Critical factors influencing visitor emotions: analysis of “restorativeness” in urban park visits in Fuzhou, China

ObjectiveTo date, a comprehensive analysis of urban green space (UGS) visitors’ emotional remains largely unexplored. In this study, we focus on how UGS environmental preferences, restorativeness, other physical factors (sound, air, and thermal environments), and individual characteristics affecting visitor emotions. Such a comprehensive analysis would allow relevant practitioners to check the environmental quality of UGSs and improve certain conditions to promote visitor emotions.MethodsA total of 904 questionnaire responses with concurrently monitored physical factors were analyzed by independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA and path analysis.ResultsThe thermal evaluation had the largest impact on positive emotions (β = 0.474), followed by perceived restorativeness (β = 0.297), which had β values of −0.120 and −0.158, respectively, on negative emotions. Air evaluation was more effective for increasing positive emotions (β = 0.293) than reducing negative emotions (β = −0.115). Sound evaluation also had similar results (β = 0.330 vs. β = −0.080). Environmental preference significantly influenced only positive emotions (β = 0.181) but could still indirectly impact negative emotions. Moreover, objective physical factors can indirectly affect visitors’ emotions by enhancing their evaluations..ConclusionThe influence of different UGS environmental factors on visitors’ emotions vary, as does their impacts on positive versus negative emotions. Positive emotions were generally more affected than negative emotions by UGS. Visitor emotions were mainly influenced by physical and psychological factors. Corresponding suggestions are proposed for UGS design and management in this study

Role of Bamboo Forest for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change Challenges in China

Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet, with many attributes which make it a useful potential resource for humankind. Though having fast growth and good regeneration performance after harvesting is a unique characteristic of the specie. It enhances a high carbon storage potential particularly when the harvested culms are transformed into durable products. China has many bamboo species with distribution and area coverage's, and highly connected in using the production of bamboo resources. Its characteristics make it an ideal solution for the environmental and social consequences of tropical deforestation. This review paper aims to assess the contribution of bamboo in mitigating and adapting impacts of climate change and its importance regarding ecological and socio-economic benefits. The review summarised the role of bamboo forests towards mitigating and adapting its potential to overcome the impacts of climate change currently seen globally and particularly to China. Therefore, advancing bamboo farming systems at different levels, it's advantages to reduce greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and expanding bamboo forests in future under wider use and intensive management is recommended.</jats:p

Design of a parallel compliance device with variable stiffness

This paper presents a parallel compliance device with variable translational stiffness properties. The variation of endpoint stiffness depends on the change of the spring stiffness in each limb. A synthesis algorithm for realizing the desired force compliance performance is built. Based on the proposed algorithm, a group of optimal spring stiffness can be derived. For the implementation of this device, an electromagnetic linear spring with current-controlled stiffness is developed. After testing the mechanical characteristics of the electromagnetic spring, a prototype of the parallel compliance device is built. The endpoint stiffness under different combinations of spring stiffness values is exhibited in the form of stiffness ellipsoids. A case is studied and verifies the ability of the presented compliance device to realize the desired endpoint stiffness. As the stiffness adjustment range of electromagnetic spring is limited, the bound of physically realizable stiffness of the presented compliance device is also discussed. </jats:p

Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Stoichiometry between Leaf and Soil Exhibit the Different Expansion Stages of Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys&nbsp;edulis (Carriere) J. Houzeau) into Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia&nbsp;lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) Forest

The expansion of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys&nbsp;edulis (Carriere) J. Houzeau) has triggered native forest retreat and a range of ecological issues, especially for the Chinese fir (Cunninghamia&nbsp;lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) forests with similar growing conditions. In order to reveal the stoichiometric characteristics of Moso bamboo succession and scientifically control the forest retreat caused by the expansion of Moso bamboo into Chinese fir, mixed forests including 0%, 30%, 50%, 60%, and 80% of Moso bamboo expanded into Chinese fir forests were used to simulate the expansion stages I, II, III, IV, and V, respectively. In addition, by measuring the C, N, and P contents in Moso bamboo leaves and soils and calculating the correlation stoichiometric ratios, the correlation and coupling of which were explored and combined with an ecological homeostasis model at different stages of Moso bamboo expansion. The results demonstrated that P was a key element for the high utilization of Moso bamboo growth, and the expansion principle was influenced by N limitation. The conclusion was that the anthropogenic regulation of C content in soil could achieve the purpose of expansion control and exploit the carbon sequestration capacity in the mixed forest with half Moso bamboo and half Chinese fir, which should discourage the expansion

Construction of Water Corridors for Mitigation of Urban Heat Island Effect

The urban heat island (UHI) effect is becoming increasingly prominent owing to accelerated urbanization in Fuzhou, affecting the lives of people. Water is an important landscape element that can effectively improve the urban thermal environment. The construction of water corridors has been proven to mitigate the intensity of the UHI effect in Fuzhou. Therefore, we obtained the distribution of a water system in Fuzhou from image data and analyzed temperature watersheds using the inversion of surface temperature to investigate the inner mechanism of the water system influencing the UHI effect. The water system was superimposed with hot spots to obtain cooling ecological nodes and construct water corridors to mitigate the UHI effect. The temperature watershed areas in Fuzhou are: Minhou County (353.77 km2), Changle (233.06 km2), Mawei (137.82 km2), Cangshan (71.25 km2), Jin’an (55.99 km2), Gulou (16.93 km2), and Taijiang (15.51 km2) Districts. Hot spots were primarily located in Changle, Cangshan, Jin’an, Gulou, and Taijiang Districts. The superposition of the water system and temperature watershed yielded 152 cooling ecological nodes, which were concentrated in the Minjiang and Wulong River watershed, with no cooling ecological nodes distributed within the central city. Twenty-five cooling ecological nodes were selected in the hot spot areas, which were primarily distributed in reservoirs, inland rivers, and park water systems. We constructed 12 water corridors, including four, three, two, one, one, and one in the Minhou County, Changle, Mawei, Jin’an, Cangshan, and the Gulou and Taijiang Districts.</jats:p

Dynamic Landscape Fragmentation and the Driving Forces on Haitan Island, China

Island ecosystems have distinct and unique vulnerabilities that place them at risk from threats to their ecology and socioeconomics. Spatially exhibiting the fragmentation process of island landscapes and identifying their driving factors are the fundamental prerequisites for the maintenance of island ecosystems and the rational utilization of islands. Haitan Island was chosen as a case study for understanding landscape fragmentation on urbanizing Islands. Based on remote sensing technology, three Landsat images from 2000 to 2020, landscape pattern index, transect gradient analysis, and moving window method were used in this study. The results showed that from 2000 to 2020, impervious land increased by 462.57%. In 2000, the predominant landscape was cropland (46.34%), which shifted to impervious land (35.20%) and forest (32.90%) in 2020. Combining the moving window method and Semivariogram, 1050 m was considered to be the best scale to reflect the landscape fragmentation of Haitan Island. Under this scale, it was found that the landscape fragmentation of Haitan Island generally increased with time and had obvious spatial heterogeneity. We set up sampling bands along the coastline and found that the degree of landscape fragmentation, advancing from the coast inland, was decreasing. Transects analysis showed the fragmentation intensity of the coastal zone: the north-western and southern wooded zones decreased, while the concentration of urban farmland in the north-central and southern areas increased. The implementation of a comprehensive experimental area plan on Haitan Island has disturbed the landscape considerably. In 2000, landscape fragmentation was mainly influenced by topography and agricultural production. The critical infrastructure construction, reclamation and development of landscape resources have greatly contributed to the urbanisation and tourism of Haitan Island, and landscape fragmentation in 2013 was at its highest. Due to China’s “Grain for Green Project” and the Comprehensive Territorial Spatial Planning policy (especially the protection of ecological control lines), the fragmentation of Haitan Island was slowing. This study investigated the optimal spatial scale for analyzing spatiotemporal changes in landscape fragmentation on Haitan Island from 2000 to 2020, and the essential influencing factors in urban islands from the perspective of natural environment and social development, which could provide a basis for land use management and ecological planning on the island

The Relationships between Perceived Design Intensity, Preference, Restorativeness and Eye Movements in Designed Urban Green Space

Recent research has demonstrated that landscape design intensity impacts individuals’ landscape preferences, which may influence their eye movement. Due to the close relationship between restorativeness and landscape preference, we further explore the relationships between design intensity, preference, restorativeness and eye movements. Specifically, using manipulated images as stimuli for 200 students as participants, the effect of urban green space (UGS) design intensity on landscapes’ preference, restorativeness, and eye movement was examined. The results demonstrate that landscape design intensity could contribute to preference and restorativeness and that there is a significant positive relationship between design intensity and eye-tracking metrics, including dwell time percent, fixation percent, fixation count, and visited ranking. Additionally, preference was positively related to restorativeness, dwell time percent, fixation percent, and fixation count, and there is a significant positive relationship between restorativeness and fixation percent. We obtained the most feasible regression equations between design intensity and preference, restorativeness, and eye movement. These results provide a set of guidelines for improving UGS design to achieve its greatest restorative potential and shed new light on the use of eye-tracking technology in landscape perception studies.</jats:p

Dynamic Landscape Fragmentation and the Driving Forces on Haitan Island, China

Island ecosystems have distinct and unique vulnerabilities that place them at risk from threats to their ecology and socioeconomics. Spatially exhibiting the fragmentation process of island landscapes and identifying their driving factors are the fundamental prerequisites for the maintenance of island ecosystems and the rational utilization of islands. Haitan Island was chosen as a case study for understanding landscape fragmentation on urbanizing Islands. Based on remote sensing technology, three Landsat images from 2000 to 2020, landscape pattern index, transect gradient analysis, and moving window method were used in this study. The results showed that from 2000 to 2020, impervious land increased by 462.57%. In 2000, the predominant landscape was cropland (46.34%), which shifted to impervious land (35.20%) and forest (32.90%) in 2020. Combining the moving window method and Semivariogram, 1050 m was considered to be the best scale to reflect the landscape fragmentation of Haitan Island. Under this scale, it was found that the landscape fragmentation of Haitan Island generally increased with time and had obvious spatial heterogeneity. We set up sampling bands along the coastline and found that the degree of landscape fragmentation, advancing from the coast inland, was decreasing. Transects analysis showed the fragmentation intensity of the coastal zone: the north-western and southern wooded zones decreased, while the concentration of urban farmland in the north-central and southern areas increased. The implementation of a comprehensive experimental area plan on Haitan Island has disturbed the landscape considerably. In 2000, landscape fragmentation was mainly influenced by topography and agricultural production. The critical infrastructure construction, reclamation and development of landscape resources have greatly contributed to the urbanisation and tourism of Haitan Island, and landscape fragmentation in 2013 was at its highest. Due to China’s “Grain for Green Project” and the Comprehensive Territorial Spatial Planning policy (especially the protection of ecological control lines), the fragmentation of Haitan Island was slowing. This study investigated the optimal spatial scale for analyzing spatiotemporal changes in landscape fragmentation on Haitan Island from 2000 to 2020, and the essential influencing factors in urban islands from the perspective of natural environment and social development, which could provide a basis for land use management and ecological planning on the island.</jats:p