Social, political and economic changes have generated processes of revitalization of the built environment in post-socialist countries since the beginning of the 1990s; these changes are related to the physical structure of the city, its facilities and its functions, as well as the city landscape. Urban planning affects people’s quality of and way of life, as well as residential satisfaction with the built environment, especially that of older people, who make up a significant part of sustainable communities. This paper examines the residential satisfaction of older adults in terms of mobility—that is, their ability to move using facilities offered by public transportation and public places—in two neighborhoods of Novi Sad which have undergone the most extensive urban regeneration. This approach is different from the existing urban studies dealing with residential satisfaction, which makes it a contribution to the literature. Unlike previous studies—which have explored residential satisfaction at the level of accessibility to local facilities, safety in the urban environment and support from the environment—this paper also investigates the impact of movement in public space on the residential satisfaction of older people. The results show that the residential satisfaction of older people is low with regard to public transport, the arrangement of public spaces and traffic infrastructure.

This paper aims to establish a methodology for urban land use planning and management that provides an insight into the hierarchy of priorities between a large number of activities for planning actions, thus contributing to the concept of energy-efficient housing. This methodology includes three aspects of sustainable development: Economic, ecologic, and social, which serve as an overall criterion within which urban planners could make assessments of planned activities. The assessments are the core of the methodology—every aspect is assessed by concerning its costs, consequences on the urban environment, and the effects on the citizens’ quality of life. Ten experts were involved to prove the methodology’s effectiveness. As a result, a hierarchy between the activities is created, which would help an urban planner prioritize and order further activities. The applicability of the hierarchy was tested through a simulation of a reconstruction process of a collective housing area in New Belgrade, Serbia, from the view-point of land use and accessibility. This methodology contributes to the creation of the prioritized groups of activities, and a finalized hierarchy of the activities, while its application is seen in the process of making urban plans, and defining recommendations for its implementation.

This paper focuses on the study of the strength of facade sandwich panels used in building construction. The paper describes the results of experimental and numerical research on the behavior of sandwich panels made of polyisocyanurate core (PIR) and their structural connections when exposed to tensile and compressive loads. In the initial phase of this study, laboratory tests were performed to determine the physical and mechanical characteristics of the material from which the sandwich panels are made. Laboratory tensile and compression tests were performed on small samples of sandwich facade panels. In order to verify the obtained results, they were compared with the numerical analysis performed in the ANSYS software. The numerical model was found to accurately predict the results of the laboratory tests, suggesting that the model can be used to predict the behavior of these panels under different loads in service. The study showed that the foam core sandwich panel exhibits excellent mechanical properties. The results indicate the suitability of foam-based composite structures in the construction industry for various applications, such as roof and wall structures. The findings of this study may help in the development of lightweight and durable construction materials for the industry.

An Internet of things (IoT) based system framework integrating a distributed sensor network was implemented to collect real-time data at a construction site. Various sensors were utilized to gather data concerning particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations) as well as meteorological parameters ? wind speed, humidity, pressure, and temperature. The real-time measurements results provide an overview of air pollution levels at the construction site, revealing its association with earth excavation work, the primary construction activity. This connection al-lows for better management aimed at reducing concentrations of suspended particles. Through on-site monitoring of two pollutant concentrations, this study identified that the dust levels resulting from excavation activities were relatively high. It can be concluded that earth excavation significantly impacts air quality in the construction area. While exploring the primary factors influencing construction dust concentrations, the correlations indicate that these concentrations were not significantly associated with meteorological factors. To predict PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in the air using number of working machines and meteorological parameters as predictors, both multiple linear regression and artificial neural net-work models were applied. The artificial neural network model demonstrates better alignment with the measured air concentrations compared to the multiple linear regression model. The artificial neural network model demonstrated an R2 value of 0.674 for PM10 and 0.618 for PM2.5, indicating a strong predictive capability. The aim of this research, through modeling PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in the air at the construction site is to indicate importance of the topic, especially with respect to the health of the construction site workers.

COVID-19 has severely affected almost every aspect of our everyday lives, especially the use of open greenspace (OGS) in urban settings, which has proven to have a significant role in increasing overall public health and well-being. Hence, the restricted usage of these spaces should be reconsidered. This research aims to analyze the sensitive nature of OGS usage (1) during the pandemic from the perspective of users’ perceived safety and (2) after the pandemic to assess the possible long-term effects. Additionally, this research proposed that location-tracking mobile applications could lead to an increased frequency of OGS visits. The methodology contains detailed background research and two surveys. One survey was conducted during the pandemic in 2020 (sample size n = 412) and was repeated post-pandemic in 2024 (sample n = 451). The 2020 questionnaire A includes questions about the duration, frequency, and activities of OGS usage while focusing on the perceived safety and possibilities of monitoring OGS visits using mobile apps. The 2024 survey represents the continuation of the 2020 survey, focusing on the post-pandemic state of OGS. The statistical analysis is separated into a descriptive data analysis, various χ² independence tests and a machine learning safety prediction. The results indicate how COVID-19 could affect OGS usage and how app-related physical safety enhancements during the pandemic cannot be statistically distinguished from those in the post-pandemic period. Although the interest in location-tracking mobile applications has statistically decreased in 2024, the majority of the total 863 participants stated that applications could increase their feeling of perceived safety. The added value of this research is that it considers age and gender roles in analyzing OGS usage in the context of a pandemic.

EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan operated under the guiding motto "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," presenting an ambitious vision for sustainable global development. Spanning 155 hectares on Yumeshima Island, the exposition examined three interconnected dimensions of human flourishing: "Saving Lives," "Empowering Lives," and "Connecting Lives." Positioned as a "People's Living Lab," EXPO 2025 explored pathways toward achieving all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the strategic integration of information and communication technologies, demonstrating how the convergence of cyberspace and physical space can generate shared prosperity. Architect Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring served as the exposition's architectural and conceptual centerpiece, organizing three thematic districts that corresponded to each sub-theme. Within this circular framework, participating nations and organizations presented pavilions featuring innovative technologies, policy proposals, and design solutions addressing pressing global challenges. This paper employs a qualitative case study methodology based on direct observational research conducted during the author's visit to EXPO 2025. Through systematic examination of selected pavilions personally experienced by the author, this study analyzes how these installations articulated visions of sustainable, equitable, and interconnected futures while engaging with the exposition's overarching theme of designing society for human wellbeing. The analysis contributes to understanding how world expositions function as platforms for disseminating sustainable development discourse and technological innovation narratives.