IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-10 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.106815

Yaotian Xu , Ling Yang , Andi Li , Jingjie Sun , Xiao Xiao , Jingzhong Li , Bing Xue

Cities, functioning as complex organic systems, face escalating metabolic imbalances in core functions due to rapid and often unregulated growth. This necessitates a paradigm shift toward sustainable development through holistic systemic regulation. This study develops an urban functional metabolism framework which integrates dual-dimensional metrics of policy-driven dynamics and functional metabolic efficiency. Through policy text analysis and urban functional metabolic accounting, the endogenous patterns and sustainability of urban functional metabolic system exemplified by Shenyang's municipal districts have been scientifically evaluated. The results demonstrate that urban functions are driven and regulated by six major policy types across a four-stage sequence—target anchoring (T1/T2/T3), spatial reconstruction (T4), system improvement (T5), and innovation incubation (T6), and concurrently uncover the spatial-temporal synergistic-tradeoff relationships, and the spatial distribution of metabolism efficiency among the three major urban functions. These findings underpin specific multi-scale spatio-temporal intervention strategies to optimize urban metabolic patterns and resolve resource misallocation. Furthermore, the study provides a transferable systemic solution, integrating institutional design, spatial response, and metabolic optimization for sustainable urban governance.

城市作为一个复杂的有机系统，由于快速且不受管制的增长，其核心功能面临着不断升级的代谢失衡。这就需要通过全面的系统调节，向可持续发展转变模式。本研究开发了一个城市功能代谢框架，该框架整合了政策驱动动力学和功能代谢效率的二维指标。通过政策文本分析和城市功能代谢核算，科学评价了以沈阳市辖区为例的城市功能代谢系统的内生模式和可持续性。研究结果表明，城市功能受六大政策类型的驱动和调控，经历了序列目标锚定（T1/T2/T3）、空间重构（T4）、制度完善（T5）和创新孵化（T6）四个阶段，揭示了三大城市功能之间的时空协同权衡关系和代谢效率的空间分布。这些发现为优化城市代谢模式和解决资源错配提供了具体的多尺度时空干预策略。此外，该研究为可持续城市治理提供了一个可转移的系统解决方案，将制度设计、空间响应和代谢优化相结合。

{"title":"Mapping urban functional metabolism transformation: A geospatial analysis of policy-driven evolution","authors":"Yaotian Xu , Ling Yang , Andi Li , Jingjie Sun , Xiao Xiao , Jingzhong Li , Bing Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cities, functioning as complex organic systems, face escalating metabolic imbalances in core functions due to rapid and often unregulated growth. This necessitates a paradigm shift toward sustainable development through holistic systemic regulation. This study develops an urban functional metabolism framework which integrates dual-dimensional metrics of policy-driven dynamics and functional metabolic efficiency. Through policy text analysis and urban functional metabolic accounting, the endogenous patterns and sustainability of urban functional metabolic system exemplified by Shenyang's municipal districts have been scientifically evaluated. The results demonstrate that urban functions are driven and regulated by six major policy types across a four-stage sequence—target anchoring (T1/T2/T3), spatial reconstruction (T4), system improvement (T5), and innovation incubation (T6), and concurrently uncover the spatial-temporal synergistic-tradeoff relationships, and the spatial distribution of metabolism efficiency among the three major urban functions. These findings underpin specific multi-scale spatio-temporal intervention strategies to optimize urban metabolic patterns and resolve resource misallocation. Furthermore, the study provides a transferable systemic solution, integrating institutional design, spatial response, and metabolic optimization for sustainable urban governance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 106815"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146147660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

From The Potteries to digital dynamo: Shocks, crises, and the structural transformation of Stoke-on-Trent in the early 21st century 从陶器到数字发电机：21世纪初特伦特河畔斯托克的冲击、危机和结构转型

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-11 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.106821

Helen Mulligan , Vlad Mykhnenko

This paper focusses on the long-term structural transformation of Stoke-on-Trent, and the surrounding districts of North Staffordshire, in the West Midlands of England. This area is known as The Potteries – a globally important centre of ceramic production since the late 17th century. Employment in this sector has strongly declined since the mid-20th century. Suffering the chronic stress of deindustrialisation, local population also declined, but has started to recover strongly since the millennium, accompanying a radical shift in economic specialisation and industrial diversification. These positive trends were briefly disrupted by the acute shocks of the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic but have since resumed with even greater vigour. Current economic indicators show that the local economy is growing strongly, out-performing the neighbouring city-regions and the country, as a whole. Benefits of this boom – in particular, productivity and income gains - are not evenly distributed, however. Questions about this “Stoke Paradox” remain, centred on how the burgeoning high-growth sectors will maintain their momentum into the future, and how the city could make its recovery more inclusive and broadly shared. We discuss the role in this of local actors and community activism, but also of national politics and policies.

本文主要研究英格兰西米德兰兹郡的特伦特河畔斯托克及其周边地区的长期结构转型。这个地区被称为陶器，自17世纪后期以来一直是全球重要的陶瓷生产中心。自20世纪中期以来，该行业的就业人数大幅下降。由于遭受去工业化的长期压力，当地人口也有所下降，但自2000年以来，随着经济专业化和工业多样化的急剧转变，当地人口已开始强劲复苏。这些积极趋势曾因全球金融危机和2019冠状病毒病大流行的严重冲击而短暂中断，但此后又以更强劲的势头恢复。目前的经济指标显示，当地经济增长强劲，表现优于邻近的城市地区和整个国家。然而，这种繁荣的好处——尤其是生产率和收入的增长——分配并不均匀。关于“斯托克悖论”的问题仍然存在，主要集中在新兴的高增长行业如何在未来保持其势头，以及这座城市如何使其复苏更具包容性和更广泛的共享。我们讨论了地方行动者和社区行动主义在这方面的作用，以及国家政治和政策。

{"title":"From The Potteries to digital dynamo: Shocks, crises, and the structural transformation of Stoke-on-Trent in the early 21st century","authors":"Helen Mulligan , Vlad Mykhnenko","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper focusses on the long-term structural transformation of Stoke-on-Trent, and the surrounding districts of North Staffordshire, in the West Midlands of England. This area is known as <em>The Potteries</em> – a globally important centre of ceramic production since the late 17th century. Employment in this sector has strongly declined since the mid-20th century. Suffering the chronic stress of deindustrialisation, local population also declined, but has started to recover strongly since the millennium, accompanying a radical shift in economic specialisation and industrial diversification. These positive trends were briefly disrupted by the acute shocks of the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic but have since resumed with even greater vigour. Current economic indicators show that the local economy is growing strongly, out-performing the neighbouring city-regions and the country, as a whole. Benefits of this boom – in particular, productivity and income gains - are not evenly distributed, however. Questions about this “Stoke Paradox” remain, centred on how the burgeoning high-growth sectors will maintain their momentum into the future, and how the city could make its recovery more inclusive and broadly shared. We discuss the role in this of local actors and community activism, but also of national politics and policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 106821"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146175170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Profiles of smart cities in Canadian: Between essence and challenges 加拿大智慧城市概况：在本质与挑战之间

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-10 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.106811

Sergueï Kimvi, Stéphanie Gagnon

The past few decades have seen an exponential increase in publications on smart cities. However, the under-experimentation of existing models and underuse of quantitative techniques are challenges that still need to be addressed. This study analyses discourse on smart cities of 130 Canadian communities using the six characteristics proposed by Giffinger and colleagues (2010). Based on cluster analysis, the study reveals that the six characteristics of the Giffinger model are clearly present in smart city discourse. Results also highlight the existence of three distinct groups of smart city profiles. While Group 1 reflects a hybrid perspective, Groups 2 and 3 present contrasting visions. On the one hand, Group 2 aligns with an instrumental perspective of smart cities in response to societal challenges, primarily mobilizing the characteristics of smart economy, smart mobility, smart environment, and smart living. Generally, communities associated with this profile are medium-sized, use first-generation technologies, and receive average scores during the preliminary evaluation of their applications. On the other hand, Group 3 reflects an enabling perspective centered on social actors (citizens and organizations), emphasizing the characteristics of smart people and smart governance. These communities tend to be larger, use second-generation technologies, and obtain higher scores in the preliminary evaluations. These findings not only open avenues for future research but may also inspire decision-makers interested in pursuing projects of this nature.

在过去的几十年里，关于智慧城市的出版物呈指数级增长。然而，现有模型的实验不足和定量技术的使用不足仍然是需要解决的挑战。本研究使用Giffinger及其同事（2010）提出的六个特征分析了130个加拿大社区的智慧城市话语。基于聚类分析，研究发现吉芬格模型的六个特征在智慧城市话语中明显存在。研究结果还强调了智慧城市概况的三种不同类型。第一组反映了一种混合的视角，而第二组和第三组则呈现出截然不同的视角。一方面，第2组与智慧城市的工具视角一致，以应对社会挑战，主要动员智能经济，智能移动，智能环境和智能生活的特征。通常，与此概要相关联的社区是中等规模的，使用第一代技术，并且在其应用程序的初步评估期间获得平均分数。另一方面，第3组反映了以社会行动者（公民和组织）为中心的赋能视角，强调聪明人和智能治理的特征。这些社区往往更大，使用第二代技术，并在初步评估中获得更高的分数。这些发现不仅为未来的研究开辟了道路，而且还可能激励对从事这种性质的项目感兴趣的决策者。

{"title":"Profiles of smart cities in Canadian: Between essence and challenges","authors":"Sergueï Kimvi, Stéphanie Gagnon","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The past few decades have seen an exponential increase in publications on smart cities. However, the under-experimentation of existing models and underuse of quantitative techniques are challenges that still need to be addressed. This study analyses discourse on smart cities of 130 Canadian communities using the six characteristics proposed by Giffinger and colleagues (2010). Based on cluster analysis, the study reveals that the six characteristics of the Giffinger model are clearly present in smart city discourse. Results also highlight the existence of three distinct groups of smart city profiles. While Group 1 reflects a hybrid perspective, Groups 2 and 3 present contrasting visions. On the one hand, Group 2 aligns with an instrumental perspective of smart cities in response to societal challenges, primarily mobilizing the characteristics of smart economy, smart mobility, smart environment, and smart living. Generally, communities associated with this profile are medium-sized, use first-generation technologies, and receive average scores during the preliminary evaluation of their applications. On the other hand, Group 3 reflects an enabling perspective centered on social actors (citizens and organizations), emphasizing the characteristics of smart people and smart governance. These communities tend to be larger, use second-generation technologies, and obtain higher scores in the preliminary evaluations. These findings not only open avenues for future research but may also inspire decision-makers interested in pursuing projects of this nature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 106811"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146147354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Small things matter: Investigating the viral transmissibility of localized sustainable city strategies of Edinburgh net zero carbon 2030 in transition 小事很重要：研究爱丁堡2030年净零碳转型的本地化可持续城市战略的病毒传播性

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-14 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.106786

Edwin Dunhot Simanjuntak , Ron Kerr , Winston Kwon

Emerging sustainable city concepts and best practices have provided cities with eclectic apparatuses to counter unsustainability challenges. But as cities become more susceptible to such successful practices, there is less attention on how the adopted plan materializes into a concrete scheme (or any step closer to implementation), specifically the process that affects the transition as the sustainable city ideas reach the grassroots level. We aim to fill this gap by investigating how sustainability ideas fail or succeed in gaining sufficient traction to effectuate the desired transition on the grassroots level. Inspired by the virological perspective of idea processing, we employed our reconceptualization of the virus-inspired theory by revisiting relevant epidemiological tenets, a concept that we call viral transmissibility theory. Drawing from a qualitative case of Edinburgh, we took advantage of publicly available data on three localized sustainable city strategies related to the city's Net Zero Carbon 2030 initiative and interviews. As ideas and, therefore, as viruses, we found the transition is affected by their ability to acknowledge heterogeneity in the population, receptors cognizance, and replication tactics. Our study then provides insights for city authorities and urban planners on dealing with and optimizing sustainability transition.

新兴的可持续城市概念和最佳实践为城市提供了折衷的工具来应对不可持续性的挑战。但是，随着城市越来越容易受到这些成功实践的影响，人们对被采纳的计划如何成为具体方案（或更接近实施的任何步骤）的关注越来越少，特别是当可持续城市理念到达基层时，影响转变的过程。我们的目标是填补这一空白，通过调查可持续发展理念如何失败或成功地获得足够的牵引力，在基层实现所需的过渡。受到思想处理的病毒学观点的启发，我们通过重新审视相关的流行病学原则，我们称之为病毒传播理论，来重新定义病毒启发理论。从爱丁堡的定性案例中，我们利用了与城市2030年净零碳倡议和访谈相关的三个本地化可持续城市战略的公开数据。作为思想，因此，作为病毒，我们发现这种转变受到它们承认群体异质性的能力、受体认知和复制策略的影响。我们的研究为城市当局和城市规划者提供了处理和优化可持续性转型的见解。

{"title":"Small things matter: Investigating the viral transmissibility of localized sustainable city strategies of Edinburgh net zero carbon 2030 in transition","authors":"Edwin Dunhot Simanjuntak , Ron Kerr , Winston Kwon","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106786","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106786","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging sustainable city concepts and best practices have provided cities with eclectic apparatuses to counter unsustainability challenges. But as cities become more susceptible to such successful practices, there is less attention on how the adopted plan materializes into a concrete scheme (or any step closer to implementation), specifically the process that affects the transition as the sustainable city ideas reach the grassroots level. We aim to fill this gap by investigating how sustainability ideas fail or succeed in gaining sufficient traction to effectuate the desired transition on the grassroots level. Inspired by the virological perspective of idea processing, we employed our reconceptualization of the virus-inspired theory by revisiting relevant epidemiological tenets, a concept that we call viral transmissibility theory. Drawing from a qualitative case of Edinburgh, we took advantage of publicly available data on three localized sustainable city strategies related to the city's Net Zero Carbon 2030 initiative and interviews. As ideas and, therefore, as viruses, we found the transition is affected by their ability to acknowledge heterogeneity in the population, receptors cognizance, and replication tactics. Our study then provides insights for city authorities and urban planners on dealing with and optimizing sustainability transition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 106786"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

‘Collective consciousness’ and urban informal action groups towards climate resilience 应对气候变化的“集体意识”和城市非正式行动团体

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-18 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.106724

Michael Osei Asibey , Andrews Osei-Bonsu , Susanna Agyekum , Yetimoni Kpeebi

The theory of ‘collective consciousness’, originally introduced by Emile Durkheim, emphasizes the shared beliefs, values, and norms that bind individuals within a society. This is particularly important in understanding how communities respond to climate-related shocks. Collective consciousness fosters a sense of solidarity and shared responsibility, which can be crucial in grassroots climate resilience efforts. In Africa's urban informal settlements, informal action groups and ad-hoc volunteers embody this concept, collectively addressing climate hazards despite their informal nature. However, there is a limited focus on their roles in urban Africa. This study thus examines their contributions to climate disaster management in two of Kumasi's informal settlements—Aboabo and Asawase—using qualitative research with four institutions, three informal action and volunteer groups, and 24 community residents in four focus group discussions. We show how collective consciousness, expressed through informal volunteers in Kumasi's informal settlements, delivers distinct absorptive and anticipatory resilience functions and suggest strong institutional pathways to integrate these grassroots capacities within formal adaptation frameworks. Findings reveal that absorptive and anticipatory interventions of these groups emerge from a deeply ingrained social cohesion, which drives community-led responses to climate hazards. However, their effectiveness is hindered by structural, logistical, and institutional barriers. By situating their role within collective consciousness, we highlight the importance of social cohesion and community-driven adaptation strategies in climate resilience. Formal recognition, strengthening coordination mechanisms, and addressing structural and other barriers could enhance their responses, reinforcing the power of collective action in building resilience.

“集体意识”理论最初由埃米尔·迪尔凯姆（Emile Durkheim）提出，强调将社会中的个人联系在一起的共同信念、价值观和规范。这对于了解社区如何应对气候相关冲击尤为重要。集体意识培养了团结和共同责任的意识，这对基层的气候适应工作至关重要。在非洲的城市非正式住区中，非正式行动小组和临时志愿者体现了这一概念，他们共同应对气候灾害，尽管这些灾害是非正式的。然而，对它们在非洲城市中的作用的关注有限。因此，本研究通过对四个机构、三个非正式行动和志愿者团体以及24名社区居民进行四次焦点小组讨论的定性研究，考察了他们在库马西两个非正式定居点（aboabo和asawase）中对气候灾害管理的贡献。我们展示了通过库马西非正式定居点的非正式志愿者表达的集体意识如何提供独特的吸收和预期弹性功能，并提出了将这些基层能力纳入正式适应框架的强有力的制度途径。研究结果表明，这些群体的吸收性和预见性干预源于一种根深蒂固的社会凝聚力，这种凝聚力推动了社区主导的气候灾害应对。然而，其有效性受到结构、后勤和体制障碍的阻碍。通过将其作用置于集体意识之中，我们强调了社会凝聚力和社区驱动的适应战略在气候复原力中的重要性。正式承认、加强协调机制以及解决结构性和其他障碍可以增强他们的反应，增强集体行动在建设韧性方面的力量。

{"title":"‘Collective consciousness’ and urban informal action groups towards climate resilience","authors":"Michael Osei Asibey , Andrews Osei-Bonsu , Susanna Agyekum , Yetimoni Kpeebi","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106724","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106724","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The theory of ‘collective consciousness’, originally introduced by Emile Durkheim, emphasizes the shared beliefs, values, and norms that bind individuals within a society. This is particularly important in understanding how communities respond to climate-related shocks. Collective consciousness fosters a sense of solidarity and shared responsibility, which can be crucial in grassroots climate resilience efforts. In Africa's urban informal settlements, informal action groups and ad-hoc volunteers embody this concept, collectively addressing climate hazards despite their informal nature. However, there is a limited focus on their roles in urban Africa. This study thus examines their contributions to climate disaster management in two of Kumasi's informal settlements—Aboabo and Asawase—using qualitative research with four institutions, three informal action and volunteer groups, and 24 community residents in four focus group discussions. We show how collective consciousness, expressed through informal volunteers in Kumasi's informal settlements, delivers distinct absorptive and anticipatory resilience functions and suggest strong institutional pathways to integrate these grassroots capacities within formal adaptation frameworks. Findings reveal that absorptive and anticipatory interventions of these groups emerge from a deeply ingrained social cohesion, which drives community-led responses to climate hazards. However, their effectiveness is hindered by structural, logistical, and institutional barriers. By situating their role within collective consciousness, we highlight the importance of social cohesion and community-driven adaptation strategies in climate resilience. Formal recognition, strengthening coordination mechanisms, and addressing structural and other barriers could enhance their responses, reinforcing the power of collective action in building resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 106724"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145791558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Building the future: How real-estate developers perceive their role in climate-friendly and social sustainable urban planning 建设未来：房地产开发商如何看待他们在气候友好型和社会可持续城市规划中的作用

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-09 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2026.106857

Gro Sandkjær Hanssen

The ongoing process of urbanization, coupled with the urgent need for a profound climate transition, underscores the timeliness and necessity of integrating sustainability considerations within the building sector. Real-estate projects are responsible for about 36% of CO2 emissions in the European Union (European Commission, 2019). This study investigates how public and private real-estate developers conceptualize their responsibilities in promoting climate-friendly and socially sustainable urban development, and whether these perceptions differ across actor groups. The analysis is situated within a Nordic context, focusing on Norway—a country characterized by a neoliberal housing market in which substantial responsibility for detailed planning and housing production has been delegated to private real-estate firms. Drawing on a unique quantitative dataset comprising responses from both public and private developers, the findings suggest an emerging, more nuanced understanding of sustainable construction practices. While the dominant focus remains on energy efficiency, technical performance, and functional standards, developers increasingly incorporate broader sustainability principles, such as reuse and circularity. Notably, environmental concerns related to biodiversity and nature preservation appear to be the least developed among the actors.

The study also reveals a growing awareness within the building sector regarding its role in fostering socially sustainable urban environments, except ensuring inclusive housing markets. One of the most unexpected findings was the convergence in perspectives between public and private developers, suggesting a shared set of values despite differing formal mandates.

正在进行的城市化进程，加上对深刻气候转型的迫切需要，强调了将可持续性考虑纳入建筑部门的及时性和必要性。房地产项目约占欧盟二氧化碳排放量的36%（欧盟委员会，2019年）。本研究探讨了公共和私营房地产开发商在促进气候友好型和社会可持续城市发展方面的责任概念，以及这些观念在行动者群体之间是否存在差异。该分析是在北欧的背景下进行的，重点放在挪威——一个以新自由主义住房市场为特征的国家，在这个国家，详细规划和住房生产的实质性责任被委托给了私人房地产公司。基于一个独特的定量数据集，包括来自公共和私人开发商的回应，研究结果表明，人们对可持续建筑实践有了一个新兴的、更细致的理解。虽然主要的焦点仍然是能源效率、技术性能和功能标准，但开发人员越来越多地将更广泛的可持续性原则纳入其中，例如重用和循环。值得注意的是，与生物多样性和自然保护有关的环境问题似乎是行动者中最不发达的。该研究还表明，除了确保包容性住房市场外，建筑行业越来越意识到其在促进社会可持续城市环境方面的作用。最令人意想不到的发现之一是，公共和私人开发商的观点趋于一致，这表明尽管正式授权不同，但他们拥有共同的价值观。

{"title":"Building the future: How real-estate developers perceive their role in climate-friendly and social sustainable urban planning","authors":"Gro Sandkjær Hanssen","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2026.106857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ongoing process of urbanization, coupled with the urgent need for a profound climate transition, underscores the timeliness and necessity of integrating sustainability considerations within the building sector. Real-estate projects are responsible for about 36% of CO2 emissions in the European Union (<span><span>European Commission, 2019</span></span>). This study investigates how public and private real-estate developers conceptualize their responsibilities in promoting climate-friendly and socially sustainable urban development, and whether these perceptions differ across actor groups. The analysis is situated within a Nordic context, focusing on Norway—a country characterized by a neoliberal housing market in which substantial responsibility for detailed planning and housing production has been delegated to private real-estate firms. Drawing on a unique quantitative dataset comprising responses from both public and private developers, the findings suggest an emerging, more nuanced understanding of sustainable construction practices. While the dominant focus remains on energy efficiency, technical performance, and functional standards, developers increasingly incorporate broader sustainability principles, such as reuse and circularity. Notably, environmental concerns related to biodiversity and nature preservation appear to be the least developed among the actors.</div><div>The study also reveals a growing awareness within the building sector regarding its role in fostering socially sustainable urban environments, except ensuring inclusive housing markets. One of the most unexpected findings was the convergence in perspectives between public and private developers, suggesting a shared set of values despite differing formal mandates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 106857"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Environmental child-friendliness under pressure: The impact of infill densification in modernist residential areas 压力下的环境儿童友好：填充密度对现代主义居住区的影响

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.106704

Märit Jansson, Julia Schneider

As the assets of modernist planning, sometimes called the welfare landscape, are affected by densification, the implications for people need to be studied. One group with special needs is children, where child-friendly environments can support their use, health and well-being. A single case study was conducted in a district of central Uppsala, Sweden, where parts of a former modernist multi-family residential area have recently been densified with infill development. The methods included initial document studies and field observations, followed by a questionnaire survey on the child-friendliness of the local environment in different sub-areas. No statistically significant differences were found between densified and non-densified subareas, but the areas considered most child-friendly were near the largest park in the area. Respondents reported that densification had resulted in small open spaces and car traffic that limited children's use. Assets from the welfare landscape supported child-friendliness, based on both previous planning and long-term management. The case provides an example of densification with infill resulting in both loss of open space and car traffic solutions that increase car access. If infill is to support use by children and other vulnerable groups, and thus social sustainability, it must better incorporate qualities for a child-friendly environment.

由于现代主义规划的资产，有时被称为福利景观，受到致密化的影响，需要研究对人的影响。儿童是一个有特殊需要的群体，对儿童友好的环境可以支持他们的使用、健康和福祉。在瑞典乌普萨拉中部的一个地区进行了一个单一的案例研究，该地区的一部分前现代主义多户住宅区最近通过填充开发进行了密集化。方法包括初步文件研究和实地观察，然后对不同分地区的当地环境的儿童友好性进行问卷调查。在密集和非密集分区之间没有发现统计学上的显著差异，但被认为最适合儿童的区域靠近该地区最大的公园。受访者报告说，高密度化导致了狭小的开放空间和汽车交通，限制了儿童的使用。根据以前的规划和长期管理，福利领域的资产支持儿童友好。该案例提供了一个高密度填充的例子，导致开放空间的损失和汽车交通的解决方案，增加了汽车的通行。如果填充物要支持儿童和其他易受害群体的使用，从而支持社会的可持续性，就必须更好地纳入有利于儿童的环境的品质。

{"title":"Environmental child-friendliness under pressure: The impact of infill densification in modernist residential areas","authors":"Märit Jansson, Julia Schneider","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106704","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106704","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the assets of modernist planning, sometimes called the welfare landscape, are affected by densification, the implications for people need to be studied. One group with special needs is children, where child-friendly environments can support their use, health and well-being. A single case study was conducted in a district of central Uppsala, Sweden, where parts of a former modernist multi-family residential area have recently been densified with infill development. The methods included initial document studies and field observations, followed by a questionnaire survey on the child-friendliness of the local environment in different sub-areas. No statistically significant differences were found between densified and non-densified subareas, but the areas considered most child-friendly were near the largest park in the area. Respondents reported that densification had resulted in small open spaces and car traffic that limited children's use. Assets from the welfare landscape supported child-friendliness, based on both previous planning and long-term management. The case provides an example of densification with infill resulting in both loss of open space and car traffic solutions that increase car access. If infill is to support use by children and other vulnerable groups, and thus social sustainability, it must better incorporate qualities for a child-friendly environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 106704"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Built environment and injury risk: Association rule-based exploration of e-scooter crashes in Texas cities 建筑环境和伤害风险：基于协会规则的探索电动滑板车碰撞在德克萨斯州的城市

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-17 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.106748

Syed Aaqib Javed, Swastika Barua, Anannya Ghosh Tusti, Sazzad Bin Bashar Polock, Tausif Islam Chowdhury, Subasish Das

The rapid adoption of e-scooters as a micromobility mode in Texas cities has introduced new challenges for urban safety and planning. While e-scooters offer a flexible and affordable transportation option, their increased use has raised significant safety concerns, particularly regarding crash severity and contributing factors. Despite their prevalence, limited research has examined the complex dynamics of e-scooter crashes in urban environments. This study addresses that gap by applying Association Rule Mining (ARM) with the Lift Increase Criterion (LIC) to 355 police reported e-scooter crashes across Texas cities from 2021 to 2024. The analysis reveals that fatal and severe injury outcomes (KA) are frequently associated with mid-speed zones ranging from 40 to 60 mph, undivided multi-lane roadways, older riders, and poor lighting conditions, especially on Farm to Market roads and highways. Moderate injury cases (BC) tend to involve riders under age 15, occur at driveway access points and intersections, and are more common in large urban areas (population ≥ 250,000). Non-injury incidents (O) are primarily observed on divided roadways with good nighttime lighting in non-intersection settings. These findings demonstrate the intersection of demographic, infrastructural, and environmental factors in shaping e-scooter crash outcomes. The study offers some critical insights to guide targeted infrastructure interventions, improve urban lighting, and develop age-appropriate safety education initiatives.

电动滑板车作为一种微型交通工具在德克萨斯州城市的迅速普及，给城市安全和规划带来了新的挑战。虽然电动滑板车提供了一种灵活而实惠的交通选择，但它们越来越多的使用引发了严重的安全问题，特别是在碰撞严重程度和导致因素方面。尽管它们很普遍，但有限的研究已经检查了城市环境中电动滑板车碰撞的复杂动力学。本研究通过将关联规则挖掘（ARM）与升力增加标准（LIC）应用于2021年至2024年德克萨斯州各城市355起警方报告的电动滑板车事故，解决了这一差距。分析显示，致命和严重伤害结果（KA）通常与40至60英里/小时的中速区域、未分割的多车道道路、年龄较大的骑手和较差的照明条件有关，特别是在农场到市场的道路和高速公路上。中度伤害病例（BC）往往涉及15岁以下的骑手，发生在车道入口和十字路口，在大城市地区（人口≥250,000）更为常见。非伤害事故(O)主要发生在非交叉路口夜间照明良好的分隔道路上。这些发现表明，人口、基础设施和环境因素在影响电动滑板车碰撞结果方面的交叉作用。该研究为指导有针对性的基础设施干预、改善城市照明和制定适合年龄的安全教育举措提供了一些重要见解。

{"title":"Built environment and injury risk: Association rule-based exploration of e-scooter crashes in Texas cities","authors":"Syed Aaqib Javed, Swastika Barua, Anannya Ghosh Tusti, Sazzad Bin Bashar Polock, Tausif Islam Chowdhury, Subasish Das","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid adoption of e-scooters as a micromobility mode in Texas cities has introduced new challenges for urban safety and planning. While e-scooters offer a flexible and affordable transportation option, their increased use has raised significant safety concerns, particularly regarding crash severity and contributing factors. Despite their prevalence, limited research has examined the complex dynamics of e-scooter crashes in urban environments. This study addresses that gap by applying Association Rule Mining (ARM) with the Lift Increase Criterion (LIC) to 355 police reported e-scooter crashes across Texas cities from 2021 to 2024. The analysis reveals that fatal and severe injury outcomes (KA) are frequently associated with mid-speed zones ranging from 40 to 60 mph, undivided multi-lane roadways, older riders, and poor lighting conditions, especially on Farm to Market roads and highways. Moderate injury cases (BC) tend to involve riders under age 15, occur at driveway access points and intersections, and are more common in large urban areas (population ≥ 250,000). Non-injury incidents (O) are primarily observed on divided roadways with good nighttime lighting in non-intersection settings. These findings demonstrate the intersection of demographic, infrastructural, and environmental factors in shaping e-scooter crash outcomes. The study offers some critical insights to guide targeted infrastructure interventions, improve urban lighting, and develop age-appropriate safety education initiatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 106748"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Experiences of urban places mediated through pervasive games: An empirical study of place-based psychological responses 通过普遍游戏介导的城市场所体验：基于场所的心理反应的实证研究

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.106744

Oriana Mosca , Ferdinando Fornara , Gabriele Luigi Pia , Vanessa Pinna , Andrea Manunza , Carla Salis , Lucio Davide Spano , Emanuel Muroni , Ivan Blečić

This study investigates how pervasive games can engender and shape relationships with urban spaces, using as a case study the Walklets game experience in the neighborhoods of Is Mirrionis and San Michele in Cagliari (Italy). Walklets is a mobile based, narrative-driven pervasive game designed to encourage exploration and engagement with real-world environments. Through a mixed-methods approach combining pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys and thematic qualitative analysis, we assess the effects on several psychological variables: restoration, engagement, serendipity, emotions, and creativity. Findings show that Walklets had a significant positive impact on participants' perception and interpretation of the urban environment, enhancing emotional engagement, spatial awareness, and cognitive appreciation of places. Although some effects diminished over time, the qualitative data reveal long lasting mnestic traces and shifts in participants' relationship with the neighborhood. The study highlights the importance of narrative immersion, serendipitous discovery, and historical context in shaping meaningful experiences of urban places. We argue that pervasive games like Walklets can serve as tools for reimagining, learning about, and emotionally connecting with urban environments, offering new modes of experiencing the city.

本研究以意大利卡利亚里Is Mirrionis和San Michele社区的Walklets游戏体验为例，调查了无处不在的游戏如何产生和塑造与城市空间的关系。Walklets是一款基于手机的故事驱动游戏，旨在鼓励探索和参与现实世界的环境。通过将事前、事后和后续调查以及专题定性分析相结合的混合方法，我们评估了对几个心理变量的影响：恢复、参与、意外发现、情绪和创造力。研究结果表明，步行对参与者对城市环境的感知和解读产生了显著的积极影响，增强了参与者的情感参与、空间意识和对场所的认知欣赏。虽然一些影响随着时间的推移而减弱，但定性数据显示，参与者与邻居的关系存在持久的遗忘痕迹和转变。该研究强调了沉浸式叙事、偶然发现和历史背景在塑造城市场所有意义体验中的重要性。我们认为，像Walklets这样的普及游戏可以作为重新想象、学习和与城市环境建立情感联系的工具，提供体验城市的新模式。

{"title":"Experiences of urban places mediated through pervasive games: An empirical study of place-based psychological responses","authors":"Oriana Mosca , Ferdinando Fornara , Gabriele Luigi Pia , Vanessa Pinna , Andrea Manunza , Carla Salis , Lucio Davide Spano , Emanuel Muroni , Ivan Blečić","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106744","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106744","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates how pervasive games can engender and shape relationships with urban spaces, using as a case study the Walklets game experience in the neighborhoods of Is Mirrionis and San Michele in Cagliari (Italy). Walklets is a mobile based, narrative-driven pervasive game designed to encourage exploration and engagement with real-world environments. Through a mixed-methods approach combining pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys and thematic qualitative analysis, we assess the effects on several psychological variables: restoration, engagement, serendipity, emotions, and creativity. Findings show that Walklets had a significant positive impact on participants' perception and interpretation of the urban environment, enhancing emotional engagement, spatial awareness, and cognitive appreciation of places. Although some effects diminished over time, the qualitative data reveal long lasting mnestic traces and shifts in participants' relationship with the neighborhood. The study highlights the importance of narrative immersion, serendipitous discovery, and historical context in shaping meaningful experiences of urban places. We argue that pervasive games like Walklets can serve as tools for reimagining, learning about, and emotionally connecting with urban environments, offering new modes of experiencing the city.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 106744"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Urban informal employment and earning differential in Hossana city, Ethiopia 埃塞俄比亚霍萨纳市的城市非正规就业和收入差异

IF 6.6 1区经济学 Q1 URBAN STUDIES

Cities

Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.106731

Girma Mekore Bushiso , D. Ashalatha

In urban Ethiopia, the prevalence of informal employment is apparent, with over 85 % of the labour force engaged, including a significant proportion of informal wage workers within the formal private sector. Utilizing cross-sectional survey data and the propensity score matching (PSM) and Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition methodology, this study investigates the causes of informal employment and the salary disparity between informal and formal work in Hossana city, Ethiopia. A combination of purposive, simple random, and stratified sampling techniques was employed to pick a sample of kebele (sub-city) and employees. The analysis reveals that a significant percentage of informal workers are employed in formal firms, with the average monthly wage disparity between formal and informal employees approximately 26 %. The Econometrics models results indicated that participation in informal employment is favorably and strongly correlated with marital status (being single), migration (being a migrant), and education, while it is adversely and considerably influenced by sex and age. Moreover, after accounting for additional factors influencing wage disparities, the results indicate that the monthly wages of individuals in informal employment are 17 % lower than those in regular employment. Education, age, experience, migration status working hour, and sector of the business are the key determinants of earnings gap. The results indicate that informal workers do not receive the benefits specified in labour regulation and have significantly lower incomes compared to official employees, as beyond their net salary, formal employees dedicate 18 % of their monthly gross salary to social security, serving as a mechanism for enforced savings. The report emphasizes the government's responsibility to enact minimum wage legislation and enforce labour laws, particularly in formal firms, to mitigate worker abuse.

在埃塞俄比亚的城市，非正规就业的普遍存在是显而易见的，超过85%的劳动力参与其中，包括正规私营部门内相当大比例的非正规工资工人。利用横断面调查数据、倾向得分匹配（PSM）和Blinder-Oaxaca分解方法，研究了埃塞俄比亚霍萨纳市非正规就业的原因以及非正规工作与正规工作之间的工资差距。采用有目的抽样、简单随机抽样和分层抽样相结合的方法对市（市）和员工进行抽样。分析显示，相当大比例的非正式工人受雇于正式企业，正式员工和非正式员工之间的平均月工资差距约为26%。计量经济学模型的结果表明，参与非正式就业与婚姻状况（单身）、移民（移民）和教育程度密切相关，而性别和年龄对非正式就业的影响则相当大。此外，在考虑了影响工资差异的其他因素后，结果表明，非正规就业人员的月薪比正规就业人员低17%。教育程度、年龄、经验、移民身份、工作时间和行业是影响收入差距的关键因素。结果表明，非正式工人没有获得劳动法规规定的福利，与正式雇员相比，他们的收入明显较低，因为除了净工资之外，正式雇员将其每月工资总额的18%用于社会保障，作为一种强制储蓄机制。报告强调，政府有责任颁布最低工资法规，并执行劳动法，以减少对工人的虐待，尤其是在正规企业。

{"title":"Urban informal employment and earning differential in Hossana city, Ethiopia","authors":"Girma Mekore Bushiso , D. Ashalatha","doi":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106731","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cities.2025.106731","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In urban Ethiopia, the prevalence of informal employment is apparent, with over 85 % of the labour force engaged, including a significant proportion of informal wage workers within the formal private sector. Utilizing cross-sectional survey data and the propensity score matching (PSM) and Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition methodology, this study investigates the causes of informal employment and the salary disparity between informal and formal work in Hossana city, Ethiopia. A combination of purposive, simple random, and stratified sampling techniques was employed to pick a sample of kebele (sub-city) and employees. The analysis reveals that a significant percentage of informal workers are employed in formal firms, with the average monthly wage disparity between formal and informal employees approximately 26 %. The Econometrics models results indicated that participation in informal employment is favorably and strongly correlated with marital status (being single), migration (being a migrant), and education, while it is adversely and considerably influenced by sex and age. Moreover, after accounting for additional factors influencing wage disparities, the results indicate that the monthly wages of individuals in informal employment are 17 % lower than those in regular employment. Education, age, experience, migration status working hour, and sector of the business are the key determinants of earnings gap. The results indicate that informal workers do not receive the benefits specified in labour regulation and have significantly lower incomes compared to official employees, as beyond their net salary, formal employees dedicate 18 % of their monthly gross salary to social security, serving as a mechanism for enforced savings. The report emphasizes the government's responsibility to enact minimum wage legislation and enforce labour laws, particularly in formal firms, to mitigate worker abuse.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48405,"journal":{"name":"Cities","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 106731"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Cities最新文献