Abstract

"jats:p" The aim of this paper is to show the spectrum of problems associated with the growing importance of cities in the context of rapidly occurring processes of urbanization. Therefore the following issues are included: the concept of smart cities, which are a combination of the intelligent use of information systems allowing for active management of the various areas of urban activity with the potential of institutions, companies and the active involvement and creative people; transport problems and the use of new technologies. Particular attention will be given to both, the issue of transport congestion as the strongest factor affecting the quality of life of residents and to the role of social capital in the creation of sustainable development. To exemplify the result of the cooperation between southern Polish communities there will be presented a case of the introducing process of the Silesian Card of Public Services with a wide range of its functionality. Document type: Article

Abstract

present, many countries around the world have significantly invested in sustainable transportation systems, especially for high-speed rail (HSR) infrastructures, since they are believed to improve economies, and regenerate regional and business growth. In this study, we focus on economic growth, dynamic land use, and urban mobility. The emphasis is placed on testing a hypothesis about whether HSRs can enable socio-economic development. Real case studies using big data from large cities in China, namely Shanghai province and Minhang districts, are taken into account. Socio-technical information such as employment rate, property pricing, and agglomeration in the country&rsquo s economy is collected from the China Statistics Bureau and the China Academy of Railway Sciences for analyses. This research aims to re-examine practical factors resulting from HSR&rsquo s impact on urban areas by using ANOVA analysis and dummy variable regression to analyse urban dynamics and property pricing. In addition, this study enhances the prediction outcomes that lead to urban planning strategies for the business area. The results reveal that there are various effects (i.e., regional accessibility, city development plans, and so on) required to enable the success of HSR infrastructure in order to enrich urban dynamics and land pricing. This paper also highlights critical perspectives towards sustainability, which are vital to social and economic impacts. In addition, this study provides crucial perspectives on sustainable developments for future HSR projects. Document type: Article

Abstract

Fast-growing cities are expected to become a key contributor to the global climate crisis. A key characteristic of those urban districts is the accommodation of mass participant sport events. Sport entities, in collaboration with city governments, plan annually active participation sport events to promote their cities as tourism destinations. Mass participant sport events aim to attract more visitors to the cities and to establish a successful social and economically sustainable future to those places. Given the fact that transportation is a critical factor of the residents and the visitors&rsquo behavior, it is crucial to research the quantity of CO2 emissions generated to those places in association with the travel behaviors of the active sport event participants. Data collected from an annual mass participant running event in a highly ranked growing city in the United States. Findings showed that most of the active sport event participants traveled more than 150 miles to participate in the race and they used their vehicles. The largest quantity of CO2 emissions derived from those participants who traveled a round trip of, on average, 500 miles. The long-distance travelers alone generated 338 million kg of CO2 emissions. The conclusions recommend that growing cities and sport events should target long-distance travelers for promotions concerning sustainable transportation. Consequently, mass participant sport events could play a crucial role in the development of growing cities, and, in turn, growing cities that control long-distance traveling behaviors can reduce the global amount of greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the global environmental destruction. Document type: Article

Abstract

The literature on urban transportation indicates that the main challenge in the field today is the negative impact of automobile-oriented development, exposing it as an unsustainable model. As a result, there is debate regarding methods to reduce automobile dependency. This thesis uses empirical analysis and survey data to explore the potential impact of the proposed Cantemir Boulevard planned for construction in Chisinau, the capital city of the Republic of Moldova. Proponents claim it will alleviate traffic congestion and respond to the needs of pedestrians. The data collected assesses resident awareness of the intended project, the potential impact to residents, patterns of pedestrian mobility and opinion on the legitimate necessity for the boulevard. The results indicate there is a lack of resident-based knowledge about the long-term impact a project of this scale will have on the area. It is ultimately the recommendation of the researcher to abandon the project for more sustainable methods of traffic reduction, which will simultaneously improve the quality of life for residents.; La littérature traitant de la mobilité urbaine indique que le plus grand enjeu dans ce domaine aujourd’hui est l’impact négatif du développement axée sur l’automobile, démontrant ainsi qu’il s’agit d’un modèle non durable. Comme résultat, apparait le débat au sujet des méthodes visant à réduire la dépendance face à la voiture. Cette thèse utilise l’analyse empirique et les bases de données afin d’explorer l’impact potentiel du Boulevard Cantemir planifié à Chisinau, ville-capitale de la République de Moldavie. Ses partisans affirment qu'il soulagera la congestion du trafic et répondra aux besoins des piétons. Les données collectées évaluent la connaissance du projet envisagé par les habitants, l'impact potentiel pour ces résidents, les schémas de mobilité des piétons et l'opinion sur la nécessité légitimé de ce boulevard. Les résultats indiquent qu’il y a une lacune dans la conscientisation de la part des habitants quant aux retombées qu’un projet de cette échelle aura sur le long terme sur la zone. Au final, la recommandation de l’auteur de la présente thèse est d’abandonner ce projet pour des méthodes plus durables de réduction de la circulation lesquelles vont en même temps améliorer la qualité de vie des habitants.