Despite its historical significance as a landmark and heritage scenic spot, Dala Hill faces significant threats from both natural factors and human activities. The hill is increasingly subjected to erosion, while the surrounding community encroaches upon it in various ways. These issues are primarily attributed to the absence of proper management and inadequate conservation planning. This study explores the challenges encountered in the management and planning of urban cultural landscapes, identifying the typology of constraints and proposing viable tools to inform decision-making on natural landscape heritage in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. A value-based planning and management scheme is established, aiming to preserve the natural and cultural heritage, which positively impacts the well-being of local communities and bolsters the economic prospects of Kano and Nigeria as a whole. These efforts align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly targets 11.3 and 11.4, which emphasize the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage. A qualitative research methodology, incorporating a review and explanatory approach, is employed, alongside field observations that examine the challenges experienced by the host community and researchers. The study reveals that the hill sustains minimal flora and fauna due to its intense land-cover and deserted character, with scant vegetation confined to higher elevations within the Kano region. The presence of such vegetation indicates ongoing erosion towards the lower hill levels. Physical and environmental aspects, alongside cultural and environmental management, are identified as key challenges. Poor conservation efficacy, inadequate policies and legislation for heritage and protected areas, and a shortage of funding are highlighted as principal problems. Strategies suggested for conserving and restoring heritage sites include increased investment in Historic Urban Landscape (HUL), research implementation, and legal interventions, among others.
A bibliometric analysis has been conducted to contextualize the research on economic development in urban areas and clarify its scholarly purpose. Data were retrieved from the Scopus database, covering publications from 1973 to May 2024, using the keywords "Economic Development" and "City," resulting in the identification of 475 documents for analysis. The findings reveal longitudinal trends in the literature on economic development in cities, demonstrating a significant upward trend since 2000, interspersed with fluctuations. The study examines various aspects, including publication types, subject areas, leading publishing platforms, global perspectives, organizational contributions, prominent authors, and thematic regions, providing a comprehensive overview of the scholarly engagement with this domain. The dynamic interplay between academic inquiry and contextual factors is underscored, advocating for continued scholarly vigilance and adaptive methodologies to effectively navigate the evolving discourse on urban economic development. The insights gained contribute to a nuanced understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of urban economic development research, highlighting the importance of diverse publication formats, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international knowledge exchange in addressing complex urban challenges and fostering sustainable urban futures.
Waste management poses a significant challenge in large urban areas, demanding meticulous logistical planning and scientific insight to balance environmental impact and cost-effectiveness. Ali Mendjeli, a newly established city in Constantine, Algeria, exemplifies this challenge without a mapped and documented inventory. This study employs a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to develop a management application aimed at identifying key factors in solid waste management. Traditional waste management practices typically rely on manual methods prone to incomplete or inaccurate outcomes. In contrast, GIS tools facilitate the creation, organization, and modeling of comprehensive spatially referenced databases, integrating data on waste collection operators and disposal points hosted in cloud computing environments. This approach enhances precision and efficiency in waste management decision-making processes.
Informal settlements, home to a significant segment of the global population, are often overlooked by policymakers and urban planners, resulting in inadequate infrastructure, limited access to essential services, and precarious living conditions. This research explores the capacity of urban governance to enhance the resilience of such settlements, with a focus on Jafarabad in Kermanshah. Data was collected through questionnaires and observations, and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The latter included multivariate regression analysis, one-sample t-tests, and Spearman’s rank correlation tests. The analysis revealed a positive and statistically significant correlation between effective urban governance and the resilience of informal settlements, as evidenced in Jafarabad. All governance-related variables showed significant correlations with resilience, except for those pertaining to the rule of law, justice, and fairness. The predictive accuracy of the selected governance variables was 83%, highlighting the critical role of effective governance in fostering resilience. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating robust urban governance frameworks to bolster resilience in informal settlements, providing essential insights for policymakers, urban planners, and communities committed to enhancing sustainability and living conditions in these areas.
This study examines the influence of Arab-Islamic cultural memory on the spatial planning and design of streets within Palestinian refugee camps, with a particular focus on Nablus City. The research aims to ascertain how cultural elements, emblematic of collective memories among the camp residents, are incorporated into the urban redevelopment of these areas. A historical analysis of street design methodologies forms the basis of this inquiry, facilitating a comparative understanding of contemporary and traditional street layouts. Two case studies were selected to perform architectural surveys and field observations, illuminating commonalities between traditional and modern street designs. It was observed that the street configurations within the refugee camps not only mirror the collective memory of the Palestinian populace but also align harmoniously with the historic urban fabric of Nablus City. Contemporary street designs in these camps exhibit a plethora of architectural, visual, and cultural parallels with their traditional counterparts. These similarities include an organically developed street network, characterized by spontaneous growth and a privacy-oriented hierarchy of street types. Additionally, the serpentine nature of these streets, bending to adapt to the environment, further underscores their organic character. Privacy is a key design consideration, evident in features such as elevated windows, shaded balconies, and minimal openings in narrow passageways. The principal conclusion drawn from this study is the pivotal role historic urban models should play in guiding the development of refugee camps, particularly in the formation of street networks and patterns. It is posited that, with appropriate visual enhancements, the existing structure of many streets within these camps is well-suited to meet both social and aesthetic needs. In terms of expansion, an in-depth exploration of the socio-cultural implications of street design on community interaction and identity in these refugee camps could enrich the study. Investigating how residents perceive and interact with these spaces, and how these interactions shape community bonds and cultural identity, would provide a holistic understanding of the impact of urban design on refugee communities. Additionally, analyzing the role of contemporary urban planning policies in facilitating or hindering the preservation of cultural memory within these settings would be valuable. This could involve examining policy frameworks and their effectiveness in integrating traditional urban elements into modern planning practices.
Transport of goods in a city is a basic prerequisite for meeting the needs of the population. The transport of dangerous goods, especially in urban areas, represents a risk that can result in a dangerous situation as well as unwanted consequences. According to the data, the percentage of dangerous goods transported in the European Union is 4% of the total amount of transported goods. The perception of road users is one of the basic factors for the safe and smooth flow of traffic. Bearing the above in mind, this paper conducted an analysis aimed at determining the differences in the perception of large danger lists and orange boards for marking transport units. 288 respondents participated in the research. The results show that there are statistically significant differences between the perception of large danger lists and orange boards for marking transport units, viewed according to gender, age, place of residence, education, occupation of the respondents and according to the driver's license category.
Water plays an essential role in shaping the aesthetics and psychological impacts of urban waterfronts, thereby enhancing their popularity as centers for tourism, communal activities, and events. The universal appeal of water attracts a diverse audience, including both residents and visitors, leaving a lasting impression on all who experience its charm. Urban waterfronts, epitomized by the historical city of Alexandria, Egypt, are cultural and historical repositories, showcasing a rich tapestry of architectural styles and epochs. Alexandria's waterfront presents a scenic view of the Mediterranean Sea, enriched by its architectural diversity. However, waterfronts face numerous challenges that underscore the critical need for their preservation and development. The development of waterfront areas involves transforming these zones into vibrant, sustainable, and appealing spaces that encourage community interaction and enhance the quality of urban life. This encompasses a comprehensive approach to placemaking that integrates architectural design, urban planning, environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic viability to forge places of unique identity and aesthetic value. The research presented herein reviews existing literature on urban waterfront development strategies and processes, and examines successful international cases of waterfront revitalization. A focus is placed on the El-Anfoushy touristic promenade in Alexandria, employing the SWOT analysis to assess its current conditions and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize actionable outcomes. These methodologies facilitate the quantification and strategic prioritization necessary to address the challenges confronting this historical area. The ultimate objective of this study is to provide a sustainable smart development agenda that can be effectively implemented to rejuvenate and preserve waterfronts, offering a framework for city planners and policymakers to foster sustainable urban environments.
In urban areas, the confluence of pedestrian and vehicular flows at intersections necessitates systemic approaches to optimize pedestrian movement and safety at signalized crossings. This study focuses on evaluating the impact of pedestrian start-up time on the efficiency of pedestrian flow at such intersections, utilizing the integrated Method based on the Removal Effects of Criteria (MEREC) and Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to Compromise Solution (MARCOS) model. The research was conducted across five cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, analyzing how variations in start-up time, influenced by different age groups, contribute to overall time losses and, consequently, affect the level of service of pedestrian flows. Criterion values were determined using the objective MEREC method, while the MARCOS method facilitated the evaluation of the cities in question. Both early and delayed pedestrian start-up times were examined, with findings presented through the 85th percentile. Data collection was carried out under actual traffic conditions at signalized intersections, during peak hours, focusing on pedestrians positioned at the front line adjacent to the roadway. The intersections' diverse geometric and spatial characteristics were also considered. The results revealed significant variations in pedestrian start-up times among the top three evaluated cities (Doboj, Sarajevo, and Novi Sad), highlighting the model's sensitivity to input parameters. This study underscores the necessity for tailored traffic regulation strategies to mitigate time losses at pedestrian crossings, ultimately enhancing pedestrian flow quality at signalized intersections.
The burgeoning expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology has propelled Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) to the forefront of IoT applications, with accurate highway traffic flow prediction models playing a pivotal role in their development. Such models are essential for mitigating highway traffic congestion, reducing accident rates, and informing city planning and traffic management strategies. Given the inherent periodicity, non-linearity, and variability of highway traffic data, an innovative model leveraging a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM), and Attention Mechanism (AM) is proposed. In this model, feature extraction is accomplished via the CNN, which subsequently feeds into the BiLSTM for processing temporal dependencies. The integration of an AM enhances the model by weighting and fusing the BiLSTM outputs, thereby refining the prediction accuracy. Through a series of experiments and the application of diverse evaluation metrics, it is demonstrated that the proposed CNN-BiLSTM-AM model surpasses existing models in prediction accuracy and explainability. This advancement positions the model as a significant contribution to the field, offering a robust and insightful tool for highway traffic flow prediction.
This investigation delves into the critical challenges of urban development and management, employing a comprehensive evaluation of four strategic alternatives: transit-oriented development, green infrastructure investment, smart city technologies, and community-based development. These alternatives are rigorously assessed against a set of eight meticulously chosen criteria. Distinct from conventional analyses, the study adopts the sophisticated Criteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC)-Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) methodology, utilizing spherical fuzzy sets (SFS). This approach mitigates uncertainties inherent in decision-making processes, thereby refining the accuracy of the evaluation. The CRITIC-WASPAS method, with its innovative application in this context, augments the precision of the assessments, yielding a detailed appraisal of each alternative's merits and limitations. Through assigning weighted criteria and systematically ranking these alternatives, the study furnishes pivotal insights for urban planners and policymakers. This contribution is instrumental in guiding decisions that promote resilience, equity, and environmental sustainability in urban environments. The novel integration of the CRITIC-WASPAS method in this domain not only propels the field forward but also lays a robust foundation for informed and effective decision-making. The outcomes of this research are poised to significantly impact the discourse on sustainable urban development, offering a data-driven framework that is essential for sculpting the future of cities amidst evolving urban challenges.
This study uses BIM software and fluid simulation finite element analysis software to investigate the impact of the water film effect on the surfaces where highways connect with urban roads. The analysis indicates that the drainage length (L), road surface slope (i), rainfall intensity (I), and road surface construction depth (T) are significant factors affecting the thickness of the water film (H) generated by the said effect. The thickness of the water film grows with an increase in drainage length and rainfall intensity; however, it decreases with an increase in road surface slope and road surface construction depth. The approximate relationship between the water film thickness and these four influencing factors is $\mathrm{H} \propto \mathrm{L}^{4.02655} \mathrm{i}^{-1.65562}(0.87 \mathrm{I}+1.26)\left(4.07-0.17 \mathrm{~T}-0.13 \mathrm{~T}^2\right)$. When the water film is thin, the area occupied by the water film in front of the car tires is small; as the thickness of the water film increases, the area it occupies gradually increases, and the tires are gradually lifted by the water film. When lifted to a certain height, the "hydroplaning" phenomenon occurs, which can lead to traffic safety issues. The results of this study are expected to provide a reference for related research on connection lines.
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