Vulnerability Of Urban Areas Research Articles

Bioaccumulation of Metals in Fish Collected from Macapá Urban Aquatic Environments (Brazilian Amazon) and the Risks to Human Health

Macapá City, located in the Brazilian Amazon, faces critical aquatic pollution challenges due to inadequate sanitation infrastructure, leading to metal contamination in fish within its urban water bodies. Our study evaluated the concentrations of metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg) in muscle tissues of fish from igarapés, ressaca areas, and canals. Samples were collected from six sampling sites to investigate the bioaccumulation of these metals and their potential human health risks. All metals were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry, except Hg, which was quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Metal concentrations were determined in three carnivorous and seven omnivorous fish species. Cd concentrations exceeded the Brazilian maximum limit established for human consumption in all fish species evaluated. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of Pb and Hg exceeded their reference doses. Our risk assessment, which combined the risk quotient (RQ) for individual metals and the risk index (RI) for metal mixtures, indicated health risks associated with the consumption of fish collected from the study areas. These results demonstrated a worrying exposure to metals (mainly Cd, Pb, and Hg), highlighting the need for environmental management measures and continuous monitoring to protect public health in vulnerable urban areas.

Dengue: An emerging public health issue in Brazil

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and represents a major public health challenge in Brazil, where deficiencies in vector control favor its spread. The objective of this study is to analyze dengue fever as an emerging public health problem in Brazil. The study is an integrative review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The PubMed, SciELO and VHL databases were used. The inclusion criteria were studies published between 2021 and 2024, written in English or Portuguese and that addressed the topic in question. The exclusion criteria were articles that were disconnected from the inclusion criteria. The vulnerability of urban areas, the vector's resistance to insecticides and the need for integrated control strategies contribute to the emergence of dengue in Brazil. Epidemiological surveillance, awareness campaigns, improvements in basic sanitation are essential measures for the effective fight against dengue. Therefore, a continuous and collaborative effort between the government, health professionals and the population are necessary, with an emphasis on prevention, education and innovation in the fight against Aedes aegypti.

Left to Live and Die: Resource Security and the Biopolitics of Land Stockpiling in China

AbstractBeginning in 2007, the Chinese state used liberalising policy and funding to encourage the expansion of large‐scale grain farming. Despite this support, many of the new farms have struggled financially and folded. Drawing on Foucauldian biopolitics and resource security literature, I argue that, with modernised agriculture, the state primarily sought to create not commercial farms, but the redundant farming infrastructure needed to buffer its growing reliance on food imports, abide by global trade regulations, and sustain its urban export manufacturing economy. These balancing efforts harmed commercial farmers: land commodification and policy funding incentivised urban government officials to intervene in rural land‐use planning, but low global market aligned grain prices disincentivised them from considering the place‐particular viability of their plans for producers. This article contributes to critical agrarian change literature by highlighting how modernist states become beholden to rational scientific techniques and sacrifice rural areas for increasingly vulnerable urban areas.

Simulation of large plausible tsunami scenarios associated with the 2019 Durres (Albania) earthquake source and adjacent seismogenic zones

We present an analysis of the hazards of potential earthquake-generated tsunamis along the Albanian–Adriatic coast. The study adopts a case study approach to model plausible tsunamigenic events associated with the 2019 Mw 6.4 Durres (Albania) earthquake source zone. The approach combines current findings on regional tectonics and scenario-based calculations of potential tsunami impacts. The study’s goal is to analyse the propagation of tsunami waves generated by identified seismogenic sources (namely ALCS002 [Lushnje] and ALCS018 [Shijak]) and determine the tsunami risk assessment for Durres City on the Albanian–Adriatic coast. The sources can generate earthquakes with maximum moment magnitudes of Mw 7.5 and Mw 6.8, which are likely to trigger tsunamis that could cause significant impacts in the region. The modelling is performed deterministically with the NAMI DANCE numerical code, including scenarios associated with the largest plausible earthquake. The model integrates bathymetry and topography datasets of large and medium resolutions. Each tsunami scenario simulation is based on the solution of the non-linear shallow water equations used to generate maximum positive wave amplitudes (water elevation), travel time, and tsunami inundation maps. In Durres City, modelling indicates that medium-sized waves could reach up to 2.5 m inland, posing a significant danger to the city’s low-lying areas. The most substantial tsunami waves are expected to impact the area within the first 10 to 20 min. Combining inundation maps and information on exposed assets allows for identifying areas where damages can be expected. In terms of human impact, a preliminary analysis shows that the study area is prone to tsunami threat, with more than 138,000 inhabitants living in vulnerable urban areas of Durres City by 2036. The model’s capacity to capture details related to the presence of buildings is limited due to constraints posed by the resolution of bathymetry and topography datasets available during this study. If refined with high-resolution bathymetry and topography datasets, our results can be considered a backbone for exposure and resilience assessment features to be integrated into preparedness or new urban development plans.

Hierarchical Fuzzy MCDA Multi-Risk Model for Detecting Critical Urban Areas in Climate Scenarios

One of the issues of greatest interest in urban planning today concerns the evaluation of the most vulnerable urban areas in the presence of different types of climate hazards. In this research, a hierarchical fuzzy MCDA model is implemented on a GIS-based platform aimed at detecting the urban areas most at risk in the presence of heatwave and pluvial flooding scenarios. The proposed model aims to detect the urban areas most vulnerable to both the two climatic phenomena and the two types of hazards as independent events; it partitions the physical component of an urban settlement into two subsystems: buildings and open spaces, and it determines the criticality of a subzone of the urban area of study by evaluating the vulnerabilities of the two subsystems to the two phenomena. The use of a hierarchical fuzzy MCDA model facilitates the modeling of the two subsystems and the assessment of their vulnerability to the two phenomena, and it provides a computationally fast tool for detecting critical urban areas. The model was tested on a study area made up of the districts of the central-eastern area of the city of Naples (Italy); it was divided into subzones made up of individual census areas. The most critical areas are represented by the subzones with criticality values higher than a specific threshold.

Assessment of Landslide Vulnerability in Urban Areas Using GIS and Remote Sensing: A Study in Ambon City

Slope stability and land movements, commonly referred to as landslides, are natural hazards that involve the shifting of materials like soil, rock, and debris, primarily caused by the force of gravity. This research utilized both qualitative and quantitative approaches, focusing on spatial analysis by examining primary and secondary data derived from satellite imagery, observations, and pertinent institutions. Processing of the collected data using specialized software like Global Mapper 20, ArcGIS 10.8.1, and ER Mapper 8.1. The findings of this investigation disclosed that a significant portion of Ambon City, roughly 51.63% of its area, exhibited high susceptibility to landslides. Conversely, only about 16.26% of the total area demonstrated very low or low vulnerability. Similar trends were observed in urbanized regions, where the majority, around 39.01%, were classified as highly vulnerable (Z-4). In contrast, approximately 35.09% showed very low vulnerability (Z-1), and 11.89% depicted low vulnerability (Z-2). The study's findings clearly highlight a critical situation in Ambon City, where a substantial 89% of its territory, characterized by mountainous landscapes, is experiencing a markedly increased frequency of landslides. Given these concerning insights, it is absolutely essential for government authorities to engage in rigorous spatial planning. This should involve redirecting development efforts towards areas identified as safer, away from high-risk zones. Furthermore, the government must enforce and adhere to policies that not only mitigate landslide risks but also promote sustainable development, ensuring the long-term safety and resilience of Ambon City against such natural disasters.Keywords: Mapping, Landslide, Vulnerability, Build Area

Climate Change and Human Health: Impacts and Vulnerability

Background: Climate change is a global health emergency, with its impacts being profoundly felt across various regions of Pakistan. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events pose significant threats to public health, agriculture, and water resources. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing targeted interventions to mitigate health risks associated with climate change. Objective: This study aims to assess the effects of climate change on health outcomes in Pakistan, focusing on temperature variations, precipitation changes, agricultural impacts, vector-borne diseases, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four regions of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Balochistan) from January 2022 to January 2023. A sample size of 3000 participants was selected through systematic random sampling. Meteorological data was collected from local weather stations, and health data was gathered through structured surveys, interviews, and medical examinations. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, employing SPSS version 25 for statistical analysis. GIS mapping visualized the spatial patterns of climate change impacts. Results: The study found significant regional variations in climate change impacts. Temperature increases were most pronounced in Sindh (1.8°C), leading to heightened risks of heat-related ailments. Precipitation changes showed decreased rainfall in Punjab, causing water scarcity and an increase in waterborne diseases. Agricultural impacts revealed a 10% crop yield reduction in Punjab, resulting in increased malnutrition rates. Vector-borne diseases saw a noticeable rise in Sindh due to habitat expansion of disease vectors. Socio-economic vulnerability analysis indicated high vulnerability in urban areas of Sindh, with limited adaptive capacities. Conclusion: Climate change significantly affects health outcomes in Pakistan, with regional disparities necessitating targeted interventions. The study underscores the importance of incorporating climate change considerations into public health planning and policy-making to enhance resilience and adaptive capacities across vulnerable regions.

Acesso a alimentos frescos em áreas urbanas vulneráveis: um estudo classificatório das favelas e dos estabelecimentos formais de São Paulo

Abstract The environment significantly influences individuals’ food choices. Vulnerable urban areas, such as favelas, can have a decisive impact on discouraging the consumption of fresh, nutritionally rich foods. This issue is exacerbated by the urban infrastructure required to deliver fresh foods to these locations. Therefore, it is essential to understand the context of the favelas in the municipality of São Paulo in terms of the food environment and infrastructure to support the design of public policies that enhance the presence of minimally processed foods in these areas. We applied the k-means clustering method to two datasets: the food environment of favelas, characterized by food establishments, and the urban infrastructure of the favelas in the municipality of São Paulo. Of the city’s 1,701 favelas, only 271 have formally registered food establishments. Larger favelas with better urban infrastructure generally exhibited a food environment with greater access to fresh foods. The results suggest that investing in urban infrastructure can increase access to fresh foods in these areas. It is also necessary to consider local specificities to find effective solutions that increase the availability of minimally processed foods, thereby improving the population’s quality of life and health.

Access to fresh food in vulnerable urban areas: a classification study of the favelas and formal establishments in São Paulo

Resumo O ambiente influência nas escolhas alimentares dos indivíduos. Áreas urbanas vulneráveis, como favelas, podem ter um efeito decisivo em desestimular o consumo de alimentos frescos, com alto poder nutritivo. Essa questão é ampliada pela infraestrutura urbana necessária para que os alimentos frescos cheguem a esses locais. Assim, é essencial entender o contexto das áreas de favela do município de São Paulo em termos de ambiente alimentar e infraestrutura para apoiar o desenho de políticas públicas que aumentem a presença de alimentos minimamente processados nesses locais. Para isso, aplicamos o método de clusterização k-means com dois conjuntos de dados: ambiente alimentar das áreas de favela, caracterizado por estabelecimentos de alimentos, e infraestrutura urbana das favelas do município de São Paulo. Das 1.701 favelas da cidade, apenas 271 têm estabelecimentos alimentares formalmente cadastrados. As favelas maiores e com melhor infraestrutura urbana apresentaram, em geral, um ambiente alimentar com maior acesso a alimentos frescos. Os resultados sugerem que investir em infraestrutura urbana pode ter um efeito positivo sobre o acesso a alimentos frescos nessas áreas. É necessário ainda considerar as especificidades locais para encontrar soluções eficazes que aumentem a disponibilidade de alimentos minimamente processados, melhorando a qualidade de vida e a saúde da população.

Mapping of heat vulnerability in Indian Urban Centres under threat of global warming

There is a need for a multi-dimensional approach to map heat vulnerability in urban areas to address the growing threat of heat waves in India. However, heat action planning in India is currently underdeveloped, and previous studies have used diverse and fragmented methods to assess vulnerability. The present study aimed to present a unified framework for mapping heat vulnerability in Indian urban centres based on the systematic review of literature. The framework included three techniques: unweighted additive overlay, weighted additive overlay, and principal component analysis (PCA), for constructing a composite index called the heat vulnerability index (HVI). The PCA-based approach was particularly suitable when multiple criteria were involved in assessing heat vulnerability, as it could capture the underlying relationships between them. Moreover, using GIS-based maps helped to visualize and reveal critical information about vulnerable areas, aiding in identifying priority regions for heat interventions. The study also examines the meaning of HVIs and the sensitivity of the techniques to three factors: the selected indicators, construction method, and scale of analysis. By providing a common framework for assessing heat vulnerability, the study would be helpful to support policymakers in prioritizing interventions to reduce the impact of heat waves on vulnerable populations in Indian cities and beyond, which are also experiencing varying levels of impact from global warming.

Characteristic feature of the flood vulnerability in urban areas. Case of Skikda City (North East Algeria)

Characteristic feature of the flood vulnerability in urban areas. Case of Skikda City (North East Algeria)

Applying modified-data mining techniques to assess public transportation vulnerable urban and suburban city areas

To guarantee the right to move for residents in areas where public transportation is insufficient, research is needed to identify vulnerable areas and prepare measures. This paper defines the vulnerable regions of public transportation within various city types in Korea. In order to identify appropriate areas to apply the Demand Responsive Transit (DRT), the regions with vulnerability were compared with a specific city (Yangsan-si) which already the DRT system was successfully adopted. To collect monthly bus data, web-data crawling method was performed and processed with coordinating program by matching GPS coordinate. The public transportation demand was predicted for each grid cell size (100 m, 250 m, and 500 m) by different methodologies. Various data mining models based on regression were analyzed to predict bus demand of vulnerable areas. Among models, a modified model was suggested to combine Automated machine learning models for high prediction performance. The modified model outperformed other methods as 0.685 and prediction performance was appropriate at 100 m rectangle grid. Regional characters of DRT bus allocation areas were extracted by K-means clustering method and differentiate urban and suburban types. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into conditions that DRT bus stop can be installed. The urban bus stop areas located in metropolitan cities and the suburban bus stop allocation areas located in countryside. The study results can be used as policy data for the successful introduction to prevent social exclusion and improve resident welfare in the future.

Comprehensive evaluation of urban waterlogging prevention resilience based on the fuzzy VIKOR method: a case study of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration.

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration was used to construct a comprehensive evaluation index system for urban waterlogging prevention and control resilience from five aspects: social resilience, economic resilience, ecological resilience, infrastructure resilience, and institutional resilience. The fuzzy VIKOR method was used to evaluate urban waterlogging prevention and control resilience. The results were analyzed at temporal and spatial scales to reveal regional differences and constraints in urban waterlogging prevention toughness and efficiently locate vulnerable urban areas. The resilience level in most of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region increased during 2015-2019, while that of Beijing, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, and Handan slightly decreased, indicating that the capacity of these cities to manage waterlogging disasters needs strengthening. The spatial difference in urban waterlogging prevention toughness was significant: Beijing, Tianjin, Handan, Tangshan, Langfang, and Shijiazhuang showed medium and high levels of urban waterlogging prevention toughness; other cities showed low levels. How the expansion speed of the urban scale matches the construction speed of urban waterlogging prevention and control directly affects resilience at all levels. These results support urban waterlogging control and regional integration construction for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.

Determining the relationship between dengue and vulnerability in a Brazilian city: a spatial modeling analysis

ABSTRACT Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This study aimed to assess the distribution of cases and deaths from dengue and severe dengue, and its relationship with social vulnerability in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2010 to 2018. The incidence and lethality rates of dengue and their relationship with sex, age, education, skin color, and social vulnerability were studied using chi-square tests, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) analyses. The number of cases of dengue in Belo Horizonte during the study period was 324,044 dengue cases, with 1,334 cases of severe dengue and 88 deaths. During the past few decades, the incidence rate of both dengue and severe cases varied, with an average incidence rate of respectively 1515.5 and 6.2/100,000 inhabitants. The increase in dengue cases was directly related to areas with higher social vulnerability areas and more working-age people. Also, the disease is more severe in people self-declared as black, elderly, and male. The findings of this study might provide relevant information for health services in the organization of control and prevention policies for this problem, emphasizing the most vulnerable urban areas and categories.

Social Landscape, Peripheral Inclusion and Un-Practice: Concepts for Understanding Social Housing Daily Life in Open Spaces

This article presents new concepts for discussing urban social space, named “social landscape”, “peripheral inclusion” and “un-practice”. These concepts are based on the analysis of social practices in vulnerable neighborhoods with a high number of social housing blocks in South America. The aim of the article is to show that the complexity of social practices in vulnerable urban areas is not only the result of the urban environment, which combines social inequality, marginalization and insecurity, but also and above all of the management and maintenance of this inequality. The research method combines bibliographical research with the method of non-participant systematic observation, the latter analyzing everyday life in social housing areas of São Paulo-SP (Brazil) and Santiago (Chile). The discussion and results will lead the reader to understand not only the concepts, but also the idea that open spaces have an important role in social practices, especially public spaces. It seeks to demonstrate the importance of linking public spaces and housing in public policies for the creation of social housing, as opposed to housing policies that focus on the production of architecture disconnected from the urban and social reality.

Analyzing spatial vulnerability in cities by combining the analytic hierarchy process and geographic information systems: The case of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

ABSTRACT Vulnerability in urban areas has been on the rise following the global political and economic restructuring processes that have taken place since the 1980s. This increase in vulnerability has sparked a growing awareness of the need to understand the impact of these processes on the most vulnerable neighborhoods and areas of cities so as to develop effective policy responses. Although this vulnerability has become more evident in larger cities, this casuistry can also be seen in medium-sized cities. This paper examines the level of vulnerability of different neighborhoods in the medium-sized European city of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain), using a methodological approach which combines the analytic hierarchy process and geographic information systems, based on a number of indicators for different economic, demographic and migratory status-related dimensions. The results reveal a synthetic map of the vulnerability of neighborhoods in Vitoria-Gasteiz that shows an uneven impact of structural processes and policy initiatives implemented over decades. The paper concludes that synthetic maps of vulnerability make it possible to show the different realities in the urban framework and can contribute to defining public interventions tailored to these specific problems.

Analysis of Ground Subsidence Vulnerability in Urban Areas Using Spatial Regression Analysis

The main cause of ground subsidence accidents in urban areas is cavities formed by damage to underground utilities. For this reason, the attribute information of underground utilities should be used to prepare against ground subsidence accidents. In this study, attribute information (pipe age, diameter, burial depth, and density) of six types of underground utilities (water, sewer, gas, power, heating, and communication) and history information of ground subsidence were collected. A correlation analysis was conducted using the collected data, and a prediction model of vulnerability to ground subsidence was developed through the ordinary least squares (OLS) method and spatial regression analysis (spatial lag model (SLM) and spatial error model (SEM)). To do this, the target area was divided into a grid of 100 m × 100 m. Datasets were constructed using the attribute information of underground utilities included in the divided grid and the number of ground subsidence occurrences. To analyze the OLS of the constructed data, the variance inflation factor (VIF) of the attribute information of underground utilities was studied. An OLS analysis was conducted using the appropriate factors, and the results show that the spatial data were autocorrelated. Subsequently, SEM and SLM analyses, which were spatial regression analyses, were conducted. As a result, the model using SLM was selected as suitable for analyzing the vulnerability of ground subsidence, and the density of six types of underground utilities was found to be the highest influencing factor. In addition, a vulnerability map of ground subsidence in the target area was prepared using the model. The vulnerability map demonstrates that regions with frequent ground subsidence can be predicted to be highly vulnerable.

New integrative tool for assessing vulnerable urban areas. Refurbishment model for energy self-sufficient and bio-healthy neighbourhoods. Madrid, Spain. HABITA-RES

The research conducted under HABITA-RES explored the advisability of the integrative refurbishment of urban neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Madrid built between the end of the Civil War in 1939 and the enactment of the country’s first building code on the indoor environment in 1979. Characterised by highly inefficient buildings, many such neighbourhoods are listed as vulnerable urban areas. The study described hereunder analysed the feasibility of their conversion to energy self-sufficiency to improve residents’ environment, social circumstances and health. European directives and domestic legislation on energy production are introducing increasingly demanding requirements geared to achieving nearly zero energy buildings in 2020 and cities’ carbon neutrality by target year 2050. Possible approaches to achieve those ends were assessed under this study. The theoretical model used was validated with detailed information collected in situ on both social circumstances and energy efficiency. Designed to study improvement strategies for both individual and groups of buildings, the model prioritises passive improvements to lower demand. The findings will enable residents in such neighbourhoods to participate actively in improvement measures and access information on their costs and benefits.

Identifying need for spay and neuter services: A GIS-based analysis

Abstract This study provides a method for assessing the need for spay and neuter services in Massachusetts by creating a composite index that accounts for spatial accessibility and social vulnerability. An accessibility index (AI) of existing low-cost spay/neuter (S/N) facilities was created using the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method which was then combined with the social vulnerability index (SVI) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create a need index (NI). Two methods for selecting the final target areas from the NI results were examined and used to make recommendations for S/N funding allocation. The construction of the NI (i.e. factors included or weights applied to factors) had a significant impact on the results. The NI displayed statistically significant spatial autocorrelation, and hot spot analysis revealed statistically significant clusters of comparatively high- and low-need regions in the state. The target areas identified were strongly influenced by high levels of social vulnerability in urban areas and low spatial accessibility of low-cost S/N facilities in more rural western Massachusetts. The results of this project demonstrate the utility of geographic information systems (GIS)-based analysis in veterinary and shelter medicine, as well as the potential for the use of non-veterinary specific data, such as the CDC SVI, when planning the equitable distribution of limited resources. One Health impact statement Providing spay and neuter (S/N) services to owned and free-roaming cats, dogs and other companion animal species is integral to the health and well-being of the animals themselves. Their human companions also reap the physical and mental health benefits of the human–animal bond, in addition to the environmental and public health impact of limiting free-roaming dog and cat populations. By recognizing the relationships between human and animal populations, existing gaps in need can be addressed through the use of human data to inform decisions on animal health when relevant animal health service data are lacking. A composite index of factors accounting for the social vulnerability was combined with the spatial accessibility of existing S/N resources to create a final index of need for S/N resources. This transdisciplinary approach takes methodologies from public health, acknowledges the impact of the vulnerability of human populations on surrounding companion animal populations, and applies a practical method of identifying the need for specific veterinary medical services.

The Main Challenges for Improving Urban Drainage Systems from the Perspective of Brazilian Professionals

Urban drainage systems play an important role in the complex ecosystem of cities and are often subject to challenges that hinder their functioning. Although identifying these challenges is essential for developing policies and actions to improve drainage systems, there is a lack of studies addressing these challenges. This work has two objectives to contribute to filling this gap: (1) to research the main challenges that make it difficult to improve urban drainage systems; and (2) to prioritize them. We conducted extensive and detailed bibliographic research in which 15 challenges were identified, and a survey with 30 Brazilian professionals with experience in the concerned field. The results showed that 15 challenges identified in the literature were considered important by the survey respondents. It also showed that the most important challenges concern the inadequate functioning of drainage infrastructure, dynamics of city expansion, system maintenance, vulnerability of urban areas, public policies, and investments.