Urban Infrastructure Research Articles

OpenHW3 – An open-source, low-cost temperature-controlled orbital shaker

The current lack of standardized testing methods to assess the binding isotherms of ions in cement and concrete research leads to uncontrolled variability in these results. In this study, an open-source and low-cost apparatus, named OpenHW3, is proposed to accurately measure the binding isotherms of ions in various cementitious material systems. OpenHW3 provides two main options, a temperature-controlled orbital shaker, as well as an option to retrofit a commercial orbital shaker for temperature control. The effectiveness of these device options is validated via comparison with conventional binding isotherms experiments. The binding isotherm results were comparable to conventional Waterbath shakers, while providing more reliable results compared to horizontal commercial shakers. It also provided accurate temperature control between 25 °C and 75 °C. The results here are critical for allowing open access to scientific equipment, and providing high-quality binding isotherm data for reliable service life models of urban infrastructure assets throughout the world.

Advancing climate resilience through a geo-design framework: strengthening urban and community forestry for sustainable environmental design

Urban and community forestry is a specialized discipline focused on the meticulous management of trees and forests within urban, suburban, and town environments. This field often entails extensive civic involvement and collaborative partnerships with institutions. Its overarching objectives span a spectrum from preserving water quality, habitat, and biodiversity to mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. The UHI phenomenon, characterized by notably higher temperatures in urban areas compared to rural counterparts due to heat absorption by urban infrastructure and limited urban forest coverage, serves as a focal point in this study. The study focuses on developing a methodological framework that integrates Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), Random Forest (RF), and Suitability Analysis to assess the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect across different urban zones, aiming to identify areas with varying levels of UHI impact. The framework is designed to assist urban planners and designers in understanding the spatial distribution of UHI and identifying areas where urban forestry initiatives can be strategically implemented to mitigate its effect. Conducted in various London areas, the research provides a comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationship between urban and community forestry and UHI. By mapping the spatial variability of UHI, the framework offers a novel approach to enhancing urban environmental design and advancing urban forestry studies. The study’s findings are expected to provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers, aiding in creating healthier and more livable urban environments through informed decision-making in urban forestry management.

Integrating Traditional and Modern Survey Methods: A Comparative Study of East African Practices

As East Africa experiences rapid urbanization and development, the integration of traditional and modern survey methods emerges as a crucial strategy for enhancing land surveying practices. This review article explores the complementary strengths of traditional methods, rooted in local knowledge and cultural practices, and modern technologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and drone-based surveys. The study examines the importance of integrating these approaches to improve data accuracy, cultural relevance, and community acceptance. Through comparative analysis and case studies from Kenya and Tanzania, the article highlights the benefits and challenges of combining these methodologies. The review is based on an extensive examination of existing literature and field studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Addressing technological, financial, regulatory, and social barriers is essential for realizing the potential of this integrated approach, which can significantly enhance urban planning, infrastructure development, and sustainable land management in East Africa. Keywords: Traditional Survey Methods, Modern Survey Technologies, GIS Integration, Drone Surveys, Land Management

Urbanization and Its Impact on Real Estate Development in Uganda

Urbanization in Uganda is driving significant transformations, impacting the dynamics of cities and the real estate sector. As rural populations migrate to urban centers like Kampala, Entebbe, and Mbarara for better opportunities, the resulting population growth pressures existing infrastructure and exacerbates housing shortages. This surge in demand for residential and commercial properties necessitates substantial investments and innovative approaches to expand and upgrade urban infrastructure. The housing market faces a stark contrast between luxury developments and underserved informal settlements, highlighting the need for affordable housing solutions and policies. Urbanization also offers opportunities for sustainable and smart city development, integrating green building practices, renewable energy, and advanced technologies to enhance urban resilience and efficiency. Government policies and urban planning initiatives are crucial in promoting sustainable growth, affordable housing, and robust infrastructure development. By addressing infrastructure needs, implementing innovative housing solutions, and adopting sustainable urban planning, Uganda can create vibrant, inclusive, and resilient cities for the future. Keywords: Urbanization, Real estate development, Infrastructure, Affordable housing, Sustainable cities.

Analysis of the Impact of Urban Infrastructure on Urbanization Processes at Different Levels from a Spatiotemporal Perspective

A comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of urbanization development at different levels and its influencing factors is crucial for promoting global urbanization and advancing China’s new urbanization. Using indicators related to urbanization development, a multidimensional index system was constructed based on five dimensions: population, economy, space, society, and ecology. Employing methods such as the Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s trend analysis, multiple linear regression, and spatial autocorrelation analysis, the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of urbanization from 2000 to 2019 were analyzed comprehensively at national, economic zone, provincial, and prefectural city scales. The results indicate the following. (1) From 2000 to 2019, urbanization levels at all levels showed an overall upward trend, with the national urbanization rate increasing most rapidly at 5.39%. (2) Trend analysis reveals rapid and significant growth trends in urbanization at the national and economic zone scales, while urban-level changes exhibit greater diversity and spatiotemporal heterogeneity. (3) Spatial distribution patterns show that urbanization levels in the eastern coastal economic zones are significantly higher than those in the northeastern economic zones, highlighting pronounced regional disparities in development and agglomeration effects in economically advanced regions and provinces. (4) Regression analysis demonstrates that spatial urbanization significantly influences urbanization development in China, with urban infrastructure playing a crucial role across different levels.

A Quantitative Analysis of the Complex Response Relationship between Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) Structure/Spatial Pattern and Urban Thermal Environment in Shanghai

The urban heat island (UHI) effect has evolved into one of the key environmental problems affecting the urban ecological environment and sustainable development. Based on 52 Urban Thermal Heat spots (UTHSs) with significant differences between land use structure and urban green infrastructure (UGI) spatial layout within the influence range of UHI in Shanghai, Landsat-8/9 satellite images were used to construct a high-dimensional dataset reflecting the impact of built environment components on urban thermal environment. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the spatial difference qualitatively. Using the stepwise regression (SWR) model and partial least square regression (PLSR) model, the complex response relationship between UGI’s structure/spatial pattern differentiation and urban thermal environment in three spatial stratification ranges of UTHSs was quantitatively analyzed. Overall, the statistical explanatory power of the PLSR model is much better than the stepwise regression model. The PLSR model points out that moderately increasing the average building height, class area (CA), percentage of landscape (PLAND), landscape shape index (LSI), and largest patch index (LPI) play a positive role in inhibiting the growth of land surface temperature (LST), and the cooling effect of index weights decreases in order. However, the interaction effects of the box-cox transformed indices with underlines, e.g., CA × Cohesion × AI × LPI and PLAND × CA × Cohesion × AI × LPI, exert relatively small weight on the cooling effect. According to the results, suggestions such as optimization of the UGI structure and urban construction layout were proposed, which can effectively mitigate the UHI effect.

Structural Performance and Stress Contour Analysis of Multi Utility Tunnels Using LISA V.8 Finite Element Analysis

The growing complexity of urban infrastructure necessitates efficient management of utilities like electricity, water, and telecommunications. Multi Utility Tunnels (MUTs) provide a consolidated approach to housing these utilities, reducing surface disruption and enhancing maintenance efficiency. This study assesses the structural performance and stress distribution within MUTs using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) through LISA FEA V.8 software. The analysis involved detailed geometric modeling of the MUT, considering initial conditions and potential subsidence. Material properties for steel, concrete, wood, backfill soil, and the top surface layer were defined, focusing on their Young's modulus, density, and Poisson's ratio. The MUT was subjected to a uniform line pressure of 86.49 kN/m, representing vehicular traffic and pedestrian loads. Results showed that the applied stresses and observed deflections were within safe limits, with a tensile strength of 3.4 MPa and current stress at 3046 kN/m², indicating no risk of cracking. The observed deflection of 3.9 mm was significantly below the allowable limit of 10 mm, affirming structural stability. The reinforcing steel also exhibited stress levels well within its allowable limit, demonstrating the design's adequacy and ensuring the structure's safety and efficiency under the specified load conditions

Role of Social Infrastructure in Social Isolation within Urban Communities

Social isolation is a global problem with far-reaching consequences. Nevertheless, various solutions can address it. Building social infrastructure is important for preventing isolation. In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of urban infrastructure on social isolation using social surveys and statistical data from South Korea. A multilevel logistic model identified the infrastructure characteristics required to solve social isolation by adding regional-level data to individual-level data. The analysis showed that, at the individual level, gender, age, marital status, and household income were significant, whereas at the regional level, the ratio of single-person households, access to traditional markets, and the capital region status areas were significant. The findings suggest that social infrastructure can impact social isolation. Hence, it is important to plan urban spaces and design infrastructure to help alleviate social isolation.

LID Implementation in an urban basin: a Brazilian case study

Problems related to urban drainage systems and the disorderly growth of large urban centers have led to the search for alternative drainage techniques. These techniques have been called Low Impact Development (LID), and generally influence the reduction of peak flow and runoff volume. In an urban sub-basin in the city of Recife, PE, the hypothesis of replacing existing roofs with a green roof (GR) was considered in three scenarios: (1) pre-urbanized, (2) current, (3.1) 30% of GR, (3.2) 50% of GR, (3.3) 75% of GR, (3.4) 100% of T.V. For this, simulations were carried out in PCSWMM based on the current urbanization situation. Linimetric readings were taken for calibration, obtaining 0.61 NSE and 0.903 R². Validation was carried out using images at two points within the basin. The reduction in peak flow values ranged from 0.74 to 2.10 m³/s, in addition to the time being delayed from 31 to 90 minutes. As for river level values, the variation was between 4 and 13 cm, while volume reductions recorded values between 67.42 and 190.81 m³. Overall, this proposed methodology can help stormwater managers better evaluate the performance of LID techniques at different hydrological scales, showing the importance of prioritizing urban adaptation and green infrastructure implementation.

Optimizing water supply systems in developing regions: a sustainable approach using ESCO model system for urban water supply in Dehradun, India

The critical importance of water makes it an indispensable natural resource. In context of urban infrastructure, particularly in the developing world, supplying water to urban households poses a notable challenge. Optimizing water supply systems (WSS) is one of the most arduous challenges in addressing this issue, primary contributors being energy and water losses during supply process. This paper focuses on the method adopted for minimizing losses in WSSs and creating a self-sustainable model for water supply in the urban settlement of Dehradun, India. The solution entails deployment of Energy Savings Companies (ESCO) service delivery model and the utilization of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. This approach, thus far has yielded saving in both revenue, energy and water consumption at source, potentially generating saving that would enable covering the operational and maintenance changes for the established system for around 10 years.

Evaluating the impact of evolving green and grey urban infrastructure on local particulate pollution around city square parks

The relationship between green and grey urban infrastructure, local meteorological conditions, and traffic-related air pollution is complex and dynamic. This case study examined the effect of evolving morphologies around a city square park in Dublin and explores the twin impacts of local urban development (grey) and maturing parks (green) on particulate matter (PM) pollution. A fixed air quality monitoring campaign and computational fluid dynamic modelling (ENVI-met) were used to assess current (baseline) and future scenarios. The baseline results presented the distribution of PM in the study area, with bimodal (PM2.5) and unimodal (PM10) diurnal profiles. The optimal vegetation height for air quality within the park also differed by wind direction with 21 m vegetation optimal for parallel winds (10.45% reduction) and 7 m vegetation optimal for perpendicular winds (30.36% reduction). Increased building heights led to higher PM2.5 concentrations on both footpaths ranging from 25.3 to 37.0% under perpendicular winds, whilst increasing the height of leeward buildings increased PM2.5 concentrations by up to 30.9% under parallel winds. The findings from this study provide evidence of the importance of more in-depth analysis of green and grey urban infrastructure in the urban planning decision-making process to avoid deteriorating air quality conditions around city square parks.

Evaluating planning and operational policies for urban public electric vehicle charging infrastructure

It is expected that public electric vehicle charging demands will gradually increase in Korea. In this study, we propose a macroscopic indicator of the level of service (LOS) of urban public fast charging infrastructure to quantitively evaluate the joint impacts of possible planning and operational policies on it. The indicator is defined as the reliability-based capacity, the number of electric vehicles that can be charged within the maximum targeted weighted delay between wait and detour. We consider three combinable policies: changing the distribution of chargers in the planning stage; assigning the optimal charging station to each charging event in real-time and evenly distributing daily charging demands in the operational phase. For multiple policy combinations and various demand cases, we compare their LOS levels, calculated by Monte Carlo simulations that can efficiently address the complex joint impact of stochastic demands. The simulation experiments are designed to explicitly discover the impacts of policies along with varying charging demands. The results show that certain combinations of proposed policies can effectively and efficiently improve LOS.

THE SITUATION ON THE UKRAINIAN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET IN THE PRE-WAR AND WAR PERIODS

The War and the Ukrainian Housing Market: Overview and Forecasts: The article examines the domestic housing market dynamics in the pre-war and war periods. Quantitative indicators of the housing stock of Ukraine are analyzed, and their dynamics and structure are highlighted. The State Program "eRestoration": The Way to Housing Restoration: The features of implementing the "eRestoration" program aimed at compensating damaged and destroyed housing are considered. Trends in price changes in the primary, secondary, and rental housing markets in different regions of Ukraine are substantiated and conceptualized. Resumption of construction: Dynamics and prospects: The article examines aspects of the resumption of construction in Ukraine: the number of residential complexes sold in 2023 and apartments put into operation are analyzed. The state's role in the recovery of the housing market emphasizes the critical role of the state in stimulating the development of the housing market and providing affordable housing for people who lost it due to the war. Housing market: challenges and prospects. 1. Functioning of the housing market: the housing market as a system of economic relations; its role in stimulating savings, redistribution of resources, and investment; the impact of the war on the domestic housing market. 2. Market trends in 2023: growing demand for ready or almost ready housing; higher real estate prices, especially in the western regions; internal and external population migration; slow construction and accumulation of pent-up demand. 3. Future forecasts: stabilization of the market in the absence of escalation of the war; conversion of pent-up demand into new transactions; price correction; opportunities for further market development; stimulation of demand for housing and commercial real estate; development of urban infrastructure. 4. The role of the state: the leading role of the state in the formation of the regulatory framework; implementation of programs to eliminate imbalances in housing provision; elimination of the adverse effects of the war; 5. Conclusion: The restoration and development of the housing market of Ukraine is a complex task that requires joint efforts of the state, businesses, and citizens. Improving the uniqueness of the text: new subheadings were added to improve the structure of the text; more dynamic and emotional words and phrases were used; author's opinions and analytics were added; specific examples and statistics were provided; complex sentences were rephrased to improve readability; a different writing style was used to emphasize the author's handwriting.

Analysing urban local cold air dynamics and climate functional zones using interpretable machine learning: A case study of Tianhe district, Guangzhou

Deterioration of the thermal environment in built-up areas poses a serious threat to human health, comfort, and urban infrastructure, while also increasing energy consumption and carbon emissions. This underscores the need to optimize wind environments as a key mitigation strategy for urban areas. This paper analyzed the effects of human activities and natural factors on local cold air in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, from the perspective of local ventilation systems. The KLAM_21 (Kaltluft Abfluss Modell) was used to simulate local cold air flow and delineate climate functional zones. A random forest model, interpreted with the SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) method, assessed the impact of various factors on local cold air dynamics. The study found that: (1) The northern mountainous area is a crucial cold source; (2) Some open spaces in the built environment fail to function as effective local cold air corridors; (3) High-intensity urban development hinders local cold air transmission; (4) Water bodies are more effective than green spaces in collecting and transmitting local cold air. This study provided technical methods for identifying climate functional zones and understanding local cold air dynamics, as well as theoretical support for the construction of local ventilation systems in urban areas.

MAN Network Optimization Through EIGRP Dynamic Routing and DUAL Algorithm: A Study Using Cisco Packet Tracer

This research examines the optimization of the Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) through the implementation of the Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) and the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) using the Cisco Packet Tracer. The main goal is to improve the efficiency of routing and data management in MAN networks. This study involves designing a network topology with three routers, setting appropriate IP configurations, and implementing EIGRP and the DUAL algorithm. The results show significant improvements in routing efficiency and data management, confirming the importance of selecting appropriate routing protocols and network configurations for MAN network optimization. These findings contribute to network optimization practices, providing important insights for the development of more efficient urban communications infrastructure.

Sustainable Urban Infrastructure: Innovations in Green Building Technologies and Urban Planning

The burgeoning challenges of rapid urbanization, climate change, and resource depletion necessitate a paradigm shift in urban infrastructure towards sustainability. the intersection of green building technologies and urban planning as pivotal components in fostering sustainable urban development. In recent years, green building technologies have emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable urban infrastructure. From energy-efficient design to the integration of renewable energy sources, these technologies offer solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of urbanization while enhancing residents' quality of life. Furthermore, innovations such as passive design strategies, green roofs, and smart building systems demonstrate the potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in urban environments.

The Spatiotemporal Matching Relationship between Metro Networks and Urban Population from an Evolutionary Perspective: Passive Adaptation or Active Guidance?

With the operation of the first route in Xi’an City, the matching relationship between the metro networks and the urban population is a root factor affecting the utilization of rail transit facilities. The mismatch between the metro networks and the urban population has led to an imbalance between the supply and demand for rail transport, resulting in wasted urban infrastructure. Based on this issue, the research objective is to focus on the spatiotemporal variations of the matching relationship. Firstly, the topological network model abstractly extracted metro spatial distribution features, and the spatial autocorrelation model was adopted to identify the evolution characteristics of the metro networks and urban population. Secondly, this paper adopted a time-lagged regression model to demonstrate the action relationship from 2011 to 2021. Then, the compositive coordination index was utilized to assess the variation of the global matching relationship. Finally, the paper explored spatial heterogeneity through the coupling coherence degree attached to grid cells. The research results indicate that the Moran’s I value of metro elements decreased from 0.782 to 0.510 with the further complexity of topological networks, while the population was consistently high in spatial dependence with a Moran’s I value of around 0.75 during the decade. Based on the regression coefficients and significance, this paper verified the hypothesis that the metro networks and urban population had a positive time-lagged feedback effect in urban development. From 2011 to 2021, the compositive coordination index symbolizing the global matching relationship increased from 0.29 to 0.90, but the coupling coherence degree shows significant spatial heterogeneity in different grid units. Differentiated spatial planning strategies were proposed for varied areas to efficiently utilize rail transit, which may provide a reference for other cities with the same reality problem.

Design and Implementation of Advance Real Time Parking System

Effective parking facility management is critical to the functioning of urban infrastructure, but current systems frequently struggle to reliably identify occupants and neutralize possible threats. In this paper, we suggest a brand-new parking management strategy. The title is "Advanced Real-Time Parking System" . A strong parking management system with machine learning-based threat detection is presented in this paper. Three specialized models were created using YOLO v8 and trained on carefully selected datasets of 800, 800, and 600 images that included license plates, parking occupancy, fires, and explosions. By taking advantage of YOLO v8's flexibility, these models were designed with high detection accuracy in mind. The models underwent thorough training and validation before being smoothly incorporated into a single system that provided extensive surveillance capabilities. The evaluation showed a remarkable accuracy of 92%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the system in actual threat detection situations. This study highlights the potential of YOLO v8-based solutions to improve parking environments' safety and security, demonstrating their adaptability in tackling a range of security issues

Testing a rapid assessment approach for estimating ecosystem service capacity in urban green alleys

Urban green infrastructure – the network of greenspaces across cities – provides ecosystem services that are important for urban sustainability. Because of this, cities are increasingly redeveloping underused alleys into green infrastructure to improve ecosystem service capacity. But it remains unclear if these green alleys are delivering on the promise of supplying particular ecosystem services. The indicators usually used within green infrastructure to measure ecosystem services may not be suitable for green alleys because of the unique structure, vegetative features and level of community engagement of these alleys. Here we developed and tested a rapid assessment approach to evaluate ecosystem service capacity appropriate for use by community members and practitioners, using a green alley network in Montréal (Canada) as a case study. We collected data on green alley vegetation, structural form and indicators of four ecosystem services (food provision, habitat for pollinators, anthropogenic noise regulation and air temperature regulation). We modelled the relationships between vegetation, structural form, and ecosystem services, to determine if these rapidly assessed features of green alleys are appropriate indicators to evaluate ecosystem service capacity. Our results show that a rapidly assessed measure of vegetative ground cover is strongly associated with habitat for pollinators, highlighting potential for vegetative ground cover as an indicator for this service. Rapid assessments of alley vegetation were not associated with air temperature or anthropogenic noise, contrasting the findings of previous studies. Lack of relationships between the explanatory variables and the four ecosystem services suggests that further research is required to untangle these complex relationships. Our research provides a starting point for developing indicators of ecosystem service capacity that are tailored specifically to the unique structure and features of green alleys, a crucial step in testing the efficacy of this increasingly popular sustainable development strategy.

Seagrass ecosystems as green urban infrastructure to mediate human pathogens in seafood

Seagrass ecosystems as green urban infrastructure to mediate human pathogens in seafood