Preliminary Analysis on Environmental Impact of Relocation of Cities and Towns in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region

At the normal pool level of 175 m, the inundated areas of the Three Gorges Reservoir involve 2 cities, 11 county seats and 140 towns. The population of the cities and towns under the inundated line totals 393 000 people(1985). These affected cities and towns will be rebuilt by means of moving backward to a higher elevation or to other places.The cities and towns to be relocated are the regional political, economic and cultural centres, and serve as traffic complexes and places of goods gathering and distributing. They are also the seats containing some important cultural relics and historic sites, landscaping and scenic spots. The relocation of the cities and towns will generate far-reaching impacts on regional socio-economy and environment. The unreasonable excavation and fill or the improper protective measures adopted may induce land slide,collapse and soil loss. The ruins and wastes will affect the water quality in the early period of impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir. A large demand of timber may result in forest fall excessively in the local area of the reservoir region, and lower forest and vegetation coverage rate may lead to soil loss. The relocation of the cities and towns will increase urbanization in reservoir, improve the infrastructure, enhance their location function and economic radiation capacity. The negative impact will reach its maximum during relocation peak period, and the environmental quality will be progressively improved with the recovery of the functions of the relocated cities and towns and the implementation of environmental protection measures. Finally, the negative impact will be offset, and the negative impact will be changed into positive environmental elements.

Problems in the Development of Small Cities and Towns in West China and Countermeasures: A Case Study of Luzhou City, Sichuan Province

New urbanization targets at coordinated urban-rural development, and construction of ecological and livable environment, it is the foundation for breaking urban-rural dual structure of China and promoting the agricultural modernization. Small cities and towns as carriers of new urbanization have already become important paths of realizing new urbanization and solving problems concerning 300 million peasants in China. Considering the requirements of new urbanization, this paper took Luzhou City in Sichuan Province for example to explore development path suitable for small cities and towns in west China and gave pertinent suggestions.

Survey and Analysis of Community Care Service in Cities and Towns from the Perspective of Internet

With the aging of the social population,community care has become another important care model between home care and institutional care.In order to fully understand the social cognition and demand of"Internet+community care",the project team conducted a questionnaire survey in accordance with the research objectives.The survey concluded that the public are still dependent on the traditional care,and do not know much about"Internet+community care",but are willing to try."Internet+community care"can not only enrich and innovate the care model,but also effectively solve the problems of limited pension resources and mismatch between supply and demand.It is conducive to promoting the realization of high-quality and efficient services for the aged.

Influence of seismicity parameter uncertainty on seismic hazard estimation of cities and towns

The influence on seismic hazard estimation for 310 cities and towns in the whole nation are studied in particular,owing to uncertainty of seismicity parameters caused by non-uniqueness in selecting statistical time ranges. Andthe regional sketch maps of the average varying values of intensity and the average relative varying values of peakacceleration with different probability of exceedance in 50 years are drawn in the Chinese mainland.

Characteristics and Driving Forces of Spatial Expansion of Oasis Cities and Towns in Hexi Corridor, Gansu Province, China

This paper presents an integrated study of urban spatial expansion in the Hexi Corridor, Gansu Province, China based on TM, ETM remote sensing data in 1987, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2006 and 2011. The study explores the characteristics of urban spatial expansion and dynamic mechanism by using expansion speed index, expansion intensity index, compact index, fractal dimension, and extended flexibility index. We built the index system of influencing factors of urban spatial expansion by using the grey incidence model. The results showed that urban spatial expansion rate in the Hexi Corridor has been on the upward trend since 1987. Expansion intensity showed an obvious upward trend, however, the upward trend varied in different urban areas. In addition, the urban structure was loose relatively, but the urban compactness was more obvious. The urban spatial form tended to be simple, and the urban land use tended to become more intensive. Urban spatial expansion experienced several stages: padding internally, external expansion and padding internally. The main driving factors of urban spatial expansion are not the urban water resources and the oasis scale, but one or several factors such as economy, traffic, population, resource and national policy.

On the Influence Factors of Second-hand House Prices in First-tier Cities——Empirical Analysis Based on Panel Data

With the arrival of the ＂housing stock＂ in first - tier cities, the second - handhousing^market will become the dominant property market. This ardcle aim to the first - tiercities of second - hand housing prices and new home price index for the empirical analysis, thedata related to the cointegration analysis found that the result of the first -tier cities real estatemarket in China, the new home price index is the significant factors influencing the second -hand house price indexi For Beijing, Shanghai second - hand housing and new home price in-dex time series johans test, found that there exists cointegration relationship between two varia-bles,the new city real estate market prices out of a line on the secondary market have clearguide. Therefore, the real estate market regulation aiming at the first -tier cities and the＂housing stock＂ should take the second - hand housing market as the main direction, startingwith the sale price and influencing factors of new houses. At the same time, in different cities,we should adhere to the city＇ s policies, reflect the policy differentiation, promote the reformof the real estate supply side, and promote the return of housing properties.

ANALYSIS ON THE PRESENT SITUATION AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF VACANT COMMERCIAL HOUSING IN GUANGZHOU URBAN DISTRICT

According to the on-the-spot sampling investigation, this paper an alyzes the conditions of different districts, different locales and different ty pes of the vacant commercial housing as well as the contributing factors, which was completed in recent three years in Guangzhou urban district. It is found tha t vacant ratio of samples in Guangzhou accounted for 20.94%, which is relativel y high. The authors argue that real estate industry of Guangzhou has made rapid progress, at the same time, people should not overlook the vacant commercial hou sing. It will benefit the sustainable development of the real estate industry of Guangzhou to carry out effective measures and actively to make use of present v acant housing.

Planning of Small Cities and Towns in Northwest China Based on New Urbanization Concepts

Construction and development of small cities and towns is signifi cant for promoting economic and social development,and solving issues concerning "agriculture,rural areas and peasants". In view of the rapid development of small cities and towns,confl icts and problems in the planning and construction of the small cities and towns in northwest China have emerged and brought negative infl uence on their healthy and sustainable development. On the basis of analyzing scientifi c connotations and construction needs of new urbanization,development of northwest China,and reviews on planning of small cities and towns in this region,planning paths against the background of new urbanization were explored.

Discussion on the Problems and Path of Characteristic Town Construction in Underdeveloped, Resource-Based Cities: A Case Study of Ganzhou City

Characteristic towns as a characteristic industry are one of the important measures of China's new urbanization strategy. The construction of characteristic towns in different regions needs to pay attention to regional differentiation. At present, the research on characteristic towns focuses on the developed the developed central and eastern regions. There are still few studies on characteristics towns in underdeveloped areas. Starting from the analysis of the concept of the characteristic town, this paper sorted out the general situation of the construction of characteristic towns in China based on the existing research literature, selected Ganzhou City for research, pointed out there were "two restrictions and two singles" in the construction of characteristic towns in Ganzhou City, and clarified that the characteristic towns of Ganzhou City should adhere to the construction path of "two characteristics and two integrations", with a view to providing a useful reference for in Ganzhou City the construction of characteristic towns, industrial transformation and upgrading, and poverty alleviation in such underdeveloped, resource-based cities.

Study on Landscape Character Assessment System in Small Cities and Towns

The paper elaborated landscape character assessment system of small cities and towns, defi ned the assessment objects, application range of assessment fruits, specifi c evaluation methods and procedures. Taking Gexianshan Town in Pengzhou City for example, technical means for assessing landscape characters were adopted for the landscape assessment, which provided professional support for the future planning.

A Review on Housing Affordability and Housing Policy Application in Neglected Border Cities in Jordan

The main task of this paper is to examine housing affordability and housing policy application in neglected border cities in Jordan.After the Iraq war in 2003 and Syria civil war in 2011 many border cities accommodated a large number of refugees in its urban context over different periods of time.The lack of affordable housing and increase of unemployment were the main challenges for its vulnerable communities.Border cities are facing different development challenges but applying the same housing policy as metropolises.The paper studies economic attributes and social characteristics of Mafraq city to analyze housing obstacles.It concludes that houses are unaffordable in these border cities and housing policies need modifications.The paper recommended that housing affordability in border cities must include community participation and sufficient financial aid to low income families.In order to maintain houses affordable in border cities,the real estate market,community participation,urban planning and promotion for tourism are all essential.

Analysis on the Layout of Villages and Towns and the Characteristics of Residential Buildings from the Perspective of Rural Revitalization in Liaoning Province

Rural houses in Liaoning Province have a long history and distinctive regional characteristics.Rural houses are designed in combination with family agricultural production habits to meet their production and living functions,and the building materials are mostly local materials.With the full implementation of the rural revitalization strategy,the countryside of Liaoning Province has become the main battlefield for rural revitalization.Based on a large number of field investigations,the layout of villages and towns and residential buildings in Liaoning Province were analyzed from three levels of villages,courtyard forms to residential functions,aiming to provide a basic theoretical reference for the renovation and renewal of rural residential buildings in Liaoning Province.

The Influence of Built Environment on the Spatial Distribution of Housing Price:Based on Multiple Big Data and Hedonic Model

In recent years,more and more researches focus on the self characteristics and spatial location of housing,and explore the influencing factors of urban housing price from the micro perspective.As representative of big cities,spatial distribution pattern of housing price in national central cities has attracted much attention.In order to return the spatial distribution pattern of housing price to the research on influencing factors of housing price,the reasons behind the spatial distribution pattern of housing price in three national central cities:Beijing,Wuhan and Chongqing are explored.The results show that①urban housing price is affected by many factors.Due to different social and economic conditions in each city,there are differences in the influence direction of the proximity to expressways,city squares,universities and living facilities,characteristics of companies and enterprises on Beijing,Wuhan and Chongqing.②Various factors have different value-added effects on housing price in different cities.The location of ring line in Beijing and Wuhan has the greatest increase effect on housing price,while metro station of Chongqing has the greatest increase effect on housing price.

Full scale application of combined SBF-AS process for municipal wastewater treatment in small towns and cities in China

The combined submerged biofilm （ SBF）-activated sludge （AS） process for treatment of municipal wastewater in a small city in China is described in this paper. The process exhibited high removal efficiencies for carbonaceous substances, nitrogen and phosphorus which mainly took place in the combined SBF-AS biore- actor. The SBF-AS bioreactor was divided into pre-anoxic, anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic zones from inlet to outlet, in which fixed biofilm carriers were packed. Excellent performance had been obtained under normal operating conditions in more than one year of operation in Dong＇ e municipal WWTP, Shandong province, with mean removal efficiencies of BOD5 93.4%, COD 88%, SS 92%, NH4 - N 82. 1%, TP 75% and TN 66.7%, and quite high effluent quality such as BOD5 6 to 10 rag/L, COD 20 to 40 rag/L, SS 5 to 10 rag/L, TN 10 to 20 rag/L, NH4 - N 4 to 8 mg/L and TP 0. 6 to 1.0 mg/L. The effluent was reused multi-purposely, such as toilet flushing, green belt watering and artificial lake pounding. Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification took place due to the DO gradient in biofilm in aerobic zone of the SBF-AS bioreactor, which made TN removal efficiency improved remarkably in system. Some activated sludge was returned from final clarifiers to the bioreactor for phosphorus removal. The process had the advantages of low investment and low operational/ maintenance （O/M） costs, low sludge yield and was preferably employed in small towns and cities.

Existing European Buildings and Cities： Economic Improvement and Evaluation of the Cost-Benefit Related to Lifecycle and Performance

In this study, the interdependency is presented between the characteristics of the buildings and the relative economic value, in order to plan economic policies and preconditions for improving the quality of the European buildings heritage through access, by an holistic approach, to the necessary f＇mancial resources. The economic value of a real estate asset is closely connected to the construction features and their performance over time （lifecycle）. Safer, more comfortable and productive buildings for inhabitants are at the same time more operationally efficient and economically convenient for the owners. Solidity characteristics and static resistance to earthquakes, eco-efficiency and other constructive qualities of the building will provide benefits in the long term, and they are directly related the LCC （life cycle cost） including specific construction and/or maintenance costs. Moreover, these characteristics have an impact on the ＂market value＂ and on the ＂mortgage lending value＂ of properties, as well as on the possibility of financing the purchase through access to more affordable mortgages, and to make really feasible conversions even in the absence of public financial resources. This study introduces a new approach for conversions involving whole buildings or city areas. This research identifies the economic sustainability of a project by combining principles and suitable methodologies, together with performance and other characteristics. These aspects constitute the essential prerequisite for obtaining mortgages from banks and/or financial resources from international investors.

Analysis on the Building of Chengdu's City Brand as“Three Cities and Three Capitals”-Taking Jiezi Ancient Town as an Example

"Three Cities and Three Capitals"is a city brand that Chengdu has been vigorously building.Based on the analysis of the brand construction background,the brand building of Jiezi Ancient Town,and the problems existing in the current brand building of Jiezi Ancient Town,this paper puts forward suggestions,including reconstruction of cultural resources,building an industrial framework,and giving full play to the role of market entities,so as to provide guidance for the cultivation of the brand characteristics in the ancient town and better shape the city brand of"Three Cities and Three Capitals"in Chengdu.

Discovery of Cinnabar in Soils in Hg Anomalous Zones in City and Town Areas and Their Surroundings and Its Significance

As a result of systematic study on heavy minerals in soils at city and town areas and their surroundings, cinnabar was discovered for the first time in areas of Hg anomalies in China, and it was found that the distribution of cinnabar was basically coincident in scope with that of Hg anomalies, showing that Hg anomalies were'closely related to cinnabar. This finding provides a theoretical basis for a verification of Hg anomalies in soils in city and town areas and their surroundings, as well as evaluation of its ecological effects, and is significant to revealing the occurrence modes and origin of Hg in soils.

A GIS-based Spatial Analysis of Housing Price and Road Density in Proximity to Urban Lakes in Wuhan City, China

As one of the essential urban open spaces, lakes usually contribute immensely to the quality of residents′ daily lives. Different from hedonic approach employed in existing researches on urban open spaces in China, this paper integrates housing price surface with road density to analyze the spatial characteristics in proximity to urban lakes in Wuhan City, China. With the expansion of Wuhan City, urban lakes became polluted, they shrunk or even disappeared, leading to unfavorable conditions for sustainable development of the city. To better understand the spatial relationship between the city and lakes, we classify the urban lakes in Wuhan central area into ′lakes in the urban center′ and ′lakes in urban fringe′. Based on housing price surface we explore the spatial characteristics in proximity to different lakes and differences between the lakes. We also use Geographic Information System(GIS) tool to calculate road density as a supplementary indicator to reflect the accessibility in proximity to urban lakes. The results indicate that relative independence exists between different towns, and the spatial characteristics are different depending on scales and locations. In most of cases, the road density is lower where closer to the lakeshore while the housing price exhibits an opposite pattern. We conclude that city governments and urban planners should give more considerations to these spatial differences, somewhere should be better planned and protected as an important waterfront and somewhere the control of unreasonable real estate development nearby should be strengthened.

Metropolis or City?Metropoles and Cities with Their Citizens

Through the specific examples of two very different metropoles,not compared but evoked,New York City and Bordeaux Métropole,since globalization from mid-19th and to the beginning of the 21st century,we can observe how metropolitan flows acceleration change cities and citizens heritages.How can we achieve metropolization and globalization of our cities?

Rural Housing Construction Change and Driving Mechanism of Macheng City of Hubei Province in China

By taking Macheng City as the research area, based on the questionnaire survey of peasants, a deep analysis has been conducted on the change of rural housing construction in the past 30 years. The results show that there are many old houses in villages and it has a higher potential requirement for the improvement of rural housing condition; rural housing construction comes to its climax twice and presents to change in the shape of "N"; and primary factors affecting the size of rural house site by multicolinearity regression model contain annual net income of peasant household, land source of house site, reform of rural taxes and administrative charges, transport condition and comparison psychology.