Search

The rise in performance and health concerns presents a complex challenge to workplace well-being. While existing research highlights the positive impact of exposure to nature on well-being, there is a gap in supporting biophilic building designs in workplaces. This study addresses this issue by introducing a Type-1 Interval Fuzzy Set (IFS) framework to assess workplace health, and recommends Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for enhancement. The proposed framework comprises two fuzzy subsystems targeting environmental comfort and occupational health that are integrated into a third subsystem to provide tailored NbS recommendations. A case study conducted in a coworking space validated the framework's practical application, revealing significant improvements in environmental and occupational conditions. Key findings include a reduction in absenteeism, enhancement in employee satisfaction, and creation of more comfortable and restorative environments. Recommendations, such as green walls, indoor gardens, and natural light filters, have been shown to effectively mitigate discomfort and promote well-being. The framework demonstrated flexibility in managing uncertainties, optimizing resource allocation, and providing targeted interventions for workplace conditions. These results highlight the framework's potential as a robust decision-support tool for improving workplace health and well-being through systematic and evidence-based strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban Green Spaces (UGS) are integral to advancing urban sustainability and improving the quality of life in cities. However, in rapidly urbanizing regions like the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (MRSP), significant environmental injustices in UGS accessibility present a complex challenge that requires in-depth understanding. Notably, existing studies predominantly focus on developed countries, leaving a gap in research concerning emerging economies in the Global South. This study aims to analyze the associations between sociodemographic factors and environmental racism in UGS accessibility within the municipalities of MRSP. The research utilizes Spearman Rank Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses on data sourced from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the Urban Green Data Platform. Key variables include the number of inhabitants, territorial area, population density, urbanization rate, gross domestic product (GDP), human development index (HDI), urban vegetation coverage, UGS per capita, and the difference between the total population and the Black or Indigenous populations residing outside the vicinity of UGSs as an indicator of environmental racism. The findings reveal significant correlations between higher GDP and HDI with increased environmental racism in UGS accessibility, suggesting that, in the absence of equitable policies, economic and human development may exacerbate disparities in green space distribution. Moreover, the study demonstrates that increased urban vegetation coverage is significantly associated with reduced environmental disparities, underscoring the role of urban greenery in mitigating inequality. These results emphasize the need for comprehensive urban planning and targeted policies that prioritize the equitable development of UGS, particularly in underserved areas. Future research should explore longitudinal data to establish causality and consider additional variables such as political governance and cultural factors, which could provide a more comprehensive understanding of environmental racism in UGS accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGSs) play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in cities, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions such as the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). However, significant challenges related to equitable management and access persist, often exacerbated by socio-environmental inequalities. While much of the existing literature on UGS management focuses on developed economies, there is a gap in our understanding of how community engagement influences UGS outcomes in emerging economies, which face unique socio-economic and infrastructural constraints. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of community engagement on UGS management in the MRSP, specifically examining how increased participation correlates with improved UGS access and reduced socio-environmental inequality. Utilizing survey data from 33 municipal environmental departments across the MRSP, this research applied correlation tests, generalized linear models, and a non-parametric analysis of variance to evaluate the relationships between community engagement, UGS coverage, and inequality. The findings reveal a moderate positive correlation between community engagement and UGS coverage, alongside a negative correlation with socio-environmental inequality. Increased levels of community participation were associated with greater access to UGSs and a reduction in disparities across socio-economic groups. These results underscore the potential of fostering community involvement in UGS management to promote urban equity and environmental sustainability in emerging economies, particularly through institutional support and transparent information sharing. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term effects of sustained community engagement and incorporate qualitative data from community members to provide a more comprehensive analysis of participatory processes. Additionally, expanding the scope of analysis to include informal and private green spaces will offer a more holistic understanding of urban greening dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides represent a growing global geological hazard, further intensified by climate‐induced changes. Remote sensing data, through its capacity for repetitive collection and change detection techniques, that compare and quantify the spatio‐temporal alterations over time, plays a critical role in landslide detection. Considering the February 2023 São Sebastião event and Sentinel‐2 imagery, we assessed diverse unsupervised change detection techniques, encompassing both traditional and recent machine learning‐based approaches. Notably, the Floating References (FR) and Homogeneous Blocks Single‐class Classification (HBSC) methods outperform classic approaches and deliver the most accurate results with F1‐Score and kappa coefficient exceeding 0.96 and 0.92, respectively. These outcomes demonstrate the efficacy of machine learning in automating landslide delineation and underscore the necessity of meticulous data and parameter selection in achieving high‐accuracy automatic landslide mapping. Lastly, this study fills a significant gap in the existing literature by evaluating unsupervised change detection methods for landslide mapping within the Brazilian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGS) are vital for the quality of life in cities. However, managing these spaces in metropolitan areas is increasingly challenging. There is a critical gap regarding the specific challenges and strategies employed by municipalities of varying sizes in emerging economies. Most existing research focuses on developed countries, leaving a void in understanding how these economies manage UGS under different constraints. This study delves into the challenges and strategies associated with managing UGS in the metropolitan region of São Paulo (MRSP), Brazil, comparing the experiences of the municipalities to provide empirical evidence that can inform policy making and urban planning practices in similar contexts. A structured questionnaire was distributed to environmental departments across 39 municipalities in MRSP. The survey included questions on population size, priority given to UGS, challenges faced and strategies adopted to overcome barriers. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the association between municipality size and the identified challenges and strategies. This study found that larger municipalities face significant barriers related to high population density and land use conflicts, which are less pronounced in smaller municipalities. However, strategies adopted to manage UGS were similar across all municipalities. Policy makers should focus on promoting vertical green spaces, expanding urban greening programs, and ensuring equitable resource allocation. Public–private partnerships and community involvement in planning processes are crucial for sustainable UGS management. Integrating UGS policies with broader urban development plans is essential for creating cohesive urban environments. Further research should conduct comparative studies across multiple metropolitan regions in different countries to provide a more comprehensive understanding of UGS management globally. This study integrates insights from urban ecology, landscape architecture, and public policy, emphasizing the interdisciplinary approach required for effective UGS management. The findings offer practical guidance for urban planners and landscape architects to design sustainable urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]