Attention Restoration Theory argues that natural objects such as trees and flowers have psychological restoration effects. However, relevant studies have been mostly based on survey methods, and few of them suggest guidelines for restoration environments. This study, therefore, aims to verify the restorative effect of natural objects using eye-tracking methods and a survey regarding visual aesthetics, complexity, and the Perceived Restorativeness Scale, as well 25 various images divided into 4 types: natural scene and close view, natural scene and distant view, built scene and close view, and built scene and distant view. The analysis showed that natural scenes had a stronger positive restorative effect compared to built scenes regardless of differences in the distance. In terms of the overall landscape composition, visual characteristics such as visual aesthetics and complexity had a statistically significant relationship with restorative effect. Additionally, an eye-tracking method was found to be a valid and useful tool for studying the restorative environments by significant differences in the scan path length depending on the four types of landscape images. This study ultimately provides an overview regarding restorative design guidelines not only by using natural elements but also by considering landscape composition in terms of complexity, openness, and so on.

Urban areas play a crucial role in carbon absorption, while also producing a considerable amount of carbon emissions. However, there has been a lack of research that has systematically examined the carbon storage and sequestration in green spaces located within urban environments, at a spatial scale. This study analyzes carbon storage and sequestration in Yurim Park, Daejeon, South Korea on a grid basis to fill the research gap. The research compares the variation in sequestration capacity across different grids and provides insights into the development of sustainable urban parks in urban planning. The classification of grids is based on specific site characteristics, such as land cover, tree distribution, type, and density. This results in a total of seven distinct types. The study employs a combination of the I-tree eco model, drone-based modeling, and on-site surveys to estimate carbon storage and sequestration in urban parks. The results show that the average carbon storage per unit area in the entire park was 15.3 tons of carbon per hectare, ranging from a minimum of 5.0 to a maximum of 21.4 tons per hectare. For the planted area, the average carbon storage was 8.6 tons per hectare. Grids with green areas dominated by broad-leaved trees and closed canopy cover had the highest carbon sequestration and storage values. The planting area ratio and the type of trees planted were found to directly influence the carbon sequestration capacity per unit area of urban parks. This study stands out from previous research by conducting a detailed area-based comparison and analysis of carbon sequestration capacity in urban parks using sophisticated measurement techniques. The findings offer direct insights into strategies and policies for securing future urban carbon sinks and can be of practical use in this regard.

This study investigated the cooling effects of landscape interventions and their relative magnitude under hybrid urban context including time-varying building shadow cast. The study focused on the practical design alternatives, rather than experimental scenarios. We conducted outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) simulation using ENVI-met, and spatial-temporal comparison analysis for three green space expansion interventions for new Gwanghwamun square, Seoul, South Korea. In addition, we statistically analyzed the relationship between TCR (tree coverage ratio), GCR (green coverage ratio), WCR (water coverage ratio) and PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature). The correlation and regression coefficients of the relationships under different building density, building locations and shadow cast conditions were compared. As a result of three interventions comparison, the comfort zone increased almost two times, while the discomfort zone decreased to ≈70% of the current condition in the long-term alternative. As TCR increases 22%, PET decreases up to 2.6 °C in average. Tree coverage ratio showed significant importance among the landscape elements. The influence of trees was slightly different for different contexts; larger cooling effect was found in no building shadow cast and low-density buildings. However, the difference was not noticeable; the influence of trees is still effective under building shadow cast and high-density buildings. Moreover, for high tree density area (TCR>50%), temporal gap of thermal comfort between measured time that mainly caused by building shadow change was greatly reduced compared to low tree density area (TCR<5%), which suggest the important role of tree in providing consistent thermal comfort. This study provides scientific evidence for trees’ cooling effect and its relative magnitude under diverse built contexts of N–S oriented urban canyon. This study also contributes to developing an inclusive thermal comfort evaluation method based on both temporal and spatial scales for the effective comparison of real-world design alternatives.

Purpose: First, the contributions of spatial characteristics to microclimate were analyzed. And the results from mobile measurements were compared to those from fixed measurements to examine accuracy of mobile method. Air temperature and physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) profiles were plotted to explore the impacts of the spatial characteristics of that urban square and local street.Design/methodology/approach: This research investigates the effects of urban canyons and landscape on air temperature and outdoor thermal comfort in an open square in Seoul, Korea, a city of diverse thermal environments. Mobile field measurements were carried out to obtain local meteorological data based on higher spatial resolution.Findings: On a day in October under clear sky, air temperature and PET differences of up to 1.77 °C and 9.6 °C were observed at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. These were mainly from the impact of shading effects caused by surrounding obstacles. The current layout and volume of vegetation in the square seemed not effective for reducing air temperature and improving thermal comfort, which needs further study.Originality/value: The authors tested a way to investigate time delay when using mobile measurements by correcting measured local data using adjacent meteorological observatory data. The findings of and limitations on mobile station-based field measurement and analysis are discussed herein.

One of the most serious concerns about mega event-related changes to small cities is how to effectively utilize newly developed public attractions after the Olympic Games. Making connections with existing local amenities and forming attraction networks can be effective strategies for continuing a city’s revitalization. However, despite the expected benefits, attraction network research shows that these benefits often fail to materialize. With the case of Gangneung, a 2018 Winter Olympic hosting city, this study investigated visitation patterns to 19 selected attractions using network analysis. The results indicate that the most influential nodes are located on the northern coast, the eastern coast, and in the south downtown area, those nodes being the central locations where the strongest of connections are made. New attractions such as the Olympic Park and Walwha Linear Park were rather isolated. While seasonal and periodic variations, visitors’ residences, and destination choice attitudes had a significant effect on visitation patterns, the attraction networks, modes of transportation, proximity to region, and type similarity were not significant factors in the forming of visitation patterns. The results make a methodological contribution to tourist behavior and network research. In addition, beyond individual attraction development, the results provide practical implications in regard to networking and cooperation between multiple attractions using temporal and spatial strategies such as management/investment prioritizing, travel route development, and program scheduling.

Research on the risks of climate change to urban regeneration projects has been insufficient to date. Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze the degree of risk of climate change impact on areas with and without urban regeneration projects (for Eup, Myeon, and Dong regional units) in Busan, South Korea. In this study, (1) climate change risk indicators were extracted based on the concept of risk (hazard, vulnerability, and exposure), (2) a spatial analysis was performed using a graphic information system (GIS), and (3) the primary influencing factors were derived through a logistic regression analysis. The principal results show that urban regeneration areas have a higher risk of climate change impact than other areas. The results indicate that urban regeneration areas have a higher population density per area and more impermeable or flooded areas can increase the risk of climate change impacts. We also discuss strategies to develop resilient cities and climate change adaptation policies for future urban regeneration projects.