Search Results (806)

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software has long served as a foundation for planning and modeling in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC). In recent years, the introduction of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) has significantly reshaped the CAD landscape, offering novel interaction paradigms that bridge the gap between digital prototypes and real-world spatial understanding. These technologies have enabled users to engage with 3D architectural content in more immersive and intuitive ways, facilitating improved decision making and communication throughout design workflows. As digital design services grow more complex and span multiple media platforms—from desktop-based modeling to immersive AR/VR environments—evaluating usability and User Experience (UX) becomes increasingly challenging. This paper presents a longitudinal usability and UX study of a multiplatform house design pipeline (i.e., structured workflow for creating, adapting, and delivering house designs so they can be used seamlessly across multiple platforms) comprising a web-based application for initial house creation, a mobile AR tool for contextual exterior visualization, and VR applications that allow full-scale interior exploration and configuration. Together, these components form a unified yet heterogeneous service experience across different devices and modalities. We describe the iterative design and development of this system over three distinct phases (lasting two years), each followed by user studies which evaluated UX and usability and targeted different participant profiles and design maturity levels. The paper outlines our approach to cross-platform UX evaluation, including methods such as the Think-Aloud Protocol (TAP), standardized usability metrics, and structured interviews. The results from the studies provide insight into user preferences, interaction patterns, and system coherence across platforms. From both participant and evaluator perspectives, the iterative methodology contributed to improvements in system usability and a clearer mental model of the design process. The main research question we address is how iterative design and development affects the UX of the heterogeneous service. Our findings highlight important considerations for future research and practice in the design of integrated, multiplatform XR services for AEC, with potential relevance to other domains. Full article

Rural landscapes are changing rapidly, yet many assessments remain descriptive and weakly connected to planning instruments. This study connects rural landscape analysis with planning and management by examining post-earthquake transformations in Topaktaş (Tuşba, Van), a village redesigned and relocated after the 2011 events. Using ArcGIS 10.8 and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), we integrate DEM, slope, aspect, CORINE land cover Plus, surface-water presence/seasonality, and proximity to hazards (active and surface-rupture faults) and infrastructure (Karasu Stream, highways, village roads). A risk overlay is treated as a hard constraint. We produce suitability maps for settlement, agriculture, recreation, and industry; derive a composite optimum land-use surface; and translate outputs into decision rules (e.g., a 0–100 m fault no-build setback, riparian buffers, and slope thresholds) with an outline for implementation and monitoring. Key findings show legacy footprints at lower elevations, while new footprints cluster near the upper elevation band (DEM range 1642–1735 m). Most of the area exhibits 0–3% slopes, supporting low-impact access where hazards are manageable; however, several newly designated settlement tracts conflict with risk and water-service conditions. Although limited to a single case and available data resolutions, the workflow is transferable: it moves beyond mapping to actionable planning instruments—zoning overlays, buffers, thresholds, and phased management—supporting sustainable, culturally informed post-earthquake reconstruction. Full article

One of the sometimes-neglected fields is the landscape design of hospital premises. This study focuses on the perception and preferences of responders regarding hospital site design. The objective was to determine if people are aware of the benefits of restorative contact with nature and if there were preferences for any specific landscape type. The online questionnaire with color figures was distributed using emails and social media from 4th May to 2nd August 2024. Some 110 respondents returned the questionnaire. Most of the respondents were women under 25. Most respondents declared that the surroundings of the healthcare building influence the health and well-being of patients (96%) and health personnel (86%). The results confirmed the awareness of the importance of contact with nature (89%). Moreover, this study demonstrated a preference for calm garden compositions, stimulating physical and mental recovery with trees, flowers, and water features, as well as stabilized paths and sheltered sitting places. The results confirm previous studies and demonstrate the importance of landscape architecture design of hospital premises for the well-being of patients. The findings may influence urban landscape planning and the design of hospital sites. Full article

Rapid urbanization has resulted in widespread habitat loss and fragmentation, threatening global biodiversity. Urban parks serve as essential refuges for wildlife within cities, particularly for birds, which are sensitive indicators of ecosystem health and habitat quality. In recent years, numerous Chinese cities have begun integrating biodiversity-friendly design approaches into new park development. However, the effectiveness of these strategies remains insufficiently evaluated. This study assesses the ecological performance of newly built parks by examining 11 recently constructed parks (within the past decade) and 9 historical parks in Zhengzhou, China’s high-density urban area. Monthly bird surveys were conducted across all 20 parks from May to December 2020, covering breeding, post-breeding, and overwintering seasons. Our findings reveal that new parks significantly outperformed old parks in bird abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity index, and functional diversity. Analysis of environmental variables at both local (within-park) and landscape (1-km buffer) scales showed that habitat diversity and multi-layered vegetation structure were the most influential local factors promoting bird diversity, while green space connectivity was the primary landscape-scale contributor. Notably, neither park area nor age significantly predicted diversity patterns. Based on these results, we propose three key planning strategies: (1) enhancing habitat diversity within parks to support species from various ecological niches; (2) implementing multi-layered vegetation planting to provide diverse food resources and nesting opportunities; (3) improving green space connectivity to facilitate species movement and population persistence within urban environments. These findings provide valuable insights for designing more effective biodiversity-friendly urban green spaces. Full article

The cooling effect of urban forests has been widely investigated to support climate-adaptive spatial planning. However, studies on the impacts of key landscape drivers have often produced conflicting results, limiting their practical applicability. These inconsistencies may stem from an oversimplified focus on the global effects of individual factors, while neglecting non-linear threshold behaviors and pairwise interactions. To address this gap, this study employed an interpretable machine learning framework (XGBoost-SHAP) to quantify the seasonal non-linearities, thresholds, and interaction effects of landscape drivers on urban forest cooling in Suzhou, a subtropical Chinese city. The results indicate that the combined explanatory power of neighboring water body proportion (NWP), neighboring green space proportion (NGP), vegetation density (NDVI), spatial characteristics (Area, SHAPE), and elevation on the cooling intensity of urban forest patches was strongest in summer (R² = 0.615) and weakest in winter (R² = 0.316). Among these, NWP, NGP, and NDVI were the dominant drivers, while patch area and shape exhibited weaker marginal effects. NWP significantly enhances cooling only after exceeding seasonal critical thresholds (11%–15%). NGP contributed positively above ~40% in warm seasons but suppressed cooling above 37% in winter. Patch area exhibits a logarithmic relationship with cooling intensity, with a critical threshold of approximately 2.48 ha and saturation thresholds between 12 and 14 ha. SHAPE exerted positive effects in spring and winter, negative effects in summer, and a transition from negative to positive in autumn. Notably, significant, threshold-modulated interactions were identified, including those between NDVI and NWP, SHAPE and NDVI, SHAPE and NGP, NWP and NDVI, NWP and NGP, and NGP and NDVI. In each interaction, the first factor regulates and reverses the effect of the second once specific thresholds are exceeded. This study provides actionable, evidence-based guidance for the planning and optimized design of urban forests. Full article

The sustainable transformation of areas associated with mining is an essential contemporary challenge. In the course of such transformations, economic benefits are confronted with community criticism of heavy industry. In this context, the study examines spatial solutions implemented in the revitalisation of areas adjacent to active industrial sites. The article aims to characterise solutions applied in locations that elude a straightforward division into industrial and post-industrial. The motivations of the entities involved in the construction and the effects of implementing such projects are investigated. To achieve this aim, compositional and visual linkages in four locations (in Germany and Poland) were analysed, along with the intentions of designers and investors and the opinions of users. The study revealed the influence of political decisions on spatial solutions, an aspect not previously analysed, which has led to a limited understanding of the role they play in the transformation. It was indicated that drawing users’ attention to the aesthetic values of active industrial areas coincides with diverting attention from their nuisances. The discreet cooperation between local authorities, designers, and industry (as expressed in architectural solutions) was emphasised. The research opens a field for discussion on managing community perceptions through spatial solutions. Full article

We present the results of a Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey conducted at the archaeological site of Bisya and Salūt (Sultanate of Oman), aimed at assessing archaeological risk associated with the planned infrastructural development of the site. The survey employed a dual-frequency GPR system with a survey rugged cart to adapt to the varying conditions of the area. The survey was designed around a scale-adaptive grid strategy, across three sectors, combining medium- and low-definition acquisitions over broader areas to identify zones with low archaeological potential, with a high-density grid near previously excavated structures. Data interpretation was integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS)-based spatial mapping, allowing the definition of a parametric risk indicator for subsurface archaeological potential derived from radar facies characterisation and point-by-point anomaly analysis along GPR profiles. Within the area of higher density, the method successfully mapped buried alignments suggestive of anthropogenic features. The results confirmed the effectiveness of GPR as a predictive tool for archaeological prospection, particularly when combined with spatial analysis. Overall, this study highlights the feasibility of incorporating non-invasive methods into heritage protection strategies, contributing to the sustainable development and planning of archaeological landscapes. Full article

The traditional Arab-Islamic urban fabric of Riyadh, with its emphasis on privacy, social cohesion, and environmental adaptation, was radically disrupted when the 1970s Doxiadis master plan was implemented, transforming the city into a car-dependent gridiron design. The shift led to ever-spreading sprawl, reduced pedestrian-friendliness, and eroded local identity. Using Hegelian dialectics methodology, this paper proposes integration of fused grid theory and urban Islamic fractals geometry in the urban fabric of the city. Specifically for Riyadh, the proposed changes encourage urban quadrant nesting, change of block scale and layout, fractal landscape integration, and multi-modal permeability. These adaptations are intended to increase connectivity, reduce crash rates, minimize impacts on the environment, enhance walkability, and elevate overall quality of life. Full article

As unique geographical entities, island cities boast abundant ecological resources and profound cultural values, serving as critical hubs for maintaining ecosystem services in coastal transition zones. Ensuring the stability of ecosystem services is strategically significant for sustainable urban development, while the construction of Ecosystem Service Networks (ESNs) has emerged as a core strategy to enhance ecological functionality and mitigate systemic risks. Based on current research gaps, this study focuses on three key questions: (1) How to construct a Composite Ecosystem Service Index (CESI) for island cities? (2) How to identify the Ecosystem Service Networks (ESNs) of island-type cities? (3) How to optimize the ecosystem service networks of island cities? This study selects Pingtan Island as a representative case, innovatively integrating the InVEST and MaxEnt models to conduct a comprehensive assessment of ecological and cultural services. By employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a Composite Ecosystem Service Index (CESI) was established. The research follows a systematic technical approach to construct and optimize the ESN: landscape connectivity indices were applied to identify ecological source areas based on CESI outcomes; multidimensional resistance factors were integrated into the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model to develop the foundational ecological network; gradient buffer zone analysis and circuit theory were sequentially employed to refine the network structure and evaluate ecological efficacy. Key findings reveal: (1) Landscape connectivity analysis scientifically delineated 20 ecologically valuable source areas; (2) The coupled MCR model and circuit theory established a hierarchical ESN comprising 45 corridors (12 Level-1, 14 Level-2, and 19 Level-3), identifying 5.75 km² of ecological pinch points, 7.17 km² of ecological barriers, and 84 critical nodes—primarily concentrated in cultivated areas; (3) Buffer zone gradient analysis confirmed 30 m as the optimal corridor width for multi-scale planning; (4) Circuit theory optimization significantly enhanced network current density (1.653→8.224), demonstrating a leapfrog improvement in ecological service efficiency. The proposed “assessment–construction–optimization” integrated methodology establishes an innovative paradigm for deep integration of ecosystem services with urban spatial planning. These findings provide practical spatial guidance for island city planning, supporting corridor design, conservation prioritization, and targeted restoration, thereby enhancing ecosystem service efficiency, biodiversity protection, and resilience against coastal ecosystem fragmentation. Full article

Smart routing has emerged as a critical enabler of sustainable shipping, addressing the growing demand for energy-efficient, safe, and adaptive vessel navigation in both maritime and inland waterborne transport. This review examines the current landscape of trajectory optimization approaches by analyzing selected peer-reviewed studies and categorizing them into six thematic areas: AI/ML-based prediction, optimization and path planning algorithms, data-driven methods using AIS and GIS, weather routing and environmental modeling, digital platforms and decision support systems, and hybrid or rule-based frameworks for autonomous navigation. The analysis highlights recent advances in deep learning for trajectory forecasting, multi-objective and heuristic optimization techniques, and the use of real-time environmental data in routing decisions. Supplemental review using Scopus-based topic mapping confirms the centrality of integrated digital strategies, high-performance computing, and physics-informed modeling in emerging research. Despite notable progress, the field remains fragmented, with limited real-time integration, underexplored regulatory alignment, and a lack of explainable AI applications. The review concludes by outlining future directions, including the development of hybrid and interpretable optimization frameworks, and expanding research tailored to inland navigation with its distinct operational challenges. These insights aim to support the design of next-generation navigation systems that are robust, intelligent, and environmentally compliant. Full article

The integration of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into contemporary landscape planning is hampered by a lack of methodological frameworks that can translate site-specific practices into generalizable design principles. This study addresses this gap by developing and applying an integrated analytical framework to decode the resilient Ruza farming system in Nagaland, India. Employing a mixed-methods approach that triangulates qualitative data (ethnographic observation, semi-structured interviews) with spatial analysis (drone-based orthomosaics), this research moves beyond mere description to extract a set of transferable socio-ecological design principles. The findings identify four core principles such as vertical integration, gravity-fed resource flow, closed-loop resource cycling, and participatory governance, that underpin the system’s functionality. By demonstrating a clear methodological pathway from fieldwork to framework, this research contributes a replicable “methodological bridge” for landscape architects and planners. While derived from a single case study, the framework offers a robust approach for applying the logic of TEK to create climate-resilient and culturally grounded designs in diverse contexts. Full article

This research is an in-depth qualitative case study of a historic homestead in the town of Čekiškė, located in Lithuania, through the lens of sustainability aesthetics and cultural ecology. The research addresses a gap in the literature where aesthetic expressions of sustainability are predominantly examined in urban settings, while rural hybrid environments, intertwining urban and traditional features, remain underexplored. The homestead, with architectural and landscape features dating back to the early 20th century, was studied across four temporal stages: the interwar period (1922–1946), the early Soviet period (1946–1976), late Soviet to post-independence (1976–2021), and the period of a proposed vision for its sustainable development (2025 and beyond). The theoretical framework developed and applied in this research combines four complementary approaches: (1) the cultural ecology model by J. Steward, (2) environmental ethics trends (egocentrism, homocentrism, biocentrism, ecocentrism), (3) the principles of biophilic design, and (4) the ecological aesthetics framework by M. DeKay. Data collection included continuous qualitative in-depth on-site observations, analysis of the relevant literature sources, archival documents and photographs, and the recording of information in photographs and drawings. The findings reveal nuanced and evolving aesthetic expressions of sustainability tied to cultural practices, land use, ownership attitudes, and environmental perception. While earlier periods of development of the analyzed homestead reflected utilitarian and homocentric relations with the environment, later stages showed increased detachment from ecological sensitivity, resulting in the degradation of both material and intangible heritage; future perspectives of the homestead being transformed into a private museum, actualizing heritage through sustainability aesthetics, were also presented. The study highlights the role of tacit knowledge and lived experience in shaping hybrid sustainable aesthetics and provides insights for design and landscape planning in rural and small town heritage contexts. The research reveals that sustainability aesthetics in rural hybrid spaces is shaped by a confluence of environmental adaptation, socio-cultural transitions, and embedded values. It argues for a more context-sensitive and historically aware approach to sustainability discourse, particularly in heritage conservation and rural development. Full article

Navigating and planning optimal paths for resource delivery algorithms poses significant physical and technical challenges in urban areas, primarily due to the limitations of existing infrastructure. As smart cities continue to develop, the importance of these algorithms becomes increasingly evident. The saturation of current urban landscapes exacerbates the complexity of navigating essential resources. Navigating densely connected networks can be intricate and often requires substantial computational resources or additional algorithms, as it can easily transform into an NP problem. Unfortunately, there is a lack of explicit algorithms designed for navigating these networks, resulting in a dependence on heuristic approaches and previous network systems. This reliance can create computational challenges, as navigation in this context typically involves a combinatorial search space. Current advances in Morphological Mathematics (MM) help to model everyday tasks as processes in discrete spaces, which take advantage of the properties offered by the morphological operators. Morphological Shortest-Path-Planning (MSPP) is a recent solution that effectively calculates the optimal trajectory within complex graphs. By utilizing morphological operators, this approach takes into account discrete properties and maps the process as a complete implementation algorithm using integer logic. In larger cities, determining the optimal delivery route and time from a resource center is a common task. This process is influenced by factors such as average speed, travel time, and distance, which generate a complex graph representation of the town, complicating its analysis. This paper presents a strategy for computing and analyzing delivery times by determining the accessibility of reliable paths from a delivery center to potential destinations in dense urban areas. The strategy presented and the use of the MSPP approach are suitable for calculating the time spent delivering and the distance traveled in working journeys. The MSPP approach is found to be nearly $60\%$ more efficient than the reference approach for computing the optimal path in the case study presented. Full article

In an increasingly interconnected and sustainability-driven digital landscape, effective risk management and robust information security practices are essential not only for protecting organizational assets but also for ensuring long-term operational resilience and regulatory compliance, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which aim to grow but have limited resources. This paper presents the development of a practical framework and a supporting application—GestionAVR—for implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that integrates structured risk management processes. The research presents some theoretical insights and practitioners’ input, with a focus on the needs of SMEs. The framework includes a predefined set of categorized risks across four key areas: organizational, personnel, physical, and technological. Designed for usability and adaptability, the GestionAVR application facilitates risk identification, prioritization, monitoring, and continuous improvement. Validated through a case study in the engineering sector, the solution proved to be effective in enhancing decision-making, reducing time spent on planning, and minimizing overlooked vulnerabilities. Future developments include integration of sustainability indicators aligning with recent updates to ISO 27001 standards, AI-based data analysis and automated reporting. This research offers a customizable and cost-effective tool that supports information security and sustainable organizational development. Full article

What key characteristics of forest sites and trails contribute to enjoyable and healthy immersive nature experiences for visitors? Previous research has helped identify the conceptual structure and criteria important in facilitating successful experiences, but there remains a knowledge gap in translating this information into operational guidelines. To address this gap, the present work used a descriptive inventory approach combining field research with a variety of secondary data to develop a protocol for assessing four site level criteria (beauty, integrity, tranquility, accessibility) and six trail level criteria (ease of travel, attractiveness of layout, natural features, built features, explorable nature, interpretation and stewardship). Through an iterative process, the protocol was refined and applied to selected sites (n = 56) and trails (n = 157) in two study areas in metropolitan Chicago, Illinois, and the rural Northwoods of Wisconsin. Qualitative and quantitative information describes preferred conditions across criteria, while quantitative ratings highlight commonalities and differences between urban and rural sites and trails. Although the principal focus was on foot trails, sub-analyses show how the criteria can apply to bike and paddle trails. With regional adaptations, the protocol has utility for the planning and design of new and management of existing trails for the growing practice of forest therapy and related forms of nature-based recreation. Full article