Analysis of the Energy and Environmental Sustainability of a Built Space System: The Case of Patte d’Oie University Campus in Ouagadougou

The aim of this study was to carry out a dynamic simulation of the energy and environmental performance of a built space system, with a view to assessing its energy and environmental class. The use of a simulation and modeling tool, supported by various methodological references, formed the basis of our approach. Adopting a systemic perspective, we described the structural and functional aspects of the systems making up built spaces, as well as the associated energy flows. Our approach was also based on a typology, taking into account typical days, structural and functional configurations at different scales and angles of observation. The analysis tool we developed in Java was applied to the built space system of the Patte d’Oie university campus in Ouagadougou. Annual electricity consumption was measured at 124387.34 kWh, closely aligned with the average annual electricity bill (125224.31 kWh), with a maximum relative deviation of 1%, followed by a carbon emission balance of 58337.66 kg eq CO2 per year. This validation confirmed the effectiveness of our tool. In addition, following the analysis of electricity consumption using our tool, the university campus was classified in energy class B and environmental class C. These results will be based on the emission factors of the energy mix of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) territory, with particular emphasis on Burkina Faso.

Integrating linear and nonlinear models to assess the built environment’s impact on older adults’behaviors in China

China is experiencing rapid population aging.The one contributing factor affecting senior citizens’lives is the disconnect between the built environment in urban and rural areas and the behavioral preferences of older adults.However,research on the relation between the built environment and the behavior of older individuals has been limited.Thus,this paper uses the most recent health tracking data on factors influencing aging in China released in 2020(China Senior Health Survey Tracking Survey).Applying traditional regression,least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression,and two decision tree optimization models from machine learning,a comprehensive comparative study is carried out to investigate the correlation between the built environment and the physical activity,dietary habits,and social interactions of older age groups.The findings reveal that built environment variables most significantly impact physical activity,accounting for 52.525%,followed by social interaction behaviors at 50.202%and dietary intake at 47.991%.Furthermore,the authors identify population density and greenness rate as the built environment factors having considerable effects on the behavior of older adults.Thus,this study establishes a theoretical foundation for developing age-friendly community environments for older adults.

Rainwater harvesting systems: An urban flood risk mitigation measure in arid areas

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems have been developed to compensate for shortage in the water supply worldwide. Such systems are not very common in arid areas, particularly in the Gulf Region, due to the scarcity of rainfall and their reduced efficiency in covering water demand and reducing water consumption rates. In spite of this, RWH systems have the potential to reduce urban flood risks, particularly in densely populated areas. This study aimed to assess the potential use of RWH systems as urban flood mitigation measures in arid areas. Their utility in the retention of stormwater runoff and the reduction of water depth and extent were evaluated. The study was conducted in a residential area in Bahrain that experienced waterlogging after heavy rainfall events. The water demand patterns of housing units were analyzed, and the daily water balance for RWH tanks was evaluated. The effect of the implementation of RWH systems on the flood volume was evaluated with a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model. Flood simulations were conducted in several rainfall scenarios with different probabilities of occurrence. The results showed significant reductions in the flood depth and flood extent, but these effects were highly dependent on the rainfall intensity of the event. RWH systems are effective flood mitigation measures, particularly in urban arid regions short of proper stormwater control infrastructure, and they enhance the resilience of the built environment to urban floods.

Impact of Street Built Environment on Human Thermal Comfort in Summer

With the continuous intensification of the global greenhouse effect,thermal comfort has become a highly concerned issue in the living environment.The study explores the influencing factors and improvement strategies of urban street thermal comfort.The urban heat island effect,environmental parameters,building layout,and green planting all have a significant impact on the thermal comfort of streets.Improvement strategies include optimizing cultivating pattern of plants,adjusting street layout,and improving paving materials of road.The multi-layer vegetation structure provides green shade,reduces local temperature,and humidifies the surrounding environment.It should adjust the street orientation and aspect ratio to provide sunlight and ventilation,and reduce ambient temperature.Paving materials with low reflectivity and light color and permeable underlying surface should be chosen to reduce heat absorption,increase shading and greenery,and improve thermal comfort.

Design of N-11-Azaartemisinins Potentially Active against Plasmodium falciparum by Combined Molecular Electrostatic Potential, Ligand-Receptor Interaction and Models Built with Supervised Machine Learning Methods

N-11-azaartemisinins potentially active against Plasmodium falciparum are designed by combining molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), ligand-receptor interaction, and models built with supervised machine learning methods (PCA, HCA, KNN, SIMCA, and SDA). The optimization of molecular structures was performed using the B3LYP/6-31G* approach. MEP maps and ligand-receptor interactions were used to investigate key structural features required for biological activities and likely interactions between N-11-azaartemisinins and heme, respectively. The supervised machine learning methods allowed the separation of the investigated compounds into two classes: cha and cla, with the properties εLUMO+1 (one level above lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy), d(C6-C5) (distance between C6 and C5 atoms in ligands), and TSA (total surface area) responsible for the classification. The insights extracted from the investigation developed and the chemical intuition enabled the design of sixteen new N-11-azaartemisinins (prediction set), moreover, models built with supervised machine learning methods were applied to this prediction set. The result of this application showed twelve new promising N-11-azaartemisinins for synthesis and biological evaluation.

Searching Ways of Accelerating the Necessary Changes in the Production Process of the Built Environment for a Sustainable Future

This paper has the goal of presenting the main characteristics and challenges of the process of developing and disseminating solutions which aim to minimize the environmental impacts and improve the environmental performance of the CIPC(Construction Industry Productive Chain)in the mid-west region of Brazil.Over the past eight years many applied research projects have shown that the bottleneck slowing or preventing the evolution of CIPC in Brazil is the lack of political will,be it at the municipality,state or federal level and a desintegrated agenda.Exacerbated political interests added to a lack of capacity for integrated and efficient management of available resources and programs implementation curtail the continued and integrated technological development and as consequence it has delayed the effective evolution towards sustainable technological paradigms.With no political will,the steps toward change are slow,inefficient and dispersed,as demonstrated by an analysis of the development,implementation and diffusion of four projects which focus on the sustainability of processes and products of the built environment.

Measuring Pedestrian Stress Response (MPSR) Using Wearable Technologies

Walkability is an essential aspect of urban transportation systems. Properly designed walking paths can enhance transportation safety, encourage pedestrian activity, and improve community quality of life. This, in turn, can help achieve sustainable development goals in urban areas. This pilot study uses wearable technology data to present a new method for measuring pedestrian stress in urban environments and the results were presented as an interactive geographic information system map to support risk-informed decision-making. The approach involves analyzing data from wearable devices using heart rate variability (RMSSD and slope analysis) to identify high-stress locations. This data-driven approach can help urban planners and safety experts identify and address pedestrian stressors, ultimately creating safer, more walkable cities. The study addresses a significant challenge in pedestrian safety by providing insights into factors and locations that trigger stress in pedestrians. During the pilot study, high-stress pedestrian experiences were identified due to issues like pedestrian-scooter interaction on pedestrian paths, pedestrian behavior around high foot traffic areas, and poor visibility at pedestrian crossings due to inadequate lighting.

From Transitions to Transformation: A Brief Review of the Potential Impacts of COVID-19 on Boosting Digitization, Digitalization, and Systems Thinking in the Built Environment

In a short time, during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, we managed to shift rapidly to use digital technologies and replace some of our daily operations with virtual modes. This shift happened so instantly and widely that it enables us to argue that the COVID-19 became a valid reason to boost some of the gradual and ongoing transitions towards faster transformations. In this study, we use gray literature to delve into arguments around the boost for digitization, digitalization, and systems thinking in the development of the built environment. This is mostly discussed from the influence of COVID-19 on some of the existing practices or the business-as-usual of the built environment sector. From technological advancement to technology use, these arguments are put forward to discuss what is likely to be the major driver of technological adoption and the shifting paradigms that are yet to be revealed. The study concludes that the current push towards new directions and development pathways are likely to be widely accepted in a shorter time. The findings of this brief study feed into existing arguments on transformative pathways due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Designing an Elderly-Friendly City in Cardiff: Cultivating Sense of Security for the Aging Population: Transforming Butetown for the Entertainment, Health, and Diversification of the Elderly

As an important part of urban construction,elderly-friendly construction is crucial to the formation of an elderly-friendly society,which has been widely recognized internationally.Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic,various organizations around the world have called for changes in public space and urban building planning,with an emphasis on the accessibility of green spaces.This underscores the complexity and difficulty of integrating vulnerable groups of the elderly into cities and using infrastructure and public space.

THE SYSTEM OF REGISTERING AT THE CUSTOMS FOR THE RECORD BUILT UP IN FREE TRADE ZONES

With a view to accelerating the construction and development of the free trade zones and the foreign trade business of enterprises within the said zones, and making entering or leaving the zones convenient for those enterprises; the Customs shall in accordance with the newly promulgated regulations as stipulated in Supervising Measures of the Customs in Free Trade Zones require that consigness, consignors or their agents register for the record their car.

A NATIONAL SYSTEM OF INNOVATION TO BE BUILT FOR WELCOMING THE ERA OF KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

Editor’s note: Not long ago, CAS headquarters put forward a proposal entitled "A national innovation system (NIS) to be built up towards the era of knowledge economy (KE)" in a bid to plot a chart for China’s development in the next century. The suggestion was highly valued by the CPC Central Committee and here we publish an extracted translation of its full text.

Impact of the Built Environment on the Spatial Heterogeneity of Regional Innovation Productivity:Evidence from the Pearl River Delta,China

With the global economy increasingly dependent on innovation,urban discourse has shifted to consider what kinds of spatial designs may best nurture innovation.We examined the relationship between the built environment and the spatial heterogeneity of regional innovation productivity(RIP)using the example of China's Pearl River Delta(PRD).Based on a spatial database of 522546 patent data from 2017,this study proposed an innovation-based built environment framework with the following five aspects:healthy en-vironment,daily interaction,mixed land use,commuting convenience,and technology atmosphere.Combining negative binomial regression and Geodetector to examine the impact of the built environment on RIP,the results show that the spatial distribution of innovation productivity in the PRD region is extremely uneven.The negative binomial regression results show that the built environment has a significant impact on the spatial differentiation of RIP,and,specifically,that healthy environment,mixed land use,commuting convenience,and technology atmosphere all demonstrate significant positive impacts.Meanwhile,the Geodetector results show that the built environment factor impacts the spatial heterogeneity of RIP to varying degrees,with technology atmosphere demonstrating the greatest impact intensity.We conclude that as regional development discourse shifts focus to the knowledge and innovation economy,the innovation-oriented design and updating of built environments will become extremely important to policymakers.

Developing a Subjective Evaluation Scale for Assessing the Built Environments of China’s Hygienic City Initiative

Objective To develop a preliminary subjective evaluation scale for assessing the built environments of China’s Hygienic City Initiative and to evaluate its reliability and validity.Methods The initial items of the scale were determined based on a review of policy documents and consultations with experts. The final items of the scale were confirmed through individual interviews with residents combined with the discretetrend method, critical ratio method, correlation coefficient method, and factor analysis method. Then, the dimensions of the scale were determined using exploratory factor analysis(EFA). The Cronbach’s α coefficient, split-half reliability coefficient, and confirmatory factor analysis(CFA) were used to assess the reliability and validity of the scale.Results A scale containing five dimensions with 22 items was established, including urban lifestyle,governance, basic functions, environmental sanitation, and amenities. The Cronbach’s α coefficient of the scale was 0.876, and the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.796. The CFA results indicate that each inspection level was within the standard limit.Conclusion The preliminarily subjective evaluation scale for assessing the built environments of China’s Hygienic City Initiative demonstrates a high level of reliability and validity. Additional empirical studies should be carried out to further verify the value of the scale in terms of practical application.

Elaborating Spatiotemporal Associations Between the Built Environment and Urban Vibrancy:A Case of Guangzhou City,China

This study applies multi-source datasets(i.e.,Baidu Heat Map data,points of interest(POIs)data,and floor area and land use data)and geographically and temporally weighted regression(GTWR)models to elaborate the spatiotemporal relationships between the built environment and urban vibrancy on both weekdays and weekends,using Guangzhou City as a case.First,we verified the spatially and temporally nonstationary nature of the built environment correlates,which have been largely ignored in previous studies based on local regression techniques.The spatially and temporally heterogeneous effects of the built environment on urban vibrancy are then presented and visualized,based on the GTWR results.We found that the elasticity of location(i.e.,distance),land use mix(i.e.,diversity),building intensity and numbers of POIs with various functions(i.e.,density)are different across time(2-h intervals within a day)and space(grids),due to people’s everyday lifestyle,time-space constraints,and geographical context(e.g.,spatial structure).The findings highlight the importance of a better understanding of the local geography on the spatiotemporal relationships for urban planners and local governments so as to put forward decision-making support for fostering and maintaining urban vibrancy.

The built environment correlates of objectively measured physical activity in Norwegian adults:A cross-sectional study

Background: Built environments that are designed to provide accessible, attractive, and convenient locales promote regular physical activity(PA).Norway has great variability in its geographic, natural, and built environment features. Urban areas have well-developed built environment features, whereas the rural areas are less walkable and this may influence the mode of transport. In general, active transport is more common in urban centers. Further, public transportation is more developed in urban areas, whereas motorized transport may be more widespread in the rural areas. Despite this, in Sogn & Fjordane, a rural county in western Norway, high PA levels are frequently observed. Thus, the aims of this study were to(1) explore perceived built environment features and characterize their associations with objectively measured PA levels in Norwegian adults and(2) explore the differences in these correlates between Sogn & Fjordane and the rest of Norway.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants used questionnaires to rate perceptions of their built environments, and their PA was objectively measured for 7 consecutive days using the Acti Graph GT1 M accelerometer. There were 972 Norwegian adults who were included in the study. The average age was 46.9 ± 6.5 years and 43.8% of participants were men. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression.Results: Total PA and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA) were both associated with perceived walkability, the community perception score, and active transport for commuting(all p ≤ 0.004). We also observed geographic-area-specific associations: the community perception score was negatively associated with total PA and MVPA in the rest of Norway(p ≤ 0.012) but not in Sogn & Fjordane. Public transport for commuting was positively associated with MVPA in Sogn & Fjordane(p = 0.03) but not in the rest of Norway.Conclusion: Total PA level and MVPA were associated with built environment factors, such as perceptions of community, perceived walkability,and engaging in active transport for commuting. Geographic differences in the PA correlates were observed, and thus, locally customized environmental population approaches aimed at increasing PA levels may be essential complements to individual behavior and lifestyle strategies.Further, objective measures of Norwegian built environments, such as geographic information system data, and validated walk-and bike-scores would advance the field.

Environments favorable to healthy lifestyles:A systematic review of initiatives in Canada

Background: In recent years, a number of initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles in health-friendly environments have been implemented.The purpose of this review is to synthesize initiatives conducted in Canada and documented in publications for the period 1995–2015 in order to gain a better understanding of their objectives and impacts.Methods: A systematic review of Canadian initiatives published over the past 20 years was conducted from multiple databases(i.e., Scopus,SPORTDiscus, Pub Med, Academic search complete, Reseausante.com, Cairn, and Erudit). In total, 264 publications were identified and retained for the final analysis based on 5 criteria:(1) publication between 1995 and 2015,(2) online availability,(3) research conducted in Canada,(4) main topic related to environments favorable to healthy lifestyles(EFHL), and(5) publication in French or English.Results: A sharp increase in the number of studies on EFHL was observed between 2010 and 2015(57%). Two major lifestyle components—physical activity and nutrition—and 2 environmental aspects—neighborhood and built environment—were the elements most frequently examined regarding adults(48%), young people(34%), and seniors(9%), using quantitative(60%) and qualitative(18%) methods. Furthermore, the analysis reveals a greater focus on the municipal(53%) than the national or provincial levels(31%).Conclusion: This work is a first map of Canadian studies related to EFHL. It clarifies the definition of EFHL and classifies its components. As well,it documents the issues raised, the research methods employed, and the role of stakeholders, while outlining a new research agenda that includes dimensions of EFHL formerly neglected by researchers, namely, political and sociocultural spheres of action.? 2018 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

China has Built a Mammoth Museum

The Tourism Bureau of Heilongjiang Province announces that a paleontological museum devoted to Quaternary fossil mammoths has been built in Qinggang County in that province. This museum, recently olticially opened, can be used to exhibit collections and conduct popular science education as well as scientific research （Fig. 1）.

Wind Turbine Power Output Assessment in Built Environment

In future planning of the city, it is very important to consider the proper intelligent integration of renewable energy sources into the built environment for developing smart cities. Analysis of the wind velocity profile in the built environment is very important for finding out the energy content in the wind and also to analyze the performance of wind turbines in the built environment. In this study, building topologies of smart city are investigated for finding out the wind velocity profile and the wind turbine power output in the built environment. The wind velocity distribution across buildings is numerically simulated by using commercial CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software CFD-ACE+. Wind turbine power output is estimated by using the power curve of real commercial wind turbine and wind velocity distribution simulated by CFD software. It has been observed that the wind is accelerated in the intervening space between the buildings irrespective of distance between the walls of adjacent buildings under the condition, which are investigated in this study. The wind is accelerated across buildings, and is reduced rapidly after blowing through buildings, and recovered gradually. Since the wind is accelerated in the intervening space between buildings and reduced in the area at the back of buildings, a wind turbine should be installed at the area at the back of the buildings and located on center between the buildings. In this work, it is observed that size dimensions and layout of the building are effective in realizing a smart city for utilizing renewable energy such as wind turbine in the built environment.

Relationship Between Built Environment, Socio-economic Factors and Carbon Emissions from Shopping Trip in Shenyang City, China

Promoting active travel behavior and decreasing transport-related carbon dioxide （CO2） emissions have become a priority in many Chinese cities experiencing rapid urban sprawl and greater automobile dependence. However, there are few studies that holistically examine the physical and social factors associated with travel CO2 emissions. Using a survey of 1525 shoppers conducted in Shenyang, China, this study estimated shopping-related travel CO2 emissions and examined how the built environment and individual socioeconomic characteristics contribute to shopping travel behavior and associated C02 emissions. We found that, firstly, private car trips generate nearly eight times more carbon emissions than shopping trips using public transport, on average. Second, there was sig- nificant spatial autocorrelation with CO2 emissions per trip, and the highest carbon emissions were clustered in the inner suburbs and between the first and second circumferential roads. Third, shopping travel CO2 emissions per trip were negatively correlated with sev- eral built environment features including population density, the quantity of public transport stations, road density, and shop density. They were also found to be significantly related to the individual socio-eeonomic characteristics of car ownership, employment status, and education level using a multinomial logistic regression model. These empirical findings have important policy implications, assisting in the development of measures that contribute to the sustainability of urban transportation and meet carbon mitigation targets.

Influence of Built Environment in Hygienic City in China on Self-rated Health of Residents

Objective To assess the subjective perception of residents on the built environment in hygienic cities and its relation to the self-rated health(SRH)status of residents,providing a basis for a better promotion on construction of health-supportive environments.Methods The online survey was adopted with the respondents recruited from residents living in Chaoyang District of Beijing in January 2021.With SRH level as the dependent variable,two-category logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the impact of the built environment in hygienic cities on the SRH status of residents.Results A total of 1,357 respondents were enrolled in this study.After controlling confounding factors,four aspects in the built environment in hygienic cities were detected remarkable influences on the SRH level of residents,including enough green space in the living area[odds ratio(OR)=1.395,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.055–1.845],clean and hygienic living environment(OR=1.472,95%CI:1.107–1.956),residents’confidence in drinking water safety in the living area(OR=1.856,95%CI:1.354–2.544)and residents’confidence in food safety in the living area(OR=1.405,95%CI:1.027–1.921).Conclusion Regarding city construction,the government should focus more on the subjective perception of residents on built environments to build a supportive environment benefiting the health of residents.