Frontiers | Peer Reviewed Articles

Capacity building within urban climate resilience in the Global South – a literature review
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1380936

Capacity building for urban climate resilience is essential for strengthening both cities’ own capacities and multilevel governance, which are instrumental for the successful operationalisation of the Paris Agreement. Strengthening the capacities for planning, managing, and developing cities is required to support an urban resilient transition in a context of high complexity and uncertainty, especially in the Global South. The main objective for this article is to investigate the differences in understanding of capacity building in urban climate resilience in the Global South through literature review. Specifically, this paper investigates the main approaches, aspects, components, and end users for capacity building in the frame of urban climate resilience. The article identifies a set (...)

Editorial: Water and sanitation: privatization of the services and environmental injustice
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1400042

Present day and future urban cooling enabled by integrated water management
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1337449

The process of urbanisation has increased public health risks due to urban heat, risks that will be further exacerbated in future decades by climate change. However, the growing adoption of integrated water management (IWM) practices (coordinated stormwater management of water, land, and resources) provides an opportunity to support urban heat amelioration through water supply provision and irrigated and vegetated infrastructure that can provide cooling benefits. This study examines the thermal impacts of future implementations of IWM for nine Australian cities based on a review of Government policy documents in the present and over two future time frames (2030 and 2050) under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios (SSPs 1.2-6, 3.7-0 and 5.8-5). Statistical analysis of the future (...)

Measuring the level of urban traffic congestion for sustainable transportation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the cases of selected intersections
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1366932

Traffic congestion poses a persistent and escalating problem for major cities in both developed and developing countries, exerting a direct impact on the economic growth and development of these urban areas. Quantifying the extent of traffic congestion is the fundamental initial step in comprehending the severity of traffic congestion in order to devise effective methods for alleviation. The city of Addis Ababa is currently experiencing significant traffic congestion at its main intersections. The primary aim of this research is to assess the current level of traffic congestion at specific intersections. The assessment of traffic congestion was conducted using the travel time method. Data on travel time, traffic volume, and travel speed were gathered at three blocks and two (...)

Three attributes determining land values in three selected housing estates in Uyo, Nigeria
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1384945

There is a knowledge gap regarding the specific attributes (location-specific, environmental, and neighborhood) that impact land value, the relationship among these attributes, and the degree of impact on the land values in residential estates in Uyo, Nigeria. The three factors all combine to create a unique picture of a place, impacting its desirability and ultimately, its land value. This study explores the relationship between various land value attributes within specific residential estates (Ewet Housing Estate, Shelter Afrique Estate, and Akwa-Ima Estate) in Uyo. A questionnaire was designed and used to solicit data from the respondents living in the three estates with the aid of the purposive sampling technique. The findings revealed the following: Closeness to school is the (...)

Evaluating the feasibility of constructing shopping centers on urban vacant land through a spatial multi-criteria decision-making model
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1373331

Shopping centers are among the major economic and commercial places in cities in terms of social function, urban sustainability, environment, etc. Therefore, it is crucial to determine suitable locations for building new shopping centers. In this regard, urban vacant lands can be considered as high-potential locations to transform the urban landscape and enhance socio-economic development. The main purpose of this study is to assess the potential of urban vacant lands based on a spatial multi-criteria decision-making (SMCDM) system for building shopping centers in 22 districts of Tehran. In this study, first, 16 effective spatial criteria for locating the new shopping centers were identified using expert opinions and a literature review. The best-worst method (BWM) and the Min/Max (...)

Solar energy for societal decarbonisation: a perspective on emerging opportunities in utility-scale solar electricity and solar in the built environment
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1344771

The solar resource presents almost limitless opportunities for creating clean energy – not just in the form of solar-derived electricity, but also to drive heating and cooling cycles, create solar fuels, or indeed to promote chemical and biochemical pathways for the production of food, clean water and raw materials. There is an ever-expanding plethora of applications for solar energy as a critical contributor to global decarbonization. This short Perspective is focused on two of the largest opportunities for solar energy to make major emissions reduction and deliver societal fairness and economic impacts: notably utility-scale electricity generation and the more local opportunities of the built environment. We examine the two dominant forms of solar energy – the direct generation of (...)

Electric vehicles adoption challenges in Oman: a comprehensive assessment and future prospects for sustainable cities
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1360203

The rising popularity of Electric Vehicles (EVs), fuelled by technological advancements and supportive government policies, presents a promising solution to reduce carbon emissions from conventional cars. This study explores public perceptions of obstacles to Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption in Oman and assesses EVs’ impact on city sustainability. Over 300 car consumers in Muscat participated in a survey, facilitated through Microsoft Forms, and distributed via email and social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The study finds that the main obstacles to EV adoption in Oman include a lack of public charging infrastructure, limited EV knowledge, and concerns about (...)

Unveiling transportation disparities: investigating accessibility gaps in metropolitan cities using GIS—a case study of Alexandria, Egypt
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1372918

IntroductionPublic transportation is essential to reduce pollution and traffic congestion in urban areas. However, in densely populated regions like Alexandria, characterized by high population density and limited road infrastructure, accessibility to diverse transportation options is crucial.MethodsThis study investigates the accessibility of public transportation modes, including railways and buses, and their interaction with informal transit. Questioning if public transportation alone will be sufficient for pedestrians or if the presence of informal transit is crucial, and whether all residents of Alexandria have their rightful accessibility for different transport modes, the goal was to establish an efficient and interconnected transportation network. A survey was conducted in (...)

Writing by hand may increase brain connectivity more than typing on a keyboard
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2024/01/26/writing-by-hand-increase-brain-connectivity-typing

In an ever more digital world, pen and paper are increasingly getting replaced with screens and keyboards in classrooms. Now, a new study has investigated neural networks in the brain during hand- and typewriting. The researchers showed that connectivity between different brain regions is more elaborate when letters are formed by hand. This improved brain connectivity, which is crucial to memory building and information encoding, may indicate that writing by hand supports learning.

#mémoire #écriture #apprentissage

Developing outdoor spaces for work and study—an explorative place-making process
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1308637

IntroductionThe development of outdoor spaces for work and study is part of a larger transition toward sustainable communities, which can take advantage of more flexible ways of organizing everyday life. Governance processes supported by physical spatial changes have the potential to bring together various actors and experts for local development. The aim of this study was to explore the possibilities of developing outdoor spaces for work and study in a collaborative process.MethodsThe study involved an upper secondary school, a local government administration, local businesses and research. The process took place in a South-Swedish small town and included developing outdoor areas for tasks traditionally carried out indoors, participatory workshops and meetings followed up through (...)

Editorial: On combining approaches for studying socio-environmental dynamics over rural-urban ecosystems on Mediterranean shores
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1390434

The correlates of smartphone use for transportation purposes in Egypt and Lebanon
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1340372

The determinants of smartphone use for urban transportation purposes in developing countries, particularly in the cities of the Middle East and North Africa, have not been thoroughly investigated so far. This study aims to clarify the individual, mobility, and perception-related correlates of smartphone use specifically for ordering vehicles via ride-sourcing in medium-sized and large cities as well as the megacities of the region. The four cities of Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt and Beirut and Jounieh in Lebanon were taken as case-study cities. An overall sample of 3,285 face-to-face interviews was undertaken between late 2022 and early 2023 using a questionnaire focusing on individual, household, mobility, and perceptions of the respondents. The research depends on a chi-square test (...)

Listen, talk, repeat: women’s journey through architecture and environmental consciousness
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1327925

Asserting that architecture is political is an acknowledgment that the design of form and space is founded on uneven relationships of power. At the same time, two states that are intrinsically apolitical—gender and climate—have become subject to intense socio-political polarization. While identifying these artificially imposed divides does not equate to their endorsement, the goal here is not to dismantle them. The aim is to elucidate how harnessing these differences helps a more sustainable built environment. This study delves into a practical approach, a mindset, embodied in the three-step process of “listen, talk, repeat”. This process frames a discourse on gender differences without victimization or criminalization of built space, societal systems, communities or their members. (...)

Do rural migrant parents intend to settle in cities? Impacts of childcare strategies, split households, migration duration, and distance
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1301650

IntroductionThe current transnational and internal migration involve more and more circular and temporary residences in the host communities. However, few studies have examined the settlement intention of circular and temporary migrant parents with children under 18 years old, which has made inclusive planning for these migrants’ needs difficult. This paper aimed to examine whether rural migrant parents intended to settle in cities, with specific discussion about the impacts of childcare strategies, split households, and migration duration and distance.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study design. The data was sourced from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey.ResultsThrough analysis of a sample of 4,247 rural migrant parents in the Pearl River Delta, this study found that 56% of rural (...)

Editorial: Anthropogenic trace gases and their linkages to meteorology and climate change
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1379626

Reducing the “digital divide” to reap the “digital dividend”: spatial differences and convergence of the digital economy in cities of China
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1283604

Bridging the “digital divide” to benefit from the “digital dividend” reflects the inclusive development of the digital economy, which affects the sustainable development of the overall economy and society. Based on the different spatial perspectives of certain regions, city clusters, and cities, this study presents the “digital divide” and “digital dividend” for the development of China’s digital economy. A combined entropy method was used to measure the development of the digital economy in cities of China from 2011 to 2019. The Dagum Gini coefficient and its decomposition were used to explore the spatial differences of the digital economy and their sources, while the coefficient of variation and the spatial panel model were used to examine the convergence of the digital economy. Our (...)

The impact of the climate crisis on gender inequality. Looking to the frontlines in search of priorities for policy
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1304535

The climate crisis disproportionately impacts women and girls all over the world. To understand what the priorities in terms of policy are, an examination is conducted on the impacts taking place in South Asia (focusing on the countries of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan), an area of the globe that is highly vulnerable to climate change and is characterized by having strong patriarchal values. Gender stereotypes and roles in the region heighten women and girls’ vulnerability to climate impacts, both in general and in situations of crisis resulting from extreme weather events. Deepening the understanding of the climate crisis’ impact on gender in South Asia, a region at the frontline of these effects, can assist in reaching a baseline understanding of the challenge from a global (...)

Editorial: Relational approaches to urban sustainability governance
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1387149

The feminist perspective as a counterpoint in the architecture of Anna Bofill (1977–1996)
▻https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1348827

The vast and plural production of the woman architect, musician, activist, occasional educator and tireless researcher Anna Bofill Levi (Barcelona, 1944) is characterized by certain features that make its author a unique personality, although one hardly known and recognized in the Spanish and international circles that are the custodians of prestige in architecture. She has achieved most public recognition as a composer, the field in which she has been most productive over time and developed the furthest. Her music is characterized by the number of references, especially contemporary, she includes, the wide diversity of countries where it has been performed, and the range of people to whom she has dedicated her works, all these aspects testifying to her cosmopolitan and libertarian (...)