scholarly journals Landscape Architecture and the Quality of Life : The Story of Relativity within the Transitional Settlements

10.36249/52.1 ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 2-13
Author(s):  
Andreja Tutundžić
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Landscape Architecture ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Living Standard

The quality of life and human well-being is often perceived differently, dependable on individuals and groups, as well as within contrasting socio-political circumstances, varying from the many concepts such as respecting the living standard based primarily on income to the benefits that society receives from ecosystems. From the early beginnings as a professional discipline, landscape architecture has been respecting the quality of life and human well-being to a great extent, as a subject of professional interest and accordingly, through approaches used to address it. While those goals are mostly the same, the engagement in the scope and complexity of the discipline is significantly increasing over the years, but still targeting the traditional paradigm - to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions and quality of life. However, the majority of the projects are predominantly dealing with urban areas and the life of the urban population related to the upper- and middle-class social groups. Contrary to the above considerations, there is a layer of social groups of those who are forced to leave their homes in the times of crises, either caused by natural disasters, but even more of those seeking sanctuary due to the political turbulences and wars. The consequences of those tragic events can be found within different communities, including refugee camps or transitional settlements. Those places bring poor living conditions, lack of space, and numerous environmental problems, where even just the provisioning and supporting categories of ecosystem services are dependable on the input of external factors while regulating and cultural categories seems to be almost out of question. This paper describes the results of the “e-scape. Transitional settlement” Project, organized by the Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management at American University in Beirut, in collaboration with the International Federation of Landscape Architecture. The goal of the project was to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions in the transitional settlements including the provision of even elementary ecosystem services in, at least, a bit greater extent. The additional intention was to broaden a methodology and guidelines of landscape architectural interventions within settlements resulting from conflict and natural disasters.

scholarly journals Variation in the Quality of Life within Punjab: Evidence from MICS, 2007-08

2010 ◽  
Vol 49 (4II) ◽  
pp. 863-879
Author(s):  
Rashida Haq Rashida Haq ◽  
Azkar Ahmed ◽  
Siama Shafique
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Good Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Final Outcome ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Quality Of Life Research ◽  
Level Of Living ◽  
Broad Continuum

Since quality of life research is essentially concerned with measuring and monitoring welfare. In order to measure quality of life, one must have a theory of what makes up a good life [Cobb (2000)]. There is a variety of such theories and notions of what constitutes a ‗good life‘ and correspondingly different concepts of welfare and quality of life have been developed. Various approaches and operationalisations are to be distinguished, each of which reveals a different concept of welfare and thus highlights different components and dimensions [Noll (2000)]. Among the various efforts to operationalise welfare in general and the quality of life concept in particular, two contrary approaches are to be distinguished, which define the two extreme positions on a broad continuum of concepts currently available: the Scandinavian level of living approach [Erickson (1993)] and the American quality of life approach [Campbell (1976)]. The Scandinavian approach focuses almost exclusively on resources and objective living conditions, whereas the American approach emphasises the subjective well-being of individuals as a final outcome of conditions and processes.

scholarly journals Factors That Influence Older Canadians’ Preferences for using Autonomous Vehicle Technology: A Structural Equation Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (1) ◽  
pp. 469-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hany M. Hassan ◽  
Mark R. Ferguson ◽  
Saiedeh Razavi ◽  
Brenda Vrkljan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Autonomous Vehicles ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Willingness To Use

Accessible and safe mobility is critical for those aged 65 years and older to maintain their health, quality of life, and well-being. Being able to move beyond one’s home and participate in activities in older adulthood requires consideration of both transportation needs and preferences. This paper aims to address a gap in evidence with respect to understanding factors that can affect older adults’ perceptions and willingness to use autonomous vehicles. In addition, it examines how these factors compare with those of younger adults to better understand the potential implications of this technology on mobility and quality of life. Using responses of those aged 65+ to a national survey of Canadians, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to identify and quantify factors significantly associated with older adults’ willingness to use autonomous vehicles. The SEM results suggest that factors such as using other modes of transit (e.g., sharing rides as passenger, bicycle, public transit, commuter rail, ride and car sharing) as well as distance traveled by automobile, income, gender (being male), and living in urban areas, were all positively associated with older adults’ perceptions of using autonomous driving features. The findings also suggest that older Canadians are more concerned about autonomous vehicles than younger Canadians. This study provides valuable insights into factors that can affect the preferences of Canadians when it comes to autonomous technology in their automobiles. Such results can inform the way in which transportation systems are designed to ensure the needs of users are considered across both age and ability.

scholarly journals EVALUATING THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE (E-QOL) FOR STUDENTS IN THE URBAN AREAS

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 517-526
Author(s):  
Emma ABASOLO ◽  
Takanori MATSUI ◽  
Osamu SAITO ◽  
Tohru MORIOKA
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Related Quality

The Impact of the Environment on Quality of Life and Mediating Effects of Sleep and Stress

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Chang ◽  
Frances K. Y. Wong ◽  
K. L. Chan ◽  
Fiona Y. Wong ◽  
H.C. Ho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Health Practices ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Mediating Effects ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose Environment is an independent factor affecting quality of life. Studies suggest that health practices consider having an impact on quality of life. The purpose of the present paper was to examine the association between environmental conditions and quality of life, and how individual health practices affected this association. Methods Participants aged 20 or above were recruited from 11 tertiary planning units in the centre of Kowloon. These tertiary planning units were selected as they represent the overall living environment in Hong Kong, with older poorer urban areas alongside relatively affluent districts. A mediation analysis was implemented using multiple linear regressions to examine the effects of environmental conditions on quality of life. The predictor variables included sociodemographic and environmental conditions, health practices and health service utilisation. Results Of the eligible 607 participants, 390 females and 217 males with a mean age of 47.4 were included for analysis. Physical, psychological and environmental factors were conducive and connected to quality of life. After adjusting for fruit and vegetable intake, gender, education level and chronic illness, perceived stress and sleep quality had significant mediating effects. Conclusion Environment is an important factor that affects the overall well-being of individuals. The interaction of environmental quality with individual variables, specifically stress and sleep is extremely important when assessing its impact on the quality of life. The findings of this study support the importance of individual stress and sleep in mediating the relationship between the environment and quality of life.

scholarly journals Blue-Green Smart Mobility Technologies as Readiness for Facing Tomorrow’s Urban Shock toward the World as a Better Place for Living (Case Studies: Songdo and Copenhagen)

Technologies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Hamid Doost Mohammadian ◽  
Fatemeh Rezaie
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Wave Theory ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sustainable Mobility ◽  
Sustainable Infrastructure ◽  
The World ◽  
Environment Sustainability

Nowadays, we are on the cusp of a future that will face many global challenges and crises, as well as unforeseeable shocks of tomorrow. The rapid growth and development of technology will bring forth exponential change that may challenge and threaten our human psychology. Solutions and policies are needed to deal with today’s challenges, tomorrow’s shocks, and global crises to preserve the world and mankind for the future. In this research, Blue-Green sustainable mobility technologies are introduced as a pathway to create modern sustainable and livable urban areas to tackle these challenges. Clean and inclusive mobility, based on Blue-Green and sustainable infrastructure, low emission greenhouse gases, ubiquitous computing, smartness and digitalization is realized as one of the keys that could make the world a better place for living. This research examines inclusive transportation technology, its indicators and its impacts on creating modern livable urban areas with high a quality of life as a pathway to navigate the cusp of tomorrow. Furthermore, the roles of technology such as Information Technology, Internet of Things, Internet of Business, Internet of Manufacturing, and Internet of Energy as technology tools to develop such mobility is investigated. Literature reviews, surveys, case studies—including Songdo as a ubiquitous city and Copenhagen as a digital and clean city—and revised versions of Kiwi and Kampenhood and BESQoL (built environment sustainability and quality of life) methodologies are the main methods in this study. New concepts of mobility technology and eventuating cultural synergies, as a readiness for facing tomorrow’s world crises with a higher quality of life and well-being by using the 5th wave theory, are discussed.

New Approaches to Old Problems: The Well-Being of the Population of Russia from 1821 to 1910 as Measured by Physical Stature

Slavic Review ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris N. Mironov
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Physical Stature ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Conditions Of Work

Scholars generally agree on the relationship between the physical stature, or height, of children and adults, and their quality of life, or their biological status, including diet, illnesses, intensity and conditions of work, availability of medical care, living conditions, psychological well-being, climate, water, air, and other environmental factors that have impinged on their lives prior to the point at which their height is measured. Genetic factors have an important effect on individual height, but genetic distinctions lose their significance when masses of individuals are measured and average heights are compared. The same effect holds at the level of entire populations: differences in height are determined, not by ethnic or racial attributes, but by living conditions.

scholarly journals Locatıon Housıng Affordabılıty as an Indıcator for Qualıty of Lıfe in Malaysıa

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 247
Author(s):  
Mohd Azren Hassan ◽  
Hazlina Hamdan ◽  
Jamalunlaili Abdullah ◽  
Yusfida Ayu Abddullah
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Housing Affordability

To have a quality of life is the ability to own a house. Housing affordability affects the quality of life concerning household well-being and economic security. The research sets to evaluate the location housing affordability for the low-income group base on housing and transportation expenditures in urban areas. 148 respondents have interviewed and by using an integrated Location Housing Affordability, it had indicated that location does influence housing affordability. The findings showed the urban area for the low-income group is seriously unaffordable. “Location" should be part of affordable housing because it affects housing affordability thus concerning the quality of life.

scholarly journals Differentiation of the quality of life in the regional space

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-526
Author(s):  
N. V Prokazina ◽  
A. A Alekseenok ◽  
Yu. V Kaira
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Political Activity ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Regional Differentiation ◽  
Professional Self ◽  
Stratification System

The quality of life depends on the place in the social structure. Social groups have different opportunities for meeting needs and achieving goals. Positions of different social groups in the subjects of the Russian Federation differ, which can significantly influence social well-being and protest moods; therefore, the study of the quality of life in the regional space is important in both theoretical and practical perspectives. The article aims at considering differentiation of the quality of life in the regional space and identifying the most vulnerable social groups. The authors study the quality of life with the multidimensional hierarchical approach based on a complex of interrelated objective and subjective criteria. This methodology was tested in the empirical study of the quality of life in the Oryol Region. The study used the following set of indicators of the quality of life: subjective assessments of the most significant forms of deprivation; movable and immovable property; housing and the quality of living conditions; savings; access to paid social services; professional position, possibilities of professional self-realization; political activity and political culture; leisure preferences and opportunities that entail additional spending; self-identification in different spheres of life. This set of indicators allowed to describe positions of social groups and their regional differentiation: social groups that make up the regional population, their positions in the stratification system, their quantitative and qualitative characteristics were identified. The authors also identified the most vulnerable groups affected by social tensions and showed that the growth of social inequality can lead to an increase in the protest and destructive behavior.

scholarly journals Green areas in an urban area and provision of ecosystem services: a bibliometric and integrative review

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supl. 2) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Maycon Jorge Ulisses Saraiva Farinha ◽  
André Geraldo Berezuk ◽  
Luciana Virginia Mario Bernardo
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Planning ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
Man And Nature ◽  
Bibliometric Review ◽  
Process Of Urbanization

The process of urbanization is accomplished by changes in land use, that is, by the interaction between man and nature, so that there is a common loss of green areas in cities. However, the need and importance of green areas inside urban areas has been emphasized in order to provide quality to the provision of ecosystem services. Such services favor the quality of life and human well-being of people living in urban areas. Thus, nature-based solution practices have been encouraged as a form of innovation for urban planning and to overcome problems in cities. An integrative and bibliometric review on urban green areas and ecosystem service provision was proposed from 2009 to 2019. Among the results, there is a growing interest in the topic. There is recognition of the importance of green areas for population needs regarding human physical and mental health. In addition, the need for public actions in favor of urban planning involving the issue is recognized in order to provide equal access to existing areas and/or in areas that will be created.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Affecting Elements on the Quality of Life and Human Well-Being in Congested Urban Centers; Case Study: Sulaymaniah City

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-58
Author(s):  
Othman Mohammed ◽  
Hoshyar Rasul
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
City Planning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
North East ◽  
The City

This Study is an empiric- analytical research in city planning discipline was conducted in Sulaymaniyah city from Dec. 2015 until July 2017. Geographically Sulaymaniah situates north-east of Republic of Iraq. Like many other urban centers, Sulaymaniyah city as one of the congested urban areas in Kurdistan Region, is almost over populated and congested, resulting in accumulated problems in health-, economical-, services, technical-, social- and planning affairs, which leads to permanent degrading of the natural, and social environment and thus impact on the quality of life, Thus the main concern of this study is firstly finding out the reasons facts indeed responsible for the above described unsatisfied situations and then try to answer the questions whether planning methods (if any) manage to prepare answers to these urgent problems overwhelming the city? The study believes that the cardinal reasons for this situation are the effects of combinations of triple facts, namely: the exponential growth of human population in general- and accompanied problems-, the destroyed balance between rural and urban areas and the political vision of administrative machinery that focus on urban centers by neglecting countryside. The cumulative effect of these facts could be observed in form of many distinctive and at the same time interlocking elements leads to the problems that mentioned above. Among many elements involving, the study handles, analyzes and discusses only the elements indeed responsible for destroying the visual, physical and health conditions of the city inhabitants in Sulaymaniyah. Used criterion in determining these elements are the terms: active element, Passive Element, Critical element, and buffer element, which give the adequate answer to the arise questions.

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