Search Results (339)

The growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the rapid expansion of public charging infrastructure pose new challenges and opportunities for energy systems, particularly in urban settings. This study presents an optimization-based evaluation of different EV charging strategies including direct charging, average-based methods, smart charging, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) at public parking lots using real-world charging session data. This data-driven model is set to optimize the public EV charging of vehicles in Gothenburg, without sacrificing on the energy requirement while minimizing charging costs for the operators. Results indicate that direct charging scenarios lead to significantly higher peak loads (up to 1286 kW) and costs (around 370 k€), highlighting their inefficiency under unmanaged operation. In contrast, smart charging reduces peak loads by approximately 47% and overall costs by around 74%, showcasing its potential for cost-effective grid-friendly operation. Two different V2G scenarios were tested based on the impact of discharged power accounted for in peak costs, though it enables energy discharge back to the grid, the benefits remain modest under current assumptions due to tight operational constraints and limited incentives. The study emphasizes the value of smart optimization and appropriate market design in enhancing the flexibility and cost efficiency of public EV charging systems. Full article

Electric scooters (e-scooters) have rapidly integrated into university transportation networks; however, there is limited empirical understanding of users’ and non-users’ perceptions, which is essential for developing effective and inclusive policies. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the differential perceptions of e-scooter adoption, safety, and policy preferences at Louisiana State University (LSU). A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was administered to 1036 respondents (592 users and 444 non-users). Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests and Binary Logistic Regression, were used to identify key perceptual differences and behavioral predictors of e-scooter usage. Results show that users were predominantly male undergraduates, with speed (90%) and convenience (61%) as the primary motivators. Users were over 12 times more likely to perceive e-scooters as safer than walking. In contrast, non-users cited frequent scooter misplacement (84%) as their top barrier to adoption. Logistic regression confirmed that concern about misplacement (Odds Ratio = 0.076) and support for restrictive policies were strong negative predictors of use, while belief in safety and low cost were positive predictors. These findings may help inform campus micromobility policy discussions. The strong negative perceptions associated with scooter misplacement suggest that designated parking hubs and geofencing strategies could help improve campus operations and pedestrian accessibility. In addition, because safety perception was identified as an important predictor of e-scooter use, targeted safety awareness and educational initiatives may help improve rider behavior and address perceived operational safety concerns. This strategy ensures a balance between user adoption incentives and the safety/accessibility needs of the entire university community. Full article

Accurate simulation of landfalling typhoons is essential for urban resilience in the densely populated Pearl River Delta. Using Super Typhoon Mangkhut (2018) as a case study, this paper evaluates the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model through a contribution analysis designed to disentangle the roles of surface layer, planetary boundary layer (PBL), urban canopy model (UCM), and eddy-coefficient/diffusion closure parameterizations in wind-hazard prediction. Model results are validated against observations at the Hong Kong Observatory headquarters (HKO) and King’s Park (KP) stations, demonstrating that the hierarchy of physical controls is strongly metric-dependent. Substantial and structured spread is found among the tested configurations. Controlled comparisons show that PBL selection is the primary driver of variability in peak timing and high-wind persistence, whereas surface-layer formulation and diffusion closure exert secondary but systematic influences by shifting distributional centers and reshaping variability and upper tails. Urban canopy effects are comparatively weaker in aggregate but become more apparent during the impact and recovery phases. Overall, the results confirm that no single parameterization is consistently optimal across all metrics and motivate a multi-objective physics-selection strategy, in which multi-physics ensembles are used to better represent uncertainty in wind-event duration and associated loading risks in complex urban environments. Full article

At this stage, China is entering a phase of development characterized by both an aging population and a declining birth rate. As a vital link between individuals and the city, communities face a dual challenge: on the one hand, demographic shifts have revealed that public spaces and facilities struggle to meet the diverse needs of residents of all ages; on the other hand, traditional planning often focuses on a single spatial dimension and lacks systematic research into residents’ temporal–spatial behaviors and interactions among diverse groups, leading to inefficient use of space and frequent conflicts over public activities. To this end, this paper conducts temporal–spatial behavior planning with the goal of maximizing the efficiency of activities and the utilization of time and space, taking into account the needs of different age groups. A case study was conducted using the Tuolejia District in Nanjing as an example. Based on intelligent data analysis and implementation, the results show that during the day, recreational spaces for children and adolescents in this neighborhood are more concentrated, with an utilization rate of over 85%. The amount of accessible space for seniors aged 60 and older has increased by approximately 30% (with a significant improvement in accessibility for the group of seniors aged 80 and older, who account for about 9% of the total). At night, the utilization rate of parking spaces for residents and visitors in the neighborhood exceeds 80%. This planning approach transcends the limitations of a single spatial dimension and proposes an integrated strategy for time-sharing, multi-objective optimization, and behavioral incentives in community public spaces designed to address intergenerational conflicts. It provides a practical framework and practical support for advancing the renewal of age-friendly communities. Full article

Urbanisation has led to dramatic alterations in pre-existing natural environments, resulting in several subsequent phenomena, such as the disappearance of habitats suitable for many plant and animal species and the concurrent arrival of generalist and non-native species, contributing to environmental homogenisation. Towns and cities serve as crossroads for transport, people, and animals, making them susceptible to colonisation by many types of plant species, dispersed either intentionally or unintentionally by these biotic vectors. Abiotic vectors, such as wind and water, also influence the composition of vegetation assemblages. Urban spontaneous vegetation occurs in (1) undisturbed areas, including brownfield sites, commons, and marginal lots, and (2) disturbed sites, such as green areas, parks, lawns (not subject to weeding), ancient monuments and walls, peripheral and industrial areas, and railways. When disturbance occurs, vegetation remains at early successional stages. Within this framework, with the aim of comparing existing contradictions and identifying knowledge gaps, we reviewed the literature on the characteristics of spontaneous plants and vegetation in urban areas, the different habitats in which they grow, the ecosystem services they provide, and management strategies, considering human perception. Our results highlight that studies on spontaneous plants are well-developed in terms of botany and ecology; however, some gaps remain, particularly regarding their integration into urban design and maintenance practices. Concerning public perception and acceptance, cultural and geographical differences emerged that deserve further investigation. In conclusion, spontaneous plants can represent a valuable heritage for cities, helping to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis. Full article

Conventional multi-criteria decision-making approaches for battery energy storage system (BESS) dispatch evaluation treat regulatory and policy conditions as compensable criteria within a single aggregate score. This becomes problematic when institutional admissibility functions as a prerequisite for deployment rather than a tradeable attribute. This study aims to develop and test a sequential gate framework. The methodological contribution lies in the evaluation architecture itself: the framework distinguishes sequential admissibility gating from conventional compensatory Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM). Deployment feasibility is conceptualized as a layered construct in which regulatory admissibility defines the feasible solution space and technical performance differentiates among admissible options. The framework integrates systematic literature screening, quantitative policy and regulatory assessment, and technical ranking using a hybrid Best-Worst Method, Entropy weighting, and TOPSIS approach. A Danish case study covering twelve dispatch strategies compares the proposed sequential design with two flat alternatives. The results show that the evaluation architecture materially affects outcomes: sequential gating excludes an institutionally incomplete strategy and reorders the upper tier by removing compensatory policy effects. Coordinated multi-BESS control at Electric Vehicle charging parks achieves the highest combined feasibility (closeness coefficient 0.891, ranked 1st), while mobile BESS is excluded by the admissibility gate. The sequential design reorders the upper tier relative to flat MCDM, with S4 and S6 rising and S2 and S10 falling once policy compensation is neutralized after the gate. The top-ranked strategy remains robust across sensitivity analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, score perturbation, and VIKOR cross-validation. The framework is presented as an analytical pre-simulation screening tool rather than a validated implementation instrument; external validation against real deployment outcomes is identified as a priority for future research. The framework provides a structured, decision-consistent approach for evaluating deployment feasibility in regulated energy systems. Full article

Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is imperative for industrial decarbonization. However, current life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies often apply a static, one-size-fits-all approach, assuming a 99% CO₂ purity standard for all utilization pathways. This ignores the thermodynamic limits of capture technologies and the tolerance of certain endpoints for coarse gas, leading to severe over-purification energy penalties. To bridge this gap, we developed a quality-matched dynamic LCA framework targeting steam methane reforming (SMR) tail gas in industrial parks. A superstructure matrix was constructed, coupling 16 capture configurations (spanning chemical absorption to cryogenic separation across 85–99% purities) with five utilization pathways, under a dynamic grid decarbonization model (2024–2060). The baseline scenario shows that methanol is the most carbon-intensive pathway at 16.88 kg CO₂-eq per kg CO₂ utilized, whereas mineralization and concrete curing remain near break-even at 0.221 and 0.010 kg CO₂-eq, respectively. When low-purity demand is matched with PSA capture at 85–90% purity, the net GWP of mineralization and concrete curing decreases to 0.134 and 0.005 kg CO₂-eq, corresponding to capture-stage penalty reductions exceeding 60% relative to unnecessary 99% purification. Under the dynamic electricity scenario, concrete curing reaches the net-zero tipping point around 2031, and the coupled mineralization substitution strategy ultimately achieves −0.046 kg CO₂-eq per kg CO₂ utilized. These findings provide a compelling scientific basis for policymakers to design dual-grade CO₂ pipeline networks and prioritize low-purity, high-circularity building materials over carbon-intensive chemical synthesis in near-term industrial transitions. Full article

Yacuri National Park (YNP) is a Ramsar site located within Ecuador’s Podocarpus-El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve. The Park faces critical threats from illegal mining, livestock grazing, wildfires and the harvesting of wax palms. This study employed participatory action research to co-design a Communication, Education and Public Engagement (CEPA) plan with park managers and local communities as equal partners. Moving beyond traditional, top-down information campaigns, the CEPA framework establishes a co-governance model that integrates indigenous knowledge with local socio-economic realities. The plan implements four targeted interventions: (1) strengthening community fire brigades (BRICOM); (2) promoting culturally appropriate alternatives to Holy Week wax palm harvesting; (3) establishing participatory waste management; and (4) engaging tourists as conservation allies through experiential learning. Strategic alliances with municipalities, universities, and civil society organizations provide institutional backing and secure resources, while a participatory monitoring system using SMART indicators tracks behavioral and ecological outcomes. Ultimately, the findings demonstrate that conserving culturally complex, biodiverse landscapes requires social legitimacy, environmental justice and equitable power-sharing. Recognizing local communities as co-managers is essential to ensuring the long-term protection of Andean ecosystems. Full article

Urban parks are increasingly confronted with a mismatch between static, blueprint-driven planning paradigms and residents’ diverse and temporally dynamic recreational demands. Recreational behavior is shaped by both relatively stable landscape attributes and time-varying environmental conditions. However, this dynamic perspective remains insufficiently incorporated into current research and planning practice. This study examines Fuzhou Hot Spring Park in Fujian Province, China, using all-day, park-wide field observations to investigate recreational behavior, static landscape factors, and temporal environmental factors. Time-segmented multiple linear regression models were employed to analyze the effects of environmental factors and their interactions on recreational behavior across different periods of the day. The results reveal marked spatiotemporal differentiation in park use. (1) Middle-aged visitors dominate the park’s spatiotemporal use patterns, exhibiting dispersed use in the morning, clustering in small nodal spaces during the daytime, and expansion into larger areal spaces. (2) The driving mechanisms of recreational behavior vary across time periods. Stable landscape elements, especially facilities, exert persistent effects, but these are further modified by temporal environmental factors. For middle-aged and older adults, microclimatic conditions are a key factor shaping temporal fluctuations in visitation: daytime heat weakens the effects of connectivity and facilities, whereas nighttime relative humidity, combined with facilities, encourages longer stays. Regarding behavior types, relaxation activities (RA) and social interaction activities (SIA) often co-occur and are both supported by resting facilities, but RA depend more strongly on microclimatic conditions, whereas SIA are more closely associated with soundscape. These findings inform dynamic regulation and adaptive design strategies for urban parks and provide practical guidance for adaptive planning and improved demand–supply alignment. Full article

Soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics in tropical montane ecosystems remain poorly understood, particularly regarding the relative importance of particulate versus mineral-associated fractions under varying disturbance regimes. This study investigated SOM fraction distribution across the Ericaceous and Afroalpine belts of Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia, an Andosol-dominated landscape subject to recurrent fire. Using a stratified sampling design (n = 30 plots) across four vegetation classes (Ericaceous belt, fragmented Ericaceous belt, herbaceous and heathland, and giant Lobelia areas), three fire history categories (<10, 10–25, and >25 years since fire), and three topographic positions (northern slopes, southern slopes, and central plateau), we quantified coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM: 149–2000 μm), fine particulate organic matter (fPOM: 53–149 μm), and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM: <53 μm). Particulate fractions dominated the SOM pool, with cPOM and fPOM together accounting for >99% of measured organic carbon. Multivariate ordination revealed a primary gradient (PC1, 61.7%) contrasting particulate-dominated soils in less disturbed areas with relatively MAOM-enriched soils in fire-impacted and fragmented zones. A global comparison reveals a profound stability gap: the Bale Mountains utilize <2% of the mineral stabilization potential of comparable Andosols, demonstrating that extreme fire frequency (<25 yr return interval) overrides even the most reactive mineralogy. We critically evaluate whether standard size-based fractionation adequately captures mineral-associated carbon in volcanic soils and discuss methodological limitations. These results provide baseline data for conservation planning in this biodiversity hotspot and underscore the need for fire management strategies that balance ecological integrity with carbon storage objectives. Full article

Urban waterfronts are vital public spaces that contribute to urban sustainability by providing residents with opportunities for recreation, social interaction, and nature experiences. Understanding user perceptions in these environments is essential for evidence-based design. Taking Taiyuan Fenhe Park in China as a case with local residents as respondents, this study investigated how objective audiovisual characteristics are associated with tourist loyalty through perceptual dimensions, while also examining interactive associations between visual and auditory elements. Data were collected at 539 spatial samples spaced at five-minute walking intervals. Methods included on-site acoustic measurements, panoramic imaging, computer-based visual and auditory quantification, and questionnaire surveys, yielding a total of 1768 valid responses. Visual features were quantified using semantic segmentation, object detection, and depth prediction, whereas the auditory environment was characterized by physical acoustic and psychoacoustic indicators. Three perceptual dimensions—environmental restorativeness (ERS), spatial vitality (SVS), and environmental controllability (ECS)—were extracted and tested as mediators within the stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) framework. Results indicated that ERS, SVS, and ECS function as three parallel mediating constructs in the statistical model, with SVS showing the strongest statistical association with tourist loyalty. In addition, fluctuation strength exhibited a significant direct effect on tourist loyalty independent of these three perceptual dimensions. A total of 17 significant audiovisual interactions were identified, revealing both synergistic and antagonistic effects. These findings contribute to theoretical frameworks of multisensory integration and provide practical guidance for sustainable waterfront design. Specifically, zoning strategies and carefully selected audiovisual combinations are relevant to enhanced user experience and may contribute to long-term social well-being. Full article

Industrial parks serve as critical nodes in urban energy consumption and carbon emissions, posing substantial challenges to sustainable urban development. Yet existing research lacks systematic investigation into the synergistic effects of industrial restructuring, spatial configuration, and policy instruments on sustainability outcomes. This study addresses this gap by proposing and empirically exploring a “three-dimensional collaborative paradigm” encompassing the industry, space, and policy dimensions. Through comparative analysis of six low-carbon pilot parks and three traditional high-carbon parks, the researchers employed a carbon flow topology network accounting framework integrated with exploratory association analysis to examine emissions reduction mechanisms. The results indicate that parks implementing coordinated strategies across all three dimensions demonstrate substantially lower emission intensities compared to those pursuing single-dimensional approaches. Industrial symbiosis networks, spatial compactness through transit-oriented development, and integrated policy packages emerge as critical success factors for enhancing park-level sustainability. The study identifies industrial restructuring as a potential prerequisite for effective spatial transformation, with temporal sequencing playing a possible role in optimization outcomes. Given the limited sample size (n = 9) and the exploratory design, all findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory. The synergistic mechanisms exhibit contextual variations across different park types and climatic conditions. This study’s primary contribution is the development of an integrated conceptual framework and a practical carbon accounting methodology; the empirical findings are illustrative and intended to guide future confirmatory research. Full article

Ports are complex infrastructure systems operating under adverse marine environments, diverse loading regimes, and significant economic pressures. Among their critical assets are pavement infrastructures that serve multiple functional domains, including container handling and storage areas, internal circulation corridors, passenger–vehicle interfaces, and auxiliary parking zones. However, existing port pavement research remains predominantly concentrated on heavy-duty container applications, while other functional categories are comparatively underexplored. This study develops a structured engineering synthesis of port pavement infrastructure assets by integrating bibliometric mapping, conducted using Scopus-indexed publications, with a functional–structural analysis of worldwide practices. Following the identification of research trends, additional insights from engineering-oriented studies and technical guidance documents were incorporated to strengthen the practical relevance of the investigation. These findings indicate that functional classification should precede structural design decisions, enabling the systematic identification of loading conditions, serviceability requirements, and transition demands across port environments. Heavy-duty operational zones require high-stiffness systems capable of resisting concentrated and repetitive loads, while circulation areas are particularly sensitive to low-speed traffic effects. In contrast, passenger and mixed-use zones necessitate hybrid design strategies that balance structural adequacy with serviceability and long-term durability under marine exposure, whereas auxiliary areas are primarily governed by cost-efficiency and maintenance considerations. The overall research provides a rational basis for investment prioritization, material selection, lifecycle planning, and performance-based pavement management within multifunctional port environments. Full article

To improve the operational efficiency of the park source-load-storage system and reduce operation costs and the wind-solar curtailment rate, this paper establishes a Park Integrated Energy System (PIES) model with multiple energy storage and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) components and proposes an adaptive comprehensive fitness multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm. First, each component of the PIES is modeled. Second, electric vehicle (EV) scheduling boundaries, determined by wind and PV output, as well as a dynamic charging-discharging incentive mechanism, are designed to enhance renewable energy accommodation. Finally, an adaptive comprehensive fitness index is defined, and convergence and particle-update strategies are improved to achieve better scheduling performance. Simulation results verify that the proposed PIES model achieves optimal performance in terms of carbon-emission cost, total operation cost, and wind-solar curtailment rate. Meanwhile, the improved algorithm also outperforms traditional multi-objective methods in PIES scheduling. Full article

To address the uncertainty of renewable energy output power and load demand in the park-level multi-source synergistic power supply system and achieve economical system operation, an optimal scheduling method based on the mathematical programming guided imitation learning-oscillation-decaying deep deterministic policy gradient (MPG-OD-DDPG) algorithm is proposed. First, a scheduling model of the park-level multi-source synergistic power supply system is established with the objective of minimizing system operating cost. Second, to address the low sample utilization efficiency of the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG), a mathematical programming guided imitation learning (MPGIL) method is introduced to obtain demonstration experience and guide the initial training process. Then, targeting insufficient exploration capability of DDPG, an oscillation-decaying Ornstein–Uhlenbeck noise (OD-OU) is designed to enhance the exploratory capability of the algorithm through the oscillation-decaying process of noise intensity. Finally, according to the scheduling model, the reward function is designed, and the proposed algorithm is used to search for the optimal energy regulation strategy, thereby realizing the optimal scheduling of the park-level multi-source synergistic power supply system. Case study results show that compared with the DDPG, the MPG-OD-DDPG reduces the operating cost by 7.41%. It can effectively exploit the energy time-shift capability of the energy storage system (ESS), reduce the operating cost of the park-level multi-source synergistic power supply system. Full article