Authors:Fatma Zehra Çakıcı; Çağatay Takva Abstract: Design based on performance and energy efficiency is important in residential buildings. The design approach, which considers climatic data and energy conservation, was also used in traditional building design. In this context, it is aimed to evaluate the Karakurt houses in Kars, built during the Russian occupation period (1878-1918) in Turkey, within the scope of climate-sensitive design. The inadequacy of studies in the literature on Kars Karakurt houses, which are traditional architectural examples that preserve the original texture of the region as qualified representatives of Baltic architecture, constitutes a research gap. In this study, qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. The architectural plan and facade typologies of the buildings in Karakurt village were obtained by measuring techniques and tools. In the qualitative research part, information about the buildings was obtained from on-site investigations and a situation analysis was made. In the quantitative research part, orientation analyses of buildings and spaces, and window-wall area ratios of facades have been evaluated according to climate-sensitive design approaches. In the research findings, design criteria such as plan, facade, roof and material properties of 10 Karakurt houses, were examined and it was seen that the buildings were standardized within the scope of climate-sensitive design. It is seen that the north direction, where the wind is dominant and the sunlight penetration is the least, is not preferred for the orientation of the buildings and the space, and the window/wall area ratio is kept to a minimum, reducing the energy loss especially due to the openings. PubDate: Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +080
Authors:Tania Viju; Mohammed Firoz C, Sruthi Krishnan V Abstract: Urbanization is taking place faster, and urban air temperatures are gradually rising in all cities across the world. Uncontrolled and unplanned urbanization leads to constant environmental threats and can alter local and regional climates. According to the survey published by Economist Intelligence Unit, in India, Kerala's Malappuram district ranks first among the fastest-growing urban areas globally, with a 44.05% growth rate. Hence, the present study aims to identify the hotspot regions of extreme heat within the Malappuram urban agglomeration region and suggest strategies for its improvement. The split-window algorithm retrieved land surface temperature (LST) for 1991, 1998, 2014, and 2020 using Landsat 5 ETM and Landsat 8 satellite imageries. A rising trend in LST has been detected in the last 30 years, and the mean value has increased by 1.70°C within the region. Among the selected hotspots, an LST increase of 1.84°C was observed for those areas with the highest increase in urban density with decreased vegetation. The increasing impact of urbanization and the subsequent change in land use patterns at the cost of greenery have caused a substantial effect on the local climate. Accordingly, planning and policy directions are proposed for the local government that can help provide awareness to the people through the effective implementation of mitigation measures. PubDate: Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +080
Authors:Juhaida Jamal; Mohd Faisal Abdul Khanan, Ami Hassan Md Din, Hafiz Aminu Umar, Mohd Mizan Mohammad Aslam Abstract: This systematic review article focuses on the geospatial issues of radicalism and extremism. The scholar has intensified the application of geospatial in radicalism and extremism study to understand better the causes, patterns, and trends of the radicalism and extremism incidents. The advanced geospatial approach provides more spatio-temporal information on radicalism and extremism incidents'. It improves the conventional study method that only focuses on fundamentals and theory. Unfortunately, some geospatial issues from previous radicalism and extremism studies have been found. Hence, the present study reviewed past studies on geospatial applications in radicalism and extremism. Meanwhile, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method were used to review the current research. This systematic review utilises two major journal databases, Scopus and Web of Science. Searching works found in a total of 24 articles can be analysed systematically. The selected article was separated into four corresponding geospatial analysis types: distribution pattern analysis, cluster analysis, statistical and prediction analysis, and 3D technology. Finally, several recommendations were offered after this study for future scholars' consideration. PubDate: Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +080
Authors:Mark Alegbe Abstract: The overdependence on concrete in the construction industry in sub-Saharan African countries limits the potential use of sustainable materials in the construction of buildings. Hollow Concrete Block (HCB), the industry’s most widely used wall material, contributes to excessive carbon emissions and environmental degradation. Moreso, constructions that employ HCBs, specifically in Nigeria, severely threaten the indoor comfort levels in Naturally Ventilated Spaces NVSs. This study relies on quantitative data to analyse the impact of alternative wall materials in a case building in northern Nigeria. Mud bricks (MB) and Timber/brick (TB) were compared with the existing concrete (CW) case building. The study uses Meteonorm 8 and Climate Consultant 6.0 for EPW file generation. At the same time, dynamic thermal simulation and comparative experiments for thermal comfort and carbon emissions were conducted using DesignBuilder V6 and OneClick Lifecycle assessment tools, respectively. Modelled and simulated under NVS conditions using ASHRAE’s PMV model, the result of the study suggests that the MB alternative, although with an intermediate U-value of 0.318 W/m²k, accounts for the best indoor comfort temperature annually. While the CW building accounts for 41.31% of hours above the comfort temperature of 28⁰C, the TB and MB alternatives account for 29.99% and 27.37% of hours, respectively. Furthermore, the MB alternative is the most environmentally friendly material with 510 KgCO₂/m² emissions, a value 26% less than the CW building with an embodied carbon benchmark of 690 KgCO₂/m² during the building’s life cycle stages. The author suggests that mud construction’s thermal properties and Global Warming Impact (GWI) make it a better alternative to concrete and timber buildings in the tropics. PubDate: Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +080
Authors:Hideo Kawashima; Kiyotaka Fukahori, Mahfuza Parveen, Garu Muni Wathsala Lakpriya Gunawardena, Takashi Asaeda Abstract: This study aims to find out the relationship between an eco-friendly lifestyle and the attitude towards conservation of endangered Oriental White Stork and Japanese Crested Ibis bird species in Toyooka, Sado, and Konosu cities in Japan. Citizens were surveyed to assess their willingness to spend an eco-friendly lifestyle to protect the above-mentioned endangered bird species through questionnaire surveys. Ecological Mind Evaluation Scale (EM Evaluation scale) developed by Tanaka and Joh (2012) based on Hirose model and Bandura’s research on Self Efficacy was applied in this research. This Ecological Mind Evaluation Scale includes 10 factors and it was applied to develop the questionnaire survey. The factor analysis was undertaken based on 4 groups of questionnaire results; environmental awareness, attitude towards environmental conservation, environmental consciousness and self-efficacy. Factor analysis was performed using the varimax method and sample data set comprised 686 valid responses from the three study sites. The KMO values were over 0.80 indicating the sampling was adequate. According to the factor analysis Sado city scored high for environmental awareness and environment consciousness. Toyooka city scored high on self-efficacy and environmental consciousness. Konosu city was compared with the Toyooka and Sado cities, where more advanced habitat conservation activities are already implemented. Findings displayed that the citizens in Konosu city had low awareness about these bird conservation activities, however, they are willing to contribute in such activities in the future. Thus, this study demonstrated that by engaging in environmentally friendly lifestyles, the citizens can contribute to habitat conservation of endangered bird species PubDate: Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +080
Authors:Kübra Bıyuk Öksüz; Reyhan Midilli Sarı Abstract: With an increased demand for housing, mass housing focuses on speed and economic benefit and standardizes. Different user groups cannot find answers to some of their physical and social needs in this housing and its surroundings. This circumstance generates socially unsustainable regions. From this point of view, the study seeks answers to the questions "What is the social sustainability satisfaction level of the users'" and "Is there a statistically significant difference between the social sustainability satisfaction levels and the different characteristics of the users in the existing mass housing areas'" So, the study reveals the criteria necessary for ensuring social sustainability, defines the level of satisfaction with the fulfillment of these criteria, and determines the statistical difference in satisfaction based on resident characteristics. The link between housing and social sustainability was evaluated using the criteria of social equity and sustainability of community. 87 residents filled out the questionnaire form in a mass housing complex in Istanbul. Researchers used descriptive statistics, the Mann Whitney-U, and the Kruskal-Walis tests to define the statistical difference between social sustainability parameters and the demographic characteristics of the residents. The analysis revealed that inclusion and spatial diversity satisfaction on the housing scale were at the highest level and satisfaction with the Participation criteria was at the lowest level in ensuring social sustainability. The results of the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests are as follows: The spatial diversity satisfaction differed in terms of education, economic status, housing type, and length of residence; the social diversity satisfaction differed in terms of gender and age; and the accessibility sub-criterion differed in terms of gender. Only social interaction satisfaction differed by gender, education, and employment status among the sustainability of community criteria. The satisfaction of inclusion, security, community stability, sense of place, and participation were unaffected by demographic characteristics. PubDate: Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +080
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