The Rwandan city of Gisenyi, located near the northern shoreline of Lake Kivu within the Rubavu District, represents a crucial geographical location with strong strategic value. Gisenyi has a border position with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), making it a great trade interface between the two countries. Gisenyi has numerous potential, both natural and economic, whereas the town has been bogged down by poor urban planning, poor infrastructure, and exposure to environmental hazards. This research work addresses issues related to the underutilized lakeside architecture of Gisenyi, such as unused buffer zones, limited pedestrian access to the site, and insufficient places to gather in a small-scale economy. The research aims to make recommendations for long-term sustainability policies in architecture that will revamp the lakeside region by improving its ecological guardianship, supporting tourism, and reinforcing its urban character. It employs a mixed-methods approach to compare case studies of waterfront developments in Toronto, Manhattan, and Zurich; observed through mixed-methods analysis, spatial observations, and GIS mapping, as well as interviews with stakeholders. The research concluded that evidence-based, locally sensitive architectural interventions that the community participates in and policy synchronization are key to transforming the lakeside of Gisenyi into a lively, robust, and economically resplendent city.

Rapid urbanisation in Dhaka has created extensive infrastructure gaps. Residual spaces produced by large-scale transport infrastructure and neglected waterway corridors remain formally unacknowledged yet functionally embedded in the city’s informal social fabric. Despite their apparent emptiness, these sites serve as critical nodes of everyday urban life for marginalised communities. This paper evaluates the spatial conditions, ecological degradation, and latent social value of four recurring void typologies in Dhaka: street nodes adjacent to canal edges, land beneath flyovers under construction, voids beneath existing flyovers with informal sanitation facilities, and waste-accumulating plots along waterway margins.

A standardised field data-collection framework was employed across all four site typologies, documenting physical and environmental conditions, as well as the demographic profiles and behavioural patterns of current users. Observational mapping, structured surveys, and spatial measurements were used to capture both the formal neglect and the informal vitality characterising each site.

Field evidence demonstrates that all four typologies sustain consistent, high-frequency informal activities, including vending, transit waiting, waste sorting, and community gathering, despite the absence of any planned programming or basic amenities. Regardless of the unfavourable environmental conditions, including poor drainage, heat exposure, inadequate sanitation, and existing social vulnerabilities, the users are most dependent on these spaces on a daily basis.

The findings indicate that Dhaka’s infrastructural voids represent a systemic planning failure that disproportionately affects low-income and transient populations. Targeted, community-responsive redesign strategies informed directly by documented behavioural patterns can transform these neglected sites into equitable public assets. This research contributes an evidence-based framework for integrating infrastructural and ecological voids into Dhaka’s broader urban fabric, advancing more inclusive and resilient city-making.

Are our planning and housing systems contributing to the wealth divide in Australia, making our post code one of the strongest predictors of life outcomes in this country? This paper investigates how long-standing features of Australia’s planning and housing delivery frameworks keep the “Bottom Million” at the bottom. It also highlights how small, strategic adjustments could unlock meaningful change across Queensland.
Drawing on Paul Collier’s idea of the bottom billion, adapted locally by Noel Pearson, this perspective gives shape to the growing population shut out of secure, affordable housing in both public and private spheres.
As social housing becomes harder to access and private market competition intensifies, a significant cohort of Queenslanders is being left behind—stranded in a space where options shrink and the housing shortage feels increasingly insurmountable.
And the divide is widening, particularly with the flow of the great inheritance.
Through targeted scenario testing, this paper uncovers the correlations and hidden drivers that shape housing accessibility and reveals where the system can be shifted to make a real difference.

Another essential dimension is participation: does the current planning system make it harder for the Bottom Million to be heard? Whose submissions actually influence development applications? Whose voices prevail in community consultations? Perhaps this divide is not only about age but also about wealth—deepening an economic split between those with influence and those rendered invisible.

This work is not about assigning blame but rather the systemic causes. Real-world examples and actionable recommendations will help show what meaningful progress can look like.

As European cities age, the challenge extends beyond ensuring older adults can reach essential services to understanding how urban environments support their movement, rest and cognitive engagement in public space. The 15 min city framework emphasizes access to services but often overlooks environmental comfort, spatial legibility and how older adults actually use public space. Existing accessibility metrics systematically mispredict elderly spatial engagement because they ignore micro-scale environmental and configurational factors. This study addresses this gap by developing a grid-based urban walking comfortability model for the neighbourhood of Alvalade in Lisbon. The analysis is conducted using a 100 m × 100 m geospatial grid to capture fine-scale variations in the urban fabric. The work proceeds via three methodologies: ‘Functional Accessibility Overlays’, ‘Environmental and Cognitive Layer evaluation’ and finally ‘Behavioural Validation’ by Computer Vision. All indicators are standardized and systematically integrated into a weighted Age-Friendly Comfort Walkability Index. Our findings suggest that proximity alone does not ensure engagement. This study proposes and empirically validates a calibrated spatial performance model. By linking infrastructure, spatial configuration and behavioural evidence, the proposed framework offers a practical tool for planners with an actionable, data-driven tool to embed holistic environmental comfort within sustainable neighbourhood strategies also fostering equitable and age-friendly urban environments.

Ger districts in Ulaanbaatar accommodate approximately 30% of the city’s population and are steadily expanding into the city’s outskirts. They are primarily inhabited by former nomadic households undergoing a rapid urban transition. This transformation has led to spatial and social challenges, particularly a deficiency in public open spaces. Access to multifunctional recreational spaces is of paramount importance for fostering community interaction, improving public health, and enhancing the overall quality of urban life. However, the scarcity of recreational and green spaces in ger districts constrains everyday life and weakens the social infrastructure necessary for community well-being. Based on theories of public space and sustainable urban development, this study examines the demand for public open spaces in ger districts through questionnaire surveys and field observation. The study evaluates residents’ spatial needs, usage patterns, and perceptions of environmental quality. The findings reveal that a critical shortage of recreational areas, playgrounds, sidewalks, and accessible green spaces, limiting opportunities for social cohesion and restorative experiences. In addition, residents tend to utilize water kiosks and local grocery stores as gathering places and landmarks. The study argues that the strategic integration of inclusive, multifunctional public open spaces should be considered a priority in the sustainable redevelopment of ger districts. Such spatial interventions are essential not only to improve environmental performance but also to strengthen social resilience and enhance long-term urban livability.

Variations in temperature have the potential to either enhance or disrupt ecological systems, yet little is known about how the plasticity of Glossy Abelia, under conditions of localised climate change, can facilitate urban planning and design. Therefore, this study focuses on changes in the duration and abundance of flowering of Abelia × grandiflora ‘Little Richard’ in Lep Izgled Park in Belgrade during the period 2023–2025. Observations were carried out using the extended BBCH scale, with recorded dates converted into day-of-year values. The accumulated heat sum for flowering onset, full flowering, and end of flowering was determined based on daily maximum and minimum air temperatures. Flowering abundance was evaluated using a 0–5 scale, where 0 indicates the absence of flowering and 5 indicates maximum flowering. The study employed descriptive statistics, the Spearman rank test, the Mann–Kendall trend test in conjunction with Sen’s slope test, and regression analysis. The results confirm that air temperature influences both the duration and abundance of flowering. The year factor proved to be significant, with 2024, identified as the globally warmest year, exhibiting the longest flowering phenophase, while flowering abundance varied depending on daily maximum and minimum air temperatures. The distribution of flowering abundance and shifts in phenological patterns suggest that the responses of Glossy Abelia represent adaptations to local conditions. This study also provides a framework for modelling the potential effects of temperature changes on the dynamics and abundance of flowering on both local and global scales. The research highlights key events in flowering patterns in order to emphasise the influence of air temperature on changes in the urban phenology of glossy abelia, with the aim of supporting the operationalisation of urban planning and park design.

Óvalo Gutiérrez is an emblematic node in the Lima district of Miraflores, as it attracts a significant pedestrian flow due to its diversity of uses and its proximity to a major landmark, Huaca Pucllana. However, its streets primarily respond to vehicular logic, which reduces comfort and safety for pedestrians. Therefore, measuring walkability in its surroundings becomes necessary in order to improve the pedestrian experience through a verifiable diagnosis.

This research replicates the methodology developed in Identifying and Measuring Urban Design Qualities Related to Walkability (Ewing et al., 2005). Through fieldwork conducted across different street segments, five key urban design qualities were analyzed: imageability, enclosure, human scale, transparency, and complexity. The survey was documented using videos and photographs, and the collected data were transferred to a scoring sheet from which walkability results were obtained for each segment.

The results identified streets with high levels of walkability, suitable for pedestrian prioritization and for strengthening connections between centralities, as well as sectors with low levels that require specific public space interventions. The study provides a quantitative and cartographic diagnosis of the area surrounding Óvalo Gutiérrez, identifying priority spaces for intervention. Furthermore, replicable guidelines were developed for similar road nodes in Lima, contributing to a planning approach that places people at the center of urban development.

Access to housing constitutes one of the main urban challenges in cities such as Lima Metropolitana, where population growth and urban expansion have outpaced the capacity of formal planning systems. In this context, zoning regulations and urban planning parameters, such as building height, density, and open space requirements, become key instruments in shaping the city. The so-called Urban Planning Parameters Case before the Constitutional Court represents a milestone in defining the allocation of powers between the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation (MVCS) and local governments.

This research adopts a qualitative approach based on the interpretative analysis of the Constitutional Court rulings in the Urban Planning Parameters Cases I, II, and III (Exp. 00017-2021-PI/TC; Exp. 00001-2021-CC/TC and 00004-2021-CC/TC; and Exp. 00003-2020-CC/TC), focusing on municipal authority over zoning, urban planning, and planning parameters in relation to national housing regulations and special regulatory frameworks. The analysis is developed from an urban planning perspective, assessing the implications of these decisions for urban planning processes and access to housing.

The findings indicate that constitutional jurisprudence consolidates a model of urban governance in which the MVCS establishes general regulatory guidelines, while municipalities retain autonomy in managing urban planning parameters and determining maximum building heights. This study contributes to the broader discussion on access to housing and the development of Social Interest Housing (VIS) projects. Furthermore, it highlights the existing fragmentation across different levels of urban planning and offers a critical reflection aimed at improving coordination and the formulation of future urban policies.

Introduction

Urban residential systems involve tightly interrelated variables, including parcel morphology, energy consumption, facility distribution, and transit accessibility. When these indicators change together, outcomes may reflect structural interactions rather than simple one-to-one effects. This study proposes a structured framework that clarifies these relationships and limits interpretation to verified results.

Methods

A relational data model integrates parcel attributes, building energy intensity, public transit nodes, and multiple facility types. Network-based shortest-path distances measure accessibility. Parcels are linked in a knowledge graph when they share nearest-facility or network-path relationships. The graph functions as a structured evidence layer, enabling traceable queries for each planning question. The framework examines functional dependencies, compares high–low groups, and evaluates scaling patterns. All validated findings are stored as graph-based evidence. Under graph-grounded constraints, the LLM interprets results stepwise using only retrieved and verified evidence.

Results

To evaluate the framework, we apply it to two analytical questions in the Singapore public housing parcel.

First, although social services such as childcare achieve full coverage, road-network–based nearest-facility analysis reveals that many parcels share the same service node. By jointly examining building scale and the distance to alternative facilities, the framework identifies parcels with highly concentrated service dependency, locating areas of highest fragility beyond simple coverage metrics.

Second, transit accessibility appears positively associated with energy use. However, validation confirms that energy strictly follows Energy = 46.47 × GFA, meaning consumption is fully determined by gross floor area. High-transit parcels also have a higher average GFA, which explains the correlation. After controlling for GFA, the relationship disappears, revealing a density-mediated pathway (Transit → GFA → Energy) and rejecting a direct causal interpretation.

Conclusions

This framework integrates relational modeling, knowledge graphs, and graph-grounded LLM reasoning to provide a reproducible diagnostic method for parcel-scale urban planning.

Sports infrastructures are often perceived as disruptive facilities, as they generate urban voids, traffic disorder, and underutilization after competition days. The problem lies in functionalist zoning that approaches sports venues as an isolated object, ignoring their potential as sources of urban complexity. In this sense, the morphological fabric of the city of Lima (Peru) has been radically transformed by these sports infrastructures, which have generated problems in perceptions of safety and accessibility for women and vulnerable groups navigating these environments.

The present study develops an analysis of land use and urban perception of six representative stadiums in the city of Lima during the 2014–2024 period: the Nacional and Monumental stadiums. In a first stage, the Shannon Diversity Index (H) is used to characterize urban complexity (Rueda, 2012) in the immediate surroundings of these infrastructures (500-meter pedestrian isochrone). In a second stage, a mapping of "blind spots" is carried out from a safety and gender perspective.

Preliminary results suggest that the Nacional stadium presents a higher H index (3.2 bits) due to natural surveillance, while peripheral stadiums like the Monumental show high entropy and land-use segregation, as 70% of the immediate area is allocated to inactive parking lots. Consequently, this study identifies urban management models that transform sports complexes into equitable and complex nodes of public life.