Without a clear and unified definition of the urban built-up area, many city rankings by area are inconsistent, giving rise to confusion among the general public and even scholars. This paper summarizes various defini...Without a clear and unified definition of the urban built-up area, many city rankings by area are inconsistent, giving rise to confusion among the general public and even scholars. This paper summarizes various definitions of the urban built-up area and proposes three definition methods: all urban built-up areas in a municipal administrative area, concentrated contiguous built-up areas, and urban built-up areas in central cities. From the latest Landsat 8 satellite images, the paper obtains the data of urban built-up area in some of China’s big cities and makes a comparative study between the results of the urban built-up areas by the three definition methods and three other common statistical data. It finds that neither the area data nor the ranking is consistent. Finally, it further explores what causes differences in rankings and gives some advice for improving the definition of the urban built-up area.展开更多
This is an analytical study of the intensely debated concept of urban livability. The paper examines different literature or theoretical streams that contribute to the debate related to the notion of livable cities. I...This is an analytical study of the intensely debated concept of urban livability. The paper examines different literature or theoretical streams that contribute to the debate related to the notion of livable cities. It juxtaposes academic constructs from architecture and urban planning fields with the popular culture and web indices that rank cities according to their living standards, services, and international appeal. The study offers a comparative analytical assessment of these diverse approaches and lays out a nuanced understanding of urban livability that draws on the richness and diversity embedded in design, planning, and current ranking tools. The paper ultimately aims to shed light on the configurations, conditions, and processes that may enhance the livability of various urban settings. It integrates such disparate views into an interdisciplinary perspective of urban livability. While the bulk of this paper analyses relates to North American, European, and Australian cities, the concepts discussed pertain to urban livability on a Rlobal scale.展开更多
文摘Without a clear and unified definition of the urban built-up area, many city rankings by area are inconsistent, giving rise to confusion among the general public and even scholars. This paper summarizes various definitions of the urban built-up area and proposes three definition methods: all urban built-up areas in a municipal administrative area, concentrated contiguous built-up areas, and urban built-up areas in central cities. From the latest Landsat 8 satellite images, the paper obtains the data of urban built-up area in some of China’s big cities and makes a comparative study between the results of the urban built-up areas by the three definition methods and three other common statistical data. It finds that neither the area data nor the ranking is consistent. Finally, it further explores what causes differences in rankings and gives some advice for improving the definition of the urban built-up area.
文摘This is an analytical study of the intensely debated concept of urban livability. The paper examines different literature or theoretical streams that contribute to the debate related to the notion of livable cities. It juxtaposes academic constructs from architecture and urban planning fields with the popular culture and web indices that rank cities according to their living standards, services, and international appeal. The study offers a comparative analytical assessment of these diverse approaches and lays out a nuanced understanding of urban livability that draws on the richness and diversity embedded in design, planning, and current ranking tools. The paper ultimately aims to shed light on the configurations, conditions, and processes that may enhance the livability of various urban settings. It integrates such disparate views into an interdisciplinary perspective of urban livability. While the bulk of this paper analyses relates to North American, European, and Australian cities, the concepts discussed pertain to urban livability on a Rlobal scale.
