This paper presents a first estimate of the exposure of the world’s large port cities (population exceeding one million inhabitants in 2005) to coastal flooding due to sea-level rise and storm surge now and in the 2070s, taking into account scenarios of socio-economic and climate changes. The analysis suggests that about 40 million people (0.6% of the global population or roughly 1 in 10 of the total port city population in the cities considered) are currently exposed to a 1 in 100 year coastal flood event. For assets, the total value exposed in 2005 across all cities considered is estimated to be US$3,000 billion; corresponding to around 5% of global GDP in 2005 (both measured in international USD) with USA, Japan and the Netherlands being the countries with the highest values. By the 2070s, total population exposed could grow more than threefold due to the combined effects of sea-level rise, subsidence, population growth and urbanisation with asset exposure increasing to more than ten times current levels or approximately 9% of projected global GDP in this period. On the global-scale, population growth, socio-economic growth and urbanization are the most important drivers of the overall increase in exposure particularly in developing countries, as low-lying areas are urbanized. Climate change and subsidence can significantly exacerbate this increase in exposure. Exposure is concentrated in a few cities: collectively Asia dominates population exposure now and in the future and also dominates asset exposure by the 2070s. Importantly, even if the environmental or socio-economic changes were smaller than assumed here the underlying trends would remain. This research shows the high potential benefits from risk-reduction planning and policies at the city scale to address the issues raised by the possible growth in exposure.
Josianne Kollmann, Sasha Harris-Lovett, Kara L. Nelson
et al.
Abstract With increasing water scarcity worldwide, policies regulating wastewater reuse are becoming increasingly important. In San Francisco, on-site wastewater treatment and reuse is mandatory for large residential buildings, while other buildings continue using centralised systems without reuse. This disparity may affect perceived fairness and policy acceptance. In an online survey (N = 176), policy acceptance, perceived fairness, and perceptions of a range of policy implications were assessed for five societal groups and one entity: residents and owners of buildings with mandated on-site systems, San Francisco’s population, low-income residents, future generations, and the environment. Regression analyses showed that both positive and negative policy implications explained perceived fairness. Policy acceptance was explained by perceived fairness for future generations, San Francisco’s population, and building owners, but not other groups or entities. Results suggest that collective fairness considerations and impacts on most-affected groups are key to policy acceptance, indicating policymakers should consider implications across different societal groups when designing water reuse policies.
Mahmood Omidi, Saviz Sehat Kashani, Mehdi Rahnama
et al.
Introduction: Urbanization and air pollution, especially in megacities, are major issues today. Understanding the factors contributing to this problem is crucial, and reducing the associated risks is a top priority for city and country officials. Arak City in Iran is one of the most polluted cities in the country, with industrial activities being the main cause of pollution. This research aims to investigate the meteorological factors that contribute to the pollution potential of Arak City, including wind speed, temperature, pressure, precipitation, boundary layer height, vertical velocity of the atmosphere at the levels of 825, 700, and 500 mb, and air conditioning coefficient. The study ultimately confirms Arak City's reputation as one of the most polluted cities in Iran.
Material and Methods: In this article, from the 20-year statistics of the Arak observation station (1380-1399) for the quantities of the earth's surface, including wind speed, temperature, pressure, and precipitation, as well as the 20-year data from 2001 to 2020, the reanalyzed data of Era5 from the database ECMWF has been used for upper-level quantities. To check other atmospheric quantities, including boundary layer height, wind speed in the upper atmosphere, and vertical wind at 825, 700, and 500 mb levels, Era5 reanalyzed data with a resolution of 0.25 degrees extracted from the ECMWF database were used.
Results and Discussion: The results indicated that low temperatures in the cold period of the year, as well as low night and morning temperatures in the cold months of the year, can cause temperature inversion and increase the retention potential of atmospheric pollutants. The average wind speed indicates the low and insignificant effect of the wind, especially in the cold days of the year and in the morning and night hours. Daily per capita rainfall of less than 1 mm did not have a significant effect in reducing pollutants. The investigation of meteorological quantities in the upper levels of the atmosphere showed that the height of the boundary layer fluctuates between 200 and 1400 m daily, which was less than 400 m from late November to January. Analysis of the vertical velocity at altitudes of 825 and 700 hPa revealed a downward movement during winter, autumn, and spring, while an upward trend was noted during daytime hours in the summer season. Furthermore, a descent was observed at the 500 hPa level throughout all seasons during nighttime hours, which is not as effective as the other two altitude levels. Examining the daily air ventilation coefficient also indicated its high fluctuations throughout the year from 800 to 7500 m2s-1. The number of hourly changes also indicated fluctuation in the range of 22000 to around zero. The maximum ventilation coefficient at 12 UTC was between 3000 and 20000 m2s-1. At 00:00, 03:00, and 21:00 UTC, the ventilation coefficient was less than 1500 m2s-1 on all days of the year. Also, according to the location of Arak and Shazand, there is a possibility of the transfer of atmospheric pollutants from Shazand to Arak, especially in spring, autumn, and winter.
Conclusion: Overall, the study of weather patterns at both ground level and in higher parts of the atmosphere highlights the risk of pollution buildup and low ventilation in Arak City, particularly during the colder months and during nighttime and early morning hours. As a result, it is important for policies to prioritize the establishment of low-pollution industries and the management of sources of pollution, especially during the aforementioned times.
Territorial planning as a strategy for urban and regional planning in small cities in Brazil can answer to the contradictions arising from productive restructuring and represent an alternative of development. Based on this argument, the text aims to problematize experiences of regional arrangements in Brazilian city systems that occur in a municipalist context reinforced by the Federal Constitution of 1988. This context weakens small cities that are not inserted in the traditional dynamics of space production derived of productive restructuring. To explore alternatives, the theoretical foundation of the analysis is based on the different meanings of the term ‘territory’ because they contribute to the understanding of contemporary planning movements. Methodologically, we start with a bibliographic review on the models used in territorial planning, called ‘territorial associations’ in Brazil, and position them in national and international criticism. As a discussion, it problematizes some experiences of territorial associations in city systems, identifying their particularities, contradictions and convergences. This analysis allows us to conclude that planning based on territorial evidence can represent an important support in the formulation of public policies and guarantee planning alternatives, especially in small cities.
Aesthetics of cities. City planning and beautifying, Urban groups. The city. Urban sociology
Liliana Romero-Guzman, María de Lourdes Elizabeth Ortega-Terrón
El presente documento discute el reto que significa integrar las innovaciones digitales en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en la arquitectura, como un desafío del presente siglo y en la nueva era digital. A través de la narrativa educativa y a partir de lo que informan, dialogan y argumentan tanto las y los estudiantes como las y los docentes, se pretende dar a conocer cómo la era digital viene a transformar el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje del diseño y la arquitectura.
Nos interesa comprender el cómo y el por qué la inteligencia artificial (IA), la inteligencia artificial generativa (IAG), el aprendizaje basado en problemas (ABP) y el aprendizaje colaborativo (AC) son conceptos que contribuirán a la innovación del proceso de aprendizaje y enseñanza del diseño y la arquitectura. En este sentido, las instituciones a través de sus diversas áreas administrativas deberán propiciar y proporcionar los medios legales para la privacidad, ética y acceso a la tecnología para favorecer dichos procesos.
Urban form in both two- (2D) and three-dimensions (3D) has significant impacts on local and global environments. Here we developed the largest global dataset characterizing 2D and 3D urban growth for 478 cities with populations of one million or larger. Using remote sensing data from the SeaWinds scatterometer for 2001 and 2009, and the Global Human Settlement Layer for 2000 and 2014, we applied a cluster analysis and found five urban growth typologies: stabilized, outward, mature upward, budding outward, upward and outward. Budding outward is the dominant typology worldwide, per the largest total area. Cities characterized by upward and outward growth are few in number and concentrated primarily in China and South Korea, where there has been a large increase in high-rises during the study period. With the exception of East Asia, cities within a geographic region exhibit remarkably similar patterns of urban growth. Our results show that every city exhibits multiple urban growth typologies concurrently. Thus, while it is possible to describe a city by its dominant urban growth typology, a more accurate and comprehensive characterization would include some combination of the five typologies. The implications of the results for urban sustainability are multi-fold. First, the results suggest that there is considerable opportunity to shape future patterns of urbanization, given that most of the new urban growth is nascent and low magnitude outward expansion. Second, the clear geographic patterns and wide variations in the physical form of urban growth, within country and city, suggest that markets, national and subnational policies, including the absence of, can shape how cities grow. Third, the presence of different typologies within each city suggests the need for differentiated strategies for different parts of a single city. Finally, the new urban forms revealed in this analysis provide a first glimpse into the carbon lock-in of recently constructed energy-demanding infrastructure of urban settlements.
Not one single event affected as much of the world as the present period of warming is now doing. Due to the global energy crisis, climate warming and other issues, low-carbon eco-cities have become the general trend. In the context of this study, we aim to solve problems of resource-exhausted cities, which are in urgent need for green transformation. The selection of research objects is mostly based on representative regions (eastern, middle. and western regions) in China, which will lead to significant regional characteristics in eco-city planning. On the basis of the index selection, construction of the evaluation index system and calculation on the coordinated development degree of industrial structure and urbanization, we explore the coordination relationship between industrial transformation and urbanization level with the time span of three-time nodes (2005, 2010, 2015), which were also the speed-up of industrialization and urbanization in China. Results indicate that the transformation and upgrading of the current regional industrial structure is lagging behind, and the internal power of industrial upgrading is insufficient, which limits the ecological development of resource-exhausted cities. It can also be found that the coordinated development index of urbanization and industrial structure is too low. The main implications of this study state that resource-exhausted cities are still in the state of being on the verge of imbalance and still have a wide development space based on the division standard. Furthermore, compared to the rationalization industrial structure, this study indicates the contributive rate of industrial structure supererogation to the overall level of urbanization is bigger. Countermeasures about the urban environment from the ecology stratification plane and how the cities achieve the urban form of sustainable development as a complex organism are also proposed. Scientific analysis and discussion on resource-cities by studying and solving related problems on the eco-city’s construction has vital significance to urbanization and sustainable development, which can reflect the relationship between industry, city, and ecology.
Ground-mounted photovoltaic systems have the potential to become one of the central elements of the coming energy system. The German federal government is now planning a significant and rapid expansion. However, the extent to which appropriate planning and measures take place in regions and municipalities will also depend on the spatial planning regulations of the federal and state governments. This paper explains that considerable support and control options are available to accompany expansion efforts. Cross-references to the Renewable Energy Sources Act and the Building Code are also shown and it is explained that the different types of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems may partially require a differentiated approach.
Cities. Urban geography, Urbanization. City and country
Sustainable Development Goals are intrinsically competing, and their embedding into urban systems furthermore emphasises such compromises. When observed at the scale of systems of cities, such concern is considered as a series of innovations that challenges the adaptive capacity of urban systems. The spatial complexity, the non-optimal nature of such systems, and the multi-objective aspects of their agents, are among the reasons that raise difficulties when trying to adjust local policies through promoting innovation in order to satisfy at least a couple of SDGs simultaneously. As we lack enough empirical evidence, we propose in this paper to use a stylised simulation model for systems of cities, focused on innovation diffusion and population dynamics, to show how trade-offs may operate at such a scale. We proceed in particular to a bi-objective optimisation of emissions and innovation utilities, and show that no single urban optimum exists, but a diversity of regimes forming a compromise between the two objectives.
Urbanization. City and country, Political institutions and public administration (General)
Barbara Schröter, Jochen Hack, Frank Hüesker
et al.
Abstract Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are currently promoted as a panacea for improving human-nature relations. Yet the way of amplifying and mainstreaming NbS beyond scientific demonstrator projects into policy contexts is still bearing shortcomings, in particular in the uncertain futures of a post-COVID-19 world. Successful NbS amplification may be achieved by (1) using multi-scalar action to balance differing interests and reconcile governance levels, (2) providing financial and other institutionalized incentives and strategies for integrated participation processes, (3) using appropriate governance and management scales effectively integrating mediators, (4) using opportunities for transformative change offered by crisis, and (5) learning from worldwide amplification experiences.
City clusters are important carriers for China’s future urbanization and vital areas for promoting coordinated regional development and common prosperity. The authors first divide the city clusters into Types I, II, and III according to the characteristics of their development stages, and measure the degree of development of city clusters by using city-level night time light (NTL) data and inter-city commuting time, and empirically identify the types of China’s city clusters. On that basis, the authors examine the influence of city cluster development on the inter-city disparity from a perspective of urban agglomeration. The results show that the development of Type I city clusters can lead to the widest inter-city disparity, and that of Type II city clusters ranks the second place in this regard, while that of Type III city clusters can narrow the inter-city disparity. Furthermore, using the 268-year historical geographic data of the Qing Dynasty, the authors construct instrumental variables to address the endogeneity issues, and find that the above conclusions are robust. This study also finds that the factor allocation for the development of Types I and II city clusters is oriented towards labor, while that for Type III city clusters is oriented towards capital. Besides, different types of city clusters vary in the extent of correcting factor misallocation for their development. The differences in the orientation of factor allocation and the extent of factor misallocation correction constitute the main mechanism for the heterogeneous influence of city cluster development on the inter-city disparity. China’s city cluster development strategy should adopt a category-based approach to avoid homogenization, conform to the objective laws, and make greater use of central cities’ spatial spillover effects.
Urbanization. City and country, Environmental sciences
O artigo propõe uma refleção sobre a cidade de São Paulo na década de 1950 e suas representações. Se de um lado as representações hegemônicas costumam ser impregnadas por um discurso fortemente ufanista, de outro lado os indivíduos que vivenciaram a cidade da época de maneira cotidiana e anônima podem revelar outras visões. Com recorte micro-histórico, procurou-se investigar a experiência e as impressões de um indivíduo em particular: um visitante francês anônimo que explorou a cidade, com olhar flâneur, entre os meses de setembro e novembro de 1952. A análise de um conjunto de fotografias de rua e anotações pessoais produzido por esse indivíduo revela uma cidade bastante diferente da oficial, com realidades urbanas silenciadas pelo discurso hegemônico.
Aesthetics of cities. City planning and beautifying, Urban groups. The city. Urban sociology
The greenhouse gas emissions from China’s transport sector, which account for a large proportion of China’s total greenhouse gas emissions, are still increasing rapidly. Therefore, low-carbon transformation is urgently needed in China’s transport sector. This paper provides an overview of the situation and features of greenhouse gas emissions from China’s transport sector, and proposes carbon-neutral development paths for the transport sector based on current national policies, goals and previous research. China needs to work on many aspects, including transport restructuring, alternative fuel technologies and energy efficiency improvement, to achieve near-zero emission goals by 2060. Under the carbon neutrality goal, China’s transport sector should strive to reach the carbon peaking goal by 2030, and limit carbon emissions within 100 million tons by 2060.
Urbanization. City and country, Environmental sciences
Mai Eid khalil Ahmed, Sheraz Hussein, Essam Eldin Mohamed Ali
تتناول الدراسة سبل تحقيق جودة الحدائق العامة کفراغات عمرانية لتحقيق الشمولية والمشارکة المجتمعية بها في ضوء منهج التصميم العالمي "الشامل". حيث تکمن الاشکالية البحثية في عدم ملاءمة العناصر العمرانية والمعمارية لحديقة فريال لإمکانيات الأشخاص الذين يعانون من انخفاض في قدراتهم البدنية، مما أدى إلى انعدام الشمولية وعدم تحقيق المشارکة المجتمعية ومن ثمَّ الاستدامة الاجتماعية داخل الحديقة. بدأ التوجه نحو التصميم الشامل في خمسينيَّات القرن الماضي في الولايات المتحدة الأمريکية بواسطة رونالد ماک الذي عرفه بأنه "تصميم البيئات والمنتجات والخدمات بما يتوافق مع جميع قدرات البشر إلى أقصى حد ممکن". أشارت الدراسات السابقة أنّ هناک قصوراً في تناول التصميم الشامل في الحدائق العامة، لذلک يهدف البحث إلى إجراء تقييم لعناصر حديقة فريال بمدينة أسوان بمصر، لقياس مدى امتثال عناصر الحديقة لمفهوم التصميم الشامل، ومن ثَمَّ تحديد نقاط الضعف بالحديقة والقضاء عليها. إعتمدت الدراسة على المنهج الوصفي التحليلي لتحليل عناصر الحديقة ومقارنتها بمعايير التصميم الشامل لتحديد مدى تلبيتها لإحتياجات جميع أفراد المجتمع بشکل عادل. وتمت ملاحظات الباحثين من خلال القائمة المرجعية المجهزه لتلک الدراسة. وأظهرت نتائج الدراسة أنَّ عناصر الحديقة تحقق معايير التصميم الشامل بشکل کبير بنسبة 10%، وعدم تحقيقها لتلک المعايير بنسبة 57%، مما يؤکد على عدم تحقيق الحديقة للشمولية؛ مما يستوجب رفع کفاءة عناصر الحديقة. حيث خلصت الدراسة إلى بعض التوصيات کتوفير الممرات والمنحدرات المناسبة، واختيار مواد الأرضيات التي تساعد على سهولة الحرکة.
The study addresses the manners of achieving quality of public parks as urban spaces to fulfill inclusiveness and community participation, in light of the universal design (UD) approach. Thus, the research problem aspect lies in the inadequacy of the urban and architectural elements of Ferial Park for the potential of people who suffer from a decrease in their physical abilities, which led to the non-achievement of inclusiveness and community participation, hence social sustainability within the park. The term "universal design" was coined in the 1950s in the USA by Ronald Mack, who defined it as "the design of environments, products, and services consistent with all human capabilities to the greatest possible extent". Previous studies showed the lack of addressing the UD approach in public parks, thus, the study targets to conduct an assessment of the Ferial Park's elements at Aswan city, Egypt, to evaluate the extent of its compliance with the UD concept, then determining the weaknesses and eliminating them. The study relied on the descriptive analytical approach to analyze the park elements and compare them with the UD standards to determine the extent to which the park features met the demands of all members of society fairly. The researchers' observations were done by the prepared checklist of this study. The study results revealed that the park's elements achieve the UD standards significantly by 10% and non-achieve those standards by 57%, which confirms that the park does not achieve inclusiveness. Consequently, there is a need to raise the efficiency of park elements. The study concluded some recommendations such as providing proper corridors, ramps and selecting ground materials that help ease of movement.
Cities. Urban geography, Urbanization. City and country
ABSTRACT Malawi is among the world’s least urbanised countries, yet Malawian cities are growing rapidly and most growth is in unplanned informal settlements. Conventional approaches to urban planning are inadequate to address the growing problem of urban poverty. New perspectives on the nature of Malawian urbanism, built upon notions of liveable, sustainable, and “untamed” urbanisms rooted in African contexts, are needed to generate dialogue on sustainable urbanization suited to local needs, preferences, and resources. This article is based on qualitative fieldwork in Blantyre, Malawi’s second largest city. It provides descriptive accounts (drawn from in-depth interviews, participative mapping, and exploration of the city’s neighbourhoods) of the types of places where residents purchase and produce food. In describing these places, context-specific observations emerge about the locally specific ways that aspects of “untamed” urbanisms, such as informal markets, rural-urban linkages, and customary land allocation, reduce vulnerability to food insecurity for the urban poor.