Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability

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closed (31 December 2023)

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30 April 2024

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Image courtesy of TE Dr. Xin-Chen Hong

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biophilic design is a design philosophy that encourages the use of natural and sustainable systems to enhance the built environment at multiple scales (e.g., building, site, city and regional) (Gillis and Gatersleben, 2015). Currently, and with increasing frequency, a host of biophilic programs, policies and initiatives are being developed in many cities, facilitating natural resources conservation and environmental and social sustainability in the built environment. The increasing trend demonstrates that biophilic perspectives on cities and communities have profound connotations worthy of further exploration. Nevertheless, enhancing the built environment to create biophilic cities and communities is still challenging.

Thus, we propose the topic, “Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability”. It is expected to bring together researchers who are working on related topics and encourage them to share their latest accomplishments and research findings. We welcome submissions of original research articles, reports or technical notes, reviews and mini-reviews covering topics including but not limited to the following.

(i) Biophilic urbanism and processes

• Smart cities and communities
• Land use/cover change
• Spatial-temporal trends
• Geodesign
• Urban landscape pattern
• Bioclimatic design
• Sustainable urban-rural planning
• Built environment assessment

(ii) Natural resources conservation and management

• Urban ecosystem
• Ecological pattern and process
• Environmental education and policies
• Protected areas
• Forest management
• Edible landscaping
• Nature-based solutions
• Green sites and regions

(iii) Computational social science and human behavior

• Environmental behavior and local practice
• Experience in multi-sensory interaction
• Social and historical sensing
• Public health and green exercise
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Economic and cultural sustainability
• Big data and cognitive computing

Gillis, K., Gatersleben, B., A review of psychological literature on the health and wellbeing benefits of biophilic design, Buildings, 2015, 5(3):948–963.

Dr. Xin-Chen Hong
Prof. Dr. Baojie He
Prof. Dr. Jiang Liu
Dr. Jinda Qi
Dr. Guangyu Wang
Dr. Shi Cheng
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Buildings buildings	3.8	3.1	2011	14.6 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Forests forests	2.9	4.5	2010	16.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Land land	3.9	3.7	2012	14.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Remote Sensing remotesensing	5.0	7.9	2009	23 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Smart Cities smartcities	6.4	8.5	2018	20.2 Days	CHF 2000	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.9	5.8	2009	18.8 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (28 papers)

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19 pages, 952 KiB  

Open AccessReview

A Review of Attention Restoration Theory: Implications for Designing Restorative Environments

by Yiwen Liu, Junjie Zhang, Chunlu Liu and Yang Yang

Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3639; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093639 - 26 Apr 2024

Viewed by 72

Abstract

The promotion and development of healthy cities are vital for enhancing human habitats and fostering sustainable economic growth. Based on the core databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO, and the knowledge graph software, this paper presents a quantitative analysis [...] Read more.

The promotion and development of healthy cities are vital for enhancing human habitats and fostering sustainable economic growth. Based on the core databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO, and the knowledge graph software, this paper presents a quantitative analysis of the literature related to attention recovery abroad. It is found that in recent years, the research on attention recovery has developed rapidly, the number of related studies has been increasing, and the research content presents the characteristics of interdisciplinary integration. By further analyzing the characteristics of the research literature, research context, and knowledge basis, this paper summarizes the empirical research based on the existing quantitative analysis, reviews the research field based on the mechanism of attention recovery, and analyzes the development process and trend based on the research basis of attention recovery. Due to the change in the modern life style, human health problems are becoming more and more prominent. Attention restoration design provides a new research idea and method to balance the relationship between humans and the urban environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

22 pages, 2925 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on Optimization Strategy of Commercial Street Spatial Vitality Based on Pedestrian Trajectories

by Jinjiang Zhang, Wenyu Zhou, Haitao Lian and Ranran Hu

Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051240 (registering DOI) - 26 Apr 2024

Abstract

Commercial pedestrian streets significantly enhance urban life. Previous research often depends on limited survey data or subjective evaluations, which fail to fully capture the impact of street elements on spatial vitality under diverse spatiotemporal conditions. This study, conducted in Beijing’s Sanlitun commercial district, [...] Read more.

Commercial pedestrian streets significantly enhance urban life. Previous research often depends on limited survey data or subjective evaluations, which fail to fully capture the impact of street elements on spatial vitality under diverse spatiotemporal conditions. This study, conducted in Beijing’s Sanlitun commercial district, analyzes pedestrian data from six branch roads collected via WiFi detection to determine how various spatial elements influence the vibrancy of commercial pedestrian streets. The results show a positive correlation between street width, ranging from 5.88 to 10.83 m, and vitality. Furthermore, the influence of different street elements on vitality varies notably. During the daytime, street width is the most effective element for enhancing vitality, with a maximum standardized coefficient of 1.717. However, at night, the associations between advertising area, store type, and vitality diminish. The street recording the highest nighttime vitality peaked at a pedestrian count of 91.7831. The contribution of street width to enhancing nighttime vitality is 2.49 times greater than at noon on non-working days, 2.01 times more than on working days, and 2.92 times higher than the impact of tables and chairs. Therefore, street design should prioritize street width, ground floor interface permeability, number of tables and chairs, store density, advertising area, and store type. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

16 pages, 6074 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Rural Environmental Quality Evaluation Indicator System: Application in Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province

by Chenxi Li, Qiao Liu, Zhihong Zong and Yingying Fang

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3198; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083198 - 11 Apr 2024

Viewed by 364

Abstract

The evaluation of rural environmental quality plays an important role in improving farmers’ quality of life and in realizing a livable, workable, and beautiful countryside. Taking Shangluo City in Shaanxi Province as the study area, 16 indicators across five systems were selected to [...] Read more.

The evaluation of rural environmental quality plays an important role in improving farmers’ quality of life and in realizing a livable, workable, and beautiful countryside. Taking Shangluo City in Shaanxi Province as the study area, 16 indicators across five systems were selected to evaluate the rural environmental quality. The following methods were used in the evaluation: the hierarchical analysis method, the expert scoring method, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The results show the following: (1) The rural environmental quality assessment value of Shangluo City is adequate. (2) In the system layer, the toilet renovation and infrastructure scores were high; however, the household sewage treatment and the construction and management mechanisms need to be improved. (3) According to an IPA quadrant diagram, the importance and satisfaction values for each index varied significantly. The management of black, foul-smelling water bodies and action on environmental remediation emerged as key to improving rural environmental quality. This study can provide a reference for the comprehensive improvement of rural environmental quality in other areas of Shaanxi Province. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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19 pages, 3499 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Urban Greenway Environmental Types and Landscape Characteristics on Physical and Mental Health Restoration

by Saixin Cao, Chen Song, Siwei Jiang, Hao Luo, Ping Zhang, Yinghui Huang, Jian Yu, Kai Li, Nian Li, Baimeng Guo and Xi Li

Forests 2024, 15(4), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040679 - 09 Apr 2024

Viewed by 658

Abstract

As important linear public spaces, urban greenways are highly important for improving public health. Many studies have proven the benefits of urban greenways for human well-being, but fewer studies have focused on the impact of their specific environmental types and characteristics on physical [...] Read more.

As important linear public spaces, urban greenways are highly important for improving public health. Many studies have proven the benefits of urban greenways for human well-being, but fewer studies have focused on the impact of their specific environmental types and characteristics on physical and mental health. In this study, 100 subjects participated in a comparative experiment on three types of urban greenways (urban roads, urban parks, and urban rivers), and corresponding physiological indicator (systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], and pulse) and psychological indicator (perceived restorativeness scale [PRS] and positive and negative affect schedule [PANAS]) data were collected. The results indicated that (1) different greenway environment types lead to different physiological and psychological states; (2) urban park-type greenways (SBP [t = 2.37, p = 0.020], DBP [t = 2.06, p = 0.042], PANAS = 2.80, PRS = 5.39) have the greatest physical and mental recovery benefits, followed by urban river-type greenways (SBP [t = 2.84, p = 0.006], DBP [t = 1.29, p = 0.200], PANAS = 2.30, PRS= 5.02) and urban road-type greenways (SBP [t = 0.78, p = 0.440], DBP [t = 0.37, p = 0.716], PANAS = 2.00, PRS = 4.15); (3) plant color and layer diversity have a significant positive impact on the mental health benefits of the three greenway types; (4) the aesthetics of waterscapes and ornaments can significantly improve the perceived restoration ability of urban river-type greenways; and (5) the comfort of pathways and facilities can effectively promote the psychological recovery potential of urban road-type greenways. These findings systematically demonstrate for the first time the differences in restoration potential among urban greenways of different environmental types and summarize the key landscape characteristic predictors influencing the restoration potential of various types of urban greenways. Our research provides new ideas for proactive greenway interventions for physical and mental health and for enriching the restorative environmental science system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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25 pages, 17138 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Vulnerability Assessment and Spatiotemporal Characteristics Analysis of Urban Green-Space Systems in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region

by Xiangyu Fu and Yajing Liu

Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2289; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062289 - 09 Mar 2024

Viewed by 767

Abstract

The evaluation and analysis of the ecological vulnerability of urban green-space systems are conducive to the sustainable development of urban green-space systems. Taking the urban green-space system in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region in 2010, 2015, and 2020 as the research object, an ESSR model [...] Read more.

The evaluation and analysis of the ecological vulnerability of urban green-space systems are conducive to the sustainable development of urban green-space systems. Taking the urban green-space system in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region in 2010, 2015, and 2020 as the research object, an ESSR model was first constructed, and a total of ten types of impact factors were integrated into the four dimensions of “Exposure, Sensitivity, State and Response”. The weight of the impact factors was objectively determined via spatial principal component analysis, and the ecological vulnerability of the urban green-space system was evaluated via superposition analysis; the evaluation’s results were graded. Moreover, the transfer matrix, center-of-gravity migration model, standard deviation ellipse, and spatial autocorrelation analysis were used to study the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of the evaluation results; then, the driving force of impact factors was analyzed based on a geographical detector. Finally, the rationality of the evaluation results was verified using the changing trend of the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI). The results show that the ecological vulnerability of the urban green-space system in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region has decreased year by year for the past ten years. The distribution law of “Hebei surrounds Beijing and Tianjin” is presented in this space, and 2015 is the mutation node. In 2010, the moderately and severely vulnerable areas of Hebei surrounded the mildly vulnerability areas of Beijing and Tianjin. Moreover, in 2015 and 2020, the mildly vulnerable areas of Hebei surrounded the severely vulnerable areas of Beijing and Tianjin. Vulnerability expands slightly in the east–west direction and shrinks slightly in the north–south direction, and the center of gravity shifts towards Beijing year by year along the northeast direction. Moreover, the spatial distribution of vulnerability shows significant positive spatial autocorrelations and exhibits very obvious agglomeration. In addition, vulnerability is the result of the combined effect of various factors, and education degree, human disturbance index, and annual average precipitation are the dominant factors. The analysis results provide a reference for the effective application and sustainable development of urban green-space ecological functions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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22 pages, 11368 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Correlations of Spatial Form Characteristics on Wind–Thermal Environment in Hill-Neighboring Blocks

by Liang Zhao, Yijie Zhang, Yiting Li, Zichao Feng and Yuetao Wang

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 2203; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052203 - 06 Mar 2024

Viewed by 466

Abstract

The spatial forms of hill-neighboring blocks and the wind–thermal environment are crucial components of urban planning and urban ecology. Understanding their correlation is significant for creating a healthy community and enhancing the sustainable level of buildings and their systems. Therefore, Jinan, a multi-mountainous [...] Read more.

The spatial forms of hill-neighboring blocks and the wind–thermal environment are crucial components of urban planning and urban ecology. Understanding their correlation is significant for creating a healthy community and enhancing the sustainable level of buildings and their systems. Therefore, Jinan, a multi-mountainous city in China, is taken as the research area, and the ideal model of hill-neighboring blocks is built based on categories of all these block types by aerial imagery and a semantic segmentation algorithm. Then, we use the CFD simulation software PHOENICS and the evaluation system weighted by random forest to simulate and assess the wind–thermal environment. Ultimately, the correlations and specific mathematical equations between the spatial form indicators and wind–thermal environment are obtained by a parametric method. The results demonstrate that the interface density on the near-hill side and hill surface roughness are the most related indicators to the overall wind–thermal environment. The variation in block spatial form has the most distinct influence on the proportion of breeze area and PMV. The relationship determined herein can provide strategic recommendations for decision makers for optimizing the outdoor air flow of blocks and enhancing the thermal comfort of pedestrians, which helps to create a healthy and comfortable outdoor environment in multi-mountainous cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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25 pages, 15325 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Differential Analysis of Island Mountain Plant Community Characteristics: Ecological Sensitivity Perspectives

by Jinyan Liu, Junyi Li, Daoyuan Chen, Linye Guo, Guochang Ding and Jianwen Dong

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1988; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051988 - 28 Feb 2024

Viewed by 474

Abstract

Island plants form the foundation for maintaining the ecology of an island. With the development of the island’s infrastructure, its ecosystems become damaged to a certain extent. A comprehensive understanding of island habitats and plant community characteristics is crucial for the development of [...] Read more.

Island plants form the foundation for maintaining the ecology of an island. With the development of the island’s infrastructure, its ecosystems become damaged to a certain extent. A comprehensive understanding of island habitats and plant community characteristics is crucial for the development of island plant communities. This paper focuses on Pingtan Island in Fujian Province, China, as the research subject. Firstly, considering the significance of the wind environment on the island, this study constructed a wind environment model for the entire island of Pingtan to evaluate the ecological sensitivity from a macro perspective. Subsequently, 33 typical sample plots were selected based on different ecologically sensitive areas to conduct a micro-survey and the characterization of the montane plant communities on Pingtan Island. The findings reveal that (1) Pingtan Island’s ecological sensitivity is dominated by areas with ecological insensitivity (35.72%), moderate ecological sensitivity (33.99%), and high ecological sensitivity (18.02%). The soil texture, wind environment, and land use type are the primary influencing factors in the ecological sensitivity of Pingtan Island. (2) A total of 47 families, 82 genera, and 93 species of plants were investigated in a typical sample site in the mountainous area of Pingtan Island. The plant community structure was dominated by the successional stage of shrubs and herbs. There is some similarity in the plant composition of different ecologically sensitive areas. High ecologically sensitive areas have more species. As sensitivity increases, the dominant species in the three ecologically sensitive areas continue to undergo plant succession from Acacia confusa to Pinus thunbergii to Eurya emarginata. (3) Both community characteristics and species diversity vary between sensitive areas. The canopy density (CD) and the mean height of tree layer (MHTL) are higher in moderate ecologically sensitive areas. The mean tree diameter at breast height (MDBH) and the mean height of shrub layer (MHSL) are higher in high ecologically sensitive areas, while the mean height of herb layer (MHHL) is higher in extreme ecologically sensitive areas. Four diversity indicators increase with increasing sensitivity. In the moderate and high ecologically sensitive areas, Casuarina equisetifolia and A. confusa thrive, with Pinus thunbergii showing the opposite trend. However, species diversity is better characterized by A. confusa and P. thunbergii, with C. equisetifolia being the least diverse. Both the community characteristics and species diversity of P. thunbergii are optimal in extreme ecologically sensitive areas. In this study, the ecological sensitivity of Pingtan Island and the characteristics of montane plant communities were systematically analyzed to explore more stable montane plant communities on the island, aiming to provide a scientific basis and model reference for the ecological restoration and sustainable development of Pingtan Island and other islands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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22 pages, 1569 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Impact of Informal Settlements on the Physical and Mental Health of Residents—Case Study Santa Marta—Bogotá, Colombia

by Camilo Alberto Torres Parra, Yelinca Nalena Saldeño Madero, Mauricio González Méndez, Isidoro Fasolino, Noé Villegas Flores, Michele Grimaldi, Natalia Carrillo Acosta and Federica Cicalese

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1964; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051964 - 27 Feb 2024

Viewed by 753

Abstract

The growth of the informal city in Latin America has caused its own dynamics related to urban unsustainability due to the disorderly occupation of the territory. The precarious characteristics of informal neighborhoods have increased the mortality processes in their inhabitants, increasing the poverty [...] Read more.

The growth of the informal city in Latin America has caused its own dynamics related to urban unsustainability due to the disorderly occupation of the territory. The precarious characteristics of informal neighborhoods have increased the mortality processes in their inhabitants, increasing the poverty and marginality indexes in Latin American urban settlements. This work was developed within the international research project “Modeling informality in Latin America based on indicators of sustainable urban development. Case study Yomasa, Bogotá-Colombia”. This work was developed under the mixed research approach which allowed focusing on a nested concurrent design of dominant model (DIAC), which was carried out in the Santa Marta sector of the locality of Ciudad Bolivar, in Bogotá Colombia, with the participation of 20 people from the studied community and supported by 16 students of Civil Engineering of the Catholic University of Colombia. The work resulted in a total of 31 indicators related to neighborhood informality, 17 impacts on the territory, and 8 pathologies, establishing the intrinsic relationship between informality, poverty, and public health of the inhabitant at the urban level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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22 pages, 13225 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Mining Social Media Data to Capture Urban Park Visitors’ Perception of Cultural Ecosystem Services and Landscape Factors

by Yaxin Chen, Chuanchun Hong, Yifan Yang, Jiaxin Li, Yu Wang, Tianyu Zheng, Yinke Zhang and Feng Shao

Forests 2024, 15(1), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010213 - 21 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1190

Abstract

Urban parks not only enhance urban ecology but also play a crucial role in providing cultural ecosystem services (CESs) for the well-being of urban residents. Both artificial and natural landscape factors within parks contribute significantly to the supply of cultural ecosystem services. To [...] Read more.

Urban parks not only enhance urban ecology but also play a crucial role in providing cultural ecosystem services (CESs) for the well-being of urban residents. Both artificial and natural landscape factors within parks contribute significantly to the supply of cultural ecosystem services. To explore public perceptions of landscape factors and CESs, this study focused on 25 urban parks in Hangzhou. Social media data uploaded by park visitors from 2018 to 2023 were collected to establish a corresponding CES indicator framework. Combining computer vision with text mining, we assessed the preferences and correlations between visitor-perceived CESs and park landscape factors. The results indicated that the majority of park visitors perceive CESs (80.00%) with overall satisfaction higher than importance. Among them, aesthetic experiences and recreation showed both high satisfaction and importance. In shared social media photos, arbors (19.01%), herbaceous flowers (8.99%), and groves (8.22%) were frequently presented as landscape factors. The study revealed close correlations between user gender, landscape factors, and perceived CES categories, with females contributing more to the perception of both. There were internal correlations within CES categories, with spiritual services, aesthetic experiences, and recreation showing the most significant associations. Different landscape factors impacted CES categories to varying degrees, and biological landscapes formed by plant and animal factors were considered to provide more CESs. These findings are significant for enhancing the quality of ecological services and biodiversity in parks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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16 pages, 7554 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Do Urban Waterfront Landscape Characteristics Influence People’s Emotional Benefits? Mediating Effects of Water-Friendly Environmental Preferences

by Chen Yan, Xiangwu Cai, Yuping Wu, Xuehong Tang, Yuxuan Zhou, Qin Yang, Fangying Li, Siren Lan and Li Lin

Forests 2024, 15(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010025 - 21 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1158

Abstract

Landscapes in urban waterfront spaces are of high societal value as they can meet people’s physical, psychological, and social needs for health and well-being, but the relationship between waterfront landscape features and public health benefits has yet to be clarified. From the perspective [...] Read more.

Landscapes in urban waterfront spaces are of high societal value as they can meet people’s physical, psychological, and social needs for health and well-being, but the relationship between waterfront landscape features and public health benefits has yet to be clarified. From the perspective of blue health, this paper takes blue spaces along the Min River of Fuzhou City as the research object. It constructs the mediation model of “Waterfront landscape characteristic (WLC)→Water-friendly environmental preference (WEP)→Emotional benefit (EB)”. The role of WEP in the mechanisms linking WLC and EB in different waterfront spaces was explored through the quantification of indicators, questionnaires, and physiological measurements. The main results showed that (1) the ability of different types of waterfront spaces to arouse positive emotions in the population is characterized by blue-dominated space > co-dominated space > green-dominated space, while the opposite is true in terms of inducing negative emotions; (2) green visibility, blue visibility, naturalness, water-friendliness, and openness are all significantly related to EBs and could affect positive emotions either directly or mediated by WEPs, but openness seems not to affect negative emotions through WEPs; (3) cleanliness affects the population’s WEP for the coherence dimension, but has no significant role in improving EBs. This study could expand new ideas for research in habitat health, provide a reference for embodied evidence-based waterfront landscape design, and help promote the construction and development of healthy cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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24 pages, 9285 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Protecting Rural Large Old Trees with Multi-Scale Strategies: Integrating Spatial Analysis and the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) for Socio-Cultural Value Assessment

by Na Yao, Chenxi Gu, Jinda Qi, Shigang Shen, Bo Nan and Hongjie Wang

Forests 2024, 15(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010018 - 20 Dec 2023

Viewed by 893

Abstract

Governments are faced with the unique challenge of implementing large-scale and targeted protection against the global decline of large old trees. Incorporating socio-cultural values and encouraging public involvement are important parts of conservation policy. However, current studies on the socio-cultural valuation of large [...] Read more.

Governments are faced with the unique challenge of implementing large-scale and targeted protection against the global decline of large old trees. Incorporating socio-cultural values and encouraging public involvement are important parts of conservation policy. However, current studies on the socio-cultural valuation of large old trees are still limited, and how rural residents perceive the human-related value of large old trees remains largely unknown. Using a quantitative, spatial analysis and the contingent valuation method (CVM), we tried to explore a multi-scale socio-cultural valuation and protection framework based on a case study of Baoding City and Xiongan New Area in North China. The results showed that (1) the scattered large old trees in the study area were generally at a relatively younger stage, showing normal growth performance but having poor living environments. Some 96.99% of the trees resided in the countryside. Their distribution showed an agglomerative pattern with several clusters. (2) The species richness was relatively lower than that reported in urban areas. The species diversity had an obvious high–low gradient from the mountain to plain areas. Most endemic species were found in habitats of the village fringe (VF) and government/community/institutional ground (GC). (3) The mean willingness to pay (WTP) for the socio-cultural value of scattered large old trees was CNY 132.48 per year per person (1 US dollar equals about 7.2 CNY) of all the respondents, and CNY 84.30 per year per person with regard to farmers, which is relatively higher than that reported in large cities. (4) Economic income, gender, age, education level, place of residence, diameter at breast height, and tree habitat were factors that significantly influenced the WTP, among which economic income was the most significant. (5) The importance ranking of socio-cultural value connotations perceived by rural residents was as follows: spiritual attachment and homesickness > fengshui > social bond > witnessing history > education > creative inspiration. (6) The annual gross value was estimated to be CNY 349 million in the study area, and CNY 169,500 for a single tree on average. Based on the case study, a conceptual framework for socio-cultural value assessment and multi-scale protection of large old trees was proposed, which can provide references for the improvement of current conservation policies from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives, and give insights into rural revitalization strategies in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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22 pages, 5894 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Assessment and Restoration Pathways for Holistic Ecosystem Health in Anxi County, China

by Tianyuan Zhu, Shuming Zhang, Yubo Wang, Cuiping Wang and Haowei Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15932; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215932 - 14 Nov 2023

Viewed by 695

Abstract

Different types of ecosystems form a complex community of life. Hence, ecosystem protection and restoration should not focus solely on a single ecosystem. Ecosystem health assessments should consider the integrity and systematicity of interrelated ecosystems to inform rational environmental planning and management. In [...] Read more.

Different types of ecosystems form a complex community of life. Hence, ecosystem protection and restoration should not focus solely on a single ecosystem. Ecosystem health assessments should consider the integrity and systematicity of interrelated ecosystems to inform rational environmental planning and management. In this study, the key characteristic indicators of major ecosystems (mountain, water, forest, and cropland) and ecosystem service capacity indicators in Anxi County, China, were selected to construct an integrated assessment system of ecosystem health that led to integrated ecosystem restoration pathways that addressed the county’s ecological problems. The results revealed that ecosystem health was higher in the western and lower in the eastern parts of the county. Throughout the county, “medium” and “poor” ecosystem health levels predominated, revealing that overall ecosystem sustainability was weak. Ecosystem restoration programmes should be tailored to each health level. Where there was “excellent” and “good” ecosystem health ratings, those healthy ecosystem functions should be strengthened and maintained. In the “medium” health areas, the control and prevention of ecological problems should be strengthened. “Poor” health areas require immediate integrated ecological restoration projects that ensure the connectivity and coordination of restoration tasks in fragile ecosystems. This then will enhance holistic ecosystem stability and sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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21 pages, 4369 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Restorative Potential of Green Cultural Heritage: Exploring Cultural Ecosystem Services’ Impact on Stress Reduction and Attention Restoration

by Jing Xie, Shixian Luo, Katsunori Furuya, Huixin Wang, Jiao Zhang, Qian Wang, Hongyu Li and Jie Chen

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2191; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112191 - 03 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1270

Abstract

Green cultural heritage is an important form of natural space in cities. Only a few studies have conducted restorative studies in a historical environment as most have focused on natural environments. Moreover, few studies on cultural ecosystem services (CESs) have addressed cultural heritage. [...] Read more.

Green cultural heritage is an important form of natural space in cities. Only a few studies have conducted restorative studies in a historical environment as most have focused on natural environments. Moreover, few studies on cultural ecosystem services (CESs) have addressed cultural heritage. Based on an onsite questionnaire distributed to green cultural heritage users (N = 64) in Hamarikyu Garden, this paper explores the value of CESs in a green cultural heritage site and the relationship between cultural ecosystem values and perceived attention restoration/stress reduction. A multiple linear regression analysis and simple linear regression analyses were used to examine the data. The results showed that (1) the cultural ecosystem values of the green cultural heritage site were all rated highly except for the sense of place; (2) spending time in green cultural heritage provided respondents significant perceived attention restoration and stress reduction; (3) aesthetics and cultural heritage significantly affected perceived stress reduction, while attention restoration showed a significant positive correlation with aesthetic value and sense of place; and (4) the more visitors perceived the value of CESs, the more significant the perceived stress reduction and attention recovery were. This study indicates that CESs represent a useful tool for measuring the environmental characteristics of green cultural heritage sites and can predict perceived psychological recovery in green cultural heritage sites. Our findings enhance our knowledge about restorative environmental attributes through objective descriptions of potential health-promoting qualities and can be utilized as inspiration for designing restorative environments in green cultural heritage sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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19 pages, 6258 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Scientific Knowledge Map Study of Therapeutic Landscapes and Community Open Spaces: Visual Analysis with CiteSpace

by Yan Han and Yuehui Liang

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 15066; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015066 - 19 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1131

Abstract

The pursuit of a healthy and comfortable living environment is a key developmental objective for human society. Therapeutic landscapes play a significant role in improving environmental conditions within these spaces. However, current research suggests that there is still much to be explored in [...] Read more.

The pursuit of a healthy and comfortable living environment is a key developmental objective for human society. Therapeutic landscapes play a significant role in improving environmental conditions within these spaces. However, current research suggests that there is still much to be explored in this field, particularly in communal open spaces. Based on the Web of Science literature database and using the CiteSpace visualization tool, this study launched a literature review search on the existing research content on therapeutic landscapes in community spaces by means of publication volume analysis, spatial distribution, keyword analysis, co-citation clustering analysis, keyword timeline, and co-occurring word analysis. Based on the research results, the current status and direction of related research are outlined, and the research hotspots and future trends in this field are analyzed. Current research comprises multiple interdisciplinary branches, such as geography, public space, modern medicine, care, horticultural therapy, urban ecology, and more, with theoretical research, caregiving, spatial territories, and research methodology as the main research vectors. It is clear from this study that the current research on community therapeutic landscapes suffers from a lack of coordination between theoretical and practical development, and the related design practice activities are in a vulnerable stage of development. In terms of the population served, specialized research will be one of the directions of development, as there has been a gradual increase in the number of spatial research on the prevention and complementary treatment of various diseases for subdivided groups. At the same time, the research focus in this field has shifted from the physical health of users to their mental health, leading to a trend of public service development with the objective of social health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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16 pages, 4222 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Feature Analysis of the Beijing Forbidden City and the Shenyang Imperial Palace Based on Space Syntax

by Dongxu Zhang, Xuyang Shan, Xinyi Zhang, Hao Chen and Yingsheng Zheng

Buildings 2023, 13(10), 2615; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13102615 - 17 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1581

Abstract

As two of the most complete existing examples of royal architecture and cultural World Heritage Sites in China, the Beijing Forbidden City and the Shenyang Imperial Palace are distinctive in terms of their spatial organization. This study used the relational diagram method of [...] Read more.

As two of the most complete existing examples of royal architecture and cultural World Heritage Sites in China, the Beijing Forbidden City and the Shenyang Imperial Palace are distinctive in terms of their spatial organization. This study used the relational diagram method of space syntax theory to quantitatively analyze the spaces of these two palaces. Furthermore, the characteristics of these spaces were explored by comparing the integration and depth value of each palace space, as well as the differences in architectural culture between the different times and nationalities that they reflect. The results show that in the Forbidden City, office space had the lowest degree of spatial enclosure (depth value), while living space had the highest spatial enclosure. Moreover, there was little difference in accessibility (integration value) among office space, living space, and recreation space. In the Shenyang Imperial Palace, the accessibility of office space, living space, and recreation space showed a decreasing trend, while their spatial enclosure showed an increasing trend. The depth values of office space, living space, and recreation space were higher in the Beijing Forbidden City than in the Shenyang Imperial Palace by 245%, 109%, and 35%, respectively. The integration value of office space was 22.2% higher in the Shenyang Imperial Palace than in the Forbidden City, while the integration values of living space and recreation space were higher in the Forbidden City than in the Shenyang Imperial Palace by 13.9% and 49.2%, respectively. The degree of enclosure of the recreation spaces in both palaces was very strong, indicating that the royal family paid attention to privacy during their leisure activities. In the process of use, the functional conversion of different palaces in the Forbidden City significantly improved the accessibility of both the emperor’s living space and the minister’s office space and simultaneously strengthened the connection between these two spaces. Factors in the construction sequence led to the unreasonable accessibility of recreation space in the Shenyang Imperial Palace. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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13 pages, 13112 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Should Soundscape Optimization from Perceived Soundscape Elements in Urban Forests by the Riverside Be Performed?

by Xin-Chen Hong, Shi Cheng, Jiang Liu, Lian-Huan Guo, Emily Dang, Jia-Bing Wang and Yuning Cheng

Land 2023, 12(10), 1929; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101929 - 17 Oct 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 920

Abstract

Urban forests by the riverside are important habitats for various animals and contribute various soundscapes for citizens. Unfortunately, urban forests are exposed to the influence of riverside traffic noises from freeways. This study aims to explore the spatial and temporal variation of soundscape, [...] Read more.

Urban forests by the riverside are important habitats for various animals and contribute various soundscapes for citizens. Unfortunately, urban forests are exposed to the influence of riverside traffic noises from freeways. This study aims to explore the spatial and temporal variation of soundscape, conduct soundscape optimization for multiple parameters, and find a balance and its interval of soundscape elements through optimizing a soundscape map. Questionnaires and measuring equipment were used to gather soundscape information in an urban forested area in Fuzhou, China. Diurnal variations and soundscape mapping were used to analyze spatial and psychophysical relationships between soundscape drivers. We then conducted optimization for a soundscape map, which included normalization, critical value determination, target interval of optimal SPL determination, and modification of SPL and mapping. Our findings suggest that biological activities and natural phenomena are potential drivers for diurnal variation of soundscapes, especially tidal phenomena contributing water and shipping soundscapes. Our results also suggest that all the high values of perceived soundscapes were found at the southwest corner of the study area, which includes both riverside and urban forest elements. Furthermore, we suggest combining both optimal soundscape and SPL correction maps to aid in sustainable design in urban forests. This can contribute to the understanding and methodology of soundscape map optimization in urban forests when proposing suitable design plans and conservation of territorial sound. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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23 pages, 10300 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Natural Dose of Blue Restoration: A Field Experiment on Mental Restoration of Urban Blue Spaces

by Shixian Luo, Jing Xie, Huixin Wang, Qian Wang, Jie Chen, Zhenglun Yang and Katsunori Furuya

Land 2023, 12(10), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101834 - 26 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1312

Abstract

Urban Blue Spaces (UBS) have been found to be beneficial to people’s mental health. Yet, the empirical evidence for how and why different types of urban blue spaces could promote residents’ mental health is still limited. Accordingly, 164 observation samples were collected for [...] Read more.

Urban Blue Spaces (UBS) have been found to be beneficial to people’s mental health. Yet, the empirical evidence for how and why different types of urban blue spaces could promote residents’ mental health is still limited. Accordingly, 164 observation samples were collected for this experiment relating to the restorative perception of environmental exposure. The effects of two exposure behaviors (15 min of viewing and 15 min of walking) on psychological recovery in three different urban blue spaces settings (Urban River, Urban Canal, Urban Lake) were investigated in a field experiment. These are the main findings of this current study: (1) all three UBSs increased vitality, feelings of restoration, and positive emotions, and decreased negative emotions; (2) the mental restoration effects between walking and viewing among the three UBSs showed no significant differences; (3) of the three UBSs, urban rivers and urban lakes were the most restorative, while urban canals were less so; (4) the concept of “natural health dose” is proposed, where the health experiences of different UBSs in urban settings can show differences depending on the natural components and their levels of the environment (blue, blue + green, blue + blue). The results of this experiment can provide fundamental evidence that can contribute to building healthy cities through the management and design of different blue spaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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22 pages, 6979 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Using Social Media and Multi-Source Geospatial Data for Quantifying and Understanding Visitor’s Preferences in Rural Forest Scenes: A Case Study from Nanjing

by Chongxiao Wang, Jiahui Zou, Xinyuan Fang, Shuolei Chen and Hao Wang

Forests 2023, 14(10), 1932; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101932 - 22 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 873

Abstract

Rapid urbanization has made urban forest scenes scarce resources, leading to a surge in the demand for high-quality rural forest scenes as alternative outdoor recreation spaces. Previous studies mainly applied survey methods, focusing on visitors’ feedback for different types of scenes from the [...] Read more.

Rapid urbanization has made urban forest scenes scarce resources, leading to a surge in the demand for high-quality rural forest scenes as alternative outdoor recreation spaces. Previous studies mainly applied survey methods, focusing on visitors’ feedback for different types of scenes from the perspective of visual quality evaluation. Nevertheless, the explanations of the relationships between various factors of scenes and visitors’ preferences are relatively superficial. This study sought to explore the distribution and characteristics of preferred rural forest scenes based on visitor reviews from social media, and using Geodetector, a geospatial statistics tool, to quantitatively analyzed the reasons for visitors’ preferences in terms of factors obtained from multi-source geospatial data. The findings are that (1) visitors are already satisfied with the natural environment but expect scenes that reflect the culture of tea; (2) spatial factor has a more robust interpretation of visitors’ preference, and although the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and non-consumption indicators barely explain visitors’ preference solely when each of them is combined with other indicators, they can produce non-linear enhancement effects. Consequently, this study synthesizes visitors’ feedback and factors in rural forest scenes to understand visitors’ preferences, thus providing insights into human-centered planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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21 pages, 2887 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Citizens’ Perceived Restoration Potential of Green Facades through Specific Architectural Attributes

by Pegah Hajibeigi, Mahdieh Pazhouhanfar, Patrik Grahn and Hasan Nazif

Buildings 2023, 13(9), 2356; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13092356 - 16 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1289

Abstract

Research on restorative environments has suggested green facades as a promising model for natural spaces in urban and densely populated areas. However, the impact of architectural design attributes of green building facades on perceived restoration potential is insufficiently researched. Therefore, this study aimed [...] Read more.

Research on restorative environments has suggested green facades as a promising model for natural spaces in urban and densely populated areas. However, the impact of architectural design attributes of green building facades on perceived restoration potential is insufficiently researched. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between architectural design attributes of green building facades and perceived restoration potential. A discrete choice experiment was used. First, seven architectural design attributes (Value, Symmetry, Material, Balcony, Variety, Configuration, and Shape) were identified based on the Content Identifying Method. In the next step, a sample of 204 participants randomly selected a block and evaluated the perceived restoration potential of six pairs of designed images of different green facade scenarios based on the seven architectural design attributes. The results showed that low diversity in greenery was associated with greater influence, and people chose asymmetric greenery more often. Horizontal and scattered greenery was preferred over vertical and concentrated greenery, which had no significant effect on perceived restoration potential. Stone and cement used in green facades were the most influential factors in perceived restoration potential. These findings can aid designers in designing the green facade of residential buildings to increase perceived restoration potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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20 pages, 6250 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Thermal–Acoustic Interaction Impacts on Crowd Behaviors in an Urban Park

by Ye Chen, Ziyi Chen, Shumeng Lin, Xiaoqian Lin, Shuting Li, Taoyu Li and Jianwen Dong

Forests 2023, 14(9), 1758; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091758 - 30 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1032

Abstract

As urbanization accelerates, parks, as vital urban public open spaces, and their acoustic and thermal ambience directly impact visitors’ comfort and the sustainability of parks. Selecting Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China located in the subtropical region as a typical example, this study utilizes [...] Read more.

As urbanization accelerates, parks, as vital urban public open spaces, and their acoustic and thermal ambience directly impact visitors’ comfort and the sustainability of parks. Selecting Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China located in the subtropical region as a typical example, this study utilizes covert observational experiments with different typical sounds (grass cutting, music, and no sound source) across temperature levels to examine the influence of thermal–acoustic interactions on crowd behaviors in the park. The findings are as follows: (1) melodious music can attract more tourists, while strong stimulating grass cutting noises under high temperatures reduce crowd flow. Excluding unpleasant audio sources, park soundscapes across temperatures have a relatively limited influence on attractiveness to people flow. (2) High temperatures diminish tourists’ interest in landscape experiences and persons staying, especially when the soundscape quality is poorer. Under non-high temperatures, audio environments have a minor impact on the staying time. (3) The soundscape quality plays a role by affecting people’s path choices of approaching or avoiding sound sources, where grass cutting noise has the most negative influence. Music, grass cutting sounds, and natural sounds demonstrate conspicuous differences in their effects under varied temperatures. (4) Comfortable acoustic environments can draw larger crowds and decrease the walking pace. High temperatures make crowds take slower steps. Different sound types have significant influences on crowd movement velocity under three typical temperature levels. This study comprehensively investigates the mechanisms of typical thermal–acoustic environments’ impacts on park crowd behaviors, providing important references for optimizing the acoustic and thermal environments of urban parks, while also enriching related research on landscape design and environmental psychology. Future studies can conduct in-depth explorations by creating more abundant thermal–acoustic combinations and probe differences across diverse populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1145 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Restorative and Contingent Value of Biophilic Indoor Environments in Healthcare Settings

by Yuxiang Lan and Qunyue Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11676; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511676 - 28 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1062

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals undergoing healthcare-related quarantine often experience heightened anxiety and stress. While biophilic indoor environments have shown potential in reducing stress, their effectiveness within healthcare quarantine settings remains uncertain. Additionally, the economic value associated with implementing biophilic interventions in healthcare [...] Read more.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals undergoing healthcare-related quarantine often experience heightened anxiety and stress. While biophilic indoor environments have shown potential in reducing stress, their effectiveness within healthcare quarantine settings remains uncertain. Additionally, the economic value associated with implementing biophilic interventions in healthcare environments remains largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the effects of biophilic interventions in indoor quarantine environments on the perceived outcomes of individuals (such as preference, perceived restorativeness, and satisfaction) and their willingness-to-pay (WTP). Participants were asked to imagine themselves in quarantine and were subsequently assigned to one of four indoor rooms, each featuring a different level of biophilic intervention (non-biophilic, low, medium, and high indoor green). Their perceived outcomes and WTP were then evaluated. The findings consistently demonstrated that incorporating biophilic interventions had a significantly positive impact on perceived outcomes and WTP compared with non-biophilic interventions within healthcare quarantine settings. Among the three levels of biophilic intervention, high indoor green spaces had the highest influence, while low indoor green spaces had the lowest. Moreover, perceived restorativeness consistently played a role in influencing WTP across all three biophilic indoor rooms. Further analysis indicated that a medium level of biophilic intervention would be more advantageous and practical in the design of healthcare indoor environments. This study offers valuable insights into both the monetary and nonmonetary values of biophilic interventions in healthcare settings, aiding designers in selecting appropriate biophilic designs to create enhanced restorative indoor environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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17 pages, 13111 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution and Accessibility Evaluation of National Water Parks in China

by Chenming Zhang, Bei He, Wei Li and Chunyang Guo

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11621; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511621 - 27 Jul 2023

Viewed by 808

Abstract

A water park is a nature-based site along a river or water management project that plays a vital role in protecting the local ecological system and providing water recreation, making it an essential component of China’s ecological and ecotourism security strategy. This study [...] Read more.

A water park is a nature-based site along a river or water management project that plays a vital role in protecting the local ecological system and providing water recreation, making it an essential component of China’s ecological and ecotourism security strategy. This study sought to portray the distribution of China’s 878 National Water Parks (NWPs) and to visualize the pattern of accessibility for NWP resources by the gravity-2SFCA method. The investigation produced the following findings: (1) The national-scale pattern of ecotourism and water recreation can be revealed by the distribution of NWPs, which were concentrated on the eastern side of the “Hu Line” but were dispersed on the western side. (2) NWPs can function as detectors of various endowment and management modes of basin-scaled water resources through the relationship between different categories of NWPs and their locations, which can provide guidance for regional planners. (3) The accessibility of NWPs is an effective indicator for revealing spatial disparity between the supply of NWP resources and the population distribution. Then, the general NWP development strategy can be made based on a hot-spot visualization analysis of accessibility patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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19 pages, 3922 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Do Spatial Forms Influence Psychophysical Drivers in a Campus City Community Life Circle?

by Shi-Ying Li, Zhu Chen, Lian-Huan Guo, Fangbing Hu, Yi-Jun Huang, Dan-Cheng Wu, Zhigang Wu and Xin-Chen Hong

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10014; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310014 - 24 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 923

Abstract

The physical environment of urban public facilities is an important driver for public health and work efficiency. Unfortunately, citizens are exposed to negative physical environments because of inappropriate spatial forms in urban growth boundaries. This study aims to explore psychophysical drivers and their [...] Read more.

The physical environment of urban public facilities is an important driver for public health and work efficiency. Unfortunately, citizens are exposed to negative physical environments because of inappropriate spatial forms in urban growth boundaries. This study aims to explore psychophysical drivers and their spatial distribution in campus city community life circles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Questionnaires and measuring equipment were used to gather psychophysical information in a 15 min campus city community life circle in Fuzhou, China. To this end, acoustic, light and thermal environments were used to map spatial distributions. We then explored relationships between spatial form and psychophysical parameters. The study results show that the distance to road (DTR), green area ratio (GR) and street width (SW) are all potential spatial drivers for psychophysical information. Furthermore, the acoustical, light and thermal environments provide interactions for the public understanding of the environment. These findings contribute to the understanding and evaluation of psychophysical drivers, spurring regional industry in community life circles and contributing to developing suitable plans and industrial distribution in urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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21 pages, 6956 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Combined Effects of the Thermal-Acoustic Environment on Subjective Evaluations in Urban Park Based on Sensory-Walking

by Ye Chen, Fan Liu, Xinya Lin, Jing Liu, Ziyi Chen, Kailong Shi, Junyi Li and Jianwen Dong

Forests 2023, 14(6), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061161 - 05 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1404

Abstract

Studying the impact of various factors on environmental perception is crucial because humans live in an environment where these factors interact and blend. The thermal-acoustic environment is the major factor that affects the overall perception of urban parks. This study focuses on urban [...] Read more.

Studying the impact of various factors on environmental perception is crucial because humans live in an environment where these factors interact and blend. The thermal-acoustic environment is the major factor that affects the overall perception of urban parks. This study focuses on urban parks in the subtropical region, with Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China, as the research area. Through measurements and questionnaires, this study explores the effects of the thermal-acoustic environment in urban parks on subjective evaluation (thermal assessment, acoustic assessment, and overall environmental assessment). The results reveal that: (1) a higher temperature significantly increases the sensation of heat and lowers thermal comfort, heat acceptance, and overall thermal environment evaluation scores. The type of sound source has a significant positive impact on thermal assessment, and the higher the ranking of the sound source type, the greater its positive impact on thermal assessment. (2) Regarding acoustic evaluation, higher sound pressure level is associated with more negative subjective ratings of loudness, harshness, intensity, and excitement. In contrast, positive sound sources can enhance comfort, preference, disorder, coordination, and overall soundscape evaluation. Additionally, temperature increases tend to result in more negative harshness, intensity, and coordination ratings. The interaction between temperature and sound pressure level also significantly affects subjective loudness, harshness, and intensity. (3) Overall environmental evaluation is also affected by temperature, with increasing temperatures leading to decreased comfort and satisfaction while increasing irritation. High sound pressure environments result in worse overall irritation ratings, while positive sound sources can significantly enhance overall comfort, irritation, and satisfaction ratings. Furthermore, the interaction between temperature and sound pressure level significantly impacts overall irritation and satisfaction ratings. These findings are significant for managing and improving the park’s thermal environment and soundscape, providing a practical framework for landscape architects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3747 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Deciduous Forests on Adolescent Emotional Health in Urban Areas: An Example from the Autumn Ginkgo Forest in Chengdu

by Linjia Wu, Shixian Luo, Di Li, Qibing Chen, Jingting Li and Jiacai Wen

Forests 2023, 14(6), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061099 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1397

Abstract

Many studies have shown that urban green spaces can promote emotional health. Deciduous forest is an important landscape and ecological resource of the city. However, the emotional impact of different behavior patterns in this kind of natural space with obvious seasonal changes are [...] Read more.

Many studies have shown that urban green spaces can promote emotional health. Deciduous forest is an important landscape and ecological resource of the city. However, the emotional impact of different behavior patterns in this kind of natural space with obvious seasonal changes are rarely discussed. This study explores the emotional feedback of two typical behavior patterns within an urban landscape forest in autumn: sitting and walking. We recruited 80 volunteers and divided them into a sitting viewing group (group S) and a walking viewing group (group W). On the premise of gender balance, they were randomly assigned to a natural path under a Ginkgo biloba forest in autumn for 15 min of viewing. Physiological and psychological indicators were used for monitoring. Blood pressure, heart rate and electroencephalography (EEG) were used for physiological indicators, and a POMS questionnaire was used for psychological indicators. A paired t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the physiological parameters of the two experimental groups, and a paired Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test was used to analyze the differences in psychological indexes between the two behavior groups. The results showed that the diastolic blood pressure and pulse of the sitting group decreased significantly under the seasonal deciduous forest, and the walking group attained higher “Engagement”, “Excitement”, and “Relaxation”. In the absolute α and β waves, there were significant differences in the parietal P8 channels between the sitting and walking groups, and significant differences in the RAB indicators of the AF3, F7, P7, FC5, FC6, F3 and T7 channels. The two behavior patterns can effectively reduce negative mood, and the “Vigor” mood in the walking group was significantly increased, which was significantly better than that of the sitting group in reducing negative mood. These results enrich research on the influence on emotional health in the field of seasonal green-space restoration. The differences of different behavior patterns can provide guidance for planning urban landscape forest construction and activity facilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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20 pages, 5034 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Indoor Environment through an Indoor Green Curtain System

by Ghulam Qadir, Niranjika Wijesooriya, Arianna Brambilla and Fernando Alonso-Marroquin

Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1307; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051307 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1955

Abstract

People are spending more and more of their lives indoors, making thermal comfort and air quality essential factors for their health and well-being. The use of natural elements within indoor spaces can improve the indoor environment and air quality, but can also bring [...] Read more.

People are spending more and more of their lives indoors, making thermal comfort and air quality essential factors for their health and well-being. The use of natural elements within indoor spaces can improve the indoor environment and air quality, but can also bring multiple health and well-being, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral benefits due to its biophilic effect. Indoor vertical greenery strategy in buildings can give these benefits to the building occupants. In this study, a prototype of a living green curtain is assessed to evaluate the benefits that may derive when used as a shading device. The analysis evaluated the performance of the green curtain prototype compared to the other two scenarios, no curtains (control module) and external blind. Temperature, relative humidity, air quality, and solar radiation were measured in the indoor environment. Results indicate that the green curtain module was cooler by 0–4 °C than the control module during the peak solar radiation hours, and the difference even reached up to 8 °C on hotter days. Due to the evapotranspiration effect, the green curtain recorded the highest daily average relative humidity of 67%. This study demonstrates the potential ability of a green curtain to improve air quality and thermal comfort. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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16 pages, 3534 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

How Does the Intelligent Monitoring System Influence the Sense of Security of the Elderly in Home Care? A Case Study of the Hubin Community in Ningde City

by Yan Ma and Wei Xu

Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1255; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051255 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1034

Abstract

Under the background of rapid aging in China, the security of the elderly in home care has become the focus of social attention. The present study takes the Hubin community of Ningde City as the case study area; and uses hierarchical regression analysis, [...] Read more.

Under the background of rapid aging in China, the security of the elderly in home care has become the focus of social attention. The present study takes the Hubin community of Ningde City as the case study area; and uses hierarchical regression analysis, structural equation model, and other methods to explore the influence path of the sense of security of the elderly in home care under the moderating effect of the intelligent monitoring system, and the subjective and objective demands for such equipment among the elderly. The results showed that compared with family care and social support, the influence of individual health on the sense of security of the elderly in home care was dominant. The intelligent monitoring system can play a negative moderating effect in the process of individual health directly affecting the sense of security of the elderly in home care, and indirectly improving the sense of security of the elderly in home care. Therefore, under the premise of paying attention to the individual health of the elderly at home, the reasonable application of the intelligent monitoring system and full play to its moderating effect is a practical way to improve the sense of security of the elderly in home care. In addition, the family and society should also pay more attention to the security of the elderly in home care, so as to promote the overall improvement of their sense of security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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24 pages, 11899 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Urban Residents’ Preferred Walking Street Setting and Environmental Factors: The Case of Chengdu City

by Qian Yan, Shixian Luo and Jiayi Jiang

Buildings 2023, 13(5), 1199; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13051199 - 30 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1883

Abstract

To date, most studies on building environments and walking behavior have utilized top-down approaches (e.g., big data or social media data) yet lack bottom-up approaches to verify their findings. Therefore, this study divided urban streets into three main settings (community streets, waterfront paths, [...] Read more.

To date, most studies on building environments and walking behavior have utilized top-down approaches (e.g., big data or social media data) yet lack bottom-up approaches to verify their findings. Therefore, this study divided urban streets into three main settings (community streets, waterfront paths, and urban greenways) and collected data from a sample of 411 urban residents in Chengdu via an online questionnaire to examine the impact of street environmental factors on their choice of walking path. It was found that: (1) people with higher levels of education preferred streets with water bodies as walking paths; (2) the environmental quality of the physical and aesthetic aspects both had an impact on residents’ choices, and the aesthetic environmental quality had a stronger impact; (3) the impact of most infrastructures on community streets was stronger than on other streets; (4) residents were more concerned about the environmental quality of waterfront paths and urban greenways. Based on these findings, three design patterns for residents’ preferred street environments are proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Biophilic Cities and Communities: Towards Natural Resources, Environmental and Social Sustainability)

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