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Editor’s Choice Articles

Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.

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18 pages, 20863 KiB  
Article
High-Resolution Greening Scenarios for Urban Climate Regulation Based on Physical and Socio-Economical Factors
by Daniele La Rosa and Junxiang Li
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7678; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097678 - 7 May 2023
Viewed by 1788
Abstract
Urban ecosystems represent the main providers of ecosystem services in cities and play a relevant role, among the many services, in the regulation of the urban microclimate and mitigation of the urban heat island effect. The amount, localization, and spatial configuration of vegetation [...] Read more.
Urban ecosystems represent the main providers of ecosystem services in cities and play a relevant role, among the many services, in the regulation of the urban microclimate and mitigation of the urban heat island effect. The amount, localization, and spatial configuration of vegetation (i.e., urban trees) are key elements for planners and designers aiming at maximizing the climate regulation potential and therefore extending the related benefits to a higher number of residents and city users. Different factors and constraints related to urban morphology and socio-economical characteristics of the urban environment influence the localization of new greening scenarios, therefore impacting the potential benefits that can be obtained by residents. This paper investigates these factors by identifying high-resolution greening scenarios that are able to maximize the cooling benefits for people and local residents. For the case study of metropolitan areas of Catania (Italy) with a hot Mediterranean climate, scenarios are derived by modelling physical and socio-economic factors as spatial constraints with the UMEP model and GIS spatial analysis. Results show that new greenery should be mostly located in public areas that are mostly used by residents. Built on the results obtained in the case study analyzed, the paper also proposes some general planning criteria for the localization of new urban greenery, which should be extended to other geographical urban contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Spatial Planning Based on Ecosystem Services, Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions)
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19 pages, 27763 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Design of Ecological Buildings Using the Matrix of Eco-Efficiency in Residential Sectors of Ecuador
by Adriana Soledad Mejia, Marcelo Moya and Javier Martínez-Gómez
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7585; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097585 - 5 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2193
Abstract
The research aims to study the influence of eco-efficient buildings by comparing their designs according to energy efficiency criteria and optimization considering scenarios with traditional construction systems. The proposed methodology shows that eco-efficient building projects comply with environmental and sustainable strategies for the [...] Read more.
The research aims to study the influence of eco-efficient buildings by comparing their designs according to energy efficiency criteria and optimization considering scenarios with traditional construction systems. The proposed methodology shows that eco-efficient building projects comply with environmental and sustainable strategies for the expansion of height with floors. Previous technical characteristics and parameters are considered, and these are divided into three main areas: water, energy, and inputs, in addition to a secondary area: housing density. The evaluation that was carried out showed that the water consumption parameter is the most expensive to manage for any construction company and tends to be very irregular in its percentage of compliance, since it depends on the customs of the inhabitants. The energy parameter is considered a complex aspect, since the use of private transport is expected to decrease. However, due to the customs and structures of cities, this is difficult to change without comprehensive public policies. This implies that apartment sales decrease when there are no available parking spaces. On the other hand, the contribution parameter, regardless of the construction company, always remains constant due to the economic investment required and international regulations. Finally, the housing density is always met with the same percentage due to the amount of user occupancy in the buildings. The planning of the cities in Ecuador is currently part of a sustainable development, and the instruments and policies involved are shaped by the real estate sector and, with it, urban development. Thus, by starting from a definition of nature and going through a description of the regulations and public policies until specific cases in architecture are reached, the application of sustainable development in the real estate sector is shown. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Energy Consumption and Climate Adaptation)
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23 pages, 6286 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Passenger Car Banning Policies on Modal Shifts: Rotterdam’s Case Study
by Maha Attia, Taslim Alade and Shady Attia
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7443; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097443 - 30 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2281
Abstract
Low-emission zones (LEZs), incentivizing electric cars, park-and-ride systems, and other traffic reduction schemes, are all single measures aimed at achieving low-/zero-emission mobility. This paper aims to investigate the impact of LEZs’ passenger car banning and argues that such single measures cannot achieve significant [...] Read more.
Low-emission zones (LEZs), incentivizing electric cars, park-and-ride systems, and other traffic reduction schemes, are all single measures aimed at achieving low-/zero-emission mobility. This paper aims to investigate the impact of LEZs’ passenger car banning and argues that such single measures cannot achieve significant traffic or emission reduction levels without being integrated into a well-designed policy package that ensures the sufficient provision of mobility alternatives. Featuring Rotterdam as a single case study, this paper follows a mixed methodology consisting of (1) quantitative real-time data on transport usage that mirror the users’ behavior and (2) qualitative data acquired from in-depth interviews and documents that explain the government’s intention and the users’ behavior. The results show that between 2016 and 2020, after applying the LEZ policy for restricting passenger cars and vans of Euro 3 and lower, there was a 50% decrease in the number of polluting passenger cars and vans entering Rotterdam. However, this decrease is insignificant, since the number of vehicles targeted by the policy was less than 2% of the overall vehicles that entered the LEZ area. The results also shed light on the role of systematic policy packaging in ensuring a change in user behavior. Among other initiatives, a successful LEZ implantation should be supported by inner-city parking reduction, electric vehicle charging facilities, incentive schemes, and alternative sustainable mobility options. Above all, the number of restricted vehicles must be significant. The conclusion and discussion develop a well-structured, educational, evaluative framework and recommend a comprehensive package of policy measures for cities seeking low-emission mobility. The research, however, did not consider the impact of different land-use distributions on the application of the LEZ, which can be an interesting angle for future researchers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Frontiers in Urban Mobility)
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22 pages, 844 KiB  
Article
Economic Potential Gain, Income Uncertainty, and Rural Migrants’ Urban Homeownership: Evidence from China
by Jie Chen, Wei Wang and Yan Song
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7407; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097407 - 29 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1812
Abstract
Citizenization of rural migrants is considered as a labeling urbanization goal in developing countries. Homeownership has always been regarded as the most important cornerstone of citizenization for individuals and families in China. Despite the existence of plenty of literature on migrants’ homeownership, some [...] Read more.
Citizenization of rural migrants is considered as a labeling urbanization goal in developing countries. Homeownership has always been regarded as the most important cornerstone of citizenization for individuals and families in China. Despite the existence of plenty of literature on migrants’ homeownership, some critical influencing factors are still under-investigated. On the basis of the large nation-wide micro data of the China Migrant Dynamic Survey (CMDS), this study investigates the correlations among economic potential gain, income uncertainty, and rural migrants’ homeownership propensity in their host cities. The empirical results suggest that economic potential gain is positively correlated with the likelihood of rural migrants’ homeownership in their host cities, whereas there is negative association between income uncertainty and urban homeownership propensity among rural migrant households. In addition, we found that larger income uncertainty lowers the positive association between economic potential gain and rural migrants’ homeownership propensity in their host cities. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of these correlations across demographic characteristics and regions were investigated. We conclude this paper by making several suggestions, including offering a level playing field for rewarding migrants’ human capital endowment reasonably in terms of income, accelerating the hukou system reform, and eliminating institutional discrimination imposed on rural migrants to increase income stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Interactions between Urban Populations and Their Environments)
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24 pages, 4170 KiB  
Article
Heat vs. Health: Home Office under a Changing Climate
by Sophie Kathrin Schaffernicht, Andreas Türk, Martha Kogler, Andreas Berger, Bernhard Scharf, Lukas Clementschitsch, Renate Hammer, Peter Holzer, Herbert Formayer, Barbara König and Daniela Haluza
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7333; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097333 - 28 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4096
Abstract
Stressors are especially widespread in urban agglomerations. Common themes of built environment interventions that support health and well-being are blue and green infrastructure, indoor and outdoor air quality, thermal comfort, access to natural lighting, and acoustics. Given the current megatrends of increasing summer [...] Read more.
Stressors are especially widespread in urban agglomerations. Common themes of built environment interventions that support health and well-being are blue and green infrastructure, indoor and outdoor air quality, thermal comfort, access to natural lighting, and acoustics. Given the current megatrends of increasing summer temperatures and the high popularity of home offices, we aimed at modeling thermal comfort changes of people working at home in three Austrian cities (Vienna, Innsbruck, and Graz) during the next decades until 2090. We present findings based on (I) an inter-disciplinary literature search and (II) indoor and outdoor climate simulations for actual and future climate scenarios. Based on the results, we discuss the potential impacts for work and human health and well-being, and we suggest a framework for the home office in “post-COVID-19 Austria” that integrates social, ecological, and economic aspects. The results of our study indicate that, in future climate scenarios, overheating of the interior can no longer be prevented without active cooling measures and nature-based solutions. Recommendations on the adjustment of behavior under climate change, including greening, adequate ventilation, and cooling techniques, are thus urgently needed for employees who are working from home in order to maintain physical and mental health and wellbeing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Urban Green Infrastructure for Climate-Proof and Healthy Cities)
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20 pages, 28614 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Emergency Shelter Service Functions and Optimisation Suggestions—Case Study in the Songyuan City Central Area
by Siqi Tang, Jianguo Wang, Yuanhao Xu, Shengbo Chen, Jiawang Zhang, Wutao Zhao and Guojian Wang
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7283; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097283 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1872
Abstract
Reasonable planning and construction of emergency shelters is of great significance in improving the ability of cities to prevent and mitigate disasters and ensuring urban public safety. From the perspective of the needs of the evacuees, this paper constructs an evaluation index system [...] Read more.
Reasonable planning and construction of emergency shelters is of great significance in improving the ability of cities to prevent and mitigate disasters and ensuring urban public safety. From the perspective of the needs of the evacuees, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for the service function of emergency evacuation places in four aspects: effectiveness, accessibility, safety and rescue responsiveness. This paper takes the central city of Songyuan as the case study area. We apply the entropy weight–TOPSIS–grey correlation method to evaluate the service functions of emergency shelters in the central city of Songyuan and determine their service function levels. An interactive analysis using the bivariate Moran index is used to determine the current state of supply and demand for places of refuge, in terms of their service functions and population distribution. It also makes recommendations for optimisation, based on the extent to which the service function of the emergency shelter is coordinated with the distribution of the population. The results show that of the 54 emergency shelters in the central city of Songyuan, the low and medium service function levels are divided into 33 and 15, with problems such as unreasonable spatial layout and inadequate emergency supplies and medical resources. The future construction of emergency shelters should focus not only on increasing the number and improving the scale, but also on considering the characteristics of population distribution, optimising the spatial distribution pattern and making full use of existing resources such as parks, squares and schools. The establishment of composite spatial resources for disaster preparedness and the promotion of a government-led model of interconnected shelter and emergency infrastructure can effectively enhance the spatial resilience of cities in response to natural hazards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Safety and Security Assessment)
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37 pages, 4910 KiB  
Systematic Review
Progress by Research to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU: A Systematic Literature Review
by Matteo Trane, Luisa Marelli, Alice Siragusa, Riccardo Pollo and Patrizia Lombardi
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7055; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097055 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 14090
Abstract
Scientific research has been acknowledged to play a pivotal role in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. Vice-versa, since its adoption, the 2030 Agenda has been reinvigorating the academic production on sustainable development. This study provides a systematic literature review of the most [...] Read more.
Scientific research has been acknowledged to play a pivotal role in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. Vice-versa, since its adoption, the 2030 Agenda has been reinvigorating the academic production on sustainable development. This study provides a systematic literature review of the most used and newly developed approaches by academic research to support the achievement of the SDGs in the EU. The results are presented by descriptive, bibliometric, and content analysis. The descriptive analysis highlights a rising interest of scholars in operationalizing the 2030 Agenda, with a growing interest at the urban level. A text-mining tool was employed to scan the most investigated SDGs in the selected papers. Major interest by scholars is devoted to environmental concerns (especially linked to SDG 13, 7, 6, 12, and 15), while social issues (e.g., SDG 4, 5, and 10) still deserve more research. The bibliometric analysis unveiled poor intra-cluster connections, highlighting the need for more transdisciplinary research. The most recurrent research fields on the SDGs in the EU are governance, circular economy, ecosystem services, urban localization, and decision making. We advise future studies to focus on gaps highlighted and adopt a system perspective, boosting Policy Coherence across governance levels and scales of implementation by looking at trade-offs and assessing context-specific priorities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Governance for Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 3448 KiB  
Article
Smart Cities and Households’ Recyclable Waste Management: The Case of Jeddah
by Kawther Saeedi, Anna Visvizi, Dimah Alahmadi and Amal Babour
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6776; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086776 - 17 Apr 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2815
Abstract
Over the past 30 years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has recorded rapid economic growth and development rates matched by corresponding levels of consumption. This has led to an exponential increase in the volume of municipal solid waste. Even if the bulk [...] Read more.
Over the past 30 years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has recorded rapid economic growth and development rates matched by corresponding levels of consumption. This has led to an exponential increase in the volume of municipal solid waste. Even if the bulk share of this waste is recyclable, the propensity of households to engage in the recycling of waste has so far produced a negligible effect. Arguably, in the context of the pervasive digitalization of public and private spaces, accompanied by the developments in information and communication technology (ICT), best conceptualized by reference to the concepts of smart cities and circular economy, it is natural to expect ICT and policy objectives to converge in order to encourage and enable greater engagement with waste segregation and recycling amongst households. Against this backdrop, this paper explores the feasibility and ways of increasing households’ participation in recyclable waste collection, segregation, and disposal in a context devoid of a top-down city-level waste management policy. To this end, the design thinking approach was employed to identify factors inhibiting/facilitating households’ engaging in recycling. A variety of ideation techniques were adopted in subsequent stages of the design thinking process, including interviews with stakeholders from the government and industry sectors, surveys with Jeddah households (N = 446), an eight week-long recyclable waste collection experiment, and feedback surveys (N = 46). The results suggest that applying relatively simple and resource-savvy tools aimed at promoting household recyclable waste collection has substantial potential. This, in turn, not only feeds into the debate on smart cities but also into the research of public policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Cities and Smart Villages and the Global Digital Transformation: Strategy and Community Engagement)
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21 pages, 1341 KiB  
Article
Implementing Smart Sustainable Cities in Saudi Arabia: A Framework for Citizens’ Participation towards SAUDI VISION 2030
by Abood Khaled Alamoudi, Rotimi Boluwatife Abidoye and Terence Y. M. Lam
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6648; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086648 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5560
Abstract
Cities in Saudi Arabia need to expand rapidly due to the rapidly growing urban population. To develop smart sustainable cities (SSC), human, social, and environmental capital investments must be expanded beyond just focusing on technology. There have been several cities that have adopted [...] Read more.
Cities in Saudi Arabia need to expand rapidly due to the rapidly growing urban population. To develop smart sustainable cities (SSC), human, social, and environmental capital investments must be expanded beyond just focusing on technology. There have been several cities that have adopted smart city labels as recognition of the advantages of smart cities. Many countries acknowledge the value of citizens’ involvement in public urban planning and decision making, but it is difficult to evaluate their impact and compare it to other factors. This study aims to develop a citizens’ participation framework, identify any additional stakeholder’s management measures (SMM) (in addition to the ones previously developed by the authors), and explain the relationship with citizens’ participation level (CPL) for driving SSC. Three rounds of the Delphi method were conducted to structure and validate the framework by the decision maker in the field of urban planning and reach a consensus of understanding the drivers of SSC. The study group was limited to 25 participants because this study focuses on the perspective of decision makers toward CP. Mean score (MS) ranking and Kendall Coefficient were used to confirm the importance of these additional stakeholders’ management measures. The results suggest three main component structures of the conceptual framework, which are SMM, CPL, and Citizens’ Participation Recruitment (CPR), which are all necessary for smart sustainable city outcomes (SSCO) for achieving the Future Sustainable Cities Plan (FSCP) within the context of Vision 2030 and government policy in Saudi Arabia. Using the proposed framework will enable all the stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of SSC and their complex natures from a conceptual and practical standpoint. The contribution to knowledge of this study is by developing a conceptual framework that can support the implementation of SSC, and by providing an understanding the CPR standards and the involvement of citizens in urban development, which eliminates any debate regarding SSC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Technologies for Sustainable Urban and Regional Development)
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16 pages, 2311 KiB  
Article
Socioeconomic Urban Environment in Latin America: Towards a Typology of Cities
by Gervásio F. dos Santos, Alejandra Vives Vergara, Mauricio Fuentes-Alburquenque, José Firmino de Sousa Filho, Aureliano Sancho Paiva, Andres Felipe Useche, Goro Yamada, Tania Alfaro, Amélia A. Lima Friche, Roberto F. S. Andrade, Maurício L. Barreto, Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa and Ana V. Diez-Roux
Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6380; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086380 - 7 Apr 2023
Viewed by 2516
Abstract
This paper aims to identify typologies of Latin American cities based on socioeconomic urban environment patterns. We used census data from 371 urban agglomerations in 11 countries included in the SALURBAL project to identify socioeconomic typologies of cities in Latin America. Exploratory factor [...] Read more.
This paper aims to identify typologies of Latin American cities based on socioeconomic urban environment patterns. We used census data from 371 urban agglomerations in 11 countries included in the SALURBAL project to identify socioeconomic typologies of cities in Latin America. Exploratory factor analysis was used to select a set of variables, and finite mixture modelling (FMM) was applied to identify clusters to define the typology of cities. Despite the heterogeneities among the Latin American cities, we also found similarities. By exploring intersections and contrasts among these clusters, it was possible to define five socioeconomic regional typology patterns. The main features of each one are low-education cities in Northeast Brazil; low-unemployment cities in Peru and Panama; high-education cities in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico; high female labor participation, with high primary education in Argentina and low primary education in Brazil; and low female labor participation and low education in Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Identifying clusters of cities with similar features underscores understanding of the urban social and economic development dynamics and assists in studying how urban features affect health, the environment, and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Social Space and Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 558 KiB  
Review
Improving Communication of the UK Sustainable Healthy Dietary Guidelines the Eatwell Guide: A Rapid Review
by Amy E. Culliford, Jane Bradbury and Elphee B. Medici
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6149; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076149 - 3 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6178
Abstract
Background: Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) are a key public health tool, providing evidence-based recommendations for a healthy and more environmentally sustainable diet. Current adherence to national FBDG in the UK is poor with only 0.1% of the population meeting all of the recommendations [...] Read more.
Background: Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) are a key public health tool, providing evidence-based recommendations for a healthy and more environmentally sustainable diet. Current adherence to national FBDG in the UK is poor with only 0.1% of the population meeting all of the recommendations set out in the Eatwell Guide. Communication of the Eatwell Guide is one of the many essential strategies needed to improve adherence and to support the necessary shift towards sustainable diets in the UK. An effective strategy is needed to communicate this information to policy makers, the food industry, health professionals and the public in order to drive dietary behaviour change. Methods: The authors conducted a rapid review of the scientific literature available in the SCOPUS database published between 2012 and 2022 (inclusive). Keywords searched related to the communication and implementation of FBDG. Additionally, examples of communication strategies for national FBDG globally are presented to demonstrate examples of good practice in this field. Results: The review highlighted several key themes relating to effective communication of FBDG. As a result, five recommendations are made for how communication of the Eatwell Guide could be improved to drive better adherence to these sustainable healthy guidelines. The recommendations are (1) review of language and tone of nutrition and sustainability related messages; (2) targeting of FBDG and communications to specific population segments; (3) addressing barriers to and benefits of adopting the Eatwell Guide recommendations; (4) development of practical tools and resources to support implementation of the guidelines; and (5) leveraging social media and social marketing techniques to increase public engagement. Conclusions: This research summarises the current scientific literature on the effective communication of FBDG. The recommendations may be used to improve future communication strategies for the Eatwell Guide as well as other national and international sustainable healthy FBDG. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Diets, Food, and Nutrition)
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14 pages, 3109 KiB  
Article
Energy Analysis-Based Cyber Attack Detection by IoT with Artificial Intelligence in a Sustainable Smart City
by D. Prabakar, M. Sundarrajan, R. Manikandan, N. Z. Jhanjhi, Mehedi Masud and Abdulmajeed Alqhatani
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6031; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076031 - 30 Mar 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2230
Abstract
Cybersecurity continues to be a major issue for all industries engaged in digital activity given the cyclical surge in security incidents. Since more Internet of Things (IoT) devices are being used in homes, offices, transportation, healthcare, and other venues, malicious attacks are happening [...] Read more.
Cybersecurity continues to be a major issue for all industries engaged in digital activity given the cyclical surge in security incidents. Since more Internet of Things (IoT) devices are being used in homes, offices, transportation, healthcare, and other venues, malicious attacks are happening more frequently. Since distance between IoT as well as fog devices is closer than distance between IoT devices as well as the cloud, attacks can be quickly detected by integrating fog computing into IoT. Due to the vast amount of data produced by IoT devices, ML is commonly employed for attack detection. This research proposes novel technique in cybersecurity-based network traffic analysis and malicious attack detection using IoT artificial intelligence techniques for a sustainable smart city. A traffic analysis has been carried out using a kernel quadratic vector discriminant machine which enhances the data transmission by reducing network traffic. This enhances energy efficiency with reduced traffic. Then, the malicious attack detection is carried out using adversarial Bayesian belief networks. The experimental analysis has been carried out in terms of throughput, data traffic analysis, end-end delay, packet delivery ratio, energy efficiency, and QoS. The proposed technique attained a throughput of 98%, data traffic analysis of 74%, end-end delay of 45%, packet delivery ratio of 92%, energy efficiency of 92%, and QoS of 79%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Societies Using Emerging Technologies)
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17 pages, 2710 KiB  
Article
Urban Green System Planning Insights for a Spatialized Balance between PM10 Dust Retention Capacity of Trees and Urban Vehicular PM10 Emissions
by MariaElena Menconi, Rosaria Abbate, Luca Simone and David Grohmann
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5888; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075888 - 28 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2453
Abstract
Reducing air pollution is a crucial challenge in urban areas. In this regard, urban green infrastructures could play a pivotal role. In the literature, scholars analyzed both the ability of species-specific and layout-specific green infrastructures to reduce air pollution and the best location [...] Read more.
Reducing air pollution is a crucial challenge in urban areas. In this regard, urban green infrastructures could play a pivotal role. In the literature, scholars analyzed both the ability of species-specific and layout-specific green infrastructures to reduce air pollution and the best location sites of new green infrastructures to increase the provision of overall ecosystem services. There is a lack of studies helping green urban planners and designers choose where and which green infrastructure to implement based on vegetation species-specific performance and differentiated demand for the ecosystem services of city areas. This paper uses tree cadastre data from a medium-sized city in central Italy (Perugia) and the traffic open-layers of Gmaps to develop a spatial analysis of the urban trees’ performance in PM10 dust retention, and the PM10 produced by vehicular emissions, respectively. The method generates a spatialized balance between demand (air-polluted sites by traffic) and supply (PM10 dust retention by trees) to support local decisions about the best locations for new green infrastructures and the choice between species. The paper analyzed 6710 urban trees in an area of 42.62 km2 with a linear road density of 15 km/km2. Platanus hybrida Mill. ex Münchh, Celtis australis L., Ulmus carpinifolia L., Pinus pinaster Aiton, Quercus ilex L., Quercus robur L., and Tilia cordata Mill. are the resulting optimal species to reduce PM10, with median values of 219.62, 181.47, 166.67, 154.66, 143.90, 118.61, and 118.04 g tree−1 yr−1, respectively. The paper is a first contribution in developing GIS-based tools that vary the recommended location sites and species for new green infrastructures based on the demanded ecosystem service. Urban planners are called to dynamically use and integrate numerous tools, such as the one developed here, to seek complex solutions capable of increasing the sustainability of urban systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Benefits of Green Infrastructures on Air Quality in Urban Spaces)
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21 pages, 3236 KiB  
Review
Examining the Role of Innovative Streets in Enhancing Urban Mobility and Livability for Sustainable Urban Transition: A Review
by Jin Rui and Frank Othengrafen
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5709; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075709 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6400
Abstract
As an essential component of urban public spaces, urban streets play a crucial role in shaping cities and promoting urban sustainability. This article focuses on innovative streets as a catalyst for sustainable urban transition. It reviews the theoretical discussions, and empirical evidence on [...] Read more.
As an essential component of urban public spaces, urban streets play a crucial role in shaping cities and promoting urban sustainability. This article focuses on innovative streets as a catalyst for sustainable urban transition. It reviews the theoretical discussions, and empirical evidence on innovative planning approaches for urban streets. For that purpose, measures related to innovative streets are divided into two broad categories: urban mobility and urban livability. The results indicate that integrating smart street facilities with the Internet of Things (IoT), adopting a combination of grid and radial street networks, and fostering a safe street environment are vital in promoting urban mobility. Conversely, a walkable, rideable, and human-oriented street environment enhances social interaction and urban livability. The street’s dual function as a commuting and social space highlights the interplay between rising mobility and intensive street usage, leading to competition for street space. To mitigate these conflicts and advance sustainable urban transitions, enhancing street safety, reducing disparities in planning and user behavior, and accommodating the needs of all street users is crucial. Overall, the evidence supports the contribution of streets to sustainable urban transition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Planning for Urban Sustainability Transitions)
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16 pages, 4803 KiB  
Article
Urban Flooding Risk Assessment in the Rural-Urban Fringe Based on a Bayesian Classifier
by Mo Wang, Xiaoping Fu, Dongqing Zhang, Furong Chen, Jin Su, Shiqi Zhou, Jianjun Li, Yongming Zhong and Soon Keat Tan
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5740; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075740 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1781
Abstract
Urban flooding disasters have become increasingly frequent in rural-urban fringes due to rapid urbanization, posing a serious threat to the aquatic environment, life security, and social economy. To address this issue, this study proposes a flood disaster risk assessment framework that integrates a [...] Read more.
Urban flooding disasters have become increasingly frequent in rural-urban fringes due to rapid urbanization, posing a serious threat to the aquatic environment, life security, and social economy. To address this issue, this study proposes a flood disaster risk assessment framework that integrates a Weighted Naive Bayesian (WNB) classifier and a Complex Network Model (CNM). The WNB is employed to predict risk distribution according to the risk factors and flooding events data, while the CNM is used to analyze the composition and correlation of the risk attributes according to its network topology. The rural-urban fringe in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is used as a case study. The results indicate that approximately half of the rural-urban fringe is at medium flooding risk, while 25.7% of the investigated areas are at high flooding risk. Through driving-factor analysis, the rural-urban fringe of GBA is divided into 12 clusters driven by multiple factors and 3 clusters driven by a single factor. Two types of cluster influenced by multiple factors were identified: one caused by artificial factors such as road density, fractional vegetation cover, and impervious surface percentage, and the other driven by topographic factors, such as elevation, slope, and distance to waterways. Single factor clusters were mainly based on slope and road density. The proposed flood disaster risk assessment framework integrating WNB and CNM provides a valuable tool to identify high-risk areas and driving factors, facilitating better decision-making and planning for disaster prevention and mitigation in rural-urban fringes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)
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25 pages, 18724 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Future Streetscape of Rimini Harbor Docks with Virtual Reality
by Rachid Belaroussi, Margherita Pazzini, Israa Issa, Corinne Dionisio, Claudio Lantieri, Elena Díaz González, Valeria Vignali and Sonia Adelé
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5547; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065547 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2309
Abstract
The human factor plays an important role in the successful design of infrastructure to support sustainable mobility. By engaging users early in the design process, information can be obtained before physical environments are built, making designed spaces more attractive and safer for users. [...] Read more.
The human factor plays an important role in the successful design of infrastructure to support sustainable mobility. By engaging users early in the design process, information can be obtained before physical environments are built, making designed spaces more attractive and safer for users. This study presents the collected data of a virtual reality (VR) application in which user perception has been evaluated within an urban redevelopment context. The area under consideration is the Canal of the Port of Rimini (Italy), a degraded area not connected to the city center. The redevelopment of degraded urban areas is the first step towards achieving the sustainability aims set out in the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to this work, evaluation methods were developed in the decision-making process, considering different social, economic, and environmental aspects in order to obtain a priority scale of interventions for urban regeneration. Architectural solutions were proposed to represent targeted and specific interventions that are designed precisely for the context to which they are dedicated in order to make the Canal Port area a continuum with its urban context and to improve its perception by tourists and inhabitants. To assess these proposed infrastructure modifications, two models of VR were created, one relevant to the current condition and one representing the future condition after redevelopment of the area. Virtual visits to the Canal of the Port of Rimini were created under two scenarios, namely, the current situation and the future situation after redevelopment of the infrastructure. Then, human participants were involved through two different questionnaires. The first allowed participants validate the VR model created by comparing it with the real context, while the second served to evaluate the perceptions of users by comparing the two VR models of the canal before and after the intervention. The results of this empirical research highlight the benefits of engaging users early in the design process and improving the user experience before implementing renovation of the infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Traffic Calming Measures as an Instrument for Revitalizing the Urban Environment)
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17 pages, 1909 KiB  
Article
Vulnerability Assessment of Ecological–Economic–Social Systems in Urban Agglomerations in Arid Regions—A Case Study of Urumqi–Changji–Shihezi Urban Agglomeration
by Xiaofen Zhang, Zibibula Simayi, Shengtian Yang, Yusuyunjiang Mamitimin, Fang Shen and Yunyi Zhang
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5414; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065414 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1516
Abstract
This study aims to clarify the vulnerability characteristics of the ecological–economic–social system of oasis city clusters in arid zones, promote the deepening of research on the sustainable development of urban clusters, and provide crucial practical reference significance for solving the series of problems [...] Read more.
This study aims to clarify the vulnerability characteristics of the ecological–economic–social system of oasis city clusters in arid zones, promote the deepening of research on the sustainable development of urban clusters, and provide crucial practical reference significance for solving the series of problems brought about by urbanization. This article takes the arid zone oasis city cluster, the Urumqi–Changji–Shihezi urban agglomeration, as the research object and constructs an indicator system from three dimensions of ecological environment, regional economic, and social development, and adopts the comprehensive index method, GeoDetector, the GM(1, 1) gray prediction model, and other methods to study the vulnerability pattern and spatial and temporal changes of the urban cluster from 2009 to 2018. The results show that (1) from 2009 to 2018, the change in the integrated ecological–economic–social system vulnerability index of the Urumqi–Changji–Shihezi urban agglomeration shows a general downward trend, followed by significant differences in the vulnerability of each dimension, with an average vulnerability index of 1.8846, 1.6377, and 0.9831 for the social vulnerability, regional economic, and ecological environment dimensions, respectively; (2) the evolution of the spatial pattern of changes in the vulnerability index of different systems in each region of the Urumqi–Changji–Shihezi urban agglomeration tends to change from large to slight spatial differences, in which the social and ecological environmental vulnerability changes are more prominent in addition to the vulnerability changes of the regional economy; (3) parkland area per capita, arable land area per capita, GDP per capita, social fixed asset investment, population density, and urban road area per capita are the main drivers of decreasing vulnerability of ecological–economic–social systems in urban agglomerations; (4) by predicting and calculating the vulnerability index of each region of the ecological–economic–social system of urban agglomerations, it is found that the vulnerability index of urban agglomerations will show a decreasing trend from 2009 to 2018, and the difference of the vulnerability index between systems will narrow; (5) finally, targeted countermeasures and suggestions to reduce the vulnerability of ecological–economic–social systems are proposed to provide scientific references for the sustainable development of arid oasis cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Green Development and Resilient Cities)
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28 pages, 2231 KiB  
Review
Smart, Sustainable, Green Cities: A State-of-the-Art Review
by Vahid Javidroozi, Claudia Carter, Michael Grace and Hanifa Shah
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5353; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065353 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 8943
Abstract
This state-of-the-art review paper aims to provide an overview of the current research on three categories of liveable cities, Smart, Sustainable, and Green (SSG). It explores how the discussions about these three categories have been brought together in the literature and identifies an [...] Read more.
This state-of-the-art review paper aims to provide an overview of the current research on three categories of liveable cities, Smart, Sustainable, and Green (SSG). It explores how the discussions about these three categories have been brought together in the literature and identifies an integrated approach to developing more liveable cities of the future. The paper begins by introducing the research topic and methodology, setting out a broad definition for SSG cities as a starting point. Then, the review focuses on recent publications and research trends, with an emphasis on the most significant contributions to the convergence of the SSG categories. Special attention is paid to identifying gaps in current knowledge and suggesting areas for future research. Reviewing recent resources based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria in depth, using 11 relevant themes within the three aforementioned categories, provides a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the current state of research in developing more liveable cities. Moreover, a summary of the main findings, providing a holistic view of the liveable future cities and implications for further research, policy, and practice offers a helpful resource for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, city authorities, consultants, and solution providers for SSG cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Smart Cities: Challenges and Opportunities)
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24 pages, 1404 KiB  
Review
Barriers to, and Enablers for, Stakeholder Collaboration in Risk-Sensitive Urban Planning: A Systematised Literature Review
by Pavithra Ganeshu, Terrence Fernando and Kaushal Keraminiyage
Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4600; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054600 - 4 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4081
Abstract
The lack of stakeholder collaboration has been recognised as a prominent hindrance in implementing risk-sensitive urban planning for creating resilient environments for communities against climate-induced risks. This study presents the outcome of a systematised literature review that was conducted to identify the barriers [...] Read more.
The lack of stakeholder collaboration has been recognised as a prominent hindrance in implementing risk-sensitive urban planning for creating resilient environments for communities against climate-induced risks. This study presents the outcome of a systematised literature review that was conducted to identify the barriers to stakeholder collaboration, as well as the enablers that assist stakeholder collaboration in risk-sensitive urban planning. The study identified thirty-three barriers which were classified under thirteen themes and four major categories (external barriers, inter-organisational barriers, intra-organisational barriers, and personal barriers). The review also identified forty-five enablers which can be used in surmounting the identified barriers. The dependency analysis of the barriers, conducted by adopting the interpretive structural modelling approach, shows that the barriers with a high driving power are external barriers, which are political barriers, policies and legislation-related barriers, and governance-related barriers that are beyond the organisational boundary and control. The research found that the enablers to overcome those high driving barriers are gaining political support for implementing inter-organisational collaboration or adapting the apolitical approach for the collaboration process, strengthening the laws and forming adaptive policies to support collaboration, and establishing transparent and accountable collaborative governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Regeneration: Issues and Challenges for Buildings and Cities)
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27 pages, 5390 KiB  
Article
Spatial-Temporal Evolution and Cross-Industry Synergy of Carbon Emissions: Evidence from Key Industries in the City in Jiangsu Province, China
by Feng Dong, Guoqing Li, Yajie Liu, Qing Xu and Caixia Li
Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 3881; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15053881 - 21 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1702
Abstract
Cross-industry synergistic emission reduction has become a new strategy for achieving a carbon emissions peak and carbon neutrality. To explore the typical spatial distribution and cross-industry synergy effect of carbon emissions in key industries, this paper analyzes the carbon emissions of coal and [...] Read more.
Cross-industry synergistic emission reduction has become a new strategy for achieving a carbon emissions peak and carbon neutrality. To explore the typical spatial distribution and cross-industry synergy effect of carbon emissions in key industries, this paper analyzes the carbon emissions of coal and power industries in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2020 using the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and a panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model. The results show that: (1) The distribution of coal resources determines the distribution of carbon emissions in the coal industry. Carbon emissions in the power industry have two typical distributions: consistent changes in cities and a “south-north” inverse phase, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 86.74%. (2) The impulse response of carbon emissions from the coal industry to the power industry is >0 in the first period. There is a synergistic relationship of carbon emissions from the energy consumption side to the energy production side. (3) The shock effect of carbon emissions on economic development is >0. In resource-based cities, economic development explains about 2% of carbon emission fluctuations in the coal industry and 9.9% in the power industry, which is only 2% in non-resource-based cities. Carbon emissions would promote economic development. However, the impact of economic development on them varies significantly by industry and region. These findings can provide scientific support for developing differentiated measures to carbon emissions reduction and serve as an important reference role for other regions to promote collaborative carbon emission reduction in key industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regional Carbon Dioxide Emission Market)
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32 pages, 2350 KiB  
Review
Urban Computing for Sustainable Smart Cities: Recent Advances, Taxonomy, and Open Research Challenges
by Ibrahim Abaker Targio Hashem, Raja Sher Afgun Usmani, Mubarak S. Almutairi, Ashraf Osman Ibrahim, Abubakar Zakari, Faiz Alotaibi, Saadat Mehmood Alhashmi and Haruna Chiroma
Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 3916; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15053916 - 21 Feb 2023
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7411
Abstract
The recent proliferation of ubiquitous computing technologies has led to the emergence of urban computing that aims to provide intelligent services to inhabitants of smart cities. Urban computing deals with enormous amounts of data collected from sensors and other sources in a smart [...] Read more.
The recent proliferation of ubiquitous computing technologies has led to the emergence of urban computing that aims to provide intelligent services to inhabitants of smart cities. Urban computing deals with enormous amounts of data collected from sensors and other sources in a smart city. In this article, we investigated and highlighted the role of urban computing in sustainable smart cities. In addition, a taxonomy was conceived that categorized the existing studies based on urban data, approaches, applications, enabling technologies, and implications. In this context, recent developments were elucidated. To cope with the engendered challenges of smart cities, we outlined some crucial use cases of urban computing. Furthermore, prominent use cases of urban computing in sustainable smart cities (e.g., planning in smart cities, the environment in smart cities, energy consumption in smart cities, transportation in smart cities, government policy in smart cities, and business processes in smart cities) for smart urbanization were also elaborated. Finally, several research challenges (such as cognitive cybersecurity, air quality, the data sparsity problem, data movement, 5G technologies, scaling via the analysis and harvesting of energy, and knowledge versus privacy) and their possible solutions in a new perspective were discussed explicitly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Big Data, Information and AI for Smart Urban)
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13 pages, 2837 KiB  
Article
Coupling a Distributed Time Variant Gain Model into a Storm Water Management Model to Simulate Runoffs in a Sponge City
by Yuanyuan Yang, Wenhui Zhang, Zhe Liu, Dengfeng Liu, Qiang Huang and Jun Xia
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3804; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043804 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1868
Abstract
The storm water management model (SWMM) has been used extensively to plan, implement, control, and evaluate low impact development facilities and other drainage systems to solve storm-related problems in sponge cities. However, the calibration of SWMM involves a variety of sensitive parameters and [...] Read more.
The storm water management model (SWMM) has been used extensively to plan, implement, control, and evaluate low impact development facilities and other drainage systems to solve storm-related problems in sponge cities. However, the calibration of SWMM involves a variety of sensitive parameters and may bring significant uncertainties. Here we incorporated the distributed time variant gain model (DTVGM), a model with a simple structure and few parameters, into the SWMM (called DTVGM-SWMM) to reduce the complexity but keep the mechanistic representation of the hydrological process. The DTVGM runoff module parameters were calibrated and validated using the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), based on measured data and the results of SWMM. It was then coupled with the SWMM routing module to estimate catchment runoffs and outflows. Finally, the performance was evaluated using NSE (0.57~0.94), relative errors of the flow depth (−7.59~19.79%), and peak flow rate (−33.68~54.37%) under different storm events. These implied that the DTVGM-SWMM simulations were generally consistent with those of the control group, but underperformed in simulating peak flows. Overall, the proposed framework could reasonably estimate the runoff, especially the outflow process in the urban catchment. This study provides a simple and reliable method for urban stormwater simulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)
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17 pages, 8697 KiB  
Article
Shaping Public Space in Informal Settlements: A Case Study
by Hesam Kamalipour
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3781; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043781 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5520
Abstract
Informal settlement has become one of the critical ways of producing space and accessing affordable housing, particularly in the context of the global South. Much of the established literature on the shaping of public space focuses on cities of the global North, and [...] Read more.
Informal settlement has become one of the critical ways of producing space and accessing affordable housing, particularly in the context of the global South. Much of the established literature on the shaping of public space focuses on cities of the global North, and little is known about how public spaces are being shaped in more congested and less formal cities of the global South. This paper engages with the challenge of understanding the shaping of public space in informal settlements with a focus on exploring the spatial structures and increments of change in a case study in Medellin (Colombia). This is primarily an urban design exploration, which deploys direct observation, extensive urban photography, and field notes as key research methods. This paper contributes a critical case study, which has experienced forms of informal and formal transformations. The spatial structures and increments of change are explored in the selected case study and further discussed in the context of the relevant literature. This paper argues that much of the shaping of public space in informal settlements can be considered as “unfinished” in the sense that their “incompleteness” enables a degree of flexibility for possible adaptations in relation to individual/collective needs and desires. The article also reflects on how producing mixed morphologies can be considered as an attempt that may possibly facilitate future forms of formalisation and/or upgrading by enabling a degree of visual resemblance with what is considered as the formal city. The findings of this study can inform the related upgrading practices by providing a better understanding of how public spaces are being shaped in informal settlements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development)
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18 pages, 577 KiB  
Article
Dealing with Cross-Sectoral Uncertainty: A Case Study on Governing Uncertainty for Infrastructures in Transition
by Oddrun P. Røsok, Mark L. C. de Bruijne and Wijnand W. Veeneman
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3750; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043750 - 17 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
The interdependencies between infrastructures are growing. Engineering decision making that earlier was largely confined to a specific sector now requires more and more understanding of how systems interact: a system-of-systems perspective. The article analyzes the effect of that added complexity in a single [...] Read more.
The interdependencies between infrastructures are growing. Engineering decision making that earlier was largely confined to a specific sector now requires more and more understanding of how systems interact: a system-of-systems perspective. The article analyzes the effect of that added complexity in a single case study in de Zuid-As, Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and relates the findings to the literature on engineering decision making and project management in complex projects. The article concludes that cross-sectoral engineering decision making has an additional level of complexity that requires governance of uncertainty. Despite this challenge being a well-known challenge among infrastructure operators, it is still not recognized for its importance, and it seems to be a neglected element in collaboration. Key is an open approach in the early stages that goes beyond classic cooperative decision making in engineering and project management environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure for the Next Generation)
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34 pages, 7002 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review on the Integration of Antimicrobial Technologies onto Various Surfaces of the Built Environment
by Ling Xin Yong and John Kaiser Calautit
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3394; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043394 - 13 Feb 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4413
Abstract
With the recent surge in interest in microbial prevention, this review paper looks at the different antimicrobial technologies for surfaces in the built environment. Every year, more than 4 million people are at risk of dying due to acquiring a microbial infection. As [...] Read more.
With the recent surge in interest in microbial prevention, this review paper looks at the different antimicrobial technologies for surfaces in the built environment. Every year, more than 4 million people are at risk of dying due to acquiring a microbial infection. As per the recent COVID-19 pandemic, such infections alone increase the cost and burden to the healthcare system. Therefore, mitigating the risk of microbial infection in the built environment is one of the essential considerations in our preparedness for future pandemic situations. This is especially important for a dense population within urban cities and for indoor environments with higher concentrations of indoor contaminants due to poorer ventilation. The review assesses antimicrobial technologies developed in the last two years and their potential and suitability for implementation on surfaces within a building, and it also suggests key considerations when developing these technologies for a built environment. The keywords in the main search include “antimicrobial”, “coating”, and “surfaces”. The work found various studies describing the potential use of antimicrobial technologies for different material surfaces. Still, a more thorough investigation and upscaling of work are required to assess their suitability for built environment applications. The widely diverse types of built environments in public areas with their varying purpose, design, and surfaces also mean that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for every space. In order to improve the adoption and consideration of antimicrobial surfaces, the built environment industry and stakeholders could benefit from more in-depth and long-term evaluation of these antimicrobial technologies, which demonstrate their real-time impact on various built environment spaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post COVID-19 Pandemic: A Reconsideration for the Built Environment)
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24 pages, 3708 KiB  
Article
Kerbside Parking Assessment Using a Simulation Modelling Approach for Infrastructure Planning—A Metropolitan City Case Study
by Premaratne Samaranayake, Upul Gunawardana and Michael Stokoe
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3301; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043301 - 10 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1451
Abstract
The main purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of kerbside parking demand and provision on short-term parking (STP) and freight activity space (FAS) as a benchmark for infrastructure planning, considering the impacts of expected future growth and capacity changes. In [...] Read more.
The main purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of kerbside parking demand and provision on short-term parking (STP) and freight activity space (FAS) as a benchmark for infrastructure planning, considering the impacts of expected future growth and capacity changes. In this study, we adopted a mixed-methods approach of quantitative analysis including a spatial view of parking using manual and video-captured camera data from the majority of STP and FAS parking bays covering a diverse range of loads/tasks with different levels of elasticity and substitutes, as well as simulation of current demand influenced by various factors, as a basis for the development of strategies and prioritisation of the allocation of limited kerbside spaces in Parramatta, a rapidly transforming/growing CBD city centre environment. Parking demand consisted of a diverse range of FAS and STP categories. Spatial analysis showed a non-homogeneous distribution of parking demand and loads across several sections of the city. A large proportion of short-term parking spaces is attributed to two peak periods during the day and increased traffic volumes at peak times. Comparatively lower average parking times in the northern and western regions compared to those in the city centre indicate the potential to reduce peak parking periods and therefore traffic congestion in the city centre by changing parking limits. The presented simulation model can be used as a reliable benchmarking model for the simulation of future impact scenarios and to make recommendations with respect to infrastructure planning and to develop travel demand management strategies. This research is based on a case study and is therefore subject to limitations in its applications in other contexts. Extension of the baseline simulation with future impact scenarios is planned for the next stage of this research. A simulation model is presented and illustrated as a reliable benchmarking tool for the simulation of future impact scenarios through a case study of a rapidly changing city environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning and Sustainable Land Use)
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19 pages, 2495 KiB  
Article
Heuristic Surface Path Planning Method for AMV-Assisted Internet of Underwater Things
by Jie Zhang, Zhengxin Wang, Guangjie Han and Yujie Qian
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3137; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043137 - 8 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1597
Abstract
Ocean exploration is one of the fundamental issues for the sustainable development of human society, which is also the basis for realizing the concept of the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) applications, such as the smart ocean city. The collaboration of heterogeneous autonomous [...] Read more.
Ocean exploration is one of the fundamental issues for the sustainable development of human society, which is also the basis for realizing the concept of the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) applications, such as the smart ocean city. The collaboration of heterogeneous autonomous marine vehicles (AMVs) based on underwater wireless communication is known as a practical approach to ocean exploration, typically with the autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) and the autonomous underwater glider (AUG). However, the difference in their specifications and movements makes the following problems for collaborative work. First, when an AUG floats to a certain depth, and an ASV interacts via underwater wireless communication, the interaction has a certain time limit and their movements to an interaction position have to be synchronized; secondly, in the case where multiple AUGs are exploring underwater, the ASV needs to plan the sequence of surface interactions to ensure timely and efficient data collection. Accordingly, this paper proposes a heuristic surface path planning method for data collection with heterogeneous AMVs (HSPP-HA). The HSPP-HA optimizes the interaction schedule between ASV and multiple AUGs through a modified shuffled frog-leaping algorithm (SFLA). It applies a spatial-temporal k-means clustering in initializing the memeplex group of SFLA to adapt time-sensitive interactions by weighting their spatial and temporal proximities and adopts an adaptive convergence factor which varies by algorithm iterations to balance the local and global searches and to minimize the potential local optimum problem in each local search. Through simulations, the proposed HSPP-HA shows advantages in terms of access rate, path length and data collection rate compared to recent and classic path planning methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Urban and IoT: Advances, Opportunities and Challenges)
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21 pages, 1031 KiB  
Article
The Performance of the Construction of a Water Ecological Civilization City: International Assessment and Comparison
by Qimeng Yue, Kate Heal, Jingshan Yu, Qianyang Wang, Yuexin Zheng, Zhanliang Zhu, Yuan Liu, Shugao Xu and Xiaolei Yao
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3071; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043071 - 8 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1903
Abstract
The water ecological environment problems brought about by rapid urbanization have prompted the proposal and implementation of different approaches to urban water ecological construction, such as eco-cities, best management practices (BMPs), and low-impact development (LID). As one of the most representative urban water [...] Read more.
The water ecological environment problems brought about by rapid urbanization have prompted the proposal and implementation of different approaches to urban water ecological construction, such as eco-cities, best management practices (BMPs), and low-impact development (LID). As one of the most representative urban water ecological management policies in China, the Water Ecological Civilization City (WECC) was proposed in 2013, and 105 cities were selected for pilot construction. Many studies have evaluated the effectiveness of WECC construction, but international quantitative comparison is lacking. To address this, an urban Water-Human-Health (WHH) Assessment Model, considering water resources, ecological environment, economic and social development level, and water resources utilization, was developed and applied to five WECC pilot cities in China and 10 other cities worldwide, in which mainstream urban water ecological construction modes have been used. Principal component analysis of the index values in the assessment system was used to evaluate the current status of water ecosystem health in the 15 cities, showing that Sydney, Cleveland, and Hamburg were the most advanced in urban water ecological management. The two cities with the best evaluation results (Sydney and Cleveland), and the WECC city with the highest score (Wuhan) were selected for documentary analysis of their water ecological construction documents to identify similarities and differences to inform best practice internationally for urban water ecological construction. The results showed that Sydney and Cleveland attach similar emphasis across most constituents of urban water ecological construction, while, for Wuhan, greater importance is attached to water resource management and water culture. The advantages and disadvantages of WECC construction and international experience are discussed. The WHH assessment model proposed in this study provides a new quantitative evaluation method for international urban water ecological health evaluation, which could be further improved by including an urban flood risk indicator. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Urban Water Management)
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24 pages, 1713 KiB  
Article
Sustainability Assessment in Social Housing Environments: An Inclusive Indicators Selection in Colombian Post-Pandemic Cities
by Jhon Ricardo Escorcia Hernández, Sara Torabi Moghadam and Patrizia Lombardi
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032830 - 3 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2189
Abstract
The use of indicators for sustainability assessment in the urban planning process is a widely used approach. With the definition of the Agenda 2030 and the role of cities in achieving sustainable development goals, much work has been devoted to the definition of [...] Read more.
The use of indicators for sustainability assessment in the urban planning process is a widely used approach. With the definition of the Agenda 2030 and the role of cities in achieving sustainable development goals, much work has been devoted to the definition of evaluation frameworks and indicators to assess policies and plans and support decision-making in the transition to sustainable urban environments. Therefore, there is currently a wide range of indicator frameworks for the sustainability assessment of human settlements. However, considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the urban sustainability paradigm, the need to reassess the relevance of existing assessment frameworks in the post-pandemic context has been highlighted. Thus, this article aims to illustrate a selection of indicators to evaluate urban sustainability in developing countries’ post-pandemic contexts, using Colombia as a case study. This work comprises the characterization of the post-pandemic relevance of a set of sustainability indicators through the participation of stakeholders associated with the development process of social housing in urban environments in Colombia. Within a Delphi process, the initial indicators were taken from local and international sustainability frameworks validated before the pandemic. Further, a final selection was made through the evaluation of a survey from a sample of 45 stakeholders, and different participatory mechanisms with experts. These results acknowledged the relevance of factors, such as atmospheric conditions, risk management, the performance of public transport systems, and the availability and accessibility to key services, in the achievement of urban sustainability. These results will support the sustainability assessment of the development of post-pandemic recovery policies in Colombia and serve as a reference for other contexts in developing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mainstreaming Recommendations to Future Sustainable Urban Planning in Developing and Emerging Economies)
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19 pages, 4352 KiB  
Article
Global Megacities and Frequent Floods: Correlation between Urban Expansion Patterns and Urban Flood Hazards
by Dorcas Idowu and Wendy Zhou
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2514; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032514 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3114
Abstract
With climate change causing increased extreme weather events, megacities worldwide are experiencing unprecedentedly devastating floods and recurring flood damage. Investigating global megacities’ increased disposition to flooding will aid in developing sustainable flood-risk-management frameworks. Many studies have been conducted on the association between land-cover [...] Read more.
With climate change causing increased extreme weather events, megacities worldwide are experiencing unprecedentedly devastating floods and recurring flood damage. Investigating global megacities’ increased disposition to flooding will aid in developing sustainable flood-risk-management frameworks. Many studies have been conducted on the association between land-cover types and flood consequences, but few on investigating urban expansion patterns’ correlation with flood hazard and risk. This study examines the correlation between urban expansion patterns and increased flood hazards. Twelve megacities throughout the world were selected for this study. After exploring the possibility of the megacities having experienced flooding, we qualified their patterns of urban expansion and their potential to influence the elements of flood risk. Our results revealed that edge expansion and leapfrogging patterns had a strong positive correlation with statistical significance with flood hazard, while infilling had a weak positive correlation that showed no statistical significance with flood hazard. Further, we found that the megacities have all experienced devastating floods in the past two decades. Flood risk frameworks need to account for the impact of these patterns, and future urban planning designs and policies need to incorporate flood risk frameworks that account for patterns of urban expansion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Big Data and Sustainable Cities: Applications of Geospatial Data in Urban Hazards)
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15 pages, 855 KiB  
Article
Development of a Benefit Assessment Matrix for Nanomaterials and Nano-enabled Products—Toward Safe and Sustainable by Design
by Hyunjoo Hong, Claudia Som and Bernd Nowack
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2321; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032321 - 27 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1596
Abstract
Industry and scientists develop new nanomaterials and nano-enabled products to make use of the specific properties that the nanoscale can bring. However, the benefit of a nano-enabled product over a conventional product is not always a given. This paper describes our development of [...] Read more.
Industry and scientists develop new nanomaterials and nano-enabled products to make use of the specific properties that the nanoscale can bring. However, the benefit of a nano-enabled product over a conventional product is not always a given. This paper describes our development of a Benefit Assessment Matrix (BAM) that focuses on the functional, health and environmental benefits of nanomaterials, nano-enabled manufacturing and nano-enabled products. The BAM is an Excel spreadsheet-based tool to help researchers and small and medium-sized enterprises assess these potential benefits throughout their product’s life cycle while they are still in the early phase of the innovation process. Benefit indicators were developed based on a review of the literature on the life cycles and intrinsic properties of nanomaterials, nano-enabled manufacturing and nano-enabled products. Assessing the benefits of a nano-enabled product involves a comparative approach, contrasting them against the benefits of a conventional reference product. To help users understand the reliability of the benefits, the BAM identifies the evidence of the benefit claimed. The BAM provides a different action plan for each phase of the stage–gate product innovation process. The tool’s applications and potential are presented using three case studies, focusing at different phases of the innovation process: nano-clays used in internal automobile body-panels, nano-TiO2 used in outdoor facade coatings and nano-Ag used in T-shirts. Using these cases studied, we highlight how the results from the BAM can be used to give recommendations for moving towards the concept of safe and sustainable by design in nanotechnology development. Full article
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27 pages, 18367 KiB  
Article
A Low-Cost Gamified Urban Planning Methodology Enhanced with Co-Creation and Participatory Approaches
by Ioannis Kavouras, Emmanuel Sardis, Eftychios Protopapadakis, Ioannis Rallis, Anastasios Doulamis and Nikolaos Doulamis
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2297; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032297 - 26 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2824
Abstract
Targeted nature-based small-scale interventions is an approach commonly adopted by urban developers. The public acceptance of their implementation could be improved by participation, emphasizing residents or shopkeepers located close to the areas of interest. In this work, we propose a methodology that combines [...] Read more.
Targeted nature-based small-scale interventions is an approach commonly adopted by urban developers. The public acceptance of their implementation could be improved by participation, emphasizing residents or shopkeepers located close to the areas of interest. In this work, we propose a methodology that combines 3D technology, based on open data sources, user-generated content, 3D software and game engines for both minimizing the time and cost of the whole planning process and enhancing citizen participation. The proposed schemes are demonstrated in Piraeus (Greece) and Gladsaxe (Denmark). The core findings can be summarized as follows: (a) the time and cost are minimized by using online databases, (b) the gamification of the planning process enhances the decision making process and (c) the interactivity provided by the game engine inspired the participation of non-experts in the planning process (co-creation and co-evaluation), which decentralizes and democratizes the final planning solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Based Solutions to Foster Sustainable Urban Development)
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18 pages, 6079 KiB  
Article
A Framework for Evidence-Based Landscape Architecture: Cooling a Hot Urban Climate through Design
by Xiaoyu Li, Jingxi Peng, Dongying Li and Robert D. Brown
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2301; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032301 - 26 Jan 2023
Viewed by 2770
Abstract
The rapidly advancing knowledge of the interactions between people and their environment provides opportunities for designers to practice evidence-based landscape architecture (EBLA) in designing outdoor spaces. Recent studies have proposed some characteristics of successful EBLA projects, including the following: amicable skepticism; the questioning [...] Read more.
The rapidly advancing knowledge of the interactions between people and their environment provides opportunities for designers to practice evidence-based landscape architecture (EBLA) in designing outdoor spaces. Recent studies have proposed some characteristics of successful EBLA projects, including the following: amicable skepticism; the questioning of assumptions; the verification of information; the application of evidence to the problem at hand; and data that is openly reported and replicable. These five steps were the basis for a framework that was developed and tested through the redesign of a downtown area in a hot-climate city, El Paso, Texas. The process started with the collection of base information, including local climate conditions and evidence on heat-related illness. Case studies and a search of the literature led to the questioning of some assumptions, including the expectation that the air temperature on the site could be substantially modified through design. On-site microclimate measurements were used to confirm this insight, and were used to validate computer models. The validated models were used to assess the thermal comfort conditions across the site. A human energy budget model was used to identify the key atmospheric elements that both strongly affect a person’s heat health, and that can also be readily modified through landscape architectural design. These led to the development of guidelines, which were developed as a ‘tool kit’ and applied to the design. Amicable skepticism was practiced throughout the process to confirm that the decisions were made based on evidence, not opinions or preconceived notions. The resulting design was tested using computer models to check whether the goal of thermally comfortable conditions was met. The quantitative results illustrated the amount of improvement to the thermal comfort of site visitors. This process is universal and can be applied to any landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evidence-Based Design Promoting Human Well-Being in Urban Areas)
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21 pages, 320 KiB  
Article
Monitoring of Performance-Based Environmental Impacts of Substituting Soybean Meal with Rapeseed Meal in the Rye-Based Diet of Weaned Pigs
by Volker Wilke, Julia Gickel and Christian Visscher
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2210; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032210 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2219
Abstract
Due to its favorable properties, soybean meal (SBM) is used especially in young growing animals. In terms of sustainability, there are various efforts to reduce the amounts of SBM in compound feeds and to increase the use of regional protein sources. This paper [...] Read more.
Due to its favorable properties, soybean meal (SBM) is used especially in young growing animals. In terms of sustainability, there are various efforts to reduce the amounts of SBM in compound feeds and to increase the use of regional protein sources. This paper focuses on the effects of a partial to total substitution of SBM by regionally produced rapeseed meal (RSM) in different piglet diets regarding 10 important factors having an impact on the environment. Four diets, characterized by different shares (%) of both protein-rich ingredients (SBM/RSM: 18.1/0; 13.6/6.70; 8.10/16.1; 0/28.0), were fed to four groups of 10 piglets each in two runs. The impact was calculated related to feed (per t) and was performance-based for every piglet (impact·kg weight gain−1) for each factor using methods according to life-cycle-analyses (LCA). Although feed intake and weight gains were not affected negatively, higher feed conversion ratios occurred, with high amounts of rapeseed inclusion. Nevertheless, the performance-based negative influence on climate change (kg CO2 eq·kg weight gain−1) was nearly halved when SBM was replaced by RSM. Since performance was not negatively affected, the use of RSM instead of SBM in piglet diets could be a viable tool for markedly reducing the negative impact on climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Livestock Production and Management)
17 pages, 1657 KiB  
Article
Improved Recovery of Overloaded Anaerobic Batch Reactors by Graphene Oxide
by Michele Ponzelli, Hiep Nguyen, Jörg E. Drewes and Konrad Koch
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2224; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032224 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1680
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion reactors may suffer from acidification when overloading occurs. Carbon-based materials are amended to mitigate the souring effects of excessive loading. This study aims to test if graphene oxide (GO) helps overloaded anaerobic reactors recover faster. Batch tests were conducted following a [...] Read more.
Anaerobic digestion reactors may suffer from acidification when overloading occurs. Carbon-based materials are amended to mitigate the souring effects of excessive loading. This study aims to test if graphene oxide (GO) helps overloaded anaerobic reactors recover faster. Batch tests were conducted following a fed-batch strategy at different GO levels (0, 10, and 20 mg GO per g of volatile solid (VS)) and different inoculum substrate ratios (ISRs) of 2, 1, and 0.75 based on VS. While an ISR of 2 was initially applied, the ISR was decreased to 1 and 0.75 in two parallel sets of experiments to simulate overloading conditions at the fourth feeding cycle. Lastly, an ISR of 2 was restored in all assays. First-order model kinetic constants confirmed a significant (p < 0.05) effect by GO from the third feed on. Although the GO-amended assays did not alleviate the acidification effects, during the final phase the kinetic constants reached values similar to or even above the controls (without GO). Moreover, a GO concentration up to 20 mgGO/gVS had no impact on FOS/TAC. Overall, this study broadens the understanding of the design and operation of anaerobic reactors amended with GO. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wastewater Treatment and Sustainability of Development)
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21 pages, 5663 KiB  
Article
Combining CAD Modeling and Simulation of Energy Performance Data for the Retrofit of Public Buildings
by Konstantinos Sofias, Zoe Kanetaki, Constantinos Stergiou and Sébastien Jacques
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2211; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032211 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2297
Abstract
The retrofit of the most energy-intensive buildings represents an opportunity to improve their energy efficiency or to reduce their energy demand. This paper proposes combining computer-aided design (CAD) modeling and the use of energy efficiency software to build a methodology for calculating, visualizing [...] Read more.
The retrofit of the most energy-intensive buildings represents an opportunity to improve their energy efficiency or to reduce their energy demand. This paper proposes combining computer-aided design (CAD) modeling and the use of energy efficiency software to build a methodology for calculating, visualizing and analyzing building parameters in order to provide retrofit scenarios. Five retrofit scenarios were implemented using the energy software, including the initial operating cost, capital cost and payback period to be evaluated. At the same time, a three-dimensional CAD model was created to perform daylighting and shading simulations to visualize and design the role of building orientation under actual use conditions. These retrofit scenarios were evaluated individually and then combined to examine their performance in terms of cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. The simulation results show the importance of the building’s orientation, as this directly affects the thermal properties of the walls and openings, as well as the daylighting areas. The simulation results were also used to define the parameters that affect the interoperability of the retrofit solutions. Finally, in addition to the significant reduction in calculation time, the coupling of the CAD software with the energy efficiency software allowed access to information that was not available at the outset. Full article
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19 pages, 3638 KiB  
Article
Automation of Large-Scale Gaseous Ozonation: A Case Study of Textile and PPE Decontamination
by Emmanuel I. Epelle, Mohammed Yaseen, Andrew Macfarlane, Michael Cusack, Anthony Burns and Luc Rolland
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2216; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032216 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1790
Abstract
There is an ever-growing need in several industries to disinfect or sanitise products (i.e., to reduce or eliminate pathogenic microorganisms from their surfaces). Gaseous ozone has been widely applied for this purpose, particularly during the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the large-scale [...] Read more.
There is an ever-growing need in several industries to disinfect or sanitise products (i.e., to reduce or eliminate pathogenic microorganisms from their surfaces). Gaseous ozone has been widely applied for this purpose, particularly during the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the large-scale deployment of this technology usually involves a manually-operated chamber, into which articles are loaded and subsequently unloaded after treatment—a batch process. Although the development of large-scale, automated and continuous ozonation equipment has hardly been reported in the literature, this has tremendous potential for industries seeking to decontaminate certain articles/products in a rapid and effective manner. In this paper, an overview of the design and implementation considerations for such an undertaking is evaluated. By presenting a case study for a developed automated system for clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) disinfection, we provide key data regarding the automation procedure/design’s considerations, risks, material compatibility, safety, sustainability and process economics. Our analysis shows that the transfer time for garments between successive chambers and the agility of the sliding doors are crucial to achieving the desired throughput. The automated system is capable of effectively treating (20 ppm ozone for 4 min) 20,000 garments within an 8-h shift, based on a transfer time of 2 min and a sliding door speed of 0.4 m/s. The flexibility of the system allows for variation in the concentration or exposure time, depending on the contamination level and the consequent decontamination efficiency desired. This flexibility significantly limits the degradation of the material during treatment. A return on investment of 47% is estimated for this novel system. Full article
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29 pages, 4376 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Renewable Electricity Output on Sustainability in the Context of Circular Economy: A Global Perspective
by Lucio Laureti, Alessandro Massaro, Alberto Costantiello and Angelo Leogrande
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2160; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032160 - 24 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3233
Abstract
In this article, we investigate the impact of “Renewable Electricity Output” on the green economy in the context of the circular economy for 193 countries in the period 2011–2020. We use data from the World Bank ESG framework. We perform Panel Data with [...] Read more.
In this article, we investigate the impact of “Renewable Electricity Output” on the green economy in the context of the circular economy for 193 countries in the period 2011–2020. We use data from the World Bank ESG framework. We perform Panel Data with Fixed Effects, Panel Data with Random Effects, Weighted Last Squares-WLS, and Pooled Ordinary Least Squares-OLS. Our results show that Renewable Electricity Output is positively associated, among others, with “Adjusted Savings-Net Forest Depletion” and “Renewable Energy Consumption” and negatively associated, among others, with “CO2 Emission” and “Cooling Degree Days”. Furthermore, we perform a cluster analysis implementing the k-Means algorithm optimized with the Elbow Method and we find the presence of four clusters. In adjunct, we confront seven different machine learning algorithms to predict the future level of “Renewable Electricity Output”. Our results show that Linear Regression is the best algorithm and that the future value of renewable electricity output is predicted to growth on average at a rate of 0.83% for the selected countries. Furthermore, we improve the machine learning analysis with a Deep Learning approach using Convolutional Neural Network-CNN but the algorithm is not appropriate for the analyzed dataset. Less complex machine learning algorithms show better statistical results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Integrated Clean Environment for Human & Nature)
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15 pages, 2635 KiB  
Article
Drone Use in On-Farm Environmental Compliance: An Investigation of Regulators’ Perspectives
by Victoria Westbrooke, Xiaomeng Lucock and Isobel Greenhalgh
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2153; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032153 - 23 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1924
Abstract
Freshwater resources around the world are under increasing pressure from agricultural activities. As a result, regulatory frameworks around on-farm environmental compliance have become more complex. Consequently, farm plans which have been used in New Zealand to identify risks to and develop mitigation strategies [...] Read more.
Freshwater resources around the world are under increasing pressure from agricultural activities. As a result, regulatory frameworks around on-farm environmental compliance have become more complex. Consequently, farm plans which have been used in New Zealand to identify risks to and develop mitigation strategies for freshwater quality can be time consuming and costly to develop and monitor. Using semi-structured interviews, this study investigated the views of the regulators working in environmental policy and implementation on the use of drones to increase the efficiency of on-farm environmental compliance. Results show that drones can improve process robustness by providing an aerial view, and that they are quicker and safer to use on steeper contoured farms. However, there is confusion around the permissions required in order to capture footage, its ownership and storage, and who has access rights to the footage. This ambiguity in the implementation of environmental regulations can lead to uncertainty on the part of policy implementors around how to integrate drones in on-farm environmental compliance. In addition, positive relationships between farmers and compliance officers are needed in order for the benefits of drone use to be realised for on-farm environmental compliance purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Innovation and Solution for Sustainable Agriculture)
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19 pages, 1964 KiB  
Article
Spatial Inequalities in Access to Micromobility Services: An Analysis of Moped-Style Scooter Sharing Systems in Barcelona
by Xavier Bach, Carme Miralles-Guasch and Oriol Marquet
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032096 - 22 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2321
Abstract
Micromobility services hold substantial potential in terms of promoting shared and electric-powered mobility modes, however, little is known about their accessibility and what shapes their spatial coverage. These two issues are important to understand how socially equitable these modes can really be and [...] Read more.
Micromobility services hold substantial potential in terms of promoting shared and electric-powered mobility modes, however, little is known about their accessibility and what shapes their spatial coverage. These two issues are important to understand how socially equitable these modes can really be and how public policies should manage their implementation in urban areas. Hence, this study examines the determinants of the spatial coverage of four moped-style scooter sharing services (MSS) in Barcelona. The article examines the socio-territorial characteristics of the coverage areas of each MSS, as defined in 2019, together with the minimum area that operators had to provide service in 2020 according to the local regulation. For each MSS, a binomial generalized linear mixed model is employed to predict the odds of each cadastral parcel being covered by the service and analyzed the main spatial determinants associated with it. The results suggest that territorial coverage is defined by centrality, household disposable income, and topography, with low-accessibility areas consistently omitted from services. The conclusions underline the need for the public sector to participate in the design of spatial coverage areas of MSS to guarantee spatial equity and transportation justice and avoid private sector designs that systematically exclude less attractive areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Technologies, Law and Policies)
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21 pages, 5108 KiB  
Article
Use of One-Stage Detector and Feature Detector in Infrared Video on Transport Infrastructure and Tunnels
by David Švorc, Tomáš Tichý, Miroslav Růžička and Petr Ivasienko
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2122; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032122 - 22 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1763
Abstract
This article presents the use of the combination of the object detection method and feature detector in an infrared video on traffic infrastructure and in tunnels. The theme of the paper is the validation of vehicle detection and its classification using infrared video [...] Read more.
This article presents the use of the combination of the object detection method and feature detector in an infrared video on traffic infrastructure and in tunnels. The theme of the paper is the validation of vehicle detection and its classification using infrared video streams. In addition, the article focuses on the use of a feature detector and object detection to distinguish between vehicles with electric and combustion motors. The method suggests the use of a low-resolution thermal camera as an inexpensive extension of installed thermal camera technologies. The developed system has been verified for the applicability of vehicle detection and classification using object detection methods and their application in transport infrastructure and tunnels. It also presents a method for distinguishing propulsion units into electric and internal combustion; both systems’ conclusions are then statistically verified. The application of the system is evident in regional traffic management systems, including safety applications for traffic control in tunnels. Categorizing vehicles provides valuable information for higher levels of traffic management, toll systems, and municipal database systems, as well as for a preventive system for estimating vehicle conditions and their potential of fire in tunnels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Transportation)
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23 pages, 2149 KiB  
Article
Development and Validation of a Scale to Assess Moral Disengagement in High-Carbon Behavior
by Susanne Stoll-Kleemann, Philipp Franikowski and Susanne Nicolai
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2054; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032054 - 21 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2144
Abstract
The reduction of individual carbon consumption could make an important contribution to the worldwide effort to limit global warming. Based on Bandura’s theory of moral disengagement, we hypothesized that the propensity to morally disengage concerning high-carbon behaviors (e.g., eating meat or traveling by [...] Read more.
The reduction of individual carbon consumption could make an important contribution to the worldwide effort to limit global warming. Based on Bandura’s theory of moral disengagement, we hypothesized that the propensity to morally disengage concerning high-carbon behaviors (e.g., eating meat or traveling by plane) is one important factor that prevents individuals from reducing their carbon footprint. To measure the propensity to morally disengage in high-carbon-related behavior contexts, a questionnaire (MD-HCB) was developed and psychometrically validated in an online study with a German sample (N = 220). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the final nine-item scale had a one-dimensional structure, as intended. The internal consistency of the scale was excellent (Cronbach’s α = 0.94) and the scale interpretation had predictive validity for both past low-carbon consumption behavior and the intention to engage in such behavior in the future. Correlational analyses with relevant existing instruments confirmed the construct validity of the interpretations that can be drawn from the MD-HCB, as its resulting score is related to, yet separable from, the general tendency to morally disengage and is meaningfully connected to related constructs. A pre-study with a student sample (N = 89) not only helped to identify limitations in the study design but also showed a weak predictive ability of moral competence concerning high-carbon consumption behavior and intention to change. Based on our findings, future media campaigns designed to increase people’s intention to reduce high-carbon behavior could focus on the modification of common cognitive disengagement strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Human Reaction: Transformation, Governance, Ethics, Law)
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20 pages, 11765 KiB  
Article
Port Competition through Hinterland Connectivity—A Case Study for Potential Hinterland Scope in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Regarding an Environmental Policy Measure
by Michael Gleser, Ralf Elbert and Hongjun Wu
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1980; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031980 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2432
Abstract
Comparable port efficiency among ports of the European northern range leads to a competitive shift toward hinterland connectivity. North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), having a high population and industry density and an extensive road, rail and waterway network, is prone to such inter port competition [...] Read more.
Comparable port efficiency among ports of the European northern range leads to a competitive shift toward hinterland connectivity. North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), having a high population and industry density and an extensive road, rail and waterway network, is prone to such inter port competition due to its proximity. Using a simulation model, the potential hinterland scope by each port and mode in NRW is depicted and a sensitivity analysis with increasing carbon tax rates is conducted. With an increasing tax rate, the scope for central areas of NRW, prone to a shift to rail transport, expands and become heavily contested among multiple ports. A major profiteer of an increase is projected to be the Port of Rotterdam due to its good connectivity at the cost of Antwerp. The market share of German ports is likely to stay the same with a mode shift occurring. Policy measures like a carbon tax not only have an effect on environmentally friendly mode shift but can severely impact the competitive situation of infrastructure components. While achieving the primary goal of transport sustainability, national interests might mandate the economical existence of a functioning maritime port, which leads to the consideration of additional measures when increasing carbon tax rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges of Environmental Protection in Sustainable Transportation Planning)
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25 pages, 2913 KiB  
Article
How Can We Frame Energy Communities’ Organisational Models? Insights from the Research ‘Community Energy Map’ in the Italian Context
by Lorenzo De Vidovich, Luca Tricarico and Matteo Zulianello
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1997; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031997 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2895
Abstract
According to the early transposition of the EU directives by the Italian government, this paper presents some of the outcomes of the qualitative-led applied research titled Community Energy Map, aimed at identifying the main operational models and organisational frameworks put in place [...] Read more.
According to the early transposition of the EU directives by the Italian government, this paper presents some of the outcomes of the qualitative-led applied research titled Community Energy Map, aimed at identifying the main operational models and organisational frameworks put in place for the development of renewable energy communities (RECs). In this respect, the article discusses a threefold subdivision of organisational models to implement RECs: public lead, pluralist, and community energy builders’ model. Furthermore, the paper illustrates in detail three of the nine case studies dedicated to recently launched RECs, conducted through qualitative fieldworks, to investigate the social and local implications generated by these community-led initiatives. The article stresses the relevance of both the local scale and community-led initiatives in the pathway towards a fair and just energy transition, by discussing how RECs define new organisational models of distributed energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Involvement of Crowds for Advancing Knowledge, Promoting Innovation and Nurturing New Entrepreneurial Ventures)
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22 pages, 9525 KiB  
Article
Experimental Analysis of the Thermal Performance of Wood Fiber Insulating Panels
by Francesco Asdrubali, Luca Evangelisti, Claudia Guattari, Marta Roncone and Daniele Milone
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1963; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031963 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2995
Abstract
During the last decades, attention to energy and environmental problems has significantly grown, along with the development of international and national policies addressing sustainability issues. In the construction sector, one of the most widespread energy efficiency strategies consists of thermal insulation of buildings [...] Read more.
During the last decades, attention to energy and environmental problems has significantly grown, along with the development of international and national policies addressing sustainability issues. In the construction sector, one of the most widespread energy efficiency strategies consists of thermal insulation of buildings thanks to external insulating panels. Among these, wood fiber is an insulating material characterized by a natural, eco-sustainable and biodegradable structure, coming from the recycling of waste wood from sawmills. The present study aimed to characterize small test building insulated with wood fiber panels from the thermal point of view, comparing the results with those of an identical, non-insulated reference test building. The experimental campaign highlighted several advantages and an excellent thermal performance provided by the eco-sustainable solution of wood fiber insulating panels: Lower values of the thermal transmittance (−57%), thus ensuring greater stability of the internal air temperature and better values in terms of attenuation (−60% in summer and −74 % in winter) and phase shift (+2 h in summer and +2.28 h in winter) compared to those obtained from the reference building. The material is also equipped with an Environmental Performance Declaration (EPD) that certifies its environmental benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Building Energy Efficiency)
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15 pages, 935 KiB  
Article
New Environmental Controversies: Towards a Typology of Green Conflicts
by Mikkel Fugl Eskjær and Anders Horsbøl
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1914; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031914 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2278
Abstract
As the ecological crisis deepen, new environmental controversies emerge. Whereas traditional environmental conflicts mostly concern socio-economic interests clashing with environmental protection, recent conflicts are increasingly pitting different environmental considerations against each other. These green conflicts have received scattered attention in the scholarly literature, [...] Read more.
As the ecological crisis deepen, new environmental controversies emerge. Whereas traditional environmental conflicts mostly concern socio-economic interests clashing with environmental protection, recent conflicts are increasingly pitting different environmental considerations against each other. These green conflicts have received scattered attention in the scholarly literature, mostly in the form of case studies in relation to renewable energy plants, such as wind turbines and solar panels. However, there is a need for more systematic approaches to conceptualize the green conflicts. This article embarks on that task by developing a typology of green conflicts as they appear in public discourse and mediated communication. We test the model on public debates on four different topics: national parks, organic farming, wind turbines, and nuclear energy. Our data suggests that green conflicts can increasingly be found across a wide range of environmental and climate change issues. However, green conflicts are not simply replacing traditional environmental conflicts, but are rather adding new layers to environmental controversies by reconfiguring conflict lines, actor positions, spatial scales, and temporalities. Full article
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16 pages, 25928 KiB  
Review
Research on Green and Low-Carbon Rural Development in China: A Scientometric Analysis Using CiteSpace (1979–2021)
by Bin Liu, Chan Lu and Chun Yi
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031907 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2427
Abstract
Green and low-carbon rural development (GLRD) is becoming an important way to explore sustainable development in rural areas of China. It is significant for the sustainable development of the rural economy and of society to build a rural carbon sink system, advocate low-carbon [...] Read more.
Green and low-carbon rural development (GLRD) is becoming an important way to explore sustainable development in rural areas of China. It is significant for the sustainable development of the rural economy and of society to build a rural carbon sink system, advocate low-carbon emissions in rural areas, and promote the development of rural green industries and rural transformation. In this study, the existing knowledge system of GLRD was analyzed using CiteSpace. Keywords related to GLRD and their occurrence frequency were identified using keyword co-occurrence analysis. The knowledge evolution stages of GLRD were explored using citation burst analysis. Thus, the evolution of the research related to GLRD was revealed. The summary of Chinese GLRD-related research literature shows that: (1) according to the CiteSpace analysis, the GLRD research can be divided into three stages: starting, rising, and expanding and deepening; (2) GLRD research has focused on low-carbon development, green development, and then green and low-carbon integrated development, thus forming three major research content systems; (3) GLRD’s research content gradually became rich, as over time, the research focus became increasingly prominent and research integration was gradually strengthened; (4) the GLRD literature still has some limitations, e.g., nonunified measurement standards, insufficient research depth and practical significance, and relatively weak innovative policy research; (5) future research should strengthen the scientific evaluation and prediction of rural green and low-carbon functions. The industrial development pathways and regional characteristic modes of GLRD should be further studied. Innovative GLRD policies should be proposed to provide a theoretical basis and decision-making reference for GLRD and construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cities and Regions – Statistical Approaches)
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24 pages, 1090 KiB  
Article
Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Welfare and Behavior Indicators of Broilers Fed Diets Supplemented with Yarrowia lipolytica Yeast
by Anna Dedousi, Sotiris I. Patsios, Maria-Zoi Kritsa, Konstantinos N. Kontogiannopoulos, Maria Ioannidou, Antonios Zdragas and Evangelia N. Sossidou
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1924; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031924 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1818
Abstract
This study investigated the dietary impact of dried Yarrowia lipolytica yeast (YLP) on the growth performance, meat quality, welfare and behavior indicators of broilers. It was performed in a commercial poultry farm using 108 13 day-old Ross 308 male broilers. The chicks were [...] Read more.
This study investigated the dietary impact of dried Yarrowia lipolytica yeast (YLP) on the growth performance, meat quality, welfare and behavior indicators of broilers. It was performed in a commercial poultry farm using 108 13 day-old Ross 308 male broilers. The chicks were randomly and equally divided into three dietary groups CON, YLP3 and YLP5, according to the incorporation rate of YLP in the feed (0%, 3%, and 5%, respectively). A positive effect on foot pad dermatitis (FPD) of YLP-fed broilers was observed without any adverse effects on welfare, behavior, meat quality and the overall growth performance of the broilers. YLP significantly decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) values in breast and thigh meat. YLP3 birds presented a superior nutrient quality of breast meat, as indicated by the increased concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), decreased levels of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), a better PUFA/SFA ratio and improved health lipid indices. A significant elevation of n-3 PUFAs was observed in the thigh meat of YLP-fed groups, compared to the CON groups. A positive effect on the overall sensory acceptance of thigh meat was detected in the YLP5 group. YLP feeding, at the rate of 3%, seems to be beneficial for improving the meat nutrition quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Poultry Management)
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20 pages, 3803 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Vehicular Pollutant Emissions at 4-Arm Intersections for the Improvement of Integrated Actions in the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs)
by Maksymilian Mądziel and Tiziana Campisi
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031860 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1793
Abstract
Sustainable urban mobility planning is a strategic and integrated approach that aims to effectively address the complexities of urban transportation. Additionally, vehicle emissions are still a significant problem found in cities. Its greatest concentration involves intersections, as they have the highest number of [...] Read more.
Sustainable urban mobility planning is a strategic and integrated approach that aims to effectively address the complexities of urban transportation. Additionally, vehicle emissions are still a significant problem found in cities. Its greatest concentration involves intersections, as they have the highest number of stop-and-go operations, resulting in the highest engine load. Although electrification of vehicles is underway, the coming years and the energy crisis may cause the full transformation and fulfillment of the European Green Deal to be postponed. This state of affairs means that much effort should still go into possibly modifying the current infrastructure to make it more environmentally friendly. The article addresses the use of vertical road markings such as “stop”, “give way”, and also signal controllers signs, at four-arm X intersections. The modeling of intersection variants was carried out in the traffic microsimulation software VISSIM. The created model was calibrated according to real world data. The actual part of the work concerns the assumption of specific traffic flow scenarios, for which measurements of delay and emissions of harmful exhaust components such as NOx and PM10 were made. The results obtained can have practical application in proposals for creating unequal intersections. Based on the results, it can be concluded that below the traffic volume value of 1200 vehicles/h, an intersection can be considered with a yield sign and stop sign for two directions of traffic. However, for traffic volumes from 1200 vehicles/h to 2000 vehicles/h, an intersection with stop signs can be used for all traffic directions. The results may also provide some information on the location of the crosswalks and the improvement of strategies to be introduced into the SUMPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Urban Health and Livable Cities: The Control and Management of Traffic-Related Air Pollution)
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14 pages, 1843 KiB  
Article
Phytoremediation of PAH- and Cu-Contaminated Soil by Cannabis sativa L.: Preliminary Experiments on a Laboratory Scale
by Ilaria Gabriele, Francesco Bianco, Marco Race, Stefano Papirio and Giovanni Esposito
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031852 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2119
Abstract
This study proposes the phytoremediation of phenanthrene (PHE)-, pyrene (PYR)-, and copper (Cu)-contaminated soil by Cannabis sativa L. The experimental campaign was conducted in 300 mL volume pots over a 50 d period using different initial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations, i.e., 100 [...] Read more.
This study proposes the phytoremediation of phenanthrene (PHE)-, pyrene (PYR)-, and copper (Cu)-contaminated soil by Cannabis sativa L. The experimental campaign was conducted in 300 mL volume pots over a 50 d period using different initial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations, i.e., 100 (PC1), 200 (PC2), and 300 (PC3) mg ƩPAHs kg−1 dry weight of soil, while maintaining a constant Cu concentration of 350 mg∙kg−1. PHE and PYR removal was 93 and 61%, 98 and 48%, and 97 and 36% in PC1, PC2, and PC3, respectively, in the greenhouse condition. The highest Cu extraction amounted to 58 mg∙kg−1. In general, the growth of C. sativa L. under the PC1, PC2, and PC3 conditions decreased by approximately 25, 65, and 71% (dry biomass), respectively, compared to the uncontaminated control. The present study is aimed at highlighting the phytoremediation potential of C. sativa L. and providing the preliminary results necessary for future field-scale investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel and Sustainable Environmental Preservation Strategies for Polluted Solid Matrix)
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