Urban Services Research Articles

Analysis of access to amenities in peri-urban areas in West Africa: A GIS-based approach in Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin

Urban facilities and services are essential to human life. Access to them varies according to the geographical location of the population, whether urban, peri-urban or rural, and according to the modes of transport available. In view of the rapid development of peri-urban areas in developing countries, questions are being asked about the ability of the inhabitants of these areas to access these facilities and services. This study examines the ability of the inhabitants of Hêvié, Ouèdo and Togba, three peri-urban districts of Abomey-Calavi in the Republic of Benin, to access commercial, educational, school and health facilities. To this end, we have adopted a GIS-based methodology. It is a combination of isochronal method and accessibility utility measurement. The isochrones were produced according to the main modes of travel recorded on the study area and over a time t ≤ 20 min divided into intervals of 05 min. Analysis of the data enabled us to understand that the main modes of travel adopted by residents are walking, motorcycle and car. Access to educational and health facilities is conditioned by the mode of travel used. Access to commercial and entertainment facilities in t ≤ 20 min is not correlated with the modes of transport used.

The Growth of Cross‐Border Regions Toward “Two Countries, One Park”: A Case Study of the Mohan–Boten Cross‐Border Cooperation Zone

ABSTRACTCross‐border regions have been the frontier areas of regional and subregional cooperation, the development of which involves the interaction of multiple scales and various agents. Existing studies focus mainly on cross‐border economic cooperation but pay less attention to issues such as urban construction and community development, which may lead to the neglect of the interests of local communities in the development of cross‐border regions. Based on a case study of the Mohan–Boten Cross‐border Cooperation Zone (CCZ), this study argues for the integrated development toward “Two Countries, One Park” through the functional integration of urban planning, industrial investment, public services, and community development. The study finds that the success of the “Two Countries, One Park” pattern relies on the coordination of multi‐scalar governance and multi‐agent cooperation, whereas the “scale paradox” caused by the asymmetric distribution of power and responsibility among different governance scales and the relevant agents is a major hindrance to functional integration and cross‐border cooperation. Addressing the “scale paradox” is, therefore, crucial for successful cross‐border development.

Disruptions and adaptations of an urban nutrition intervention delivering essential services for women and children during a major health system crisis in Dhaka, Bangladesh

AbstractSystematic crises may disrupt well‐designed nutrition interventions. Continuing services requires understanding the intervention paths that have been disrupted and adapting as crises permit. Alive & Thrive developed an intervention to integrate nutrition services into urban antenatal care services in Dhaka, which started at the onset of COVID‐19 and encountered extraordinary disruption of services. We investigated the disruptions and adaptations that occurred to continue the delivery of services for women and children and elucidated how the intervention team made those adaptations. We examined the intervention components planned and those implemented annotating the disruptions and adaptations. Subsequently, we detailed the intervention paths (capacity building, supportive supervision, demand generation, counselling services, and reporting, data management and performance review). We sorted out processes at the system, organizational, service delivery and individual levels on how the intervention team made the adaptations. Disruptions included decreased client load and demand for services, attrition of providers and intervention staff, key intervention activities becoming unfeasible and clients and providers facing challenges affecting utilization and provision of services. Adaptations included incorporating new guidance for the continuity of services, managing workforce turnover and incorporating remote modalities for all intervention components. The intervention adapted to continue by incorporating hybrid modalities including both original activities that were feasible and adapted activities. Amidst health system crises, the adapted intervention was successfully delivered. This knowledge of how to identify disruptions and adapt interventions during major crises is critical as Bangladesh and other countries face new threats (conflict, climate, economic downturns, inequities and epidemics).

Fermatean Fuzzy TOPSIS Method and Its Application in Ranking Business Intelligence-Based Strategies in Smart City Context

With the expansion of smart cities, the use of business intelligence (BI) has emerged as a crucial tool for resource optimization, increasing efficiency, and improving the citizens’ quality of life. BI enables companies to make better strategic decisions by analyzing vast amounts of urban data, helping them remain competitive in the dynamic smart city environment. This study utilizes content analysis and the Fermatean Fuzzy TOPSIS (FF-TOPSIS) method to rank the strategies based on business intelligence in the context of smart city. Initially, relevant criteria were identified through content analysis, and subsequently, five strategies were developed and ranked based on these criteria. The results revealed that the "Development of IOT-enabled smart networks (S2)" ranked highest, as it plays a significant role in optimizing resource management and enhancing urban service performance, thereby contributing greatly to the advancement of smart cities. "Process automation and the deployment of robotic systems (S5)" ranked second, as it enhances efficiency and reduces human errors. "Cloud platform integration for seamless access to data and services (S3)" also proved to be of considerable importance, ranking third, as it provides seamless access to data and services. " Artificial intelligence deployment for predictive analytics and process optimization (S4)" ranked fourth and was vital for predictive analytics and process optimization, while " Big data analytics for smart decision-making (S1)"—despite its importance—ranked fifth. Urban managers should prioritize the development of IOT networks to fully leverage their potential for resource management and efficiency gains. Following this, attention to process automation and AI integration can significantly enhance the quality of life for citizens and reduce urban costs.

URBAN SATURATION IN ALGERIAN CITIES: FACTORS AND TREATMENT METHODS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE CITY OF TÉBESSA

Throughout history, cities have undergone transformations due to social, urban, environmental, and economic changes, which have contributed to altering their shape, and growth patterns. This evolution has led to continuous urban expansion in response to the increasing needs of the population, resulting in boundless urban sprawl. The constant effort to provide urban services has driven the integration of new land areas within the framework of urban expansion, often at the expense of the surrounding rural areas, which serve as the city's main life source. These rural areas are the primary base for urban expansion and simultaneously the main supplier of labor and raw materials. Currently, urban expansion in Algerian cities, in general, and in Tebessa in particular, poses challenges in urban development and planning. This situation calls for exploring alternative approaches when natural or human barriers prevent the optimal use of urban land in alignment with the city’s needs, leading to urban saturation. These approaches should consider the principles of sustainable urban development and rely on tools focused on protecting natural resources within and around the city, as cities are not only the main threat to the natural environment but also the first victims of its degradation.

Home Services Recommendation System using Machine Learning for Urban Areas

The Kotlin-based on-demand home service system streamlines household tasks by offering services such as repairs, cleaning, gardening, and plumbing. In today's fast-paced world, it provides quick solutions for maintaining a clean and hygienic living environment. The Housekeeper Finder app is a prominent player in this space, utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms to deliver personalized service recommendations based on user preferences. It includes essential services like cooking, laundry, and elder care, along with a robust feedback system to improve service quality. Users can easily book services from anywhere, leveraging GPS technology to connect them with nearby providers. The "Domestic Android Application for Home Services" further enhances accessibility through location-based service requests and mapping capabilities for a seamless user experience across platforms.A s cities transition into Smart Cities, integrated information systems open new avenues for urban service recommendations, fostering liveability and sustainability. Recommendation systems analyse user behaviour to provide tailored suggestions using techniques like collaborative filtering and hybrid methods. In response to the challenges of modern work culture, the e-commerce landscape now offers easy access to essential services via mobile applications, ultimately transforming how households address their needs and promoting safer, cleaner living space.

Similarities and Dichotomies Between Nature-Based Solutions and Green Infrastructure: a Systematic Literature Review

Objective: The study seeks to address the following question: What are the similarities and dichotomies between green infrastructure (GI) and nature-based solutions (NBS) from the perspective of Brazilian researchers, and how do the identified solutions mitigate the depletion of urban ecosystem services? Method: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted using the PRISMA protocol in research within the CAPES Journal database. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were original texts, peer-reviewed, published in national and international journals in Portuguese, covering the themes of NBS, GI, informal settlements, and public open space. After reviewing the 90 identified texts, a final selection of 41 texts was made for the SLR. Originality/Value: These texts were analyzed from a novel perspective, bringing together the themes of GI, NBS, ecosystem services protection, and urban land use. Results and Discussion: The study identified the authors’ views on the pressures of urbanization on ecosystem services and the solutions for their protection. It was concluded that the concepts of NBS and GI are often conflated in most approaches and that adopting urbanization associated with nature faces conceptual, operational, and managerial challenges. Research Implications: The research provides insights into the integration of GI and NBS in urban planning to address the challenges of uncontrolled urbanization and the degradation of ecosystem services.

Assessment and Dynamic Prediction of Green Space Ecological Service Value in Guangzhou City, China

As an important part of the urban ecosystem, urban green space provides a variety of ecosystem services, including climate regulation, soil conservation, carbon sink and oxygen release, and biodiversity protection. However, existing remote sensing evaluation methods for ecological service value lack the evaluation indicators of ecosystem service value for Guangzhou, China, and the evaluation method depends on the land cover type. Based on remote sensing technology and random forest algorithm, this study addresses these gaps by integrating remote sensing technology with a random forest algorithm to enhance the accuracy and rationality of ESV assessments. Focusing on Guangzhou, China, we improved the ecological service value evaluation system and conducted dynamic predictions based on land-use change scenarios. Our results indicate that the total ESV of Guangzhou’s green space was USD 7.323 billion in 2020, with a projected decline to USD 6.496 billion by 2030, representing a 12.37% reduction due to urbanization-driven land-use changes. This research highlights the noticeable role of green spaces in urban sustainability and provides robust, data-driven insights for policymakers to design more effective green space protection and management strategies. The improved assessment framework offers a novel approach for accurately quantifying urban ecosystem services and predicting future trends.

The Cost of Coordination Failures: Impacts on Urban Development Projects and Citizen Services in Bangladesh

Rapid urbanization in Bangladesh places significant pressure on City Corporations to effectively plan and implement urban development projects, often in collaboration with national agencies. However, coordination failures are prevalent, leading to significant costs and hindering urban development. This study investigates the challenges in service delivery coordination faced by City Corporations in Bangladesh, focusing on Cumilla and Dhaka as case studies to understand the complexities of coordination in varying urban contexts. A qualitative research approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 110 stakeholders across both cities. This included 40 City Corporation officials, 30 government agency representatives, and 70 community representatives, ensuring a multi-faceted understanding of the issue. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis and interpretive techniques to identify recurring patterns and themes related to coordination challenges, their consequences, and potential solutions. Rigor and trustworthiness were ensured through data triangulation, member checking, and reflexivity. The study identified several key coordination challenges, including dysfunctional coordination committees, power struggles between City Corporations and national agencies, non-compliance with regulations, unclear roles and responsibilities, dual control over tasks, breaches of agreements, political interference, self-serving leadership, and inadequate corrective measures. These challenges hinder project progress and negatively impact citizens, leading to subpar work quality, project delays, funding withdrawals, poor service delivery, financial waste, and increased public distress. In conclusion, this study underscores the urgent need for improved coordination mechanisms, accountability frameworks, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance urban development and service delivery in Bangladesh.

The responsiveness and clinical utility of the Australian therapy outcome measure for indigenous clients.

The Australian Therapy Outcome Measure for Indigenous Clients (ATOMIC) is a goal-setting tool designed to measure therapy outcomes with First Australians. It was originally developed and validated for use with First Australian children as a culturally responsive alternative to traditional western outcome measures. This research explored the applicability, responsiveness and clinical utility of the ATOMIC when used with First Australian adults attending an urban health service. Separate parallel studies investigated responsiveness and clinical utility. The first employed quantitative methods to investigate change over time via pre- and post-intervention data. The second employed a qualitative phenomenological approach to determine the clinical utility of the tool. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were used, respectively, to understand the experience of using the ATOMIC from a client and clinician perspective. Client perspectives on the purpose of the tool and its alignment with their views on health care and therapists' perspective on the ease of use and applicability of the tool to the health service setting were explored. These data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The methodological approach followed National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC, 2018) guidelines in considering cultural continuity, reciprocity and equity. This project was initiated and guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders (the advisory group) as a prioritised need for a robust way of reporting outcomes to complement existing statistical and narrative data within a large community-controlled health service. The advisory group provided high level governance from project conception to conclusion and were involved in yarn-backs about research findings. Responsiveness: Wilcoxon test showed a statistically significant increase (P = 0.00) in ATOMIC scores pre- (mean = 1.8) and post- (mean = 8) intervention. Effect size (Cohen d) was deemed significant calculated at 2.1. Findings included: First Australian clients are adept at self-managing their conditions; the ATOMIC is a clinically useful outcome measure, which reflects this; ATOMIC is an acceptable tool to First Australian clients and clinicians and supports culturally responsive goal setting and occupational therapy practice. The Australian Therapy Outcome Measure for Indigenous Clients (ATOMIC) was created to measure how well therapy works for First Australian children. This research investigates whether it also works with adult First Australians. Two studies were undertaken: a quantitative study to see whether ATOMIC scores changed before and after therapy and a qualitative study, which asked people what they thought about using the ATOMIC. ATOMIC scores went up after therapy, indicating it is sensitive to change, and both clients and therapists liked using the ATOMIC and found it useful. It matched well with how First Australian adults see health care and helped set goals for therapy. The results of the study show that the ATOMIC is helpful for both clients and therapists in understanding how well therapy works and helps to set goals that make sense culturally. This study looked at one health service in one regional area, so more research is needed to establish whether it works elsewhere. Overall, the results indicate the ATOMIC is a promising step towards better therapy for Indigenous Australians.

A critical review of literature and a conceptual framework for organising and researching urban health and community health services in low- and middle-income countries.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are rapidly urbanizing, and in response to this, there is an expansion in the body of scholarship and significant policy interest in urban healthcare provision. The idea and the reality of 'urban advantage' has meant that health research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has disproportionately focused on health and healthcare provision in rural contexts and is yet to sufficiently engage with urban health as actively. We contend that this research and practice can benefit from a more explicit engagement with the rich conceptual understandings that have emerged in other disciplines around the urban condition. Our critical review included publications from four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Social Sciences Citation Index) and two CHW resource hubs. We draw upon scholarship anchored in sociology to unpack the nature and features of the urban condition; we use these theoretical insights to critically review the literature on urban community health worker programs, as a case to reflect on community health practice and urban health research in LMIC contexts. Through this analysis, we delineate key features of the urban - such as heterogeneity, secondary spaces and ties, size and density, visibility and anonymity, precarious work and living conditions, crime, and insecurity, and specifically the social location of the urban CHWs and present their implications for community health practice. We propose a conceptual framework for a distinct imagination of the urban to guide health research and practice in urban health and community health programs in the LMIC context. The framework will enable researchers and practitioners to better engage with what entails a 'community' and a 'community health program' in urban contexts.

The Axial City: disjunctioning radical pluralities from an urban galaxy

ABSTRACT In 1999, the City Council of Brescia (Northern Italy) approved the construction of the city’s inaugural subway line, which began operating in 2013. Since its inception, the subway has been reshaping Brescia’s urban structure. Its aim was to spatially integrate essentials urban services into a seemingly cohesive and post-industrial socio-spatial system, a process that have been termed as urban wholing. However, wholing dynamics have simultaneously solidified and splintered the city’s urban structure. Over the last decades, Brescia has evolved into an “Axial City” socio-spatially governed through the regimented mobilities emanating from the subway. This configuration is spatially marked by the presence of “hierarchized centralities” that disproportionately catalyze investments and development policies. Furthermore, the subway system establishes distinct patterns of socio-spatial (dis)junction, defining different areas as “(dis)integrated ecologies” from the city-as-a-wholed. Via this approach, the processes of wholing generate mobilities according to normative class, racial, gendered, and age-related urban relations, transforming the Axial City into a comprehensive system fueling unprecedent conditions of selective (dis)integration and “kinetic segregation.” This contribution explores the governmentality expressed by the Brescia’s infrastructure, emphasizing how the socio-spatial processes of splintering radical pluralities, intrinsic to the efforts towards wholing, are crucial conditions of injustice permeating the contemporary city’s political project.

Serving Innovation: Exploring Patent Agency Service Networks in China

ABSTRACTPatent agency services are crucial for the codification of technical knowledge and inventions. Drawing on an inter‐firm network analysis of the patent agency service relationships between patent agencies and their innovation clients during the last two decades in China, this paper seeks to explore the structure of urban patent agency service networks and how it is shaped by China's unique institutional and market forces. The study found that although the patent agency service network generally follows the basic structure of China's innovative and economic landscapes, it is still deeply shaped by China's unique intellectual property institutions, administrative hierarchy factors, market forces driven by patent agency service demand, and multidimensional proximities in a complex manner. Analyzing how these factors function should be related to the characteristics of patent agencies and the actors of networks. The study will help us understand how city patent service networks might be shaped by institutional and spatial factors, and provide new evidence on how cities are interlinked within patent agency service networks.

Impact of urban facilities spatial inequality on sustainable travel mode.

With the implementation of sustainable development objectives in developing countries, urban planning, land use regulation, and urban mobility policies are expected to help reduce inequalities in access to urban facilities. Urban transport policies are also expected to encourage travel by non-motorised modes and public transport. These are considered to be the sustainable modes of urban transport. In this paper, we investigate how inequality of urban facilities impacts trips made by sustainable modes in the city of Santiago de Chile. We use a Poisson regression model and its geographical extension, the geographically weighted Poisson regression model (GWPR). The results suggest that the inequality of urban facilities impacts trips made by sustainable modes. The variables with the highest relevance are the spatial distribution of mixed land use, the spatial distribution of urban services related to transport infrastructure, primary and secondary education, as well as the spatial distribution of demographic variables related to people's life cycle.

The 15-Minute City: An Attempt to Measure Proximity to Urban Services in Rome

The 15-Minute City: An Attempt to Measure Proximity to Urban Services in Rome

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.

Digital health spaces in the city of Lisbon. The role of digitalization in linking boundaryless hospitals and smart health cities

Abstract Digital transformation is reshaping every aspect of society, including healthcare. The concepts of ‘Boundaryless Hospitals’ (BH) and ‘Smart Health Cities’ (SHC) represent a forward-thinking approach to healthcare that leverages digital technologies to enhance service delivery, operational efficiency and patient outcomes, including healthy mobility. This session delves into the complex role of digitalization in creating interconnected health and spatial environments where the flow of data and resources across physical and virtual barriers is optimized. BH embody a healthcare model where digital tools, health information systems and AI-powered diagnostics are integrated to provide care that transcends traditional hospital walls into the city. This approach not only facilitates greater accessibility and flexibility in patient care but also enhances the capacity for healthcare providers to offer personalized and timely interventions, embracing public health altogether. SHC integrates health technology into urban planning and public health services to create ecosystems that actively contribute to the health and wellbeing of their populations. Using big data analytics, IoT and other digital infrastructures, these cities support sustainable health practices, disease prevention, and efficient crisis response, promoting an overall healthier populace. This session will explore how digital health spaces can bridge the gap between these concepts. Discussions will focus on public health challenges and opportunities, examining the case of the city of Lisbon on how digital platforms can facilitate interactions between healthcare providers, patients, and urban environments. Best practices from pioneering projects around the globe will be highlighted. Participants will engage in comprehensive analyses of Lisbon case that demonstrate successful integration of digital health technologies in various contexts, contributing to the resilience and adaptability of healthcare infrastructures.

A Systematic Literature Review on the Operationalization of Usability in Urban Pluvial Flooding Climate Services and the Influence of Contextual Factors

ABSTRACTExtreme weather impacts due to climate change, such as urban pluvial flooding, necessitate adaptive measures. To support decision making in climate adaptation, climate services provide information and guidance to policy makers and other stakeholders. Effective use of climate services is prohibited by usability gaps. Some causes for these gaps originate from contextual factors. However, these factors are not well understood within academic literature. Therefore, our systematic review has two research questions: (1) What dimensions of climate service usability are considered in the design and evaluation of their use and how are these operationalized?; and (2) What contextual influences may affect these identified dimensions? To this end, we analyzed 51 articles that cover one or more urban pluvial flooding climate services. Our results show several overarching categories of usability dimensions (functionality, ease of use, reducing time and effort, reliability, matching user needs, and other). However, these dimensions are not always fully operationalized by authors. Furthermore, our results show that most contextual factors originate from the meso level (within or between organizations), and in lesser extent the macro (e.g., national policies) and micro level (individual users). Here especially organizational (e.g., Does the climate service fit organizational work approaches?); and process factors (e.g., Was the climate service co‐produced?) have been shown to affect usability. We conclude that more attention should be given to usability as a concept within the design and evaluation of climate services well as to the influence of contextual influences.

Review of the application of drones for smart cities

AbstractIn an area of increasing digitalisation and rapid technological development, information management is becoming essential for the effective functioning of modern organisations and cities. One of the new trends is the gradual expansion and use of drones in parts of the smart cities concept. In security, drones are used to protect public order, monitor traffic in cities and municipalities, and control sub‐activities falling under the competence of police forces. In rescue work, drones allow us to efficiently and quickly manage accidental emergencies in hard‐to‐reach areas. At the same time, in the transport sector, drones have become an important component for the efficient delivery of parcels, reducing overall costs and time savings. This paper systematically overviews the importance of drones in various fields such as security, transportation, rescue operations or parcel delivery. Drones are becoming key elements for public order, crisis management and enhancing the quality of life of citizens in smart cities due to their capabilities of rapid response, monitoring hard‐to‐reach locations and autonomous data collection. Particular attention is then paid to comparing the use of drones in the Czech Republic and abroad and their benefits in the field of innovative technologies that help improve the safety and efficiency of urban services. The article also analyses the technical specifications of drones and their role in the public and private sectors, considering the legislative framework for their use. Overall, the article offers an overview of how drones contribute to integrating modern technologies into the daily functioning of smart cities and improving residents' quality of life.

‘Taming’ a Wicked Problem: Selective Problematisation of Issues of Urban Water Supply in Mumbai

The lack of universal urban water access in the cities in the global south is a wicked problem. Using the case of Mumbai, this paper illustrates how consistently this wicked problem was chiselled and selectively problematised to turn it into a tame problem – a problem of water shortages at the city level. The chiselling included neglecting the essential aspects of urban water supply, such as supply coverage, pressure and leakages, which define the quality of urban water service received by citizens. Through chiselling and selective problematisation, the paper illustrates how the problem of providing universal urban water access in Mumbai was ignored for decades and the issues of water shortages were emphasised alone to justify and prioritise the development of dams.