Location-based social media data provides a new perspective for understanding the relationship between human behavior and urban environments. However, further research is needed to determine the application of cognitive computing in urban environments and physical activities. This study proposes a cognitive computing framework for urban environments and human activities that extracts knowledge from structured and unstructured data through natural language processing and computer vision techniques. This paper utilizes a Naive Bayes Model constructed based on random reviews, as well as semantic segmentation and instant segmentation algorithms based on convolutional neural networks to obtain information about urban environments and human behavior from social media data and other geospatial resources. This study examines the relationship between the urban environment and residents’ activity, including spatiotemporal behavior, public sentiment, and physical activity. The study found statistically significant results in subgroup analyses regarding the effects of urban environments on sentiment and physical activity, which also exhibited a strong social gradient consistent with traditional findings. This study validates the feasibility of using cognitive computing based on social media data to explore environmental behaviors, providing technical support for updating health promotion policies.
This study investigates the relationship between sidewalk space and pedestrians, as well as how the design and improvement of sidewalk visual landscapes can enhance pedestrians’ psychological restoration. Sidewalk quality in China varies, making it challenging to meet the urban residents’ expectations for sidewalk environments. In this research, psychological perception experiments were conducted on 60 sidewalks in the core functional area of Beijing. The visual landscape of the sidewalk was divided into four dimensions: canopy, ground plane, roadside plane, and building wall. In this study, a total of 52 spatial elements were extracted and evaluated based on the dimensions of fascination, being-away, coherence, and scope in relation to pedestrians’ psychological perception. The findings confirm that urban greenery and street accessibility, among other spatial elements, significantly positively influence pedestrians’ willingness to walk. Furthermore, a balanced distribution of elements within sidewalk space can better enhance pedestrians’ psychological restoration capabilities.
Walking to/from school (WTS) is an important form of habitual and healthful physical activity (PA). This cross-sectional study examined the multilevel correlates of WTS among elementary school children in Austin, Texas, and whether WTS and neighborhood environmental factors were associated with increased independent mobility and PA. A parent survey was conducted, and geographic information systems were used to calculate the shortest home-to-school distance. Binary logistic regressions were used to predict the outcomes. Distance, physical barriers (e.g., highway/freeway/busy roads), neighborhood environmental quality, and traffic concerns were significant predictors for WTS. Having a school within the neighborhood and unsupervised play increased the likelihood of independent travel to non-school destinations. Sidewalk availability and condition, having a friend’s/relative’s house in the neighborhood that the child visits frequently, and independent travel to non-school destinations predicted an increased likelihood of unsupervised outdoor play. Stranger danger reduced the likelihood of both independent travel and unsupervised play. Easy access to services and unsupervised play increased the likelihood of meeting PA guidelines. This study identified modifiable environmental predictors of WTS, independent mobility, and meeting PA guidelines. Future PA promotion should consider strategies that can encourage not only WTS but also independent travel to non-school destinations and unsupervised outdoor play.
GPS positioning data are increasingly utilized in environmental behavior studies to explore the spatial-temporal behavioral patterns of individuals. However, individuals’ stay behavioral pattern and its influencing factors, which are particularly significant for the design and management of scenic architectural complexes, have not been thoroughly examined. Using GPS trajectory data collected from the Palace Museum in Beijing (China), this paper investigated the visitors’ stay behavior patterns associated with temporal, spatial, and environmental influencing factors. Types of stay behavior and characteristics of stay in main stay areas were automatically recognized using Python algorithms for further and quantitative analysis. Results showed that visitors’ stay time exhibited a consistent pattern regarding psychological time allocation, a relatively unsignificant pattern regarding lunch hour, and no clear pattern regarding fatigue feature. Grouped regression analysis showed positive linear relationships with similar slopes between the average stay length and the number of stay occurrences in each type of stay area. Partial correlation analysis revealed the underlying connection between the impact of seats and greenery on stay behavior. Individually, each of the two environmental elements showed limited effect on stay frequency and stay length, while incorporating greenery into seating areas would notably increase both stay frequency and stay length.
Rapid development of online economy has great impact on the everyday life. However, whether real space still matter on the location choice of these new economies remains as a controversial question. This research starts with spatial analysis on shared kitchen as an emerging new type of online catering space in Beijing across three scales: city, street, architecture. Using social media data and cellular signal data, different density factors are tested at city scale to explain the performance of these economies. Using space syntax model, the spatial accessibility of takeaway only, dine-in with takeaway service and conventional restaurants are compared in central and suburban areas. It is found that their different spatial logic: at city scale, takeaway only restaurants gathered in the high-density area, and diffused to the area with poor accessibility. At street and architectural scale, online catering in general shows higher dependence on accessibility, but there is a clear difference between central and suburban cases of takeaway only restaurants: in central areas, online catering could bear more disadvantageous positions like backstreet or under the ground of buildings than it in suburban case.
As urban development shifts from the incremental era to the stock era, urban design is becoming increasingly focused on high-quality living and human needs. However, the opening of traditional communities has been insufficiently examined. This study took Liuyun Community, a typical open community in Guangzhou (China) that has undergone a transformation from residential to commercial use, as its research object. First, more than 300 residents, tourists, and merchants were surveyed via questionnaires administered in field investigations and interviews. Next, the data from the completed questionnaires were used to construct a structural equation model consisting of five dimensions, namely commercial service value, cost value, risk value, perceptual value, and social value. The data were then analyzed to determine the correlations between perceived value and behavioral intention, satisfaction, and other psychological attributes. The following results were obtained: (1) As commercial activities in the community increased, the influence of social value, cost value, and commercial service value on behavioral intention decreased. (2) The open community inevitably had negative impacts on its citizens. However, these negative impacts were mitigated to some extent by high levels of social value. (3) Perceptions of commercial service value varied between groups.
This research paper examines the heritage value of construction documentation and processes via Virtual Reality (VR), with a focus on the Sydney Opera House (SOH). It underscores the importance of comprehending and documenting transient construction techniques for heritage valuation. Utilising VR, the study offers an immersive portrayal of the SOH’s construction, emphasising its innovative methods, craftsmanship, and environmental challenges. The paper draws from the Digital Heritage Construction project, showcased at the Heritage Exposition of the ICOMOS General Assembly 2023. This project featured two VR simulations, developed through analysing 200 original shop drawings, historical photographs, and site minutes and reports. The first simulation illustrates the formwork systems used for the SOH’s iconic sails, while the second elucidates the assembly methods for the precast vaulted roofs, including the operation of the telescopic erection arch and the installation of concrete segments. The paper examines the novelty of this approach through a survey conducted at the Heritage Exposition. Analysis of the survey’s result reveals VR’s effectiveness in deepening the appreciation of architectural heritage’s intangible qualities, providing new insights into the historical construction processes of the building and their cultural significance.
Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the productive Pampa cattle ranch, locally known as “estancia,” underwent three developmental stages in the process of territorialization within the northwestern province of Buenos Aires. Each of these stages covers various dimensions-social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental-that collectively define the estancia’s role as a territorial agent. The research employs a methodology that combines qualitative approaches through documentary analysis, along with bibliographical and cartographic review, complemented by fieldwork. This work examines into the changes and transformations within the territory, as well as housing adaptations, which are manifested in the construction of dwellings and their environs. These changes occur in a context where urban culture intertwined with the rural productive scene. Furthermore, it postulates that the inter-century territorial dynamics covering the 19th and 20th centuries serve as an enduring legacy of identity for the 21st century.
Air movement dries surfaces by increasing evaporation and convection, which may prevent mould growth. Cladosporium sp. is used as the test organism (dominant fungi in the envelope of rural houses in hot summer and warm winter areas), and the effect of fans on inhibiting mould growth on building materials is investigated. Surface mould growth on materials was simulated and compared after rain leakage and surface condensation, and spore germination was studied in high humidity, with or without airflow. The results are as follows: (1) Airflow has an evident inhibitory effect on mould growth on wet building materials. This observation was linked to the availability of moisture content in the building materials. (2) Airflow can slow the appearance of visual mould on the material surface. Mould did not appear on the gypsum surface due to the airflow, and mould growth on a wood surface was delayed for about two days. (3) Periodically, spore eluates were examined by electron microscopy to determine the stage of spore germination, and it was found that airflow delayed mould spore germination for about 2-3 days.
Efficiency and accuracy have been challenging in the design optimisation process driven by building simulation. The literature review identified the limitations of previous studies, prompting this study to explore the performance of single-objective versus multi-objective efficiency and accuracy on equivalent problems based on control variables and to consider more algorithmic options for a broader range of designs. This study constructed a comparative energy-related experiment whose results are in the same unit, either as a single-objective optimisation or split into two objectives. The project aims to reduce annual energy consumption and increase solar utilisation potential. Our approach focuses on the use of a surrogate modelling algorithm, Radial Basis Function Optimisation Algorithm (RBFOpt), with its multi-objective version RBFMOpt, to optimise the energy performance while quickly identifying new energy requirements for an iterative office building design logic, contrast to traditional genetic-algorithm-driven. In addition, the research also conducted a comparative study between RBFOpt and Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolutionary Strategies (CMAES) in a single-objective comparison and between RBFMOpt and Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) in a multi-objective optimisation process. The comparison of these sets of Opt algorithms with evolutionary algorithms helps to provide data-driven evidence to support early design decisions.
This study focuses on the adaptive reuse and placemaking of the Viaduc des Arts, an obsolete viaduct in Paris, and examines its impact on the city’s economic, urban, cultural, and sustainable identities. It aims to showcase unconventional solutions applied to create an elevated linear park and a coherent commercial identity under the vaults while enhancing the district’s imageability and attractiveness.
Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study analyzes various action modes in architectural and urban regeneration, highlighting ten valuable lessons learned from the Viaduc des Arts rehabilitation. These lessons provide crucial insights into effective urban regeneration and placemaking strategies, emphasizing the need to update objectives and employ appropriate methodologies for future projects. The Viaduc des Arts serves as a paradigmatic case study, demonstrating the successful transformation of an obsolete viaduct into a commercial, vibrant cultural, and urban space, underscoring the importance of updating urban regeneration objectives.
The purpose of this research is to explore how the design of buildings and spaces affects our comfort. The study examines how our visual surroundings and emotional responses are connected. The hypothesis is that people’s emotions are influenced by what they see in the buildings, spaces, and furniture around them. Each personality type may have a unique emotional response to their surroundings. The study has three main goals: to analyze the built environment, to assess psychological well-being, and to conduct neuroscience analysis. The built environment analysis is divided into two groups: architecture design analysis and street view design analysis. The psychological well-being analysis identifies three key factors. The neuroscience analysis shows that rectangular shapes combined with linear ornamentation and calming colors create the most comforting building design. The most comfortable street view includes an abundance of greenery with sun-shading effects. In conclusion, the study confirms that architecture affects our emotions. The factors that contribute to our comfort are stored in our mind and body over time. Our mood and emotional state are influenced by what we see in our surroundings. The questionnaire and experiment results support these conclusions.
This research interprets the background of Jinzhou section of the Peking-Mukden Railway, and puts forward 65 heritages as cases based on the scope definition and investigation. After the data collection, processing, and visualization, the database composed of 9 sub-databases, with B/S architecture mode, is constructed based on SQL server platform. The ArcGIS tool is used to analyze the distribution of the heritages, including spatial distribution characteristics, spatial agglomeration, and spatial equilibrium. “Image and model information database” and “text attribute information database” is used to analyze the architectural ontology features. The conclusions are drawn as follows: 1) The integral distribution has the characteristics of “cohesion”, while the 5 medium types of heritages show obvious and different directions. 2) The overall pattern of spatial agglomeration is characterized by high cohesion with a single high agglomeration point as the core. The low agglomeration area shows a point-line-point pattern. 3) The integral heritages and three main types of buildings differ in distribution, and the equilibrium is low. The architectural ontology analysis shows that the image information can be used as the basis for ontology characteristics analysis, architectural form and style judgment, and architectural functional space analysis.
Wind-driven rain (WDR) constitutes a significant source of moisture for building facades, which poses considerable challenges to both the thermal insulation performance and long-term durability of walls. Prior studies have contributed significantly to the understanding of fluid behavior and moisture response of WDR upon impacting walls. However, the quantification of absorbed rainwater by the wall remains elusive. To address this gap, this study focuses on comprehending the dynamic WDR absorption behavior of various exterior finishing materials. Specifically, nine types of finishing materials were selected as research objects and conducted field measurements. The findings reveal that WDR absorption ratio is influenced by physical parameters of materials, surface waterproofing and the cumulative WDR. Leveraging multiple regression fittings, we established an empirical WDR absorption ratio calculation mode. This model serves as a valuable reference for determining building simulation parameters regarding dynamic moisture boundary conditions on the exterior surfaces of walls. By providing empirical insights into WDR absorption, our research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of moisture behavior in building envelopes, thereby aiding in the development of effective strategies for enhancing building performance and durability.
Internal migration motivated by access to higher education is a relatively unexplored topic in Colombia, leading to a lack of data on its dimensions, characteristics, and impacts on urban space and the emotional conditions of migrants. For this reason, an academic program of architecture in a public university was selected to comprehend the internal migrations of students, exploring their territorial experiences, living conditions, and social mobility capacity. An exploratory methodology was designed to recognize the phenomenon through a descriptive analysis, utilizing institutional data, surveys, and interviews. The research identifies the primary reasons, barriers, and impacts experienced by the migrant population in Ibagué, Colombia. The study concludes with recommendations pertaining to both institutional and urban planning to address these identified challenges.
This research addresses energy consumption challenges in the design and construction of concrete freeform surface architecture. It proposes an integrated design approach centered on smooth poly-hypar surfaces, serving as a mediator to amalgamate architectural smoothness, structural stiffness, construction convenience, and building energy efficiency from the initial design phase. To testify the versatile functionality of smooth poly-hypar surfaces beyond structural loadbearing, they are employed in the design and construction of a Solar house-a prototype aimed at establishing an energy-efficient modular design and construction system for concrete-freeform surface buildings. This approach capitalizes on the unique structural and geometrical properties offered by smooth poly-hypar surfaces. By leveraging this special geometry, the methodology transcends individual stages, encompassing the entire integrated process and overcoming limitations associated with traditional sequential design strategies. It underscores the interconnected nature of design, construction, and sustainability considerations.