The impact of the spatial configuration of socioeconomic services on rural–urban dependencies in Northern Jordan

Human-induced biodiversity loss has been accelerating since the industrial revolution. The climate change impacts will severely alter the biodiversity and biogeographical patterns at all scales, leading to biotic homogenization. Due to underfunding, a climate smart, conservation-prioritization scheme is needed to optimize species protection. Spatial phylogenetics enable the identification of endemism centers and provide valuable insights regarding the eco-evolutionary and conservation value, as well as the biogeographical origin of a given area. Many studies exist regarding the conservation prioritization of mainland areas, yet none has assessed how climate change might alter the biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of an island biodiversity hotspot. Thus, we conducted a phylogenetically informed, conservation prioritization study dealing with the effects of climate change on Crete’s plant diversity and biogeographical patterns. Using several macroecological analyses, we identified the current and future endemism centers and assessed the impact of climate change on the biogeographical patterns in Crete. The highlands of Cretan mountains have served as both diversity cradles and museums, due to their stable climate and high topographical heterogeneity, providing important ecosystem services. Historical processes seem to have driven diversification and endemic species distribution in Crete. Due to the changing climate and the subsequent biotic homogenization, Crete’s unique bioregionalization, which strongly reminiscent the spatial configuration of the Pliocene/Pleistocene Cretan paleo-islands, will drastically change. The emergence of the ‘Anthropocene’ era calls for the prioritization of biodiversity-rich areas, serving as mixed-endemism centers, with high overlaps among protected areas and climatic refugia.

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Nature-Based Solutions: Dependency of Effectiveness on Spatial Configuration

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-10899 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ian Pattison

Keyword(s):

Flood Risk ◽

Critical Infrastructure ◽

Spatial Configuration ◽

Storm Track ◽

Spatial Location ◽

Flood Management ◽

Clear Understanding ◽

Storm Events ◽

Catchment Scale ◽

The Impact

Several recent large flood events have had severe economic and social impacts. The winter 2015-16 UK floods resulted in 16,000 properties flooding and damage to critical infrastructure. It is increasingly being recognised that traditional approaches of flood defence are not sustainable due to the pressures of climate change and economic constraints. The solution to the flood risk problem in cities is no longer seen as being just on-site, and thinking is shifting upstream and to the catchment/landscape scales, known as Nature-Based Solutions or Natural Flood Management (NFM). The approach consists of measures that &#8220;Work with Natural Processes&#8221;, such as storing water in ponds, and slowing the flow in rivers. The evidence for the impacts is strong at the local scale, but the larger spatial scale impact is highly uncertain due to the cumulative impacts resulting from amplifying/mitigating effects of different interventions, controlled by spatial location and storm-track interaction.To date, Nature-Based Solution schemes have proceeded on an opportunistic basis, without a clear design strategy (which measure and where to implement it). However, if schemes are implemented without clear understanding of their impacts, they may, at best, fail to achieve the optimum flood reduction benefit downstream, or, at worst, make flooding more severe (if implemented in inappropriate locations, when tributaries&#8217; flows are synchronised).&#160;&#160;Impacts of NFM measures are spatially and temporally dependent i.e. the same intervention in two locations will have different effects on flows, and the same intervention will have different impacts during different storm events. Therefore, it is essential that when strategically designing NFM schemes for catchments, that WHERE? and WHAT? are answered together to optimise the impact, as it is possible that whilst upstream NFM may be beneficial locally it may make tributary peaks coincide and make flood magnitudes worse downstream. Here we demonstrate the importance of the spatial configuration of Nature-Based Solutions on their catchment scale effectiveness in reducing flood risk.

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Investigating the Impact of Spatial Configuration on Users' Behaviour in Shopping Malls Case of Bab-Ezzouar Shopping Mall in Algiers

International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability ◽

10.11113/ijbes.v7.n3.507 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 23-35

Author(s):

Soufiane Fezzai ◽

Rima Beya Fares ◽

Fatima Ezzahra Boutouata ◽

Noussaiba Benachi

Keyword(s):

Spatial Configuration ◽

Shopping Mall ◽

Survey Analysis ◽

Shopping Malls ◽

Shopping Centre ◽

Traditional Markets ◽

Visual Patterns ◽

Straight Line ◽

Shopping Experience ◽

The Impact

Recently, Shopping malls are introduced in Algerian cities as new commercial structures instead of traditional markets; they become a part of the daily life allowing people to have a new shopping experience. This paper aims to explore the influence of visual accessibility and spatial configuration on the navigation of individuals in a shopping mall through the analysis of Bab-Ezzouar shopping centre. The analysis of spatial and visual patterns adopts space syntax techniques and methods, a survey analysis based on people tracking and a questionnaire is applied to collect data on the shopping centre visitors’ behaviour. The results show that the perception of shopping spaces differs from familiar to unfamiliar visitors, familiar visitors are guided by their shopping habit more than spatial patterns and unfamiliar visitors are influenced by visual patterns of space more than accessibility. Visitors tend to choose the most open spaces that offer maximum visual accessibility more than physical accessibility, they also prefer walking in a straight-line avoiding change of direction. These features can guide designers in their process for better understanding of shopping space.

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THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION ON THE SPATIAL CONFIGURATION OF TRADITIONAL IRANIAN HOUSING (CASE STUDY: COMPARISON OF DEZFUL AND BOROUJERD TRADITIONAL HOUSING)

Journal of Architecture and Urbanism ◽

10.3846/jau.2021.14230 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 50-59

Author(s):

Pedram Hessari ◽

Farhad Chegeni

Keyword(s):

Spatial Configuration ◽

Spatial Perception ◽

Space Syntax ◽

Public And Private ◽

Behavioral Systems ◽

Spatial Differences ◽

Library Studies ◽

Visual Privacy ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

The cities of Dezful and Boroujerd can be considered a treasure trove of traditional houses in Iran whose social, functional, and cultural roots are reflected in their architectural body. Traditional housing includes and expresses the lifestyles and behavioral systems of its inhabitants. Therefore, by analyzing the spatial structure in different traditional dwellings, we can understand the structural differences in them. The main purpose of this study is to identify and express the structure and spatial differences in traditional housing in Dezful and Boroujerd, which have many differences in terms of environmental structure. This study seeks to answer the question: What are the differences between structural patterns and spatial configuration in traditional housing in Dezful and Boroujerd? The method of this research is generally qualitative and software that includes analytical-descriptive approaches and logical reasoning. First, using observation, field survey, and library studies, the desired maps are obtained and the research parameters such as spatial integrity, visual privacy and control, and access are determined. In the next step, the maps of selected research houses are analyzed and analyzed in Space Syntax software, which is specialized software for space syntax, and the patterns of spatial configuration in traditional houses of Dezful and Boroujerd are expressed. The results show that the permeability and readability of more spaces due to the depth of each space and better spatial perception by individuals in traditional houses in Dezful is more than traditional houses in Boroujerd. In contrast, in traditional houses in Boroujerd, spatial stratification and spatial hierarchy, the creation of public and private layers due to the shape and type of housing, and also environmental security in the residential complex is more than the examples of traditional housing in Dezful.

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The Impact of Perceived Social Support During Pregnancy on Postpartum Infant-Focused Anxieties: A Prospective Cohort Study of Mothers in Northern Jordan

International Journal of Women s Health ◽

10.2147/ijwh.s329487 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Volume 13 ◽

pp. 973-989

Author(s):

Heba H Hijazi ◽

Mohammad S Alyahya ◽

Rabah M Al Abdi ◽

Main N Alolayyan ◽

Amer M Sindiani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Perceived Social Support ◽

The Impact ◽

Northern Jordan

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Investigation of spatial configuration management on social distancing of recreational clubhouse for COVID-19 in Penang, Malaysia

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation ◽

10.1108/ijbpa-08-2020-0072 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Nur Adibah Binti Abdul Nasir ◽

Ahmad Sanusi Hassan ◽

Fatemeh Khozaei ◽

Muhammad Hafeez Bin Abdul Nasir

Keyword(s):

Spatial Organization ◽

Spatial Configuration ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Spatial Arrangement ◽

Public Spaces ◽

Disease Spread ◽

Content Type ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Social Distancing ◽

The Impact

PurposeSince the appearance of COVID-19 social distancing and staying home have been recommended repeatedly by the governments for disease prevention. As the challenge continues to remain the current study seeks to examine the factors affecting social distancing through space planning and management. More specifically the current study aims to examine the appropriateness of the spatial organization and space configuration of a clubhouse with a linear plan layout in the mitigation of the spread of infections due to serious pandemic COVID-19.Design/methodology/approachFor an enhanced understanding of the impact of spatial arrangements of public spaces plan on the effective implementation of social distancing this study has used the space syntax analysis method. The MPSP clubhouse building in Penang, Malaysia was selected as the case study. The level of permeability and wayfinding were determined in the building plan and were illustrated using photoshop software to depict the interrelation between the indoor spaces and building circulation. Graphs of the depth of space were used to analyze the level of permeability and wayfinding to illustrate the possibility of social distancing in the plan.FindingsThe result of the study shows the significant role of proper plan layout design on social distancing. While clear and direct wayfinding can positively be associated with more effective social distancing, the inefficient design of user access, inappropriate locations of multiple entry and exit and indefinite directions of users' inside buildings can impose slight limitations. The average level of permeability might suggest ineffective spatial arrangement, ignoring the needs of spatial segregation. The study further found that the linear plan layouts with proper zoning and effective management strategies can be considered a proper layout to facilitate social distancing and the spread of COVID-19.Originality/valueThe current study is unique in terms of examination of the spatial configuration of linear public spaces plan layout for possible temporary adaptability to curb disease spread during the unexpected advent of a pandemic. Based on researchers' best of knowledge it is the first time that the impact of recreational space design on social distancing has been examined. The study also originally sheds light on the fact that the commonly used guideline for the social distancing of 1–2 m between 2 persons, in reality, is practically inadequate given the nature of the sports activities.

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The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the cardiology services in Northern Jordan

Annals of Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.amsu.2020.11.046 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 ◽

pp. 604-605

Author(s):

Rasheed Ibdah ◽

Sukaina Rawashdeh ◽

Abdullah Al-Kasasbeh ◽

Mahmoud Albalas ◽

Nail A. Obeidat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Impact ◽

Northern Jordan

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MODERNISM AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION IN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DESIGN: THE NIGERIAN EXAMPLE

International Journal of Architectural Research Archnet-IJAR ◽

10.26687/archnet-ijar.v10i3.1102 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 21

Author(s):

Abimbola O Asojo ◽

Babatunde E. Jaiyeoba

Keyword(s):

First Generation ◽

Spatial Configuration ◽

Limited Information ◽

University Campus ◽

Cultural Expression ◽

Public Projects ◽

Campus Design ◽

Construction Techniques ◽

Building Form ◽

The Impact

In the early to mid-20th century as a result of colonialism and independence across Africa, modernism became prominent as urbanization rapidly affected major Nigerian cities and towns. Modernism was reflected in the public projects designed and executed by expatriate firms of modernist architects and designers for the colonialists. In literature, most of the discussion on modernism has predominantly been focused on Europe and the Americas. There is very limited information available about the African continent, especially West Africa and Nigeria. In this paper, we discuss the designs of the first generation Nigerian Universities. Our goal is to introduce audiences to cultural expression and diverse perspectives of Nigerian spaces of this era, and thus contribute to the global design discourse. We will illustrate how the designers and architects acculturated the international style into the tropical climate and sociocultural context of Nigeria. We will discuss the impact of Nigerian indigenous cultures on the site layout, building form, spatial configuration, interior and exterior relationships, materials, construction techniques, symbols and aesthetics.

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QUANTIFYING THE IMPACT OF CONGESTION ON CONSTRUCTION LABOR PRODUCTIVITY USING AGENT-BASED MODELING

Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction ◽

10.14455/isec.res.2019.131 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Rahal ◽

Hiam Khoury

Keyword(s):

Labor Productivity ◽

Spatial Configuration ◽

Quantitative Model ◽

Agent Based Modeling ◽

Direct Impact ◽

Agent Based Simulation ◽

Agent Based ◽

Future Work ◽

The Impact ◽

Construction Trades

Several findings from the construction field stipulate that productivity falloffs are primarily management-related; however, this notion does not consider the direct impact of these same management decisions on the workers themselves. For instance, the planning of the workspace layout delves in a spatial configuration which if not properly managed can potentially result in congestion that, in turn, directly affects labor productivity. Previous research efforts developed models to analyze the effect of congestion on labor productivity but failed to capture all the complexities of this mechanism and its dynamics. Therefore, this paper puts forward the groundwork of an agent-based simulation model (ABM) and presents work targeted at quantifying the impact of congestion on the productivity of construction crews. More specifically, the ABM model takes into account two construction trades working in the same area and tackles five scenarios each depicting different congestion and interaction levels. At the heart of this simulation is a quantitative model that defines essential congestion metrics and outputs space interference values. Experiments were conducted and results highlighted that the higher the space interference values the less productive the crews become. Additionally, these values will constitute an integral part in future work when studying the impact of congestion on the crews' learning curve, whereby the latter being a major gauge for levels of productivity.

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