Search

Purpose To examine the impact of public bus system on spatial burglary pattern in a Chinese urban context, as well as the spatial variation of this impact. Methods Local Moran's I, boxplot-based classification, geo-visualization, Chi-square test, and correlation analysis are used to explore the spatial coupling relationships between bus stops and burglary. Guided by routine activity approach, negative binomial regressions are performed for the developed and developing parts of the DP peninsula, as well as the whole peninsula based on proxies of potential offenders, guardians, targets, and spatial dependence. Results Statistically positive correlations are observed between burglary count and bus stop service capability. However, net of other factors, one more unidirectional bus route is expected to reduce burglary by nearly 2 percent for the whole area, and 4 percent for the developed area, while no statistically significant relationship is found for the developing area. Conclusions The bus-burglary relationships differ between the developed and developing urban areas. For the former, although burglaries concentrate around bus stops with higher service capability, the increase of bus service capability has a net impact of slightly depressing the occurrence of burglaries. Four possible mechanisms explaining this negative bus-burglary relationship in the DP peninsula are presented.

The urban climate map (UCMap) system has been widely applied in climate-friendly urban design. To facilitate accurate and effective UCMap construction, this study combines the urban energy balance calculation model (UDC) and local climate zone (LCZ) parameterization to obtain dynamic block-scale urban climatic parameters. The study area is the Higher Education Mega Center (HEMC) of Guangzhou, and a block-based LCZ classification methodology is proposed to generate an LCZ map of the HEMC. Then a framework is established by integrating the LCZ parameterization and UDC model to obtain a spatiotemporal UCMap atlas of the HEMC. The results show that the overall average local-scale urban heat island intensity (LUHII) and urban wet island intensity (LUWII) vary by 4.99 °C and 3.87 g/kg, respectively, over 24 h. Regarding the spatial distributions, the average LUHII and LUWII reach maximum values of 6.6 °C and 1.3 g/kg, respectively, within the HEMC. Additionally, correlation analysis of the physical property parameters and simulated climatic parameters shows that among the physical parameters, both the sky view factor and pervious surface fraction (PSF) have significant positive effects on the LUHII, whereas only the PSF has a positive effect on the LUWII. Furthermore, quantitative equations describing these relationships are derived, and climate problem zones are defined in terms of temperature and humidity. Identification of these climate problem zones within the HEMC enables appropriate optimization measures to support climate-friendly urban planning.

Mega-city region is the mainstream of global urban development and also the dominant model of the neo urbanization process in China. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, Yangtze River Delta area and Pearl River Delta area are China’s three largest and most mature mega-city regions, the status of which represents the general level of the urban and regional development in China. Based on entire-array-polygon method, this paper makes a comprehensive evolution assessment of the three mega-city regions in terms of urban population index, urban economy index, urban life index, urban culture index and urban primacy index. In terms of general developing level, the three mega-city regions have progressed to optimize the structure. With their respective advantages and disadvantages, the three mega-city regions initially realize a “diversified” regional layout. The difference and gap among the three mega-city regions are obviously decreasing, which contributes to the regional balance of China metropolitan development. The rankings of the three mega-city regions will be in a continuous adjustment. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area is possible to catch up and take the lead.

The ultimate goal of the study was to assess the human disturbance in an urban system and to provide valid information for sustainable urban planning. This chapter identifies current major issues in Chiang Mai, Thailand, related to water supply and demand, wastewater management, and water quality. Existing institutional and government structures regarding environmentally sustainable development are analyzed to identify players in urban sustainable planning and development. Data obtained from the field show that the quality of surface water has been negatively affected by the urbanization of Chiang Mai. The chapter explores the nature of urban stream degradation and the relationships between this degradation and specific urban activities or “human factors”. Currently, the water supply only reacts to the demand from land development. There is not an overall plan to guide development. The authors recommend that the Chiang Mai municipality establish a water quality monitoring system, integrate water supply planning and water quality management with land use planning, and use GIS to share data and to support decision making.