IMM (Integrated Modification Methodology)

The failure for the provision of rural development in Africa has been a source of worry to Africans and it is attributed to various factors such as the up-down approach of the elites theory; and the principal victims of these developments have been rural people without having any individual means of becoming literate, due to the level of illiteracy, making the young, and old, too poor or too ill because of the economic conditions in the rural setting. Within the conceptual framework, the study explains rural areas and rural development. Findings showed that rural dwellers can help increase output, create employment, increase revenue, enhance peace and reduce rural-urban migration among other things if the government follows the prescribed strategies in this paper. The paper provided highlights on the occupations of rural dwellers, strategies to be put in place to encourage mass participation and the implications of mass involvement in rural development; and tried to establish the co...

In marketing, a real-world dilemma emerging between two rivals, McDonald's and Burger King, is investigated. Both firms use three strategies: discounted pricing, status quo, and aggressive commercial. In such cases, ambiguity is a determining factor. To deal with confusion in payoffs, octagonal fuzzy numbers are used. To rank fuzzy numbers, the average of odd positions, average of even positions, and quartile deviations are used. To solve the reduced modelled two competitors zero sum fuzzy matrix games, the proposed ranking methods are used. Finally, the findings are compared to current approaches that are quite similar to the proposed approach.

In this paper, a new form of fuzzy number named as Hexadecagonal Fuzzy Number is introduced as it is not possible to restrict the membership function to any specific form. The cut of Hexadecagonal fuzzy number is defined and basic arithmetic operations are performed using interval arithmetic of cut and illustrated with numerical examples.

Nowadays the correlation between urban developments and environmental stewardship is crystal clear. Subsequently, how should one implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously is the main headline. How should integrate urbanization and the issue of saving natural resources? How can design strategies contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction? Is the urban form correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. On the opposite an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy performance. Due to the facts that ...

IMM, Integrated Modification Methodology, is a holistic, multiscale and multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban contexts seen as Complex Adaptive Systems, for improving their metabolism as well as their energy performances. In IMM cities are energy-using systems in their own right and they consume energy in varying level of efficiency. City as CAS is a specific type of complex system with adaptive and resilience ability and its final energy consumption and related performance is different than the sum of its heterogeneous element's performance. Main headline of the current paper is to focus on how urban morphology is correlated with urban sustainability and energy performance and to demonstrate how an existing urban assessment (Porto Maravilha, in Rio de Janeiro) can be reformed into a lower energy consumption system and a more liveable and sustainable context. This paper wishes to demonstrate how this design methodology can contribute through integrated design optimization to address the challenges of urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously. Actually an Urban modification theory based on an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment and contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction, integrating Design Principles with the issue of saving natural resources. In IMM DOPs (design Ordering Principles) are tools/instruments used to arrange the structure of the CAS. The application of these principles affects the CAS's structure and its performances. In IMM, DOP's are associated with indicators, a core set of elements used in the process for comparing the characteristic performance of the CAS before and after the transformation occurred. This paper using a specific and challenging case study shows that urban transformation can be performed, retrofitted and monitored with the final goal of achieving a more sustainable arrangement. The authors intended to examine how a local design area located in the dense core of Rio (Porto Maravilha) can affect transformation of the entire CAS (the city of Rio de Janeiro) towards more sustainable development of some of the city's main concerns, mitigating marginal growth, low performances and a growing pollution as well as promoting social inclusion and a more liveable environment.

Cities are energy-using systems in their own right; they consume energy in varying levels of effi ciency. A city's form can have a tremendous effect on its energy consumption, as well as its environmental performance. There has been much research and discussion regarding which urban form is sustainable, but lack of constructive methods to improve upon their existing environmental performance. This paper explicates a possible method of sustainable urban transformation design principles. The methodology aims to reform an existing urban assessment into a more sustainable form, regardless to its present form and performance. The research demonstrates how one can transform a city into a lower energy consumption system, using the Integrated Modifi cation Methodology. In this approach, the city is considered as a single entity, a Complex Adaptive System; accordingly, the sustainable urban form emerges through modifi cation of its elements and integration of its subsystems over time.

More than three-fourths of the world's population live and work in cities, where up to 80% of all available energy is consumed and over half of greenhouse gas emissions are created. In this complex condition, sustainable urban development could deal with both urban growth demands as well as environmental concerns. Regarding awareness of the population distribution as it affects energy consumption, this paper sketches out the relationships between urban morphology and energy consumption, providing some new basic design principles to reshape urban assessment, as well as to design new sustainable neighborhoods as an integrated part of the city. Our research applies a specific as well as an innovative approach based on a holistic methodology with the consideration of the city as a complex adaptive system with the ability to learn from past encountered conditions. Hence, considering that the energy consumption of the city is not the sum of all its buildings' consumption, and the final emergence of the system is completely different than the individual element's performance, is the main premise of the research. Accordingly, the paper illustrates a simulative method, based on mentioned methodology of complexity, for one whom deals with the sustainable neighborhood designs and urban transformations. The research is not suggesting a unique solution for different contexts, but rather investigating how to control the urban transformation process to achieve a sustainable form.

This paper aims to show a new solar design tool that can be used to optimize the building's shape and solar access in existing urban areas. The presented methodology was used for the analysis of the Surfers Paradise in Queensland, where in the past the urban and buildings development changed completely the morphology of the city. Since in the medium term the Zero Energy building will be the standard for new constructions, urban development should follow the Integrated Sustainable Design approach and the principles of solar design in order to exploit solar radiation using PV modules and Solar thermal collectors in the building envelopes. The tool is based on Matlab algorithm and on RADIANCE-DAYSIM, a dynamic simulation tool, and can help urban designers and architects since the first design phase.

This paper aims to show a new solar design tool that can be used to optimize the building's shape and solar access in existing urban areas. The presented methodology was used for the analysis of the Surfers Paradise in Queensland, where in the past the urban and buildings development changed completely the morphology of the city. Since in the medium term the Zero Energy building will be the standard for new constructions, urban development should follow the Integrated Sustainable Design approach and the principles of solar design in order to exploit solar radiation using PV modules and Solar thermal collectors in the building envelopes. The tool is based on Matlab algorithm and on RADIANCE-DAYSIM, a dynamic simulation tool, and can help urban designers and architects since the first design phase.

This paper shows the results of a research aimed at assessing the amount of energy that can be produced by solar envelopes (facades and roofs) in urban contexts. A preliminary set of simulations was carried out, through dynamic yearly analyses on a sample building, to identify the main parameters influencing the availability of solar radiation and to optimize the building's shape. The general target is to maximise solar radiation available on the external building envelope, in order to exploit it through building integrated solar systems. Furthermore, the effect of reflected solar radiation has been analysed by simulating different finishing materials (green façades, glazed façades, concrete façades and aluminium façades) on the neighbouring buildings.

The need to protect our cultural heritage was stressed upon by "The Leipzig Chart for Durable European Cities", a European Community act, which appeared in 2007 in response to the danger of destruction of European city centres. This was the first official act that recognizes the historical centres as Europe's research, innovation, and economical development engines and one of its main goals was to attract investments and activities in the cities centres through the citizens' participation while putting an end to the limitless extension of the cities. The danger facing not only Romanian cities but most European ones as well, is loss of their centrality directly through neglect, abandonment of the central areas, gradual taking over of the public space by private use, or indirectly as a consequence of the territorial urbanization in any point of the region, by decentralizing living, commerce and office areas. The centralizing strategy applied in the case of the city of Timisoara, to the central areas took place on three levels, namely: revitalize-restructure-renovation in this order by using the potential of the existing students as an engine of development. The revitalization itself took place on another three levels meaning refunctionalizing of buildings, recreating public spaces and reorienting events. The relationship between the central historical area and the universities around it make it ideal for housing student spin outs, major generators of innovation and forming knowledge centres or creative hubs which are not only promising growth industries but also as catalysts for urban regeneration, which goes beyond physical regeneration as urban knowledge hubs are developed with explicit social regeneration objectives in mind. Without a well made strategy, its profound understanding by the local authorities and its coherent application, the city's public urban areas may collapse despite funds, creative efforts, dedication and expertise invested in their rehabilitation.

This paper aims at comparing the parameter of green space per capita currently requested by the Romanian legislation to accessible green space per capita. The comparison is undertak-en through a Geographic Information System methodology that uses publicly available data to evaluate actual population numbers with pedes-trian access to parks and green squares. Using the city of Timișoara as a case study, popula-tion is divided into three main groups according to neigh borhood type in order to investigate the urban planning implications of residential typolo-gies in relation to green space. Two scenarios are compared, namely the existing situation which describes access to municipally-adminis-tered parks and squares and the possible situa-tion where both existing and informal green spac-es are considered. The main findings show that, at present, only a quarter of the city’s population benefits from proper access, yet by developing all residual green areas this proportion could be raise...

Received: 28 March 2021 Accepted: 20 May 2021 In this paper, the energy and environmental impacts of a passive retrofit action, involving the installation, on an office building, of a second-skin system with the external layer made of a PVC-coated polyester fabric, were evaluated in terms of primary energy saving and carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. The primary energy consumption and the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions associated with the considered case studies were evaluated through the dynamic simulation software TRNSYS, across a whole year. The study was carried out considering five cities (Athens, Barcelona, Lisbon, Marseille and Naples) in five different countries in southern Europe upon varying the orientation of the two main façades of building (north-south and east-west orientation were considered). The office building was modeled in detail considering different construction characteristics upon varying the country. The simulation results highlight that the best res...

Nowadays the correlation between urban developments and environmental stewardship is crystal clear. Subsequently, how should one implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously is the main headline. How should integrate urbanization and the issue of saving natural resources? How can design strategies contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction? Is the urban form correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. On the opposite an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy performance. Due to the facts that ...

Nowadays the environmental ramifications of urban development have become crystal clear. Subsequently, the main headline is how one should implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously. How should one integrate urbanization and the issue of saving natural resources? How design strategies could contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction? Is urban morphology correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM®, Integrated Modification Methodology, is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy performance. The method has been depicted through prior publications by the authors; hence, the current paper solely focuses on one stage of the multi-stage IMM method. Due to the fact that the majority of predicted urban growth will occur in megacities of developing countries, totalling 5% of the earth population, the article presents a case study Janeiro using the IMM method to propose urban improvements on the megacity of Rio de Janeiro.

By the middle of the current century, the world's population is projected to grow exponentially, becoming one of the major concerns for the built environment all around the world, where informal settlements are going to grow even faster. This growth will increase the demand for basic infrastructure which is lacking in such contexts. In developing countries, the promotion of urban technologies could contribute immensely to a sustainable development and to population well-being, besides creating interesting economic opportunities. Urban technologies could reduce the environmental impact of cities' development and of urbanized slums renovation, creating employment opportunities for locals and economic opportunities for investment. However, deploying this in slums is a complex and challenging task. This text presents a project based on a multidisciplinary and integrated design methodology for the sustainable regeneration of Rocinha, one of the largest favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The project adopts a systemic approach and foresees the deployment of an urban management system (UMS) able to manage and integrate several urban services including sanitation, energy, mobility, waste, food delivery and cultivation, and the flow of information connected to them, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact while improving the quality of life of citizens. Each of these areas required the development of a specific project that, empowered by the UMS, will allow for the circulation of information between citizens, fostering social inclusion, and raising awareness on the topic of the city's resource management. This project is a demonstration of how minimal but calculated local modification can produce considerable global reaction and ultimately change the system as a whole.

This paper shows the results of a research aimed at assessing the amount of energy that can be produced by solar envelopes (facades and roofs) in urban contexts. A preliminary set of simulations was carried out, through dynamic yearly analyses on a sample building, to identify the main parameters influencing the availability of solar radiation and to optimize the building's shape. The general target is to maximise solar radiation available on the external building envelope, in order to exploit it through building integrated solar systems. Furthermore, the effect of reflected solar radiation has been analysed by simulating different finishing materials (green façades, glazed façades, concrete façades and aluminium façades) on the neighbouring buildings.

This study investigates a lost word in oral language in the Southern Thai dialect called "Sēụ̄x Mang" by using qualitative multi-methods research such as unstructured in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, observations and social networks from 30 key informants. The sample included an abbot, community leader, ranger and old people from Pa Yang and Songkhla City. In addition, documentary evidence was used in the study. The results indicated that elderly people are the last generation who know the meaning of "Sēụ̄x Mang" and even they use the same word of "Mang and Sēụ̄x Mang" to denote different meanings in Southern Thai dialect only. "Mang" refers to prudent or indecisive or early morning while "Sēụ̄x Mang" means to a sub specie of panther. Moreover, further study revealed that this specific word links to the loss of a fertile homeland which once belonged to Pa Yang Community and their proud history.

More than three-fourths of the world's population live and work in cities, where up to 80% of all available energy is consumed and over half of greenhouse gas emissions are created. In this complex condition, sustainable urban development could deal with both urban growth demands as well as environmental concerns. Regarding awareness of the population distribution as it affects energy consumption, this paper sketches out the relationships between urban morphology and energy consumption, providing some new basic design principles to reshape urban assessment, as well as to design new sustainable neighborhoods as an integrated part of the city. Our research applies a specific as well as an innovative approach based on a holistic methodology with the consideration of the city as a complex adaptive system with the ability to learn from past encountered conditions. Hence, considering that the energy consumption of the city is not the sum of all its buildings' consumption, and the final emergence of the system is completely different than the individual element's performance, is the main premise of the research. Accordingly, the paper illustrates a simulative method, based on mentioned methodology of complexity, for one whom deals with the sustainable neighborhood designs and urban transformations. The research is not suggesting a unique solution for different contexts, but rather investigating how to control the urban transformation process to achieve a sustainable form.

This paper aims to show a new solar design tool that can be used to optimize the building's shape and solar access in existing urban areas. The presented methodology was used for the analysis of the Surfers Paradise in Queensland, where in the past the urban and buildings development changed completely the morphology of the city. Since in the medium term the Zero Energy building will be the standard for new constructions, urban development should follow the Integrated Sustainable Design approach and the principles of solar design in order to exploit solar radiation using PV modules and Solar thermal collectors in the building envelopes. The tool is based on Matlab algorithm and on RADIANCE-DAYSIM, a dynamic simulation tool, and can help urban designers and architects since the first design phase.

Nowadays the environmental ramifications of urban development have become crystal clear. Subsequently, the main headline is how one should implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously. How should one integrate urbanization and the issue of saving natural resources? How design strategies could contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction? Is urban morphology correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM®, Integrated Modification Methodology, is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy performance. The method has been depicted through prior publications by the authors; hence, the current paper solely focuses on one stage of the multi-stage IMM method. Due to the fact that the majority of predicted urban growth will occur in megacities of developing countries, totalling 5% of the earth population, the article presents a case study Janeiro using the IMM method to propose urban improvements on the megacity of Rio de Janeiro.

IMM, Integrated Modification Methodology, is a holistic, multiscale and multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban contexts seen as Complex Adaptive Systems, for improving their metabolism as well as their energy performances. In IMM cities are energy-using systems in their own right and they consume energy in varying level of efficiency. City as CAS is a specific type of complex system with adaptive and resilience ability and its final energy consumption and related performance is different than the sum of its heterogeneous element's performance. Main headline of the current paper is to focus on how urban morphology is correlated with urban sustainability and energy performance and to demonstrate how an existing urban assessment (Porto Maravilha, in Rio de Janeiro) can be reformed into a lower energy consumption system and a more liveable and sustainable context. This paper wishes to demonstrate how this design methodology can contribute through integrated design optimization to address the challenges of urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously. Actually an Urban modification theory based on an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment and contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction, integrating Design Principles with the issue of saving natural resources. In IMM DOPs (design Ordering Principles) are tools/instruments used to arrange the structure of the CAS. The application of these principles affects the CAS's structure and its performances. In IMM, DOP's are associated with indicators, a core set of elements used in the process for comparing the characteristic performance of the CAS before and after the transformation occurred. This paper using a specific and challenging case study shows that urban transformation can be performed, retrofitted and monitored with the final goal of achieving a more sustainable arrangement. The authors intended to examine how a local design area located in the dense core of Rio (Porto Maravilha) can affect transformation of the entire CAS (the city of Rio de Janeiro) towards more sustainable development of some of the city's main concerns, mitigating marginal growth, low performances and a growing pollution as well as promoting social inclusion and a more liveable environment.

Cities are energy-using systems in their own right; they consume energy in varying levels of effi ciency. A city's form can have a tremendous effect on its energy consumption, as well as its environmental performance. There has been much research and discussion regarding which urban form is sustainable, but lack of constructive methods to improve upon their existing environmental performance. This paper explicates a possible method of sustainable urban transformation design principles. The methodology aims to reform an existing urban assessment into a more sustainable form, regardless to its present form and performance. The research demonstrates how one can transform a city into a lower energy consumption system, using the Integrated Modifi cation Methodology. In this approach, the city is considered as a single entity, a Complex Adaptive System; accordingly, the sustainable urban form emerges through modifi cation of its elements and integration of its subsystems over time.

More than 80% of all available energy is consumed and over half of greenhouse gas emissions are created within the cities. Energy consumption efficiency and sustainable development is definitely a main urban issue. The IMM (Integrated Modification Methodology) theory considering the city as a complex adaptive system explores the relationships between urban morphology and energy consumption. According to this theory, the city, studied as a complex adaptive system, is not solely a mere aggregation of disconnected energy consumers and the total energy consumption of the city is different from the sum of the whole building's consumption. This considerable gap between the total energy consumption of the city and the sum of all consumers is related to the urban morphology. According to this methodology, the energy efficiency of every element has to be optimized by its form. Additionally, this element has to be designed in a way that improves the other elements of the energetic performance as well. However a case study based on the Gold Coast (Australia) shows that morphology plays an essential role for any energy-saving policy, urban efficiency, quality of life and, generally, for any sustainable urban environment.

More than three-fourths of the world's population live and work in cities, where up to 80% of all available energy is consumed and over half of greenhouse gas emissions are created. In this complex condition, sustainable urban development could deal with both urban growth demands as well as environmental concerns. Regarding awareness of the population distribution as it affects energy consumption, this paper sketches out the relationships between urban morphology and energy consumption, providing some new basic design principles to reshape urban assessment, as well as to design new sustainable neighborhoods as an integrated part of the city. Our research applies a specific as well as an innovative approach based on a holistic methodology with the consideration of the city as a complex adaptive system with the ability to learn from past encountered conditions. Hence, considering that the energy consumption of the city is not the sum of all its buildings' consumption, and the final emergence of the system is completely different than the individual element's performance, is the main premise of the research. Accordingly, the paper illustrates a simulative method, based on mentioned methodology of complexity, for one whom deals with the sustainable neighborhood designs and urban transformations. The research is not suggesting a unique solution for different contexts, but rather investigating how to control the urban transformation process to achieve a sustainable form.

By the middle of the current century, the world's population is projected to grow exponentially, becoming one of the major concerns for the built environment all around the world, where informal settlements are going to grow even faster. This growth will increase the demand for basic infrastructure which is lacking in such contexts. In developing countries, the promotion of urban technologies could contribute immensely to a sustainable development and to population well-being, besides creating interesting economic opportunities. Urban technologies could reduce the environmental impact of cities' development and of urbanized slums renovation, creating employment opportunities for locals and economic opportunities for investment. However, deploying this in slums is a complex and challenging task. This text presents a project based on a multidisciplinary and integrated design methodology for the sustainable regeneration of Rocinha, one of the largest favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The project adopts a systemic approach and foresees the deployment of an urban management system (UMS) able to manage and integrate several urban services including sanitation, energy, mobility, waste, food delivery and cultivation, and the flow of information connected to them, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact while improving the quality of life of citizens. Each of these areas required the development of a specific project that, empowered by the UMS, will allow for the circulation of information between citizens, fostering social inclusion, and raising awareness on the topic of the city's resource management. This project is a demonstration of how minimal but calculated local modification can produce considerable global reaction and ultimately change the system as a whole.

This study investigates a lost word in oral language in the Southern Thai dialect called "Sēụ̄x Mang" by using qualitative multi-methods research such as unstructured in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, observations and social networks from 30 key informants. The sample included an abbot, community leader, ranger and old people from Pa Yang and Songkhla City. In addition, documentary evidence was used in the study. The results indicated that elderly people are the last generation who know the meaning of "Sēụ̄x Mang" and even they use the same word of "Mang and Sēụ̄x Mang" to denote different meanings in Southern Thai dialect only. "Mang" refers to prudent or indecisive or early morning while "Sēụ̄x Mang" means to a sub specie of panther. Moreover, further study revealed that this specific word links to the loss of a fertile homeland which once belonged to Pa Yang Community and their proud history.

This study investigates a lost word in oral language in the Southern Thai dialect called "Sēụ̄x Mang" by using qualitative multi-methods research such as unstructured in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, observations and social networks from 30 key informants. The sample included an abbot, community leader, ranger and old people from Pa Yang and Songkhla City. In addition, documentary evidence was used in the study. The results indicated that elderly people are the last generation who know the meaning of "Sēụ̄x Mang" and even they use the same word of "Mang and Sēụ̄x Mang" to denote different meanings in Southern Thai dialect only. "Mang" refers to prudent or indecisive or early morning while "Sēụ̄x Mang" means to a sub specie of panther. Moreover, further study revealed that this specific word links to the loss of a fertile homeland which once belonged to Pa Yang Community and their proud history.

Nowadays the correlation between urban developments and environmental stewardship is crystal clear. Subsequently, how should one implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously is the main headline. How should integrate urbanization and the issue of saving natural resources? How can design strategies contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction? Is the urban form correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. On the opposite an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy performance. Due to the facts that ...

Nowadays the environmental ramifications of urban development have become crystal clear. Subsequently, the main headline is how one should implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously. How should one integrate urbanization and the issue of saving natural resources? How design strategies could contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction? Is urban morphology correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM®, Integrated Modification Methodology, is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy performance. The method has been depicted through prior publications by the authors; hence, the current paper solely focuses on one stage of the multi-stage IMM method. Due to the fact that the majority of predicted urban growth will occur in megacities of developing countries, totalling 5% of the earth population, the article presents a case study Janeiro using the IMM method to propose urban improvements on the megacity of Rio de Janeiro.

The correlation between urban development and environmental stewardship is crystal clear. Subsequently, how should one implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously is the main headline. How should integrate urbanisation and the issue of saving natural resources? How can design strategies contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction? Is the urban morphology correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM, Integrated Modification Methodology, is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy perfo...

By the middle of the current century, the world's population is projected to grow exponentially, becoming one of the major concerns for the built environment all around the world, where informal settlements are going to grow even faster. This growth will increase the demand for basic infrastructure which is lacking in such contexts. In developing countries, the promotion of urban technologies could contribute immensely to a sustainable development and to population well-being, besides creating interesting economic opportunities. Urban technologies could reduce the environmental impact of cities' development and of urbanized slums renovation, creating employment opportunities for locals and economic opportunities for investment. However, deploying this in slums is a complex and challenging task. This text presents a project based on a multidisciplinary and integrated design methodology for the sustainable regeneration of Rocinha, one of the largest favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The project adopts a systemic approach and foresees the deployment of an urban management system (UMS) able to manage and integrate several urban services including sanitation, energy, mobility, waste, food delivery and cultivation, and the flow of information connected to them, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact while improving the quality of life of citizens. Each of these areas required the development of a specific project that, empowered by the UMS, will allow for the circulation of information between citizens, fostering social inclusion, and raising awareness on the topic of the city's resource management. This project is a demonstration of how minimal but calculated local modification can produce considerable global reaction and ultimately change the system as a whole.

Cities are responsible up to 75% of energy consumptions and 80% of CO2 emissions and due to the fact that the correlation between urban morphology and environmental stewardship has become crystal clear.In this scenario is framed the case study of block 39 in Belgrade in which an innovative methodology, IMM (Integrated Modification Methodology), has been applied in order to transform an existing urban context into a more efficient and sustainable one. The presented case study in Belgrade aims to became a more general paradigm for similar condition in East Europe, defining integrated new strategies based on IMM methodology to retrofit and transform the energy dissipative existing neighborhood in more efficient, liveable and integrated urban system.The city is considered as a single complex entity composed by heterogeneous components connected each other. A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach ca...

Cities are responsible up to 75% of energy consumptions and 80% of CO2 emissions and due to the fact that the correlation between urban morphology and environmental stewardship has become crystal clear.In this scenario is framed the case study of block 39 in Belgrade in which an innovative methodology, IMM (Integrated Modification Methodology), has been applied in order to transform an existing urban context into a more efficient and sustainable one. The presented case study in Belgrade aims to became a more general paradigm for similar condition in East Europe, defining integrated new strategies based on IMM methodology to retrofit and transform the energy dissipative existing neighborhood in more efficient, liveable and integrated urban system.The city is considered as a single complex entity composed by heterogeneous components connected each other. A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach ca...

This study investigates a lost word in oral language in the Southern Thai dialect called "Sēụ̄x Mang" by using qualitative multi-methods research such as unstructured in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, observations and social networks from 30 key informants. The sample included an abbot, community leader, ranger and old people from Pa Yang and Songkhla City. In addition, documentary evidence was used in the study. The results indicated that elderly people are the last generation who know the meaning of "Sēụ̄x Mang" and even they use the same word of "Mang and Sēụ̄x Mang" to denote different meanings in Southern Thai dialect only. "Mang" refers to prudent or indecisive or early morning while "Sēụ̄x Mang" means to a sub specie of panther. Moreover, further study revealed that this specific word links to the loss of a fertile homeland which once belonged to Pa Yang Community and their proud history.

This study investigates a lost word in oral language in the Southern Thai dialect called "Sēụ̄x Mang" by using qualitative multi-methods research such as unstructured in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, observations and social networks from 30 key informants. The sample included an abbot, community leader, ranger and old people from Pa Yang and Songkhla City. In addition, documentary evidence was used in the study. The results indicated that elderly people are the last generation who know the meaning of "Sēụ̄x Mang" and even they use the same word of "Mang and Sēụ̄x Mang" to denote different meanings in Southern Thai dialect only. "Mang" refers to prudent or indecisive or early morning while "Sēụ̄x Mang" means to a sub specie of panther. Moreover, further study revealed that this specific word links to the loss of a fertile homeland which once belonged to Pa Yang Community and their proud history.

Energy is considered as a main influence on urban configurations. However, there is a difficulty on translating the city models based on theoretical renewable energy concepts into practical applications. This study considers the possibility of understanding this future model as a transformation of the existing urban centres. With this objective, a methodology to intervene in existing cities based on the study of solar access is developed. Therefore, an analysis of solar potential in relation with urban morphology is carried on through a simulation software in l'Eixample, a neighbourhood of Barcelona. The distribution of the sun factor in the different areas of the building blocks envelope displays possible morphological modifications that would facilitate solar energy collection. Consequently, the analytical method presented could be applied to regulate urban interventions with the aim of obtaining more solar energy based cities.

Nowadays the environmental ramifications of urban development have become crystal clear. Subsequently, the main headline is how one should implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously. How should one integrate urbanization and the issue of saving natural resources? How design strategies could contribute to climate mitigation and emission reduction? Is urban morphology correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM®, Integrated Modification Methodology, is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy performance. The method has been depicted through prior publications by the authors; hence, the current paper solely focuses on one stage of the multi-stage IMM method. Due to the fact that the majority of predicted urban growth will occur in megacities of developing countries, totalling 5% of the earth population, the article presents a case study Janeiro using the IMM method to propose urban improvements on the megacity of Rio de Janeiro.

This study investigates a lost word in oral language in the Southern Thai dialect called "Sēụ̄x Mang" by using qualitative multi-methods research such as unstructured in-depth interviews, focused group discussions, observations and social networks from 30 key informants. The sample included an abbot, community leader, ranger and old people from Pa Yang and Songkhla City. In addition, documentary evidence was used in the study. The results indicated that elderly people are the last generation who know the meaning of "Sēụ̄x Mang" and even they use the same word of "Mang and Sēụ̄x Mang" to denote different meanings in Southern Thai dialect only. "Mang" refers to prudent or indecisive or early morning while "Sēụ̄x Mang" means to a sub specie of panther. Moreover, further study revealed that this specific word links to the loss of a fertile homeland which once belonged to Pa Yang Community and their proud history.

The purpose of this quantitative research was to study factors related to the happiness and sufficiency level of Songkhla people in the Southern part of Thailand. It was a second phase of a Mixed Method Research. 760 sampling from urban, peri-urban and rural area of Sonkhla people. Data wasobtained by the questionnaire that was generated from the qualitative research phase and analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Z-score, T-score, crosstab, Chi-Square, Phi & Cramer V, and Logistic Regression. The result indicated that 17 factors in 6 groups(personal, natural resources, social, economic, information and technology approach factors) that related to the happiness and sufficiency level of Songkhla people significantly by Chi-square test and there were 3 factors from binary logistic test which included resources factor(land ownership) ; social factors(neighbors or community member"s interaction); information and technology approach(Information and technology access channels)that impacted significantly at alpha 0.001.

Energy is considered as a main influence on urban configurations. However, there is a difficulty on translating the city models based on theoretical renewable energy concepts into practical applications. This study considers the possibility of understanding this future model as a transformation of the existing urban centres. With this objective, a methodology to intervene in existing cities based on the study of solar access is developed. Therefore, an analysis of solar potential in relation with urban morphology is carried on through a simulation software in l'Eixample, a neighbourhood of Barcelona. The distribution of the sun factor in the different areas of the building blocks envelope displays possible morphological modifications that would facilitate solar energy collection. Consequently, the analytical method presented could be applied to regulate urban interventions with the aim of obtaining more solar energy based cities.

This study explored how to increase the on-site energy production of row-houses in a new urban development area located in Trondheim (Norway) from the early design stages. The process consisted in an evolutionary algorithmic for optimizing the shape of the building's roof in order to maximize the use of solar energy. Starting from the roof's profile of the traditional Norwegian house unit, different configurations have been tested. The process allowed changing iteratively the inclination and the size of the roof's surfaces. The selected roofs' shapes guaranteed to get the maximum solar radiation and the solar mapping analysis allows individualizing the most suitable areas to install solar systems on the roofs' surfaces of the entire district. The final configuration of the row-houses permitted to increase the solar potential around 30% respect the initial design solution.

By the middle of the current century, the world's population is projected to grow exponentially, becoming one of the major concerns for the built environment all around the world, where informal settlements are going to grow even faster. This growth will increase the demand for basic infrastructure which is lacking in such contexts. In developing countries, the promotion of urban technologies could contribute immensely to a sustainable development and to population well-being, besides creating interesting economic opportunities. Urban technologies could reduce the environmental impact of cities' development and of urbanized slums renovation, creating employment opportunities for locals and economic opportunities for investment. However, deploying this in slums is a complex and challenging task. This text presents a project based on a multidisciplinary and integrated design methodology for the sustainable regeneration of Rocinha, one of the largest favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The project adopts a systemic approach and foresees the deployment of an urban management system (UMS) able to manage and integrate several urban services including sanitation, energy, mobility, waste, food delivery and cultivation, and the flow of information connected to them, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact while improving the quality of life of citizens. Each of these areas required the development of a specific project that, empowered by the UMS, will allow for the circulation of information between citizens, fostering social inclusion, and raising awareness on the topic of the city's resource management. This project is a demonstration of how minimal but calculated local modification can produce considerable global reaction and ultimately change the system as a whole.

Nowadays the environmental ramifications of urban development have become crystal clear. Subsequently, the main headline is how one should implement practical methods to tackle urban growth and environmental issues simultaneously. How should one integrate urbanization and the issue of saving natural resources? How design strategies could contribute to climate change mitigation and emission reduction? Is urban morphology correlated with these issues? And eventually, how can the urban transformation be performed, retrofitted and monitored in order to achieve a more sustainable result? A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension on the performances of different urban assessment. City seen as a Complex Adaptive System (CAS) is investigated at various scales with a focus on the neighbourhood one (considered as an intermediate scale). IMM, Integrated Modification Methodology, is a multi-stage, iterative process, applied to urban complex systems, for improving the metabolism of the city as well as its energy and environmental performance. The method has been depicted through prior publications by the authors; hence, the proposed paper aims to present a case study located in Milan and particularly in Porto di Mare area. Porto di Mare has a unique position at the outskirts of the city, between important infrastructures, the city centre, and the rural belt around the metropolitan area of Milano. This represent a great potential opportunity for studying a better connection between rural and urban areas of Milano. Our paper aims to demonstrate the role that an innovative, high efficient Eco Districts (as pilot Italian initiative) could play for the area as well as to show its impact on larger part of Milan. The presented research aims to demonstrate how it's possible to improve the energy and environmental performance of urban contexts, reducing consequently its footprint.

—Although there are a lot researches on morphological studies of the city form, very scarce efforts have been applied to systemically comprehend and evaluate urban morphology using reliable metrics able to describe the formal properties of the city. More researches are needed in this direction for better understand the city form's characteristics and its performances. This paper illustrates Porosity seen in IMM as fundamental morphological characteristic of urban systems, integration of two basic components of urban space: Volumes and Voids. It aims to highlight the role of Porosity in the relationship between urban morphology and environmental-energy performances with objective considerations and evaluations of its characteristics based on values and indicators. Hence IMM as systemic methodology presents some key findings in this process to describe it objectively. This paper aims to presents an innovative way to estimate Porosity as a Key Category and anticipates its role in finding a correct balance between level of Compactness, Complexity, and Connectivity in the urban system (CAS). Actually in IMM balancing these determinants (resulting from the interaction of the Key categories) is considered the foundation of a best performing CAS (sustainable urban form) and any of them would not be sufficient on its own to achieve the result. (Abstract)

Cities are responsible up to 75% of energy consumptions and 80% of CO2 emissions and due to the fact that the correlation between urban morphology and environmental stewardship has become crystal clear.In this scenario is framed the case study of block 39 in Belgrade in which an innovative methodology, IMM (Integrated Modification Methodology), has been applied in order to transform an existing urban context into a more efficient and sustainable one. The presented case study in Belgrade aims to became a more general paradigm for similar condition in East Europe, defining integrated new strategies based on IMM methodology to retrofit and transform the energy dissipative existing neighborhood in more efficient, liveable and integrated urban system.The city is considered as a single complex entity composed by heterogeneous components connected each other. A strictly sectorial approach could result in neglecting mutual dependencies of these demands. Conversely, an integrated approach can help to sharpen a better comprehension of the different performances of different urban assessment. IMM methodology through Phasing Process shows how incorporating a wide range of issues makes it possible to improve the metabolism of the city as well as its energy performance.

Sustainability ensures a better quality of life and more sustainable world environment now and in the future. Our climate is constantly changing due to some human induced factors. These changes have negative effects on the environment and human life. Lasting solutions to this global problem can only be achieved by sustainability.
Climate change is acknowledged as a serious environmental problem. In recent years, researchers have found a close link between climate change and cities. On the one hand, it is a threat to quality of life in cities by increasing the pressure on cities where cities are exposed to adverse effect of climate change. On the other hand, cities are major contributors to climate change. They are responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission.
Cities can be an important part of the solution to decrease adverse effects of climate change. They must grow and expand sustainably to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The term "sustainability" is mentioned together with the concept of urban form in planning literature. Urban form is encountered as an important tool for managing effects of climate change. It has a profound impact on a city’s energy needs, and consequently, its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
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This study aims to emphasize importance of design concepts derived from sustainable urban forms which help to reduce the effects of climate change and determine if growth and development of Gaziantep is sustainable or not by using these design concepts that are compactness, sustainable transportation, and mixed land uses.

At a time when cities around the world are increasingly looking and feeling the same, and similarly adding to mounting environmental crises, the Subtropical Cities conference hosted by the Centre for Subtropical Design in Brisbane a few months ago generated keen enthusiasm for ways subtropical environments can produce new models for urbanism and address the problems of the contemporary city. Subtropical Cities was characterised by a genuine sense of excitement about how, in the subtropics, we can plan and design urbanism that is enriched by commitment to local distinctiveness through attention to climate, cultural values and landscape. The conference confirmed that if we are to face the challenges of today and the future, we need a framework that accommodates complexity and diversity. Invaluable micro-tactics and subtle incremental changes which dwell on amenity and liveability are necessary; not the tallest, not the biggest, not the most spectacular! Such excesses are easily achieved!