Re-thinking Re-construction New Design Strategies for the Reconstruction after Natural Disasters. A Local Research Experience for a Global Topic

KnE Social Sciences ◽

10.18502/kss.v3i27.5547 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Roberto Bianchi ◽

Roberto Ruggiero

Keyword(s):

Natural Disasters ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Design Research ◽

Low Cost ◽

Central Italy ◽

Urban System ◽

Housing Demand ◽

Urban Systems ◽

Research Experience ◽

Design Strategies

The paper presents the ongoing results of a design research carried out at the School ofArchitectureandDesign” EduardoVittoria”of Ascoli Piceno(SAAD)of the university of Camerino. Thespeciﬁcobjectiveoftheresearchistodevelopaninnovativeandreplicabledesign methodology, and to experiment new design strategies devoted to the sustainable, compatible and innovative-construction after natural disasters in rural areas and low-density urban systems. The research is based on a “local-to-global” approach: it refers to Italy as a case study but it aims to achieve general results applicable in different geographical contexts. Thespeciﬁccasestudyrelatestotheearthquakethatin2016/2017affectedasigniﬁcant area of Central Italy and that strongly hit a large part of the so called “Italian village system”, i.e. a peculiar environmental and productive urban system that is still now in real emergency. As in most of the international reconstruction experiences, this reconstruction will certainly require along process which,still today,is full of unknowns. The massive damage caused by this disastrous event, the constraints imposed by regulations and the need for and adaptation of the buildings stock to the current housing standards, exclude the possibility of applying design strategies focused on a “where it was/as it was” model. This awareness, which increases the uncertainty about the future of the ”earthquake” communities, requires an innovative approach in relation to apparently incompatible aspects: the preservation of the identity of lost places and the upgrade of building performance often explicitly required by the population and however connected to a new housing demand. In relation to worldwide territories with a high level of disaster risk, this scenario can nowadays be considered a global issue which concerns both cultural and technical aspects. The design methodology pursued is based on a scientiﬁc approach to re-construction that focuses on a “systemic” and “design to build” approach that concerns also productive and technological aspects in relation to purposes of low-cost performance, constructive simplicity, cost-effectiveness of the interventions. This approach aims also at the introduction of the lightweight building system in contexts of traditional and massive construction, according to an idea of a construction site as an “assembly point” of prefabricated parts, light and modular, with a controlled life-cycle.

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Application and Validation of a Municipal Administrative Area Spatial Zoning Model in Village-Town System Planning

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11071855 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1855 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yujing Zhao ◽

Hong Leng ◽

Pingjun Sun ◽

Qing Yuan

Keyword(s):

Land Use Planning ◽

Rural Areas ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Low Cost ◽

Model Development ◽

Urban System ◽

Planning Model ◽

System Planning ◽

Administrative Area ◽

Urban And Rural Areas

The overall planning of urban and rural areas is the focus of municipal administrative area (MAA) planning in the process of economic globalization, and village-town system planning is the key to the overall planning of urban and rural areas. Based on the theory of spatial equilibrium and economic logic, an objective municipal administrative area spatial zoning model (M-MSZ) was constructed in our previous study. The M-MSZ model can provide guidance in the planning of a village-town system. This paper takes a city in the south of Heilongjiang Province in China as an example and compares the M-MSZ model with six traditional MAA spatial zoning models (the urban growth boundary model, land use planning model, spatial governance zoning model, major MAA location, layout and planning model, development timing-order and zoning model, and scale and function zoning model) to verify the value and superiority of the M-MSZ model in the planning of a village-town system. The consistency Kappa values were 78.2%, 83.3%, 82.3%, 79.8%, 75.7%, and 83.9%, respectively, which means that the M-MSZ model was highly consistent with those comparison models. Meanwhile, the regression coefficient R2 is higher than that of the traditional spatial zoning models, which means that the objectivity of the M-MSZ model is higher than that of traditional models. The superiority of the M-MSZ model over the traditional MAA spatial zoning model lies not only in its capacity to grasp the core content of village-town system planning, but also in its capacity to unify the decentralized urban system planning models that are used for village-town system planning, while realizing the objectivity of a weight assignment. Its unified model structure, objective integrated model system, and high accuracy make the M-MSZ model capable of solving the key problems associated with village-town system planning, with many advantages, such as easy operation, high efficiency, good inheritance, low cost, and greater objectivity, detail, and accuracy. In addition, it can provide a reference for the development model of a MAA village-town system.

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Building-integrated agriculture’s role in supporting urban food cycle

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/881/1/012037 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 881 (1) ◽

pp. 012037

Author(s):

K R P Adjie ◽

F Srinaga ◽

A Mensana

Keyword(s):

Urban Space ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Food Systems ◽

Design Research ◽

Well Being ◽

Survey Analysis ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Integrated Agriculture

Abstract Current urban food systems are categorized as unsustainable, for the well-being of urban consumers and the environment. Furthermore, health risks are higher in urban areas compared to rural areas. This is caused by soaring prices and difficulty of accessing nutritious food. Most of the raw produce sold in markets, lost half of their nutrients due to logistics from out of town, which results in high carbon footprint. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a shift within consumer behaviour that impacts health and waste. This phenomenon encouraged the authors to analyze effective food systems, in the design of building-integrated agriculture. The overall study questions criteria for sustainable processing, agriculture design strategies, and implementation of agriculture systems in urban space design. Research methods used are theoretical reviews, precedent study of Sunqiao Urban Agriculture District located in Shanghai, China and survey analysis conducted through online questionnaire. The results cover a set of conceptual strategies which include site design, mass compositions, spatial programming, lighting and ventilation, spatial forms, façade, and energy patterns which are then applied to create a building-integrated agriculture that plays a role in pandemic mitigation, community resilience, and promotes sustainable development within the food sector.

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Health in cities: Getting out and about as we age

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.093 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

T Ma ◽

R Ivers ◽

E de Leeuw ◽

K Clapham ◽

C Kobel

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Policy Making ◽

Urban System ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Social Contexts ◽

Urban Systems ◽

Activity Levels ◽

The Public ◽

Housing Developments ◽

Health Community

Abstract Transportation influences health through its effects on people's access to goods, services, and life chance opportunities; social interactions; physical activity levels; air pollution exposures; and road injury risks. Given the ageing of populations, it is essential that decisions about land use and transportation systems are appropriate to meet the mobility needs of older people and support healthy ageing. Not all transportation options, however, may be accessible to older people. Factors that affect accessibility relate to the spatial and physical characteristics of places, personal and social contexts of individuals, and rules and norms underpinning planning and policy making. This research aimed to understand how different parts and processes of urban systems interact to influence transportation options for older people. Using the Greater Sydney area as a case, we drew on key informant interviews and public policy documents to identify the considerations that inform planning and policy making as they pertain to the nature of cities and the opportunities of older people to get out and about. We compared and integrated these findings with peer-reviewed literature of similar urban growth areas. Our analysis mapped the factors of the human-urban system that are central to enabling transportation mobility for older people, articulated their interrelationships, and identified the actors that influence them. Our results point to the involvement of actors from the public health, community development, transportation, and urban planning sectors at multiple levels of government. Each of these actors operate within their own remit to influence a part of the urban system relevant to older people's transportation, such as the zoning of land, the approval of housing developments, and the location of bus stops. However, these individual actions are constrained by others in the system. We interpret this complexity with a governance lens. Key messages Efforts to promote mobility in old age should move beyond ‘single solutions to single issues’ approaches toward those that reflect the complexity of cities and the ways that people move within them. For sustained realization of desired outcomes, age-friendly initiatives cannot occur in isolation, but rather must take into account the behaviours and dynamics of the urban system.

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In the Moment: Fostering Mindfulness and Reducing Stressors in the Healthcare Workplace

HERD Health Environments Research & Design Journal ◽

10.1177/1937586720988243 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 193758672098824

Author(s):

Shabboo Valipoor ◽

Sheila J. Bosch

Keyword(s):

Design Research ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Well Being ◽

Job Dissatisfaction ◽

Future Research ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Environmental Interventions ◽

Work Related ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

The Moment

While healthcare design research has primarily focused on patient outcomes, there is a growing recognition that environmental interventions could do more by promoting the overall quality of care, and this requires expanding the focus to the health and well-being of those who deliver care to patients. Healthcare professionals are under high levels of stress, leading to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and poor patient care. Among other tools, mindfulness is recommended as a way of decreasing stress and helping workers function at higher levels. This article aims to identify potential environmental strategies for reducing work-related stressors and facilitating mindfulness in healthcare settings. By examining existing evidence on workplace mindfulness and stress-reducing design strategies, we highlight the power of the physical environment in not only alleviating stressful conditions but intentionally encouraging a mindful perspective. Strategies like minimizing distractions or avoiding overstimulation in the healthcare environment can be more effective if implemented along with the provision of designated spaces for mindfulness-based programs. Future research may explore optimal methods and hospital workers’ preferences for environments that support mindfulness and stress management. The long-term goal of all these efforts is to enhance healthcare professionals’ well-being, reignite their professional enthusiasm, and help them be resilient in times of stress.

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Lively Social Space, Well-Being Activity, and Urban Design: Findings From a Low-Cost Community-Led Public Space Intervention

Environment and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0013916516659108 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 685-716 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Jamie Anderson ◽

Kai Ruggeri ◽

Koen Steemers ◽

Felicia Huppert

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Urban Design ◽

Design Research ◽

Local Community ◽

Social Space ◽

Low Cost ◽

Well Being ◽

Observation Data ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

Empirical urban design research emphasizes the support in vitality of public space use. We examine the extent to which a public space intervention promoted liveliness and three key behaviors that enhance well-being (“connect,” “be active,” and “take notice”). The exploratory study combined directly observed behaviors with self-reported, before and after community-led physical improvements to a public space in central Manchester (the United Kingdom). Observation data ( n = 22,956) and surveys (subsample = 212) were collected over two 3-week periods. The intervention brought significant and substantial increases in liveliness of the space and well-being activities. None of these activities showed increases in a control space during the same periods. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of the research methods, and the impact of improved quality of outdoor neighborhood space on liveliness and well-being activities. The local community also played a key role in conceiving of and delivering an effective and affordable intervention. The findings have implications for researchers, policy makers, and communities alike.

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DataStorm: Coupled, Continuous Simulations for Complex Urban Environments

ACM/IMS Transactions on Data Science ◽

10.1145/3447572 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 1-37

Author(s):

Hans Walter Behrens ◽

K. Selçuk Candan ◽

Xilun Chen ◽

Yash Garg ◽

Mao-Lin Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parameter Space ◽

Simulation Analysis ◽

Urban System ◽

Decision Criterion ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Parallel Execution ◽

Effective Density ◽

Urban Systems ◽

Space Partitioning ◽

Imperfect Knowledge

Urban systems are characterized by complexity and dynamicity. Data-driven simulations represent a promising approach in understanding and predicting complex dynamic processes in the presence of shifting demands of urban systems. Yet, today’s silo-based, de-coupled simulation engines fail to provide an end-to-end view of the complex urban system, preventing informed decision-making. In this article, we present DataStorm to support integration of existing simulation, analysis and visualization components into integrated workflows. DataStorm provides a flow engine, DataStorm-FE , for coordinating data and decision flows among multiple actors (each representing a model, analytic operation, or a decision criterion) and enables ensemble planning and optimization across cloud resources. DataStorm provides native support for simulation ensemble creation through parameter space sampling to decide which simulations to run, as well as distributed instantiation and parallel execution of simulation instances on cluster resources. Recognizing that simulation ensembles are inherently sparse relative to the potential parameter space, we also present a density-boosting partition-stitch sampling scheme to increase the effective density of the simulation ensemble through a sub-space partitioning scheme, complemented with an efficient stitching mechanism that leverages partial and imperfect knowledge from partial dynamical systems to effectively obtain a global view of the complex urban process being simulated.

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Urban Sub-Center Design Framework Based on the Walkability Evaluation Method: Taking Coomera Town Sub-Center as an Example

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13116259 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 6259

Author(s):

Jizhong Shao ◽

Minge Yang ◽

Guan Liu ◽

Ye Li ◽

Dan Luo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Research Methods ◽

Quantitative Research ◽

Design Research ◽

Evaluation Method ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Research Area ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Healthy City ◽

Quantitative Research Methods

As current society’s reflection on the rapid development of motorization and increasing emphasis on the ecological environment, the study of walkable cities has become one of the key points of urban sustainable design. Creating a walkable city is an effective way to build a low-carbon and healthy city. With the development of cities, walkability concepts and theories are constantly being given new life, and research methods and design strategies continue to be updated. A city’s walkability and walkability index have become current research hotspots. Based on prior research on walkability and related urban policies, this study selects Coomera Town on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, as the research area because of Coomera Town policy regulations and environmental requirements. This study utilizes traditional qualitative and quantitative research methods, machine mining technology, and the deep learning big data analysis technology to conduct thematic design research in a real place. Its combines walkability evaluation with walkability design to construct a walkable city in a targeted manner. This provides a reference for related city design in the future.

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Green Communication Infrastructure (GCI) Serving Different Smart City Applications

Current Chinese Computer Science ◽

10.2174/2665997201666211119101556 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 01 ◽

Author(s):

Qutaiba I. Ali ◽

Issam Jafar

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Smart City ◽

Low Cost ◽

System Level ◽

Green Communication ◽

Communication Infrastructure ◽

Wide Range ◽

The World ◽

Self Powered ◽

Application Fields

Aims: The aim of the Green Communication Infrastructure ‎‎(GCI) project is to understand the idea of a self ‎‎"sustainably" controlled correspondence foundation ‎fitting for smart city application fields. ‎ Background: This paper shows the endeavors to understand the idea of a ‎self "sustainably" energized communication foundation ‎fitting for smart city application fields. The recommended ‎Green Communication Infrastructure (CGI) comprises ‎different kinds of remote settled (or even versatile) hubs ‎performing diverse activities as per the application ‎requests. An imperative class of these hubs is the Wireless ‎Solar Router (WSR). Objective: The work in this venture was begun in 2009 with the aim ‎of demonstrating the essential advances that must be taken to ‎accomplish such framework and to proclaim the value of ‎embracing natural vitality assets in building mission ‎basic frameworks. Alternate destinations of this venture ‎are introducing a sensibly cost, solid, verified, and simple ‎to introduce correspondence foundation.‎ Method: The arrangement to actualize the GCI was accomplished ‎subsequent to passing two structure levels: device level and ‎system level. Result: The suggested system is highly applicable and serves a wide ‎range of smart city application fields and hence many ‎people and organizations can utilize this system. ‎ Conclusion: The presence of a reliable, secured, low cost, easy to install ‎and self-powered communication infrastructure is ‎mandatory in our nowadays. The communities in ‎developing countries or in rural areas need such a system ‎highly in order to communicate with other people in the ‎world which will affect positively their social and ‎economic situation.

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Social housing for urban households sheltering children responsible for the "kuluna" and "black babies" phenomena in Congo Brazzaville.

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal ◽

10.14738/assrj.712.9541 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 424-437

Author(s):

Alain Symphorien Ndongo

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Social Order ◽

Social Housing ◽

Spiritual Development ◽

Deviant Behavior ◽

Low Cost ◽

Urban Housing ◽

The Government ◽

Family Warmth ◽

Congo Brazzaville

Housing as a place where household members spend about half (12 hours) of their daily time, including six to eight hours in sleep, is one of the essential conditions in the fight against poverty and precariousness. The current Congolese urban environment is facing serious problems: small plots of land, lack of suitable housing in relation to the size and composition of households, overcrowding, and water and electricity supplies. This situation is becoming critical with the appearance of deviant behavior among children aged between 10 and 30. The government and its development partners have demonstrated their powerlessness face to this situation, leaving thousands of children on the streets without education or family warmth to form real criminal gangs. These street children have created the phenomena of "kuluna" and "black babies". It has been shown that these one act in this way for their survival, claiming their rights. In this study, we find innovative proposals to provide households sheltering adulterine and adoptive children with low-cost social housing, in order to restore the image of the head of the household and provide the children with a pleasant space for their physical, economic, cultural and spiritual development. This will undoubtedly help to find solutions to the problems facing children and indeed Congolese society as a whole today. The study revealed that if the government does not take practical measures in response to the phenomena created by wayward children, especially "black babies" and "kuluna", there will be a massive adherence of other children, especially the adulterine and adoptive ones. There will be a risk of the phenomena will to be exported to rural areas. The study recommends a "State - Household" partnership in the manufacture of new types of urban housing for households housing children likely to integrate or create gangs, jeopardizing social order and public security.

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