Air pollution, but not physiological stress, is associated with genomic damage of invasive grey squirrels from urban and agricultural areas.

With the accelerated urban growth, there is a pressing need to change the paradigm towards more sustainable development. Urban planning is at the core of this challenge of bringing sustainable development while delivering quality of life and well-being. This study investigates the dynamics of public participation in Urban Master Plans (UMPs) in Portugal. Three UMP processes in Portugal were scrutinised using a content analysis approach. The public participation reports of UMPs were analysed to understand the main issues that motivated participation and how public involvement is sought. The study reveals that the public participation process was tokenistic and predominantly driven by individual contributions focused on private interests, with limited focus on sustainability-related issues such as green spaces and affordable housing. To address these challenges, decision-makers and urban planners must prioritise early engagement and transparency in decision-making, leveraging diverse methodologies to foster trust and equitable, sustainable outcomes. • UMPs provide a framework for making development decisions on urban life. • This research explored the issues that motivate public participation in UMP. • Most of the contributions were individual and focused on private interests. • Green spaces, soft mobility and access to public equipment were rarely mentioned. • Increasing options for meaningful and transparent public participation is key.

In times defined by a rapid transition towards a smart technology paradigm, accessibility remains a key prerequisite for social inclusion, equity and quality of life, especially for populations with special mobility needs like older adults and people with disabilities. This study meticulously reviews the existing literature to identify barriers and opportunities related to the mobility of these vulnerable groups within urban transport systems. Using systematic, narrative, thematic and bibliometric literature review tools, the study synthesises the findings of 60 studies from various disciplines, including transport, urban planning and social sciences. The outcomes illustrate that inadequate road infrastructure, such as poorly maintained sidewalks, inaccessible public transport stops and vehicles as well as insufficient tactile and auditory aids, severely limit mobility and independence. Public transport systems often lack user-friendly design, functional support for mobility aids and adequately trained staff. Technological advances, while promising, pose a challenge in terms of compatibility and accessibility for these groups; digital literacy and ease of use are factors that cannot be ignored. Policy recommendations are proposed to address these barriers, focusing on improving infrastructure, adopting inclusive design principles and enhancing services, affordability and staff training. Also, integrating and simplifying innovative transport technologies, like Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and digital mobility tools, to support equitable and inclusive mobility is a critical way forward. This study's findings highlight the interdisciplinary nature of transport accessibility research and the need for a holistic and universal approach to urban and transport planning. By addressing these challenges, policymakers and practitioners can significantly improve the autonomy, participation and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities, promoting a more liveable built and road environment. • Accessibility and mobility are two interlinked societal needs that may define not only access to travel and destinations but for some vulnerable populations even their quality of life per se. • This study reviews narratively and systematically 60 studies to identify and contextualise the transport barriers that older adults and people with disabilities face in urban eco-systems. • Infrastructure, socio-psychological, financial and service barriers are recognised spanning from concerns around inadequate road infrastructure and digital illiteracy to unaffordable travel and problematic public transport provision. • Targeted solutions are proposed around improving infrastructure, inclusive design and technology adoption and enhancing services, affordability and staff training. • Building accessible urban transport for all is a pathway to more liveable cities.

Integrating neighbourhood walkability perceptions of people living with dementia in urban design and planning in British Columbia, Canada

Utilizing performance-based energy consumption prediction methodology according to zero energy mandate system levels: A study on greenhouse gas reduction scenarios for non-residential buildings in Goyang City, South Korea

Rethinking urban inequality through a behavioural lens: Informal public space activities (IPSAs) as diagnostic tools for behavioural equity and public space resilience in urban planning

Understanding human-LLM interaction patterns in urban planning: A review and framework

The expanding use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public safety has largely centered on managing ‘threats’ and ‘risks,’ while its potential to foster ‘care’ and ‘belonging’—key aspects from a Positive Safety perspective—remains underexplored. To narrow this gap, this study empirically researches Lombardijen, a neighborhood in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with notably low subjective public safety perceptions. It employs a Photovoice-to-AI methodology, where 60 students from a local school and 16 residents photographed their experiences of neighborhood safety, which subsequently informed AI-imaginations of an ‘ideal neighborhood’ in two community workshops (±15 participants each). Insights from these workshops were then enriched through an AI workshop with 24 decision-makers and a nature observation stage with ecologists and animals. Findings reveal two empirical AI-experiences of Positive Safety: (i) Care-oriented AI and (ii) Inclusive AI. In this regard, Generative AI served as a third medium that enhanced articulation options in participation for both city residents and decisionmakers. The core result is that trash weakens—and nature strengthens—public safety perceptions. This paper therefore calls for a shift in urban management: reframe trash as an invitation for care and nature rather than a matter of control and repression, and prioritize community-driven public space improvements that give communities greater agency. AI-supported communication, thereby, ultimately bears promise for the Right to the City debate. • Proposes a shift from control-oriented to care-centered AI for public safety • Introduces a novel Photovoice-to-AI method to co-create “positive safety” with residents • Empirical findings show trash weakens, and nature strengthens, subjective safety. • Generative AI served as a “third medium,” lowering articulation barriers in participation in urban planning. • Argues for reframing urban neglect and trash as an invitation for care, not as a cue for repression

FlowsDT: A geospatial digital twin for navigating urban flood dynamics

Learning from the wisdom of community: Applying a community based participatory multiple case study methodology to understand families living in adversity

Urban blue spaces provide important ecosystem services (ES), that support health and well-being of city residents. This study examined residents' perceptions of ES provided by managed, semi-managed and low-managed blue spaces and their surroundings in Warsaw, a city dominated by the River Vistula which flows through its centre and is partially unregulated. We conducted a geo-questionnaire, asking respondents to mark their favourite blue spaces and evaluate them for different ES benefits. The data were analysed using cluster, correlation and spatial analysis to identify patterns and synergies among perceived ES. The results revealed five distinct ES clusters, showing synergies among aesthetic, recreational and nature appreciation related values. Managed blue spaces, such as urban parks or promenades, were primarily associated with social bonding, while historical and neighbourhood parks are valued for providing an everyday connection to nature and biodiversity. Low- and semi-managed areas, including vast informal riversides, play an important role in recreation, relaxation, connection to nature, and social bonding. These areas provide similar benefits with minimal interventions, highlighting their potential as Informal Blue Spaces, integral part of urban blue-green infrastructure. The results add to the increasing evidence of the social value of blue spaces and demonstrate how diverse management and investment approaches can support complementary socio-cultural benefits in cities. • Cultural ecosystem services are most valued in Warsaw's blue spaces. • Synergy clusters highlight ecological, recreational, aesthetic and symbolic values. • Blue space types and management intensity shapes perceived benefits. • Informal Blue Spaces provide diverse benefits with low-cost management input. • Findings support integrating diverse blue spaces into urban planning and policy.

Assessing the impact of urban trip attraction centers on urban street safety using drone-derived traffic data

Business venturing meets urban planning: How do urban spatial structures reshape the landscape of VC-backed entrepreneurship

Assessing the wellbeing and therapeutic potential of urban green spaces: An indicator-based framework and cross-cultural comparison of community gardens

Assessing long-term urban ecological quality using the remote sensing ecological index: A case study of the Klang River Basin, Malaysia

As many cities in Western countries undergo profound demographic transformations, the impact of superdiversity on the well-being of native populations, particularly older adults, remains underexplored. This study employs Q-methodology to unveil three distinct viewpoints among native-Dutch urban-dwelling older adults (≥ 65 years) regarding neighborhood characteristics crucial for well-being. Analyzing responses from 28 participants, revealed diverse perspectives represented by the viewpoints “well-equipped and connected,” “afraid and frail,” and “green and clean.” Notably, the findings underscore the heterogeneity of older adults' viewpoints and emphasize the pervasive influence of neighborhood ethnic diversity. While participants did not overtly express a preference for homogeneity, discussions frequently centered on immigrants, linking their presence to various issues and highlighting cultural differences. The preservation of Dutch identity in the neighborhood emerged as a recurring concern. These findings stress the necessity for policymakers and scientists to recognize the diversity within this aging population, especially as aging in place gains prominence. The study underscores the nuanced relationship between neighborhood ethnic composition and well-being, urging a comprehensive consideration of ethnic diversity in future research, local policymaking, and urban planning. • Dutch older adults exhibit three views on urban neighborhood needs for wellbeing. • Natives link the presence of immigrants to a range of neighborhood problems. • Affordable and suitable housing was a common theme in the uncovered viewpoints. • Connectedness, safety, and green spaces were considered important for wellbeing. • Urban policymakers should consider the effects of neighborhood ethnic diversity.

• This paper introduces a new approach to mobility hubs through their transport supply and surrounding context. • The classification process is reproducible, making it applicable to various contexts and for different urban scalables. • The methodology re-adapts the ABC location policy to identify potential locations for Mobility hubs. • The classification system employs a range of indicators, providing a comprehensive perspective from the literature on mobility hubs from both node and place dimensions. • The proposed methodology has been tested in Milan’s first belt area, allowing for a comparative analysis of the current situation and future transformations. Multimodal Mobility Hubs have gained increasing attention as a sustainable approach to promoting environmentally friendly transportation in cities. By co-locating multiple transport services, mobility hubs offer efficient multimodal transfers and address issues such as car dependency, congestion, and unequal access to mobility. Building upon these advantages, this paper introduces a reproducible classification method that evaluates both the transport supply (Node) and the physical and functional characteristics of the surrounding context (Place). The methodology readapts the ABC location policy and the Node–Place classification model to systematically identify existing nodes that can serve as multimodal mobility hubs, combining them with comprehensive indicators derived from the mobility hubs literature. Through this approach, the paper illustrates how open and standardized datasets are used to (i) cluster and score transport nodes based on their multimodal offerings, (ii) analyze land use and urban services in their catchment areas, and (iii) compare current conditions with planned transport and land-use transformations. Additionally, this paper introduces a cross-scale approach to support the localization of potential multimodal mobility hubs, their classification, and insights into their future performance. The proposed framework is tested in Milan’s metropolitan area, where it highlights opportunities to enhance multimodality and, alternatively, provides deeper insights from applying transformations in land use and transport supply. Findings show that this approach is scalable and replicable across diverse urban contexts. Ultimately, the paper contributes to evidence-based policy by offering a tool to guide urban and transport planners in locating, selecting, and upgrading mobility hubs, facilitating more sustainable and inclusive mobility networks.

An agent-based model for the urban and spatial planning in the center of Athens

The impact of land use change awareness on the psychological adaptation of migrant communities in Khulna city

Building evidence regarding nature-based solutions indicators and their implications for policy – the case of air quality