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While people's social backgrounds clearly shape their adoption of digital technology and the Internet, their urban lifestyles and place of residence better explain their digital activities when they are online, and how they use technology. Most studies investigating individuals' use of digitization have neglected the effects of the physical built environment and the daily life of the community. Addressing this gap, this paper places digital practices in the socio-spatial world, and conceptualizes the term "urban digital lifestyle," which refers to the dynamic relationships among three dimensions: (1) the user's socioeconomic status, (2) the user's residency, with a focus on the locale's socio-spatial characteristics, and (3) the user's digital practices. Empirically, this paper uses a mixture of methods to analyze the digital usage of residents in four neighborhoods in Tel Aviv. The methods used are neighborhood prototype analysis, digital practices survey (n = 490), and spatial and GIS analyses. Although the results may at first glance support the argument that education and socioeconomic status have significant influence on digital practices, these practices also reflect many other factors associated with the urban lifestyle. Thus, locales, places and neighborhoods remain crucial socio-spatial categories that have a major influence on daily life in the digital age. • Conceptualization of Urban Digital Lifestyle (UDL) offers a new temporal reading of digital differences in a city. • UDL is a helpful category for juxtaposing user's socioeconomic status, user's digital practices, and locale's sociospatial characteristics. • UDL is a helpful tool to identify (1) types of digital lifestyles, and (2) clustering of these digital lifestyles in geographical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What characterizes the ideal urban futures that are envisioned and promulgated within smart city initiatives today? This paper argues for the usefulness of utopia as a lens to examine contemporary urban development projects, specifically smart cities. Drawing on scholars upholding utopianism as key for critical scholarship, the paper explores narratives around smartness in Stockholm, Sweden, and the utopian logics embedded within these narratives. Based on an in-depth case study in Stockholm, the research points to utopian logics of visibility , predictability and controllability within smart city initiatives. These further point to a common tendency where planning is sought perfected–and believed to approach perfection through the supplantation of human planners by smart technologies. As urban planning is faced with pressing urban challenges and dwindling resources, "mere" brain capacity largely appears as too limited and as necessary to compliment with computerized intelligence. • Using utopia as a lens, this paper explores the smart city initiative in Stockholm and the idealized futures it promotes. • Methodologically, the paper draws on extensive empirical research conducted using "Utopia as Method." • The paper points to "smart Stockholm" being characterized by utopian logics of visibility , predictability and controllability. • Together, these point to a tendency where planning is sought perfected through the integration of computerized intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative, a pioneering approach initiated by India to propel sustainable urban development through targeted behavioural change. Positioned at the nexus of individual action and urban sustainability, LiFE underscores the potential of integrating lifestyle adjustments into the broader urban planning and policy-making framework. By examining the initiative's evolution from a grassroots movement to a key element of government policy, this paper highlights its innovative strategies aimed at promoting eco-friendly living and its significant impact on urban environments. Through case studies and an analysis of the initiative's alignment with global sustainability goals, we reveal how LiFE complements existing urban agendas by focusing on the micro-level actions of individuals and communities. This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable urbanization by showcasing the critical role of behavioural change in achieving urban sustainability goals, thereby offering insights into the formulation of more holistic and effective urban policies. Significantly the paper articulates how LiFE's principles, through enhancing global policies and harnessing the power of technological advancements within the Smart Cities agenda, herald a new paradigm in urban sustainability efforts. • The LiFE initiative emphasizes individual behavioral changes over infrastructural reforms to promote urban sustainability. • The concept originated as a grassroots movement in India and has evolved into a significant element of governmental policy on environmental sustainability. • Case studies, such as the eco-village of Piplantri, demonstrate how individual and community actions can significantly contribute to sustainability goals. • LiFE strategically complements Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) and the New Urban Agenda by focusing on micro-level actions that bridge the gap between policy intentions and tangible outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the response of Athens, Greece, to the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to its un(der)documented immigrant populations. It argues that both the national and local levels of governance exhibited a "paradigmatic pragmatism" in their approach to the crisis. The study employs an interpretivist lens and utilises qualitative in-depth interviews and document reviews. By examining Athens as a case study, the paper highlights the significance of the urban scale in migration policies, emphasising the role of governance models, past migration experiences, and civil society. The development of a parallel vaccination program for un(der)documented immigrants is examined as a notable example of the pragmatism of both governance levels and local citizenship practice. The study aims to contribute to the understanding of local-level immigrant policies and the role of cities in the context of citizenship politics. By drawing lessons from major crises like the pandemic, it aims to inform the development of more inclusive migrant policies and effective governance structures while promoting new perspectives on membership, such as local citizenship. • Analysing Athens' pandemic response for local-level immigrant policy insights. • The vaccination program for the un(der)documented as an exemplification of local citizenship • Athens' case reveals the significance of the urban scale in migration policies. • Governance models, local experiences and civil society shaped Athens' response. • Both national and local levels showcased a 'paradigmatic pragmatist' attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a conceptual framework of plant closures embedded in evolutionary economic geography and geographic political economy. The evolution of institutional environments affects actors' adaptive capacity and influences economies' path development. As a path advocate, the media engages in institutional entrepreneurship. To examine the media's role, the paper conducts a media analysis of 1157 news articles from 2000 to 2019 on plant closures in Ontario, Canada. The analysis illustrates the narratives the media provides regarding closures and how these lead to different industrial policy prescriptions. Policy implications point to the need for technologically upgrading firms and re-training programs for workers in traditional industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the problem of evictions in Italy, focusing on their quantitative dimension on a national and regional level, from the 1980s to the present. In line with many western European countries, particularly those in southern Europe, Italy has historically emphasised homeownership as the central pillar of its housing policy, relegating tenants' housing problems to the background. In an attempt to shed light on tenants' housing hardship, the analysis addresses evictions as one of their most pressing problems, according to the following research questions: Why is the phenomenon of evictions under-investigated in Italy? What is the current scenario of evictions in Italy and what public policies are in place to tackle them? The paper points out the high rate of evictions in Italy compared to other European countries, the increase in evictions for arrears and the inadequate use of public resources allocated to answer the problem. The proposed analysis advocate for reframing evictions as a pressing social issue with far-reaching political implications. This study is a first contribution to a broader research agenda on evictions in Italy. • The lack of macro-level analysis of evictions is a serious gap in the understanding of the housing problem in Italy; • The paper argues that macro-analysis is essential to frame evictions as a social and political issue, rather than an individual failure; • The analysis shows that evictions for arrears have increased throughout Italy and that support for tenants is needed; • It highlights the need to counterbalance the policy bias towards home ownership by reshaping the rental market; [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent and mechanisms of the influence of cultural factors on China's population flow have yet to be fully revealed compared to the influence of other factors, such as the level of socioeconomic development. From a network perspective, this paper examines the influence of cultural ties represented by dialect similarity on the tie formation and strength of China's population flow networks. The results are as follows: during the Spring Festival travel rush, dialect similarity increases the probability of tie formation but doesn't influence the strength of ties in China's population flow networks in 2019; however, dialect similarity hinders the tie formation and the increase in the flow intensity in the change of China's population flow networks from 2019 to 2022. During the daily period, more similar dialects between the two cities increase the likelihood of forming network ties and exhibiting stronger levels of population flow in 2019; dialect similarity significantly facilitates tie formation, but it does not affect the flow intensity in the change of China's population flow networks from 2019 to 2022. The results reveal the different influencing effects of dialect similarity in different periods, which is important for revealing the influence mechanism of cultural ties on population flow. • This paper examines the influence of cultural ties on the population flow networks in China in 2019–2022. • The dialect similarity represents the cultural ties. • Binary and valued exponential random graph model (ERGM) and stochastic actor-oriented model (SAOM) are applied. • Cultural ties have different influences on the population flow networks and their changes during different periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate land valuation is necessary for tax purposes, land resources allocation, real estate management and urban development and planning. Since various factors from different domains affect land prices through non-linear relationships, automating the land valuation process on a large scale is a complex task. Advanced technologies in big data analysis and artificial intelligence have demonstrated superior capabilities in knowledge extraction in such cases. Accordingly, this paper develops and compares the performance of four Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) based on machine learning and deep learning techniques utilizing physical, geographical, socio-economic, environmental, legal and planning factors in Melbourne Metropolitan, Australia. According to the results, the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) method outperforms other algorithms of Support Vector Regression (SVR), random forest and Deep Neural Network (DNN). This method has achieved the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.862, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 0.139, and normalized Root Mean Square Error (nRMSE) of 0.281. The achieved high accuracy is due to incorporating a wide range of driving factors and applying innovative feature selection and hyperparameter tuning procedures evaluating various possible feature sets and hyperparameters. Accordingly, this paper can contribute to research, governmental and industry-based activities in terms of developing AVMs for mass land valuation. • Automated land valuation models using machine learning and deep learning • Comprehensive feature set and hybrid feature selection process for robust model performance • Spatial mapping of land values in large urban areas • Contribution to fair housing policies and urban development by accurate land valuation • Practical insights for housing affordability strategies in terms of land management [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to previous studies by using provincial data, this paper employs city-level data from 260 prefecture-level cities in China between 2011 and 2020 to explore the underlying mechanism of how digital inclusive finance promotes the realisation of common prosperity in China. In addition, this paper incorporates financial deepening theory, financial exclusion theory, long tail theory, digital divide theory and technology driven theory to examine the proposed research questions. Through system-GMM and IV estimation, the results show that common prosperity is composed of development, sharing and sustainability. The high level of the weight of the first-level indicators for development and sharing reflects the importance of "prosperity" and "sharing" in common prosperity. Digital inclusive finance plays a significant role in promoting the development of urban common prosperity, with a more pronounced effect in the Eastern cities when compared to the Central and Western cities. In addition, digital inclusive finance is found to promote urban common prosperity by overcoming the digital divide and by improving the activity of urban innovation and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the degree of marketisation is suggested to exert a positive role in regulating the impact of digital inclusive finance on common prosperity. • Common prosperity is composed of development, sharing and sustainability. • Digital inclusive finance plays a significant role in promoting the development of urban common prosperity. • Digital inclusive finance is found to facilitate regional entrepreneurial vitality and, consequently promote urban common prosperity by overcoming the digital divide and by improving the activity of urban innovation and entrepreneurship. • The degree of marketisation is suggested to exert a positive role in regulating the impact of digital inclusive finance on common prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban morphology and spatial forms shape a city's character and user behavior, often embracing a particular type of people and unwelcoming other kinds of gender. City design policies and legislation have favored men since its beginning, affecting overall urban planning and design. While the world is delving into new techniques and methods to empower women, constraints in public space activities remain prevalent. This paper explores the scope of urban design strategies to catalyze women's social and physical inclusion in these spaces. It presents a systematic approach to identifying women's social roles during the use of public spaces and introduces the 'GenUrban: Shaping Cities for All Genders' framework to guide researchers and designers alike promote inclusive urban design and planning. The investigation, in the central area of Hong Kong, focuses on the cultural landscape created by the women-centric 'Foreign Domestic Helpers' community. A desktop literature review, direct observation of public spaces, and in-depth interviews with a focus group of women in the city's heart established and mapped the marginalized users' collective viewpoint and their appropriation of space. The framework can be used by professionals to transform urban spaces through a gender lens to improve the overall quality of public spaces and make them more inclusive and accessible. The paper generates gender-sensitive urban design principles that can be translated for planners to use for various user groups and contexts. When women become key drivers in activating public space, they are given back their right to the city. • Women's traveling patterns are frequent due to their caregiving responsibilities. • The unique cultural landscape of a city creates gender-centered activities. • Integrating gender-specific features ensures urban spaces cater to women's needs. • Reliable public transport is vital for women's mobility and engagement in city life. • A city catering to women tends to accommodate those they care for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, co-production serves as a crucial approach to promote sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation. However, in China, where the governance system is characterized by strong state discourse power and a lack of public participation tradition, neighborhood rehabilitation encounters significant challenges, leading to project postponements or even failures due to unsuccessful co-production activities. To reveal the hidden problems, this paper aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the stakeholders' co-production roles and their participation structure in the co-produced sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation process from multiple dimensions. Using the case in Chongqing, the data was collected through questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews. Social network analysis was utilized as the research method, and one-mode and two-mode networks were established to depict six relationship types with using diverse network indicators. This study revealed the high complexity of stakeholder structure, the awkward role of grass-rooted government, the dilemma of public voices and perceptions, uneven involvement in the co-production process, and the dynamic path of co-production formation. Drawing upon co-production theory, this paper elucidates the intricate mechanism of co-produced neighborhood rehabilitation in China. It offers valuable implications for policymakers and urban planners for project promotion, and contributes empirical insights to research in similar governance systems across the global context. • Stakeholder structure in co-produced sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation is highly complex. • Grass-roots government sectors have low discourse power in practice. • Resident-initiated organizations may not always accurately represent the views and interests of in-situ residents. • Uneven involvement of stakeholders can result in a downplayed co-design process and a weak role for investors. • Six network types are interconnected and interdepend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational mobility is considered as an indicator of opportunity equality by interdisciplinary scholars. Recent literature has increasingly focused on international comparisons to unravel the underlying forces shaping disparities in intergenerational mobility. While illuminating, this branch encounters significant challenges stemming from unobserved factors, particularly social norms and values, which threaten the credibility of findings. However, most previous studies do not address such concerns. In this paper, we pay special attentions to the role of social trust in shaping the intergenerational mobility. More specifically, perceived upward mobility is of our top interest because it not only is deemed to be a strong reflection of the real socio-economic distribution, but also directs to individuals' behaviors. Employing a multilevel regression approach, our analysis confirms the positive impact of general trust on perceived upward mobility. The result remains robust across alternative measures and methods. Notably, it mitigates the potential endogeneities by incorporating proxies for individuals' optimistic nature and the instrumental variable strategy. Through further investigations, this paper reveals that the effect of trust differs across regime types, income groups, geography and institutions. Moreover, we identify institutional quality and social interactions as potential mechanisms shaping perceived mobility. Additionally, individuals with upward mobility experiences exhibit reduced preferences for redistribution. This paper contributes to the mobility literature by highlighting the significance of the social norms and values beyond the known factors of perceived intergenerational mobility. It underscores the importance of social trust in intergenerational mobility and advocates for proactive engagement of city practitioners in fostering trust through civic initiatives and community structures. • Ignorance of social trust threats the credibility of mobility estimates. • This paper confirms that trust has a positive effect on intergenerational upward mobility. • The result is robust to alternative measures and instrumental strategy. • Heterogeneities and the potential mechanisms are explored as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the morphologies of Villages-in-the-City (ViCs) in Kunming in China and Hanoi in Vietnam, that are undergoing rapid urbanisation and urban transformation. In China, the term Chengzhongcun refers to development of rural settlements that have been included in the urban districts arising from city expansion. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the phrase Làng trong phố is used to describe settlements in urban areas that used to be rural villages. Both types of settlements share many common characteristics linked to rural background, and to social and economic policies in these two countries. The findings illustrate that spatial transformations are generated by fundamental economic and social changes, and that the influences of land policies and roles played by local government in each country have significant impacts on the formation of the ViCs. Although the planning processes are managed though top-down systems, the diverse practices and small scale and cost-effective tactics contribute to the transitions of the ViCs. The morphological differences between ViCs development in two countries are due to differences in management modes and land use rights. The outcome of this paper contributes to the deeper understanding about similarities and differences of ViCs in the Global South. • This paper examines and compare the morphologies of Villages-in-the-City in Kunming in China and Hanoi in Vietnam. • The diverse practices and small scale tactics contribute to the transition from rural to urban live styles in both places. • The differences between ViCs developments are due to different modes of management and land use rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how local industrial structure changes after bureaucratic transfers across Chinese cities. Utilizing firm-level data within the manufacturing sector, we show a positive and significant effect of transferred local leaders on the industrial similarity between cities connected by them, and this response arises 3 years after the transfers. However, when transferring between cities with notable disparities in resource endowments, local leaders induce diminished industrial similarity among connected cities. Our mechanism analyses then find that, after transferred leaders arrive, new superstar firms are more likely to be attracted to their current jurisdictions and new industries in which their previous jurisdictions have already superstar firms tend to be developed in the current jurisdictions, thus making the industrial structure between the connected cities more similar. Furthermore, we find that transferred local leaders contribute to the synchronization of regional economic growth through facilitating the diffusion of productive capabilities across cities. • This paper examines how local industrial structure changes after bureaucratic transfers across Chinese cities. • Transferred local leaders contributes to a convergence of the industrial structure between the connected cities. • Superstar firms who follow local leaders' movements contribute to the increase of the industrial similarity between connected cities. • Transferred local leaders contribute to the synchronization of regional economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contends that the covid-19 pandemic has reconfigured how cities manage urban marginality within Zimbabwe. The pandemic enabled cities to push everyday mundane practices away from the centre of the city to the margins of the cities through securitisation and criminalising informal activities within the centre. The paper's methodological underpinnings are hinged on a six month ethnography within Bulawayo (Zimbabwe's second largest city). The paper maintains the view that managing urban marginality in the context of covid-19 must be framed within the binary of two opposing forces – governing institutions (the government and municipality) and the low-income residents. Using covid-19 as a pretext of "curbing the pandemic" governing institutions have pushed informal economic activities from the centre through employing law and force; on the other hand low-income residents have found eclectic means to counteract the measures imposed to constrain their agency. Finally, the paper suggests that covid-19 has reconfigured how cities manage urban marginality through pushing everyday informal practices to the periphery and how the low-income residents deploy their agency to counteract confinement hence managing urban marginality can be understood as a two-way process involving governing institutions and the low-income residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceleration of urban imagery data analysis, driven by computer vision (CV), has created noteworthy opportunities for urban studies and planning. Data on street environments with high granularity derived from geo-tagged street views allow urban researchers to obtain geospatial data on greenery, pavement materials, and dimensions, building facades, urban furniture, lighting, vehicle presence, etc. However, how such attributes have been classified and used to address urban studies, planning, or mobility questions remains relatively poorly understood among non-technical researchers. Targeting urban planning and design researchers who do not have a background in CV, this paper reviews planning-relevant attributes that CV approaches of urban streetscapes have delivered to date and examines some of their research applications. We present a systematic analysis of 146 papers scrutinizing 104 street attributes in four groups. By exploring a subcollection of 24 papers, we discuss the effectiveness of those attributes being incorporated into current quantitative urban studies. This study's primary contribution lies in providing a comprehensive summary of CV-driven street attributes, their applications, and the algorithms used, serving as a valuable resource for future urban research. Additionally, we identify key challenges in this field, such as unclear definitions of attributes, a disproportionate emphasis on selecting models and features, and the absence of standardized measurement and definition methods. Furthermore, we offer recommendations for future research directions in this area. • We review 104 street attributes collected with computer vision in urban studies • We summarize 23 chosen attributes' correlations with known urban design measures • We provide a table of CV-driven street attributes with model details, references, and impacts • We highlight challenges in attribute definitions, research focus, and impact clarity • We provide recommendations for standardizing data and future research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent years, and as a result of the recent global health pandemic, resilience has become increasingly central to contemporary policy discourses in urban planning and development in both the Global North and Global South. Drawing from ongoing empirical studies of community resilience and everyday practices that have been co-designed and co-produced alongside Brazilian marginalised communities which are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, this paper highlights the growing importance of dialogical stakeholder engagement methodologies in designing alternative urban visions – so-called resilience imaginaries or counter-cities - across the Global South based on social diversity, equity and spatial justice. More specifically, the dialogical participatory mapping approach outlined in this paper utilises citizen science approaches to develop local resilience imaginaries, building on the pedagogical work of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire and the conceptualisation of dialogue as a comprehensive and progressively unfolding methodological approach. Practically, we adopted a range of community engagement approaches that allowed local citizens to become more aware of their own risk context and embed this tacit knowledge into the operation of civil protection programmes. Our empirical results highlight the potential of such dialogical participatory approaches to capture lay knowledge from local citizens and contribute to the development of enhanced resilience approaches. The paper concludes by reflecting on the role of formerly marginalised voices in the advancement of local urban policy and on the novelty and promise of critical pedagogical approaches to co-production within existing regimes of urban governance and the imagining of radically independent counter-cities. • Novel community engagement approaches based on dialogue allow local citizens to become more aware of their own risk context. • The process of geospatial data production can be a transformative moment capable of nurturing enhanced community resilience. • Dialogical participatory mapping is a method for re-imagining future city-visions. • Western resilience scholarship needs learn from emerging resilience building grounded practices in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an urbanized world, the challenges posed by climate change need to be met through innovative planning for cities and regions. Urban resilience demands that cities adopt new models centered on carbon neutrality, ecosystem services and biodiversity enhancement, circularity, and social inclusion. In light of the multiple interdependencies of metropolitan systems and the natural and territorial potentialities present on their fringes, this paper discusses the metropolitan fringes as strategic for urban resilience and sustainable transitions. By combining a mixed-method analysis of adaptation and urban plans with semi-structured interviews performed with key technicians, the analysis is focused on an inter-municipal fringe zone within the Barcelona Metropolitan Area - the Besòs territory. Aiming to contribute to the discussions related to Territorial innovation for cities and regions, the paper offers a multi-scale perspective and illustrates innovative urban transformation strategies across scales. The results highlight that governance and multiple planning and participation instances together with technical and financial support are essential for consensus building in an incremental process. Furthermore, the planning strategies of the case study sought to integrate and enhance the green and blue infrastructures and transform consolidated urban areas with a focus on energy transition, sustainable mobility, circularity, and social inclusion. In conclusion, it is argued that resilience has a multi-scalar perspective within the metropolitan context and should be integrated with planning policies at different scales from a coordinated vision. Although adaptation and urban projects have a critical local element, a broader and more strategic vision is necessary, especially in metropolitan fringe areas. • Although adaptation and resilience have an essential local element, a broader and more strategic vision is necessary. • Metropolitan planning and governance towards urban resilience must have a multi-scalar perspective. • Metropolitan fringes are key to urban resilience and sustainable transitions due to their environmental and urban attributes. • A coordinated metropolitan vision with technical and financial support is vital for sustainable urban transitions in fringe areas. • The intermediate scale is critical since it represents a bridge between supra-municipal instances and municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenges to social, economic, and environmental sustainability are global in scale, yet sustainable development policies must be implemented locally. There has been a tendency for sustainable urbanism projects to engage in the conspicuous sustainability of spatially bounded and highly visible sustainability achievements, rather than spatially expansive, long-term achievements. China's complex system of multilevel governance encourages policy experimentation, but it is also frequently productive of entrepreneurial urbanism and intercity competition. This paper analyses spatial planning documents concerning Hengqin (Zhuhai Municipality, Guangdong Province), an island adjacent to Macao SAR, to show how the ambitions for a new-build district's contributions to sustainable development have become more spatially expansive and ambitious over time. This has occurred alongside changes in project leadership (from city, to provincial, to central government leadership) as well as a deepening awareness of the Greater Bay Area as a region for crossborder policymaking. The paper argues that crossborder perspectives are vital for genuine sustainable development but face certain obstacles in relation to the sites at which policy decisions are made. • Policymakers often prefer conspicuous sustainability to long-term achievements. • Innovative urban entrepreneurialism is common in China's multilevel governance. • Hengqin's spatial planning initially prioritised immediate, localised results. • Centralised leadership and regional awareness can raise sustainability ambitions. • Crossborder perspectives better reflect sustainable development needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the empirical correlations between inter-city population distribution, intra-city urban economic structures, and networked inter-city relationships to propose a conceptual classification framework for the Australian urban system. This paper sets the pre-COVID-19 benchmark for future research which will investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the economic geography of the Australian urban system. This research confirms that the form of Australia's urban structure is informed by a combination of population distribution, economic concentration, specialisation and diversity of industries and occupations, and networks between cities. Based on these results, we propose an urban structure framework characterised by hierarchical sub-systems and typologies of cities. The framework consists of standalone regional centres and larger cities which form a networked megaregion. Additionally, we propose five typologies of cities based on their functional roles. The Australian urban system presents a unique hybrid economic geography where its structure of networked megaregions of cities and standalone regional centres each with its complementary functional roles, presents itself an interesting case study to inform population policies for other geographies. • This study proposes a method to synthesise city size, economic structure and their networked relationships. • Principles of economic agglomeration mostly apply within the Australian context however, there are nuances and exceptions. • Proximity has a role to play when determining the economic roles of cities and the strength of interactions between cities. • Two urban sub-systems exist in Australia: standalone regional centres and megaregions. • Five city types in Australia which considers their size, economic structure and geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of urbanization dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau through the lens of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), addressing a research gap in the understanding of urbanism in highland and global south contexts. Given the current surge of assembly-based thinking within urban scholarship, we employ an assemblage framework to comprehend the heterogeneous constitution of urbanization, integrating human and non-human components, as well as socio-material, political, and spatial governances. Through a meticulous examination of three comprehensive case studies from the Tibetan Plateau SEZs, including a state-led new town, a renewable energy-driven industrial zone, and an industrial enclave, we delineate the diverse forms of plateau urbanism. Our findings underscore the imperative for contextually tailored urban development strategies that consider the distinctive geographical, ecological, and socio-political conditions of the Tibetan Plateau. It emphasizes the need for adaptive governance and planning that can address infrastructure deficiencies, environmental constraints, and the integration of local communities. Furthermore, we also call for further exploration of urbanisms in other highland regions, advocating for a more longitudinal, crosswise and nuanced understanding of urbanization processes in various global contexts. • Plateau urbanism as an assemblage of diverse plateau material and immaterial urbanization forces. • We aim to explore the interactions of various actors, diverse dynamics of spatial logics, and multifaceted spatial modes that underlie the ongoing territorial transformation of the plateau cities. • We pioneeringly applies assemblage thinking to conceptualize and empirically investigate plateau urbanism on China's Tibetan Plateau. • The study presents a comprehensive examination of three distinct Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on the Tibetan Plateau. • The paper advocates for a more inclusive and nuanced approach to urbanization processes in the lens of assemblage thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses urban walking during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as an object of urban planning in Helsinki. The paper investigates planners' experiences of planning for temporary spatial solutions during a time of exceptionality in urban life. The paper is motivated by the wish to determine the influence of residents' environmental critique on official urban planning processes. Analysis is primarily based on walk-along interviews with urban planners and residents in the densest eastern downtown neighbourhoods of Helsinki. Supplemental data, including a survey, chat group discussions and planning documents, are used to deepen analysis. Results discuss the politicisation of planning and the delicate relationship between public planners and the political steering of planning in a Nordic welfare planning system. The paper discusses how the politicisation of planning imposes barriers to participatory planning by tying planners' time and attention to organisational tensions, but also by not being able to direct public attention to contentious planning topics. To analyse the role of planners in advocating for pedestrian planning and citizen participation, the study incorporates concepts from organisational communication and urban governance: tensions, rational ignorance and guerrilla governance. • Temporary pedestrian planning in Helsinki became a politicised planning topic amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. • An approach of rapid qualitative research utilised multi-method data gathering. • Urban planners experienced tensions in planning which impeded participatory planning processes. • Residents themselves portrayed rational ignorance and scepticism towards their participatory agency. • Planners used hidden tactics of guerrilla governance to advance the pedestrian agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the role of informality in the spatial and institutional development of post-colonial cities. The study uses a historical institutionalist approach to trace the historical evolution of Morocco's Fes and Oujda as two former French colonies. It analyzes the historical urban growth of both cities through archival research, policy analysis, and complements its findings with semi-structured interviews. This study explores the different interactions between formal policies and the informal spatial and institutional urban practices, and discusses the processes of incremental institutional change that informal institutions introduce and sustain without disrupting the status-quo. This paper argues that in post-colonial contexts, informality prevails over formality as a stronger feedback mechanism to path dependence. Finally, the paper makes the case for the importance of mapping informal practices within and in relation to formal planning institutional structures for more comprehensive understandings of the role and the impact of spatial planning as a practice. • Urban informality guides urban development in Morocco. • Institutional informality is very visible as a mode of planning governance in Morocco. • Formalized institutional actors often engage in informal planning practices. • Conceptualizing the link between formality and informality can inform post-colonial spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given its significant implications for the economy and society, this paper investigates the impact of housing supply regulation on household wealth inequality. Utilizing data from the China Household Finance Survey and land transaction records spanning from 2013 to 2019, we employ recentered influence function regression and two-way fixed effects models to analyze the effect of unexpected housing supply shocks on the wealth gap among households. Our findings reveal that positive unexpected housing supply shocks are crucial in reducing household wealth inequality. This reduction is attributed to the heterogeneous impacts of housing supply regulation on different wealth groups. By deregulating the housing supply, the upward trend in housing prices has slowed, which in turn makes homeownership more accessible and facilitates wealth accumulation for households that fall within the 20 % and 80 % wealth quantiles. Conversely, deregulation has a negative impact on property values for households in the 80–100 % wealth quantile, thus mitigating their overall wealth growth. Overall, this study emphasizes the significant role of housing supply regulation in shaping wealth inequality in China. • This paper examines the housing supply regulation's impact on wealth inequality in China. • Positive housing supply shocks play a vital role in decreasing household wealth inequality. • Deregulation boosts homeownership for 20 %–80 % wealth quantile households. • Wealthiest households face property value drops with deregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, urban shrinkage, as one of the phenomena revealed in the process of new urbanisation development in China, has gradually attracted the attention of many scholars. To address the question of whether urban shrinkage has an impact on the level of local basic public services supply, this paper uses panel data from 298 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2018 to empirically analyse the impact of urban shrinkage on the level of basic public services supply by dividing shrinking cities into different regions and dividing basic public services into different dimensions. The results show that the impact of urban shrinkage on the supply level of basic public services is an 'inverted U-shaped' non-linear process that first promotes and then inhibits the level of basic public services supply; the impact of urban shrinkage on various dimensions of the level of basic public services supply varies, and generally shows a positive and then negative trend. Regarding regional heterogeneity, urban shrinkage has a more significant negative impact on the central region's basic public services supply level, followed by the western region and, to a lesser extent, the northeastern region. Therefore, local governments should make Smart Shrinkage according to local conditions, improve the basic public services supply system to enhance residents' happiness and satisfaction, introduce corresponding policies for the introduction of talents and focus on employee training and education activities to achieve the goal of equalising of basic public services supply in China. This research could also provide identification methods and improvement measures for other countries and regions just beginning to face the shrinking problem, especially those with high population densities and tight urban connectivity, such as China's cities. • Urban shrinkage, as one of the phenomena revealed in the process of new urbanisation development in China, has gradually attracted the attention of many scholars. To address the question of whether urban shrinkage has an impact on the level of local basic public services supply, this paper uses panel data from 298 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2018 to empirically analyse the impact of urban shrinkage on the level of basic public services supply by dividing shrinking cities into different regions and dividing basic public services into different dimensions. • This research could also provide identification methods and improvement measures for other countries and regions just beginning to face the shrinking problem, especially those with high population densities and tight urban connectivity, such as China's cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper delves into the emergence of alternative governance models in Bogotá, Colombia, enabled by platform technology amid state inefficiencies magnified by poorly managed COVID-19 lockdowns. The argument on how these microspheres of alternative self-governance emerged draws on a digital ethnography study of ride-hailing platform drivers in Bogotá who operate within the city's informal economy due to the local lack of regulations. Predominantly representing marginalised populations and servicing lower-income neighbourhoods, these drivers enhance their informal organisation and growth through social media platforms by performing unregulated services such as food delivery during lockdowns. The paper unveils how these platform-mediated self-governance mechanisms challenge the city's institutional frameworks. Centring on the 'Drivers Club Bogotá' case, the paper advocates for policy reforms encouraging a 'partner state' model that promotes social innovation and citizen involvement in governance. Urban policymakers should harness insights from these informal governance models to better manage post-pandemic realities in Bogotá and other contexts. Ultimately, this paper highlights the transformative potential of platform technologies and emphasises the need for a deeper understanding of platform technologies in fostering social innovation, empowering citizens, and bettering urban governance, thereby promoting inclusive, resilient, and more equitable urban ecosystems. • Self-governance models enabled by platforms emerged within marginalised populations. • These models consolidated through ride-hailing drivers within informal economies. • Grassroots movements drive political change contributing to more resilient cities. • Co-design harnesses social innovation and actively involves citizens in governance. • 'Platform municipalism' is a means for more democratic policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is an empirical evaluation of the City Brand Effectiveness Measurement System (CBMES) presented in a paper published in Cities in 2021, and the identification of the prerequisites that foster a type of setting that helps universalize the city brand effectiveness measurement process. This study was performed to generate response to the CBEMS from the city brand managers from European cities, including: (i)evaluation of the key components of the CBEMS: measurement procedure, measurement areas, structure of effectiveness indicators; (ii) identification of gaps in the measurement system in its critical areas and its further elimination. To perform the study, the presentations of the CBEMS were developed and delivered to respondents, followed by a moderated discussion and a standardized survey, distributed online after presentations. Eventually, the data were compiled and analyzed to identify alternations and further recommendations to the system. The findings reveal an overly positive response from city representatives. The respondents view the CBEMS not simply as a measurement procedure but also as a guiding instrument to structure and organize city brand strategy development and implementation. As a result of the study Adaptive Measurement Frame was developed featuring prerequisites to the universalization of the measurement process. • Theory and practice inform each other in city brand effectiveness measurement. • CBEMS measures effectiveness but also guides brand development and implementation. • CBEMS can be applied universally with prerequisites from Adaptive Measurement Frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses Cork's trajectory towards a sustainable, innovative, and globally connected urban centre. On Ireland's south coast, Cork serves as an exemplar of how second-tier cities can undergo transformation and structural change, emerging as an exemplar of economic success. The paper explores the synergies between policymaking, labour markets, and transportation improvements, specifically in the pharmaceutical and IT sectors, noting their clustering and success in international markets. It explores challenges and opportunities presented by demographic shifts alongside an analysis of Cork's transport system, its port capabilities, and connectivity. The paper links to the UN SDGs and suggests strategies to promote sustainable growth and boost innovation. These enhance Cork's technological capacities, educational attainment, sustainable urban planning, and transport systems. It offers insights into urban development, focusing on place-based, future-oriented solutions and strategic directions for Cork. This study extends beyond Cork, offering a roadmap for other second-tier cities grappling with similar challenges and opportunities. It emphasises the need for comprehensive unified approaches to urban planning, aligning with global sustainability objectives, innovative standards, and best practices in city management. Cork not only pioneers its path towards resilience and innovation but also serves as a model for global second-tier cities, showcasing the growth and transformation potential of urban centres. • Cork's resilience and innovation model second-tier city transformation • Strategic FDI in Cork sets a benchmark for economic growth in similar cities. • Cork's education-labour model guides workforce development in second-tier cities. • Cork's infrastructure upgrades boost global connectivity for second-tier cities. • Inclusivity in Cork boosts economic participation and diversity in similar cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal settlements in African cities are faced with a combination of severe economic, infrastructural, and health-related challenges, which we hypothesize are linked to historical urban planning processes. During the early 20th century, British colonial spatial policies in Anglophone Africa used disease management as a spatial planning tool to promote urban marginality and reinforce spatial and racial segregation. This paper interrogates the relationships between historical urban spatial policies and contemporary infectious disease risk in African cities. We expand on the recently developed term 'pandemic urbanization' to ask how: a) unequal colonial urban planning policies in Freetown, Accra, and Nairobi exposed their residents to illness and infectious disease, and assess if b) infectious disease outcomes have historically been used to 'justify' residential segregation, particularly on racialized lines. Using a critical literature review, our analysis shows that urban planning's capacity to manage health crises in African cities remains inadequate, particularly in informal settlements. This paper provides important insights into how such neglect has created 'pandemic urbanization' across the continent's major cities and argues that urban planning works in tandem with public health crises - such as the COVID-19 pandemic - to spatially produce urban marginality. We argue for a refocusing of urban planning on the central livelihood and survival issues confronting African cities to address pandemic urbanization and move beyond colonial imprints in contemporary planning practice and theory. • Pandemic urbanization recreates racial and class-based inequalities established during colonial rule • Urban responses to COVID-19 represent the continuation of old colonial spatial practices in new forms • The spatialization of inequality creates different susceptibility to health crises and 'justifies' segregation because of it [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are complex systems that are constantly changing. This paper explores the capabilities of using crowdsourced street-level imagery in observing city dynamics. Visual walkability is an example of such an index, where different results may be obtained depending on locational and temporal factors. This paper introduces a new index called Type of Visual Walkability (TVW) to characterize and classify street-level visual walkability in Inner London utilizing Mapillary images. The method is based on panoptic segmentation, where pixel-level segmentation and instance count are used in combination to generate more robust indicators of greenery, openness, crowdedness, and visual pavement. Following this, the TVW at street segment level is calculated and the spatiotemporal dynamics of TVW are explored. The results show significant seasonal variations. Specifically, many greenery-dominated streets become openness-dominated from autumn to winter and pavement-dominated streets become crowdedness-dominated in summer and autumn due to vegetation phenology and human activities. This case study showed that TVW provides a dynamic and explainable perspective in understanding urban design qualities for walkability. It facilitates the connection between assessment of the built environment and spatiotemporal analysis derived from street-level images and will inform urban planners and governments in building a walkable city and further promote active transport. • We explore spatio-temporal dynamics of cities through computer vision of street-level imagery. • We assess capabilities of crowdsourced Mapillary images for sensing street environments. • We propose an interpretable walkability index called Type of Visual Walkability. • Significant variations in the TVW are revealed across all four seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents the initial phase of the "National Alien Services" program (LVV in its Dutch acronym), intended to shelter undocumented people in the Netherlands from 2019 to 2022. The programme established a national network of guidance and reception facilities for undocumented migrants in five major Dutch cities to put previous urban-level initiatives on a more uniform basis. This paper analyzes the implementation of the LVV in Amsterdam, shedding light on the emergence of a new hierarchy among irregular migrants based on whether they are regarded as deserving or undeserving to access these facilities. As we show through the voices of civil society, migrants, and local policy makers, this new "hierarchy of deservingness" has de facto shrunk the spaces for autonomy of local reception practices – thus reducing the number of undocumented migrants who can access shelter – and those spaces created by migrants' squatting movement in the city. By addressing the intersection of migration, reception, and urban policies through the lens of "deservingness", this paper supplements the theoretical debate by providing insights into how different actors negotiate hierarchies of deservingness at the crossroads of local and national governance levels, and how these dynamics interact with migrants' claim-making. • The research object: This article documents the initial phase of the so-called 'LVV program', which aimed to provide assistance to undocumented individuals in the Netherlands between 2019 and 2022. • The case study: The article focuses on the implementation of the program in Amsterdam and its implications for the diverse population of undocumented people in the city. • The main argument: The deportation logic that has inspired national migration policies in the last decade has infiltrated the management of undocumented individuals at the local level. This infiltration has had adverse effects on the capacity of local authorities and civil society to provide shelter for undocumented migrants and on the public support of undocumented migrants' movement in the city. • Methodological originality: The article uses a combination of ethnographic research and in-depth interviews with migrants, civil society and various policy interlocutors to examine the LVV implementation and its implications. • Theoretical Advancement: The article introduces the notion of "hierachy of deservingness" to examine how national and local authorities, in spite of tensions among them, deal with irregular migrants and manage their access to services. By distinguishing irregular migrants who are "deserving" of assistance from the "undeserving" ones, we show how authorities enrol a minority into state-led circuits of reception and define the other majority as expellable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, neighborhood regeneration has transitioned into a new phase characterized by small-scale rehabilitation, and fostering active resident participation has emerged as a crucial challenge. While numerous studies have focused on encouraging resident participation, they often overlook the fact that, cultivating active resident participation requires establishing trust in the grassroots government as a precursor in the China's top-down governance system context. Grounded on the innovative notion of trust building, this paper aims to explore the formation of residents' trust in the grassroots government and its influence on their participation willingness. The theoretical foundation is rooted in the perspectives of organizational behavior and Social Exchange Theory (SET). Data is collected through a questionnaire survey, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is employed for empirical analysis. The empirical findings indicate that trust propensity, trustworthiness, and place attachment directly impact the development of residents' trust in the grassroots government. In turn, trust influences their participation willingness by shaping their perceived benefits and costs. By adopting the unique perspective of trust building, this paper provides theoretical support and practical implementation strategies for promoting resident participation in neighborhood regeneration in China. • Building residents' trust in grassroots government is pivotal in a top-down governance system. • The 'trust' is positively impacted by trust propensity, trustworthiness, and place attachment. • It reveals the pathway of how the 'trust' influence residents' participation willingness. • The theoretical model integrates concepts from organizational behavior and SET. • It offers implications and theoretical support for enhancing resident participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies suggest that land financing has given rise to entrepreneurial governance in China because local governments act like entrepreneurs to capture land value appreciation. However, the new land reserve institution has recently forbidden local governments from using land as collateral and centralized the financial management of land reserve projects. Given this profound change in land institutions, we ask whether local governments have become less entrepreneurial. This paper investigates the Shanghai Land Reserve Centre. The funding restriction and declining land profitability make it more challenging to generate land revenue. However, the local government is now adapting to the new land reserve institution, developing new entrepreneurial tactics, and treating land investment as a recurrent income stream. Facing the conjuncture of alarming local government debts, re-centralizing state control, and structural limits of land finance, local governments' entrepreneurial stance is not eliminated, but their entrepreneurial practices are reshaped. Theoretically, this paper contributes to understanding how urban entrepreneurialism evolves in response to changing political and economic conjunctures. • A framework for understanding governance transformation: conjunctures-incentives-tactics. • The new land reserve institution transforms local land-based entrepreneurial tactics. • Declining profitability of land finance based on project-level dataset in Shanghai. • Land incentive is reshaped to use land to trigger a long-term investment stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While global production networks stress the role of lead firms, state entrepreneurialism highlights the role of the state in governing innovation-driven development. However, there is a gap in understanding how the state institution configures and operates to achieve its strategic development goals. This paper fills this gap by examining market means of park management. It shows that Zhangjiang Science City in Shanghai reinvented its development agency – a park development corporation to mobilize finance and govern development. Jiangbei in Nanjing focused on coupling with a multinational lead firm – the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Rather than thinking of innovation governance as state-commanded, we reveal they are market-based operations. At the same time, they extend the state capacities into industrial governance. • A timely study of governing economic development under geopolitical challenges and in innovation spaces. • Builds a conceptual framework to comprehend state strategies and market mechanisms for China's innovation-driven development. • Fills the gap in understanding how the state institution configures and operates to achieve its strategic innovation goals. • Contributes to state entrepreneurialism by focusing on how innovation as a political agenda is achieved by market means. • Rather than thinking of innovation governance as state-commanded, this paper reveals that they are market-based operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is about the justification for social housing and, more broadly, different considerations for universalist provision of public goods. Globally, social housing has undergone a retrenchment phase in recent decades; it has been impacted by the financialisaton of housing and critiques claiming social housing is an inefficient and unfair use of public money. Nevertheless, as examples from Finland show, social housing still has a recognised role as part of welfare state policies. To understand how social housing advocates operate in this strained position, this paper analyses interview data collected from 23 experts in the field of social housing. The analysis—which draws on Boltanski and Thévenot's theory of public justification—shows that social housing officials are consistent in their views, emphasising decommodification of housing and supporting tenants' equal right for home and citizenship. These notes are interpreted through the tradition of the Nordic conception of welfare states. The findings open new opportunities to discuss connections between cultural legacies and divergent considerations for provision of welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streets, vital for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, are increasingly repurposed to enhance urban vibrancy beyond transport needs. This paper explores intentional and spontaneous street experiments, drawing on Henri Lefebvre's rhythmanalysis. Streets are seen as hosts to intersecting rhythms shaped by daily routines and mobility, with users as performers in rhythmic interactions. While initially disruptive, these experiments strive to integrate innovative elements for cohesive urban compositions. Through a musical metaphor, the paper promotes a holistic approach to identifying rhythms influenced and introduced by street experiments. It examines how these rhythms interact, presenting as synchronised dynamics, disruptive discordance, or coexistence in dissonant compositions. Combining rhythmanalysis with spatial discourse analysis, the study 'reads' and 'listens' to temporary spaces through historical records (N = 55) of seven street experiments in Hong Kong from 2016 to 2020. Findings uncover the overly abstract agendas of these experiments — exemplified through narratives involving chairs, railings, and traffic signals — often oversimplify and exclude possibilities. The paper calls for open dialogue to capture power dynamics in street infrastructure and embodied lived experiences during the transition from vehicle-centred to people-oriented streets. It suggests rhythmanalysis as an initial tool for urban planners to envision streetscapes as symphonies, fostering sensitivity to time-space dynamics. [Display omitted] • Explore street spatial-temporal dynamics through Lefebvre's rhythmanalysis. • Conceptualise experiments, though disruptive, for innovative synchronicity. • Establish musical metaphors for open-ended rhythmanalysis. • Identify street rhythms and examine their interactions pre/post-experiment. • Encourage open dialogue over abstract, selective and exclusive agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Paris Agreement, European member countries have been committed to mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects. Climate action planning allows cities to organize their approach. It is critical to ensure that investments in infrastructure and services have a low-carbon impact and consider likely climate change perspectives. The output of this process is the climate action plan (CAP): one or more documents where a city sets out its roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen climate resilience throughout the community. Many cities have already developed and published a Paris Agreement-compatible CAP. The quality and compliance of these plans will also influence the achievement of the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, 2015). Thus, cities are crucial players in global climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, and how they engage in climate policy is currently under debate. The paper is intended to support technological design, selecting good practices from the latest and most complete ones for climate mitigation and adaptation in urban settings. In particular, the paper focuses on public space and built environment regeneration actions that can tangibly contribute to the global climate resilience movement. Considering the operational difficulty that could arise in planning climate adaptation measures in historical urban contexts, the study critically analyzes current strategies in sedimented landscape realities of high cultural-historical value. The goal is to draw from them a cognitive and expeditious method of intervention that can be reiterated for similar contexts and is compatible with the consistency and value of urban and built heritage. The theme is timely and falls into Sustainable Development Goals No. 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and No. 13 (climate action). • The paper analyses the most recent studies and scientific papers on climate action plans. • Good practices for climate mitigation and adaptation in urban settings are critically investigated. • The study analyses current strategies in sedimented landscape realities of high historical and cultural value. • A toolkit is proposed that can be repurposed for similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disadvantaged social groups through an urban citizenship lens. Urban citizenship is conceptualised as being produced in everyday, localised practices and legal arrangements. It is thus constituted as a complex interplay of legal status and opportunities for social, economic and political participation. Building on qualitative data from two larger West-German cities, the paper focusses on how policies implemented in response to the pandemic have affected low-income households in neighbourhoods with a high share of inhabitants with a migration history. The paper elaborates on three main findings. Firstly, it shows that households already facing substantial socio-economic pressures such as overcrowded housing conditions or difficulties to provide educational support for their children were disproportionately affected by the regulations such as home schooling and contact restrictions. Secondly, it highlights that the limited accessibility of key administrations contributed to the increase in household insecurities, especially with regard to residence permits and material livelihood. Thirdly, it shows how the pandemic has reinforced an ongoing process of externalising negotiations around citizenship from state institutions to non-state counselling centres. • Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented policy measures on residents in disadvantaged neighbourhoods • For migrants the legal component of citizenship became key during the pandemic • Households already facing socio-economic pressures were disproportionately affected by regulations such as lockdowns and home schooling. • Limited accessibility of key administrations contributed to the increasing vulnerability of low-income and migrant households • Process of externalising negotiations around citizenship from state institutions to non-state counselling centres reinforced [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual characteristics of the built environment affect how people perceive and experience cities. For a long time, many studies have examined visual perception in cities. Such efforts have accelerated in recent years due to advancements in technologies and the proliferation of relevant data (e.g., street view imagery, geo-tagged photos, videos, virtual reality, and aerial imagery). There has not been a comprehensive systematic review paper on this topic to reveal an overarching set of research trends, limitations, and future research opportunities. Such omission is plausibly due to the difficulty in reviewing a large number of relevant papers on this popular topic. In this study, we utilized machine learning techniques (i.e., natural language processing and large language models) to semi-automate the review process and reviewed 393 relevant papers. Through the review, we found that these papers can be categorized into the physical aspects of cities: greenery and water, street design, building design, landscape, public space, and the city as a whole. We also revealed that many studies conducted quantitative analyses with a recent trend of increasingly utilizing big data and advanced technologies, such as combinations of street view imagery and deep learning models. Limitations and research gaps were also identified as follows: (1) a limited scope in terms of study areas, sample size, and attributes; (2) low quality of subjective and visual data; and (3) the need for more controlled and sophisticated methods to infer more closely examined impacts of visual features on human perceptions. We suggest that future studies utilize and contribute to open data and take advantage of existing data and technologies to examine the causality of visual features on human perception. The approach developed to accelerate this review proved to be accurate, efficient, and insightful. Considering its novelty, we also describe it to enable replications in the future. • Comprehensive and overarching review on 393 urban visual perception studies • Novel approach to semi-automate the systematic review with NLP and LLM models • Identified six dominant categories (e.g., greenery and water and street design) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the notion of the 'counter-city', which has emerged through processes of 'countering' within the framework of 'third space', in Durban, South Africa. Countering represents alternate conceptualizations and practices of urban processes to those of dominant northern discourse. Durban transitioned from a colonial and apartheid city, based on social separation, inequality, and differential service provision in the 20th century, to one that is now grappling with its apartheid legacy, informality and poverty, contested governance, environmental risk, and civil unrest, whilst simultaneously negotiating its way as an incipient global city. Durban's municipal, research, civic and NGO actions challenge urban scholars to rethink the notion of the post-metropolis and what the counter-city means in this context. This rethinking is reflected in counter moves, that not only resist hegemonic formations, but seek to blend policy and programme development to provide voice to the poor, address precarity, and ensure climate resilience and economic competitiveness. Drawing on the analysis of selected interventions, we argue that the experience of Durban provides insight into the complex nature of urban development. It outlines how a city is attempting to negotiate its future, through processes of countering, which sheds light on alternate conceptualisations of what 'urban' life, well-being, and governance mean in a 'counter-city'. • This paper seeks to advance the case to de-centre hegemonic urban theory arguments. • Durban, South Africa, through its hybridity, is presented as an evolving 'counter-city'. • Processes of 'countering' shape development engagement and outcomes to produce new conceptualisations of the urban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the hydrological history of the Hunter River and Estuary (Newcastle, Australia), to identify pathways for incorporating climate-sensitive adaptation approaches into urban development and planning. The research method utilises mapping as a methodological discovery tools to visually articulate the correlation of pre-colonial hydrological landscapes, the transformation of the estuary over two centuries, the areas identified as at risk, and the opportunities for developing a climate-resilient estuary. This research aims to contribute to the redefinition of the discourse on the role of estuary planning for changing climate, focusing on four critical aspects: identify the impacts of urbanisation and industrialisation on ecosystems and its correlation with climate hazard at the estuary; visualise such transformations over time and space to identify critical spatial and climate factors threatening inhabitation; propose strategic spatial practices towards adaptation and resilience; and synthesising the options to foster reflective thinking and establish a correlation with novel policies, governance and practices. The study highlights that adopting new urbanism aligned with cultural and ecological principles can mitigate future climate impacts through re-naturalisation and urban adaptation to sea-level rise by focusing on proactive approaches to building resilient communities. This paper also acknowledges the need for site-specific adaptive design and planning strategies at multiple scales and governance levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the sustainable development being a consensus in human society, assessment of healthy development index in urban cities (HDI-UC) has been a hot concern in academia. Existing research works had proposed some assessment models from the perspective of sociology. However, these approaches can just assess HDI-UC values of current year and past years, as they relied on complete index systems. They failed to possess the ability to directly assess HDI-UC values in future years. To bridge such gap, this paper proposes a smart assessment and forecasting framework for HDI-UC. On the one hand, an assessment model proposed in a previous study is introduced as the basic model. On the other hand, the Gaussian process regression is utilized to model the evolving HDI-UC sequence, so that HDI-UC values in future years can be directly forecasted according to historical ones. A case study is conducted on real-world statistical data collected from some regions of China to illustrate assessment process of the framework. Besides, another group of experiments are also carried out to evaluate forecasting performance. The simulation results show that prediction error of SAF-HDI is around 5 %, which is within an acceptable range. • Smart assessment and forecasting framework for index of cities • A machine learning method for rapid forecasting • Simulative analysis via computer programming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas encompass essential social functions that are fundamental for the development and quality of life. This research explores why the concept of the 15-minute city, while commendable in its aspirations, might fall short in effectively mitigating urban inequalities, especially within densely populated and segregated developing cities. Using Bogotá (Colombia) as a case study, this paper advocates and develops a standardized index based on the availability of essential urban functions within a 15-minute walking distance. This index also integrates individual preferences, geographical attributes, and the quality of pedestrian infrastructure. Doing so provides a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing proximity, accommodating the diverse needs of various social identities. Considering individual preferences towards proximity is critical to comprehend the determinants of accessibility, encompassing the relevance of sociodemographic characteristics. Although several urban areas worldwide may meet the broad interpretation of the 15-minute city concept, our research reveals significant disparities among population segments regarding access to urban services and their prioritization. Our case study found that grocery stores and healthcare facilities hold paramount importance across all population segments. Furthermore, wealthy segments exhibit a heightened preference for retail shops and commercial services. In contrast, the low-income population has a considerably greater preference for healthcare facilities. This study aims to cast light upon structural disparities inherent in urban areas, thereby unveiling inequalities in the 15-minute city concept's capacity to diagnose and mitigate urban inequalities. The promotion of a more all-encompassing and inclusive measurement approach is posited as a contribution to the advancement of our comprehension and the effective implementation of the 15-minute city concept across heterogeneous urban landscapes. • This paper advocates for the development of a standardized index based on urban functions within a 15-minute walking distance. • The 15-minute city concept must include, besides proximity to opportunities, the quality of pedestrian infrastructure. • The index integrates individual preferences to understand the determinants of proximity, including sociodemographic attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas are increasingly adopting the tool of urban food policies (UFPs) to address food-related challenges, especially for a sustainable transition of their food systems (FS). Indeed, FS were assessed to have a great environmental impact, and cities are recognized as privileged actors to address this challenge. More recently, the problem of justice in such transition was raised. One dimension of vulnerability proven to crosscut all FS stages, and to increase exposure to climate change effects, is gender. However, literature on just food transition and UFPs does not seem to always consider this dimension of potential vulnerability. This paper firstly elaborates on the concept of "just food transition" (JFT), then presents relevant literature on gender differences in FS to argue that interventions aimed at JFT should apply gender mainstreaming. Later, it analyzes twenty relevant cases of UFPs to assess whether they consider gender differences, with the aim of demonstrating that, although theory seems to prove its relevance, a gender mainstreaming approach is still widely lacking from policy practice and rather some policies risk to reinforce existing gender stereotypes related to the FS. The paper ends with conclusions and suggestions for further research. • Gender differences have been proven to exist throughout all stages of the food system. • Just food transition literature tends to overlook implications of gender differences. • A gender mainstreaming approach is widely lacking from urban food policies. • The urban food policies of Zaragoza and Barcelona are innovative in their attention to gender differences in urban matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While economic geographers have studied cities and regions as the locus of innovation and entrepreneurship in the fashion industry, the role of the local context in coordinating knowledge development and collaborative relations towards sustainable and circular fashion has yet to be examined in depth. Simultaneously, while circular economy literature has emphasized the importance of inter-organizational collaborations for driving transitions towards the circular economy, how these relational processes could take place at the local scale deserves further attention, especially for sectors such as the fashion industry that have developed complex and fragmented global value chain relationships. This paper aims to bridge these knowledge gaps by applying the concept of proximity relations to understanding how fashion industry stakeholders coordinate interactions and collaborations in advancing circular fashion initiatives. Proximity dimensions as developed in innovation and economic geography studies serve as a useful conceptual lens to examine both the spatial and non-spatial forms of stakeholder interactions, thereby highlighting both the local and global scales of coordination in circular fashion initiatives. This paper conducts a systematic literature review on circular fashion, through which a content analysis of proximity relations is performed. The analysis illustrates both the geographical and non-geographical proximity dimensions that matter in coordinating resource flows across the production, consumption, and end-of-life phases to narrow, slow, and close resource flows in fashion. Furthermore, various intermediary organizations support coordination at both the local and global scales. Understanding the various dimensions of proximity relations in circular fashion provides nuanced policy implications for cities and regions on ways to foster both local and global collaborations in making fashion circular. • A systematic literature review on circular fashion is conducted to understand proximity relations in circular fashion. • Geographical and non-geographical proximity dimensions across lifecycle in circular fashion get highlighted. • Findings offer insights for cities and regions to facilitate circular fashion initiatives at local and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private transport constitutes the prerequisite for the freedom of mobility and facilitates accessibility for activities of older adults. Abundant studies have been conducted on the association between car ownership and life satisfaction in Western countries where cars dominate private transport. However, as the most prevalent and conventional private transport in China, cars and e-bikes have not received adequate attention. Using 2015 and 2018 datasets from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we apply the Propensity Score Matching–Difference in Differences to investigate how private transport influences the multi-dimensional life quality of older adults. Furthermore, we focus on the mediation effect of social participation on the above causal effect. Our findings reveal that car and e-bike ownership have a causal impact on older adults' life satisfaction, while the influence of e-bike ownership is multi-dimensional. The relationship between car ownership and life satisfaction is mediated by social participation regarding exercise and voluntary activities. However, the mediation effects of mahjong and exercise activities are statistically significant between e-bike ownership and the multi-dimensional life quality of older adults. Understanding the life quality of older adults related to private transport is essential for guiding travel mobility and the life quality of older adults in China. • The paper reveals the causal effect of private transport on multi-dimensional life quality among older adults, including life satisfaction, happiness, loneliness, and depression. • The paper explores the mediation effect of social participation on the relationship between car/e-bike ownership and multi-dimensional life quality. • Using 2015 and 2018 datasets from the CHARLS, the methods of Propensity Score Matching–Difference in Differences and Mediation Analysis are applied in the study. • The results show that both car and e-bike ownership have causal effects on the life satisfaction of older adults, while the influence of e-bike ownership is multi-dimensional. • Participation in mahjong activity mediated the relationship between e-bike ownership and the life quality of older adults, while not for car ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines three levels of digital inequality, access, use, and outcomes, within a major U.S. city. The Resources and Appropriation (RA) Theory is used to explain the digital divide within a city. Using paper and electronic surveys in English and Spanish, the researchers conducted a city-wide survey to examine all three levels of digital inequality. The research methods were descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Findings include that the digital divide persists at all three levels, with older respondents. Furthermore, geographical residential location, income level, and educational attainment emerged as significant predictors of digital inequality. Findings not normally found in the digital divide literature are that geography and limited English proficiency significantly impacted internet use and outcomes. These findings contribute to our understanding of the digital divide within a large urban area and shed light on how inequalities manifest across different regions of the city. The study also highlights the persistent presence of digital inequality in various low-income communities within the city, underscoring the need for further research on the community level. • Three levels of digital inequality in access, use, and outcomes are examined. • Findings include that the digital divide persists at all three levels. • Residential location, income level, and educational attainment predictors of digital inequality. • Geography and limited English proficiency significantly impacted internet use and outcomes. • These findings contribute to understanding the digital divide within a large urban area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As resilience planning gains prominence in urban sustainable development, green infrastructures (GIs) are widely recognized as effective solutions to address climate risks and environmental challenges. While urban greening initiatives have multiple benefits, they can also lead to unintended consequences such as environmental injustice, increasing property values, and the displacement and gentrification of vulnerable residents in the affected areas. While gentrification remains a significant concern for urban sustainability initiatives that aim to promote environmental justice, a consensus upon approaches and methods for precisely identifying communities undergoing gentrification is still lacking. While most of the existing research studies focused on examining the relationship between GIs and gentrification, little-to-no research was conducted to quantify the green gentrification vulnerability of different communities. To this end, and to bridge this knowledge gap, this paper proposes and develops a novel index called the green gentrification vulnerability index (GGVI). First, an extensive list of 35 indicators that contribute to green gentrification was identified and grouped into 7 categories: economic, social, housing, household, demographic, amenities, and GIs. Second, data were gathered on the 35 indicators for all the 2325 census tracts across New York City (NYC) in the US. Third, the data were preprocessed to ensure their suitability for implementing Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Fourth, PCA was implemented for each of the 7 categories separately to weight their respective green gentrification indicators and calculate vulnerability scores. Finally, these vulnerability scores were used to develop the GGVI. The research findings provided insights on the importance of the 35 indicators as well as the 7 green gentrification-related vulnerability categories in relation to their contribution to the GGVI. The 7 categories were ranked as follows: amenities, GIs, economic, demographic, social, housing, and households. In addition, proximity to parks, frequency of parks, proximity to GIs, and total area of parks were found to be the most important GIs-related indicators that could lead to green gentrification. Overall, this paper contributes to the growing body of research that addresses green gentrification by being the first study that proposes and develops a GGVI that can be used to identify at-risk communities from green gentrification and ultimately help practitioners, urban planners, decision-makers, and researchers in developing new policies and strategies aimed to mitigate the unintended consequences of green gentrification (i.e., displacement of vulnerable communities) and promote environmental justice and urban sustainability. • Green gentrification vulnerability was studied based on 35 indicators. • The importance of the different indicators was determined. • Principal Component Analysis was used to develop a GGVI. • The proposed index allows census-track green gentrification vulnerability analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the urban character of Chinatown districts around the world, as a key example of an urban ethnic enclave, focusing on four large Chinatowns in San Francisco, Yokohama, Melbourne and Sydney. It advances knowledge about the spatial elements that define urban districts, a concept pioneered by Kevin Lynch. Existing literature on Chinatowns primarily explores the historically changing relationships between their Chinese migrant communities and their host cities, or the visual and physical character of individual cases. This paper develops new insights into how the built forms of these urban districts are similar to or different from their surroundings and from each other. It employs a methodology that combines space syntax analysis of street networks, morphological analysis of built form, land-use analysis, and mapping of visual character from street level. It examines the Chinatown districts' spatial extents in terms of contrasts between their spatial attributes and their wider urban surroundings. The findings develop a new taxonomy of Chinatowns based on their urban spatial characteristics. • Develops new methods to map and analyse the spatial character of urban districts • Compares Chinatowns' built form and street networks to their urban surroundings • Analyses Chinatowns' varying accessibility within the overall urban street network • Reveals how contemporary Chinatowns extend beyond their traditional boundaries • Compares four case study cities to identify a new spatial taxonomy of Chinatowns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When relating to build environments, porosity refers to soft transitions across geographies and to the interpenetration between spaces of a different character. While its importance is recognised, its absence in post-modern urban fabrics has become evident. Therefore, this paper's primary objective is to contribute to the resettling of porosity in its various dimensions. To that end, it questions the circumstances that led to the erosion of porosity in urban environments and how that erosion is visible. To answer, the paper (1) establishes concepts for urban and architectural porosity, the criteria that determine each of those and parameters to evaluate it; (2) revisits modernist principles, indicating those that contradicted porosity; and (3) demonstrates how porosity evolved through a comparative of five Lisbon neighbourhoods. The study attests that the implementation of ideas from the modernist movement resulted in a radical loss of porosity, concluding that, in maintaining modernist principles, Portuguese regulation keeps encouraging impermeable cityscapes. The research withdraws the term porosity from ambiguity. And presents concepts, criteria and evaluation parameters that are applicable in various contexts. Through an understanding of the problem, it also points towards a solution, highlighting the need for a further investigation to improve legal frameworks. • A porous built environment depends on porosity at two scales: urban and architectural. • Urban porosity refers to the easy flow of people across geographies, being related with continuous urban fabrics. • Architectural porosity refers to the gradual transition between spaces of different characters (e.g. between inside and outside, between privade and public) resulting in the natural appropriation of places. • Together, urban and architectural porosity contribute to walkability and increased informal contacts, resulting in better health outcomes, stronger communities and vivid streets. • Current regulation is still trapped in modernists principles that promoted abrupt transitions, segregation and the fragmentation of cities encouraging unporous urban environments; and should, therefore, be amended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]