Enhancing Ecological, Functional, Social and Aesthetic Quality of Street Green Space by Planning Green Pockets

City residents do not always have an opportunity to visit larger parks or nature areas on a daily basis as the rhythm of their daily life does not allow them to spend enough time in a natural environment. More and more time is spent on the way to the place of work or home. As well as tourists on visiting the city use main streets as touristic routes. On the one hand, major central streets affect ecological balance of the city due to the heavy traffic and contamination from it, but on other hand, they are mostly visited public areas because of the public transport and various public buildings and touristic objects concentrated there. Thus, street green space plays an important role in the city landscape pattern and often requires much more diversity of plantings, humane and safer environment than other areas of the city. Street green space can be very limited especially in the centre of the city with dense building areas or places where historic pattern of buildings does not allow to expand green areas. But it is possible to find small green spaces or green pockets in several places along the street. Green pockets that developed as multifunctional, ecological and aesthetical green spaces can compensate insufficiency of street greenery. The socio-economically active, medium-size city of Rezekne in Latvia has been chosen as a pilot area for the assessment of potential to develop green pockets along main streets of the city. The central street of Rezekne is the main axis of the urban landscape which provides access to the city from other regions, although it is historic heritage area with active public life. Unfortunately, within the development of the city there were needs to increase the flow of the main street by reducing the green space. Therefore, it was not possible to develop classic street greenery of tree alleys. Due to the random spatial structure of buildings along the main street, there are open spaces of different size and shape between or in front of buildings. Those are appropriate for development of green spaces. The approach of green pockets was adapted for the main street of Rezekne as a tool for enhancing ecological, functional, social and aesthetic quality of street green space. As well as, this makes it possible to give the street landscape a diverse and multifunctional image and provide necessary functions and environment for residents and tourists. The aim of the article is to analyse problematic issues of the greenery of major central streets of Rezekne and present an approach of green pockets as a tool for their solving.

Chinese Tourism: Irkutsk at a Glance

The article deals with the problems of Russian-Chinese cooperation in tourism area in Irkutsk. It considers specific examples that influenced the transformation of the appearance of the main streets and urban space of Irkutsk. The authors conclude that the inflow of tourists from China creates several opportunities and challenges for the regional center economy and space. The current situation with COVID-19 and the subsequent outflow of Chinese entrepreneurs can benefit the city’s tourism sector. So called “gray” (or partially legal) business, which is based on the economy of Chinese tourism, is fading into the background and the current situation gives the city and regional authorities an opportunity to take action to solve the problem.

A Study of Some of the Indicators of Noise Pollution in Certain Residential Districts in Fallujah City

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of noise exposure in certain residential districts in Fallujah city. Twenty-nine stations were selected and divided into two groups; the first group was located 50 to 100 metres from the main streets (quiet areas), whilst the second was located directly on the main streets. Noise levels were measured at a rate of three readings per station for different time periods for approximately sixty days in the year 2020. Mean values were taken in both the morning and evening using a portable sound level meter (Auto range, RS-232). The highest noise level was measured at Alforkan station for the morning reading (83.8 dB) within the second group, while the lowest noise level was measured at Alshohada alawla district station for the morning reading (63.2 dB) within the first group. As for the results of the daily noise level in the evening, the highest daily average (79.4 dB) was measured at Jaish al Shabi street, while the lowest daily average (56.4 dB) was at Dor Alsekak district. The total average noise levels for the morning measurements for the first and second groups were 66.7 dB and 77.2 dB, respectively, whereas those for evening measurements were 65.3 dB and 71.7 dB, respectively. According to field measurements, the average values for the noise (traffic) for the first and second groups in the morning and afternoon exceeded 68 dB, which may cause people to feel very disturbed according to the WHO guidelines on exposure to external environmental noise. In general, all the results measured in this study are above the limits allowed both locally and internationally. This is due to certain erroneous practices in daily activities in addition to the irregular spread of electric generators and commercial activities as well as heavy traffic in the city.

Analysis for need of Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) facilities in Khamgaon city

In our day to day life we have seen the emission from transport sector is increasing. Along with carbon emissions, the transport sector is also responsible for road congestion, local air pollution, noise and accidents. In urban areas, the share of both public transport and NMT has been decreasing, resulting in increasing negative impacts. Therefore development of NMT in the cities is very important. NMT comprises of walking, Cycling, wheel chair travel and small wheeled transport etc. This transport facilities fulfill transportation as well as recreational objectives as these are ecofriendly modes. Previous planning only focus on movement of MT and there is no planning for NMT but the scenario is most of the short trips upto 5km in our country are carried out by walking and cycling.. NMT promotes health as well as social equality and is free from pollution which makes it ecofriendly. NMT are affordable to all classes which maintains social equality among citizens. Present Indian scenario shows undermining of importance and safety of NMVs in Indian cities. In India it should be taken seriously to priorities the use of NMT and focus on implementation of this facilities, maintenance and operation of this system. The governments should run the programs to encourage the people to move towards the use of NMT. This study aims to determine the need of NMT facilities within the city and people views regarding existing traffic conditions along main streets within the city. The city is divided in different parts as per wards and quessionnaire survey is carried out to know people views. The overall study shows the need for the provision of NMT facilities like footpaths, cycle ways, croos points at main streets within the city. Keywords: NMT- Non Motorised Transport, NMV- Non Motorised Vehicles, MT- Motorised Transport

GENERATIVE CREATING OF SACRAL SPACE:LATVIAN ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY PLACES OF WORSHIP

The Balts received God’s counsel and energy and regained health in energetically strong places but the Latvian worldview formed on the thousands of years was encoded in the Lielvārde belt, which is Latvian womenfolk costume’s element. Bishop (1199–1229) Albert founded the town of Riga for the Riga Bishopric centre on the right bank of the Daugava.It was the four-part Riga Old Town semicircledivided by two main streets as the cross.Soon after the Great Fire in 1214, the construction ofthe Riga Cathedralbegan tocreate sacral urban space in areasof the Old Town and the New Town of Riga (in nova civitate Rige).Now, eastwards of Lielvārde, landscape artist Shunmyō Masuno from Japan has visualized the Garden of Destiny, where people obtainsolace to the past, strength to the present and inspiration to follow dreams in the future. Through this set of relationships, architecture maintains the cosmological connection and dialogue with all the scales of the World. Research object: Latvian places for the worship of God.Research goal: analysis of Latvian urban sacral space. Research problem: common and different features of the sacral space of the Latvians and other nations have been little studied. Research novelty: detailed studies of generative design of sacral spaces and contemporary places of worship in Latvia. Research methods: analysis of archive documents, cartographic and urban planning materials, a study of published literature and inspection of sacral places in nature.

Dynamic Equilibrium: The Intensification Of Toronto Avenues

This thesis envisions a successful intensification of Toronto avenues, using the vehicle of newly formulated design guidelines for higher-density, mixed-use, mid-rise built form. The aim of this thesis is to invigorate development along Toronto's historically relevant yet often contested main streets, in a way that recognizes infrastructure as a defining element for culturally and economically sustainable urban development.