Using systems thinking and ecologically-reflexive planning, this study examines conceptual opportunities for resilience and regeneration of the historic northwestern Hungarian municipality of Koszeg and its surrounding bio-region. It will explain how the town and bio-region"s socio-cultural and socio-technical systems —its historic heritage coupled with existing and new industrial, commercial, and infrastructural services (energy, water, sanitation, and waste)—can be placed into a regional development scheme that optimizes the vitality and resiliency of these collective systems, following the principles of a circular economy. This study assessed opportunities for Koszeg, as one example in the region; to revitalize its economy and its local environment based upon attaining a high level of integration among its multi-dimensional resources. Conceptual strategies for practical solutions to town and bio-regional revitalization and resiliency are discussed.

Traffic congestion is a major problem around the world that results in slower speeds, increased trip time, and a longer queuing of vehicles. The production and use of fuels for vehicles results in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHSs), besides carbon dioxide, which include methane and nitrous oxide. Traffic lights that wirelessly keep track of vehicles could reduce journey time and fuel consumption thereby reducing carbon emissions. In view of the importance of vehicles as an emitter of GHGs, namely CO2, with the growing concern about climate change, this paper aims to explore the emission of CO2 from vehicles at a traffic intersection for the purpose of reducing emission rate. Realizing this reduction, points to the implementation of an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) with Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) on the road network of a region will be discussed. With such a technology, a region can experience lower queue lengths at an intersection and therefore lower CO2 emission surrounding the area. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is used as a case study in exploring this phenomenon which over the years has seen a drastic increase on the amount of cars on the campus area. With the assumption that an ATM system with WSNs is deployed on the UNN campus area, the paper looks into the traffic dynamics that makes it possible to evaluate CO2 emission at traffic light intersections to ensure a cleaner environment. Throughout the paper, it will be made clear that with the relevant equation of CO2 emission and the arrival time per vehicle, CO2 emission rate can be evaluated at a traffic intersection depending on the volume of cars at the intersection. With such evaluation, further analysis can be made on ways to actually reduce CO2 emission and techniques for implementation with an ATM system.

The purpose of this study is to develop a platform tentatively named the Korean Integrated Disaster Evaluation Simulator (K-IDES) to assess building risk during disasters. In this study, the first step includes an analysis of FEMA’s risk management series in the USA for precedent research. Among them, FEMA IRVS is selected as the case study for the development of the K-IDES framework and through the comparative analysis of domestic building design guides, codes, and special acts related to disasters. The next step is to develop a risk assessment methodology to yield quantitative results. This methodology consists of classification systems, calculation methods, and grade ratings. Based on it, K-IDES will establish a management system that can systematically integrate the collected information by using assessment techniques for elements except legal standards to measure risks in response to various disasters and present a classification system of evaluation factors, criteria for evaluation items, and risk assessment methods. In the next study, and through the simulation of the selected buildings by using this risk assessment, a check-list will be verified. The final goal of this study is to build a platform to be used as an integrated risk management method against a complex disaster by the expansion to other types of buildings through continuous data scaling and management systematization.

The current state of the electrical sector in Praia (Cape Verde capital city) is characterized by the high cost of electricity and high levels of technical and commercial losses which is caused by the lack of resources of fossil origin. It is also aggravated by an inadequate investment policy forcing a deep restructuring of the entire sector. In order to take advantage of the existing local natural resources and to have a more efficient, robust, and a fair electric system, it seems inevitable to bet on innovative, intelligent, and secure technology which allows tight integration of renewable energy –mainly wind and photo-voltaic energy. In this regard, the present article discusses the economic, social, and environmental impacts of a smart grid for Praia city. Based on a proposed SG architecture that integrates the existing endogenous resources and technologies, it was possible to identify the main advantages and challenges that the implementation of SG technologies would have for the city.

Green infrastructure has been used for environmental conservation and management with many similar concepts such as green-space network, green-link network, and green-ways network based on the objectives of the cities for greening. Seoul established the 2030 Seoul City Master Plan that contains green-link network projects to connect critical green areas within the city. However, the plan does not have detailed analysis for the green infrastructure to incorporate land-cover information to many structural classes. This study maps green infrastructure networks of Seoul for complementing their green plans with identifying and ranking green areas. Hubs and links that are the main elements of green infrastructure have been identified through incorporating cadastral data of 967,502 parcels to 135 of land use maps using Geographic Information System. The study extracted 1,365 of green areas that represent an area of 24,530 ha within the city and buffered these areas to identify districts as critical green areas that have hubs and links. At a city scale, the study used 103,553 of parcel data for ranking extracted 20 districts, and 17,860 of parcel data for ranking extracted 42 links connecting the districts. At a district scale, this study used 87,826 of parcel data for analyzing the status of potential links within the districts and ranking these districts for green infrastructure. This assessment analyzes the main elements of green infrastructure and suggests site prioritization for green infrastructure under variable scenarios of green and developed areas in a metropolitan city.

The digital fabrication of monolithic shell structures is presenting some challenges related to the interface between computational design, materialist, and fabrication techniques. This research proposes a singular method for the sequential robotic spray deposition in layers of diverse clay mixes over a temporary fabric form-work pulled in between peripheral and cross section arches. This process relies mainly on the continuity of the construction phases for stability and durability but has encountered some challenges in physical tests related to sagging, displacement, and deformations during the robotic deposition of the material. Adaptive strategies during the digital fabrication stages are proposed for a sequential exploration of the geometry, structural analysis, and construction techniques. Alternative adjustments of protocols for the robotic material deposition include both predictable and unsuspected behaviors preventing the structure to reach non-viable geometric thresholds. Two case studies of physical tests describe, analyze, and simulate some of these strategies and identify specific parameters inquiring the sequential adjustments of the robotic material deposition. These strategies will drive future full-scale tests within a sustainable use of materials and adaptive construction methods, seeking an optimized structural performance that could open a new chapter for the digital fabrication of earthen shells.

This paper proposes the synergistic method as an alternative approach that embraces urban complexity and reverses it to a set of mutually reinforcing improvement strategies. After illustrating the general idea of synergistic improvement by examining the correlation among a number of urban issues, this paper uses the case study to explore this inter-connectivity in further details. Hikifune in Tokyo was selected as a case study because of its distinct atmosphere, historical background, and fragility in terms of demographics, natural hazards, and economics. Relevant literature, along with the empirical and statistical data, is the primary method used in this research. Relying on the discovered findings, the conclusion returns the discussion to the necessity for a synergistic improvement.

The concept of Form-Based Code is of central importance in American New Urbanism. There is an increasing concern on Form-Based Code’s components and adoptions in cities and countries in the USA. This paper aims to extend Form-Based Code’s study to high-density cities of Asia. It explores the methodology of embedding parametric thinking into the multi-scenario evaluation of Form-Based Code. The methodology framework is developed by taking advantage of parametric modelling instruments which visualizes the coding procedure on software interfaces. Using Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong as the experimental site, the paper concludes with a parametric evaluation system towards a walkable and accessible environment in the volumetric urban morphology of high-density cities.