scholarly journals Vulnerability and public space governance in the post-covid city

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vrushti Mawani
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Future Planning ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Future Work ◽  
The Impact

This essay outlines a research agenda on post-covid governance, and its impact on populations already vulnerable as a result of occupation, class, (im)migration status, religion, gender, race, and other factors. Drawing on recent instances of post-COVID governance in India, I reflect on its sudden, uneven, and heterogeneous impact on vulnerable populations that rely on urban public spaces for their basic needs. I question how these instances might influence meanings attached to public space and its use and governance. Reflecting on the scale and intensity of increased vulnerabilities experienced in public, I argue that these instances raise critical questions for urban scholars and new challenges for urban planners. Future work should include comparative research that examines the impact of public space governance on vulnerabilities and inequities across contexts. Such analysis may help inform future planning, public health policy, and public space governance in the post-COVID city.

scholarly journals Planning the Urban Waterfront Transformation, from Infrastructures to Public Space Design in a Sea-Level Rise Scenario: The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Case

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Francesca Dal Cin ◽  
Fransje Hooimeijer ◽  
Maria Matos Silva
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Space Design ◽  
Urban Waterfront ◽  
Mies Van Der Rohe ◽  
The Impact

Future sea-level rises on the urban waterfront of coastal and riverbanks cities will not be uniform. The impact of floods is exacerbated by population density in nearshore urban areas, and combined with land conversion and urbanization, the vulnerability of coastal towns and public spaces in particular is significantly increased. The empirical analysis of a selected number of waterfront projects, namely the winners of the Mies Van Der Rohe Prize, highlighted the different morphological characteristics of public spaces, in relation to the approximation to the water body: near the shoreline, in and on water. The critical reading of selected architectures related to water is open to multiple insights, allowing to shift the design attention from the building to the public space on the waterfronts. The survey makes it possible to delineate contemporary features and lay the framework for urban development in coastal or riverside areas.

scholarly journals Risk assessment for long and short range airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, indoors and outdoors, using carbon dioxide measurements.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Poydenot ◽  
Ismael Abdourahamane ◽  
Elsa Caplain ◽  
Samuel Der ◽  
Jacques Haiech ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Short Range ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Viral Transmission ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
Airborne Transmission

A quantitative analysis of the viral transmission risk in public spaces al- lows us to identify the dominant mechanisms that a proactive public health policy can act upon to reduce risk, and to evaluate the reduction of risk that can be obtained. The contribution of public spaces to the propa- gation of SARS-CoV-2 can be reduced to a level necessary for a declining epidemic, i.e. an overall reproduction rate below one. Here, we revisit the quantitative assessment of indoor and outdoor transmission risk. We show that the long-range aerosol transmission is controlled by the flow rate of fresh air and by the mask filtering quality, and is quantitatively re- lated to the CO2 concentration, regardless the room volume and the num- ber of people. The short-range airborne transmission is investigated ex- perimentally using dedicated dispersion experiments performed in two shopping malls. Exhaled aerosols are dispersed by turbulent draughts in a cone, leading to a concentration inversely proportional to the squared dis- tance and to the flow velocity. We show that the average infection dose, called the viral quantum, can be determined from epidemiological data in a manner consistent with biological experimental data. Practical implications. The results provide quantitative guidance useful for making rational public health policy decisions to prevent the dominant routes of viral transmission through reinforced ventilation, air purification, mechanical dispersion using fans, and incentivizing the wear- ing of correctly fitted, quality facial masks (surgical masks, possibly cov- ered by another fabric mask, or non-medical FFP2 masks). Taken to- gether, such measures significantly reduce the airborne transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals The (No-)Public Space. Reviewing the Transformation of Al-Qaed Ibrahim's Urban Image

2020 ◽  
pp. 177-192
Author(s):  
Iman Hegazy
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
The Political ◽  
Urban Image ◽  
Political Conflicts ◽  
Political Events ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

Public spaces are defined as places that should be accessible to all inhabitants without restrictions. They are spaces not only for gathering, socializing and celebrating but also for initiating discussions, protesting and demonstrating. Thus, public spaces are intangible expressions of democracy—a topic that the paper tackles its viability within the context of Alexandria, case study Al-Qaed Ibrahim square. On the one hand, Al-Qaed Ibrahim square which is named after Al-Qaed Ibrahim mosque is a sacred element in the urban fabric; whereas on the other it represents a non-religious revolutionary symbol in the Alexandrian urban public sphere. This contradiction necessitates finding an approach to study the characteristic of this square/mosque within the Alexandrian context—that is to realize the impact of the socio-political events on the image of Al-Qaed Ibrahim square, and how it has transformed into a revolutionary urban symbol and yet into a no-public space. The research revolves around the hypothesis that the political events taking place in Egypt after January 25th, 2011, have directly affected the development of urban public spaces, especially in Alexandria. Therefore methodologically, the paper reviews the development of Al-Qaed Ibrahim square throughout the Egyptian socio-political changes, with a focus on the square’s urban and emotional contextual transformations. For this reason, the study adheres to two theories: the "city elements" by Kevin Lynch and "emotionalizing the urban" by Frank Eckardt. The aim is not only to study the mentioned public space but also to figure out the changes in people’s societal behaviour and emotion toward it. Through empowering public spaces, the paper calls the different Egyptian political and civic powers to recognize each other, regardless of their religious, ethnical or political affiliations. It is a step towards replacing the ongoing political conflicts, polarization, and suppression with societal reconciliation, coexistence, and democracy.

Human epigenetics prematurely born(e)?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Wastell ◽  
Sue White
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Social Deprivation ◽  
Early Infancy ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Thought Style ◽  
A Site ◽  
The Impact

This chapterr shifts the focus from animals to humans, and examines the extant literature on the human epigenome. It reviews seminal work on the impact of natural disasters (such as the Dutch Hunger Winter) on the epigenetic profile of those subject to these calamities. It describes how gestation and early infancy are reconfigured as a site of risk. It interrogates the nature of the claims made within the literature and also examines the thought style and presuppositions, particularly in those studies which seek to translate findings from laboratory to the clinic and public health policy. The small size of the effects on human populations is also highlighted, compared to other influences such as social deprivation.

scholarly journals Influencing public health policy with data-informed mathematical models of infectious diseases: Recent developments and new challenges

Epidemics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 100393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amani Alahmadi ◽  
Sarah Belet ◽  
Andrew Black ◽  
Deborah Cromer ◽  
Jennifer A. Flegg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Data Informed

scholarly journals Perceived impact of meteorological conditions on the use of public space in winter settlements

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-642
Author(s):  
Agneta Larsson ◽  
David Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the impact of meteorological conditions on the use of public space in Scandinavia and Canada. Between September 21 and December 18, 2017, a cross-sectional online survey ‘EAMQ-Climate: space’ was distributed via web-based platforms. Survey responses were received from 361 residents (258 people from Scandinavia and 103 from Canada). The relative impact of the meteorological determinants on the use of public space was calculated, and a factor analysis was performed. Disparities between Canada and Scandinavia as well as between the climate zones represented were analysed using ANOVA. Overall results showed that the most significant meteorological enablers for the use of outdoor public spaces in winter were solar gain, snowfall and snow-covered surfaces. The main barriers were slush-covered and icy surfaces, rainfall and darkness. Wind and cold were conditions with less influence. The impact of rain and ice, however, differed between climatic zones. It was also established that, when addressing the meteorological impact on avoiding the use of public spaces in winter, it is vital to discriminate between conditions related to a) the ground surface and b) ambient conditions, as well as the particular significance of c) snow and sun, and d) darkness. For the design of public space in winter cities, we conclude that designers need to focus on a wider range of weather conditions than sun, wind and cold, and include snow, rainfall, slushy and icy ground and poor visibility. The study suggests that winter public space has a higher climatic design requirement to be successful than streets and pathways that are mainly used for soft mobility.

Situating ‘careful surveillance’

2021 ◽  
pp. 136787792199745
Author(s):  
Mark Andrejevic ◽  
Hugh Davies ◽  
Ruth DeSouza ◽  
Larissa Hjorth ◽  
Ingrid Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

In this article we explore preliminary findings from the study COVIDSafe and Beyond: Perceptions and Practices conducted in Australia in 2020. The study involved a survey followed by interviews, and aimed to capture the dynamic ways in which members of the Australian public perceive the impact of Covid practices – especially public health measures like the introduction of physical and social distancing, compulsory mask wearing, and contact tracing. In the rescripting of public space, different notions of formal and informal surveillance, along with different textures of mediated and social care, appeared. In this article, we explore perceptions around divergent forms of surveillance across social, technological, governmental modes, and the relationship of surveillance to care in our media and cultural practices. What does it mean to care for self and others during a pandemic? How does care get enacted in, and through, media interfaces and public interaction?

scholarly journals Features of urban public spaces in the context of globalization

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-246
Author(s):  
K. L. Khomyakova
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Modern Cities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Essential Properties ◽  
Methodological Problems ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact

The article deals with characteristics of urban public spaces, their role in the global transformation of the social relations system is determined. The ambiguity of assessing the impact of globalization on modern cities is due to the theoretical and methodological problems of modern sociological urbanism. There is no single approach among scientists to defining the concept of urban public space, which determines the relevance of the study of its interpretation and definition of essential properties. Public spaces are considered as a connecting element between the system and social levels of urban research, which correspond to the levels of integration identified by the modern sociologist E. Giddens. The article analyzes classical and modern approaches to the study of public space, there is reveals the course of evolution of sociological thought in relation to the formation of differentiation of types of spaces within cities. Based on the analysis of the works of modern sociologists and urbanists, such key features of public spaces as openness, socio-political neutrality, and symbolism were identified. Global processes and contradictions lead to an aggravation of the problem of the presence of the category of “Others” within public urban spaces, which are representatives of various segments of the population, with a variety of claims and interests. One of the consequences of the intensive development of digital technologies is a possible situation of “competition for the citizen” between traditional public spaces and online services. Assumptions are made about future transformations of social relations within public spaces as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

scholarly journals Scrub Typhus in India: A Critical Commentary

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (03) ◽  
pp. 33-37
Author(s):  
Rina Tilak ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
World War ◽  
Health Challenge ◽  
Critical Commentary ◽  
Public Health Challenge ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
The Impact

Scrub typhus in India, although, dates back to World War II, was nearly forgotten barring occasional reporting of outbreaks from the Indian Armed Forces, which kept the interest alive in the disease. Scrub typhus at that time was considered a formidable foe. It was credited with inflicting heavy casualties amongst troops in the China-Burma-India operational corridor, which forced the commanders to withdraw troops from these areas. This tended to alter the course of the war itself. An old foe indeed; scrub typhus continues to take a heavy toll on the vulnerable Armed Forces personnel who are posted in areas that enhance their vulnerability to the disease and has predictably also impacted the unsuspecting civil population too who are residing in such areas. Scrub typhus has undoubtedly emerged as a major public health challenge in India. Slow, yet steady, appreciation of the impact of scrub typhus though is being felt, however, professional efforts are still dismal and have failed to bring the disease to limelight and contain its insistent march. Scrub typhus, although an old foe, has reemerged albeit with new challenges.

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