Cities are challenged with issues that are related to and land scarcity, rapid population growth, complex terrain, and a lack of updated analytical planning decisions. Traditionally, planners have relied on two-dimensional spatial models rather than more realistic three-dimensional representations of urban reality. In light of this difficulty, volumetric urbanism seeks to improve city planning by considering cities as three-dimensional phenomena influenced by underground systems, multi-level spacing, and vertical expansion. Based on Hong Kong’s well-established volumetric urban structure, this study uses a GIS-based framework to evaluate the readiness and potential for volumetric development in four cities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Akre. The proposed framework links two connected entities: natural contexts, represented by slope and elevation, and man-made contexts, which capture urban physical characteristics and spatial integration. Physical characteristics include building height, VFR, and EVD, while Spatial integration is measured by accessibility and compactness metrics, including closeness, reach, betweenness, and built-up kernel density. The ArcGIS Pro 3.6.0 Suitability Modeler operationalizes all indicators using MCDA. The results show significant volumetric potential differences between case cities. Erbil’s urban pattern is strongly centralized around its historical core, while Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and Akre offer greater potential for terrain-adaptive vertical densification. Despite the differences in scale, Akre and Hong Kong exhibit comparable volumetric characteristics shaped by terrain and compact urban form. Overall, the results demonstrate how topographical constraints, built-form intensity, and spatial integration influence volumetric transformation, providing a transferable approach for evidence-based and context-responsive urban densification.
Yanyan Song, Lishu Peng, Lin Wu, Xue Liu, Yan Wang School of Nursing, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071000, People’ s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yan Wang, School of Nursing, Hebei University, No. 342 of Yuhua East Road, Lianchi District, Baoding City, Hebei Province, 071000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13833258628, Email chjanwy@163.comPurpose: This paper compiles the scope of research on exercise rehabilitation intention among patients with cardiovascular diseases and identifies the current landscape, influencing factors, assessment instruments, and intervention strategies related to exercise rehabilitation intention, aiming to inform clinical efforts aimed at encouraging active patient engagement in rehabilitation.Methods: Eleven Chinese and English databases were systematically searched between the database’s creation and August 28, 2024, under the scoping review methodology. Two researchers independently performed literature screening and data extraction.Results: A total of 25 studies were included (21 in English, 4 in Chinese), 16 specifically assessed exercise rehabilitation intentions in cardiovascular disease patients, approximately half (8/16) of the cardiovascular disease patients exhibited suboptimal exercise rehabilitation intention. The assessment tools for exercise rehabilitation intentions are diverse, with dimensions primarily focused on willingness and planning. Determinants included psychosocial, disease-related, and sociodemographic factors. Identified intervention strategies included group health education, individual psychological support, and motivational interviewing.Conclusion: Among cardiovascular disease patients exercise rehabilitation intentions remain inconsistent, as approximately half of the studies indicating medium-to-low average levels, which are influenced by several factors. Therefore, to accurately assess patients’ levels of exercise rehabilitation intention, further research may focus on enhancing the dimensions, reliability, and validity of assessment tools. Exploring multifaceted and varied intervention strategies could potentially improve patients’ exercise rehabilitation intention and compliance.Keywords: cardiovascular disease, behavioral intention, exercise rehabilitation intention, prevention, scope review
Teemu Jama, Henrikki Tenkanen, Henrik Lönnqvist
et al.
Many scholars and planners emphasise the role of compact cities in sustainable urban development. Compact urban form is seen as a way to encourage people, for example, to drive less and walk more, which reduces transport-related GHG emissions. This argument, however, is strongly dependent on local amenity development that can support such local living. In plan-making, a common practice is to try to ensure the realisation of services with a high Gross Floor Area (GFA) residential infill development to raise the local population density. In this paper we are seeking quantitative insight on the resolution under which urban density, as measured by GFA volume, correlates with the growth of urban amenities and liveability. Specifically, we are seeking the direction in which correlation changes when moving from a larger geographical scale (low resolution) towards a smaller scale (high resolution) of walkable reach. Our study shows a clear correlation between urban amenities and planned GFA at low-resolution scales, but that correlation decreases at higher-resolution scales (walkable neighbourhood level), indicating that urban amenities tend to cluster in different locations than density is planned. Based on these findings, we argue that, if the aim of urban planning is to foster the growth of local amenities, it should shift its focus towards larger patterns of urban development rather than emphasising GFA in detailed plan-making.
Gender inequality in employment remains a significant challenge in many countries, including South Africa. The impact of this inequality on economic development is a topic of increasing interest and concern, with many studies showing a correlation between gender equality and economic growth. This study explores the impact of gender inequality in employment on economic development in South Africa, with a case study of Nyandeni local municipality. The study employs a quantitative, statistical technique to answer the study issues. The article explores the challenges faced by women in the workforce, the impact of gender employment equity policies, and the role of government, businesses, and civil society in addressing gender inequality in employment and promoting economic development within Nyandeni Local Municipality. This research seeks to determine if women's work will provide an extra lever for economic expansion. A fundamental study on women's involvement in economic development describes the position of women in Africa, Asia, and Latin American nations. The theory that frames the accompanying debate focuses on inequalities, growth, gender, and capacities in general, and the influence of gendered disparities on salaries, education, and economic growth. This research aims to reveal a connection between economic development in South Africa and gender equality. As a second objective, the study seeks to determine whether the contribution of women to economic growth provides extra valuable information for economic policymaking. South Africa's gender gap in employment remains despite legislative and legal progress in the battle against gender inequality.
ABSTRACTThis research paper analyzes urban travel mode preference in Addis Ababa using a survey distributed to 457 public transit users. The article highlights the details of individual travel and then discusses the implications of the travel patterns for transport policy in the city. The study employed percentages and run multinomial logistic regression to analyze the relationship between mode choice, travel characteristics and socio-economic features of individuals. In terms of mode choice and the influential factors, the analysis shows that income, age, travel expenditure and distance are the determining factors that affect mode choice. It was also found that the privately owned public transport, Taxi (mini-bus) and Higer (midi-bus) form the dominant mode of transport used by closely half percent (41.3%) of the survey respondents. On the basis of our analysis, we suggest that policies have to be devised to make government owned public transport service better in order to support a shift from using low occupancy vehicles to high occupancy vehicles which ultimately solve the problem of congestion and environmental pollution.
Vicente Díaz García, María López de Asiain Alberich
Tradicionalmente, historia, teoría y crítica son los tres campos en los que se ha movido el área de composición arquitectónica. En este artículo se propone la inclusión de la traducción (relacionada con la participación ciudadana) como un cuarto elemento que caracterice la intervención compositiva. Entendiendola de una manera amplia, rica y extensa culturalmente, vinculada al campo de las artes tales como la pintura, escultura o la música y en la que el arquitecto como compositor, vincula y establece relaciones entre partes de una manera compleja, que garantiza una propuesta de mayor riqueza teórico conceptual así como espacial y perceptiva, que el conjunto de las partes.
La complejidad del momento actual, los requerimientos sociales o las mayores exigencias a las que se enfrentan la arquitectura y el urbanismo, hacen necesario complementar la disciplina con nuevas propuestas que tienen sus implicaciones tanto en términos de dimensión pedagógica, como antropotécnica y espacial. En este sentido, se plantea la creación de nuevos perfiles profesionales que, complementando los existentes, sean capaces de abordar requerimientos como la multidisciplinariedad, o la mediación.
Se muestran tres ejemplos prácticos: desde la dimensión pedagógica un proyecto de innovación educativa (Presuparty); desde la dimensión antropotécnica los programas de participación ciudadana; y desde la dimensión espacial las intervenciones en el barrio de La Isleta, en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. En todos ellos se requiere la figura del arquitecto como compositor o traductor, jugando un papel de mediación, complementario al del arquitecto dedicado a la historia, la teoría o la crítica.
Aesthetics of cities. City planning and beautifying, Anthropology
High temperature in the city centers than its’ surroundings known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which is causing discomfort to the urban dwellers in the summer time is gaining much attention around the world because the world is getting urbanized as it advances in technology. Alterations of surface area, improper urban planning, air pollution, etc. are causing this increasingly growing phenomenon and it is accountable for human discomfort, human casualties and decline of climate. In this paper, an attempt has been taken to review various measures to encounter UHI effect and the processes by which these strategies work is described with diagrams. Using high albedo materials and pavements, green vegetation and green roofs, urban planning, pervious pavements, shade trees and existence of water bodies in city areas are the potential UHI mitigation strategies on which discussion is done in this paper with their limitations. Green vegetation seems to be the most effective measure and other strategies can play a major role under proper condition.
Looking at evolving urban governance and planning practices in the city of Lahore, Pakistan, the article aims to understand—from an Evolutionary Governance Theory perspective—to what extent these practices steer paths and modes of service provision and housing for low-income residents. With a focus on the endurance and transformations of urban governance practices and institutions, we first explore the influence of the changing development discourse and the impact it has had on the (re)configuration of urban governance and housing policies in Lahore. Second, drawing on extensive fieldwork and empirical data collected between 2012 and 2016, we highlight three vignettes depicting the development of different housing options for low-income residents in Lahore, i.e., a government-steered subsidised housing scheme, a privately developed ‘pro-poor’ settlement in the peri-urban fringe of the city, and residential colonies already—or in the process of being—regularised. By analysing the relationship between governance frameworks, the establishment of the three types of settlements and how residents manage to access housing and services there, we demonstrate how purposive deregulation in governance and policy generates a disconnect between urban normative frameworks (i.e., urban planning tools and pro-poor housing policies) and residents’ needs and everyday practices. We argue that this highly political process is not exclusively path-dependent but has also allowed the creation of liminal spaces based on agency and collective action strategies of low-income residents.
The morphology of a city undergoes transformation over time due to a variety of factors. One such factor is the master plan. The master plan is a powerful legal tool, the implementation of which has a lasting impact on the morphology of a town both built and unbuilt. The template for the master plans in India is the same be it a metropolitan city or a class III town. The resultant triggers and impact of this master plan are questionable more so in the case of smaller cities and towns. This paper investigates one such small city in the hinterland of Karnataka through a descriptive analysis of the compact historic city and the new developments; the impact of the master plan and the resulting changes. Through the analysis and arguments presented in the study for the reading of small towns and non-metropolitan cities, we support alternative readings of these towns and cities. Additionally through the analysis of compact city planning methodologies both historical and current, we understand how the two aspects; that is small-town urbanization and compact planning methodologies can be enmeshed to create new templates for master planning for small towns and cities. Our study is limited to the master planning exercise in the context of Karnataka and Gadag-Betageri in particular and needs to be further explored with respect to other urban development policies in order to be applicable to small towns and cities in general in India.
Mohammad Javad Kabir, Alireza Heidari, Zahra Khatirnamani
et al.
Background and objectives Health system services are not reliable without quality assessment. It is important to explore gaps between standard services and existing situation to improve the quality of health system. His study aimed at studding the quality assessment of electronic referral system in one of the major provinces of Iran. Material and Methods This study was a cross-sectional study utilizing SERVQUAL model. The population comprised 3 groups totaling approximately 11,004 people. The sample size allocated to each city was determined in view of the ratio of patients. A sample of 384 patients who used electronic referral service at level 2 and revived outpatient services constructed the population of study. The data were collected through a two-part questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by 10 experts including senior and mid-level managers and medical science university faculty members. The questionnaire assessed demographic data and the patients' perceptions and expectations. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and analytical statistics such as nonparametric mean comparison tests, in view of the normality assumption,) including Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis. Spearman correlation test was used to determine the intensity of correlation between the study variables. The significance level of all tests was considered 0.05. Results There were identified gaps throughout all dimensions of health service among the studied clinics (P <0.001). The highest gap was observed in the empathy dimension (0.57) and the lowest gap was observed in the tangible dimension (-0.38). The gap between the services provided to patients was different in terms of guarantee, gender (P = 0.005), empathy , level of education (P = 0.028) and reliability based on the city vise (P = 0.028). Conclusion In the hospitals implementing the electronic referral system in Golestan province, there is a gap in all dimensions and it indicates that in none of the dimensions, the expectations of the recipients have not been fully met. Extended Abstract Background and Objectives Quality assessment is doubly important in the health sector, compared to other sectors, due to the sensitivity of services provided in this area. This study was conducted to investigate the gap in the quality of medical services provided in hospitals implementing electronic referral system in Golestan province, using SERVQUAL model. Material and Methods In this cross-sectional study, 384 patients were selected through stratified random sampling with allocation proportionate to each city’s population. These patients were referred to level 2 in the frame of electronic referral system and received outpatient services by a specialist physician in the clinics of hospitals implementing the electronic referral system in Golestan province in 2019. This study was conducted in the cities of Bandar-e-Turkmen, Aq-Qala and Aliabad-e-Katoul, where the electronic health referral system had been fully. The population comprised 3 groups totaling approximately 11,004 people. The sample size allocated to each city was determined in view of the ratio of patients referred to level 2 in each city. Accordingly, the sample size selected included 84 subjects from Bandar-e-Turkmen City, 203 from AqQala is 203, and 115 from Aliabad. Having referred to these centers, we collected, from the patient registration office, the record of the patients whose family physician had referred them to level 2 and who had received the desired services. Then, the subjects were systematically and randomly selected according to the referral code registered in the system and the patient list. The data were collected through a two-part questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire revolved around demographic variables, including age, sex, marital status, level of education, occupation and clinical and medical characteristics such as the number of visits to this clinic, type of disease and type of patients' insurance. The second part of the questionnaire assessed the patients' perceptions and expectations by 30 questions which were similar in content and number but different in wording. In this study, the validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by 10 experts including senior and mid-level managers and faculty members of Golestan University of Medical Sciences. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated to determine the overall reliability of the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23. The data were analyzed descriptively through tables, number, frequency percentage for qualitative data, and Mean and Standard Deviation for quantitative data. In addition, we employed analytical statistics such as nonparametric mean comparison tests, in view of the normality assumption,) including Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis and also Spearman correlation test to determine the intensity of correlation between the study variables. In the present study, the significance level of all tests was considered 0.05. Results Out of a total of 402 patients studied, information on only 384 patients was fully recorded (response rate 95.5%). The majority of subjects were female (74.5%), married (81.5%), high school graduate (24.9%), housewife (64.9%). The mean age of the patients was 37.17 ± 14.54 years, so that 62.4% of the subjects fell in the age bracket of 30-60 years. 53.6% of the patients had referred to the center more than once. 56.2% had rural insurance and the highest number of referrals had been made to gynaecologist (21.4%). The relationship between expectations and perceptions of service quality in all dimensions was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The results of Wilcoxon test showed that the gap between the patients' expectations and perceptions with a 95% probability was significant (P<0.001) in all three cities and among all patients., found that. That is, there was a difference between the patients' expectations of service quality and their perceptions in the whole sample. The highest mean score in the expectations section was related to the guarantee and confidence dimension (4.49) and it was related to the tangible dimension in the perceptions section (4.10) is) while the lowest score is in the expectations and perceptions section related to the empathy dimension (4.34 and respectively. 77.3). After calculating the difference between the mean scores of perceptions and expectations, in all dimensions, the level of the patients' expectations of services was found higher than the level of perceptions with a negative gap. The largest gap in service quality was related to the empathy dimension (-0.57) and the lowest quality service gap was related to the tangible dimension (-0.38). There was no significant relationship between service quality gap and age groups, marital status, occupation groups, number of visits, type of insurance and type of illness (P> 0.05). But the gap in service quality was significantly associated with the patients' gender (P = 0.005) and education level (P = 0.028). So that the biggest gap was related to women and illiterate people. Also, the quality gap was different according to the city (P = 0.028), with the largest gap related to Aq-Qala city. Conclusion The results showed that the studied hospitals could not meet the expectations of the patients in any of the five components of service quality, with the perceived quality always lagging behind the expected quality. This highlights need to improve the quality of services through paying more attention to people in the community in order to deliver committed services reliably, accurately and correctly in a timely manner, as well as, enhancing the knowledge, etiquette and ability of employees to build trust and confidence in customers. Since at the time of the study, only three cities, Bandar-e-Turkmen, Aq-Qala and Aliabad-e-Katoul, were implementing an electronic referral system, it was not possible to study other cities in this field and the statistical population was outpatients from level 1 to level 2. A wider study should be conducted at the provincial level to include all referrals to family physicians at level one and all inpatient and outpatient referrals. In addition, the SERVQUAL questionnaire does not cover all the expectations, perceptions and beliefs of patients, so the use of qualitative study methods along with quantitative methods in future studies could provide a better understanding of the issue of quality. Practical implications of research According to the results of this study, it is suggested that officials and providers of health services should prioritize:- Continuous improvement and evaluation of service quality in planning;- Equipping medical centers with efficient and new equipment;- Providing services at the promised time and in the shortest time to clients;- Availability of staff and service providers when patients are referred;- Familiarity with the knowledge and skills of the day to meet the needs of clients and- Understanding the values and emotions of clients Ethical considerations study protocol, with the number IR.GOUMS.REC.1397.289, was ethically approved by the Research Ethics committee of Golestan University of Medical Sciences. At the time of data collection, respondents were assured that their information would remain confidential and the questionnaire was completed anonymously. Meanwhile, those who did not want to participate in the study were excluded from the study. Conflict of interest The authors state that there is no conflict of interest in the present study. Acknowledgement The Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology of Golestan University of Medical Sciences and the Research Center for Health Management and Social Development for approving the research plan with code 110602 and the assistance of officials and staff of selected hospitals in conducting this research plan are appreciated.
Planning of municipal gardens as the integral part of urban landscape in the Lublin region was typified by the activity of the outstanding garden planners: engineer Feliks Bieczyński and Walerian Kronenberg. This movement to create public, municipal green areas commenced in 19th century and continued with success during the inter-war period. This process took place in the big cities of Lublin, Zamość or Lubartów. Newly established public gardens were usually located on the outskirts of the city as for example, Park Saski (1837), Ogród Bronowicki (the Bronowicki Garden) - formerly called the Foksal Park in Lublin, or Park Miejski im. Jana Kanclerza Zamoyskiego (the Zamoyski Municipal Park - 1926) located in the former fortification area in Zamość. The situation in smaller cities such as Lubartów, Radzyń Podlaski (1755, planner: Jakub Fontana) and Kock (planner: Szymon Bogumił Zug) was slightly different. The former garden complex adjacent to the magnate residence served a key role in the urban structure of the settlement (thus, determining its development) was later adapted to the function of a municipal park.
The article describes three selected garden complexes. The spatial relations of the parks in the context of their urban structure are analysed. The article takes into account their contemporary use and the state of preservation of their historic elements as presented in the original composition as presented in historic images and maps.Planning of municipal gardens as the integral part of urban landscape in the Lublin region was typified by the activity of the outstanding garden planners: engineer Feliks Bieczyński and Walerian Kronenberg. This movement to create public, municipal green areas commenced in 19th century and continued with success during the inter-war period. This process took place in the big cities of Lublin, Zamość or Lubartów. Newly established public gardens were usually located on the outskirts of the city as for example, Park Saski (1837), Ogród Bronowicki (the Bronowicki Garden) - formerly called the Foksal Park in Lublin, or Park Miejski im. Jana Kanclerza Zamoyskiego (the Zamoyski Municipal Park - 1926) located in the former fortification area in Zamość. The situation in smaller cities such as Lubartów, Radzyń Podlaski (1755, planner: Jakub Fontana) and Kock (planner: Szymon Bogumił Zug) was slightly different. The former garden complex adjacent to the magnate residence served a key role in the urban structure of the settlement (thus, determining its development) was later adapted to the function of a municipal park.
The article describes three selected garden complexes. The spatial relations of the parks in the context of their urban structure are analysed. The article takes into account their contemporary use and the state of preservation of their historic elements as presented in the original composition as presented in historic images and maps.
Indonesia's urban slum neighborhood is a very complex problem, including problems related to poverty, low levels of community education, gaps and indiscriminately to the environment as well as the capacity of city / district government institutions in regulating, organizing spatial planning and resources owned. One of them in the Village Nanas Siam Kecamatamn Medang Deras Batubara District. Problems that occur in the field was quite complex. Many of the things that affect the emergence and the process of the region into a slum with a variety of characteristics of the problem. From the results of research can be seen that the condition of slum neighborhoods in the village of Nanas Siam Kecamatamn Medang Deras Batubaram regency is very bad. This can be seen from the density of buildings in the area that are not in accordance with the spatial planning that may cause flood and fire hazard. In addition, the low level of environmental hygiene and hygiene facilities and infrastructure in the slums.
Keywords: Structuring, Slum Areas
This paper proposes two heuristic approaches to solve the Multi-Service Capacitated Facility Location Problem. This problem covers assigning equipment to access points, offering multiple services in a Smart City context. The access points should offer the services to the customer and fulfil their demand, given the coverage of the service and their capacity constraints. Both the heuristic approaches solve the assignment problem for the services separately and combine the solutions of the step together. One of them, however, updates the cost parameters between consecutive steps and produce near optimal solutions in reasonable time compared to the solution obtained from solving an integer linear programming problem exactly.