City and Environment Interactions最新文献

{"title":"The role of urban green areas in Ecuador’s climate change adaptation and mitigation based on the regulatory context","authors":"Carlos Padrón-Pesántez ,&nbsp;Daniel Icaza-Alvarez","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the future, cities will concentrate the majority of the population; however, various studies indicate that urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, a phenomenon exacerbated by anthropogenic pollution. This situation is due, in part, to the lack of adequate planning processes, which have led cities to become significant emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG). Within this framework, this research examines the role of urban green spaces (UGS) in climate change mitigation and adaptation through a global conceptual analysis and a local regulatory review, with the aim of assessing their importance in major Ecuadorian cities. The results show that, while regulations in Guayaquil establish a clearer connection between UGS and climate change mitigation and adaptation, they do not regulate in detail aspects such as their composition and distribution. In Quito, regulations require both substantive and formal adjustments to recognize SGUs as effective tools against the climate crisis. Cuenca, on the other hand, presents the greatest shortcomings, as its regulations date back 30 years and fail to address current problems. Finally, a comprehensive proposal applicable to other cities is presented to better manage the UGEs based on the regulations and the adjustments that should be considered and implemented.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100368"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797481","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Towards resilient cities: development of a city resilience assessment tool","authors":"Leire Labaka ,&nbsp;Matheus Puime Pedra ,&nbsp;Victor A. Bañuls ,&nbsp;Fernando M. Villar-Rosety ,&nbsp;Blanca López-Catalán ,&nbsp;Josune Hernantes","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cities are increasingly suffering impact and damages from climate change and disasters, creating extensive harm to society, infrastructures, economy and environment. Therefore, increasing cities' resilience level is vital to better deal with future disasters and guarantee the safety of the population. First, the resilience level of the cities should be assessed. This research presents a city resilience self-assessment tool designed to assist decision-makers in assessing their cities' resilience level from a multidisciplinary approach. It aims to be applied by the cities to define the policies to be implemented to enhance resilience, illustrate the current situation and evolution over time, and provide a benchmark with similar cities. Building on the SMR Resilience Maturity Model (SMR RMM), which provides a roadmap of policies to enhance city resilience, this research introduces an innovative self-assessment tool. The paper details the process followed in its development, outlines the steps involved, and presents the results achieved. The tool is composed of three integrated parts: a self-assessment questionnaire to gather data on the city's resilience level derived from the policies defined in the SMR RMM, a prioritization model developed using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method to define the order in which the city should implement the policies, and a dashboard to illustrate the results of the questionnaire and the prioritization model. This tool has been evaluated through a pilot test in a city in northern Spain through interviews with two departments of the city council which assessed the usefulness, relevancy and correctness of the tool.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100397"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148167301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reuse beneath Infrastructure: balancing structural fire risk and the upcycling of overlooked urban space","authors":"Raffaele Spera ,&nbsp;Donatella de Silva ,&nbsp;Andrea Miano ,&nbsp;Gabriella De Rosa ,&nbsp;Luigi Stendardo ,&nbsp;Emidio Nigro","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This interdisciplinary study explores the untapped potential of residual urban spaces beneath elevated infrastructure, termed “B-ROAD spaces,” and their associated fire hazards. As urban expansion faces land-use constraints, transforming these spaces into habitable areas becomes crucial. To transform them into true urban spaces, it is essential to adopt an approach that combines the recognition of their architectural formal and functional value with recovery strategies capable of addressing technical, regulatory, and safety challenges. The research integrates findings from B-ROAD1, focusing on sustainable urban development, and SaFeBIMAs2, which assesses seismic and fire risks for infrastructure. Through analysis of Naples’ East End Industrial District, B-ROAD spaces are classified into four categories –<!--> <!-->public, commercial, residential, and informal/illicit activities<!--> <!-->– and their fire risks are evaluated using heat release rate (HRR) curves derived from Eurocode standards and experimental data. Results show that unattended spaces, such as illegal dumps and makeshift homes, pose the highest fire risks due to unpredictable combustible materials and lack of fire prevention measures. While vehicle fires remain the most severe benchmark, uncontrolled vegetation fires also present significant hazards, particularly for steel structures. The study emphasizes proactive management of under-bridge spaces, integrating fire safety into urban design to mitigate risks and enhance resilience. By combining urban morphology with structural fire analysis, this research provides a framework for transforming neglected urban voids into safe, sustainable public spaces, aligning with principles of circular economy and urban mining.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100344"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147602028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urban air quality shifts under lockdown restrictions: assessing the role of policy stringency in Dhaka’s COVID-19 anthropause","authors":"Maheen Zaman,&nbsp;Md. Ahnaf Zaman,&nbsp;Nasif Ahmed Chowdhury,&nbsp;Md. Jobayer Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines changes in air quality during anthropogenic restrictions in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 lockdown, with an emphasis on variations associated with reduced human activity. The pollutant levels of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, and CO were collected and compared before, during, and after lockdown. Significant reductions were observed in NO₂ (−20.77%), PM₁₀ (−11.47%), SO₂ (−12.85%), and CO (−9.03%), but O₃ increased by 2.35%. PM_2.5 levels exhibited a statistically insignificant decline (−16.44%). To evaluate whether the observed changes deviated from historical patterns, Air Quality Index (AQI) levels for 2020 were forecasted using pre-pandemic data. The forecasts indicated AQI values in the range of 122.24–124.32, compared to the observed value of 107.74 during the same period, suggesting that the improvement in air quality exceeded typical variations. The potential role of meteorological factors was further examined through statistical testing and causality analysis. Although some weather variables showed temporal variation, no significant causal relationships with AQI were identified within the study period, indicating a limited explanatory role relative to other factors. Finally, to determine which policy measures were most strongly associated with changes in air quality, the Random Forest model and ridge regression analysis were employed. The findings consistently identify stay-at-home requirements and the closure of schools and workplaces as the measures most strongly associated with reductions in AQI, with additional contributions from transport and gathering restrictions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100355"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147602027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"When cities overheat: Urban heat exposure under the Swiss Climate CH2025 Scenarios","authors":"Anna E. Senoner ,&nbsp;Moritz Burger ,&nbsp;Sven Kotlarski","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban populations are exposed to more intense heat than people living in surrounding rural areas. The combination of high daytime temperatures and inadequate cooling at night in cities increases the risk of heat-related morbidity and mortality. In this study, we assess the exposure to heat in urban and rural locations in five Swiss cities: Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, and Zurich, under current and future climate conditions. Future projections are based on the Swiss Climate CH2025 scenarios for three Global Warming Levels (GWLs). To quantify heat exposure, we calculate several temperature-based indices and apply the MeteoSwiss heat warning framework to evaluate changes in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and hot spells. Additionally, based on climate scenarios, we select the worst-case scenario for the warmest week in summer under three different GWLs to explore the potential implications for heat-related risks. Our results suggest that projected global warming is expected to further increase daytime and nighttime temperatures in summer, with greater heat exposure in urban areas than in rural areas. Heatwaves are likely to become more frequent and intense in a warming climate, and in urban areas they will last two to four days longer and will reach higher warning levels than in surroundings. Prolonged heatwaves and reduced nighttime cooling are likely to exacerbate urban overheating and increase heat-related health risks. Our findings also emphasize the importance of efficient heat warning systems to facilitate timely public communication and the preparedness of public health systems in a warmer world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100385"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147991024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Compact or dispersed? spatial patterns of urban growth and Land-Use efficiency in Vietnam (2017–2024)","authors":"Nguyen Tran Tuan","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100361","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100361","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how urbanization reshapes the relationship between land use and the environment is crucial for promoting sustainable development in rapidly urbanizing countries. This study develops a grid-based spatial framework to examine the patterns and environmental implications of urban growth in Vietnam from 2017 to 2024. Using 1 km × 1 km grid data derived from ESRI land cover datasets, this study integrates Shannon entropy, Built-up Intensity (BI), and spatial autocorrelation indices (Global Moran’s I and Local Moran’s I – LISA) to assess land-use efficiency. The results reveal that urbanization in Vietnam has become increasingly compact and spatially polarized. The Red River Delta and Southeast region exhibit the strongest increases in BI and clustering of High-High urban nodes, while agricultural and forest landscapes remain dominant elsewhere. Entropy values indicate localized diversification of land use in <em>peri</em>-urban areas, reflecting growing land-environment complexity at the urban fringe. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Vietnam’s urban expansion is evolving toward compact and clustered forms, which may improve land efficiency but also intensify pressure on <em>peri</em>-urban ecosystems. The framework provides a transferable approach for analyzing urban-environment interactions in developing countries and supports evidence-based strategies for managing sustainable urban growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100361"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147702818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial distribution and health risk assessment of microplastics in urban street dust, northeastern Iran","authors":"Afsaneh Esmaeili Nasrabadi ,&nbsp;Masoume Farashyani ,&nbsp;Narges Shourabi ,&nbsp;Ziaeddin Bonyadi","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plastic pollution has become a major environmental concern, mainly because of the formation of microplastics (MPs) that persist in urban environments and pose potential health risks. This study investigated the occurrence, characteristics, and potential human health risks of MPs in street dust from Mashhad, Iran. Street dust samples collected from different functional areas of the city were processed by ozonation to remove organic matter, followed by ZnCl₂ density separation, filtration, and microscopic analysis to isolate and quantify MPs (particles per gram of dry dust) and evaluate health risks. The results showed a strong association between MP concentrations and both population density and traffic intensity, with values ranging from 90 ± 32 particles/g in low-density areas to 530 ± 21 particles/g in high-density zones. Fragments (61.2%) and black particles (53.5%) were predominant, and 63% of the particles were smaller than 100 µm. The major polymer types identified were low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The estimated daily ingestion of MPs was 307 particles for adults and 1,790 particles for children, whereas inhalation exposure was comparatively lower. Overall, this study provides the first quantitative assessment of MP pollution and related health risks in street dust from Mashhad, emphasizing the need for improved urban management and public awareness to mitigate this emerging environmental problem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100336"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147702827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Statistical and machine learning-based development of future typical meteorological years using city-specific GCMs for major cities in Indonesia","authors":"Vinayak Bhanage ,&nbsp;Han Soo Lee ,&nbsp;Tetsu Kubota ,&nbsp;Faiz Rohman Fajary ,&nbsp;Hideyo Nimiya ,&nbsp;Radyan Putra Pradana ,&nbsp;I Dewa Gede Arya Putra ,&nbsp;Muhammad Nur Fajri Alfata","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100367","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100367","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study establishes a novel city-specific future typical meteorological year dataset by incorporating future climate projections across 26 Indonesian cities. The projected monthly mean changes in four climatic variables (surface air temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and relative humidity) were obtained from city-specific global climate models for four future decades (2021–2030, 2031–2040, 2041–2050, 2051–2060) under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 5–8.5 scenario. These projections were morphed into the 2011–2020 TMY to create four future TMY (FTMY) datasets. The results indicate that, compared with 2011–2020, the annual mean surface air temperature across all cities may increase by 0.15°C to 2.90°C from 2021 to 2060. By 2051–2060, 19 cities may experience a precipitation increase of more than 20%, with minimal changes in relative humidity and wind speed. FTMY data generated from the morphing method were fed into a CatBoost algorithm to predict future solar irradiance. Projections indicate that by 2051–2060, shifts in solar irradiance components across most cities will be imperceptible. Analysis of future thermal discomfort indicated a significant increase in heat stress exposure across all cities over time. The FTMY datasets developed through this research provide crucial inputs for climate-responsive applications, including energy-efficient building design, energy planning, and supporting urban sustainability under future climate scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100367"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Landscape ecological risk assessment and Multi-Scenario simulation of proluvial plains in Northwest China","authors":"Yi Luo ,&nbsp;Songlin Liu ,&nbsp;Yuxuan Kuang ,&nbsp;Hanbiao Xian ,&nbsp;Qifei Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhifeng Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100332","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100332","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The proluvial plains in Northwest China, formed by seasonal flood debris along the piedmont, are critically important for regional ecological security. Characterized by expansive deserts, scarce precipitation, and limited surface runoff, these proluvial plains are highly susceptible to global climate change and rapid urbanization. Systematically revealing the spatiotemporal patterns of landscape ecological risk (LER) driven by land use/cover change (LUCC) is therefore essential for managing these fragile proluvial ecosystems. However, existing studies specifically focused on proluvial plains remain limited, and the region’s unique geomorphology has created a fragmented land cover matrix, introducing biases into traditional LER assessment schemes. To shed some light on this topic, this study develops an optimized framework through the integration of a landscape ecological risk index (LERI) with the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of LER from 1985 to 2050. The results yielded the following findings: (1) From 1985 to 2020, bare soil and grassland areas decreased by 20,334.0 km² and 5,779.3 km², respectively, while cropland expanded by 22,186.7 km². Concurrently, the overall LER decreased during this period, with high-risk regions shrinking by 23,183.9 km². (2) In multi-scenario simulations, cropland is projected to increase by 3,444.3 km² under the cropland protection (CLP) scenario, whereas under the ecological protection (EP) scenario, grassland will increase by 1,133.3 km² as bare soil decreases by 2,219.2 km². (3) The CLP scenario is projected to yield the lowest overall LER, achieving a 9.1% net risk reduction area. Conversely, the EP scenario results in the highest LER, with only a 1.19% net risk reduction, highlighting a trade-off between localized ecological restoration and landscape-level fragmentation. These findings provide significant scientific guidance for refining territorial planning strategies and achieving the harmonious coexistence of ecological conservation and economic growth in arid and semi-arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100332"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147388285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating green infrastructure and cultural heritage for urban planning","authors":"Elisabetta Zendri,&nbsp;Edy Fantinato","doi":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100376","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Green infrastructure is a promising and increasingly recommended approach for delivering essential ecosystem services in cities. However, current planning approaches largely regard the urban landscape as a grey matrix, with marginal land considered suitable for green infrastructure. Most European cities contain cultural heritage assets subject to strict conservation regulations, which are often the most likely sites for green infrastructure elements. Green infrastructure elements, however, can alter environmental conditions, perceptions, and patterns of use that are crucial for the long-term conservation of heritage assets. We develop an interpretative matrix to address interactions between green infrastructure and cultural heritage through cross-analysis of four green infrastructure planning criteria and thirteen cultural heritage conservation principles. The analysis identifies conditions of synergy and trade-off between green infrastructure implementation and cultural heritage conservation, with interactions shaped by physical, chemical, perceptual and usage-related relationships. Our framework suggests that cultural heritage does not inherently restrict green infrastructure implementation but instead requires planning approaches based on conservation-oriented principles and contextual assessment. Planning green infrastructure in accordance with cultural heritage conservation principles not only enables coexistence but can also support cultural heritage values, social acceptability, and cultural ecosystem services associated with green infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52395,"journal":{"name":"City and Environment Interactions","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article 100376"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147849771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}