Urban Planning Interventions Research Articles

Association of urban environments with Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank

Urban environments and cardiovascular health are closely linked, yet only a few specific exposures have been explored in isolation and mostly adopting cross-sectional design. The influence of socioeconomic status and genetic predisposition also remains unclear. Hence, leveraging the UK Biobank data (n = 206,681), we conducted a prospective analysis of 213 urban environmental variables and their association with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The ExWAS and regularized Cox models analyses highlighted air pollution, industrial sites, and complex street networks as primary environmental risk factors. Instead, land-use density of leisure, public services, infrastructure and residential, and drinking water hardness showed a negative association with ASCVD risk. By integrating sparse canonical correlation and mediation analyses, we found distinct urban environment patterns through diverse pathways influence ASCVD. The environment characterized by pollution and complex streets impact ASCVD through adverse mental health (mediation proportion:30.7 %, 95 % CI:22.4 %-44.0 %), while highly-developed community and high-water hardness environment via cardiometabolic status (22.6 %, 95 % CI:19.7 %-26.0 %). Further, we found low socioeconomic status amplifies disadvantaged urban environment effects on ASCVD, yet there were no similar findings for ASCVD genetic predisposition. This research deepened our understanding of city-cardiovascular health links and the role of socioeconomic status, with implications for urban planning and public health interventions.

11.F. Scientific session: If we build it, will they come? Evaluation of citywide park redesign and renovation in NYC

Abstract Urban environments, such as parks, play a crucial role in shaping the health of their residents. However, the relationship between parks and health remains inconclusive. This workshop will present findings from the Physical Activity and Redesigned Community Spaces (PARCS) Study that examined the community health impacts of the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), a citywide park equity initiative of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) that led to citywide park redesign and renovation across 67 low-income neighborhoods in NYC. Using a quasi-experimental design with socio-demographically matched control parks, we evaluated longitudinal changes in park use, physical activity, and psychosocial well-being as a result of CPI. There will be a total of 3 presentations. The first presentation will focus on the impact of CPI on park use before and after park renovation, relative to control parks, using data collected from the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). Results showed that CPI led to a significant net increase in park use, especially among adults. The second presentation will report on changes in perceived stress pre- and post-renovation among adults. Results showed that a greater decrease in perceived stress was associated with a sustained high or increased park use frequency in the context of high-quality CPI intervention parks. In contrast, the same association was not found in lower quality control parks. The third presentation will showcase a study that demonstrated a significant increase in children’s physical well-being, a dimension of quality of life, at CPI vs. control sites. The analysis also showed that children in the lowest socio-economic group might have benefited the greatest from CPI. PARCS is one of the largest intervention studies on the effects of park renovation on health. This workshop will engage participants in considering how these insights can be translated into actionable programs and policies in service of community health and health equity. Findings from PARCS will help inform future public health and urban planning interventions in the use of the built environment to promote population well-being. Key messages • Urban park renovations may contribute significantly to community health, demonstrating a vital link between the built environment and public health. • Investments in green spaces may enhance the physical and mental well-being of low-income urban communities, promoting social equity.

Exploring the multiple dimensions of perceived food access in the local food environment

Abstract Persons in socioeconomically disadvantaged situations (PSEDs) are more susceptible and disproportionally exposed to unhealthy food environments, resulting in poorer dietary outcomes. Food access plays an important role within the wider food environment. This qualitative paper explores the context-specific relationships between the dimensions of perceived food access within the local food environment among PSEDS. 23 participants were recruited through purposeful convenience sampling until data saturation was achieved in two municipalities in Flanders, Belgium. Utilizing the photovoice and photo-elicitation method, participants expressed their perceptions of food access within their local food environment and its role in their eating behaviour, both individually (n = 16) and in group (n = 7). Applying the access framework to our analysis, the dimensions of perceived food access among PSEDS were divided into the personal (acceptability and convenience), perceived external (accommodation and desirability) or both personal and perceived external (awareness, availability, accessibility and affordability) domain. Our results suggest that awareness (e.g. of local opportunities available) precedes the other dimensions and that affordability is related to all dimensions among PSEDs. This study underscores the importance of perceived food access in healthy eating among PSEDS. The identified food access dimensions can inform policy, urban planning and community-based interventions to promote equitable access to healthy food. Key messages • Understanding perceived food access is essential to identify ways in which inequalities in food access can be addressed. • Perceived food access interacts between external and personal domains.

Application of PV on Commercial Building Facades: An Investigation into the Impact of Architectural and Structural Features

The rapid global transition toward renewable energy necessitates innovative solar PV deployment strategies beyond conventional roof installations. In this context, commercial building facades represent an expansive yet underutilized resource for solar energy harvesting in urban areas. However, existing studies on commercial rooftop solar PV predominantly focus on European contexts, neglecting the unique design constraints and performance trade-offs present in regions such as the Middle East. This study addresses this gap by specifically investigating the impact of architectural and structural features on the utilizable facade area for PV deployment in commercial buildings within the hot desert climate of Saudi Arabia. Detailed case studies of twelve representative buildings are conducted, combining architectural drawing analysis, on-site measurements, and stakeholder surveys. The methodology identified sixteen parameters across three categories—facade functionality, orientation suitability, and surrounding obstructions—that impose technical and non-technical restrictions on photovoltaic integration 3D modeling, and irradiance simulations revealed that, on average, just 31% of the total vertical facade area remained suitable for PV systems after accounting for the diverse architectural and contextual limitations. The study considered 698 kWh/m2 of solar irradiance as the minimum threshold for PV integration. Shopping malls displayed the lowest utilizability, with near-zero potential, as extensive opaque construction, brand signage, and shading diminish viability. Offices exhibited the highest utilizability of 36%, owing to glazed facades and unobstructed surroundings. Hotels and hospitals presented intermediate potential. Overall, the average facade utilizability factor across buildings was a mere 16%, highlighting the significant hurdles imposed by contemporary envelope configurations. Orientation unsuitability further eliminated 12% of the initially viable area. Surrounding shading contributed an additional 0.92% loss. The results quantify the sensitivity of facades to aspects such as material choices, geometric complexity, building form, and urban context. While posing challenges, the building facade resource holds immense untapped potential for solar-based urban renewal. The study highlights the need for early architectural integration, facade-specific PV product development, and urban planning interventions to maximize the renewable energy potential of commercial facades as our cities rapidly evolve into smart solar energy landscapes.

Participatory analysis of disaster risk creation in Brazilian coastal cities: bridging remote sensing and citizen generated data

Purpose This paper aimed to develop a participatory methodology to analyze the disaster risk creation in coastal cities, based on an approach that combines social, urban, environmental and disaster risk elements. Design/methodology/approach The methodology uses some aspects of three theoretical approaches in a complementary way: i) the Pressure and Release (PAR) framework for the identification of dynamic pressures that contribute to disaster risk creation; ii) the application of Drivers, Pressure, State, Impact, Response (DPSIR) framework to analyze environmental dimensions; and iii) urban analysis, applying the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) tool to classify urban processes. The methodology combined the use of satellite remote sensing data to analyze the urban sprawl and citizen science methods to collect social and environmental data, using the case study of the watershed of the Juqueriquerê River in the coastal city of Caraguatatuba, Brazil. The pilot project was part of a local university extension project of the undergraduate course on Architecture and Urban Planning and also engaged residents and city hall representatives. Findings The satellite remote sense data analysis indicated a continuous urban sprawl between 1985 and 2020, especially in the south of the Juqueriquerê watershed, reducing urban drainage and increasing the extension and water depth of urban flooding and riverine floods. Using citizen science methods, undergraduates identified settlements with limited economic resources to elevate houses and a lack of infrastructure to promote a resilient coastal city. After identifying the dynamic pressures that contribute to disaster risk creation and the weaknesses and strengths of a resilient city, undergraduate students proposed urban planning interventions and gray and green infrastructure projects to mitigate disaster risks. Social implications The paper identifies urban sprawl in disaster-prone areas as one of the risk factors contributing to disaster. It also comprehensively analyzes differences between different zones in the Juqueriqere River, which will be useful for policy-making. Originality/value The method presented an interdisciplinary approach that used satellite remote sensing data and citizen science techniques to analyze disaster risks in coastal cities. The multidimensional approach used to evaluate risks is useful and can be replicated in other similar studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of disaster risks.

Land financialization and gentrification: evidence from China

As land becomes detached from its social function and market speculation intensifies, housing prices tend to rise, rendering homeownership less affordable. Following the escalation of property values, gentrification is often observed as wealthier individuals and investors are attracted to neighborhoods that offer good amenities and potential returns on their investments. Utilizing diverse datasets from multiple sources in China, this paper unveils a positive association between land financialization and the occurrence of gentrification. It also reveals that land financialization is positively linked with housing prices while negatively associated with homeownership. Further investigation uncovers a more nuanced pattern. At lower levels of land financialization, the effects of gentrification are limited or even negative due to revitalization efforts and the gradual rise in property values during early-stage urban development dynamics. However, as land financialization surpasses a certain threshold, the intensification of investment and speculative activity substantially drives property price increases, leading to heightened gentrification processes. These findings underscore the need for thoughtful urban planning and policy interventions to ensure that the impacts of land financialization are managed in an equitable and sustainable manner.

Enhancing resilience in ageing: The role of age-friendly community and individual health in reducing seismic risk

Age-friendly cities/communities (AFC) propose promising strategies for incorporating disaster resilience-building with urban planning and design interventions. However, little attention has been paid to exploring the effects of AFC concept on the resilience and health of older people from a behavioural perspective and through empirical-based approaches. This article aims to expand on the attributes of AFC by incorporating social capital, community support, and individual health factors. We further explore their roles in enhancing earthquake resilience among older adults. We develop a novel interdisciplinary analytical framework, called the Framework of Age-friendly and Resilience Behaviour for Seismic Risk Reduction (FARBSR). This framework combined with focus group meetings and cluster, regression, and factor analyses to compare the determinants of pre-disaster preparedness, coping responses, post-disaster recovery behaviour and resilience among older adults. Based on an empirical survey conducted in Taipei, Taiwan, we randomly selected 427 older adults for face-to-face questionnaire interviews. Results show that high-quality age-friendly physical environments significantly increase older adults’ adoption of adaptation behaviour and resilience. Social environments, social capital, and community support play a relatively weak but critical supporting role. Resilience and adaptation to earthquakes also result from interactions between individuals and their environment. However, the effect of individual health and cognitive factors on this dynamic is mixed. Our research opens avenues for fresh perspectives, bridging the AFC framework with the health and cognitive attributes of older adults, and highlighting implications for policy in land use planning and built environment design.

Retailer Responses to Public Consultations on the Adoption of Takeaway Management Zones Around Schools: A Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis

Background: Takeaway food is often high in calories and served in portion sizes that exceed public health recommendations for fat, salt and sugar. This food is widely accessible in the neighbourhood food environment. As of 2019, of all local authorities in England (n=325), 41 had adopted urban planning-based interventions that can allow them to manage the opening of new takeaway outlets in ‘takeaway management zones around schools’ (known elsewhere as ‘exclusion zones’). Before adoption, local authorities undertake mandatory public consultation where responses objecting to proposals can be submitted. Evidence on common objections could be insightful for practitioners and policymakers considering this intervention. Methods: We included 41 local authorities that adopted a takeaway management zone around schools between 2009 and 2019. We identified and analysed objections to proposals submitted by or on behalf of food retailers and local authority responses to these. We used reflexive thematic analysis with a commercial determinants of health lens to generate themes, and investigated if and how objections and responses changed over time. Results: We generated four themes: The role of takeaways in obesity, Takeaway management zone adoption, Use and interpretation of evidence, and Managing external opinions. Despite not being implicated by the adoption of takeaway management zones around schools, planning consultants objected to proposals on behalf of transnational food retailers, however, independent takeaways did not respond. Objections attempted to determine the causes of poor diet and obesity, suggest alternative interventions to address them, undermine evidence justifying proposals, and influence perspectives about local authorities and their intervention. Objections consistently raised the same arguments, but over time became less explicit and expressed a willingness to partner with local authorities to develop alternative solutions. Conclusion: Objections to local authority proposals to adopt an urban planning intervention that can stop new takeaways opening near schools featured strategies used by other industries to delay or prevent population health intervention adoption. Practitioners and policymakers can use our findings when developing proposals for new takeaway management zones around schools. By using knowledge about their local context and addressing arguments against specific aspects of the intervention, they can pre-empt common objections.

Investigation of the road network structure around rail transit stations

This study examined the connectivity of road networks around rail transit stations in İzmir, Türkiye, using intersection density and connected node ratio metrics. The analysis was conducted within 800 m, 600 m, and 400 m catchment areas around these stations, which were considered reasonable walking distances. Rail transit stations and road networks were digitized using ArcGIS Pro software. The research identified variations in connectivity scores among different stations and buffer zones. Stations in high-density areas like Konak and those near the ferry port showed higher connectivity scores, indicating well-integrated street networks that support multimodal transportation. In contrast, stations such as Ataşehir and Mavişehir, where intersection densities were lower, demonstrated significant connectivity challenges, underscoring the necessity for targeted urban planning interventions.

A collaborative approach for the identification of thermal hot-spots: from remote sensing data to urban planning interventions

Abstract. This paper presents a novel methodology for enhancing urban planning in Frankfurt, Germany, through the identification of thermal hot-spots, i.e., areas of persistent high temperatures and thermal discomfort across multiple temperature parameters. Our approach integrates remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) analyses to map thermal hot-spots, thereby highlighting target areas for urban planning interventions. We assess the efficacy of using remotely sensed Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) thermal index, derived from simulations using the FITNAH model, for identifying thermal hot-spots at both the regional and city scales. Our findings highlight spatial discrepancies in hot-spot locations between LST and PET data, identifying areas where both indicators converge to signify thermal hot-spots. We explore the land cover contributing to these areas, laying the groundwork for future urban planning strategies. By incorporating visualisation tools tailored to the specific communication needs of urban planners, we provide actionable insights for developing maps which inform and guide the development of effective climate-adapted urban planning solutions.

The association of the physical and social environment with mortality in urban areas: an ecological study on the city of Bologna, Italy.

The urban environment influences health through many pathways. The aim of the present study was to map the distribution of mortality, environmental predictors (distribution of green areas and transport networks), and social predictors (income deprivation) in the mid-sized city of Bologna (Italy), and to analyse the relationship between these variables. The study employed an ecological cross-sectional design using data from public sources. The units of analysis were the 18 city districts. The percentage of green areas, percentage of transport networks and age-standardised mortality rates were calculated for each district. These variables, and an indicator of income deprivation, were plotted on the city map to analyse their distribution. Simple and multiple linear regressions with mortality as the outcome and environmental and social data as predictors were run. The results showed an unequal distribution of the variables in the city, with the north-eastern districts presenting worse values. Green areas did not result significantly in being related to mortality. The income indicator and transport networks have an impact on mortality in the simple regression, but only transport networks were found to have a statistically significant relation with mortality in the multiple regression. The results suggested that living close to major transport networks could affect mortality rates in the city, but further research is needed. Future studies are also needed to analyse the interaction between environmental exposures and socioeconomic factors in affecting health. These findings can be useful for urban planning and health promotion interventions.

Changes in the number and outcome of takeaway food outlet planning applications in response to adoption of management zones around schools in England: A time series analysis

Physical exposure to takeaway food outlets (“takeaways”) is associated with poor diet and excess weight, which are leading causes of excess morbidity and mortality. At the end of 2017, 35 local authorities (LAs) in England had adopted takeaway management zones (or “exclusion zones”), which is an urban planning intervention designed to reduce physical exposure to takeaways around schools. In this nationwide, natural experimental study, we used interrupted time series analyses to estimate the impact of this intervention on changes in the total number of takeaway planning applications received by LAs and the percentage rejected, at both first decision and after any appeal, within management zones, per quarter of calendar year. Changes in these proximal process measures would precede downstream retail and health impacts. We observed an overall decrease in the number of applications received by intervention LAs at 12 months post-intervention (6.3 fewer, 95% CI -0.1, -12.5), and an increase in the percentage of applications that were rejected at first (additional 18.8%, 95% CI 3.7, 33.9) and final (additional 19.6%, 95% CI 4.7, 34.6) decision, the latter taking into account any appeal outcomes. This effect size for the number of planning applications was maintained at 24 months, although it was not statistically significant. We also identified three distinct sub-types of management zone regulations (full, town centre exempt, and time management zones). The changes observed in rejections were most prominent for full management zones (where the regulations are applied irrespective of overlap with town centres), where the percentage of applications rejected was increased by an additional 46.1% at 24 months. Our findings suggest that takeaway management zone policies may have the potential to curb the proliferation of new takeaways near schools and subsequently impact on population health.

Systematic Review of Socially Sustainable and Community Regeneration: Research Traits, Focal Points, and Future Trajectories

Accelerated urbanization has led to regional disruptions and exacerbated imbalances in spatial quality, social cohesion, and inequalities. Urban regeneration, as a mitigating strategy for these disruptions, faces significant social challenges, particularly at the community scale. This study addresses the existing research gap by comprehensively reviewing community regeneration (CR) from a socially sustainable perspective (SSP). Utilizing VOSviewer software, we synthesize and categorize relevant research trends and methods spanning from 2006 to 2023, retrieving 213 coded articles among 5002 relevant documents from Web of Science bibliometric datasets. The study explores the implementation trajectory of CR, considering novel scenario demands, emerging technologies, and new development paradigms and approaches. It delves into human-centric approaches to enhance the quality of life, precision, and diversification of community engagement and cultivate a sense of community equity and belonging. Moreover, the findings highlight densification as a synergistic and adaptive strategy for current regeneration actions. This scientometric review leverages new tools and innovative approaches for regeneration policy and planning decision-making, ultimately contributing to the improvement of livability. The study provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with socially sustainable CR, offering a foundation for future research, and guiding practical urban planning and design interventions.

Transformations of the Beirut River: Between Temporary and Permanent Liminality

This article presents the case of the Beirut River corridor in Lebanon, which defines the administrative border between the capital Beirut, its eastern and south-eastern suburbs. The Beirut River has undergone several transformations from being a lotic environment to becoming complex urban infrastructure. This is often unnoticeable due to the scarcity of its running water and its walled existence at the edge of administrative boundaries. The separation from its riverbanks, disconnection from the urban fabric, and continuous pollution have contributed to its liminality, being simultaneously neither present nor absent. To understand this in-betweenness, the river’s spatial, temporal, and social liminality are analysed by identifying major events, actors, and key urban planning interventions that impacted the river at the national, city region, and local scales. The article explores the development of the river corridor both in terms of urbanisation and population dynamics; its distinct positionality in different periods that corresponded to major events and decisions made; and the contrasting river experiences and perceptions across generations, which vary between reminiscence and aversion. By examining the various transformative processes, collective practices, perceptions, and diverse actors, the article highlights the contextual implications of this obdurate liminality, but also Beirut River’s potential alternative future positionality amidst present and imminent urban challenges.

Heat Exposure, Preterm Birth, and the Role of Greenness in Australia

Preterm birth (PTB) is associated with adverse health outcomes. The outcomes of heat exposure during pregnancy and the moderating association of greenness with PTB remain understudied. To investigate associations between heat exposure, greenness, and PTB, as well as interactions between these factors. Included in this cohort study were births occurring in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, between 2000 and 2020, retrieved from New South Wales Midwives Data Collection. Participants with incomplete or missing data on their residential address or those who resided outside of New South Wales during their pregnancy were excluded. Data were analyzed from March to October 2023. Greenness measured using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and tree cover derived from satellite images. Daily extreme heat and nighttime extreme heat were defined as above the 95th percentile of community- and trimester-specific daily mean temperatures and nighttime temperatures. Logistic regression models estimated the independent association of extreme heat with PTB, adjusting for individual- and area-level covariates, season of conception, and long-term trend. An interaction term between extreme heat exposure and greenness was included to explore potential modification. With a significant interaction observed, the number of preventable heat-associated PTBs that were associated with greenness was estimated. A total of 1 225 722 births (median [IQR] age, 39 [38-40] weeks; 631 005 male [51.5%]) were included in the analysis, including 63 144 PTBs (median [IQR] age, 35 [34-36] weeks; 34 822 male [55.1%]). Compared with those without heat exposure, exposure to daily extreme heat and nighttime extreme heat in the third trimester was associated with increased risks of PTB, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.61 (95% CI, 1.55-1.67) and 1.51 (95% CI, 1.46-1.56]), respectively (PTB rates: exposed, 4615 of 61 338 [7.5%] vs unexposed, 56 440 of 1 162 295 [4.9%] for daily extreme heat and 4332 of 61 337 [7.1%] vs 56 723 of 1 162 296 [4.9%] for nighttime extreme heat). Disparities in associations between extreme heat exposure and PTB were observed, with lower odds of PTB among pregnant individuals residing in greener areas. The associations between extreme heat exposure and PTB could be mitigated significantly by higher greenness. Improving NDVI and tree cover could reduce daily extreme heat-associated PTB by 13.7% (95% CI, 2.3%-15.1%) and 20.9% (95% CI, 5.8%-31.5%), respectively. For nighttime extreme heat-associated PTB, reductions were 13.0% (0.2%-15.4%) and 17.2% (4.1%-27.0%), respectively. Results of this large birth cohort study suggest that extreme heat exposure was adversely associated with PTB, with greenness playing a moderating role. Increasing greenness levels in residential communities could prevent heat-associated PTBs. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating heat mitigation strategies and improving green space in urban planning and public health interventions.

Finding Satoyama – Forest bathing as a creative practice of knowledge creation and healing in/with/through damaged landscapes

Many people in the Western world are estranged from the more-than-human world, which negatively impacts their health and well-being. This article investigates the effect of forest bathing as an intervention on how designers and other citizens can reconnect with nature. Walking, talking, and sitting spot practices are not only research methods that help to understand the histories and interdependencies of a landscape and contribute to society and science, but can also be used as mental health promotion tools to generate self-care, especially when dealing with the experience of wounds through the inner and outer landscapes in which we engage. This article is based on an extensive review of a multidisciplinary body of literature. Although mainly conceptual, this article is empirically informed and illustrated by my experiences in Japan. By sharing an autoethnography of experiencing a Japanese landscape through five walks along the same trail over 1.5 years while exploring the deepening journey into the forest bathing practice, this article illustrates the opportunities and benefits of deploying forest bathing in landscape architecture and other regional and urban planning interventions. It also examines the concept of self-care and environmental citizenship and how they emerge in the forest bathing practice.

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Prediction of Land Use and Carbon Stock in Shanghai

Soil organic carbon (SOC) constitutes a critical component of carbon reservoirs within terrestrial ecosystems. The ramifications of urban land use transitions on SOC dynamics, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions such as Shanghai, remain insufficiently elucidated. This investigation synergizes a predictive land use change model (Logistic-CA-Markov) with an ecosystem service quantification framework (InVEST), aiming to delineate the interplay between SOC variability and Land Use and Land Cover Change (LUCC) under natural development and ecological protection scenarios. Empirical observations from 2010 to 2020 reveal a contraction in Shanghai’s agricultural land of 34,912.76 hectares, juxtaposed with an expansion of urban built-up areas of 36,048.24 hectares. Projections for 2030 under an ecological protection scenario indicate a moderated urban sprawl, reducing built-up area expansion by 13,518 hectares relative to the natural development scenario. Notably, the net carbon sequestration capacity of Shanghai is anticipated to diminish by approximately 0.418 million tons between 2020 and 2030. This trend is observed under both considered scenarios, forecasting a cumulative reduction in SOC stocks exceeding 1 million tons by 2030. The natural development pathway portends a more pronounced and accelerated depletion of SOC reserves. Although ecological conservation measures show the potential to decelerate this loss, they appear insufficient to reverse the ongoing decline in SOC stocks. This study advocates for strategic urban planning interventions focused on constraining the growth of building densities and augmenting the preservation and management of eco-lands. Such measures are imperative for bolstering Shanghai’s carbon sequestration capacity.

Analyzing the relationship between street hierarchy and land use functions in Dire Dawa City, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This study delves into the correlation between street width and land use patterns in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, analyzing their relationship across various developmental stages, including organic and planned areas. Employing a mixed-methods case study approach, the research identifies four land use categories and examines their association with street width. Results highlight the nuanced connection between street hierarchy and land use intensity, influenced by the city’s morphological period and urban planning interventions. The findings underscore the importance of tailored land use policies that accommodate both formal and informal developments, emphasizing the necessity for further research.

A Study on the Impact of Air Pollution on Health Status of Traffic Police Personnel in Kolkata, India

The global concern of escalating ambient air pollution and its profound impact on human health is paramount. While traffic police personnel are critical for maintaining the road safety and transportation system of any city in India, they are susceptible to occupational health risks due to ambient air pollution. This study investigated health challenges faced by traffic police personnel due to prolonged exposure to air pollutants prevalent in traffic-congested areas, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The first phase of this study collected and analyzed secondary air quality data over five years (2019–2023) across six locations in Kolkata, India. The second phase employed a questionnaire-based survey to assess the health implications of air pollution exposure. The survey questionnaire captured information on physical health symptoms, stress-related indicators, lifestyle habits, and work hours of around 100 police personnel from Kolkata with indoor (control group) and outdoor (exposed group) work responsibilities. The results of this study established a strong positive correlation between air pollution and a range of health issues experienced by the exposed group. The outcome of this study is significant for urban planning, policy formulation, and public health interventions geared toward minimizing the adverse impacts of air pollution on traffic police personnel.

Unequal access to cultural ecosystem services of green spaces within the city of Rome – A spatial social media-based analysis

This groundbreaking study sheds new light on the unequal distribution of cultural ecosystem services (CES) within Rome's urban green spaces (UGS). Employing a novel methodology, we assess UGS quality through georeferenced social media data from Twitter, evaluate the green cover of UGS, and assess accessibility to these spaces using network analysis in a GIS environment. This unique methodology allows us to unveil marked disparities in both UGS accessibility and the provision of CES. Unlike traditional approaches, our analysis provides a more nuanced understanding of UGS quality and accessibility. Our findings reveal areas with high UGS accessibility, yet limited CES provision. These insights are crucial for targeted urban planning interventions, advocating for a more equitable distribution of UGS benefits. This research challenges traditional green space planning with a focus on green space availability. Importantly, our study goes further by identifying specific disadvantaged areas, offering valuable insights for promoting equity in urban areas, emphasizing the importance of UGS quality and accessibility. Thereby, this research provides a foundation for a more nuanced, equal, and quality-driven approach to UGS planning.