Both traditional urban planning and smart cities in many African cities has failed to address the needs of all residents, particularly those in informal settlements, resulting in exclusionary infrastructure and socio-spatial inequalities. This study, with case studies of Benin Metropolis and Warri City, explored how human-centric principles could be embedded into urban planning for inclusive development. Based on thematic analysis of qualitative data obtained from planning professionals, the study identified key barriers such as limited community participation, inadequate infrastructure for vulnerable groups, weak institutional capacity, and low digital integration. Findings demonstrated that current planning frameworks often neglected accessibility for people with disabilities and the needs of informal settlement dwellers. The study recommended that Edo and Delta State governments should revise existing policies to mandate inclusivity, participatory governance, and data-driven decision-making. It proposed targeted investments in inclusive infrastructure such as ramps and communal water points, as well as increased funding for human-centric and digital planning tools like geographic information system (GIS). Decentralized governance, transparent procurement processes, and ethical guidelines for digital engagement were emphasized to promote trust and accountability. To ensure inclusivity across all social groups, the study underscored the requisites for co-design workshops, community forums, and non-digital communication channels such as radio and feedback kiosks. Specific local realities such as flooding in Benin and ethnic diversity in Warri should be factored into planning frameworks to ensure relevance and sustainability. Overall, this research presented a context-sensitive framework that aligned with the trends of global smart cities, while addressing the socio-cultural and infrastructural realities of African cities. By embedding human-centric principles into policy and practice, Benin and Warri could transition from traditional to smarter urban planning models that are inclusive, participatory, and sustainable, thus ensuring that urban development could meet the diverse needs of all residents..
Urban resilience has become a central framework for advancing sustainable development in the context of escalating urban risks. To investigate the role of population density in shaping resilience, panel data from 114 large Chinese cities covering the period 2006–2021 (excluding the COVID-19 years to avoid potential distortions) were analyzed. A multidimensional urban resilience evaluation system was constructed, encompassing five key domains: economy, society, institutions, environment, and infrastructure. Resilience levels were assessed through the entropy-weighted Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), while a panel threshold regression model was applied to capture potential nonlinearities in the density–resilience relationship. Results demonstrate that urban resilience in China has exhibited a sustained upward trajectory, largely driven by advances in infrastructure provision and economic capacity. However, population density exerts a nonlinear “double-threshold effect”. At low levels of density, the effect on resilience is statistically insignificant; within a medium-density range, a pronounced negative impact emerges, constituting a “medium-density trap”; and at high densities, the adverse effects are attenuated, suggesting that urban systems may gradually adapt to intensified population pressures. This trap is most evident in regional center cities and rapidly developing urban areas, where governance capacity, infrastructure investment, and resource allocation have lagged behind demographic expansion. These findings highlight the stage-dependent vulnerabilities embedded in urbanization processes and indicate that resilience is not solely a function of density itself but also of institutional capacity and infrastructural adequacy. Differentiated governance strategies are therefore required, including targeted improvements in public infrastructure, strengthened institutional and administrative capacities, and the optimization of spatial configurations to accommodate density-specific challenges. By identifying the thresholds at which population density alters resilience trajectories, this study contributes to a deeper theoretical understanding of urban vulnerability and offers actionable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance resilience under conditions of rapid urban growth and high-density development.
Rapid urbanization and the formal designation of Malang City as a tourism development zone have precipitated extensive changes in land utilization patterns. In this context, the escalation of economic activity has been identified as a primary catalyst for spatial growth, raising concerns about unbalanced development and environmental degradation. This study investigates the mechanisms by which intensified economic forces—interpreted through the lens of growth machine theory—have influenced the expansion of urban spatial structures and land use conversion within Malang City. A qualitative methodology has been employed, incorporating secondary data derived from municipal planning documents, regional policy frameworks, and peer-reviewed literature accessed through platforms including SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, and Taylor & Francis Online. Findings indicate that significant landscape transformation occurred between 2017 and 2023, characterized by the conversion of agricultural and vacant land into built-up areas spanning several hundred hectares. This transformation has been closely associated with investment-driven infrastructure development, pro-growth regulatory instruments, and the prioritization of commercial interests in urban governance. These dynamics reflect the core principles of growth machine theory, wherein urban land is reconstituted as a commodity leveraged for economic gain. The research highlights the extent to which governance arrangements, policy choices, and development incentives have facilitated the spatial restructuring of the city. It is argued that, while economic expansion has contributed to urban growth, it has also intensified land competition and exacerbated socio-environmental imbalances. Consequently, the need for integrative urban planning frameworks that balance economic imperatives with ecological resilience and social equity is emphasized. It is recommended that future development strategies be grounded in sustainability-oriented governance models, with particular attention given to inclusive spatial policies and environmental impact mitigation.
With the intensification of urbanization across China, the underutilization of rural housing resources has emerged as a pressing socio-economic and spatial challenge. To enhance the efficiency of shared rural housing transformation and support rural revitalization strategies, a data-driven framework was developed to identify and prioritize hierarchical user demand attributes. Demand items were initially derived through an extensive literature review and subsequently refined using a modified Kano model, informed by structured questionnaire surveys. To strengthen attribute prioritization and functional alignment, the Importance-Satisfaction (I-S) model and the Configuration Index Model were employed for triangulated classification. Findings revealed that structural safety (A11) constitutes a highly attractive attribute, exerting a strong influence on user satisfaction when addressed, yet inducing minimal dissatisfaction when absent. Smart home (A4) and green materials (A7) were identified as key quality attributes, essential for functional enhancement and user experience optimization. In contrast, cost-effectiveness (A1) and investment return (A2) were classified as high-value-added attributes, playing a pivotal role in decision-making among economically motivated users. New energy utilization (A8) and green design (A9) were categorized as fundamental, non-negotiable attributes, reflecting evolving sustainability expectations. Meanwhile, cultural inheritance (A15) and cultural display (A17) exhibited characteristics of low-attractiveness attributes, indicating limited influence on user satisfaction. Salvage (A10) emerged as a potential quality attribute with latent user recognition. The resulting demand classification elucidates a structured pathway for functional optimization, offering a robust analytical lens for the adaptive transformation of idle rural properties into shared accommodation assets. The applicability of the refined Kano model in rural spatial redevelopment was thereby validated. By integrating multidimensional user preferences and sustainability considerations, this study contributes an empirically grounded decision-support tool for policymakers, designers, and stakeholders engaged in rural land use regeneration and housing innovation. The proposed framework holds significant implications for the sustainable utilization of dormant rural infrastructure within broader urban-rural integration agendas.
A large number of young people are leaving their countries in search of a better life. The quality of life in the country they live in influences this. Therefore, it is essential to improve the quality of life for young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to prevent the outflow of youth. This research focuses on addressing the issue of housing for young people to improve their quality of life in the urban area of the Brčko District of BiH. A total of ten criteria and six alternatives for housing young people were considered. Consequently, this decision-making problem was solved using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods and a fuzzy approach. This approach was chosen because the evaluations of criteria and alternatives were in the form of linguistic values. The fuzzy simple weight calculation (SiWeC) method was used to determine the importance of the criteria, and its results showed that the most significant criterion for housing young people is financial capability. The consideration of alternatives for housing was conducted using the fuzzy compromise ranking of alternatives from distance to ideal solution (CRADIS) method, and the results of this method indicated that the alternative of collective housing for youth is the most suitable for addressing this problem. These results were also confirmed by conducting a sensitivity analysis. The contribution of this research lies in improving the quality of life for young people and retaining them in the country to influence the economic development of that country.
Ilorin, a rapidly urbanising city in Nigeria, faces multifaceted socio-economic and environmental challenges that exacerbate residents’ vulnerability to both natural and anthropogenic hazards. These hazards, including heatwaves, droughts, flooding, poverty, and housing insecurity, significantly impact the city’s sustainable development trajectory. This study examines the intricate interplay between vulnerability and everyday hazards, as well as the underlying socio-economic factors that exacerbate these challenges. A deductive research approach was adopted to assess the prevalence and drivers of vulnerability in Ilorin. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to a random sample of 273 residents across 20 wards. Findings reveal that economic vulnerability is particularly pronounced, with lack of access to stable income exhibiting the highest mean index (4.42), while inadequate access to safe, convenient, and affordable transportation represents the lowest vulnerability index (3.93). Social and environmental vulnerabilities were also prevalent, with mean values of 4.23 and 4.16, respectively. Among everyday hazards, food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition were identified as the most critical issues (mean value: 4.32), followed by income and financial disparities (4.25) and crime and violence (4.18). Housing-related hazards were found to be comparatively less significant. The primary drivers of these hazards include poverty (4.40), unemployment and underemployment (4.30), income inequality (4.21), lack of awareness (4.17), and weak institutional governance (4.16). The study underscores the interdependence between vulnerability, everyday hazards, and sustainable urban development in Ilorin. Addressing these challenges requires the institutionalisation of comprehensive sustainable development policies at the state level. The establishment of an Ilorin Sustainable Development Strategy (ISDS) is recommended to mitigate urban disparities and enhance resilience.
Campus safety is a universal concern for both students and their parents, particularly for students from vulnerable populations. This case study examines publicly available crime data collected by University Police for its two campuses in a metropolitan area in the U.S. The use of descriptive statistics, two-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and p-values are employed to compare crime statistics between the two campuses. The results for select offenses are compared to national averages for postsecondary institutions to determine whether the university is more/less safe than the national averages of other postsecondary institutions in the U.S. Despite some crime occurring during the period under evaluation, 2021-2023, results indicate that this is a safe university in comparison with national averages. This approach offers a robust tool for comparing crime data for universities with multiple campuses.
Water networks are critical infrastructure components, ensuring the continuous supply of high-quality drinking water to consumers. To secure such water supply, regular maintenance, including the replacement of deteriorating pipelines, is essential. In this study, a methodology has been developed for determining optimal pipeline replacement solutions in water supply systems at water utilities with limited data availability. Hydraulic analysis has been conducted on the segment of 25 km of the water supply network using the free software EPANET (Environmental Protection Agency, NETwork) Applying water network optimization, eight pipeline replacement projects according to 13 pre-defined criteria have been identified and evaluated. The paper outlines the methods for evaluating the criteria, including defining specific quantitative limits. The Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method was used in the paper to determine the weights of the criteria. The reason for applying this method refers to problems that involve a set of criteria with a mixed structure, including both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Also, the paper describes the steps of the multi-criteria optimization method VIKOR (Serbian language – VIšekriterijumsko KOmpromisno Rangiranje), used to select the optimal project. The obtained results were also confirmed by the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) multi-criteria optimization method. This paper, considered as a case study, describes a method, i.e., application of a new principle and an innovative way to solve a problem for developing countries.
Urban ponds play a critical role in sustaining ecological balance, enhancing urban resilience, and promoting community well-being. However, the rapid expansion of urban settlements has resulted in the gradual degradation and conversion of these water bodies, leading to significant environmental impacts, including biodiversity loss. This study investigates the transformation of urban pondscapes within Serampore Municipality, located in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA). A total of 191 ponds were identified and classified using Google Earth satellite imagery, field surveys, and statistical analysis. The ponds were categorized based on their size, condition, and usage, with field observations used to assess their health. Descriptive statistical methods were employed to analyze the distribution and size variations of these ponds. Additionally, secondary data on water quality parameters, such as turbidity and chlorophyll levels, were analyzed to evaluate the overall ecological health of the ponds. The results indicate a marked decline in the number of ponds, with nine ponds having been converted into built-up areas between 2011 and 2024. These findings underscore the adverse effects of urbanization on blue infrastructure and highlight the inadequacies of current policies in safeguarding urban water bodies. The evidence calls for stronger policy interventions and the adoption of sustainable urban planning practices to protect and conserve these vital aquatic resources. Without the proper management of urban ponds, the environmental and social functions they provide will continue to deteriorate, posing further risks to urban ecosystems and human health. Enhanced governance, alongside the integration of blue infrastructure into urban planning frameworks, is crucial for mitigating these challenges and ensuring the resilience of urban landscapes.
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