A path walkability assessment index model for evaluating and facilitating retail walking using decision-tree-making (DTM) method

Transportation is the major contributor of ever-increasing CO2 and Greenhouse Gas emissions in cities. The ever-increasing hazardous emissions of transportation and energy consumption have persuaded transportation and urban planners to motivate people to nonmotorized mode of travel, especially walking. Currently, there are several urban walkability assessment models; however, coping with a limited range of walkability assessment variables make these models not fully able to promote inclusive walkable urban neighborhoods. In this regard, this study develops the path walkability assessment (PWA) index model which evaluates and analyzes path walkability in association with the pedestrian's decision-tree-making (DTM). The model converts the pedestrian's DTM qualitative data to quantifiable values. This model involves ninetytwo (92) physical and environmental walkability assessment variables clustered into three layers of DTM (Layer 1: features; Layer 2: Criteria; and Layer 3: Sub-Criteria), and scoped to shopping and retail type of walking. The PWA model as a global decision support tool can be applied in any neighborhood in the world, and this study implements it at Taman Universiti neighborhood in Skudai, Malaysia. The PWA model has established the walkability score index which determines the grading rate of walkability accomplishment for each walkability variable of the under-survey neighborhood. Using the PWA grading index enables urban designers to manage properly the financial resource allocation for inspiring walkability in the targeted neighborhood

Driving behaviour and sustainable mobility-policies and approaches revisited

Climate change is receiving increasing attention in recent years. The transportation sector contributes substantially to increased fuel consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and poor air quality, which imposes a serious respiratory health hazard. Road transport has made a significant contribution to this effect. Consequently, many countries have attempted to mitigate climate change using various strategies. This study analysed and compared the number of policies and other approaches necessary to achieve reduced fuel consumption and carbon emission. Frequency aggregation indicates that the mitigation policies associated with driving behaviours adopted to curtail this consumption and decrease hazardous emissions, as well as a safety enhancement. Furthermore, car-sharing/carpooling was the least investigated approach to establish its influence on mitigation of climate change. Additionally, the influence of such driving behaviours as acceleration/deceleration and the compliance to speed limits on each approach was discussed. Other driving behaviours, such as gear shifting, compliance to traffic laws, choice of route, and idling and braking style, were also discussed. Likewise, the influence of aggression, anxiety, and motivation on driving behaviour of motorists was highlighted. The research determined that driving behaviours can lead to new adaptive driving behaviours and, thus, cause a significant decrease of vehicle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions

Sustainable Urban Regeneration of Blighted Neighborhoods: The Case of Al Ghanim Neighborhood, Doha, Qatar

At a time when urban expansion and regeneration are being prioritized, many cities are undergoing significant widespread urban decay. Planning issues, such as the regeneration of historical areas and the redevelopment of blighted neighborhoods, have prompted a complex agenda to be put in place for urban planning practice. The most significant district is the city's core. It is a crucial indicator of the city's success because it contains the Central Business District (CBD) and housing. However, due to poor governmental attention, many city cores are experiencing new development, subsequently overwhelming the old neighborhoods. Consequently, old areas are witnessing urban disfigurement and fast deterioration in their physical and visual characteristics. This research utilizes urban regeneration to address the city's core challenges to help achieve sustainable development. To test the sustainability framework, the researchers used Qatar's local case study of the Old Ghanim neighborhood, one of Doha's oldest districts. As a result of the original population's relocation to suburban developments, the district has deteriorated, lacking street activity and increasing indigent public space. The researchers examined the literature on urban regeneration, conducted site visits and observations, reviewed and described case study limitations, and identified factors that contribute to the creation of a sustainable neighborhood, based on urban qualities such as integrated networks and walkable streets, open and green public spaces, and the regeneration of the old urban fabric. As a result, they intended to address a theoretical and practical gap in current local knowledge, and they additionally intended to provide a helpful tool for urban regeneration specialists. The researchers proposed a conceptual framework for rejuvenating neglected neighborhoods and ideas for ensuring urban cohesion, which is critical for improving the lives of individuals in these areas.This publication was made possible by the NPRP grant (NPRP 12S-0304-190230) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.Scopu

DEMATEL-ANP risk assessment in oil and gas construction projects

Oil and gas construction projects are complex and risky because of their dynamic environment. Furthermore, rising global energy demand has increased the need for trustworthy risk assessment models for such projects that can provide adequate and precise policy planning. Traditional risk assessments in oil and gas construction projects do not consider the interrelationships of factors in the best-fit models. The Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Analytic Network Processes (ANP), called the DEMATEL-ANP approach, have been applied to other research disciplines to address this shortcoming. This method is able to construct a structural relationship among the different influence factors to visualize complex correlations. Thus, the purpose of this study is to showcase the DEMTAL-ANP risk assessment model to assess the overall risk factors of OGC projects. This study thus identifies the crucial risk criteria of such projects. Data were collected in 2016 through interviews with experts active in OGC projects in Iran. DEMATEL in this situation is used to determine the interdependencies' relative strengths among the risks. The ANP method is applied to assess the relative importance of the risk factors and to determine the best strategy for implementation of a risk management program. The results presented in this study are a novel adaptation of the risk assessment methodology to OGC projects that determines the important risk factors that directly affect the project success, which in turn helps in formulation of policies for ensuring reliable energy supply planning

Analysis of urban heat in a corridor environment – The case of Doha, Qatar

Doha, Qatar is one of the arid coastal cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Like similar cities, temperatures can vary widely throughout, with rapid and extensive development that has contributed to micro-climate changes. While numerous studies since the 1950s have assessed urban micro-climates, few have offered insights into urban corridor environments. This research is one of few projects to examine temperature records along two major roadways and identify factors that explain variation. The research uses vehicle-based air temperature traverses during late spring and summer 2016 using a Type T fine gauge thermocouple mounted in a white plastic tube and supported above the vehicle on the passenger-side window. The data were assessed in terms of four factors that may impact temperature along the corridors, including: distance from the coast, traffic volume, vegetation density, and building volume density from 50 m up to 400 m (in 50 m intervals) from the centerline of the traverse. Results indicated that the two most critical variables that predict air temperature patterns along the corridors are the distance to the coast and the traffic volume. This knowledge can be incorporated into urban planning and design practice for extreme arid environments to maintain temperatures that reduce heat-related stress.This paper was made possible by NPRP grant # NPRP 5-074-5-015 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation)

Analysis of urban heat in a corridor environment – The case of Doha, Qatar

Doha, Qatar is one of the arid coastal cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Like similar cities, temperatures can vary widely throughout, with rapid and extensive development that has contributed to micro-climate changes. While numerous studies since the 1950s have assessed urban micro-climates, few have offered insights into urban corridor environments. This research is one of few projects to examine temperature records along two major roadways and identify factors that explain variation. The research uses vehicle-based air temperature traverses during late spring and summer 2016 using a Type T fine gauge thermocouple mounted in a white plastic tube and supported above the vehicle on the passenger-side window. The data were assessed in terms of four factors that may impact temperature along the corridors, including: distance from the coast, traffic volume, vegetation density, and building volume density from 50 m up to 400 m (in 50 m intervals) from the centerline of the traverse. Results indicated that the two most critical variables that predict air temperature patterns along the corridors are the distance to the coast and the traffic volume. This knowledge can be incorporated into urban planning and design practice for extreme arid environments to maintain temperatures that reduce heat-related stress.This paper was made possible by NPRP grant # NPRP 5-074-5-015 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation).Scopu