Advancing Urban Resilience Amid Rapid Urbanization: An Integrated Interdisciplinary Approach for Tomorrow’s Climate-Adaptive Smart Cities—A Case Study of Wuhan, China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

+++GENERAL RECOMMENDATION+++

This paper investigates the challenges of rapid urbanization and climate change, we conducted an interdisciplinary study integrating cutting-edge technology with rigorous scientific exploration, applied to case study in Wuhan, China. Authors have employed the 360° Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth, Geographic Information Systems and Computational Fluid Dynamics to examinate the spatiotemporal resolution of the morphology of the site of interest.

This research has great potential and considers that it must be significantly improved to be published in the journal. Basically, all sections must be improved so that there is better cohesion of the research objective. Reading, it is very difficult to follow the sequence between the main text and the figures, because they seem disordered, that is, the figures must be immediately after the narrative of the main text, however, sometimes authors are speaking of an figure “n+1”, before talking about the figure “n”.

On the other hand, consider that the title of the manuscript should be improved, so that it is more concise towards what this article seeks. Below is a breakdown of my comments for each section:

Below is a breakdown of my comments for each section:

 

+ABSTRACT

• In the abstract you should not define acronyms that you will not use in this section.

• I understand that the abstract should be more concise and precise.

 

 

+KEYWORDS:

• It does not seem to me that “Rapid urbanization and Climate changes” is a keyword. This looks like a sentence. Maybe there are two keywords in that sentence.

• You should not place the keyword followed by the acronym. For example, “Geographic Information Systems (GIS)”, it should be “Geographic Information Systems”.

• Check the “,” or “;” sign.

 

+INTRODUCTION

• Avoid grouping bibliographic references without proper explanation. See LN36.

• Between lines 40 - 42 the objective of the work is declared. This should not be done at the beginning of the introduction; it should be at the end. Here you must introduce the article from the general to the particular.

• Review the reference on line 53. On line 54 you must write the last name of the main author and “Et al.”, also throughout the document. Example “Wang constructs and evaluates”.

• It is okay to eliminate the use of “we” / ”our”. Scientific documents should be written in the third person.

• Define what the “challenges of the 21st century” are. This must be with appointments.

• At a general level, I understand that in the introduction more bibliographical references should be added to support the authors' position.

 

+2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

• This section needs to be reorganized because it does not make logical sense that contributes to the clarity of the manuscript. There are figures that are mentioned that appear violating the sequence of the order of the figures. See line 121.

• There are many subsections and sub-subsections that do not add a clear contribution, for example, sections 2.1.1 – 2.1.3 can be described in a unique section under the same narrative in the document. In fact, sections 2.1 – 2.3 can be presented as a single section.

• All these sections lack bibliographical references. There are no previously published works on this topic? For example in 2.1 – 2.3. Another example is line 127, there are no quotes.

• LN185: the word “genetic algorithms” has an acronym that has not been used in this line. They must maintain consistency. In LN211 repeat the word and the acronym again.

• LN207-209 and LN217-220: This appears to be an inappropriate foregone conclusion. Please verify.

• LN223: There is an unnecessary statement of “360° Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth (360° RFGG)” and other acronyms. Verify the complete document. Same as “air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), and wind speed (WS)”.

• Figure 1: in my opinion the methodology presented in this graph is very confusing. This should be clearer and logically ordered. The caption name should be more descriptive.

 

+3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

• Figure 2: correct km2 in the figure and define what “LULCTs” are (which is defined further below).

• Figure 3: the information in the figures is not legible. I recommend separating this figure into several figures that are legible. Also, this applies to many figures later on. The scale of the axes cannot be seen nor is it possible to read the text.

• Figure 6, you must ungroup the internal figures. And they must establish a logical order between the figures.

• LN297: check the figure reference. And place space in 1 m^2.

• LN300: Please write Ref. “Ku” correctly.

• LN:382: which is GR.

• Figure 7: CFD results do not look like ANSYS FLUENT results, this is a black box in the manuscript. That is, nothing is explained about how this numerical simulation was carried out.

• LN398: It is better to use “Urban Heat Island (UHI) Intensity”, and use UHI throughout the document. There is a boilerplate statement of all the acronyms.

• LN404-407: It is inappropriate to include 14 bibliographical references in only 3 lines of text. This is a grouping of those references that have not been properly explained in the text. Furthermore, these references are not arranged according to the sequence in which they appear in the main text. Ref. [28], comes out for the first time after LN503.

 

+CONCLUSION

• Please reduce the length of the conclusion.

• Please provide the quantitative results highlighted in this research.

• Also, please provide the limitations of this work, and research gaps for future investigations.

 

+REFERENCE

• Please review incomplete references’ mentions in the main text. And the sequence.

 

+++MINOR COMMENTS+++

• USE OF ACRONYMS. First say the extended text and then use the acronym. For example, “genetic algorithms (GA)”. There are many acronyms declared multiple times initially.

• Eliminate acronyms from the Abstract and conclusions.

·       Revised the repeated words such as “elucidate”, that could be replaced by synonymous.

 

+TABLES:

• There are no tables in the manuscript. And I consider that much information should be presented in a tabulated manner so as not to abuse the use of figures. For example, the information Figure 6d and Figure 6c.

 

+FIGURES:

• The figures are very loaded with information that is not legible for the reader, therefore, making it difficult to understand this manuscript. There is a lot of different information presented in the same figure through minifigures. There are no medical axes on some minifigures. Dashed tables and dates in figures are confusing.

 

Please revise carefully the entire manuscript and amend others typographical issue.

 

Good luck.

June 8th, 2024.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Please revise carefully the entire manuscript and amend others typographical issue.

Revised the repeated words such as “elucidate”, that could be replaced by synonymous.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you sincerely for your time and effort. We have attached the response note file for your review. Wishing you a wonderful day ahead.

Warm regards,
Authors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

The topic is very important, especially in the light of sustainable development, but the description is too superficial and general. More publications are needed to describe the proposed methodology in more detail. Justification of the choice of research methods is needed: why were genetic algorithms chosen, why was the Fibonacci sequence used? What are the limitations of the study? The quality of the images should be improved.

Please provide the following improvements:

1. Add the description of possible consequences of introducing changes: liquidation of buildings, liquidation of enterprises, human factor, economic factor. What references may the introduced changes have to China/Wuhan economic policy?

2. Add the description of study limitations

3. Add the research hypothesis

3. Add the explanation of the reasons for choosing the methods

4. The color scale of the level of urbanization is not precisely described in Figure 3, and the ranges and division method are not provided. The number of green and orange shades is not proportionally equal.

5. I think in Fig. 3, the visualization (bar diagram) was not selected appropriately to reproduce the 5 stages of change analysis. It will be better to change the type of the chart.

6. It will be better to improve the quality of the figures.

Best regards

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you sincerely for your time and effort. We have attached the response note file for your review. This file includes responses to Reviewer 1 and Reviewer 2, arranged in the order of Reviewer 1 followed by Reviewer 2. For detailed changes, please refer to the revised version of the manuscript. We appreciate your valuable contributions to improving our manuscript.

Wishing you a wonderful day ahead.

Warm regards,
Authors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Original Submission

Recommendation: Accept in present form.

 

This paper investigates the challenges of rapid urbanization and climate change integrating cutting-edge technology with rigorous scientific exploration, applied to case study in Wuhan, China. Authors have employed the 360° Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth, Geographic Information Systems and Computational Fluid Dynamics to examinate the spatiotemporal resolution of the morphology of the site of interest.

This manuscript has been improved substantially. Now is recommend to publication.

Minor comments:

1.      Please include the caption figure in line 337. Also, revise all figures and sequence of them.

2.      Include quantitative results in the highlights. Is recommended in 2 of 5.

 

Good luck.

July 14^th, 2024.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 1,

Thank you very much for your thorough review and positive feedback on our manuscript. We appreciate your acknowledgment of the substantial improvements made to the manuscript and your recommendation for its publication. Your insightful comments and suggestions have greatly contributed to enhancing the clarity and robustness of our work. Thank you once again for your valuable time and effort in reviewing our manuscript.

Minor comments:

1. Please include the caption figure in line 337. Also, revise all figures and sequence of them.
2. Include quantitative results in the highlights. Is recommended in 2 of 5.

Regarding comment 1:  Thank you for your valuable feedback regarding the figure captions and their sequence in our manuscript. We have carefully reviewed your suggestion to include the caption for the figure in line 337 and to revise all figures and their sequence. We would like to inform you that we have already addressed these points. However, it appears that with "Track Changes" turned on and all markups visible, the document may seem disjointed. To ensure clarity, we have now provided the figure captions in "Simple Markup" mode, which organizes the captions appropriately. Please kindly review the revised caption for the figure at line 337, now highlighted in yellow, as shown below (now caption is in line 360):

Figure 3. Research Flowchart: Gray highlights the sequential steps in the process and colored rectangles indicate the correlations.

We have also reviewed all figures and now confirm that they are correctly labeled, clear, and appropriately sequenced. We hope this resolves the concern, and we appreciate your continued support in improving our manuscript.

Regarding comment 2:  Thank you for your valuable feedback. We appreciate your suggestion regarding the inclusion of quantitative results in the highlights. In response to your comment, we have revised the highlights section to incorporate quantitative insights wherever applicable. The updated highlights now read as follows:

Highlights:

• Sustainable urban planning is indispensable amidst Wuhan’s 405.11% urban land coverage increase (1980–2016), crucial for preserving essential ecosystem services amidst rapid urban expansion
• Wuhan's rapid urban expansion has decimated green spaces and natural landscapes by 79.26%, highlighting the urgent need for advanced sustainable urban planning strategies
• Integrating green spaces within urban fabric lowers ambient temperatures by up to 5.4°C, significantly altering microclimates and mitigating UHI effects
• Strategic use of advanced computational techniques reveals key insights into urban growth patterns and green space integration, pivotal for enhancing urban microclimates
• Utilizing an integrated interdisciplinary approach, this study optimizes key urban morphosectors to enhance thermal comfort, elevate environmental quality, and fortify urban resilience

 

Thank you once again for your kind and constructive suggestions.

Authors,

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

1. I havn't found in your corrected manuscript the changes on several points, just your answers to me. The answers does not contain the line numbers associated with changes, it is hard to analyse them and find appropriate information. 

 I think you should add in the manuscript the following information you have provided in your answer to me:

"Possible Consequences of Introducing Changes: 1. Liquidation of Buildings and Enterprises: ▪ Urban Redevelopment: The introduction of new urban planning strategies may necessitate the demolition or repurposing of existing buildings. This can lead to temporary disruptions but ultimately aims to create more sustainable and resilient urban spaces. For instance, the liquidation of older, less efficient buildings can pave the way for green infrastructure, which mitigates Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects and enhances urban resilience. ▪ Economic Impacts: The demolition of enterprises may initially impact local economies; however, this is often counterbalanced by the long-term economic benefits of improved urban infrastructure, increased property values, and the attraction of new investments. 2. Human Factor: ▪ Social Displacement: The restructuring of urban areas can lead to the displacement of residents and businesses. Ensuring adequate compensation and support for those affected is essential. Our study emphasizes the importance of community involvement in planning processes to mitigate negative social impacts. ▪ Improved Livability: The integration of green spaces and advanced urban planning techniques is anticipated to enhance the overall quality of life, promoting health and well-being among urban residents. 3. Economic Factor: ▪ Short-term Costs vs. Long-term Benefits: The initial financial outlay for implementing advanced urban resilience strategies can be significant. However, the long-term economic benefits, including reduced healthcare costs, enhanced productivity, and increased economic stability, are substantial. ▪ Alignment with Economic Policies: Wuhan's economic policy, as part of China's broader agenda, focuses on sustainable urban development and smart city initiatives. Our approach aligns with these policies by promoting sustainable urban growth and resilience".

Also, because you method could have impact on environment analysis, please provide more information on SDGs: which SDG goal/goals concretely you will be able to satisfy with your method?

2. There are still 8 orange and 9 green levels in color scale used in table 6.

3. The bar chart still remain in figure 3 (now it is Figure 6).

4. Please add the explanation of the reasons for choosing the methods in manuscript. They should be supported with appropriate references, especially optimization Using Genetic Algorithms and Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth. Please argue your choices.  What are limitations of using these methods? What were related and previous works associated with using Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth and its application to the similar problems and research questions?

Best regards.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

Dear Reviewer #2:  

We sincerely appreciate your time and effort in reviewing our manuscript. We apologize if our responses may have caused any confusion. Upon comparing the revisions made between the first and second rounds, we also found some changes that were somewhat perplexing to us (kindly please see Fig. 1 as highlighted in red for your reference).

Fig. 1: Comparison between the 1^st round (right) and the 2^nd round (left) changes.

We are committed to addressing your feedback comprehensively in this latest minor revision and believe that our responses now more effectively address your concerns. We are confident that these updates will contribute positively to the manuscript's improvement.

Once again, we thank you for your invaluable feedback and guidance throughout this process. Kindly check our following responses.

Comments: Dear Authors,

1. I havn't found in your corrected manuscript the changes on several points, just your answers to me. The answers does not contain the line numbers associated with changes, it is hard to analyse them and find appropriate information. I think you should add in the manuscript the following information you have provided in your answer to me: "Possible Consequences of Introducing Changes: 1. Liquidation of Buildings and Enterprises: ▪ Urban Redevelopment: The introduction of new urban planning strategies may necessitate the demolition or repurposing of existing buildings. This can lead to temporary disruptions but ultimately aims to create more sustainable and resilient urban spaces. For instance, the liquidation of older, less efficient buildings can pave the way for green infrastructure, which mitigates Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects and enhances urban resilience. ▪ Economic Impacts: The demolition of enterprises may initially impact local economies; however, this is often counterbalanced by the long-term economic benefits of improved urban infrastructure, increased property values, and the attraction of new investments. 2. Human Factor: ▪ Social Displacement: The restructuring of urban areas can lead to the displacement of residents and businesses. Ensuring adequate compensation and support for those affected is essential. Our study emphasizes the importance of community involvement in planning processes to mitigate negative social impacts. ▪ Improved Livability: The integration of green spaces and advanced urban planning techniques is anticipated to enhance the overall quality of life, promoting health and well-being among urban residents. 3. Economic Factor: ▪ Short-term Costs vs. Long-term Benefits: The initial financial outlay for implementing advanced urban resilience strategies can be significant. However, the long-term economic benefits, including reduced healthcare costs, enhanced productivity, and increased economic stability, are substantial. ▪ Alignment with Economic Policies: Wuhan's economic policy, as part of China's broader agenda, focuses on sustainable urban development and smart city initiatives. Our approach aligns with these policies by promoting sustainable urban growth and resilience". Also, because you method could have impact on environment analysis, please provide more information on SDGs: which SDG goal/goals concretely you will be able to satisfy with your method?

Response to comment 1: Thank you very much for your valuable feedback. Based on your considerations, we have revised the manuscript accordingly. The updated section can be found on page 3, lines 111-124, with track changes enabled to show all markup. The revised portion now reads as follows:

“Urban redevelopment strategies [29], with potential consequences including the demolition or repurposing of existing buildings, aim to create more sustainable and resilient urban spaces [30, 31]. For instance, replacing older buildings with green infrastructure can mitigate UHI effects and enhance urban resilience. Demolishing enterprises may initially impact local economies but can lead to long-term economic benefits such as improved urban infrastructure and increased property values. Social displacement due to urban restructuring underscores the need for community involvement in planning processes to mitigate negative impacts and improve overall livability. While implementing advanced urban resilience strategies involves significant initial costs, the long-term economic benefits, including reduced healthcare costs and enhanced economic stability, justify these investments aligned with Wuhan's economic policies and China's sustainable development goals (SDGs) [32-34]. The strategic integration of green spaces alongside cutting-edge urban planning practices presents a promising avenue for significantly enhancing urban quality of life, fostering improved health outcomes and well-being among city dwellers.” Furthermore, we have incorporated five references [29-34] based on your recommendations to support and strengthen the manuscript. Kindly review the revised text for these references.

To align with our study aims and the integrated interdisciplinary approach considered in our research, the combined method used, we would also like to kindly mention that we have addressed these concerns based on the study's objectives during the first round of revisions. For instance, we included the following statement to highlight the strategic approach to contemporary environmental challenges such as rapid urbanization, dynamic land-use changes, and the escalating impacts of climate change:  “This strategic approach is essential for addressing contemporary environmental challenges, including rapid urbanization, dynamic land-use changes, and the escalating impacts of climate change.” (page 2, lines 72-74, with track changes showing all markup). These aspects align with the main goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which we have referenced throughout the paper.

On page 2, lines 72-74, we addressed the main goals of the SDGs and throughout the paper. We also mentioned their impact on ecological benefits, such as: “Within this framework, Wang et al.'s research on ecosystem resilience aims to strengthen ecological networks to enhance ecological benefits” (page 2, lines 74-76).

In the first round of revisions, we also incorporated the following modifications to the introduction to address your concerns, which were also highlighted by Reviewer 1: “Urbanization, alongside Land-Use and Land-Cover Transformations (LULCTs), and climate change, represents critical challenges of the 21st century profoundly impacting environmental sustainability and human well-being [1]. Rapid urban growth alters local microclimates [2], disrupts carbon dynamics [3], reduces resilience to extreme weather events [4], intensifies Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects [5], and drives extensive land-use changes [6]. Addressing these challenges is paramount for enhancing urban resilience and livability amidst accelerating pressures from urbanization, evolving land-use patterns, and climate variability.” Lines 39-46. We highlighted that addressing these challenges is crucial for enhancing urban resilience and livability amidst these accelerating pressures. This emphasis was to ensure conciseness and avoid repetition in the introduction.

To keep it concise and not exhaustive, as represented by the provided examples, we align our study with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which we view as Sustainable Development Solutions. Our work effectively addresses these goals, providing practical solutions to contemporary environmental challenges. We deeply appreciate your insightful feedback and are committed to ensuring our research contributes meaningfully to these critical global objectives. Thank you for your valuable guidance.

 

2. There are still 8 orange and 9 green levels in color scale used in table 6.

Thank you very much for your thorough review and insightful comments. We would like to clarify that there is no Table 6 in this manuscript; it appears you may be referring to Figure 6. In Figure 6b, we present an analysis of land-use categories within the Wuhan Metropolitan Area (WMA), utilizing GIS-derived data to highlight spatial distributions of environmental sites. The data are expressed in square kilometers, which is crucial for the comparative analysis essential to our study.

Regarding the color scale with 8 orange and 9 green levels that you observed, we appreciate your attention to detail. The color scale was intentionally designed to represent the most significant variations in the data. Values that are minimal and do not substantially impact the overall analysis are not prominently displayed. This approach ensures that the focus remains on the substantial changes that are most relevant to understanding the urbanization impacts on microclimates and ecological resilience.

Including values for every minor variation would not only clutter the visual representation but also detract from the clarity and interpretative value of the figure. Our methodology prioritizes significant changes to provide a clear and focused analysis, thereby maintaining the robustness and precision of our findings. We hope this explanation clarifies the rationale behind the color scale and addresses your concerns comprehensively. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback, and we appreciate your understanding.

 

3. The bar chart still remain in figure 3 (now it is Figure 6).

Thank you very much for your detailed review and insightful feedback. Regarding your comment about the bar chart (now Figure 6, previously Figure 3), we truly appreciate your consideration. The bar chart, as highlighted in response to comment 2, serves as a critical visual representation of our data, employing a comparative format that markedly enhances clarity for our readers. We firmly believe that its inclusion is vital for effectively conveying our research findings. Bar charts are widely recognized in the scientific community for their effectiveness in illustrating comparative data. Bar charts are particularly useful for showing discrete data and making comparisons across different categories. They provide a clear and straightforward way to visualize differences and trends, which can be easily interpreted by a broad audience. We have carefully reviewed your suggestion and have concluded that retaining the bar chart is essential for maintaining the coherence and comprehensibility of our manuscript.

Furthermore, addressing your first concern from the previous revision round, we have meticulously revised the presentation of the five stages of change analysis. This revision ensures a clear and precise depiction of the change analysis, enhancing the overall quality of our manuscript. We kindly request that you review Figure 6d (formerly Figure 3a), where we have meticulously addressed your concern regarding the five-step process. We have presented this information in a clear and scientifically rigorous manner to ensure comprehensive understanding. We sincerely hope you understand our perspective on this matter.

 

4. Please add the explanation of the reasons for choosing the methods in manuscript. They should be supported with appropriate references, especially optimization Using Genetic Algorithms and Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth. Please argue your choices. What are limitations of using these methods? What were related and previous works associated with using Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth and its application to the similar problems and research questions?

Response to Reviewer's Comment 4:  We appreciate the insightful comment from the reviewer regarding the rationale behind our methodological choices, particularly concerning the utilization of Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth (RFGG) in our study. These methodologies were accurately selected based on their alignment with the complex dynamics of urbanization and microclimate interactions in Wuhan, as detailed in our manuscript.  

In our manuscript's introduction, we have extensively discussed the pivotal role of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, including Genetic Algorithms (GA), in enhancing urban planning for climate-adaptive smart cities. As highlighted by Dai et al. [20] and Zhang et al. [21] (lines 81-95),” Dai et al. highlight that integrating advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies into urban planning plays a crucial role in developing climate-adaptive smart cities [20]. This prompts further investigation: How do advanced AI technologies contribute to optimizing urban design for climate adaptation? Can interdisciplinary approaches integrating technological innovations enhance urban resilience? AI-driven optimization techniques, such as evolutionary algorithms, significantly enhance urban design and planning by simulating diverse scenarios and identifying optimal solutions for complex urban challenges, as argued by Zhang et al. [21]. These advanced techniques foster the creation of efficient, sustainable, and resilient urban environments. The substantial impact of urban form and building diversity (low, mid, high-rise) on microclimate dynamics underscores the significance of urban morphology [22]. Consequently, advanced AI technologies facilitate precise analysis and optimization of these morphological elements, thereby enhancing urban climate adaptation strategies [23]. This integration fosters the development of resilient urban environments capable of withstanding and adapting to climate variability.” integrating AI technologies plays a crucial role in developing climate-adaptive strategies by optimizing urban design to mitigate environmental impacts (Dai et al.). This integration is critical for simulating diverse urban scenarios and identifying optimal solutions for complex challenges, thereby fostering sustainable and resilient urban environments (Zhang et al.).

In our initial submission, we made several revisions that may not have been clearly communicated due to the lack of specific page or line numbers. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. In this revised version, we have meticulously addressed all the changes and provided detailed references by line and page numbers to facilitate your review. We hope this makes it easier to verify the modifications and appreciate your understanding.

Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth (RFGG) Model: The 360° RFGG model, first introduced in the Introduction (lines 144-146) and later detailed in our methodology section, represents a groundbreaking approach for analyzing urban growth trajectories at varying scales within Wuhan as a case study. As detailed on page 3 (Introduction), lines 146-147, this methodology is utilized for the first time, marking a significant advancement in urban analysis. Section 2.5 further elucidates that this model, inspired by the organic patterns of natural growth, has been effectively employed to map urban expansion across a range of scales (macro to micro). In lines 454-456, we elaborate: “This innovative approach, rooted in the principles of the Fibonacci sequence, underscores the fractal nature of urban growth and offers a profound understanding of how cities evolve in harmony with underlying geometrical patterns.” This insight is critical for comprehending the intricacies of urban expansion. For a comprehensive explanation of the model’s application, please refer to Section 3.3, titled “3.3. 360° Radial Fibonacci Geometric Growth: Unveiling Nature’s Secret Blueprint,” where the methodology is discussed in detail. Additionally, our study aligns with Ku’s emphasis on the need for an integrated modeling framework for evaluating planning strategies [39], lines 462-463. This alignment further underscores the value of our integrated approach, demonstrating its effectiveness as a robust analytical tool for urban planning and development.

In addition, for the study limitation please refer to lines 737-747 (with All Markup):

“Nevertheless, the geographic specificity of this study may constrain the generalizability of the findings to other urban contexts. Future research should undertake extensive environmental impact assessments across diverse geographical locations to enhance applicability. Additionally, while the GA utilized demonstrates strong optimization capabilities, its effectiveness is contingent on the complexity and dimensionality of the search space. This challenge is particularly pronounced in intricate and high-dimensional scenarios, necessitating precise parameter tuning to balance exploration and exploitation. Advancements in GA techniques or exploration of alternative methodologies could substantially improve robustness and generalizability. Long-term predictive modeling is also crucial for assessing the sustainability of current urban development trajectories and formulating adaptive strategies for climate change resilience.”

We have comprehensively addressed these limitations in the revised manuscript (Lines 737-747). Specifically, we have elucidated the constraints associated with the methodologies employed:

• For Geographic Specificity: We highlighted “Nevertheless, the geographic specificity of this study may constrain the generalizability of the findings to other urban contexts. Future research should undertake extensive environmental impact assessments across diverse geographical locations to enhance applicability.” Lines 737-740.
• To address your concern regarding Genetic Algorithm (GA): We highlighted “Additionally, while the GA utilized demonstrates strong optimization capabilities, its effectiveness is contingent on the complexity and dimensionality of the search space. This challenge is particularly pronounced in intricate and high-dimensional scenarios, necessitating precise parameter tuning to balance exploration and exploitation. Advancements in GA techniques or exploration of alternative methodologies could substantially improve robustness and generalizability.” Lines 740-745.
• We also highlighted “Long-term predictive modeling is also crucial for assessing the sustainability of current urban development trajectories and formulating adaptive strategies for climate change resilience.” Lines 745-747.

 

We appreciate the reviewer’s comments and have revised the limitations section accordingly. This revision includes a detailed analysis of the limitations and proposes specific future research directions.

 

Notably, the RFGG methodology, detailed in Section 2.5 (lines 342-343), is scalable across macro, meso, and micro scales without inherent limitations. We believe that future research can leverage this scalability to further explore and refine these aspects. We sincerely hope that this response effectively addresses your concerns and provides a clear understanding of both the study’s limitations and the potential directions for future research.

 

Thank you once again for your kind and constructive suggestions,

Authors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf