Thermal sensation, perceptionand microclimatic data at a city with Mediterranean climate

This data article presents the data collected through an extensive research work that was conducted in urban areas across Athens in the period from 2010 to 2012. The study deals with the estimation of human thermal sensation conditions in a Mediterranean climate (Athens). The data concern 2313 interview questionnaire and microclimatic data that were collected through interviews with the visitors of the examined areas using parallel monitoring of the urban microclimatic characteristics. The field surveys carried out occasionally throughout the year covering, as much as, possible the different seasons of a city with Mediterranean climate

A Taskforce for Suburbia

In March 2020, a Suburban Taskforce was established with the goal of shedding light on the nature of 21st century British suburbs and identifying long-term strategies and policies to support suburban areas. This Taskforce was formed from a cross-party group of politicians, with University College London (UCL) as a Knowledge Partner, supported by an Advisory Board and informed by a public consultation, which ran from August to October 2020. This article draws upon the qualitative and quantitative evidence gathered during this initiative and unpacks conceptual and empirical observations linked to the character of suburbs and their relationship to urban areas

Data on thermal sensation, perception and microclimatic parameters in a city with Mediterranean climate

© 2019 The Authors This data article presents the data collected through an extensive research work conducted in urban areas in the city of Athens (Greece) during the period 2010–2012. Data concerns 2287 questionnaires and microclimatic data collected through interviews to the visitors of the examined areas with parallel monitoring of the urban microclimatic characteristics. The field surveys carried out occasionally throughout the year covering as much as possible the different seasons under Mediterranean climate conditions. These data are related to the research articles with the titles: Seasonal differences in thermal sensation in the outdoor urban environment of Mediterranean climates–the example of Athens, Greece (Tseliou et al., 2017) and Outdoor thermal sensation in a Mediterranean climate (Athens): The effect of selected microclimatic parameters (Tseliou et al., 2016)

Planning Urban Manufacturing, Industrial Building Typologies, and Built Environments: Lessons From Inner London

Despite concerns about the loss of industry, industrial land, and buildings in high-value post-industrial cities, there is concurrently a renewed enthusiasm around the potential of "new" urban manufacturing and its contribution to the socio-economic diversity of cities. Yet, little is known about how planning policy can best support the retention and growth of urban manufacturing. To advance this agenda, this article proposes that we need a better understanding of industrial building typologies and resultant urban form. Using concepts developed by Julienne Hanson to analyse residential morphologies undergoing transformation under modernism, we apply these concepts to investigate the industrial, mixed-use contexts in two areas of London with concentrations of urban manufacturing - Hackney Mare Street and Old Kent Road. The research presented examines how both areas have evolved historically to produce distinctive urban tissues and a range of industrial building typologies. The article reveals that, despite territorial similarities in the late 19th century, the mixed land uses and smaller plot sizes of Hackney Mare Street have allowed for a more resilient development pattern, whereas the greater separation of land uses, large plot sizes, and inward-facing development in the Old Kent Road has facilitated its reimagination for large-scale regeneration. We conclude that greater attention needs to be paid to the relationship between urban manufacturing and built urban form if policies that aim to protect or support the revival of manufacturing in cities are to avoid negative unintended consequences

Planning Urban Manufacturing, Industrial Building Typologies, and Built Environments: Lessons From Inner London

Despite concerns about the loss of industry, industrial land, and buildings in high-value post-industrial cities, there is concurrently a renewed enthusiasm around the potential of “new” urban manufacturing and its contribution to the socio-economic diversity of cities. Yet, little is known about how planning policy can best support the retention and growth of urban manufacturing. To advance this agenda, this article proposes that we need a better understanding of industrial building typologies and resultant urban form. Using concepts developed by Julienne Hanson to analyse residential morphologies undergoing transformation under modernism, we apply these concepts to investigate the industrial, mixed-use contexts in two areas of London with concentrations of urban manufacturing—Hackney Mare Street and Old Kent Road. The research presented examines how both areas have evolved historically to produce distinctive urban tissues and a range of industrial building typologies. The article reveals that, despite territorial similarities in the late 19th century, the mixed land uses and smaller plot sizes of Hackney Mare Street have allowed for a more resilient development pattern, whereas the greater separation of land uses, large plot sizes, and inward-facing development in the Old Kent Road has facilitated its reimagination for large-scale regeneration. We conclude that greater attention needs to be paid to the relationship between urban manufacturing and built urban form if policies that aim to protect or support the revival of manufacturing in cities are to avoid negative unintended consequences

The Blended Landscapes of Outer London

In March 2020, a Suburban Taskforce was established by Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK. This Taskforce argued that the experiences of suburbs in England were poorly understood by policy-makers and developers, practitioners, and the general public. Over the two years of research and engagement that followed, a key consideration to emerge was the management of change and particularly in the context of growth pressures evident in Outer London. This has synergies with recent trends in suburban research that turn away from negative framings of places in extended metropolitan areas, such as 'edgeness' (not in the city) and 'in-between-ness' (neither urban nor rural activity). Instead, there is increasing focus on suburban cultural dynamics and political ecology. Drawing on these ideas, this paper looks at suburbs as landscapes with natural and built elements, as well as diverse activities, and focuses on the processes of blending. The evidence and views presented to the Taskforce are used to investigate the blended landscapes of Outer London. The paper explores the elements and development rationalities in two London Boroughs, Sutton and Waltham Forest, and the context that shapes choices. The findings suggest that, while not discounting the significance of growth pressures and limits to local control, suburban landscapes are heavily influenced by responses to local socio-economic concerns, historic urban form, and the politics of local development. The paper concludes by reflecting on the directions of change in the study areas, and the significance of dynamics of ongoing blending of the landscapes across outer parts of major cities

Between-session reliability of common strength- and power-related measures in adolescent athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the between-session reliability of common strength- and power-related measures in adolescent athletes. Seventeen adolescent athletes (males: n = 8: age 17.1 ± 2.2 years; height 175.6 ± 3.5 cm; mass 80.2 ± 3.6 kg; females: n = 9; age 16.9 ± 2.6 years; height 178.5 ± 4.3 cm; mass 71.5 ± 4.5 kg) participated in this study. Isokinetic dynamometry, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), countermovement jump (CMJ), and horizontal jumps (standing broad jump (SBJ) and single-leg hop (SLH)) were each performed twice on separate days, seven days apart. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (%CV), standard error of measurement (SEM), and smallest detectable difference (SDD). Intraclass correlation coefficients and CV demonstrated acceptable between-session reliability for all measures (ICC > 0.63; CV 7% CMJ height, >8% SLH distance, >10% in peak isometric force, and >5% in isokinetic peak torques should be considered meaningful, when assessing adolescent athletes

An evaluation of seasonal patterns of thermal conditions inside a vegetated courtyard area of a Mediterranean city (Athens)

Copyright © NCEUB 2017. In this study the microclimatic conditions of a vegetated courtyard located in an urban cluster of the city of Athens were measured and evaluated on a seasonal basis. The analysis is based on seasonal patterns of rates of change in air temperature (∆Ta/∆t) along with the use of pirate plots. Continuous measurements of air temperature were carried out in totally four different design/configurations inside the area during a time period longer than two years under both cool and warm conditions. Hourly values of ∆Ta/∆t were used integrated into pirate plots. Results under the cool conditions reveal slightly and moderately higher heating ability compared to cooling which is more evident for the unobstructed site whereas the opposite occurs for most sites during the diurnal warm period. High range of ΔTa/Δt at the shaded locations is shown mainly for the warm period whereas the mostly shaded site shows minimum range and high “buffering potential” for both periods on a daily basis. The implications of the study\u27s results for Athens are mainly associated with propositions to have residential buildings with backyard vegetated areas to moderate the extremely high or low air temperature values with the potential to ameliorate, to a certain degree, comfort conditions of occupants