As a Malay Agricultural Settlement established in 1900, Kampung Baru which is located in Kuala Lumpur, has become a subject of prolonged national interests in terms of economic, social, environment, and political issues along with the pressure of modern and future development. This study investigated the urban morphological impact of Kampung Baru on the intensity of urban heat island (UHI) by developing a smart geodatabase for urban climatic mapping. The database provided baseline data which was crucial to unveil the spatiotemporal characteristics of UHI in Kampung Baru. Determination of the urban heat island intensity (UHII) in Kampung Baru was carried out through two approaches, mobile and fixed measurements. In a period of six days, the mobile measurement was conducted within the target area at night using a motorcycle equipped with the temperature and relative humidity data logger while the fixed measurement was conducted using the similar equipment installed at a school building in the area. Building height data were also collected while building footprints were digitized using a topographical map and the satellite image was used as the base map. To estimate the UHII, the reference data for rural temperature was obtained from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD). All of the data were analyzed using ArcGIS to portray the temperature pattern in the study area. The analysis revealed the presence of UHI effect in Kampung Baru at the average building height of six to ten metres. The results of the fixed measurement showed an island-like local maximum in the study area with the average and maximum UHII values of 4.4 °C and 6.0 °C, respectively. The results from the mobile measurement also showed that the highest temperature was recorded in Kampung Baru rather than in the surrounding areas of different land-use types throughout the observation days. The spatial temperature distribution in the study area also showed that the most affected part was the south-west of Kampung Baru which is surrounded by tall buildings. The findings of this study could be utilized in the planning of new development in the city of Kuala Lumpur.

Hot spring landscapes offer enticing development prospects for investors in China. However, due to mounting economic pressures and a lack of coordination among various authorities, inclusive governance has proven ineffective in overseeing development projects centered around hot spring landscapes. Consequently, this manuscript delves into the potential for implementing inclusive governance strategies to safeguard hot spring landscapes in China. This study selected Linyi City as its study site due to its location above a fault zone, which has resulted in the presence of numerous hot springs. Additionally, it has been officially classified as a ‘hot spring city in China’ by the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources. This study employed a semi-structured expert interview to investigate the barriers that stand in the way of applying inclusive governance to hot spring landscapes. Moreover, the interview investigates the implications of the lack of utilization of inclusive governance strategies for hot spring landscapes. The analysis of the results indicates that experts believed that the current protection policies were ineffective due to the existence of a multitude of barriers, such as the existence of deficiencies in the current policies, the multiplicity of management authorities, differences in visions in decision-making, limited public participation, a lack of awareness and trust from the public, a lack of balance in development approaches, and a limited role of science and technology. This resulted in a lack of proper communication and delegation of responsibilities with regard to inclusive governance strategies for protecting hot spring landscapes. Furthermore, the analysis unveiled diverse implications arising from the non-application of inclusive governance strategies, encompassing aspects such as tourism, economics, environment, sociocultural, and sustainability.

The phenomenon of rapid urbanisation that has occurred since the 1950s has presented opportunities for growth and innovation in cities, primarily through the utilisation of urban agglomerations and economies of scale. Urban areas encounter diverse obstacles that restrict their ability to provide services to inhabitants and hinder the achievement of a sustainable urban future for the residents. This research examines the issue of urban functional weakness, with a specific emphasis on the emergence of a global technology hub such as Cyberjaya, Malaysia. This study analyses the relocation behaviours of residents, with a focus on the international community, and it identifies inadequate public infrastructure as the primary factor contributing to liveability issues within the urban area. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, utilising both quantitative data collection and in-depth interviews, to support its findings. This study examines the impact of social variables and public infrastructure on neighbourhood liveability and design quality. The findings suggest that social variables play a significant role in neighbourhood liveability, while public infrastructure has a positive effect on both liveability and design quality.

This paper examines the role of adaptive housing planning strategies in strengthening the resilience of urban poor communities in the post-pandemic era. The study highlights how planning approaches to adaptive housing can mitigate vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19 and support more equitable urban development. Synthesizing recent literature, the review emphasizes participatory governance, sustainable design integration, and innovative policy and financing mechanisms tailored to urban poor populations. Using resilience frameworks—including Holling’s Resilience Theory, the Adaptive Capacity Framework, and the Social-Ecological Systems approach, the paper illustrates how adaptive housing operates at the intersection of physical infrastructure, socio-economic conditions, and environmental systems. Findings indicate that adaptive housing planning not only addresses immediate post-pandemic housing needs but also lays the foundation for long-term resilience, inclusivity, and improved quality of life. The paper concludes with a call for stronger collaboration among policymakers, urban planners, and researchers to scale context-sensitive adaptive housing strategies within broader resilience and poverty alleviation agendas.