Urban Infrastructure Research Articles

Risk assessment of urban infrastructure vulnerability to meteorological disasters: A case study of Dongguan, China

Effective forecasting and response to meteorological hazards are crucial for safeguarding life, property, and supporting sustainable socioeconomic development. With the rising frequency and severity of meteorological hazards worldwide, this study proposes an enhanced risk assessment framework for urban infrastructure exposed to extreme weather events, with a focus on cascading impacts to critical services such as electricity, communication, and transportation networks (roads and subways). A disaster-loss model is developed to quantify infrastructure vulnerability at various spatial and temporal scales under heavy rainfall conditions, accounting for secondary effects. The model's performance is validated through empirical analysis of a 15-year rainfall event in Dongguan City, China, occurring from September 7–8, 2023. Results indicate the model's ability to predict real-event outcomes with approximately 70% accuracy. This model offers valuable insights for disaster prevention and mitigation strategies, aiding decision-makers in optimizing emergency resource allocation, enhancing disaster response efficiency, and issuing timely public risk warnings to minimize losses.

Uptake of ecosystem service concept in urban blue-green infrastructure planning and decision-making in Russia

ABSTRACT In the scientific community, ecosystem services (ESs) are well-recognized as a promising concept to more actively consider and plan for the multitude of benefits provided by the green environment and thus promote sustainable urban development. Yet, to have an impact on decision-making, the concept must spread from academia to practice. To understand to what extent ES have been adopted in practice and decision-making in Russia, we conducted a series of interviews and an online survey with both practitioners and scientists and complemented it by document analysis. Our results showed that ES are not adequately reflected in urban decision-making and planning processes. Moreover, we found no explicit references to ES in strategic urban planning and landscape development projects, although there are few implicit references in several reviewed documents. Among the identified challenges for better uptake of the concept in practice were many disagreements associated with the lack of a unified terminology, typology, and methods. Stakeholders understand the potential of applying ES valuation in practice, which includes a necessity to develop methodological materials and different tools based on real-life cases. Finally, a list of proposals on possible ways to better include ES in urban planning and in decision-making processes was formed by the respondents.

Methods and tools to support the Experimental Programme “Dateci spazio”

The European Community has adopted a contractual-performance mode of managing community funds, in which the funding disbursement is contingent on the achievement of specific measured results. This has conditioned the NRP Programmes and had positive repercussions on national ones. Among these, the “Dateci Spazio” Programme (literally “Give us space”) is part of a broad process of equitable and inclusive regeneration of urban habitats and green infrastructure, promoting the creation of playgrounds in municipalities with populations over 300,000. The paper returns application research aimed at defining a process and tools to implement this experimental Programme generating accessible, inclusive, and universal habitats.

Creating opportunities for community voices to be heard

Abstract This presentation will showcase the importance of community based participatory research in developing health literacy in Ireland. Purposeful sampling (n = 105: 71% female) in two contrasting Sláintecare Healthy Community areas in Ireland (Finglas & Cabra and Mayo), recruited participants to take part in semi-structured focus groups, or individual interviews. Using reflective thematic analysis, and a critical friend approach, five key themes were identified that demonstrated the strengths, needs and challenges in health literacy in urban and rural communities in Ireland. This included: i) Accessing and understanding health information; ii) Health literacy changing over time; iii) Perceiving health literacy as an individual responsibility; iv) Interpersonal and community influences on health literacy; and v) Health access through a rural or urban infrastructure. There were many similarities between rural and urban, young and old. Equally, there were unique challenges that required local solutions. As such, the next phase of this project utilised a co-design process to check, challenge, collaborate and create recommendations for health literacy solutions in each case study area. A specific method of experience-based co-design, the Double Diamond Design Approach (DDDA) was used. With DDDA, stakeholders progress through a four-stage reflective process to discover, define, develop, and deliver an innovative solution to a problem. Two Co-design Workshops took place in March 2024 aiming to revise the strengths, barriers, needs, and propose potential recommendations for health literacy in each Sláintecare Healthy Community, using an adapted DDDA. Within the rural setting, solutions to promote health literacy spanned across transport, health access, and community based needs. Within an urban context specific suggestions around community engagement, information sharing, and earlier educational intervention were called for.

INTEGRATING SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIONS INTO URBAN PLANNING

Urban ecology increasingly recognizes urban vacant lots as spaces with untapped aesthetic, social, and environmental potentials. This study focuses on strategies for converting these lots into green areas in Mossoró, a semi-arid city in Brazil, by analyzing urban connectivity patterns. Using a Geographic Information System, the study identifies priority areas for green space conversion based on factors like urban planning, density, land cover, and vacant lots. The analysis revealed 429 hectares of highly suitable land for conversion. A resistance surface was also created, factoring in public amenities and urban infrastructure, which showed varying levels of resistance to human movement. Areas with well-developed infrastructure had lower resistance, encouraging human and ecological movement. Connectivity modeling highlighted a need for more green infrastructure, especially in peripheral regions, to address socio-spatial fragmentation and enhance urban resilience in Mossoró. Keywords: Connectivity, Green Infrastructure, Urban Vacant Lots.

Development of an Index System for Public Toilets Based on HRWS-PS Theory and Improvement Strategies

As an integral part of the urban public health infrastructure, public toilets play a significant role in shaping a city’s image. With the advancement of the economy, people have increasingly higher expectations for public toilets. While existing standards primarily focus on physical indicators, there is still room to incorporate measures that prioritize humanistic care. Therefore, based on the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation in Public Spaces (HRWS-PS) standards, this study develops a comprehensive index system for public toilets with a specific emphasis on humanistic care, utilizing expert questionnaires and employing methods such as the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy weight, and highlights safety and quality as paramount concerns for users, followed by usability and accessibility as secondary needs. Acceptability, which encompasses additional amenities, depends on meeting these secondary needs through solid basic design and construction practices. Affordability, related to consumer costs, is comparatively less demanding. By applying this framework, an analysis of the current state of upgrading urban public toilets in Shijiazhuang was conducted, leading to recommendations for improvements across four key areas: environmental sanitation, architectural design, infrastructure development, and urban planning. The final results provide practical insights for evaluating and suggesting enhancements to ongoing toilet revolution initiatives and urban basic service facilities while also informing urban renewal efforts and designs.

Beyond functionality: topographical complexity as a driver of aesthetic value in urban green infrastructure

Cities face growing challenges from stormwater: flooding, pollution, and habitat loss. Green infrastructure offers solutions, yet the aesthetic dimension is often overlooked. This study introduces the Buras Beauty Scale for objectively assessing the beauty of wetland configurations and emphasises its integration into green infrastructure projects. Our methodology involved surveying diverse groups, including non-architecture students and non-traditional architects, who perceived higher beauty in wetland configurations compared to traditional architects and architecture students (mean beauty scores: 7.8 and 7.5 vs. 6.2 and 6.4, respectively). Statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation (r = 0.731, p < 0.05) between beauty assessments and Shannon-Weaver entropy, highlighting the importance of topographic diversity. We also observed that higher beauty scores correlated with greater consensus among respondents, as evidenced by a decrease in the coefficient of variation from 0.52 to 0.34. Multicriteria analyses, integrating beauty with functionality, identified optimal wetland configurations for urban landscapes.

Interlocking Elements to Control Erosion in Natural and Urban Ecosystems

Advancements in comprehending soil erosion alleviation, relevant to both natural terrains and urban settings, have experienced notable growth in knowledge and products. Nevertheless, the increasing influence of climate change-driven forces, extreme weather events, and human-caused actions have resulted in reduced attainment of the desired results in erosion mitigation efforts. This paper aims to investigate how interlocking elements contribute to the reduction of soil erosion in natural landscapes and urban green spaces. This will be achieved by analyzing published materials, patents, installation instructions, manuals, and reports from organizations. Furthermore, we delve into novel interlocking products and emerging strategies like soft solutions and ecologically engineered blocks designed to effectively address soil erosion within vegetated habitats while enhancing the system’s capacity to adapt and withstand shifts in climate, curbing soil loss, and diminishing the speed of water runoff, consequently mitigating the potential for erosion. Geotechnical engineering and other erosion control solutions like biobased interlocking components and interlocking permeable blocks offer promise in safeguarding natural landscapes and urban infrastructure from erosion-related impacts. The geotextiles market, for instance, which was valued at over $7 billion in 2022, is anticipated to experience an annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2023 to 2030. This growth can be attributed to increasing environmental concerns related to soil erosion and the rapid urbanization occurring in developing countries. However, continuous progress in the economic viability and sustainability of these techniques and products is crucial to effectively achieve erosion mitigation goals in the face of a shifting climate.

Co-design and civic governance: self and others in a dispute over urban infrastructure

ABSTRACT This paper explores how citizens help shape the urban environment, partly through their talk, as they participate in a dispute about what elements of that environment should be like. In our investigation of the talk in civic meetings concerning a bicycle lane, we argue that some of the interactional activities of the meeting can be understood as a form of co-design that involves both present and absent others. Accordingly, we seek to expand the understanding of co-design beyond those explicit collaborative practices that involve designers and others to also include contexts of urban governance. Through considering how citizens present themselves in ways that variously detail personal experience, knowledge of a City’s design-consultation processes, and references to multiple others, we can see how a disagreement concerning an element of urban infrastructure (an existing bicycle lane) is enacted in ways that impact subsequent governance decisions (the lane is removed). We consider how conflict and disruption might be considered constitutive elements of some situations of co-design, with our work building on previous scholarship that explores the policy-related settings of, e.g. government debates, as instances of co-design.

Evaluating the performance of water distribution network deterioration using customer-oriented performance indices

ABSTRACT Water distribution networks (WDNs) are an essential urban infrastructure, with their performance directly influencing societal well-being. Our study applied to a real network model that employs a 24-h simulation with 1-h time steps and evaluates the impact of leaks and loss in the pipe cross-sectional area on WDN hydraulic performance as experienced by end users. Adhering to a UK utility's 20-m head pressure requirement as the water main benchmark, we present two new customer-oriented performance indices (CPIs) centred on network reliability and pressure deficit severity. The new CPIs adeptly quantify network performance degradation due to pipe deterioration. This degradation translates directly to a poor customer experience, highlighting the potential for these CPIs to pinpoint areas of the network where performance levels are compromised. Furthermore, the CPIs identify individual pipes within the network where defects would severely impact network performance and the sets of pipes which, when simultaneously experiencing defects, would lead to a more severe loss in network performance. Results show that the CPIs capture relatively small performance declines and identify sensitive pipes impacting network performance, providing insights for optimised inspection and maintenance intervention to provide better customer service.

Assessing the Prospects and Risks of Delivering Sustainable Urban Development Through 3D Concrete Printing Implementation

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of the use of 3D Concrete printing (3DCP) technology to create urban infrastructure facilities according to sustainable development principles. The work includes a study of scientific articles on the subject area under consideration, a survey of additive construction market participants, as well as an analysis and generalization of promising areas for technology development and methods for improving the quality of objects erected using 3DCP. As part of the conducted literature review, publications included in the Scopus database for the period 2015–2024 were selected for analysis using the keywords ‘Sustainable development + 3DCP’ and ‘Sustainable construction + 3DCP’. The following conclusions were made: (i) the most popular publications are review articles about the development of materials and technologies for 3DCP and (ii) the most sought-after are the studies in the field of partial application of 3DCP technology, existing equipment and materials for 3DCP, and assessment of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of 3DCP use. For this purpose, a questionnaire was developed consisting of three blocks: equipment and technologies; structures and materials for 3DCP; the ecology and economics of 3DCP applicability. As a result, four main risks have been identified, which represent promising areas for 3DCP development.

Research on 3D Assisted Planning and Approval of Urban Infrastructure Projects Based on UAV Oblique Photogrammetry

Research on 3D Assisted Planning and Approval of Urban Infrastructure Projects Based on UAV Oblique Photogrammetry

Optimizing urban flood management: enhancing urban drainage system efficiency under extreme rainfall events

ABSTRACT Extreme rainfall events, particularly those induced by tropical cyclones, pose a heightened risk to the urban drainage system (UDS). Existing UDSs, having been established long ago, often fail to account for the extreme rainfall caused by cyclones. To address this issue, this study designs a multi-objective intelligent scheduling model within a simulation -optimization framework, aiming to optimize the operation of urban drainage infrastructure and hydraulic structures. This is achieved by integrating the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) with the multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (MOPSO) and distinctly evaluating typhoons and torrential rains for their impact on extreme rainfall. The study results show that the multi-objective intelligent scheduling model can effectively devise operation strategies for pumping stations and weirs in the study area, thereby optimizing their use for urban drainage. The model was successful in reducing the total flood volume (TFV) and the water level fluctuation (WLF) by 3.11%–57.77% and 26.32%–65.48%, respectively. This not only mitigates urban flooding but also enhances the infrastructure stability of the UDS. The model outperformed the local adaptation strategy in most scenarios for the two selected objectives, suggesting that the efficiency can be significantly improved by optimizing UDSs without expansion of existing infrastructure or additional costs.

Urban Road Transport Infrastructure Planning and Development Implications on Socio-Economic Growth in the City of Douala, Cameroon

Cities are the major contributors to socio- economic growth with easy access to amenities which stem through road transport infrastructure development. This study was conducted to assess urban road transport infrastructure planning and examine development implications on socio-economic growth in the City of Douala. A descriptive research design was used with primary and secondary data collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Results revealed that, transport infrastructure in Douala have been structured through urban development planning policy which influences surface spatial expansion of socio- economic activities. The planning policies have contributed to the rapid expansion and growth through the initiations of master plan, land use plan and sector plan. Infrastructural development on road transport depicts a physical expansion and construction of road networks which influences the socio-economic growth of the study area. Stakeholders’ actions on construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation, investments and maintenance of road infrastructure have helped to curb down some transportation challenges and creates easy access to facilities within different sectors of the study area. However, road transport infrastructure which is well-developed boasts socio-economic activities and growth. The state of road transport network, its diversity and characteristic features is defined by its prevalence within different areas in Douala. Contrarily, other transport infrastructures which are not functioning appropriately due to lapses in physical planning possess enormous implications on transportation in the study area. The conclusion drawn was that the manner in which urban planning policies are implemented determines the level of development in road transport infrastructure and socio-economic growth of Douala. The study recommends an effective application of planning policies to be integrated by implicating all the actors of urban managers and transportation planners for improved growth in the study area.

Quantification and characterization of municipal solid waste at aler dumpsite, Lira City, Uganda: Assessing pollution levels and health risks

Managing municipal solid waste (MSW) in urban areas of developing countries is a significant challenge due to rapid urbanization and inadequate infrastructure. This study aims to quantify the MSW at Aler dumpsite in Lira City, Uganda, and assess the associated environmental and health risks. Our findings revealed a daily dumping rate of 7.38 tons, predominantly organic waste. Leachate from the site exceeded WHO limits for nutrients and heavy metals, with exceptionally high amounts of cadmium (Cd) found in soil (4.8 mg/kg) and vegetables. The water quality in nearby streams was poor, rendering it unfit for consumption due to elevated ion and nutrient levels. Health risk assessments indicated significant non-carcinogenic risks from heavy metal ingestion, with a hazard index (HI) of 4.6 for adults and 9.6 for children. While dermal exposure risks were generally low, children were at risk from stream 1 (HQderm = 1.165). Vegetable analysis revealed levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) above safe doses, posing significant non-carcinogenic risks. To address these issues, we recommend increasing public awareness to avoid consuming water and vegetables from areas around the dump site. Additionally, we suggest that the responsible authorities improve MSW management by constructing sanitary landfills to minimize water, soil, and plant pollution from landfill leachate.

Inequalities in emergency service accessibility: spatial analysis of urban infrastructure

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the relationship between emergency response times and crash severity in New York City, focusing on spatial disparities and their implications. It examines how these disparities impact disadvantaged neighborhoods, particularly regarding traffic safety and emergency service accessibility.Design/methodology/approachThe research uses comprehensive spatial analysis techniques, including hotspot mapping, network analysis for travel time modeling, local bivariate correlation analysis and service area calculations. It maps crash data alongside emergency facility locations, considering peak-hour traffic. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is integrated to evaluate socioeconomic factors influencing accessibility. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of how emergency response times correlate with crash severity at the census block level, accounting for socioeconomic disparities.FindingsThis study reveals significant disparities in emergency response times across New York City. In high-poverty, predominantly minority areas, response times are 2–3 min longer than average, correlating with a 15% increase in severe injury rates. Over 20% of neighborhoods show correlations between response times and crash severity, with positive linear (5.51%), negative linear (10.72%), concave (2.44%) and convex (2.80%) relationships. Blocks with positive linear relationships have a mean ADI rank of 3.918. During peak hours, 69.7% of Manhattan blocks show negative relationships, the highest among boroughs.Originality/valueThis research highlights spatial justice issues in urban emergency response systems, emphasizing the need for localized, data-driven planning and infrastructure adjustments. By integrating the ADI, the multifaceted approach reveals the complex dynamics of socioeconomic factors and emergency service accessibility that have not yet been investigated in diverse urban communities.

Large-scale medieval urbanism traced by UAV-lidar in highland Central Asia.

Aerial light detection and ranging (lidar) has emerged as a powerful technology for mapping urban archaeological landscapes, especially where dense vegetation obscures site visibility1,2. More recently, uncrewed aerial vehicle/drone lidar scanning has markedly improved the resolution of three-dimensional point clouds, allowing for the detection of slight traces of structural features at centimetres of detail across large archaeological sites, a method particularly useful in areas such as mountains, where rapid deposition and erosion irregularly bury and expose archaeological remains3. Here we present the results of uncrewed aerial vehicle-lidar surveys in Central Asia, conducted at two recently discovered archaeological sites in southeastern Uzbekistan: Tashbulak and Tugunbulak. Situated at around 2,000-2,200 m above sea level, these sites illustrate a newly documented geography of large, high-altitude urban centres positioned along the mountainous crossroads of Asia's medieval Silk Routes (6th-11th centuryCE (Common Era)4,5. Although hidden by centuries of surface processes, our pairing of very-high-resolution surface modelling with semiautomated feature detection produces a detailed plan of monumental fortifications and architecture spanning 120 ha at Tugunbulak, thereby demonstrating one of the largest highland urban constellations in premodern Central Asia. Documentation of extensive urban infrastructure and technological production among medieval communities in Central Asia's mountains-a crucial nexus for Silk Road trade networks6-provides a new perspective on the participation of highland populations in the economic, political and social formation of medieval Eurasia.

Preserving paddy fields through tourism in Indonesia: opportunities and challenges

Purpose This paper aims to show the opportunities and challenges of implementing slow tourism through a slow city concept, particularly concerning preserving paddy fields. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach using FGD, in-depth interviews and questionnaires with open questions. Findings Paddy field preservation can be achieved through the slow city concept if there is a strong commitment from the government and influential local wisdom. Research limitations/implications This research is conducted in five areas (cities and regencies). Hence, there should be similar research in other areas to find whether it can be implemented in other areas. Furthermore, other aspects have not been explored, such as how to convince policymakers to implement a slow city concept, integrate urban infrastructures and paddy fields or encourage and protect local residents who develop a slow city concept. Practical implications This research will give insight for policymakers to establish a policy that can realize livable cities for local residents and tourists, particularly in terms of food resiliency through tourism. Social implications This research will give new information about the importance of slow tourism to improve the quality of life in a city and to maintain food resilience. Originality/value This research shows the implementation and challenges of realizing slow city and slow tourism in some regions in Indonesia, particularly related to paddy fields preservation.

O IMPACTO DAS ALTERAÇÕES CLIMÁTICAS NO COTIDIANO DA SOCIEDADE MODERNA

Climate change has caused significant impacts on the daily life of modern society. Changes in temperature, rainfall patterns and the increase in extreme weather events are directly affecting agriculture, water resources, urban infrastructure and public health. The increasing frequency of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods and droughts, forces society to deal with adaptation and mitigation challenges. Economic sectors such as agriculture and tourism are especially vulnerable, as are the poorest populations, who are less able to face the effects of these changes. Furthermore, rampant urbanization and industrialization contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions, further aggravating the situation. The psychological, social and economic impact of these changes becomes more evident as inequalities are accentuated, with vulnerable communities being the most harmed. Thus, the urgency of concrete actions, both at the local and global level, to mitigate the impacts of climate change, has become one of humanity's main challenges in the 21st century.

Analyzing the Maharashtra Ambulance Service “108”: The Prospect and Challenges

ABSTRACT The utilization of digital health in India is playing a crucial role in enhancing healthcare services by transitioning from the current inadequate public health structure to a more efficient and patient-centric system. Digital health includes various digital tools, such as electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, mobile health applications, health information exchange systems, and other technological advancements to improve access, efficiency, and quality of healthcare delivery. This study investigates the prospects and challenges encountered by the newly-digitized Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services (MEMS). Utilizing the 38,823 MEMS calls from November 2022, this study investigates the current status of emergency service delivery mechanisms in Maharashtra. Through spatial analyses, this study also explores the causes behind calls. The findings of the study show that calls for 108 ambulance services were distributed across the districts and had variable service delivery time periods. Current challenges to the system arise from various urban and healthcare infrastructure problems, as well as socio-cultural challenges. Implementation of the digitized MEMS system reveals key factors that influence the service’s success, assisting the policymakers and health administrators in identifying and further improving the service.