Search Results (35)

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has reshaped global trade and infrastructure, with port cities as key nodes in its Maritime Silk Road. Quantifying their spatiotemporal development is challenging due to data limitations in emerging economies. This study employs VIIRS nighttime light (NTL) data from 2013 to 2023 to analyze urbanization patterns in twelve BRI port cities spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. We compile a 12-city cohort; inferential analyses are conducted for a pre-specified six-city subset, while descriptive NTL trends cover all 12. This study makes three contributions: (i) we assemble a cross-sensor harmonized VIIRS NTL record for 12 BRI port cities during 2013–2023; (ii) we integrate Standard Deviational Ellipse(SDE) parameters with rank-size dynamics as a joint diagnostic of urban hierarchy; and (iii) we triangulate NTL with external indicators (GDP, population, port throughput) to validate interpretation. Three key findings emerge: Asian ports experienced pronounced NTL growth, with Singapore approaching saturation, consistent with the luminosity-ceiling hypothesis; SDE analysis shows varied expansion patterns shaped by geophysical and policy factors; and rank-size trends indicate decentralization during the BRI decade, with |q| declining in most cities, challenging the primate-city model. To optimize development, we highlight polycentric infrastructure investment, institutionalized NTL monitoring, and green port certification aligned with sustainability goals. Full article

As a dynamic driver of globalization, tourism is a rapidly expanding and highly visible sector in the global economy, playing a substantial role in a country’s GDP. In recent years, scholars and policymakers have placed growing emphasis on integrating economic, cultural, social, and environmental sustainability into tourism practices and planning. In the era of globalization, Uzbekistan must strike a delicate balance between commercial potential and the conservation of its priceless cultural and natural riches as its tourism sector expands. Furthermore, the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva along the Silk Road were chosen as case studies to enhance our comprehension of the correlation between tourism growth and sustainability. This research aims to contribute to sustainable tourism in Uzbekistan through an in-depth analysis using various frameworks, including Glocal RPMs, SANEL HERMES, Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The study’s findings indicate a consistent growth and advancement in the tourism industry of Uzbekistan. Nevertheless, several conditions and activities in Uzbekistan are not viable in terms of their impact on the economy, society, ecology, and tourism industry. So, this study recommends that, by applying its findings to the cities, the poor conditions and activities affecting the tourism industry along the Silk Road could be addressed as opportunities for sustainable development. Full article

High-density cities have obvious characteristics of compact urban spatial form and intensive land use in terms of spatial environment, and have always been a topic of academic focus. As a typical coastal historical district, the Macau Peninsula pier district (mainly the Macau Inner Harbour) has a high building density and a low average street width, forming a vertical coastline development model that directly converses with the ocean. This area is adjacent to Macau’s World Heritage Site and directly related to the Marine trade functions. The distribution pattern of cultural heritage linked by the ocean has strengthened Macau’s unique positioning as a node city on the Maritime Silk Road. This text is based on the theory of urban development, integrates spatial syntax and POI analysis techniques, and combines the theories of waterfront regeneration, high-density urban form and post-industrial urbanism to integrate and deepen the theoretical framework, and conduct a systematic study on the urban spatial characteristics of the coastal area of the Macau Peninsula. This study found that (1) Catering and shopping facilities present a dual agglomeration mechanism of “tourism-driven + commercial core”, with Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro as the main axis and radiating to the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Praça de Ponte e Horta, respectively. Historical blocks and tourist hotspots clearly guide the spatial center of gravity. (2) Residential and life service facilities are highly coupled, reflecting the spatial logic of “work-residence integration-service coordination”. The distribution of life service facilities basically overlaps with the high-density residential area, forming an obvious “living circle + community unit” structure with clear spatial boundaries. (3) Commercial and transportation facilities form a “functional axis belt” organizational structure along the main road, with the Rua das Lorchas—Rua do Almirante Sérgio axis as the skeleton, constructing a “functional transmission chain”. (4) The spatial system of the Macau Peninsula pier district has transformed from a single center to a multi-node, network-linked structure. Its internal spatial differentiation is not only constrained by traditional land use functions but is also driven by complex factors such as tourism economy, residential migration, historical protection, and infrastructure accessibility. (5) Through the analysis of space syntax, it is found that the core integration of the Macau Peninsula pier district is concentrated near Pier 16 and the northern area. The two main roads have good accessibility for motor vehicle travel, and the northern area of the Macau Peninsula pier district has good accessibility for long and short-distance walking. Full article

The trematodes Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica are transmitted by lymnaeid snails and cause fascioliasis in livestock and humans. Human infection is emerging in southern and southeastern Asia. In India, the number of case reports has increased since 1993. This multidisciplinary study analyzes the epidemiological scenario of human infection. The study reviews the total of 55 fascioliasis patients, their characteristics, and geographical distribution. Causes underlying this emergence are assessed by analyzing (i) the climate change suffered by India based on 40-year-data from meteorological stations, and (ii) the geographical fascioliasis hotspots according to archeological–historical records about thousands of years of pack animal movements. The review suggests frequent misdiagnosis of the wide lowland-distributed F. gigantica with F. hepatica and emphasizes the need to obtain anamnesic information about the locality of residence and the infection source. Prevalence appears to be higher in females and in the 30–40-year age group. The time elapsed between symptom onset and diagnosis varied from 10 days to 5 years (mean 9.2 months). Infection was diagnosed by egg finding (in 12 cases), adult finding (28), serology (3), and clinics and image techniques (12). Climate diagrams and the Wb-bs forecast index show higher temperatures favoring the warm condition-preferring main snail vector Radix luteola and a precipitation increase due to fewer rainy days but more days of extreme rainfall, leading to increasing surface water availability and favoring fascioliasis transmission. Climate trends indicate a risk of future increasing fascioliasis emergence, including a seasonal infection risk from June–July to October–November. Geographical zones of high human infection risk defined by archeological–historical analyses concern: (i) the Indo-Gangetic Plains and corridors used by the old Grand Trunk Road and Daksinapatha Road, (ii) northern mountainous areas by connections with the Silk Road and Tea-Horse Road, and (iii) the hinterlands of western and eastern seaport cities involved in the past Maritime Silk Road. Routes and nodes are illustrated, all transhumant–nomadic–pastoralist groups are detailed, and livestock prevalences per state are given. A baseline defining areas and seasons of high infection risk is established for the first time in India. This is henceforth expected to be helpful for physicians, prevention measures, control initiatives, and recommendations for health administration officers. Full article

Cultural Heritage Sites (CHS) serve as tangible evidence of regional human–environment interactions and spatial representation of historical memory. The research developed a Xinjiang CHS database and integrated geographic information technology and historical geography research methods to examine the spatio-temporal distribution evolution characteristics and geographic influencing factors in the arid region. It utilized the nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, the center of gravity model, and standard deviation ellipse to explore the spatio-temporal evolution law. Furthermore, it employed spatial overlay and qualitative text to analyze the geographical influence mechanism of the CHS. The results showed the following: (1) The CHS spatial distribution showed a pattern of “multicore agglomeration-linear extension”, concentrated in 13 key cities and four major areas that extended along the Silk Road routes. (2) The CHS diachronic development fluctuated in a pattern of “three peaks and three valleys”. The spatial center of gravity has shifted from southern Xinjiang to northern Xinjiang, manifesting a concentrated-diffused characteristic along the northeast–southwest axis. (3) The spatial selection followed the rules of “preferring lower terrain” and “proximity to water”. The elevation distribution of CHS has shifted from mid-high elevations to low elevations. The proportion of CHS on low-slope terrain increased from 78.6% in the Pre–Qin period to 93.02% in Modern History. 93.02% of CHS in Modern History were distributed within the 10 km buffer zone of rivers. (4) Climate aridity and human activities formed a dynamic influence mechanism; natural factors constructed the base pattern of CHS distribution, and human activities drove the dynamic adjustment. The findings revealed the historical trajectory and driving logic of the evolution of CHS in Xinjiang and provided a scientific basis for cultural heritage protection and ecological governance. This study had limitations in terms of the limited research scope and the lack of comprehensive quantitative analysis of influencing factors. Full article

This study examines Xi’an’s spatial evolution using Historical GIS (HGIS) methodologies, integrating Space Syntax and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE). Analyzing six historical periods—from the Five Dynasties to the early PRC—it highlights Xi’an’s transformation from a centralized structure reinforcing political hierarchies to a decentralized, polycentric city shaped by economic diversification and industrialization. Centralized layouts in the early periods supported governance and military control, while the Ming and Qing periods saw decentralization driven by trade and cultural exchange via the Silk Road. The PRC era introduced industrial expansion, creating specialized zones but reducing the integration of the historical core. This study bridges historical narratives with quantitative spatial analysis, revealing often-overlooked socio-spatial dynamics. It offers lessons for urban planning, emphasizing polycentric development, adaptive reuse of historical spaces, and equitable growth. Balancing modernization with heritage preservation is a key theme, providing a sustainable model for historic cities. By integrating historical and spatial analysis, this research provides strategies to balance cultural heritage with urban development. This ensures that Xi’an remains a dynamic city that blends history and modernity. Full article

This study investigates the presence and spatial extent of saline water and seawater intrusion in the Subiya Peninsula, Kuwait, a region designated for the establishment of the new Silk City. We collected transient electromagnetic (TEM) data at 63 stations using a coincident loop setup on a regional, as well as local, scale. The data were analyzed through conventional 1D inversion techniques, including Occam and Levenberg–Marquardt methods, to create detailed resistivity models of the subsurface. Our findings indicate significant variations in groundwater salinity, with increased salinity towards the coast and partly decreasing resistivity with depth, suggesting a transition from brackish to saline water. In the northern region, close to the Abdali farms and Al-Raudhatain freshwater fields, groundwater remains fresher at greater depths, while in the south, saline conditions are encountered, occurring at shallower depths. Local scale analysis reveals potential saltwater intrusion pathways and highlighted geological features such as faults. A thorough understanding of the hydrogeological conditions is crucial, as saltwater injection for oil recovery is common in Kuwait, and may correlate with present-day seismic activity. These insights are critical for the sustainable planning and development of Silk City, emphasizing the necessity for further geophysical studies and borehole data to ensure construction safety and sustainable water supply management. This research provides a foundational understanding of the hydrogeological conditions essential for the successful implementation of the Silk City project and for groundwater management in northern Kuwait. Full article

The “Belt and Road” initiative centrally embodies the Chinese government’s new concept of further strengthening regional cooperation and opening up to the outside world. The “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” (MSR) is a key component of this initiative. This study uses the MSR policy as a quasi-natural experiment to explore its impact on the efficiency of China’s coastal ports and the mechanisms underlying this effect, employing a difference-in-differences (DID) model based on panel data from major coastal ports in China between 2011 and 2022. The study finds that the policy of the MSR can significantly contribute to the efficiency of ports along the route, and this conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests that take into account endogeneity issues and the exclusion of other policy interferences. From the analysis of heterogeneity, the construction of the MSR can effectively promote port efficiency in the southern region and large cities. From the perspective of the impact mechanism, this policy mainly promotes port efficiency by mentioning the optimization of the human capital structure, the improvement of the level of industrialization, and the construction of infrastructure. The conclusions of the study are of great significance in the advancement of high-quality sustainable development of ports along China’s routes. Full article

The Silk Road connected the east of Iran to the western world. Roue city is close to the Road. Six glass samples from Roue were classified on the basis of morphology, archaeological context and compositions. The samples were analysed by means of XRF and Raman spectroscopy and two specific groups, namely Roue type 1 and Roue type 2, with close composition to high alumina plant-ash glass in circulation from the 6th to 10th centuries CE in Mesopotamia, Iran and Syria, were identified. The simultaneous occurrence of two types of glass in the excavated layers shows that the house was inhabited in the early Islamic period. Colours (black, amber-green, light and aqua blue) were produced mainly by the amount of iron and sulphur ions required for the amber chromophore and copper ions for the blue colour and the controlling of reducing conditions in the furnace. Full article

Building on the observation of gaps in current research, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the spatial patterns of heritage sites along the Silk Road, focusing on how historical trade routes shaped what are now recognized as heritage sites. Using data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List, the research examines heritage sites across Eurasia and North Africa, with a specific emphasis on the Silk Road corridors. This study employs a spatiotemporal approach, categorizing sites into northern overland routes and southern maritime routes to highlight regional variations in network development. The key findings of this study reveal the significant influence of historical trade routes on the development of settlements, cities, and cultural landmarks along the Silk Road. These findings identify clear trends in the Silk Road network’s evolution over time, illustrating a shift in its spatial focus across different historical periods. Initially, the network was centered in the eastern Mediterranean during the Classical Period. In the medieval period, this focus expanded to include a dual core area in both the eastern Mediterranean and Central Asia. By the late Medieval period, the network had shifted again, with a new core emerging in Europe. This chronological and spatial analysis allows for a detailed examination of the Silk Road network’s heritage landscape evolution. The study underscores the interconnectedness of heritage sites across these regions, contributing to a deeper understanding of how landscape connectivity and trade network dynamics evolved over time. Furthermore, by identifying patterns of network development and shifts in centrality and density, this research offers valuable insights for the conservation and management of heritage landscapes. These findings are particularly crucial for preserving the historical and cultural integrity of Silk Road heritage sites. Full article

Following the Belt and Road, the Air Silk Road has also been proposed. The coordinated development of multiple transportation modes, including air, land, and water, will create a strong transportation force in node cities. However, the current insufficient supply of cargo in various regions and the lack of integration among different transportation modes result in low transportation efficiency, which in turn affects the further advancement of the Belt and Road. To investigate these issues and attempt to find a solution, we selected 44 candidate cities from the prefecture-level cities in China as nodes based on relevant government policies, and constructed an integrated transportation network. For each node city, we first calculated the values of six classical indicators and then used the CRITIC to assign weights to each indicator. Subsequently, we employed the TOPSIS method combined with Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) to compute the comprehensive score for each node city. Based on the spatial layout and government policies under the BRI, eight cities, including Wuhan, Chongqing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Lianyungang, Hefei, and Dalian, were finally recommended as the consolidation centers of the integrated transportation network. It is hoped that the results of this analysis can provide some insights for the government to outline and build the consolidation centers of the integrated transportation network composed of railway, air, highway, and water routes, which in turn can offer insights for elevating the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to a new level. Full article

The advent of the Metaverse, a convergence of virtual and physical realities, presents unprecedented opportunities for promoting cultural tourism along the historic Silk Roads within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework. However, this emerging technology’s potential remains largely unexplored in the context of cultural heritage preservation and its promotion. The aim of this study is to address this gap by empirically examining how the Metaverse can be harnessed to improve tourists’ experiences, support sustainable tourism development, and promote cultural exchange along the Silk Roads. In this study, we employed a mixed-methods approach grounded in attribution theory, using both surveys and semi-structured interviews with Silk Road tourists who had been exposed to Metaverse applications. To investigate the relationships between Metaverse features, tourists’ attributions, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions, we used structural equation modeling and thematic analysis. The findings revealed that perceived immersion, avatar identification, and cultural authenticity significantly influenced tourists’ internal, stable, and controllable attributions. Interviews further highlighted the Metaverse’s potential to promote accessibility, interpretation, and engagement with Silk Road heritage, while also raising sociocultural and ethical considerations. This paper also showcases the development of Metaverse digital twin prototypes for several iconic Silk Road cities to demonstrate the potential for participatory virtual environments to promote cultural heritage preservation, accessibility, and sustainable tourism. The study’s findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of Metaverse tourism and the application of attribution theory, offering practical insight for the responsible and effective harnessing of this transformative technology. This research provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, destination managers, and technology providers to optimize the Metaverse’s potential for cultural tourism along the Silk Roads. This has great potential in promoting the BRI’s connectivity and cooperation objectives. This paper lays the foundation for future research and responsible innovation at the intersection of emerging technologies, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism development. Full article

One avenue for creating climate adaptation that has not yet been investigated is the urbanization process. Using ideas from nature seems to be a viable strategy for cities facing this problem. Investigating whether biomimicry concepts may enhance urban settings is the focus of this abstract. Long-term sustainability is promised by the creation of materials and structures that mimic nature and natural processes, in addition to addressing climate adaption. Natural disasters may be addressed more effectively with the use of biomimicry, which draws inspiration from biological processes and aims to prolong civilizations. In addition, a number of contemporary biomimetic solutions will be examined, along with their impacts, including structural organizsation inspired by honeycombs, batteries inspired by electric eels, spiders as a source of silk, and gecko stickiness in adhesive techniques. In addition to promoting sustainability, examining these tried-and-true natural solutions enhances the robustness and efficiency of engineered materials and buildings. By combining interdisciplinary research and a literature review, this study uncovers the untapped potential of biomimicry and urban evolution to provide adaptable solutions that align with the equilibrium of natural ecosystems. As cities grow and adapt to these obstacles, incorporating biomimicry into materials and buildings is a key but understudied characteristic. Urbanization’s revolutionary potential based on biomimicry principles is highlighted in this abstract, laying the groundwork for future research. Full article

With the increasing global emphasis on green development, industrial green development (IGD) has gradually gained attention as a crucial component of sustainable development. However, there is limited research evaluating and analyzing the IGD of cities with slow economic development and a high resource endowment. Utilizing empirical data gathered from cities in the northwest segment of the Silk Road Economic Belt spanning from 2009 to 2018, this research employs the entropy-weighted TOPSIS model to establish an indicator framework for evaluating IGD. Subsequently, this paper analyzes the impact of factors such as the economic foundation, innovation capacity and crucial guarantee on IGD, as well as the spatial spillover effects in cities of the northwest segment of the Silk Road Economic Belt using spatial panel data and the spatial Durbin model. The results indicate that the IGD levels of urban clusters exhibit the characteristics of plate-ladder-type difference, being “excellent in the southeast, good in the middle, and inferior in the northwest” displaying fluctuating upward trends and spatial clustering over time. Additionally, the degree of opening up also positively impacts IGD, while the level of economic development has a detrimental effect on IGD. Human capital and environmental regulations demonstrate notable spatial spillover effects on IGD. Our study enriches the evaluation system for IGD and provides recommendations for the industrial green transformation of cities along the Silk Road Economic Belt. Full article

The ferry from Havana to Regla, Cuba, transports visitors from today’s cruise ship docks across a brief stretch of water in about 20 min. Despite its brevity, this watery passage symbolically foregrounds the Marian devotion on the southern rim of the grand harbor. In this way, water conjoins African diasporic histories of enslavement, labor, survival, resistance, daily life, and religiosity within Havana Bay, into which two urban geographies project. Regla historically served as a municipality for dockworkers and shipwrights and became an enclave for identity creation, civil association, and religious worship for people of African descent. The church and sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Regla (“Our Lady of Regla”) has nurtured this connection as it houses effigies of the venerated Virgin, adorned in blue. The Virgin of Regla represents one of two, along with El Cobre, of the most important Marian devotions on the island of Cuba and is the focus of insular and diasporic pilgrimage. In Regla, the Virgin’s nautical iconography decorates the sanctuary and historically connects her to the working populations who sustained this devotion as they serviced Havana Harbor with their labor. Adjacent to the church is a waterfront park that looks out on the water and the city of Havana beyond. Bordered on one side by a low wall, the park incorporates a large ceiba tree, ceiba pentandra, also known as the silk cotton or kapok tree, a tropical species with a large trunk and spreading tree canopy native to Mexico and Central America, the Caribbean, northern South America, and West Africa (with a similar variety found in South and Southeast Asia). This article considers landscape as a methodology for examining the interplay of this tree and the adjacent church as interwoven and mutually reinforcing sites of devotion for the worship of the Virgin Mary and the oricha Yemayá in Regla, Cuba, with a view toward a broader set of local and global spaces. Full article