Cooler kids need greener spaces

Heat exposure and greenness influence health and learning outcomes. Satellite images show schools on the Coast have strong heat stress levels and low vegetation; schools in the Andes have the largest solar radiation. Reforming school infrastructure standards is urgently needed in Ecuador. To describe environmental conditions in nine Ecuadorian schools, we analyzed three variables: temperature, vegetation, and solar radiation derived from satellite images that we downloaded from Google Earth Engine. We compared schools across three ecoregions to see differences in range and average values.

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Understanding playgrounds for inclusive and dynamic urban experiences

This study explores how urban playground design can either segregate or integrate children within the broader city fabric. By comparing Venice and Auckland, we illustrate how playgrounds in Venice encourage unstructured exploration, while those in Auckland limit engagement to isolated, structured zones. We propose strategies for urban design that foster inclusive and dynamic public spaces for children.

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Collaboration for healthier urban development

Health evidence could be used more effectively to influence healthier urban development. We learn from a researcher-practitioner collaboration, involving an embedded researcher in local government working on a regeneration project, which helped to develop a new health modelling tool for environmental change and influence decision-making.

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How do high-rise communal spaces shape residents’ social interactions?

High-rise apartment buildings are increasingly popular in large cities, however, urban land availability for outdoor communal spaces is limited. Creating communal spaces for high population density is a challenging task. Past research indicates the importance of the immediate environment in stimulating social interaction and the spatial organization for social activities can play an important role. One may ask whether the design of communal spaces within high-rise buildings can stimulate social interaction among residents.

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Perceived urban quality and well-being during post-earthquake shelter projects (MAPs and CASE) in L’Aquila, Italy

Although the CASE and MAPs were supposed to be temporary shelters for displaced persons, after fourteen years, they have not received proper maintenance and are dilapidated. This scenario opens to the idea that living in these places could negatively affect different psychological aspects, including perceived urban quality and environmental well-being.

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