With the prevalence of mental health problems among college students, perceptual recovery and the sensory dimensions of perception (PSD) have emerged as crucial environment-related factors for psychological well-being. However, there has been relatively limited research on how these factors directly and indirectly impact the restoration experience of college students in green spaces on campuses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the influence of college students’ intrinsic motivation on their psychological well-being when exposed to campus green spaces. Special attention was given to the role of solitude and perceptual recovery in this process. Research Methodology: Based on a literature review and field research, we classified campus green spaces into eight types based on perceptual dimensions. We collected 550 questionnaires on campus, and the data processing involved structural equation modeling (SEM) and mediation analysis. Findings: A positive correlation was found between perceived sensory dimensions and the recovery experience. College students’ perceptual recovery and ability to be alone emerged as mediating variables in this process. In essence, this study sheds light on the mechanism through which intrinsic motivation impacts the mental health of college students when they engage with campus green spaces.

The improvement of urban congestion and the mood of the populace is vital for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This paper aims to test the hypothesis that crowding in urban micro public spaces (UMPSs) affects emotions, and two different methods were used: a psychological questionnaire to measure whether crowding in such spaces elicits negative emotional responses from users and a portable electroencephalography (EEG) device to explore emotional responses. This study was conducted in Shenyang, China, based on the city’s relevant policies and the type and number of micro spaces and micro public spaces, proving that Shenyang City has paid more attention to planning micro spaces and micro public spaces in its urban development. The results show that 1. UMPS crowding awakens negative emotions in users, which affects their intention to revisit the UMPS, and 2. If the UMPS is more attractive to users, it also improves the negative emotions due to crowding, which implies that the attractiveness of the environment does play an important moderating role. This study may inspire the construction concept of UMPSs in different countries and cities, complementing the planning of urban public spaces to provide more social equity. The creation of UMPS has a positive effect on neighborhood interactions, community network construction, and the reproduction of social capital, which can contribute to the sustainable development of cities.

Urban public open spaces are crucial for residents’ well-being, yet accessibility issues persist, affecting activities and social interactions. To this end, we take the main urban area of Jiamusi City, the most northeastern city in China, as an example. We start by examining both spatial and perceptual dimensions, using the Gaussian two-step moving search method to measure spatial accessibility, combining online data with multi-source data from questionnaires. Furthermore, we utilize structural equation modeling to explore the impact of accessibility on place attachment within urban public open spaces. The results show that (1) accessibility has a positive effect on place attachment, while place satisfaction plays a mediating role. (2) There were significant differences in spatial accessibility across modes of travel. Car travel had the best spatial accessibility, followed by bicycle, and walking had the lowest spatial accessibility. (3) Perceived accessibility and spatial accessibility differ, but perceived accessibility it is more persuasive in explaining and illustrating place attachment. Reducing travel costs and meeting the user needs will effectively increase place attachment and place identity. (4) Social factors such as age, education, and residency length also affect accessibility, satisfaction, and attachment. By understanding the impact of accessibility on place attachment, this study helps urban planners to better design urban spatial layout and transportation networks. It enhances people’s attachment to specific places by improving the convenience of traveling, promotes sustainable urban development, and enriches the discourse on the enhancement of psychological motivation in urban public open spaces.

As urban design increasingly emphasizes livable environments, research on pedestrians and walking environments has been revisited at the street level. Although existing studies have shown that street environments impact pedestrians, there remains a significant gap in our knowledge regarding which street elements affect pedestrian walking behavior, to what degree, and which walking characteristics are influenced. This study aims to validate the close relationship between street elements and pedestrian stopping behavior by measuring the influence of different street element environments on walking characteristics. Research methods include a literature review and field research, categorizing street elements into 32 types and pedestrian stopping behaviors into 10 characteristics. By collecting effective walking data from 1587 pedestrians and conducting data processing and regression analysis, we found that rational street design can effectively promote commercial activity and enhance street vitality. Based on the experimental conclusions, we propose urban design recommendations to further enhance the vitality of commercial pedestrian streets, including optimizing street landscape design, improving pedestrian facilities, and increasing leisure spaces. This research provides valuable references for further exploring how to enhance the vitality of commercial pedestrian streets, helping urban planners and designers better understand the relationship between street elements and urban vitality, thereby creating more attractive and vibrant urban spaces and promoting sustainable urban development.

The dispersion of urban pollutants is affected by the urban morphology parameters. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between PM_2.5 distribution and urban morphology parameters in a cold-climate city in China. Field measurements were performed to record the PM_2.5 concentration and microclimate parameters at 25 points in a 10 km² urban area in Harbin, China. It was found that the maximum difference of PM_2.5 concentration among the measuring points at the same time could be up to 69.03 μg/m³. In this study, a geographic information system (GIS) was used to extract and screen the urban morphology parameter data under reasonable buffer radius, the gradient boosted regression trees model (GBRT) was used to carry out the prediction experiment of PM_2.5 concentration and explore the nonlinear influence of urban morphology factors on PM_2.5 concentration. In addition, random forest (RF), decision trees (DT), and multiple linear regression (MLR) models were selected to compare the prediction accuracy of the GBRT model. The results show that the GBRT model has the highest accuracy, with R² reaching 0.981; building density (57%) and average building height (49%) were the two most significant factors affecting PM_2.5 concentration.

Under the dual constraints of limited resources and cold climate, the built environment of small cities in cold areas has a particularly prominent impact on the outdoor activities of the elderly and the need for aging optimization. Based on a questionnaire survey and field measurement data, combined with multiple linear regression, Spearman correlation analysis, and difference analysis, this paper systematically discusses the effects of different built environment characteristics on outdoor activity behaviors (frequency, intensity, and stay time) of the elderly in Bei’an City, Heilongjiang Province, China. The difference in environmental satisfaction of the elderly with different genders, ages, and education levels was analyzed. The results show that green coverage, air quality, leisure facilities, and barrier-free facilities are the core environmental factors that significantly improve the activity behavior of the elderly. In contrast, noise level, road damage, and inadequate facility maintenance significantly inhibit the activity willingness of the elderly. It was found that older adults are more dependent on barrier-free facilities and site safety, while younger people pay more attention to sports facilities and social space. Older women pay more attention to environmental details and cultural elements, while men tend to evaluate environmental functionality and so on. Further analysis shows that green environments and leisure facilities in cold climates provide visual beauty and play an important role in improving air quality and enhancing mental health. These elements are particularly critical in winter activities for older people, demonstrating the potential of the built environment to promote health and social participation. Starting from the unique background of small cities in cold regions, this study verified the applicability of the WHO age-friendly city framework in small cities in cold climates through empirical data, and revealed the necessity of climate-adaptive design (such as winter anti-slip facilities and cold-resistant greening) to improve the activity behavior of the elderly, providing a regional supplement to the existing theories.