Search Results (692)

Natural resource-endowed landscapes in many parts of the Global South play a crucial role in the livelihoods of communities. Such resource-endowed areas attract current and prospective resource-use actors, making them veritable hollow frontiers. Hollow frontiers, as crucial resource attractions in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), have attracted significant interest in scientific and policy circles. While studies have explored the patterns of migration and population change around hollow frontiers, there is limited evidence on the resource-use dynamics and trajectories in hollow frontiers. This study uses the case of the Mungo Corridor of Cameroon, a hollow frontier par excellence, to (1) determine the variations in forestland resource-use practices, and (2) analyze changes in forestland resource space in the corridor. Data for this study was collected through key informant interviews (n = 37), focus group discussions (n = 15), household surveys using a structured questionnaire (n = 250), and Landsat images. Geospatial analysis, descriptive statistics, and the chi-square statistical technique were employed in the analysis. The study revealed that forestland resource-use practices (NTFPs harvesting) witnessed a significant decline due to the intensification of extraction rates. Furthermore, forestland witnessed a significant decline in Njombe-Penja and Loum (35.216% and 48.176%, respectively) between 1984 and 2024. The results provide novel insights on the pattern of resource use around hollow frontiers and further informs land management policy in the context of the regulation of land-based resources in the hollow frontiers of Cameroon and similar sub-Saharan African contexts. Future studies should explore forestland resource regeneration strategies in the Mungo Corridor. Full article

The overconsumption of plastic packaging has alarming repercussions on the environment, notably through waste accumulation in public spaces and clogged drains. This study identifies factors driving plastic proliferation, analyzes their impacts, and proposes strategies for sustainable waste management. A cross-sectional design combined document review, field observations, and interviews with 156 households and 24 informants. Descriptive statistics characterized consumption patterns and service access. Impacts were assessed through litter hotspots, blocked drains, flood-prone points, and reported health risks. Households used five to six plastic bags daily, while collection coverage remained below 50%, sustaining persistent leakage. Findings reveal excessive reliance on plastics, shaped by technical, social, and institutional gaps, including weak segregation and limited pre-collection. Agoè-Nyivé 4, a fast-growing peri-urban commune within Greater Lomé, faces limited services but high consumption, making it a relevant case for rapidly growing municipalities. Yet the population often adopts counterproductive practices, hampering responsible waste management. A policy mix is outlined: expanding pre-collection and door-to-door services, integrating informal collectors, and targeted community sensitization. Without urgent interventions, plastic leakage will intensify environmental degradation, flooding, and health risks. The study recommends integrated policy measures to curb single-use dependence and foster a local circular economy. Full article

The rapid urban growth and proliferation of private vehicles in Pakistan have intensified challenges, such as traffic congestion, longer travel times, environmental harm, road safety risks, and adverse public health outcomes. Despite global emphasis on sustainable modes of transportation, these options remain underutilized and receive limited policy attention in Pakistan. This study investigates the barriers hindering the adoption of active and public transport in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and evaluates the role of technological factors in influencing commuters’ willingness to use public transit. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey and analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and structural equation modeling. The findings reveal varying commuter preferences across different modes and demonstrate a higher willingness to use active modes of travel when favorable conditions are available. The dominant barriers to active travel include long travel distances and durations, insufficient infrastructure, social stigma, and a lack of cycle storage facilities. For public transport, the major obstacles identified are overcrowding during peak hours, poor accessibility, excessive travel times, and a lack of comfort and convenience. The study also highlights the potential technological interventions, such as real-time travel planning apps, secure parking space provision, and smart ticketing systems, to improve the attractiveness and usability of public transport. Overall, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to develop evidence-based strategies that encourage the use of sustainable transport options. By addressing both infrastructural and perceptual barriers, such interventions can foster a transition towards more sustainable urban mobility systems in Pakistan. Full article

The Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle (CCEC) represents a key regional development initiative in China. University research collaboration plays a vital role in advancing its innovation ecosystem and supporting sustainable growth. This study examines inter-university collaboration among 47 public universities in the CCEC based on 53,968 co-authored publications from 2005 to 2024. Using bibliometric and visualization techniques in CiteSpace 6.4.R2, it explores the structure and evolution of collaboration from institutional, thematic, and author perspectives. The results reveal a steady expansion of collaborative activities driven by national innovation strategies. Leading institutions such as Sichuan University, UESTC, and Chongqing University act as central hubs connecting diverse research communities. Collaboration has diversified from traditional fields toward interdisciplinary areas including materials, environmental science, and applied mathematics. Author networks are becoming more cohesive, reflecting stronger knowledge integration across universities. The study highlights how policy-driven collaboration fosters regional innovation capacity and provides evidence-based insights for strengthening university networks and advancing the CCEC’s role as a science and technology innovation hub in western China. Full article

Storm surges are the leading marine disaster in China’s coastal cities, with their impacts exacerbated by climate change and rapid urbanization. Despite their significance, most existing studies focus on a single scale, neglecting the complex, multi-scale nature of urban resilience and the interrelated governance strategies needed to address storm surge risks. This study introduces a dual-scale resilience indicator system—macro (prefecture-level cities) and micro (coastal buffer grids)—within the “exposure–sensitivity–adaptation” framework, utilizing multi-source data for a comprehensive assessment. This research also explores the impact mechanisms of storm surges on urban areas and proposes zonal governance strategies. Findings indicate that resilience varies spatially in Chinese coastal cities, with a pattern of “high resilience in the north, low resilience in the south, and a mix in the center.” At the macro scale, key limitations include policy implementation, infrastructure capacity, and social vulnerability. At the micro scale, factors such as inadequate green space, increased impervious surfaces, limited shelter access, and low utility network density lead to the emergence of “low-resilience units” in ecologically sensitive and mixed coastal zones. The study further reveals the synergies between resilience drivers across scales, emphasizing the need for integrated cross-scale governance. This research advances resilience theory by expanding spatial scales and refining indicator systems, while proposing a zonal governance framework tailored to resilience gradation. It offers a quantitative basis and practical strategies for fostering “safe cities” and advancing “adaptive spatial planning” in the context of sustainable development. Full article

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are becoming one of the key trends in the development of nuclear technology, offering a flexible, safe and cost-effective alternative to large nuclear power plants. This review defines the “driving force” of SMRs as their ability to enhance safety, modular scalability, and fuel sustainability through innovative design and policy integration. It aims to provide a systematic assessment of technological trends, deployment strategies, and fuel innovations that underpin the future of nuclear energy. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the main classes of SMRs, categorised by fuel type and application, ranging from Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) reactors to thorium-232, metallic fuel and reprocessed nuclear materials. The key technical advantages of SMRs are discussed—passive safety systems, extended fuel cycles (longer operational periods before refuelling compared to conventional reactors), modular production and compactness—which make such reactors particularly suitable for use in hard-to-reach regions, military facilities, in space and as part of hybrid power systems. Special attention is paid to the prospects of advanced fuel cycles, including the conversion of thorium to uranium-233 and the reuse of actinides, which contributes to waste reduction and supports the realisation of a closed nuclear cycle. The current status of SMR projects around the world is also analysed, highlighting the most promising solutions and discussing regulatory, infrastructure readiness and geopolitical factors. Full article

Digital twins (DTs) based on the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) enable interoperable representations of industrial assets, while dataspaces like those defined by the International Data Spaces (IDS) facilitate sovereign, policy-governed data exchange across organizations. However, integrating AAS-based DTs into dataspaces remains challenging due to manual processes, synchronization issues, and varying implementation strategies. This paper addresses these gaps by first presenting a structured analysis of existing integration approaches and evaluating the user requirements to be met. We then introduce a flexible reference implementation extending the Eclipse Dataspace Connector (EDC), which automates AAS registration into dataspaces. Finally, we conduct a qualitative comparison with state-of-the-art prototypes from initiatives such as Catena-X and Factory-X and demonstrate the application of our integration approach in the MODAI project for sensor-driven manufacturing data sharing. Results indicate that the integration approach reduced manual effort and provides synchronization between digital twins and dataspace. Full article

Time-sensitive networking (TSN), a cutting-edge technology enabling efficient real-time communication and control, provides strong support for traditional Ethernet in terms of real-time performance, reliability, and deterministic transmission. In TSN systems, although time-triggered (TT) flows enjoy deterministic delay guarantees, audio video bridging (AVB) and best effort (BE) traffic still share link bandwidth through statistical multiplexing, a process that remains nondeterministic. This competition in shared memory switches adversely affects data transmission performance. In this paper, a priority queue threshold control policy is proposed and analyzed for mixed-critical traffic in time-sensitive networks. The core of this policy is to set independent queues for different types of traffic in the shared memory queuing system. To prevent low-priority traffic from monopolizing the shared buffer, its entry into the queue is blocked when buffer usage exceeds a preset threshold. A two-dimensional Markov chain is introduced to accurately construct the system’s queuing model. Through detailed analysis of the queuing model, the truncated chain method is used to decompose the two-dimensional state space into solvable one-dimensional sub-problems, and the approximate solution of the system’s steady-state distribution is derived. Based on this, the blocking probability, average queue length, and average queuing delay of different priority queues are accurately calculated. Finally, according to the optimization goal of the overall blocking probability of the system, the optimal threshold value is determined to achieve better system performance. Numerical results show that this strategy can effectively allocate the shared buffer space in multi-priority traffic scenarios. Compared with the conventional schemes, the queue blocking probability is reduced by approximately 40% to 60%. Full article

Introduction: A considerable body of evidence shows significant racial inequities in health and health care, affecting access, care and treatment for patients, as well as the wellbeing of employees. Many hospitals and health care organizations have committed to anti-racist change within their systems. Still, there is limited systematic knowledge regarding organizational anti-racist practices, the conditions under which they can be implemented successfully and their effectiveness. This research aims to identify anti-racist practices within health care organizations with a special focus on three areas: (1) increasing workforce diversity, (2) reducing racial health disparities and (3) responding to discriminatory behavior. Moreover, the role of different stakeholders in implementing anti-racist change will be analyzed, as well as the challenges organizations have encountered and strategies they have utilized to implement change. Methods: Primary (n = 11) and secondary qualitative data (n = 26) were used to gain insights from anti-racism diversity experts and health equity officers within organizations across the US in the beginning of 2024. A qualitative content analysis was used to identify anti-racist practices in organizations. Results: Findings reveal a broad range of anti-racist practices in use across these organizations. These practices include (1) collecting patient and staff data, (2) actively normalizing and implementing anti-racist work standards and guidelines, (3) developing organizational policies and tools to address racism, (4) creating accountability procedures for addressing racist behavior and (5) building safe and culturally appropriate spaces for racialized communities. By embedding a structural anti-racist lens across these organizations, stakeholders acknowledge their role in (past) harms and commit to addressing disparities in health care and creating a vision for health equity. Conclusion: The identification of anti-racist practices makes solutions visible to a broader audience and identifies the potential influence and responsibility each stakeholder in health care has to address racism. In order to apply these practices to other health care organizations, there is a need to rigorously evaluate the interventions and analyze their effectiveness. Full article

Material handling (MH) plays a critical role in the performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability of high-rise construction projects. Despite its significance, MH practices in such projects remain challenged by complex vertical logistics, space constraints, fragmented supply chains, and increasing pressure to align with decarbonisation goals. This study applies a mixed-methods approach that integrates a systematic literature review, semi-structured expert interviews, and a SWOT–AHP (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats—Analytic Hierarchy Process) model to identify and prioritise factors influencing MH optimisation in China’s high-rise construction sector. Eighteen factors were evaluated across four SWOT dimensions, and expert pairwise comparisons were aggregated using geometric means. The results revealed that Technological Adoption (S1) and Technological Advancements (O3) are the most critical enablers, while High Implementation Costs (W2) and Resource Scarcity (T3) are the most significant constraints. Interactions among these factors highlight the dual importance of internal digital capabilities and external technological trajectories in shaping MH strategies. Comparative analysis with practices in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East demonstrates that digitalisation, financial mechanisms, and policy incentives are globally consistent drivers of MH innovation. The findings advance theoretical understanding by integrating perspectives from the Resource-Based View, Technology-Organisation-Environment, and Institutional Theory, and they offer practical implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to align MH optimisation with China’s dual-carbon targets. This study contributes to the development of a comprehensive decision-support framework that enhances the sustainability, resilience, and efficiency of material logistics in high-rise construction projects. Full article

Street art increasingly reshapes aesthetic hierarchies by introducing previously marginalised media into the public sphere. A compelling example is the artistic practice of the Polish artist NeSpoon (Elżbieta Dymna), whose work merges the visual language of traditional lace with the communicative strategies of contemporary urban art. Active since the late 2000s, NeSpoon combines stencils, ceramic lace imprints, and large-scale murals to translate the intimacy of handcraft into the visibility of public space. Her works function as both aesthetic interventions and acts of civic pedagogy. This study employs a qualitative visual research design combining multi-site digital inquiry, iconological and semiotic analysis, and mini focus group (N = 22). Three purposefully selected cases: Łódź, Belorado, and Fundão, were examined to capture the site-specific and cultural variability of lace murals across Europe. The analysis demonstrates that lace functions as an agent of cultural negotiation and a medium of heritage literacy, understood here as embodied and place-based learning. In Łódź, it monumentalises textile memory and women’s labour embedded in the city’s industrial palimpsest. In Belorado, micro-scale responsiveness operates, strengthening the local semiosphere. In Fundão, lace enters an intermedial dialogue with azulejos, negotiating the boundary between craft and art while expanding local visual grammars. The study introduces the conceptualisation of the monumentalisation of intimacy in public art and frames heritage literacy as an embodied, dialogic, and community-oriented educational practice. Its implications extend to feminist art history, place-based pedagogy, urban cultural policy, and the preventive conservation of murals. The research elucidates how domestic craft once confined to the private interior operates in public space as a medium of memory, care, and inclusive aesthetics. Full article

As global urbanization accelerates and the challenges of an aging population and climate change intensify, the need for sustainable and inclusive urban design has never been more pressing. This study examines the intersection of low-carbon strategies and age-friendly walking environments, focusing on how collaborative approaches can optimize community spaces for elderly mobility while meeting sustainability goals. A comprehensive literature review, systematically conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, examines the role of walking networks, green spaces, and public facilities in creating low-carbon, accessible, and health-enhancing environments. The research reveals a gap in integrating low-carbon goals with elderly mobility needs, stressing the importance of collaborative governance in urban planning. This collaborative synergy—combining community input, urban policy, and low-carbon design solutions—can create environments that not only reduce emissions but also enhance elderly well-being. By exploring the synergies between these elements, the study proposes a framework for collaborative urban planning that ensures both environmental sustainability and the well-being of elderly populations. The results suggest that integrating low-carbon principles with age-friendly design can simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life for elderly residents. Future research should focus on refining this framework and addressing the barriers to effective collaboration in urban planning. Full article

This study investigates the institutional dynamics behind the phenomenon of apartment construction within urban parks in South Korea, using the Policy Arrangement Approach (PAA) as an analytical framework. By comparing two landmark policies—the Citizens Apartments Construction Project (CACP69) of 1969 and the Private Park Special Project (PPSP09) initiated in 2009—it will reveal how park erosion has been legitimized through shifting governance structures, legal mechanisms, and discursive strategies. CACP69 emerged under authoritarian rule to address housing shortages, leveraging public authority to repurpose park land. In contrast, PPSP09 reflects neoliberal tendencies, incentivizing private capital to develop unexecuted park sites amid looming sunset clauses. Both cases illustrate how the long-term neglect of park creation and ambiguous legal definitions have enabled the commodification of public green spaces. The study argues that park management policies in Korea have been shaped by a property-rights-oriented logic, sidelining community participation and ecological integrity. These findings offer critical insights into the intersection of urban planning, environmental governance, and the privatization of public space. Full article

This contribution investigates the potential and the catalytic role of landscape and its collective values in driving territorial regeneration processes. Specifically, it reflects on how the public dimension of landscape—conceived as a shared space of identity, memory, and future-oriented practices—can serve as a strategic lever for initiating local development pathways. Local communities, as custodians of the knowledge and practices that have historically shaped cultural landscapes, are increasingly recognized by territorial policies for their participatory and generative capacity. Building on these premises, the research explores the case of the disused Noto–Pachino railway line, located in southeastern Sicily (Italy), as a living laboratory for testing collaborative strategies aimed at enhancing landscape value and fostering territorial cohesion. The ongoing investigation has identified several civic and grassroots initiatives seeking to reactivate this dormant infrastructure, repositioning it as a strategic asset for sustainable territorial enjoyment, cultural heritage promotion, and the revitalization of marginalized areas. The main objective of the study is to define an “action lab”—a collaborative framework capable of aligning diverse visions, actors, and resources—through which landscape can be reimagined as both a driver of social innovation and a foundational tool for shaping inclusive and resilient development scenarios. Full article

This study proposes a scenario-based conceptual model for transforming underground parking structures into sustainable interior green spaces, directly addressing two core research dimensions: energy efficiency and user experience. The originality of the research lies in repositioning subterranean spaces—often overlooked in urban planning—as climate-responsive, multi-functional public environments. Using a site-specific case in downtown Rize, Türkiye, three design scenarios—passive green walls, active modular systems, and experimental micro-farming—were comparatively analyzed. These scenarios were assessed through AI-assisted simulations and climate-based performance evaluations in terms of environmental benefits, thermal regulation, carbon reduction, and experiential quality. Underground space leads to green design interventions, which in turn generate environmental, energy, and social benefits. The results demonstrate that passive systems provide cost-effective improvements, active modular systems achieve balanced performance, and experimental micro-farming yields the highest ecological and social benefits. The study uniquely contributes to urban sustainable design by integrating climate-adaptive strategies, biophilic design principles, and AI-supported visualization into the transformation of underground structures. This research not only advances academic discourse but also provides policy-relevant insights for local governments, developers, and communities in the context of urban renewal. Full article