Urbanity mapping reveals the complexity,diffuseness,diversity,and connectivity of urbanized areas

There are urgent calls for new approaches to map the global urban conditions of complexity,diffuseness,diversity,and connectivity.However,existing methods mostly focus on mapping urbanized areas as bio physical entities.Here,based on the continuum of urbanity framework,we developed an approach for cross-scale urbanity map-ping from town to city and urban megaregion with different spatial resolutions using the Google Earth Engine.This approach was developed based on multi-source remote sensing data,Points of Interest-Open Street Map(POIs-OSM)big data,and the random forest regression model.This approach is scale-independent and revealed significant spatial variations in urbanity,underscoring differences in urbanization patterns across megaregions and between urban and rural areas.Urbanity was observed transcending traditional urban boundaries,diffusing into rural settlements within non-urban locales.The finding of urbanity in rural communities far from urban areas challenges the gradient theory of urban-rural development and distribution.By mapping livelihoods,lifestyles,and connectivity simultaneously,urbanity maps present a more comprehensive characterization of the complex-ity,diffuseness,diversity,and connectivity of urbanized areas than that by land cover or population density alone.It helps enhance the understanding of urbanization beyond biophysical form.This approach can provide a multifaceted understanding of urbanization,and thereby insights on urban and regional sustainability.

Dissolved Organic Matter Features of Three Adjacent Eastern Mediterranean Urbanized Watersheds

Landscape urbanization broadly affects ecosystems in coastal watersheds, but, until now, the influence of nonpoint source urban inputs on dissolved organic matter (DOM) amount, composition, and source is poorly understood. To understand how DOM composition varied with urbanization, fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) were determined for urban and non-urban waters from upstream to downstream sites along three adjacent coastal watersheds that flow into the Mediterranean Sea. Two humic DOM fluorescent components (humic-like and fulvic-like peaks) and two proteinic components (tyrosine-like and tryptophane-like peaks) were identified by EEM fluorescence. The results indicated that urbanization had an important influence on DOM concentration and composition, with urban waters having a high degree of DOM variation due to different land uses surrounding each body of water. Urban waters show a higher DOM fluorescence index (FI), the highest fluorescence intensity of protein-like manifested also by BIX values, and a lower value of the humification index (HIX) than non-urban waters which were dominated by allochthonous inputs. In addition, the EEM was compared in dry and wet season where higher DOM amounts and FI appeared in summer due to autochthonous production coming from algae growth compared to allochthonous input from rainfall dominated in wet season. The concentration of DOC increased from upstream to downstream for the three rivers, especially Beirut River. The increase in DOC values was observed in both dry and wet seasons by 39 and 19 times respectively compared to upstream (0.93 - 0.91 mgC/L).

Effect of Flood Peak Discharge Control by a Small Reservoir in an Urbanized Area—Case Study in the Kurabe River Basin, Japan

Recently severe damage of flooding by urbanization was frequently occurred. To prevent this damage, small reservoir was constructed in the urbanized residential area. This paper describes an effect of flood peak discharge control by a small reservoir (control reservoir) caused by rapidly developed urbanization. Although work for this purpose was conducted, research on the effects of the control reservoir was not conducted until now. This research, conducted by simulation, was a case study in the Kurabe River Basin in the Tedori River Alluvial Fan Area, Japan, based on the precise investigation of the reservoir in the actual field. The study was conducted to determine not only the actual control reservoir capacity for the newly developed residential area but also the ideal capacity for all present residential areas and the largest capacity allowable for a maximum rainfall event that recently occurred. The control reservoir effects between individual blocks and the entire basin area were compared by dividing the test basin into 15 blocks (sub-basins). The results showed that the effects on the capacity per unit area of the residential area in blocks have close relationship with the decreasing ratio of peak discharge in blocks. Consequently, the effects of control reservoir capacity and the limitation were clarified. In the future, control reservoirs should be constructed for all of the already developed residential areas, for example, by utilizing underground car parking lot. The results of this research can contribute to the design of the control reservoir for protection against flooding damage in urbanized areas.

Landscape ecological characteristics in temporal changes of riverside open space in urbanized area

The aim of this paper is to clarify the pattern and process of changes of landscape in riverside open spaces in urbanized area.The area between the old banks of the Furukawa River in Hiroshima City was examined in this research.The land use maps of the study area were drawn at seven different times were analyzed,and the number,sizes and perimeters of all patches of all land use types were measured.In these areas,temporal patterns of land use change over the past 30 years were divided to three stages:19661976,19761988 and 19881997.As a result of human disturbance,the riparian forest patches in urbanized areas have decreased in average size and have also become longer and narrower.

Management of Water Supply Reservoirs under Uncertainties in Arid and Urbanized Environments

Simulation and evaluation study of the three Water Supply Reservoirs in the Notwane Catchment was undertaken using a hybrid modelling approach linking the reservoir simulation model (HEC-ResSim) model and a reservoir reliability analysis (RRA) model. It was used to understand the management challenges and operation aspects facing the recent failure and declining water supply from three reservoirs in Gaborone and the surrounding areas, a typical arid and urbanized environment where current and future water supply reliability is challenged by both climate and anthropologic factors. The model was analysed for a calibration period of ten years (1993-2002), and verification period of eight years (2003-2010) and then simulation period of 40 years (2011-2050). The simulation period up to the year 2050 was considered to include the year 2035, which is the planning horizon of the National Water Master Plan. The model calibration and verification results are satisfactorily accepted for the fit of the daily water levels. The values of R2 and the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency criteria for the calibration period, are 0.81/60%, 0.62/27% and 0.54/39% for the Bokaa dam, Gaborone dam and Nnywane dam, respectively. Various scenarios were considered to determine the plausible sources of uncertainty and challenge for operation and management of the water supply reservoirs considering: population and urbanization, sedimentation, seepage, climate change, operational aspects, among others. From the RRA model, it was found that Gaborone dam, which is the largest of the three dams has lower resilience, lower reliability and higher vulnerability associated with increasing population pressures, urbanisation and climatic factors. Climate change, sedimentation, seepage, operational rules, contributing to the operation and management of the dams could have accelerated the drying up of the reservoirs and the prevailing water supply situation, which might continue to be the future possible challenges of water supply in the area.

Persistence of herpetofauna in the urbanized rouge river ecosystem

Over 100 years, urbanization has taken place along the Rouge River watershed of southeast Michigan, USA. To determine the impact(s) of urbanization on herpetofauna, species richness and distribution in 122 wetlands along 13.0 km of the urbanized Rouge River watershed were monitored from early spring to late fall 2003. Data were mapped using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Both amphibian and reptile species richness were associated with wetland size and hydroperiod. The invasive plants Alliaria petiolata and Rhamnus cathartica were coincident with lower than average amphibian species richness. In spite of the number of herpetofauna being relatively low, this study identified hydroperiod and wetland size as important features that may contribute to amphibian and reptile species sustainability in this highly disturbed and fragmented urban landscape.

Understanding the Long-Term Changes in Groundwater Level—A Tale of Highly Urbanized City

The rapid drop in the groundwater level has raised concerns in the sustainable water management plan in many cities of the world. It is important to understand the underlying factors of such depletion. To improve knowledge of the changes in groundwater, this study investigates a long-term perspective of urbanization, and evaluates the influence of several factors including land cover, water use, and abstraction. Multi-year land cover maps are used to detect urbanization and land cover types. Hotspot analysis and correlation-regression are applied to assess the relationship between changes in groundwater and the driving factors. The investigations confirm that an extensive withdrawal of groundwater due to urbanization results in a progressive drop in the water level. However, the major industrial and commercial zone shows the consistent hotspot of groundwater depletion. The results indicate that groundwater abstraction and types of water use have a high influence on the changes in urban groundwater.

China's next giant:Urbanized migrants as new consumers

By examining the urbanization process underway in China, this paper predicts potential consumption expansion andits sustainability in the next decade and beyond.In years past, China’s urbanization pattern has transformed fromsemi-inclusive to inclusive, embodied in the better inclusion of migrant workers and their families under the umbrellaof public services and changes in household registration (hukou) identity.This trend is expected to create a giant newconsumer group in 10 years; 2020 is the target year the Chinese leadership has set for achieving a better-off society.Inthis paper we examine this by summarizing existing research.

Residents'urbanized landscape preferences in rural areas reveal the importance of naturalness-livability contrast

Urbanization has caused significant landscape changes in rural areas,leading to the emergence of urbanized landscapes(ULs),which have been generally criticized by authorities and professionals.However,perceptions of ULs among local residents have rarely been studied.In this study,we chose five typical categories of ULs from rapidly transforming villages in Fujian Province,China–hardened water bank(HWB),big pavilion(BPA),big memorial arch(BMA),big ornamental lawn(BOL),and big square(BSQ)to do the study.We identified how these ULs were rated and ranked by on-site surveys,as well as how related aesthetic and multifunctional landscape characters(LCs)played a role.The results(N=550)showed that 1)residents supported the construction of ULs,and the most preferred category was that with the most natural elements(BOL)that was simultaneously well maintained.2)For the residents,the longer they had resided in the village and the fewer connections they had with the city,the more in favor they were of the ULs,and the more eager they were for landscape change.In addition,residents with higher education and Communist Party of China membership valued the naturalness related LCs more highly.3)Two contradictory preference features,naturalness and livability,should be well coordinated and balanced to construct an improved favorable village for the residents,to realize a balanced and sustainable development path.This study makes great theoretical contributions to landscape research and provides new insights into rural planning and construction.

Urbanize or Face the Consequences

China's complex economic situation has been unprecedentedly challenged since the reform and opening-up policy adopted three decades ago. In an article published in the May 14 issue of Caijing magazine, Guo Shuqing,President of China Construction Bank, one of China's four state-owned commercial lenders, stressed that the issues of agriculture, rural areas and farmers are the biggest challenges facing the country's economic stability.Guo says only through an exceptional urbanization process can rapidly advancing social development be maintained. Excerpts:

A Study of the Structure and the Functions of the Local Resident Organization in China's Urbanized Society

To set up self-rule organizations forsocial life of the mass at city’s local level isnot uncommon in other countries.But toset up a resident committee of completestructure and with overall functions thatserves as an intermediate between the localpolitical organization and family units issomething peculiar to China.Then。

Bird assemblages in natural and urbanized habitats along elevational gradient in Nainital district （western Himalaya） of Uttarakhand state, India

The Indian subcontinent is amongst the biologically better known parts of the tropics and its bird fauna has been well documented. However, avian community composition and diversity along elevational gradients and amongst habitat types remains unclear in India. We attempted to estimate bird assemblages in terms of diversity, species composition, status and abun- dance in urban and forest habitats of Nainital district of Uttarakhand （350-2450 m asl; 29N）, Western Himalayas. We sampled different elevational gradients and to understand the effect of urbanization and season on avian community composition. Field studies were conducted during January 2005 to January 2007. Results indicated that the forest had more complex bird community structure in terms of higher species richness （14.35 vs 8.69）, higher species diversity （Shannon＇s index 4.00 vs 3.54）, higher evenness （0.838 vs 0.811） and more rare species （17 vs 5） as compared to urban habitat. However, the abundance of 11 species was higher in urban habitats. Bird Species Richness （BSR） varied considerably among study areas （91 to 113 species）, was high- est （113 species） at mid elevation （1450-1700 m asl） and decreased （22 species） at high elevation （1900-2450 m asl）. It seems that high BSR at mid altitudes is not caused by the presence of a group of mid altitude specialists but rather that there is an over- lap in the distribution of low land and high elevation specialists at this altitude. BSR and Bird Species Diversity fluctuated across seasons but not habitat type [Current Zoology 57 （3）： 318-329,2011].

Localization and validation of an urbanized high-resolution land data assimilation system(u-HRLDAS)

This paper uses an urbanized high-resolution land data assimilation system(u-HRLDAS) to parameterize the urban land surface characteristics.The u-HRLDAS model is localized and developed in order to satisfy the need of the weather forecast in Beijing,China.The remote sensing data used to localize and drive u-HRLDAS include the soil type data and MODIS retrieved leaf area index(LAI) data.The evaporation and water depth for impervious surface in urban area are developed to improve the simulation of u-HRLDAS.The result of the urban weather forecast is used for the comparison based on the rapid update cycle system at Beijing Meteorological Bureau(BJ-RUC) without coupled with u-HRLDAS.The land surface temperature,land surface fluxes,and first layer soil moisture in several single sites and urban Beijing region by BJ-RUC are compared with u-HRLDAS after localization and development.The off-line simulation results indicate that compared with BJ-RUC,after the localization and development,u-HRLDAS can improve the simulation of land surface parameters and fluxes definitely.

Common blackbirds Turdus merula use anthropogenic structures as nesting sites in an urbanized landscape

The common blackbird Turdus merula is one of the most highly urbanized bird species. However, to date, the use of anthropogenic structures as nesting sites in the common blackbird is rarely documented, and the factors influencing its use of the anthropogenic structures as nesting sites remain unclear. In this study, we systematically quantified and determined the factors in- fluencing the use of anthropogenie structures as nesting sites in common blackbirds in a highly urbanized city of Hangzhou, Chi- na. We searched for nests of common blackbirds during four breeding seasons from 2010 to 2013. Among the 60 nests found, 34 nests were in anthropogenic structures such as wall ledges, air condition mounts, window canopies, cable poles, guardrails, eaves, balcony frames, flowerpots and flower shelves on balconies. We found that the available anthropogenic nest sites and the availa- ble nesting trees were main factors determining the use of anthropogenic structures as nesting sites in common blackbirds. In ur- ban environments, the amount of available anthropogenic nesting sites increased significantly, whereas the number of natural nesting sites reduced greatly. Our results suggest that common blackbirds can adjust their nest sites in response to urbanization and such nesting behavior shifts may aid them to colonize urban environments. From a management viewpoint, our results indi- cate that behavioral flexibility should be taken into account for effective urban wildlife management and conservation

Modularity and specialization in bat-fly interaction networks are remarkably consistent across patches within urbanized landscapes and spatial scales

Patterns of specialization and the structure of interactions between bats and ectoparasitic flies have been studied mostly on non-urban environments and at local scales.Thus,how anthropogenic disturbances influence species interactions and network structure in this system remain poorly understood.Here,we investigated patterns of interaction between Phyllostomidae bats and ectoparasitic Streblidae flies,and variations in network specialization and structure across Cerrado patches within urbanized landscapes in Brazil and between local and regional scales.We found high similarity in the richness and composition of bat and fly species across communities,associated with low turnover of interactions between networks.The high specialization of bat-streblid interactions resulted in little connected and modular networks,with the emergence of modules containing subsets of species that interact exclusively or primarily with each other.Such similarities in species and interaction composition and network structure across communities and scales suggest that bat-fly interactions within Cerrado patches are little affected by the degree of human modification in the surrounding matrix.This remarkable consistency is likely promoted by specific behaviors,the tolerance of Phyllostomidae bats to surrounding urbanized landscapes as well as by the specificity of the streblid-bat interactions shaped over evolutionary time.

Environmental filtering and spatial processes equally contributed to macroinvertebrate metacommunity dynamics in the highly urbanized river networks in Shenzhen, South China

Background:Disentangling the relative roles of environmental filtering and spatial processes in structuring ecological communities is a central topic in metacommunity ecology.Metacommunity ecology in the temperate river ecosystems has been well developed,while less attention has been paid to subtropical urban river networks.Here,we examined the ecological factors and seasonal difference in structuring macroinvertebrates metacommunity assembly in the subtropical urban river networks in Shenzhen,South China.Results:Our results revealed that there was no significant distinction of macroinvertebrate community composition among seasons,with only the relative abundance of Mollusca and Odonata significantly differed in both wet and dry seasons.One possible explanation was that most macroinvertebrates are generally pollution-tolerant taxa characterized with nonseasonal life cycle.In addition,distance-based redundancy analysis and variation partitioning approach revealed that metacommunity was determined equally by the environmental and dispersal-related factors.Further,our results showed that,although a slight temporal variation of relative contribution,the identity and explanation power of ecological factors were different among seasons.Specifically,stronger environmental filtering structuring community dynamics was observed in the dry than wet seasons,which might be owing to higher environmental heterogeneity under a low water-flow condition.Moreover,we detected that the influence of spatial processes was stronger in the wet than dry seasons,indicating an obvious dispersal processes due to high connectivity among sites.Conclusion:Overall,our results revealed that environmental and spatial factors equally explained variations of macroinvertebrate metacommunity,implying the necessity of considering dispersal-related processes structuring ecological communities in river bioassessment programs.Moreover,degraded habitat conditions and water quality were the predominant factors that affected macroinvertebrate communities,indicating the significance and feasibility of improving local abiotic conditions to sustain local biodiversity.Further,our findings revealed the importance of seasonal dynamics of these urban river networks in structuring macroinvertebrate metacommunity.Thereby,our study improves the understanding of ecological processes governing macroinvertebrate metacommunity and underlines the idea that community ecology studies should go beyond the single snapshot survey in river networks.

Research on Newly Urbanized Towns and Districts in China

Since the last decade the central government endeavors to promote large scale of urbanization in China.Lots of new urban towns and districts are taking shape. Outline of the 12th Five-year Plan released by the central government points out that the new towns and districts are to be regulated. But few researches are considering the new towns and districts especially in the spatial distributive pattern and status in China. Given this situation this paper, after sorting out the world-wide research and development of new urban towns and districts, gives definitions of broad and narrow meanings. Based on the broad meaning definition, the database of new towns and districts in China is established. This paper then conducts a preliminary analysis of the new towns and districts.Then the two-step work plan and the advices are also proposed to further improve the research and practice of its kind in China.

Can floor-area-ratio incentive promote low impact development in a highly urbanized area？ A case study in Changzhou City, China

As an environmental friendly measure Jbr surface runoff reduction, low impact development （LID） has been applied successfully in urban areas. However, due to high price of land and additional expense for LID construction in highly urbanized areas, the developers of real estate would not like to proceed LID exploitation. Floor area ratio （FAR） refers to ＂the ratio ofa building＇s total floor area to the size of the piece of land upon which it is built.＇＂ Increasing FAR indicates that the developers can construct higher buildings and earn more money. By means of awarding FAR, the developers may be willing to practice LID construction. In this study, a new residential district is selected as a case study to analyze the trade- offbetween the runoffreduction goal achieving by LID practices and the incentive of awarding FAR to promote LID construction. The System for Urban Stormwater Treatment and Analysis IntegratioN （SUSTAIN） model is applied to simulate the runoff reduction under various LID designs and then derive the Pareto-optimal solutions to achieve urban runoff reduction goals based on cost efficiency. The results indicates that the maximum surface runoff reduction is 20.5%. Under the extremity scenarios, the government has options to award FAR of 0.028, 0.038 and 0.047 and the net benefits developers gain are 0 CNY, one million CNY and two million CNY, respectively. The results provide a LID construction guideline related to awarding FAR, which supports incentive policy making for promoting LID practices in the highly urbanized areas.

基于监测与模型的典型合流制排水系统溢流污染来源解析

以北京中心城区某典型合流制分区为研究区,开展自“地表-管网-排口”的全过程监测,基于MIKE URBAN软件构建数值模型,构建一套结合监测与模型的溢流污染解析方法,量化分析不同降雨量级下溢流污染来源。结果表明:管道沉积物、地表径流和生活污水对COD的贡献率分别为43.4%~53.9%、27.4%~27.5%和18.6%~29.2%。中雨流量峰值晚于浓度峰值,大雨反之;两场降雨溢流水质浓度峰值差异小于流量峰值。随着降雨量级及强度增加,地表径流和管道沉积物的污染负荷增加,后者增加量更大。管道沉积物是合流制溢流污染的主要来源,应优先对其进行控制。

Trace metal concentrations in hairs of three bat species from an urbanized area in Germany

Metal-contaminated soils and sediments are widespread in urbanized areas due to atmospheric deposition close to emission sources. These metals are bio-available for organisms, e.g., insects, and accumulate in food chains of insectivorous mammals.Especially bats, which live in urban regions and ingest large amounts of food relative to their body mass, are at risk of being poisoned due to the accumulation of trace metals. To determine species-specific trace metal contents in bats from urban environments, hair samples were analyzed by ICP-OES. Observed trace metal concentrations were related to species-specific foraging habitat, prey spectrum and degree of synanthropy. The species studied were Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Myotis daubentonii and Nyctalus noctula. P. pipistrellus showed the highest concentrations of lead and zinc and slightly higher concentrations of cadmium than the other two species, which was related to its high degree of synanthropy with foraging habitat mostly located in cities. In contrast, N. noctula displayed the highest contents of manganese and copper. The reason might be found in its prey spectrum, as N. noctula feeds mainly on beetles that are caught in cultured areas. Trace metal concentrations determined in hair samples of M. daubentonii ranged between the values of P. pipistrellus and N. noctula, probably reflecting an intermediate level of synanthropy.Positive correlations were observed between the concentrations of cadmium and lead and those of manganese and copper. Hair samples from bats are suitable monitoring tools to study trace metal exposure and can be used to determine differences in trace metal levels between species.