Well-being Of Urban Residents Research Articles

Assessment of the Spatial Variation of the Economic Benefits of Urban Green Spaces in a Highly Urbanized Area

Urban green spaces play a vital role in improving the quality of life and well-being of urban residents. However, their economic benefits in different spatial contexts within highly urbanized areas remain a critical yet understudied topic. This study delves into the economic value of urban green spaces in Cheongju City, Republic of Korea, and investigates the distance-decay features associated with the proximity of green spaces to residential properties. Two spatial econometric models were employed to address these questions: the spatially autoregressive (SAR) model and the generalized additive model (GAM). The SAR model was used to assess the economic benefits of urban green spaces, whereas the distance decay of these benefits was examined with the GAM. Empirical analyses revealed that small-sized parks or forests under 20 ha hold greater economic value when in proximity to residential areas compared to medium-sized parks or forests between 20 and 200 ha. Conversely, large parks or forests over 200 ha appeared to have a disamenity effect, negatively impacting property prices when in close proximity. The GAM’s smooth functions illustrated that the distance-decay effect was shorter for small-sized green spaces and exhibited an inverted U-shape for large-sized ones, resulting in a negative benefit of proximity. Our findings suggest that urban green spaces have a positive impact on property prices, but this effect may not apply uniformly to large-sized parks or forests. Therefore, to enhance the residents’ welfare, green infrastructure policies should prioritize the provision of accessible small- and/or medium-sized parks or forests near residential areas.

Optimal site selection strategies for urban parks green spaces under the joint perspective of spatial equity and social equity.

Urban park green spaces (UPGS) are a crucial element of social public resources closely related to the health and well-being of urban residents, and issues of equity have always been a focal point of concern. This study takes the downtown area of Nanchang as an example and uses more accurate point of interest (POI) and area of interest (AOI) data as analysis sources. The improved Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (G2SFCA) and spatial autocorrelation models are then used to assess the spatial and social equity in the study area, and the results of the two assessments were coupled to determine the optimization objective using the community as the smallest unit. Finally, the assessment results are combined with the k-means algorithm and particle swarm algorithm (PSO) to propose practical optimization strategies with the objectives of minimum walking distance and maximum fairness. The results indicate (1) There are significant differences in UPGS accessibility among residents with different walking distances, with the more densely populated Old Town and Honggu Tan areas having lower average accessibility and being the main areas of hidden blindness, while the fringe areas in the northern and south-western parts of the city are the main areas of visible blindness. (2) Overall, the UPGS accessibility in Nanchang City exhibits a spatial pattern of decreasing from the east, south, and west to the center. Nanchang City is in transition towards improving spatial and social equity while achieving basic regional equity. (3) There is a spatial positive correlation between socioeconomic level and UPGS accessibility, reflecting certain social inequity. (4) Based on the above research results, the UPGS layout optimization scheme was proposed, 29 new UPGS locations and regions were identified, and the overall accessibility was improved by 2.76. The research methodology and framework can be used as a tool to identify the underserved areas of UPGS and optimize the spatial and social equity of UPGS, which is in line with the current trend of urban development in the world and provides a scientific basis for urban infrastructure planning and spatial resource allocation.

Expanding the Associations between Landscape Characteristics and Aesthetic Sensory Perception for Traditional Village Public Space

Traditional village landscapes have a cultural and regional significance, and the visual aesthetic quality of the landscape is widely regarded as a valuable resource to benefit the health and well-being of urban residents. Although the literature has analyzed the influential mechanism of landscape features on aesthetic senses, most were from a single dimension. To improve the precision of the landscape aesthetic evaluation method, this study expanded the indicators for landscape characteristics of public spaces in traditional villages by incorporating multiple dimensions, such as landscape visual attraction elements and landscape color. It explored their associations with sensory preferences in a case study in Dongshan (a peninsula) and Xishan (an island) of Taihu Lake. We used multi-source data, a semantic segmentation model, and R language to identify landscape characteristic indicators quantitatively. The research results indicated that the accuracy of the aesthetic sensory assessment model integrating multi-dimensional landscape characteristic indicators was significantly improved; in the open space of traditional villages, the public preferred a scenario with a high proportion of trees, relatively open space, mild and uniform color tones, suitability for movement, and the ability to produce a restorative and peaceful atmosphere. This study can provide a guarantee for the efficient use of village landscape resources, the optimization of rural landscapes, and the precise enhancement of traditional village habitat.

Recent greening may curb urban warming in Latin American cities of better economic conditions

Rising temperatures have profound impacts on the well-being of urban residents. However, factors explaining the temporal variability of urban thermal environment, or urban warming, remain insufficiently understood, especially in the Global South. Addressing this gap, we studied the relationship between city-level economic conditions and urban warming, and how urban green space mediated this relationship, focusing on 359 major Latin American cities between 2001 and 2022. While effect sizes varied by economic and temperature measures used, we found that better economic conditions were associated with lower baseline greenness in 2011, which contributed to faster warming. There was modest evidence that this faster warming associated with lower baseline greenness and improved economic conditions was partially offset by cooling from recent greening (2001–2022) in cities of better economic conditions. This offset was more evident in arid cities. Together, these findings provide insights into the urban warming mechanism manifested through the effect of economic conditions on urban green space, for Latin American cities and other high-density cities transforming in a similar context.

THE INTEGRATION OF REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) IN MANAGING URBAN ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract. Urban ecosystems face numerous challenges due to rapid urbanization and population growth. Effective management of these ecosystems is crucial to ensure their sustainability and the well-being of urban residents. Remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have emerged as valuable tools for understanding and managing urban ecosystems. The integration of remote sensing and GIS technologies facilitate the monitoring and assessment of urban biodiversity, aiding in the conservation and restoration of ecological habitats. With this mind, the objective of this study was to investigate the integration of remote sensing and GIS technologies for real-time monitoring and assessment of environmental parameters in urban ecosystems, and their role in supporting sustainable urban ecosystem conservation efforts. Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) images were acquired between January 2nd and April 5th 2020 to assess and monitor the dynamics in urban ecosystems in Abidjan, Accra, and Lagos. The Normalized Difference Built-up index was used to detect areas covered with concrete structures and impervious surfaces, while the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Normalized Difference Water Index were used to detect areas covered with vegetation and water bodies, respectively. Results of the study show that Abidjan, Accra, and Lagos experienced increased built-up areas at the expense of other land uses such as forests. Remote Sensing and GIS technologies provide valuable insights into the spatial and temporal dynamics of urban environments, supporting evidence-based decision-making and sustainable urban planning and development.

Algorithm for planning shelters in oil and gas energy resource-based cities based on artificial intelligence resilient city model

Cities based on oil and gas energy resources are crucial to energy production and economic development, but they also face various disasters and security risks. To ensure the safety and well-being of urban residents during disaster events, the planning of urban shelters is crucial. In this paper, comprehensively considering multiple factors such as disaster risk, population distribution, and convenient transportation, the artificial bee colony algorithm is used to optimize the site selection and capacity planning of shelters. By comprehensively evaluating the disaster resistance capacity of urban refuges, the response speed of residents and other related indicators, the planning algorithm of refuges is continuously optimized to better meet the needs of oil and gas energy resource-based cities. The results of the study showed that the average overall disaster resilience of AI-based urban shelters reached 0.64. When the distance to the shelter was 4 km, the average response speed of residents reached 10.22 min, and other indicators also improved. The research shows that the oil and gas energy urban refuge planning algorithm based on the artificial intelligence elastic city model provides an innovative approach for urban planners and disaster managers. Further research and practice will help promote the application of this algorithm in real cities, improving the resilience and disaster resistance of cities and the safety and security level of residents.

Habitat heterogeneity explains cultivated and spontaneous plant richness in Haikou City, China

Recent urbanization and human activities have led to the fragmentation of natural landscape patches and reduced the connectivity and degradation of urban ecosystems and biodiversity. Urban plant richness affects social functions and the well-being of urban residents and is driven by land use, local wealth, and urban green space management. Among these drivers, it remains unclear which factors play a more important role in driving the relative diversity of cultivated and spontaneous plant species richness in cities. Therefore, we investigated the spatial patterns and the drivers of cultivated and spontaneous plant species richness within 190 urban functional units (UFUs) in the tropical coastal city of Haikou, China, based on remote sensing data, fieldwork, and surveys of socioeconomic and greening management practices. Using multiple linear regression, we found that the most cultivated plants were located at colleges and universities, public affair service districts, and around hospitals, while the most spontaneous plants were found in transportation districts. The spatial organization of these plants was influenced by factors such as patchiness, connectivity, maintenance frequency and fertilizing frequency. Cultivated plants, conversely, were found to increase with patchiness and connectivity, and their presence was positively related to fertilizing and maintenance frequency. The richness of both spontaneous and cultivated plants was found to be influenced by various factors among different urban functional units (UFUs). The proximity to freshwater resources was found to increase the number of spontaneous plant species. Our findings underscore the significant impact of human activities on urban plant richness and highlight the importance of understanding these dynamics for urban planning and biodiversity conservation. Our work contributes to the scarce literature on the drivers of cultivated and spontaneous plant richness in recently developed tropical cities.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRYSIDE WALKING TOURISM IN THE TIME OF THE POST-COVID CRISIS

With low investment, countryside walking tourism contributes to the rapid recovery of rural tourism in the post-covid time. The research purpose is to examine factors that impact the interest of tourists in the state-supported countryside walking tourism. The sample consisted of 467 respondents from the general public. The SPSS software was used for processing data. The results indicated that safety, content, and price are the most influential factors. For females, slightly more important factors were related to the possibility of consuming authentic food and beverages, buying traditional handmade products, the inclusion of the local population, and the well-being of urban residents. A village, with authentic local houses and cuisine, and local tour guides, are the epicenter of countryside walking tourism. Embedding countryside walking tourism in sustainable rural tourism development policies is recommended. The research contributes to the integration between sustainable rural development and sustainable tourism development.

Identity, place narrative and biophilic urban development: Connecting the past, present and future for sustainable liveable cities

Urbanisation presents sustainability challenges for the natural environment, resources and ecological systems, whilst high levels of pollution and disconnect from the natural environment can adversely impact the health and wellbeing of urban residents. Rapid urbanisation can also curtail processes of placemaking, including place attachment and place identity, raising questions around the social sustainability and livability of cities into the future. With such concerns in mind, cities are increasingly called upon to develop in ways that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. Biophilic urbanism and biophilic design offer an approach to sustainable urban development. Such approaches propose incorporation of nature and green infrastructure within the city in order to positively affect human health and wellbeing, in addition to benefiting environmental, social and economic sustainability. This paper explores findings from community focus groups exploring perceptions of a proposed biophilic urban development in Wales, UK. Our research explored how community members understood and negotiated possible impacts of the development on the social, environmental and economic landscape of the city by drawing on their own emplaced experiences. Through gaining an understanding of community place identity and narrative as well as distinctive and defining place characteristics, connections and synergies are revealed between place-based attachment and principles of biophilia. This in turn can provide a trajectory of place transformation authentic to both community and place identity and which supports the aims of biophilic design. As a consequence, it is possible for biophilic design to not only be sustained by communities, but to become an integral element of place identity and place attachment, contributing to the sustainability of place through time.

Evaluating urban green and blue spaces with space-based multi-sensor datasets for sustainable development

Urban green and blue spaces refer to the natural and semi-natural areas within a city or urban area. These spaces can include parks, gardens, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. They play a vital role in the sustainability of cities by providing a range of ecosystem services such as air purification, carbon sequestration, water management, and biodiversity conservation. They also provide recreational and social benefits, such as promoting physical activity, mental well-being, and community cohesion. Urban green and blue spaces can also act as buffers against the negative impacts of urbanization, such as reducing the heat island effect and mitigating the effects of stormwater runoff. Therefore, it is important to maintain and enhance these spaces to ensure a healthy and sustainable urban environment. Assessing urban green and blue spaces with space-based multi-sensor datasets can be a valuable tool for sustainable development. These datasets can provide information on the location, size, and condition of green and blue spaces in urban areas, which can be used to inform decisions about land use, conservation, and urban planning. Space-based sensors, such as satellites, can provide high-resolution data that can be used to map and monitor changes in these spaces over time. Additionally, multi-sensor datasets can be used to gather information on a variety of environmental factors, such as air and water quality, that can impact the health and well-being of urban residents. This information can be used to develop sustainable solutions for preserving and enhancing urban green and blue spaces. This study examines how urban green and blue infrastructures might improve sustainable development. Space-based multi-sensor datasets are used to estimate urban green and blue zones for sustainable development. This work can inform sustainable development research at additional spatial and temporal scales.

Green Spaces over a Roof or on the Ground, Does It Matter? The Perception of Ecosystem Services and Potential Restorative Effects

Cities are becoming more vulnerable to climate change and need appropriate adaptation measures. Previous studies demonstrated that urban green spaces provide multiple ecosystem services, improving the health and well-being of urban residents. Yet different urban green spaces provide different services—provisioning, regulating, cultural, or supporting ones. This work aims first to understand if urban green space users perceive the different supplies of provisioning and regulating services offered by different types of urban green spaces. Second, this work seeks to determine if green roof type conditions, as well as vegetation type and access, affect the users’ perceptions of the cultural ecosystem services. This work presents the results of an image-based online survey performed among 376 Portuguese undergraduate students between March and April 2021. The survey is based on nine alternative urban space designs, varying the roof access type and vegetation types. The results show a general preference for urban green spaces with more vegetation, regardless of the type of roof, and a general preference for green spaces with better accessibility. In addition, users’ preference for no-roof conditions appears to be linked to the abundance of vegetation and quality of urban design and not to awareness of an existing roof structure and its influence on the natural processes.

Examining connection to nature at multiple scales provides insights for urban conservation

With the rapid increase in urbanization, local governments and organizations are searching for opportunities to improve the social resilience, health, and wellbeing of urban residents by increasing their connection to nature. However, these urban communities are highly heterogenous, and tailored nature engagement and conservation programs will be necessary for building nature connection across diverse segments of the population. Here, we surveyed Melbourne community members (n = 1585) to understand their connection to nature and other aspects of their relationship with nature to aid in designing and prioritizing new conservation programs across the city. We determined demographic, psychographic, and behavioral factors associated with an individual's connection to nature, characterized unique segments of the population, and identified neighborhoods with greater concentrations of residents with high and low connection to nature. Overall, we found that community members have relatively high connection to nature, are concerned about environmental issues, and frequently participate in nature-related activities. New and older Melbourne residents tend to be more connected to nature, though there is important variation within these populations. Of the six distinct types of community members we identified, students that have lived in Melbourne for most of their lives exhibited the lowest connection to nature of all other typologies. Furthermore, residents in neighborhoods south of the Yarra River are the least connected to nature. We discuss the importance of such multifaceted approaches for understanding nature connection in urban populations and outline important strategies and priorities based on individual, community, and geographic targets for conservation programming across the Greater Melbourne area.

Do We Need Public Green Spaces Accessibility Standards for the Sustainable Development of Urban Settlements? The Evidence from Wrocław, Poland.

Public green spaces (PGSs) have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of urban residents. However, their accessibility can be limited due to high urbanisation pressures and inadequate or insufficient regulatory provisions. This problem has been recognised for Central European cities, of which Wrocław is an example, where the provision of PGS accessibility has not received major attention in recent decades, and the planning system has been in constant transformation since the transition from a centrally planned to a free-market economy. This study therefore aimed to examine the distribution and accessibility of PGSs in the expanding area of Wrocław today and upon implementation of the plans under the proposed standards. These analyses were performed using the QGIS application, network analysis, and the ISO-Area as polygon algorithm. The findings revealed a conspicuous lack of available PGSs, which includes areas above 2 ha, such as district and neighbourhood parks. New PGSs are now being planned, but even so, part of the residential areas will remain outside their catchment zone. The results obtained provide strong evidence that it is essential that standards should be a tool implemented in urban planning, and that the adopted procedure can be transferred to other cities.

Urban Green Spaces in Brazil: challenges and opportunities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, urban green spaces were considered less prone to contagion, and thus people adopted them as alternative sites for improving mental health. The One Health concept advocated by health organizations worldwide supports the idea that the well-being of urban residents is strongly linked with physical activity in green areas. As the world grapples with the physical and mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes clearer that access to urban green spaces is a human rights issue. This study compared previously-mapped urban green spaces in five metropolitan regions in Brazil with the results of an extensive survey of municipal managers concerning possible increase in demand of population for green spaces. Urban green spaces of over 625 m2 were mapped in 117 municipalities, the total area of 4170 km2 representing 37.4% of the urban spaces analyzed in the five  metropolitan regions. Out of these 117 municipalities, 49 had data available concerning demands of green spaces in the pandemic context. Overall, 20 municipalities (representing all five metropolitan regions) stated that there was an increase in visitation in urban green spaces, and 13 more indirectly suggested possible demands. When sustainability transitions are understood as geographical processes that happen in concrete places, urban green spaces then represent real locations where sustainable transitions can begin. The unequal distribution of these spaces also brings into consideration a social justice perspective, as well as aspects of public health that involve climate change resilience and epidemiological risk (SDG 11).

Observed inequality in thermal comfort exposure and its multifaceted associations with greenspace in United States cities

Increasing exposure to heat stress threatens the health and well-being of urban residents. However, existing studies on measuring human thermal comfort exposure remain uncertain without considering fine-scale human-heat interaction and its long-term dynamics. To inform this issue, we proposed a population-weighted exposure assessment framework with the integration of high-resolution land surface temperature and population data to evaluate human exposure to thermal comfort and the associated inequality across 398 major cities over 2000–2020 in the United States, and further explored the multifaceted associations between greenspace and thermal comfort. Results show that 199 United States cities (50.00 %) experience severe heat stress (i.e., thermal comfort exposure <0.44) and 99 of which (24.87 %) are unevenly exposed to heat stress (i.e., Gini index of thermal comfort exposure >0.36). Temporal analysis from 2000 to 2020 reveals that human exposure to thermal comfort decreases by a mean magnitude of −0.00081 yr−1, and the associated inequality level decreases by a mean magnitude of −0.00153 yr−1. By linking urban greenspace and heat exposure, we find that greenspace has multifaceted associations with heat stress, with a highly positive correlation between greenspace and thermal comfort (i.e., comfort regulation by physical cooling effect) and a coincided exposure inequality between greenspace and thermal comfort. This study offers an alternative framework to characterize fine-scale human exposure to thermal comfort across space and time, provides observational evidence of thermal comfort exposure inequality in the United States cities, and highlights the need for prioritizing greening policies and actions to mitigate heat stress and exposure disparity.

An Evaluation of the Sustainability of the Urban Water Resources of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, China

The availability of water resources is crucial to maintaining the sustainability of urbanization. Calculating the ecological footprint of water (EFW) is one of the ways to realize the protection of water resources in the process of urbanization. The minor settlements in border areas have been the focus of China’s urbanization development but have rarely received research attention. The objective of this study was to develop an improved model of the ecological footprint of water (EFW) to assess the water security status of urban areas in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (YKAP), and to demonstrate its authenticity compared with the traditional ecological footprint of water (EFW). The results showed that water pollution is the main reason for the increase in the EFW in each city, and the ecological water carrying capacity (ECW) showed strong fluctuations with the interannual variation in precipitation. Although the overall availability and quality of water resources are within safe limits, there are significant differences among cities, and water pollution poses a direct threat to the health and well-being of urban dwellers in some cities. Therefore, it is recommended that water resource management agencies adjust their water supply strategies based on the data from the EFW model, control wastewater discharge, improve their management systems and take urban economic development into account. This will significantly improve the sustainable management of water resources and ensure the health and well-being of urban residents.

Integrating the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design into the convenience and comfort of apartments in Ho Chi Minh City

Biophilic architecture is a growing field that seeks to create sustainable and healthy buildings that are in harmony with nature. Biophilic applications are expanding, where people are the center of design. The 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design is popular criteria of Biophilic architecture and widely applied, in which architectural solutions need to ensure the most convenient and comfortable living environment quality in a close relationship with nature. Apartment buildings in large cities of Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh City are being developed strongly with many questions about the quality of the living environment. The goal of the article is to integrate the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design into the convenience and comfort of apartments in Ho Chi Minh City. The research methods include: collecting documents, analysis-synthesis and modeling. The results focus on the proposed design solutions according to patterns of the 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design in each comfort level of the convenience and comfort of apartments. The study highlights the potential benefits of integrating biophilic design principles into the built environment in order to improve the overall health and well-being of urban residents. The conclusions will contribute to improving the quality of life in apartment buildings in Vietnam towards being more environmentally sustainable and humane.

DIVERSITY OF SPONTANEOUS PLANTS IN PUBLIC GARDENS AT ARID ENVIRONMENTS

Public gardens are necessary to improve the quality of life, and wellbeing of urban residents. The objective of this study was to inventory the floristic diversity of spontaneous species in three sites representing different public gardens in southwestern Algeria. To document all spontaneous species present, a total of 64 quadrats were established in August 2021. To express differences in diversity between sites, the species richness and biological diversity index were used. A total of 375 individuals, representing 15 families, 29 genera, and 31 species were recorded. The family Asteraceae is represented by the highest number of species (7 species) followed by Amaranthaceae and Poaceae (5 species), whereas, 10 families are represented by one species each. Therophytes (58.06%) and Chamephytes (16.13%) are relatively high life forms of the vegetation spectra. Phytogeographical analysis of the vegetation in the area revealed the forte representation of cosmopolitan elements. The ranges of diversity indices observed in the three sites were: Shannon- Weaver index (2.99-3.86), Evenness index (0.76-0.88) and Sørensen coefficient (53%-61%). The application of principal component analysis to the data characterized the ecological gradients responsible for the distribution of these taxa at the level of the three sites. This study contains important information on spontaneous plants in arid environments, which should be integrated into the priority of plant genetic resources valorization programs.

The workplace parking levy: a review of its social benefits

Reconciling economic development with the provision of safe, affordable, accessible and environmentally sustainable urban transport networks is key to securing the future vitality of cities and the health and wellbeing of urban residents. Although increased automation and electrification may offer opportunities for decarbonising urban transport in the medium to longer term, more immediate and lower-cost policy interventions are also required to reduce reliance on private vehicles and fund sustainable public transport alternatives. One possibility exists as a result of enabling legislation to implement a workplace parking levy (WPL), which imposes a charge on employers providing liable car parking places at the workplace. The legislation stipulates that the net WPL-derived revenue is hypothecated to fund local transport improvements. As of late 2020, only one English city (Nottingham), has introduced a WPL although a growing number of English local authorities are considering introducing one. The aim of this paper is to examine the potential social benefits of a WPL and offer recommendations for future policy and practice.

Does urban green space justly improve public health and well-being? A case study of Tianjin, a megacity in China

Urban green space (UGS) planning and design can not only influence economic development and the ecological environment but also have a significant impact on urban public health. Facing the increasingly serious public health crisis in megacities, promoting environmental justice in UGS, and improving the health and well-being of urban residents have become critical issues to be addressed in response to the global urban sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using data from a survey of 682 residents in the central district of Tianjin, we constructed a structural equation model based on theoretical analyses of spatial justice, social stratification, and Rawls' theory to reveal injustices in the accessibility of health benefits of UGS among residents of different socioeconomic status (SES) and explore the ways in which SES affects residents' health and well-being via UGS. The results indicate that: (1) Increasing the intensity of green space exposure can improve residents' health and well-being, but due to the urban green space premium effect, inequities exist among residents of different SES in enjoying the health benefits of UGS, thus deepening health inequality in megacities. (2) SES can influence residents' health and well-being through three paths: “green premium mechanism”, “green exposure mechanism”, and “green chain mechanism”, and green space premium and green space exposure play a mediating role in the influence of SES on residents' health and well-being. (3) To promote environmental justice in UGS, provide urban human care, and guarantee public health equality, the UGS in China's megacities needs to be further explored in terms of UGS layout optimization, service quality improvement, and management system guarantee.