The global Urban Planning Software market is experiencing robust growth, with a market size of $8.87 billion in 2025 and a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.81% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is driven by several key factors. Increasing urbanization globally necessitates efficient and sustainable urban planning, fueling demand for sophisticated software solutions. Government initiatives promoting smart city development and infrastructure modernization are further boosting market adoption. The integration of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) within urban planning software enhances its capabilities, leading to improved decision-making and resource allocation. Furthermore, the growing adoption of cloud-based solutions offers scalability and accessibility, contributing to market growth. While the market faces challenges such as high initial investment costs and the need for skilled professionals to operate these complex systems, the long-term benefits of improved urban planning and resource management outweigh these limitations. The market is segmented by deployment (cloud-based and web-based), end-user (government, real estate, and infrastructure companies), and geography, with North America currently holding a significant market share due to early adoption and technological advancements. However, regions like APAC are witnessing rapid growth, driven by substantial infrastructure development projects and increasing government investments. The competitive landscape is characterized by a mix of established players and innovative startups, fostering innovation and competition. The continued growth of the Urban Planning Software market is expected to be fueled by several factors. The rising adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for improved collaboration and design efficiency within urban projects will be a major driver. Furthermore, the growing need for data-driven insights for better urban planning and sustainable development strategies will further bolster the market. Increased focus on environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation will also drive demand for software capable of integrating environmental impact assessments into urban planning. The market's expansion will also be influenced by the increasing adoption of mobile-based solutions, providing greater accessibility and flexibility for urban planners. Competition among vendors will intensify, pushing innovation and driving the development of more sophisticated and user-friendly software solutions, ensuring continuous growth in the coming years. Specific regional growth patterns are expected to be influenced by factors such as economic conditions, government policies, and technological maturity levels in different areas.

The triad of host, agent, and environment has become a widely accepted framework for understanding infectious diseases and human health. While modern medicine has traditionally focused on the individual, there is a renewed interest in the role of the environment. Recent studies have shifted from an early-twentieth-century emphasis on individual factors to a broader consideration of contextual factors, including environmental, climatic, and social settings as spatial determinants of health. This shifted focus has been particularly relevant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where the built environment in urban settings is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor influencing disease transmission. However, operationalizing the complexity of associations between the built environment and health for empirical analyses presents significant challenges. This study aims to identify key caveats in the operationalization of spatial determinants of health for empirical analysis and proposes guiding principles for future research. We focus on how the built environment in urban settings was studied in recent literature on COVID-19. Based on a set of criteria, we analyze 23 studies and identify explicit and implicit assumptions regarding the health-related dimensions of the built environment. Our findings highlight the complexities and potential pitfalls, referred to as the ‘spatial trap,' in the current approaches to spatial epidemiology concerning COVID-19. We conclude with recommendations and guiding questions for future studies to avoid falsely attributing a built environment impact on health outcomes and to clarify explicit and implicit assumptions regarding the health-related dimensions.

This study explored the relationship between community participation/community attachment and subjective well-being (SWB) among Japanese older adults. The study was conducted in Japanese urban (Tokyo and Osaka) and rural (Shikoku region) areas. Structural equation modelling was performed to assess the potential relationship between community participation, community attachment and SWB. Results showed that community participation and community attachment were positively associated in both areas. However, community attachment had a significant impact on SWB only in rural areas with little impact on increasing SWB in urban areas. We conclude that the role of community attachment varies according to regions with different socioeconomic properties. These findings contribute to the design of detailed region-specific initiatives to improve SWB of older adults.

This is a transcription of an interview that took place within the project Sound-Frameworks: Collaborative Frameworks for Integrating Sound Within Urban Design and Planning Processes.

Sound-Frameworks is an action-led research project that explores the role of sound in urban design and city planning. The project is led by the artist and researcher Dr. Sven Anderson and hosted by Theatrum Mundi, a non-profit organisation that expands the craft of city-making through collaboration with artists.

Central to this project is a focus on how urban sonic experience can serve as a driver for design in the public realm. The public realm constitutes the integral connective tissue that defines the contemporary cityscape, within which different individuals, communities and institutions engage with each other through cooperation and conflict. Sound has remained a neglected dimension of this domain, generally coming into consideration only within late stages of design through efforts to ameliorate the impact of environmental noise. As the densification of urban territories accelerates, the role of sonic experience as an essential factor to be addressed by urban designers must be reassessed.

Sound-Frameworks explores new methodologies for integrating sound in urban design through the production of three inter-related resources:

1. A sound in practice survey
2. A publication on best practice guidelines in this field
3. An online tool to guide the integration of sound in the design of the public realm

Drawing from environmental acoustics, spatial planning, contemporary sound studies, the project initiates a framework to extend regional, national and international objectives for integrated city planning and contribute to public realm initiatives in Europe and beyond.

Sound-Frameworks has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101032632.

Sound-Frameworks is hosted by Theatrum Mundi (UK) and supported by partnerships with Arup (UK), UrbanIdentity (CH), Struer Kommune (DK), the University of Oxford Faculty of Music (UK) and the Sound Studies Lab at the University of Copenhagen (DK).

Sound-Frameworks: https://www.soundframeworks.org
Theatrum Mundi: https://www.theatrum-mundi.org
Sven Anderson: https://www.svenanderson.net

The main component of China’s income gap is the urban–rural income gap, which is largely affected by urbanization. It is worth studying how new-type urbanization affects the income gap between urban and rural areas. Research mostly focuses on the urbanization rate as the core explanatory variable to explain the impact using one or two factors. This paper analyzes the mechanism of the effect using a comprehensive number of factors, with the quality of new-type urbanization development as the core explanatory variable. In terms of theoretical research, we believe that new-type urbanization affects the urban–rural income gap by promoting the transfer of labor, changing industrial structure, and policy tendency. Using both static and dynamic empirical analyses, we test the impact of new-type urbanization on the urban–rural income gap based on China’s provincial data. We find that new-type urbanization is conducive to narrowing the income gap between urban and rural areas. The transfer of labor significantly reduces the urban–rural income gap. However, the upgrading of industrial structure will enlarge the gap. The impact of China’s policy orientation is negligible. Policy should focus on promoting urbanization and improving the marginal rate of return of agriculture, improve the level of human capital, reverse the mismatch between employment structure and industrial structure, increase support for rural areas, and make substantial progress in promoting common prosperity.

This is a transcription of a survey interview that took place within the project Sound-Frameworks: Collaborative Frameworks for Integrating Sound Within Urban Design and Planning Processes.

Sound-Frameworks is an action-led research project that explores the role of sound in urban design and city planning. The project is led by the artist and researcher Dr. Sven Anderson and hosted by Theatrum Mundi, a non-profit organisation that expands the craft of city-making through collaboration with artists.

Central to this project is a focus on how urban sonic experience can serve as a driver for design in the public realm. The public realm constitutes the integral connective tissue that defines the contemporary cityscape, within which different individuals, communities and institutions engage with each other through cooperation and conflict. Sound has remained a neglected dimension of this domain, generally coming into consideration only within late stages of design through efforts to ameliorate the impact of environmental noise. As the densification of urban territories accelerates, the role of sonic experience as an essential factor to be addressed by urban designers must be reassessed.

Sound-Frameworks explores new methodologies for integrating sound in urban design through the production of three inter-related resources:

1. A sound in practice survey
2. A publication on best practice guidelines in this field
3. An online tool to guide the integration of sound in the design of the public realm

Drawing from environmental acoustics, spatial planning, contemporary sound studies, the project initiates a framework to extend regional, national and international objectives for integrated city planning and contribute to public realm initiatives in Europe and beyond.

Sound-Frameworks has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101032632.

Sound-Frameworks is hosted by Theatrum Mundi (UK) and supported by partnerships with Arup (UK), UrbanIdentity (CH), Struer Kommune (DK), the University of Oxford Faculty of Music (UK) and the Sound Studies Lab at the University of Copenhagen (DK).

Sound-Frameworks: https://www.soundframeworks.org
Theatrum Mundi: https://www.theatrum-mundi.org
Sven Anderson: https://www.svenanderson.net

Modelling changes in biodiversity has become a necessary component of smart urban planning practices. However, concepts such as biodiversity are often evaluated using area-based composite indices, the results of which are heavily reliant on specific parameters chosen. This paper explores the design and implementation of a butterfly biodiversity index by comparing two widely accepted modelling techniques: principal component analysis and spatial multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). A high degree of scale dependency has been demonstrated in previous studies exploring the use of area-based composite measures. To evaluate the impact of scale, each model was assessed at two different spatial resolutions. The outcomes were analyzed, mapped and compared using ordinary least squares, geographically weighted regression and global Moran’s I to evaluate relative biodiversity patterns across the City of Toronto, Canada.

The Urban Butterfly Index - City of Toronto includes a geodatabase that consists of shapefiles of various geographic information used to model urban biodiversity and the butterfly observation points provided by the Ontario Butterfly Atlas. The Ontario Butterfly Atlas (OBA) is a program created and administered by the Toronto Entomologists’ Association (TEA), a non-profit organization that aims to educate and inform the public about local insect populations. Volunteers submit species observations throughout the year including important attribute data such as location (i.e., GPS coordinates or detailed location description to be verified), species name, observation date, adult and immature counts (TEA 2019). The OBA dataset was used as the benchmark variable in each regression analysis performed (i.e., species abundance or richness per area). Each geographic dataset was aggregated and summed by areal unit (i.e., Census Tracts or Dissemination Areas) and combined into a set of composite index scores using either principal component analysis (PCA) or spatial multi-criteria decision analysis (i.e., Weighted Linear Combination).

Tabular files used in the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographic Weighted Regression (GWR) are also provided and include the benchmark variable of butterfly observations per area (i.e. "SA07_Ha" and "SR07_Ha"), as well as the final PCA (i.e., "PCAF") and WLC scores (i.e., "WLCF").

Findings indicate that the impact of spatial scale was significant, whereby the coarser resolution models (i.e., Census Tracts) were found to be more highly correlated with biodiversity, compared to the finer resolution models (i.e., Dissemination Areas). The results of this study contribute to a growing body of literature that explores key conceptual questions regarding the robustness of GIS-based MCDA, the impact of scale in urban ecology studies, and the use of composite indices to manage spatial ecological data.

Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development Acceptance Rate - ResearchHelpDesk - The Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), an international refereed journal first published in 2004, provides information and analysis on topics within the broad scope of agriculture and development. As the official journal of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), it promotes greater awareness of the latest findings in research, state-of-the-art technologies, new methodologies, and policy concerns in inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development. It publishes articles resulting from empirical, policy-oriented, or institutional development studies, as well as articles of perspectives on agriculture and development; political economy of rural development; and trade issues. Published twice a year in June and December, AJAD is indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) of the Web of Science (WoS), EBSCO Information Services, Research Papers in Economics (RePEc), AgEcon Search, Socio-economic Research Portal for the Philippines (SERP-P), CAB Abstracts, ASEAN Citation Index (ACI), The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library (TEEAL), and the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC). AJAD publishes papers primarily covering Southeast, South, and East Asia only tackling the following scope of agriculture and development: globalization agricultural investments technical efficiency agricultural labor and markets biodiversity conservation technological adoption credit and microfinance environmental management sustainable development inclusive and sustainable agriculture geographical information systems natural resource management consumer behavior and preferences water resources management climate change mitigation and adaptation urban agriculture social capital trade reforms impact evaluation multilateral arrangements food value chain project analysis public policy reforms political economy rural development urban-rural migration climate change adaptation food security initiatives community development precision agriculture technologies agricultural policies and governance comparative and competitive advantages

1. Human-caused noise pollution dominates the soundscape of modern ecosystems, from urban centers to national parks. Though wildlife can generally alter their communication to accommodate many types of natural noise (e.g. wind, wave action, heterospecific communication), noise pollution from anthropogenic sources pushes the limits of wildlife communication flexibility by causing loud, low-pitched, and near-continuous interference. Because responses to noise pollution are variable and taxa-specific, multi-species risk assessments and mitigation are not currently possible.
2. We conducted a meta-analysis to synthesize noise pollution effects on terrestrial wildlife communication. Specifically, we assessed: 1) the impacts of noise pollution on modulation of call rate, duration, amplitude, and frequency (including peak, minimum, and maximum frequency); and 2) the literature on anthropogenic noise pollution by region, taxa, study design, and disturbance type.
3. Terrestrial wildlife (results driven by avian studies) generally respond to noise pollution by calling with higher minimum frequencies, while they generally do not alter the amplitude, maximum frequency, peak frequency, duration, and rate of calling.
4. The literature on noise pollution research is biased towards birds, population-level studies, urban noise sources, and study systems in North America.

5. Policy applications Our study reveals the ways in which wildlife can alter their signals to contend with anthropogenic noise, and discusses the potential fitness and management consequences of these signal alterations. This information, combined with an identification of current research needs, will allow researchers and managers to better develop noise pollution risk assessment protocols and prioritize mitigation efforts to reduce anthropogenic noise.12-Mar-2021 Methods Literature Search Strategy and Inclusion Criteria

     We searched the peer-reviewed scientific literature to synthesize information regarding noise pollution impacts on wildlife acoustic communication and to assess research gaps and biases. We restricted the search to terrestrial systems because general approaches to noise pollution risk assessment and recommendations for noise mitigation already exist for some coastal and marine systems (Southall et al. 2007). Perhaps more importantly, a vast body of research conducted to date on marine wildlife has yielded valuable knowledge such as species-specific spectral sensitivity, critical impact thresholds, and mitigation effectiveness which can be drawn upon to advance general theory and research and to develop further regulatory guidelines (Erbe et al. 2016). Finally, the physics of sound transmission differ between water and air, affecting both how sound is perceived by organisms and potential mitigation strategies (Würsig et al. 2000, Shannon et al. 2015). We used Web of Science (search conducted 4/5/2018) to search for studies investigating the impact of noise pollution on wildlife modulation of call frequency, rate, duration, and amplitude (see Table 2 for specific search terms). We assessed these multiple communication response variables even though they may be related because each response may have different ecological and/or evolutionary implications. An initial search produced 815 studies. After implementing all inclusion criteria (see below), our search resulted in 181 data points from 32 studies representing six continents (Table 3).
   

We used the “Analyze Results” feature in Web of Science to filter out irrelevant disciplines (e.g., Audiology, Speech Pathology, nexcluded = 347). After compiling remaining results into a database, we removed duplicate studies (nexcluded = 5) and studies determined to be topically irrelevant based on reading of all titles (nexcluded = 117). We excluded studies broadcasting white noise as a treatment, as we were interested in responses to spectral characteristics that more closely match environmental noise pollution (i.e., loud, low-frequency sounds, nexcluded = 3). However, we retained one study that explicitly manipulated the characteristics of white noise to approximate low-frequency traffic sounds. We excluded studies conducted in a laboratory setting, as we were only interested in responses of free-living wildlife to noises experienced in their natural habitat (nexcluded = 5). After detailed screening of article texts, we removed studies that did not assess effects of noise pollution on the above focal response variables and studies with analysis methods or reporting that precluded us from extracting a relevant effect size (nexcluded = 59).

    For remaining studies, we extracted the location, focal taxa, response variable, sound source, and study design. We also extracted means, sample sizes, and standard deviations of response variables for studies assessing categorical predictor variables (e.g., call characteristics at quiet and noisy sites), or values of Pearson’s r for studies assessing continuous predictor variables (e.g., response characteristics over a gradient of decibel levels). In studies with multiple treatments, we used the two extreme ends of the environmental sound spectrum for analysis. For example, if a study tested call rates in “quiet”, “moderate”, and “loud” environments, we compared responses between “quiet” and “loud” sites. Sound sources included airplane (n = 2), construction (n = 6), energy development (n = 17), roadway (n = 52), urban (n = 101), and white noise (n = 3). We also distinguished study designs as event-based (n = 41) versus continuous (n = 140). Event-based study designs evaluated instantaneous signal flexibility in the presence of anthropogenic sound (e.g., a grasshopper calling more loudly during an airplane overflight compared to normal conditions, Fig. 2). Continuous study designs, on the other hand, evaluated differences in acoustic properties between populations in loud and quiet environments (e.g., communication characteristics of red-winged blackbirds, (Agelaius phoenicus), in rural versus urban environments; Fig. 2). Following our literature search, we incorporated a specific search for bat studies, as they were underrepresented in our initial search and we felt that they are good models for the study of anthropogenic sound impacts due to their reliance on acoustic information for both communication and foraging.

Analysis

To assess potential biases in the noise pollution literature, we assessed observed versus expected proportions of studies using Pearson’s χ2 tests. We conducted these tests to analyze numbers of studies for each response variable, sound source, focal taxa, continent, and study design; in each case we tested a null hypothesis that an equal proportion of studies have been conducted for each category (e.g., 50% of studies each for event-based and continuous study designs). To control the Type I error rate, we employed a Holm’s Sequential Bonferroni correction.

We conducted a meta-analysis to assess wildlife responses to noise pollution using the metafor package (Viechtbauer, 2010) in the R statistical environment (version 3.4.1, R Core Team 2017). We ran mixed-effects meta regression models with study design (event-based versus continuous), and taxa as fixed effects and study ID as a random effect.

When possible, we calculated Hedge’s g for each study that used a categorical noise treatment. When studies evaluated responses to noise along a continuous gradient, we calculated Hedge’s g using Pearson’s r. To evaluate overall effect of each response variable (Minimum Frequency, Maximum Frequency, Peak Frequency, Duration, Rate, and Amplitude), as well as the effect of study type and taxa, we evaluated overlap of 95% confidence intervals with zero. After conducting analyses, we constructed Q-Q plots to visually assess model fit.

Dataset used in the research https://doi.org/10.3886/E214781V1.

This is a transcription of a survey interview that took place within the project Sound-Frameworks: Collaborative Frameworks for Integrating Sound Within Urban Design and Planning Processes.

Sound-Frameworks is an action-led research project that explores the role of sound in urban design and city planning. The project is led by the artist and researcher Dr. Sven Anderson and hosted by Theatrum Mundi, a non-profit organisation that expands the craft of city-making through collaboration with artists.

Central to this project is a focus on how urban sonic experience can serve as a driver for design in the public realm. The public realm constitutes the integral connective tissue that defines the contemporary cityscape, within which different individuals, communities and institutions engage with each other through cooperation and conflict. Sound has remained a neglected dimension of this domain, generally coming into consideration only within late stages of design through efforts to ameliorate the impact of environmental noise. As the densification of urban territories accelerates, the role of sonic experience as an essential factor to be addressed by urban designers must be reassessed.

Sound-Frameworks explores new methodologies for integrating sound in urban design through the production of three inter-related resources:

1. A sound in practice survey
2. A publication on best practice guidelines in this field
3. An online tool to guide the integration of sound in the design of the public realm

Drawing from environmental acoustics, spatial planning, contemporary sound studies, the project initiates a framework to extend regional, national and international objectives for integrated city planning and contribute to public realm initiatives in Europe and beyond.

Sound-Frameworks has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101032632.

Sound-Frameworks is hosted by Theatrum Mundi (UK) and supported by partnerships with Arup (UK), UrbanIdentity (CH), Struer Kommune (DK), the University of Oxford Faculty of Music (UK) and the Sound Studies Lab at the University of Copenhagen (DK).

Sound-Frameworks: https://www.soundframeworks.org
Theatrum Mundi: https://www.theatrum-mundi.org
Sven Anderson: https://www.svenanderson.net

This is a transcription of a survey interview that took place within the project Sound-Frameworks: Collaborative Frameworks for Integrating Sound Within Urban Design and Planning Processes.

Sound-Frameworks is an action-led research project that explores the role of sound in urban design and city planning. The project is led by the artist and researcher Dr. Sven Anderson and hosted by Theatrum Mundi, a non-profit organisation that expands the craft of city-making through collaboration with artists.

Central to this project is a focus on how urban sonic experience can serve as a driver for design in the public realm. The public realm constitutes the integral connective tissue that defines the contemporary cityscape, within which different individuals, communities and institutions engage with each other through cooperation and conflict. Sound has remained a neglected dimension of this domain, generally coming into consideration only within late stages of design through efforts to ameliorate the impact of environmental noise. As the densification of urban territories accelerates, the role of sonic experience as an essential factor to be addressed by urban designers must be reassessed.

Sound-Frameworks explores new methodologies for integrating sound in urban design through the production of three inter-related resources:

1. A sound in practice survey
2. A publication on best practice guidelines in this field
3. An online tool to guide the integration of sound in the design of the public realm

Drawing from environmental acoustics, spatial planning, contemporary sound studies, the project initiates a framework to extend regional, national and international objectives for integrated city planning and contribute to public realm initiatives in Europe and beyond.

Sound-Frameworks has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101032632.

Sound-Frameworks is hosted by Theatrum Mundi (UK) and supported by partnerships with Arup (UK), UrbanIdentity (CH), Struer Kommune (DK), the University of Oxford Faculty of Music (UK) and the Sound Studies Lab at the University of Copenhagen (DK).

Sound-Frameworks: https://www.soundframeworks.org
Theatrum Mundi: https://www.theatrum-mundi.org
Sven Anderson: https://www.svenanderson.net

Urban areas provide breeding habitats for many species. However, animals raised in urban environments face challenges such as altered food availability and quality, pollution, and pathogens assemblages. These challenges can affect physiological processes like immune function and antioxidant defences which are important for fitness.

Here, we explore how levels of urbanisation influence innate immune function, immune response to a mimicked bacterial infection and antioxidant capacity of nestling Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter melanoleucus in South Africa. We also explore the effect of timing of breeding and rainfall on physiology since both can influence the environmental condition under which nestlings are raised. Finally, because urbanisation can influence immune function indirectly, we use path analyses to explore direct and indirect associations between urbanisation, immune function, and oxidative stress.

We obtained measures of innate immunity (haptoglobin, lysis, agglutination and bactericidal capacity), indices of antioxidant capacity (total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (tAOX), and total glutathione from nestlings from 2015 - 2019. In addition, in 2018 and 2019, we mimicked a bacterial infection by injecting nestlings with lipopolysaccharide and quantified their immune response.

Increased urban cover was associated with an increase in lysis and a decrease in tAOX, but not with any of the other physiological parameters. Furthermore, except for agglutination, no physiological parameters were associated with the timing of breeding. Lysis and bactericidal capacity, however, varied consistently with the annual rainfall pattern. Immune response to a mimicked a bacterial infection decreased with urban cover but not with the timing of breeding nor rainfall. Our path analyses suggested indirect associations between urban cover and some immune indices via tAOX but not via the timing of breeding.

Our results show that early-life development in an urban environment is associated with variation in immune and antioxidant functions. The direct association between urbanisation and antioxidant capacity and their impact on immune function is likely an important factor mediating the impact of urbanisation on urban-dwelling animals. Future studies should explore how these results are linked to fitness and whether the responses are adaptive for urban-dwelling species.

This is a transcription of a survey interview that took place within the project Sound-Frameworks: Collaborative Frameworks for Integrating Sound Within Urban Design and Planning Processes.

Sound-Frameworks is an action-led research project that explores the role of sound in urban design and city planning. The project is led by the artist and researcher Dr. Sven Anderson and hosted by Theatrum Mundi, a non-profit organisation that expands the craft of city-making through collaboration with artists.

Central to this project is a focus on how urban sonic experience can serve as a driver for design in the public realm. The public realm constitutes the integral connective tissue that defines the contemporary cityscape, within which different individuals, communities and institutions engage with each other through cooperation and conflict. Sound has remained a neglected dimension of this domain, generally coming into consideration only within late stages of design through efforts to ameliorate the impact of environmental noise. As the densification of urban territories accelerates, the role of sonic experience as an essential factor to be addressed by urban designers must be reassessed.

Sound-Frameworks explores new methodologies for integrating sound in urban design through the production of three inter-related resources:

1. A sound in practice survey
2. A publication on best practice guidelines in this field
3. An online tool to guide the integration of sound in the design of the public realm

Drawing from environmental acoustics, spatial planning, contemporary sound studies, the project initiates a framework to extend regional, national and international objectives for integrated city planning and contribute to public realm initiatives in Europe and beyond.

Sound-Frameworks has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101032632.

Sound-Frameworks is hosted by Theatrum Mundi (UK) and supported by partnerships with Arup (UK), UrbanIdentity (CH), Struer Kommune (DK), the University of Oxford Faculty of Music (UK) and the Sound Studies Lab at the University of Copenhagen (DK).

Sound-Frameworks: https://www.soundframeworks.org
Theatrum Mundi: https://www.theatrum-mundi.org
Sven Anderson: https://www.svenanderson.net

Ecological civilization construction is China’s national development strategy, and improving the urban eco-environmental quality is the key to accelerating this strategy, while the high-speed rail (HSR) opening is an important factor affecting the urban eco-environmental quality. Using panel data of 290 cities in China from 2004 to 2020, this study explores the impact of HSR opening on urban eco-environmental quality and its heterogeneity from the perspective of direct impact and interaction between HSR connected cities. Compared with cities without HSR service, the eco-environmental quality of cities with HSR service has significantly increased by 0.023 standard deviations, which is about 4.11% of the total change in urban eco-environmental quality in the same period. Second, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between eco-environmental quality and urban space expansion. Third, the impact of HSR on eco-environmental quality is heterogeneous, mainly manifested in different cities and urban agglomerations. It means that the government should focus on the differences in the economic foundation and development characteristics of various regions, steadily push forward the construction and operation of the HSR, and speed up the renovation of existing lines to help the green development of cities. The research results provide a policy basis for the government to handle the relationship between infrastructure construction and eco-environmental quality, and effectively promote green sustainable development.

Aurora:GeoStudio® is a cutting-edge geospatial analysis platform that excels in supporting Point of Interest (POI) data, providing detailed and comprehensive information about specific locations or landmarks. POI data includes essential details such as the name, address, coordinates, and category of locations, ranging from restaurants and hotels to parks and tourist attractions. This data is vital for enhancing mapping and navigation applications, making it easier for users to find relevant and nearby points of interest.

Core Features:

  1.    Known Polygon Search (KPS) via OpenStreetMap®:
  •    Aurora:GeoStudio® integrates with OpenStreetMap® to offer Known Polygon Search functionality. This feature enables users to accurately identify and retrieve POI data within defined areas of interest. OpenStreetMap® provides a vast and up-to-date database of POIs, ensuring comprehensive coverage and accurate information.
  2.    Automatic Gridding and Area Analytics:
  •    The platform includes automatic gridding within areas of interest, facilitating detailed Area Usage and Area Visit analytics. This functionality divides the area into manageable grids, allowing users to analyze POI data effectively. The automated process supports the visualization of POI density, visitation patterns, and the impact of various factors on POI popularity and usage.
  3.    POI Data Visualization:
  •    Aurora:GeoStudio® offers advanced visualization capabilities, displaying POI data on customizable maps from providers like Google, Esri, Open, and Stamen. This visualization helps users understand the spatial distribution of POIs and their relationships within an area, aiding in effective decision-making and strategic planning.

Applications:

  1.    Urban Planning:
  •    Urban planners can use POI data to understand the distribution of amenities and services within a city. This information helps in planning new developments, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring that essential services are accessible to residents. By analyzing POI data, planners can create more livable and well-serviced urban areas.
  2.    Infrastructure Management:
  •    POI data is invaluable for managing infrastructure projects, including the placement of utilities, public transportation, and commercial services. Understanding the location and category of POIs allows for better planning and coordination of infrastructure improvements and expansions.
  3.    Spatial Analysis:
  •    Researchers and analysts can leverage POI data to conduct spatial analyses, such as identifying gaps in service provision, studying the impact of new developments, and evaluating the effectiveness of urban policies. Detailed POI data supports robust analysis and actionable insights.
  4.    Area Usage and Visit Analytics:
  •    Aurora:GeoStudio® enables users to track and analyze area usage and visit patterns related to POIs. This is particularly useful for businesses looking to optimize their location strategies, urban developers aiming to enhance public spaces, and government agencies seeking to improve service accessibility and urban experiences.

Aurora:GeoStudio® provides exceptional support for Point of Interest (POI) data, making it a powerful tool for urban planning, infrastructure management, and spatial analysis. By integrating Known Polygon Search via OpenStreetMap® and incorporating automatic gridding and detailed area analytics, the platform offers valuable insights into POI usage and spatial relationships. This capability enhances decision-making processes, supports efficient resource management, and facilitates the development of vibrant and well-planned urban environments. Aurora:GeoStudio®’s advanced features empower users to gain a comprehensive understanding of urban dynamics and optimize their strategic initiatives.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global smart city platforms market size will be USD 192541.2 million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.00% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 77016.48 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 57762.36 million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 44284.48 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.0% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 9627.06 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD 3850.82 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2024 to 2031.
The data management platform is the fastest growing segment of the smart city platforms industry

Market Dynamics of Smart city platforms Market

Key Drivers for Smart city platforms Market

Urbanization and population growth to drive market growth

Urbanization and population growth are key drivers of the Smart City Platforms Market, as they create the need for more efficient urban management solutions. Rapid migration to cities places immense pressure on infrastructure, transportation, energy, and public services. To address these challenges, smart city platforms enable cities to optimize resource allocation, improve traffic management, and enhance public safety through data-driven decision-making. As urban populations grow, the demand for sustainable and scalable solutions increases, leading to investments in technologies like IoT, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. These platforms allow city administrators to manage services in real time, ensuring smoother operations and better living conditions. Furthermore, governments worldwide are supporting smart city initiatives to handle the socio-economic impacts of urbanization, boosting the market's expansion.

Increased demand for efficient public services to boost market growth

The increased demand for efficient public services is a major driver of growth in the Smart City Platforms Market. As urban populations expand, cities face pressure to improve the efficiency and quality of essential services such as transportation, healthcare, energy management, and waste disposal. Smart city platforms provide a solution by integrating various urban services through the use of IoT devices, big data, and real-time analytics. By leveraging these technologies, cities can streamline operations, reduce costs, and respond more effectively to residents' needs. For example, smart traffic systems can alleviate congestion, while intelligent energy grids optimize power consumption. Citizens also expect more responsive and transparent services, pushing governments to adopt smart platforms to enhance service delivery and public engagement. This rising demand for smarter, more efficient services is a key factor driving market growth.

Restraint Factor for the Smart city platforms Market

Data privacy and security concerns to limit market growth

Data privacy and security concerns pose significant challenges to the growth of the Smart City Platforms Market. As these platforms rely on massive amounts of data collected from IoT devices, sensors, and city infrastructure, they become potential targets for cyberattacks and unauthorized access. Breaches in public data can compromise critical systems, including transportation, healthcare, and public safety, leading to severe consequences. Citizens are increasingly concerned about how their personal information is being used and protected, which raises issues around trust and transparency. Furthermore, stringent regulations like GDPR and other regional data protection laws require cities to ensure robust security measures, which can increase implementation costs and complexity. The fear of potential data misuse or leaks can slow down the adoption of smart city technologies, limiting market growth despite their benefits.

Impact of Covid-19 on the ...

PhD Research: Urban growth is a factor known to intensify local flooding. By orienting urban development, land use planning may contribute to reduce flood risk through regulatory constraints. Two case studies were developed to determine the extent to which such strategy may be effective: Kigali, Rwanda (where land use regulations are stringently applied) and Kampala, Uganda (with much less effective institutions but important infrastructure investments over the last decade). Both cities are mid-sized (one to two million inhabitants), they share a physical context of hilly terrain and low-lying flood prone valleys but with divergent policy and institutional organizations.

Two main hypotheses were investigated based on the case studies. The relations between the physical system, through recurrent flooding, and the human settlement pattern were first explored. Urban growth is one cause of increased flooding but, in turn, flooding was thought to contribute to the urban pattern's evolution. Secondly, and based on this premise, a land use management system (with regulation a prominent component) was proposed as a flood risk mitigation strategy: these questions hinged around the feasibility of land use controls in the specific context of the cases (mid-to-large cities in Sub-Saharan Africa) and of their cumulative impact over the long run.

Spatially explicit prospective simulations of urban growth, up to the year 2030, were developed for both Kampala and Kigali to understand the impacts of flooding and land use regulations; additionally, a set of scenarios for Kampala was specified to explore the potential feedback effect between exposure to recurrent flooding and urban development patterns. The main lessons derived from these simulations were: in Kampala, which has until the present expanded without strong land use controls, the implementation stringent land use regulations (envisioned already in their strategic plans) would likely result in a more compact growth; however, in Kigali, the land use plan may have the unintended consequence of promoting sprawling patterns. Kigali was revealed to be a smaller urban system than Kampala, with the transitory benefit of not being yet impacted by recurrent flooding due to the scale of processes configuring urban growth. As for Kampala, (1) while land use planning may reduce exposure to flooding, it is unlikely to impact runoff generation and (2) explicitly incorporating feedback between flooding and urban growth makes visible a difference introduced by land use planning: under trend (unplanned) expansion, exposure to flooding is unlikely to constrain urban growth; however, under the double restriction of recurrent flooding and land use controls, much less new development is exposed to flooding.

The scenarios were carried out using a cellular automata of urban growth, specifically designed to be integrated with the flood model (implemented in OpenLISEM). Important characteristics of the model included: a continuous response variable, in the form of a land cover fraction value (built-up fraction for urban development but also vegetation, bare soil, and water fractions to complete the description of the landscape), a suitability based allocation procedure to mimic urban agents' locational preference, and the potential to explicitly account for several supply scenarios (which was especially important when considering the relation between population growth and densification in the scenarios). The suitability index was defined by a neighborhood effect, accounting for the immediate context of each potential development location, as well as ancillary variables representing accessibility, physical characteristics (slope and wetlands location), and informal settlements location.

The cellular automata model was developed using the Upper Lubigi sub-catchment of Kampala. The model was then expanded, calibrated, and validated for the metropolitan areas of Kampala and Kigali. Calibration was based on the application of the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm to determine the relative importance of each factor in the suitability index and using the land cover maps to simulate potential supply. Simulations using 2000 (for Kigali) and 2001 (for Kampala) as baseline years were generated for a 15 year period; for each simulated time step, landscape metrics were calculated. An intermediate year for which independent land cover maps were available (2009 for Kigali, 2010 for Kampala) was used for validation. The calibration approach proved useful in producing patterns that better replicate the evolution of urban growth patterns, relative to random parameters and data. However, some degree of equifinality was discovered in the model, since the uncertainty introduced by parameters was found to be less important than the amount of information (relevant spatial determinants) when validating the model.

The scenario assumptions on the presence of a feedback (for Kampala)...

Modern urban dynamics are increasingly shaped by the interplay between economic policy and urban planning, yet often lack an integrated approach. This study bridges this gap by examining the dynamic equilibrium between these two realms using the “Oscillation and Wave Framework.” Specifically, we focus on the impact of variations in congestion parameter λ on urban sectoral spatial distribution and population dynamics. Our approach utilizes an advanced agent-based model to simulate interactions within an urban economic landscape, offering a detailed analysis of the relationship between agglomeration economies and congestion diseconomies. The results highlight the significant influence of congestion parameter adjustments on urban patterns, particularly in terms of cluster density and development. Therefore, this study not only provides a deeper understanding of the intricate balance between economic and urban planning factors but also emphasizes the necessity of incorporating these insights into urban planning and policy formulation for sustainable urban development. The findings also have important practical implications for addressing the dynamic complexities of urban environments, especially the interactions between different industries and their role in shaping urban structures.

Modern urban dynamics are increasingly shaped by the interplay between economic policy and urban planning, yet often lack an integrated approach. This study bridges this gap by examining the dynamic equilibrium between these two realms using the “Oscillation and Wave Framework.” Specifically, we focus on the impact of variations in congestion parameter λ on urban sectoral spatial distribution and population dynamics. Our approach utilizes an advanced agent-based model to simulate interactions within an urban economic landscape, offering a detailed analysis of the relationship between agglomeration economies and congestion diseconomies. The results highlight the significant influence of congestion parameter adjustments on urban patterns, particularly in terms of cluster density and development. Therefore, this study not only provides a deeper understanding of the intricate balance between economic and urban planning factors but also emphasizes the necessity of incorporating these insights into urban planning and policy formulation for sustainable urban development. The findings also have important practical implications for addressing the dynamic complexities of urban environments, especially the interactions between different industries and their role in shaping urban structures.