergo a diverse range of loads, and their modes become complex. During the adjustment of the posture of the shield machine along a curved path, segments must withstand three-dimensional uneven loads from the shield tail brush and extrusion of the shield shell, in addition to conventional loads. Thus, this study delves into the mechanical characterization of the lining during shield posture adjustment. First, three-dimensional refined models of the longitudinal and circumferential joints were established to investigate their bending and shear mechanical properties. Using the joint and shield tail brush stiffness models, a nonlinear spring-connector-shell model was developed for the mechanical analysis of segments during posture adjustment. Subsequently, a three-dimensional segment load model was formulated for the construction period. The segment response under the influence of different posture adjustments was examined using a numerical model of a tunnel subjected to a complex three-dimensional load. Furthermore, a multistage model of the segment response under various posture adjustments was established. This model serves as a valuable reference for engineering applications.

Exploring the relationship between land use change patterns and variation in environmental factors within urban agglomeration

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 aims to promote a more livable urban environment for humanity. However, the rapid global urbanization process has exerted significant pressure on urban environment, posing challenges for many cities to achieve this target. The urbanization process within urban agglomeration is accompanied by rapid and diverse land use change. Exploring the relationship between land use change and environmental factors is crucial for achieving sustainable urban development. To address this issue, this study investigates the interactive relationship between pixel-scale land use change and environmental indicators (CO2, Land Surface Temperature, and PM2.5) in China's three major urban agglomerations from 2000 to 2020. This study aims to analyze major land use change patterns, explore intrinsic connections among environmental indicators, and assess the impact of land use change on these indicators. The findings show that cropland, forestland, and built-up land are the major types of land change in all three urban agglomerations. Regions characterized by high population density, heavy industry, and intense transportation exhibit more pollutant emissions. Rapid urban construction has resulted in different types of environmental degradation issues. This study provides a comprehensive examination of the relationship between urbanization and environmental issues.

How does rapid urban construction land expansion affect the spatial inequalities of ecosystem health in China? Evidence from the country, economic regions and urban agglomerations

Identifying the adaptation mechanisms between urban construction land expansion (UCE) and ecosystem health (EHI) is a crucial aspect of sustainable management. However, there is still progress room for existing studies in distinguishing the impact mechanisms of UCE on the EHI of China's cities, different economic subregions and urban agglomerations. These gaps hinder the development of differentiated supportive frameworks for urban land management policies and ecosystem restoration initiatives across various scales in China. This study integrated multivariate satellite remote sensing data to monitor the heterogeneous evolution patterns of EHI and UCE in Chinese cities, economic subregions and urban agglomerations. A set of spatial measure models are utilized to distinguish the variability impact of UCE on China's EHI from a multi-dimensional perspective, including global and local, whole-area and sub-area, and direct and indirect influences. The results indicate that as UCE continues to grow, EHI steadily declined, reaching 0.512 with an average annual decrease of 1.507% from 2000 to 2020. A diminishing cluster pattern of EHI was observed, primarily concentrated in urban agglomerations such as BTH, GBA, and YRD. UCE exhibited a significant negative spatial dependence on EHI, and both global and local perspectives, UCE had a gradually weakening negative effect on the EHI of Chinese cities and economic subregions. However, the impacts of UCE on EHI in mature urban agglomerations (e.g., GBA, BTH, and YRD) were dominated by spatial spillovers, whereas growing urban agglomerations (e.g., MRYRU and CCU) were more affected by direct shocks from UCE. Our investigation informs site-specific ecologically sustainable management strategies in China based on cross-scale analyses, providing new perspectives into establishing cooperative mechanisms for cross-regional ecological management while emphasizing ecological risks management under the integration of urban agglomerations.

High-Resolution Mapping of Urban Residential Building Stock Using Multisource Geographic Data

The rapid pace of urbanization and the increasing concentration of populations in urban areas have generated a substantial demand for architectural structures, resulting in a significant increase in building stock and continuous material flows that interact with the environment. This study emphasizes the importance of high-spatial-resolution mapping of residential building stock for effective urban-construction resource management, planning, and waste management. Focusing on Xi’an as a case study, the research develops a comprehensive framework for mapping urban residential building stock by integrating diverse data dimensions, including temporal, spatial, network, and multi-attribute aspects. The findings indicate that between 1990 and 2020, approximately 4758 residential communities were established in central Xi’an. The analysis of seven key residential construction materials revealed that the building stock escalated from 1.53 million tons to 731.12 million tons, with a steady spatial expansion of material distribution. The study attributes this growth to factors such as population increase, economic advancement, and policy initiatives, which, in turn, have driven the demand for residential building materials and reinforced the interdependence between urban expansion and residential construction development. Remarkably, from 1990 to 2020, the population surged by 2.1-fold, the economy by 66-fold, and the stock of residential building materials by 477-fold, indicating that the growth rate of material stock consistently outpaced that of both population and economic growth. Over the past three decades, the rapid expansion of residential buildings has led to the encroachment of urban ecological spaces by concrete structures. The methodology proposed in this study for quantifying building material offers valuable insights for policymakers and urban and environmental planners to foster responsible resource consumption and supports component-level circularity in the built environment.

中国“东亚文化之都”建设与发展研究

After more than a decade of exploration and practice, China has developed into the country with the highest number of “East Asian Capital of Culture,” not only establishing an operational model of “government-led, socially participated, internally and externally integrated, and co-constructed sharing” but also evolving and maturing its selection mechanism and innovating international cultural exchange activities. Furthermore, its value in promoting urban cultural empowerment, exchange and mutual learning among Asian civilizations, and the excavation and dissemination of East Asian culture has become increasingly prominent, making it a focal point in the fields of culture, tourism, and urban construction. However, systematic or thematic studies on this topic are rare in academic circles. In light of this, this paper conducts a systematic analysis of the environment and the evolution of the selection mechanism for the construction and development of China's “East Asian Capital of Culture.” It reveals the development trajectory, characteristics, and the successful experiences and areas for improvement of China's “East Asian Capital of Culture” selection and development model. Furthermore, it proposes targeted development strategies and suggestions, providing a reference for the construction and cultural dissemination of other countries' culture capitals.