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1 – 10 of 61Rania Nasreldin and Asmaa Ibrahim
This research aims to shed light on the utilization of open spaces at Effat University through a gender lens. By eliminating gender segregation, the study seeks to examine how…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to shed light on the utilization of open spaces at Effat University through a gender lens. By eliminating gender segregation, the study seeks to examine how these spaces are equitably shared between genders, while also delving into the realm of gender sensitive urban design (GSUD). Furthermore, the research strives to gain valuable insights into the experiences of female students in open spaces to propose a framework for the design of fair shared open spaces.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve these objectives, a multi-faceted approach was adopted. First, the research started by reviewing the literature about gender sensitive urban design and inclusive urban design to conclude the indicators examine how open spaces are shared fairly between both genders; second, an online questionnaire was administered to gather comprehensive data. Third, meticulous observations were conducted, involving the study, analysis and mapping of students' activities using maps and photos. Lastly, a walk shop was organized, with a focus group comprising of female participants. The collected data was then analyzed using SPSS descriptive statistics and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, enabling the identification of key patterns and evaluating female students' satisfaction levels.
Findings
The findings unearth a distinctive perspective on the perception and needs of females within a unique subset of open spaces, referred to as “campus open spaces,” in the context of a gender sensitive urban design. This exploration provides valuable insights into the intricacies of gender dynamics within public spaces, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable environment for all individuals at Effat University, framework shows some of significant indicators that effect on other indicators strongly as sense of safety and security and the diversity of activities that increase visiting rates, sense of belonging.
Originality/value
This research presents a framework aimed at improving the concept of equitable and inclusive, open spaces, particularly on campuses within significant communities like KSA. The focus is on creating fair shared places that facilitate interaction and cater to the social and cultural needs of students, with a particular emphasis on supporting female students. By enhancing their sense of belonging and addressing their unique requirements, this framework aims to positively impact their academic performance while fostering an inclusive and engaging campus environment.
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Ying Ling Jin, Fatimah De’nan, Kok Keong Choong and Nor Salwani Hashim
Cold-formed steel has been used extensively as secondary elements such as purlins and girts in building frames. Purlin is critical to the structure of the roof because it supports…
Abstract
Purpose
Cold-formed steel has been used extensively as secondary elements such as purlins and girts in building frames. Purlin is critical to the structure of the roof because it supports the weight of the roof deck and aids to make the entire roof structure more rigid. Furthermore, cold-formed steel purlin is a replacement for wood purlin because steel purlins are light weight and more economical. Hence, the purpose of this study to investigate the effect of opening due to torsion behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
This analysis used cold-formed steel hat purlin with and without openings (WOs) under different opening shape, location and spacing by using finite element LUSAS software.
Findings
The finite element results showed that purlin with openings had higher angle of rotation than section WO, with a percentage difference of not more than 6%. When the opening was located at mid-span, the angle of rotation reduced. Angle of rotation increased when the opening spacing increased. Number of openings also affected the torsional behaviour of the purlin. Five opening shapes, which were circle, diamond, C-hexagon, square and elongated circle, were studied. Among all the shapes, purlin with diamond opening was more resistance to torsion.
Originality/value
The use of cold-formed steel section with web openings (rectangular or circular) is a practical solution when it is required to pass service ducts through the structural member. However, the presence of opening gives minor effect on the structural behaviour of cold-formed steel hat purlin.
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Muge Unal Cilek, Mehmet Faruk Altunkasa and Cengiz Uslu
Public spaces, which offer opportunities for social, cultural and recreational activities, enhance urban life quality (ULQ). Thus, this study aims to investigate the impact of…
Abstract
Purpose
Public spaces, which offer opportunities for social, cultural and recreational activities, enhance urban life quality (ULQ). Thus, this study aims to investigate the impact of public spaces and physical-environmental criteria affecting the usability of ULQ in Adana city, Turkey.
Design/methodology/approach
The study method consists of three stages. Firstly, public spaces and physical-environmental criteria that can be effective in ULQ were determined. Secondly, the effect of the determining criteria on ULQ was evaluated through a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire (1 = very negative, 5 = very positive). The survey was conducted with 601 people in the four central districts of Adana, including Çukurova, Seyhan, Sariçam and Yüregir. Participants evaluated ULQ for both the residence district and Adana city. Lastly, factors affecting ULQ were determined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In addition, MANOVA was used to determine the changes in factors according to socio-demographic characteristics.
Findings
Based on the EFA, the results show that the criteria affecting the ULQ are grouped into four factors, including (1) open spaces, (2) cultural, sports and recreation, (3) environmental and (4) transportation. In evaluating these factors, while gender does not affect the perception of ULQ, residence districts show a statistically significant difference in the perception of ULQ. Cultural and transportation factors show statistical differences according to education and age.
Research limitations/implications
This study has a limitation in that it relies solely on the quantitative perceptions of residents with varying demographics, such as age, gender and educational level, to evaluate public spaces and physical environment criteria. While these perspectives are valuable, they may not necessarily reflect the qualitative reality of the urban environment. Therefore, future studies combining quantitative and qualitative data could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting ULQ in urban areas.
Social implications
The implementation of the survey showed the subjective perception of ULQ in Adana city. Urban green spaces, including cultural, sports and recreational areas, should be improved in areas with insufficient facilities that affect the quality of urban life. Additionally, the impact of climate conditions on the quality of life should be taken into account when designing the city to ensure maximum utilization of public spaces. Furthermore, safe cycling transportation networks should be developed.
Originality/value
The novelty of this study lies in its unique approach to investigating the effects of public spaces and physical environmental criteria on ULQ based on combining residents' perceptions, literature review and data analysis. The study provides a valuable perspective often overlooked in urban planning research, especially in developing countries like Turkey. Additionally, the study's findings can inform the development of strategies to enhance ULQ.
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Minghao Wang, Ming Cong, Yu Du, Huageng Zhong and Dong Liu
To make the robot that have real autonomous ability is always the goal of mobile robot research. For mobile robots, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) research is no…
Abstract
Purpose
To make the robot that have real autonomous ability is always the goal of mobile robot research. For mobile robots, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) research is no longer satisfied with enabling robots to build maps by remote control, more needs will focus on the autonomous exploration of unknown areas, which refer to the low light, complex spatial features and a series of unstructured environment, lick underground special space (dark and multiintersection). This study aims to propose a novel robot structure with mapping and autonomous exploration algorithms. The experiment proves the detection ability of the robot.
Design/methodology/approach
A small bio-inspired mobile robot suitable for underground special space (dark and multiintersection) is designed, and the control system is set up based on STM32 and Jetson Nano. The robot is equipped with double laser sensor and Ackerman chassis structure, which can adapt to the practical requirements of exploration in underground special space. Based on the graph optimization SLAM method, an optimization method for map construction is proposed. The Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm is used to match two frames of laser to recalculate the relative pose of the robot, which improves the sensor utilization rate of the robot in underground space and also increase the synchronous positioning accuracy. Moreover, based on boundary cells and rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT) algorithm, a new Bio-RRT method for robot autonomous exploration is proposed in addition.
Findings
According to the experimental results, it can be seen that the upgraded SLAM method proposed in this paper achieves better results in map construction. At the same time, the algorithm presents good real-time performance as well as high accuracy and strong maintainability, particularly it can update the map continuously with the passing of time and ensure the positioning accuracy in the process of map updating. The Bio-RRT method fused with the firing excitation mechanism of boundary cells has a more purposeful random tree growth. The number of random tree expansion nodes is less, and the amount of information to be processed is reduced, which leads to the path planning time shorter and the efficiency higher. In addition, the target bias makes the random tree grow directly toward the target point with a certain probability, and the obtained path nodes are basically distributed on or on both sides of the line between the initial point and the target point, which makes the path length shorter and reduces the moving cost of the mobile robot. The final experimental results demonstrate that the proposed upgraded SLAM and Bio-RRT methods can better complete the underground special space exploration task.
Originality/value
Based on the background of robot autonomous exploration in underground special space, a new bio-inspired mobile robot structure with mapping and autonomous exploration algorithm is proposed in this paper. The robot structure is constructed, and the perceptual unit, control unit, driving unit and communication unit are described in detail. The robot can satisfy the practical requirements of exploring the underground dark and multiintersection space. Then, the upgraded graph optimization laser SLAM algorithm and interframe matching optimization method are proposed in this paper. The Bio-RRT independent exploration method is finally proposed, which takes shorter time in equally open space and the search strategy for multiintersection space is more efficient. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed upgrade SLAM and Bio-RRT methods can better complete the underground space exploration task.
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Alexandra Thrall, T. Philip Nichols and Kevin R. Magill
The purpose of this study is to examine how young people imagine civic futures through speculative fiction writing about artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The authors…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine how young people imagine civic futures through speculative fiction writing about artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The authors argue that young people’s speculative fiction writing about AI not only helps make visible the ways they imagine the impacts of emerging technologies and the modes of collective action available for leveraging, resisting or countering them but also the frictions and fissures between the two.
Design/methodology/approach
This practitioner research study used data from student artifacts (speculative fiction stories, prewriting and relevant unit work) as well as classroom fieldnotes. The authors used inductive coding to identify emergent patterns in the ways young people wrote about AI and civics, as well as deductive coding using digital civic ecologies framework.
Findings
The findings of this study spotlight both the breadth of intractable civic concerns that young people associate with AI, as well as the limitations of the civic frameworks for imagining political interventions to these challenges. Importantly, they also indicate that the process of speculative writing itself can help reconcile this disjuncture by opening space to dwell in, rather than resolve, the tensions between “the speculative” and the “civic.”
Practical implications
Teachers might use speculative fiction writing and the digital civic ecologies framework to support students in critically examining possible AI futures and effective civic actions within them.
Originality/value
Speculative fiction writing offers an avenue for students to analyze the growing civic concerns posed by emerging platform technologies like AI.
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Hanna Chaikovska, Iryna Levchyk, Zoriana Adamska and Oleksandra Yankovych
The purpose of this study is to examine the formation of sustainable development competencies (SDCs) in future primary school teachers during English for specific purposes…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the formation of sustainable development competencies (SDCs) in future primary school teachers during English for specific purposes classes, and to assess the correlation between English proficiency and the development of SDCs, including Collaboration, Strategic thinking, Critical thinking, Modelling sustainable behaviour, Systems thinking and Future thinking.
Design/methodology/approach
The research experiment involved the application of content and language integrated learning and facilitation methods in three higher education institutions in Ukraine. The students’ level of English language proficiency was assessed based on the results of the online Cambridge English Language Assessment test, while the level of SDC formation was measured using research methods adapted to the Ukrainian context.
Findings
The experiment revealed positive changes in the levels of SDCs and English language proficiency through integrated learning and the application of facilitation methods.
Originality/value
The study established a correlation between the level of English language proficiency and the formation of competencies, such as Collaboration, Strategic thinking, Critical thinking, Modelling sustainable behaviour, Systems thinking and Future thinking, all of which are vital for sustainable development.
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Support for the Conservatives now equals the combined support for the centre-left Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP), which is further left. The Conservatives are now…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB286856
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Alaa Alsherfawi Aljazaerly, Seth Asare Okyere, Stephen Leonard Mensah, Matthew Abunyewah, Louis Kusi Frimpong and Michihiro Kita
Integrating and advancing social sustainability is foundational to achieving the urban sustainable development goals. Given the rapid transformation of cities in the Mediterranean…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrating and advancing social sustainability is foundational to achieving the urban sustainable development goals. Given the rapid transformation of cities in the Mediterranean region, this study sought to assess residents' evaluation of social sustainability in two socio-spatially diverse neighbourhoods of metropolitan Istanbul.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey, adapted from an empirically well-tested and robust social sustainability framework, was used to collect data from 197 residents from Balat and Rasimpasa neighbourhoods in Metropolitan Istanbul. The study then employed quantitative analytical techniques such as independent sample t-tests and Pearson correlation to analyse the sample data.
Findings
In both neighbourhoods, accessibility and participation were ranked the highest and lowest dimensions of social sustainability, respectively. However, the t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the two neighbourhoods regarding social networking and interaction, safety and security and participation. The differences align with emerging studies on urban social sustainability in the Mediterranean and European cities that when considered from urban spatial contexts, significant differences emerge from a social network and safety perspective.
Practical implications
Our study invites urban planners and policy makers attention to and emphasise on lowly evaluated social sustainability dimensions such as participation in their efforts to promote sustainable urban development at the neighbourhood level. We reason that opening the decision-making process to include diverse voices and experiences of residents through participatory workshops might offer opportunities for context-specific, citizen-led urban planning and design strategies that are socially sustainable.
Originality/value
Previous studies have not fully accounted for how various socio-spatial contexts at the neighbourhood level shape differential evaluation of social sustainability. This paper extends the emerging work on urban social sustainability by situating residents’ evaluation of social sustainability indicators across two unique neighbourhoods with gridded and organic spatial characteristics in Istanbul. This paper is an important addition to ongoing work on how spatial organisation of neighbourhoods can influence experiences of social sustainability from an urban planning and design perspective.
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Daniel Magnusson, Hendry Raharjo and Petra Bosch-Sijtsema
Sustainability is regarded as a core value that the coworking movement aspires to. However, most sustainability efforts focus on the providers’ perspective while neglecting the…
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainability is regarded as a core value that the coworking movement aspires to. However, most sustainability efforts focus on the providers’ perspective while neglecting the coworking members’ role. Therefore, this paper aims to explore sustainable coworking from the members perspective by focusing on sustainable behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a flexible pattern matching approach. Theoretical patterns are identified using literature on coworking space and sustainable behavior while matching them with the empirical data. Data were collected from three different coworking spaces in Sweden through interviews and observations.
Findings
Based on the theoretical patterns, three constructs for sustainable coworking were identified, namely, productive behavior, prosocial behavior and responsible space sharing behavior. Through the empirical data, the constructs were further concretized to understand their different aspects. The findings uncovered a new layer of complexity where members can show the same behavior and be perceived differently.
Originality/value
This study offers a more holistic understanding of sustainable coworking by highlighting the members’ role and identifying different member perceptions on sustainable coworking behaviors.
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Giulia Piantoni, Laura Dell'Agostino, Marika Arena and Giovanni Azzone
Measuring shared value (SV) created in innovation ecosystems (IEs) is increasingly relevant but complex, given the multidimensional and multiactor nature of both concepts, which…
Abstract
Purpose
Measuring shared value (SV) created in innovation ecosystems (IEs) is increasingly relevant but complex, given the multidimensional and multiactor nature of both concepts, which challenges traditional performance measurement systems (PMSs). Moving from this gap, the authors propose an integrated approach to extend the balanced scorecard (BSC) for measuring and monitoring SV creation at IE level.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed approach combines the most recent contributions on PMS in IEs and SV to define perspectives and dimensions that are better suited to deal with the nature of both IEs and SV. The approach is also applied to the real case (Alpha) of an Italian IE through a step wise method. Starting from the IE vision, the authors identify in the strategy map the specific objectives related to each perspective/dimension combination and then associate a performance indicator with each objective.
Findings
The resulting SV BSC is composed of indicators interconnected along different perspectives and dimensions. The application of the approach to the real case proves its feasibility and highlights characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the SV BSC when used at IE level. The authors also provide guidelines for its application to other IEs.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the research on PMS by introducing and applying to a real case an integrated approach to assess SV in IEs, overcoming the shortcomings of PMS framed for single firms. It can be of interest for both researchers in the field of ecosystems value creation and practitioners managing or promoting such complex structures.
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