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• IoT sensors and Signal Detection Theory improve flood modeling accuracy. • IoT flood sensors uniquely identify zero flooding situations. • Optimal spatial scale varies across regions for accurate flood classification. • 450 m is the optimal spatial scale for reliably validating the flood simulation. • Ensemble-based flood verification enhances validation robustness. Inundation mapping by flood simulation is subject to uncertainties which spatial accuracy assessment could not be processed as normal mapping does. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the spatial accuracy of flood verification using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in several flood-prone regions in Taiwan, including Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung, during three storm events in 2021. The study adopts Signal Detection Theory (SDT) and proposes an ensemble-based approach that combines multiple evaluation metrics to enhance the accuracy and reliability of flood verification in these regions. The study examines the inundation availabilities between flood observation from IoT sensors and flood simulation. A range of spatial scales varies from 100 m to 1000 m and also administrative divisions are considered including neighborhood-level and village-level scales. The results show that increasing the spatial scale generally leads to higher True Positives, indicating improved flood detection, but it also results in increased False Positives, indicating more misclassification of non-flooded points. The findings reveal that the optimal spatial scale for all cities/counties is 450 m which indicates the averaged spatial accuracy of the flood simulation. However, there is notable variation in the optimal spatial scale across different regions. The ensemble approach demonstrates high consistency in determining the optimal spatial scale, as eight out of ten metrics consistently identify the same value. Additionally, the study compares flood verification across administrative divisions in Taiwan, finding that the village-level spatial scale performs best in Changhua and Yunlin counties, while the neighborhood-level scale is preferred in Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. This research provides a valuable framework to estimate inundation mapping accuracy under flood verification using IoT sensors in the specified region of Taiwan and highlights the importance of considering local conditions and administrative divisions in determining the optimal spatial scale. These findings can contribute to the improvement of flood detection and monitoring systems in the area with IoT flood sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Taiwan's most important port city, Kaohsiung is well known for its petrochemical industrial cluster initially developed during the Japanese colonial period in the first half of the 20th century, followed by modernization and industrialization under authoritarian developmental technocrats in the context of cold war geopolitics between China and the United State of America. Over these decades, health and safety concerns were never a priority in development of the petrochemical industry. This chronic neglect led to the August 2014 explosions of 4 km of subterranean gas pipelines connecting the port and distant industrial zones, devastating the residential neighbourhoods that had been built above them. This paper aims to provide understanding why a leak from an underground industrial gas pipeline led to the deaths of 32 and the injury of a further 321, and how people reacted to this disaster. To comprehend the subterranean as a complex assemblage, we highlight three perspectives on the elemental of earth: (1) striated earth, (2) rhizomorphic earth, and (3) affective earth. First, earth can contribute its property to sustain urban metabolism and economic development by technocrats and engineers who scientifically investigate and map the underground via striating knowledge of the subterranean. Second, the elemental of earth can also become a hazardous place of rhizome-like multiplicities and connections for disasters to extend and mutate across multiple infrastructure sets. This rhizomorphic subterranean facilitates the spread of flammable propylene, which was the proximal cause of the 2014 explosion. Thirdly, after the disaster, previous public indifference to issues of subterranean safety was replaced by acute anger and criticism of industrial land use policy. The further affective imagination on the undergound as homeland helps the public to reconcile with their long-existed everyday unawareness of and alienation from the elemental of earth under their feet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the concept of a city-based cultural ecosystem service, and how innovations and systematic operations management can help an international city to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Previous studies suggest that most of the PPP models focus on the operation and analysis of PPP construction projects, limited attention of the subsequent operations and management for PPP facilities. This paper thus proposed an integrated PPP management framework with the principles of Cultural Ecosystem Service (CES) and open innovation to support better operations management of PPP projects. While the management of modern PPP projects will inevitably encounter the challenges of cross-disciplinary management and service innovation in the period of operations management, Cultural Ecosystem Service Innovation (CESI) framework is useful to support the practice and continuous improvement. A real-world case of Kaohsiung Dome in Taiwan has been benchmarked and analyzed with empirical data. With in-depth expert interviews, the paper demonstrates the use of CESI framework to support business strategy and operations management for sustainable system development and shared values. Management implications were addressed to promote multiple positive feedbacks with the government, enterprises, and the general public and jointly strive to support the development of a benchmarked city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is a need to create sustainable urban development and quality living environments for the growing urban populations of high-density cities. Sustainable urban planning of high-density cities from the urban climatic point of view is a topical issue for city planners and policy makers. However, the application of urban climatic knowledge has only led to low-impact urban planning decision-making. This is especially true in high-density cities in developing countries. Thus, there is an urgent need to seek ways to quickly collate urban climatic information for planning in a format that is user-friendly for planners. This study has identified ways to promote the use of urban climatic knowledge in planning. By utilizing readily-available data, the paper introduces a method that focuses on urban planning using an urban climatic map (UCMap). A UCMap provides a visual and spatial information platform for the planner-friendly Geographical Information System (GIS). By focusing on Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the study first defines the urban climatic issues in the area. It then introduces the key methodology of urban climatic mapping and elaborates on general urban-climatic-based planning advice for planners using a UCMap. Lastly, it identifies sensitive areas and provides planning recommendations that can be easily tested and applied by city planners. The critical importance of urban greenery and coverage, urban air paths and open spaces, water bodies and rivers, and building morphology and layout have been highlighted visually and spatially for planners. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Kaohsiung city is known as the economy development core due to its contribution in the livelihood industry, energy supply, trade and transport. However, the globalized container trend and cargo volume shared by the second port have made the old Kaohsiung port idling. Moreover, it has increased the old issue regarding the jurisdiction of Kaohsiung port which had an outstanding economic growth conflicting with the development cognition. Therefore, the political party worked with central and local organization, and through establishing administrative contracts, to transform and regenerate the deconstructed old Kaohsiung port by breaking through the limits of the Commercial Port Act and ultimately becoming a port-city collaboration development model worthy of studying. The first section of this paper provides an overview of the economic development trajectories of the Kaohsiung port city and explains the important role of Kaohsiung port with Relative Concentration Index (RCI). The second section briefly discusses some management institutions related to the Kaohsiung port, and through the power transfer of two Taiwan’s main political parties it explains how administrative contract was signed to minimize organization members’ resistance during the transformation. The fourth cross-domain coordination model driven by political parties which facilitated the transformation of the Kaohsiung port and the city industry by establishing a new system was also mentioned. The final section, based on the notion of power sharing in Taiwan’s democratic system and promotion of diversified cores and modes of cross-field coordination, explains the importance of institutional transformation and provides reference strategies to improve the inter-party and cross-strait relation accordingly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The occurrence of many buildings’ collapse in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is caused by groundwater leakages in the reception area of a shield tunnel machine during the construction of an underground metro subway tunnel. This paper presents the results of planned forensic diagnosis including reviews of designs, reviews of construction records, and finally investigation of extended damages to the adjacent ground and structures. Finally, this study concluded with an analysis of an inferred failure mechanism resulting in such severe damage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]