Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Buildings buildings	3.1	3.4	2011	17.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Forests forests	2.4	4.4	2010	16.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Land land	3.2	4.9	2012	17.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Remote Sensing remotesensing	4.2	8.3	2009	24.7 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Behavioral Sciences behavsci	2.5	2.6	2011	27 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	20 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

27 pages, 3910 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Application of Neurostructural Principles to the Design of Public Spaces on University Campuses

by Qihang Zhou and Xingxing Fang

Land 2024, 13(12), 1978; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13121978 - 21 Nov 2024

Viewed by 165

In this study, we examined the application of neurostructural principles to the design of public spaces on university campuses to optimize students’ learning efficiency, social interactions, and psychological well-being. Using Hainan University in China as a case study, a descriptive analysis was used [...] Read more.

In this study, we examined the application of neurostructural principles to the design of public spaces on university campuses to optimize students’ learning efficiency, social interactions, and psychological well-being. Using Hainan University in China as a case study, a descriptive analysis was used to evaluate the case study design of the data. Data on students’ preferences for and satisfaction with public learning spaces (libraries, student centers, and open learning areas) were also collected through a questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the four stages of the AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action) model and covered basic information about the participants and their first impressions of the learning spaces, design element preferences, emotional and cognitive influences, and willingness to participate in improving the design of campus spaces. Data were analyzed using quantitative methods, including frequency analysis and score aggregation, to assess the students’ satisfaction with the existing design elements of the learning space and their suggestions for potential improvements. A random sample of students enrolled at Hainan University was used to ensure that the data were representative. The results of the study indicate that the rational allocation of natural light, the optimization of the acoustic environment, the adoption of soothing color schemes, and flexible spatial layouts are effective at relieving students’ psychological stress, enhancing their academic performance, and facilitating social interactions. Some of the existing designs are already in line with neurostructural principles, but there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of color schemes and spatial configurations. Students have positive attitudes towards participating in campus space improvement, with especially high interest in light optimization, spatial layout, and the use of natural materials. This study verifies the effectiveness of using neural structure principles in campus public spaces by establishing an empirical model, proves its positive effect on the quality of the campus environment and students’ well-being, and provides empirical evidence and theoretical support for future campus design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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11 pages, 1862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Neighborhood Built Environment and Mental Health: Differences Between Older Adults With and Without Restricted Mobility

by Xinyu Kong, Haoying Han, Fangting Chi, Mengyao Zhan and Xianfan Shu

Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9226; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219226 - 24 Oct 2024

Viewed by 667

Abstract

The mobility restrictions faced by older adults pose significant challenges to understanding the association between the neighborhood built environment and their mental health. Neglecting the role of restricted mobility hinders a comprehensive analysis of how the built environment impacts older adults’ mental health. [...] Read more.

The mobility restrictions faced by older adults pose significant challenges to understanding the association between the neighborhood built environment and their mental health. Neglecting the role of restricted mobility hinders a comprehensive analysis of how the built environment impacts older adults’ mental health. Furthermore, the differences in this association between older adults with and without restricted mobility remain unclear. Based on data from 1405 adults aged 60 and older in Hangzhou, China, this study explored the association between the neighborhood built environment and the mental health of older adults using multivariable linear regression, with multivariable logistic regression being employed for the sensitivity analysis. The results indicated that access to public canteens and outdoor fitness spaces were significantly positively associated with the mental health of older adults. Notably, the protective effect of outdoor fitness spaces was significant for older adults with restricted mobility, while the supportive effect of public canteens was significant for those without restricted mobility. This study demonstrated an association between the neighborhood built environment and mental health among older adults, highlighting differences in this effect between those with and without restricted mobility. These insights underscore the necessity of designing sustainable and inclusive neighborhoods that cater to the varied needs of older adults, ultimately fostering environments that promote healthy and active aging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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20 pages, 15601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Streetscape Images, Machine Learning, and Space Syntax to Enhance Walkability: A Case Study of Seongbuk District, Seoul

by Zhongshan Huang, Bin Wang, Shixian Luo, Manqi Wang, Jingjing Miao and Qiyue Jia

Land 2024, 13(10), 1591; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101591 - 30 Sep 2024

Viewed by 831

Abstract

As urbanization rapidly progresses, streets have transitioned from mere transportation corridors to crucial spaces for daily life and social interaction. While past research has examined the impact of physical street characteristics on walkability, there is still a lack of large-scale quantitative assessments. This [...] Read more.

As urbanization rapidly progresses, streets have transitioned from mere transportation corridors to crucial spaces for daily life and social interaction. While past research has examined the impact of physical street characteristics on walkability, there is still a lack of large-scale quantitative assessments. This study systematically evaluates street walkability in Seongbuk District, Seoul, through the integration of streetscape images, machine learning, and space syntax. The physical characteristics of streets were extracted and analyzed in conjunction with space syntax to assess street accessibility, leading to a combined analysis of walkability and accessibility. The results reveal that the central and western regions of Seongbuk District outperform the eastern regions in overall street performance. Additionally, the study identifies four distinct street types based on their spatial distribution: high accessibility–high overall score, high accessibility–low overall score, low accessibility–high overall score, and low accessibility–low overall score. The findings not only provide a scientific basis for street development in Seongbuk District but also offer valuable insights for assessing and enhancing walkability in cities globally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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17 pages, 7426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differential Evaluation of Ecological Resilience in 45 Cities along the Yangtze River in China: A New Multidimensional Analysis Framework

by Chong Li, Yibao Wang, Wen Qing, Cuixi Li and Yujiang Yang

Land 2024, 13(10), 1588; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101588 - 29 Sep 2024

Viewed by 773

Abstract

The rapid pace of urbanization and global climate change necessitates a thorough assessment of urban ecological resilience to cultivate sustainable regional ecosystem development. Cities along the Yangtze River face an intensifying conflict between ecological preservation and socio-economic growth. Analyzing the ecological resilience of [...] Read more.

The rapid pace of urbanization and global climate change necessitates a thorough assessment of urban ecological resilience to cultivate sustainable regional ecosystem development. Cities along the Yangtze River face an intensifying conflict between ecological preservation and socio-economic growth. Analyzing the ecological resilience of these urban centers is essential for achieving equilibrium in regional urban ecosystems. This study proposes a “system process space” attribute analysis framework, taking into account urban development processes, ecosystem structure, and resilience evolution stages. Utilizing data from 45 Yangtze River cities, we establish a “Driver, Pressure, State, Impact, and Response” (DPSIR) evaluation index system to evaluate changes in ecological resilience levels and evolution trends from 2011 to 2022. Our findings indicate that: (1) The ecological resilience index of Yangtze River cities increased from 0.177 to 0.307 between 2011 and 2022, progressing through three phases: ecological resilience construction, rapid development, and stable development. (2) At the city level, ecological resilience along the Yangtze River exhibits uneven development characteristics. Upstream cities display a significant “stepped” pattern, midstream cities exhibit a significant “Matthew effect”, and downstream cities present a pyramid-shaped pattern. While regional differences in ecological resilience persist, overall polarization is gradually decreasing, intercity connections are strengthening, and there is a growing focus on coordinated regional development. (3) The spatial distribution of ecological resilience in Yangtze River cities demonstrates both continuity and evolution, generally forming a “core-edge” clustered pattern. Based on these findings, we recommend enhancing inter-city cooperation and connectivity, addressing imbalances in urban ecological resilience, and promoting high-quality ecological resilience development along the Yangtze River through tailored development strategies for each city. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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27 pages, 15562 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Combined Effects of the Thermal Environment and Air Quality at Recreation Places on the Physiology and Psychology of People in Urban Parks

by Yuxiang Lan, Jingjing Wang, Yaling Huang, Yuanyang Tang, Zhanhua Liu, Jiahui Zheng, Xiong Yao, Zhipeng Zhu, Jianwen Dong and Ye Chen

Forests 2024, 15(9), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091640 - 17 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1167

Abstract

Urban forests, crucial to urban ecosystems, are increasingly threatened by the challenges of urbanization, such as deteriorating thermal environments and declining air quality. Despite their recognized benefits to city dwellers’ quality of life, a systematic understanding of the impact of these environmental factors [...] Read more.

Urban forests, crucial to urban ecosystems, are increasingly threatened by the challenges of urbanization, such as deteriorating thermal environments and declining air quality. Despite their recognized benefits to city dwellers’ quality of life, a systematic understanding of the impact of these environmental factors on public psychophysiological well-being in recreational sites is a notable gap in the literature. The objective of this research was to bridge this gap by examining the effects of the thermal environment and air quality in urban forests on the public’s perception, offering scientific evidence to inform environmental optimization and health management strategies for urban parks, essential for sustainable urban development and public health. Three urban parks in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, namely Fuzhou National Forest Park, Xihu Park, and Jinniushan Sports Park, were selected as research sites. Environmental monitoring and questionnaire surveys were conducted at 24 recreation places from October to December 2020, collecting temperature, humidity, and wind speed; the atmospheric composition includes PM2.5, PM10, negative oxygen ion, and psychophysiological data from the public. Multivariate statistical methods were employed to assess the environmental characteristics of different recreation places types and their impact on public health. The findings reveal that environmental factors explained 1.9% to 11.8% of the variation in physiological and psychological responses, mainly influenced by temperature, wind speed, and negative oxygen ions. Forests and waterfront recreation places significantly outperform canopy and open recreation places in promoting mental invigoration, stress relief, emotional tranquility, and attention restoration. Environmental monitoring results indicate that favorable meteorological conditions and good air quality are crucial for enhancing the service functions of recreation places. Notably, the positive correlation between a negative air ion concentration and psychological well-being provides a novel perspective on understanding the health benefits of urban forests. The thermal environment and air quality of urban recreation places exert a significant influence on the psychophysiological status of the public. Increasing green coverage, improving water body environments, and rationally planning recreation places layout are of great theoretical and practical significance for enhancing the environmental quality and service functions of urban forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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23 pages, 10654 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Relationship between Campus Environment and College Students’ Emotional Perception: A Case Study of Yuelu Mountain National University Science and Technology City

by Zhimou Peng, Ruiying Zhang, Yi Dong and Zhihao Liang

Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2849; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092849 - 10 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1374

Abstract

The campus environment directly impacts college students’ psychological and emotional well-being, influencing their behavioral performance and the development of their personalities. Investigating the complex relationship between the campus spatial environment and students’ emotions is crucial for designing urban environments that support mental health. [...] Read more.

The campus environment directly impacts college students’ psychological and emotional well-being, influencing their behavioral performance and the development of their personalities. Investigating the complex relationship between the campus spatial environment and students’ emotions is crucial for designing urban environments that support mental health. Using Yuelu Mountain National University Science and Technology City as a case study, this research developed a framework to analyze campus environment characteristics and emotional perception. The study quantitatively assessed emotional perceptions, examined the specific contributions of different campus environment elements to individual emotions, and created an emotion prediction map to explore these relationships in depth. The results indicate that “campus greenery” and “diversity” negatively affect “disappointment” and “depression”, while “sky views” positively impact “happiness” and “sense of security”. Additionally, “diversity” positively affects “relaxation”, and “campus greenery” and “diversity” have negative effects on “disappointment” and “depression”, with “diversity” having a particularly strong positive effect on “relaxation”. The pronounced spatial clustering of emotional perceptions on campus further underscores the significant influence of the campus environment on individual emotional experiences. As the first study to explore the mechanisms underlying the emotional perceptions of Chinese college students in relation to the campus environment, this research overcomes the limitations of traditional environmental assessment indicators by identifying campus environmental elements and psychological factors that better align with the psychological needs of college students. This provides a scientific basis for optimizing campus environments based on the emotional perceptions of students, thereby supporting mental health promotion and guiding campus environment construction. Moreover, the research methodology is broadly applicable. The integration of campus environment image data and deep learning offers a significant tool for assessing campus space and environmental perception, thereby enhancing human-centered environmental assessment and prediction while more accurately reflecting architectural space perception. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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30 pages, 9180 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Street Elements on Pedestrian Stopping Behavior in Commercial Pedestrian Streets from the Perspective of Commercial Vitality

by Xuanming Mu, Liqiang Mu and Jun Zhang

Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7727; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177727 - 5 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 977

Abstract

As urban design increasingly emphasizes livable environments, research on pedestrians and walking environments has been revisited at the street level. Although existing studies have shown that street environments impact pedestrians, there remains a significant gap in our knowledge regarding which street elements affect [...] Read more.

As urban design increasingly emphasizes livable environments, research on pedestrians and walking environments has been revisited at the street level. Although existing studies have shown that street environments impact pedestrians, there remains a significant gap in our knowledge regarding which street elements affect pedestrian walking behavior, to what degree, and which walking characteristics are influenced. This study aims to validate the close relationship between street elements and pedestrian stopping behavior by measuring the influence of different street element environments on walking characteristics. Research methods include a literature review and field research, categorizing street elements into 32 types and pedestrian stopping behaviors into 10 characteristics. By collecting effective walking data from 1587 pedestrians and conducting data processing and regression analysis, we found that rational street design can effectively promote commercial activity and enhance street vitality. Based on the experimental conclusions, we propose urban design recommendations to further enhance the vitality of commercial pedestrian streets, including optimizing street landscape design, improving pedestrian facilities, and increasing leisure spaces. This research provides valuable references for further exploring how to enhance the vitality of commercial pedestrian streets, helping urban planners and designers better understand the relationship between street elements and urban vitality, thereby creating more attractive and vibrant urban spaces and promoting sustainable urban development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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Map of the experimental location. (A) Heilongjiang Province, China; (B) Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province; (C) Central Street with the study sites. Full article ">Figure 2
Classification of Street Elements: (A) Distribution of Street Elements; (B) Public Street Elements; (C) Building Interface Elements; (D) Spatial Perception Elements. Full article ">Figure 3
Classification of Pedestrian Stationary Behavior Participation. Full article ">Figure 4
Selection of Measurement Points. The red shaded areas represent construction zones or entrances/exits of large shopping malls, where pedestrian data collection will not be conducted. Road intersections are delineated during the street segment division process and will not be included in pedestrian data collection. The numerical order in the figure corresponds to the segment numbers in the following text. Full article ">Figure 5
Statistics of Pedestrian Walking and Stationary Characteristics. Full article ">Figure 6
Statistics of Participation Tendency Characteristics. Full article ">Figure 7
Linear Regression Analysis of Main Factors Affecting Pedestrian Walking and Stationary Behavior. Full article ">

22 pages, 11240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Landscape Perception of Urban Parks Based on User-Generated Data

by Wei Ren, Kaiyuan Zhan, Zhu Chen and Xin-Chen Hong

Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2776; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092776 - 4 Sep 2024

Viewed by 851

Abstract

User-generated data can reflect various viewpoints and experiences derived from people’s perception outcomes. The perceptual results can be obtained, often by combining subjective public perceptions of the landscape with physiological monitoring data. Accessing people’s perceptions of the landscape through text is a common [...] Read more.

User-generated data can reflect various viewpoints and experiences derived from people’s perception outcomes. The perceptual results can be obtained, often by combining subjective public perceptions of the landscape with physiological monitoring data. Accessing people’s perceptions of the landscape through text is a common method. It is hard to fully render nuances, emotions, and complexities depending only on text by superficial emotional tendencies alone. Numerical representations may lead to misleading conclusions and undermine public participation. In addition, the use of physiological test data does not reflect the subjective reasons for the comments made. Therefore, it is essential to deeply parse the text and distinguish between segments with different semantic differences. In this study, we propose a perceptual psychology-based workflow to extract and visualize multifaceted views from user-generated data. The analysis methods of FCN, LDA, and LSTM were incorporated into the workflow. Six areas in Fuzhou City, China, with 12 city parks, were selected as the study object. Firstly, 9987 review data and 1747 pictures with corresponding visitor trajectories were crawled separately on the Dianping and Liangbulu websites. For in-depth analysis of comment texts and making relevant heat maps. Secondly, the process of clauses was added to get a more accurate representation of the sentiment of things based on the LSTM sentiment analysis model. Thirdly, various factors affecting the perception of landscapes were explored. Based on such, the overall people’s perception of urban parks in Fuzhou was finally obtained. The study results show that (1) the texts in terms of ‘wind’, ‘temperature’, ‘structures’, ‘edge space (spatial boundaries)’, and ‘passed space’ are the five most representative factors of the urban parks in Fuzhou; (2) the textual analyses further confirmed the influence of spatial factors on perception in the temporal dimension; and (3) environmental factors influence people’s sense of urban parks concerning specificity, clocking behavior, and comfort feelings. These research results provide indispensable references for optimizing and transforming urban environments using user-generated data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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23 pages, 10102 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Mitigation Benefits of Street Tree Species during Transition Seasons in Hot and Humid Areas: A Case Study in Guangzhou

by Senlin Zheng, Caiwei He, Haodong Xu, Jean-Michel Guldmann and Xiao Liu

Forests 2024, 15(8), 1459; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081459 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 753

Abstract

The potential microclimatic effects of street trees are influenced by their ecological characteristics, planting patterns, and street orientations, especially in subtropical hot and humid areas. To investigate these effects, four typical street tree species in Guangzhou were selected for study during the transition [...] Read more.

The potential microclimatic effects of street trees are influenced by their ecological characteristics, planting patterns, and street orientations, especially in subtropical hot and humid areas. To investigate these effects, four typical street tree species in Guangzhou were selected for study during the transition seasons: Khaya senegalensis, Terminalia neotaliala, Ficus microcarpa, and Mangifera indica. Air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), surface temperature (ST), wind speed (WS), and the leaf area index (LAI) were monitored. The cooling effects of these four species and the resulting improvements in human thermal comfort (HTC) were assessed. The influences of tree planting patterns and street orientations on cooling benefits were systematically analyzed. The results indicate that, during transition seasons, the four street trees, on average, can block 96.68% of SR, reduce AT by 1.45 °C and ST by 10.25 °C, increase RH by 5.26%, and lower the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) by 8.34 °C. Terminalia neotaliala, reducing AT and PET by 1.76 °C and 12.4 °C, respectively, offers the greatest potential for microclimate improvement. Among the four tree species, the variations in ST (ΔST) and PET (ΔPET) were minimal, at only 0.76 °C and 0.25 °C, respectively. The average differences in AT and PET between inter-tree and under-tree environments were 0.06 °C and 0.98 °C, respectively. The AT reduction rate was 1.7 times higher in the double-row planting pattern compared to the single-row planting pattern. Street trees planted in the northwest–southeast (NW-SE) orientation exhibited a 16.96% lower WS reduction than those in other orientations. The northeast–southwest (NE-SW) orientation showed the least potential to enhance human thermal comfort. Compared to NE-SW, the northwest–southeast (NW-SE) orientation achieved twice the rate of AT reduction, while the north–south (N-S) orientation improved it by 1.3 times. This data analysis aids in assessing the impact of green infrastructure on urban climates and demonstrates the year-round microclimatic benefits of street trees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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18 pages, 6196 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Current Situation of Public Service Facilities’ Layout from the Perspective of 15-Minute Communities—Taking Chengdu of Sichuan Province as an Example

by Yihua Sun and Shixian Luo

Land 2024, 13(7), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071110 - 22 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 924

Abstract

With the rapid expansion of cities, the construction of 15-minute communities has become an important way to improve the urban living environment and enhance the quality of life of residents. In this study, based on the perspective of a 15-minute community in Chengdu, [...] Read more.

With the rapid expansion of cities, the construction of 15-minute communities has become an important way to improve the urban living environment and enhance the quality of life of residents. In this study, based on the perspective of a 15-minute community in Chengdu, the current situation of the spatial layout in the 12 main urban districts of 15,941 public service facility points is studied. Additionally, the matching relationship between the supply and demand of five major categories (19 subcategories) of public service facilities and the population is assessed by using the kernel density analysis method, the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area method, the hierarchical analysis method and the bivariate spatial autocorrelation. Finally, suggestions for the optimization of basic service facilities are made in the light of the current development situation in Chengdu. The results show that (1) there is a large spatial heterogeneity in the distribution and accessibility of public service facilities in the study area; (2) there is a mismatch between the supply and demand of public service facilities and the population in Chengdu; and (3) in order to further optimize the allocation of public service facilities, it is necessary to focus first on areas where demand exceeds supply. This study built a framework for assessing the current status of spatial distribution of public service facilities, which measures the 15-minute accessibility of basic public service facilities in a more comprehensive way and bridges the gap of previous single-type studies, which make it difficult to make comprehensive optimization recommendations directly. Meanwhile, the bivariate spatial autocorrelation reveals the areas of mismatch between supply and demand more accurately, and more clearly shows the areas that need to be focused on for optimization by policy makers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Human-Environment Interaction and Sustainable Governance)

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Analytical framework of the study. Full article ">Figure 2
Location of the study area. Full article ">Figure 3
Spatial distribution of population density in Chengdu in 2020. Full article ">Figure 4
The spatial distribution of various PSF. Full article ">Figure 5
Kernel density analysis for 5 types of public service facilities. Full article ">Figure 6
Distribution of 15-minute accessibility related to (a) living; (b) healthcare; (c) education; (d) public transit; and (e) entertainment. Full article ">Figure 7
Comprehensive 15-minute accessibility to public services facilities. Full article ">Figure 8
Results for bivariate spatial autocorrelation. (a) Moran index; (b) results of spatial matching of population density and integrated accessibility. Full article ">

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