Scientific and theoretical journal. ISSN 1994-3520 (Print), ISSN 2077-9402 (Online)
Copyright (c) 2025 Urban Sociology Это произведение доступно по лицензии Creative Commons «Attribution-NonCommercial» («Атрибуция — Некоммерческое использование») 4.0 Всемирная.
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT: LEADING STRATEGIES IN ASIAN COUNTRIES
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a key strategy for sustainable urban planning, aimed at creating compact, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods around major public transport hubs. Although TOD originated in the West, it has found its most large-scale and innovative implementation in Asia, where high population density and rapid urbanization have demanded effective solutions for creating comfortable urban environments that meet modern requirements. Despite TOD’s origins and initial development in America, Asian countries have recently emerged as global leaders in pioneering advanced TOD strategies. This article examines the core principles of TOD, its evolution, and contemporary features in leading Asian economies: Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Japan. Key trends are analyzed, including deep integration of transport and urban development, financial sustainability, vertical density, and seamless pedestrian environments. Asia’s experience demonstrates that TOD not only solves transportation challenges but also fosters comfortable, economically viable, and eco-friendly urban spaces.
Copyright (c) 2026 НИНА АНАТОЛЬЕВНА КОНОВАЛОВА (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
URBAN CREATIVE SPACES: FROM SOCIAL PREREQUISITES TO PRINCIPLES OF FORMATION
The article examines the specifics of creativity as a social phenomenon that dictates new forms of modern people economics, communication and self-realization. The key stages in the creative spaces' development as the creative industries material embodiment in the urban environment are outlined: from the spontaneous familiarization of abandoned industrial zones by artists at the beginning of the 20th century to the holistic concept formation and global dissemination in the 21st century. The economic, social, urbanistic, institutional and technological prerequisites that contribute to the urban creative spaces’ development are identified. The main trends in their organization have been identified based on the design experience analysis: theming with the unique cultural environment formation; the creative clusters’ creation based on the “city within a city” principle; multifunctionality and experimentation with formats; the degrading and empty territories activation using the site’s resources; the connection between the place and its history and heritage, the “spirit of the place” - the project concept basis; art and landscape design integration to create a unique look. The principles of the urban creative spaces’ socio-spatial organization are formulated: multifunctionality, openness, individuality, uniqueness, emotional involvement, climatic adaptability, which are aimed at preserving the place identity, improving the urban environment quality, creating conditions for the territories’ sustainable development and activating the city’s planning districts' cultural and business activity. Theoretical models for the creative spaces’ formation in different urban planning situations and methods of integration into the modern city context are proposed.
Copyright (c) 2026 ИРИНА НИКОЛАЕВНА ЕТЕРЕВСКАЯ (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF WORLD-CLASS RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS PROJECTS: URBAN PLANNING ASPECT
The article examines the spatial organization and functional structure of contemporary university campuses being implemented in the Russian Federation within the federal project “Creation of a Network of Modern Campuses”. The empirical basis of the study comprises data on 17 campus projects from the first and second waves of selection (2021-2022), which differ by type (inter-university and single-university), territorial location, and urban-planning context. Methodologically, the study relies on a comparative descriptive analysis with elements of quantitative assessment, including comparisons of site areas, development volumes, residential infrastructure parameters, and the composition of functional zones. The study identifies stable patterns characterizing contemporary Russian campuses: an orientation toward low-density development and the “campus-as-park” model, the mandatory inclusion of a substantial residential stock, and pronounced multifunctionality combining educational, research, residential, public, service, sports, and innovation functions. It is shown that campus type affects the scale and richness of the functional structure, but is not the only determining factor - urban-planning context and project objectives play a decisive role. The findings contribute to the development of urban-planning theory by refining the understanding of the campus as an integrated part of the urban structure and an element of the infrastructure of the knowledge economy.
Copyright (c) 2026 НИКОЛАЙ АЛЕКСЕЕВИЧ КОВАЛЕВ, ТАТЬЯНА НИКОЛАЕВНА МАЙСНЕР (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
URBAN DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS OF RECREATIONAL AND PERMANENT ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION IN A RESORT CITY CONTEXT
The article is devoted to the analysis of problems arising at the junction of urbanized urban environment and recreational areas in resort towns and devoted to the problem of the formation of architectural and planning approaches to the spatial organization of recreational and beach areas of seaside resort towns. The article proposes a system of architectural and planning principles for organizing coastal recreational zones in resort cities, based on the allocation of the coastal strip as a key area for attracting tourists and harmoniously combining the urban and resort spatial environments. The author introduces the definition of “first line of the sea” (a territory with characteristic features in the maximum functional band of 500-700 m from the sea). The area of the center of attraction of the tourist flow is the core in the formation of the urban image of the resort part of the city. The basic urban planning functions were structured and compared with unique recreational forms of environments, which made it possible to identify signs of spatial and functional imbalance. The article proposes a systematic approach to the organization of urban space based on a set of architectural and planning principles. The main goal of this approach is to achieve balanced urban development and create an optimal urban environment for various groups of the population, taking into account effective and urban planning.
Copyright (c) 2026 ТАИСИЯ ДМИТРИЕВНА БЫЧКОВА (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
WATER-GREEN FRAMEWORK ELEMENTS AS A TOOL FOR REDUCING NOISE IMPACT IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
The article addresses the problem of acoustic pollution in the urban environment caused by traffic flows. The research is conducted within the framework of the priorities and target indicators of the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030 with a forecast to 2036, in particular, the task of forming a comfortable and safe living environment. Using Volgograd as an example, noise impact is analyzed, and the potential of water-green framework elements as a spatial development tool for solving environmental and social problems is assessed. The paper proposes and visualizes a comprehensive planning methodology in the form of a five-stage flowchart. It is developed based on field studies and mathematical modeling and systematizes the process from diagnosis to the integration of noise protection measures into planning solutions. As a result, a regression model for predicting area comfort is obtained. Practical recommendations for integrating water-green framework elements into urban planning are proposed, which can be used to achieve the Strategy’s targets in the field of urban environment quality. The results of the work have practical value for authorities in the formation of territorial planning documents, state programs, and measures for the environmental rehabilitation of urban spaces.
Copyright (c) 2026 ВЯЧЕСЛАВ ВАЛЕНТИНОВИЧ ПРОКОПЕНКО, ОЛЬГА АЛЕКСАНДРОВНА ГАНЖА (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
CRITERIA FOR CLASSIFYING A SETTLEMENT AS A CITY IN THE PRACTICE OF REGIONAL AUTHORITIES (USING THE EXAMPLE OF THE URAL FEDERAL DISTRICT)
Currently, the issue of criteria for classifying a settlement as a city is a subject of debate, with discrepancies observed both in official documents and in scientific works. There is a vast body of literature on this topic, including specialized reviews of criteria, definitions, and methodological approaches. Today, the decision to classify a settlement as urban or rural is the responsibility of regional authorities. The outcome of this decision significantly impacts the objective assessment of the level of urbanization in a territory and its place within the country. The administrative decision to grant the status of “city” has economic consequences due to the differences in taxation between urban and rural settlements, and affects the development of sustainable development strategies for territories. The purpose of this work is to analyze the use of criteria for defining the concept of a city in the practical activities of regional authorities. The methodological basis of this article is formed by the works of domestic and foreign authors, the classics of urbanism and urban sociology. Among the variety of approaches, the division of criteria into quantitative and qualitative is used as the basic approach. The empirical basis is formed by the laws of regional authorities on the administrative-territorial structure of the Ural Federal District and other constituent entities of the Federation. The analysis of statistical information on the urban population by region of the country, data on the cities of the Sverdlovsk Region is carried out. The results of the study show a significant differentiation in the criteria used. There are differences in both quantitative and qualitative parameters. All the regions studied use qualitative criteria, and some regions do not use quantitative criteria. Conclusions. The diversity of criteria raises doubts about the objectivity of assessing the level of urbanization in territories. It is necessary to unify the criteria for classifying settlements as “cities”, develop unified methodological recommendations for regional authorities, and create a multi-criteria qualitative and quantitative model of a city.
Copyright (c) 2026 ЕЛЕНА НИКОЛАЕВНА ЗАБОРОВА (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
SCAFFOLDING, FACADES, INTERFACES: THE MATERIAL SOCIOLOGY OF ANTI-RUIN IN THE MODERN CITY
The classical theory of the ruin, which developed in Western culture of the Modern and Contemporary periods, interprets it as a key symbol of historical time, loss, and the transience of human endeavors. This article proposes to go beyond this established discourse, focused on the affects of melancholy and nostalgia, and to provide a systematic rationale for the concept of the “anti-ruin.” The anti-ruin is understood not as the absence of destruction, but as an active, purposeful process of its compensation, completion, and semiotic “suturing” - a gesture of prosthesis, facade, scaffolding, or interface aimed at restoring functionality and the illusion of wholeness. The central thesis is that the ruin and the anti-ruin form an inseparable dialectical pair, revealing the fundamental attitude of modernity towards the world as an unfinished project requiring constant reconstruction. The research methodology combines diachronic genealogical, structural-dialectical analysis, and ontological interpretation (based on the works of V. V. Bibikhin). As a result, the genesis of the anti-ruin is traced from the cosmogonic projects of the Baroque (R. Fludd, A. Kircher, G. W. Leibniz) and the pragmatics of effects in the Enlightenment era to its technological embodiments in architecture (E. Viollet-le-Duc, Le Corbusier) and digital reconstructions. Special attention is paid to its inhabitants (automaton, mannequin, avatar) and its quintessence - scaffolding, interpreted through the ontology of Bibikhin’s “Wood.” It is concluded that the anti-ruin is a constitutive gesture of modern culture, reflecting the anthropological condition of humans as beings doomed to eternally impose “scaffolds” of order onto the intractable “world substance.”
Copyright (c) 2026 АЛЕКСАНДР ВИКТОРОВИЧ МАРКОВ, ОКСАНА АЛЕКСАНДРОВНА ШТАЙН (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ГЕОПРОСТРАНСТВЕННЫЙ АНАЛИЗ И ВИЗУАЛИЗАЦИЯ ДАННЫХ ПРОГРАММЫ РЕНОВАЦИИ ЖИЛОГО ФОНДА (НА ПРИМЕРЕ Г. МОСКВЫ)
Today, Moscow serves as a key testing ground for the most complex urban planning mechanisms. This article presents an in-depth analysis of data on residential real estate renovation in Moscow. To this end, a proprietary dataset was compiled from open sources. A key step in the process was data normalization, which standardized building identification characteristics (address, year of construction, number of floors) into a unified format for subsequent machine processing. The work places particular emphasis on the analytical visualization of property data. Using Python programming language tools and specialized libraries, a visual model was created that clearly depicts the spatial distribution of properties that do not meet modern requirements for a high-quality urban environment. Interactive maps make it possible not only to identify residential properties but also to compare their locations with the socioeconomic indicators of the city's districts. Adapting similar methods developed for Moscow projects serves as the foundation for the creation of a universal visual model applicable to other major cities. Integrating accumulated experience with artificial intelligence algorithms will enable rational decision-making on development planning in the future, accurately predicting the long-term development of renovation zones, and minimizing urban development risks in new territories.
Copyright (c) 2026 ОКСАНА ВЛАДИМИРОВНА САВИНА, ВЛАДИМИР ВЯЧЕСЛАВОВИЧ ЛАРИН, АРТЁМ АЛЕКСАНДРОВИЧ ДЁМИН, ОЛЕСЯ ВЯЧЕСЛАВОВНА ГАРАЕВА, ДАНИЛА МИХАЙЛОВИЧ ПИКАЛОВ (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
METHOD OF INTELLECTUAL SUPPORTFOR URBAN PLANNING DECISIONSUSING ONTOLOGICAL MODELLING
The article is devoted to the description of a method for intelligent support of urban planning decisions in the context of widespread implementation of information modelling technologies and increased requirements for interdisciplinary coordination of design solutions. It is shown that the coordination and review procedures require not only an up-to-date digital model, but also the systematisation of knowledge about urban planning decisions, regulatory requirements, operating conditions and other parameters that influence the justification of design options. Based on an analysis of the urban planning process and regulatory and reference information, an ontological model has been developed to structure requirements, unify terminology, and compare standards with project parameters. A method of analysis has been proposed that combines data from informational, geometric, and ontological models and ensures that the digital model complies with current norms and standards. The method is invariant to a specific design task and allows for variable application depending on the completeness of the ontological model and the set of rules for the selected class of objects and design conditions. The verification results from a list of non-conformities linked to specific requirements and model elements, which improves traceability of control, simplifies coordination, and supports urban planning decisions at early stages of design.
Copyright (c) 2026 АРТЕМ ГЕННАДЬЕВИЧ ЩЕРБАКОВ, ДАНИЛА СЕРГЕЕВИЧ ПАРЫГИН, АРТЁМ ДМИТРИЕВИЧ ЧИКИН, ЯРОСЛАВ АНАТОЛЬЕВИЧ ТРУДОВ, АЛЕКСАНДР ЮРЬЕВИЧ ЗУЕВ (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
AN APPLICATION FOR ESTIMATING THE DENSITY OF PUBLIC AND BUSINESS ZONES IN THE CITY
One of the priority tasks for the development of the modern urban environment is the analysis of the placement densities of public and business spaces that have a significant impact on the social and economic dynamics of cities. Such spaces form the core of daily activity, determine urban planning priorities and influence the comfort of living. In the context of the continuous growth of cities, the increasing complexity of their spatial configuration and the increasing of information flows, the use of digital technologies for the systematic and operational assessment of such zones is becoming especially relevant. This article discusses the process of developing of a software tool designed for automated visualization and quantitative assessment of the object placement densities of public and business purposes. The OpenStreetMap service is used as a cartographic database, and the technical implementation is carried out using the Python programming language and a set of specialized libraries. The result of the work is an application that generates an interactive map, a table of objects, and graphical analytical visualization. The software product has been tested in five cities of the Volgograd region as an example. The presented data demonstrate the potential of using such solutions in the framework of urban analysis, urban planning and spatial management tasks. The work also highlights the importance of digital cartographic tools in expanding the capabilities of local government and analytics at the municipal level. Despite the availability of technological capabilities, many Russian cities are faced with restrictions in access to open and relevant spatial data, which creates additional difficulties in implementing such solutions and scaling projects to certain regions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Савина Оксана Владимировна, Колядов Артём Николаевич, Вайнберг Артемий Владиславович, Ерещенко Татьяна Владимировна, Аникин Антон Викторович (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE USE OF CHATBOTS IN THE OPERATION OF URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT
This article analyzes approaches and technologies used to address vehicle breakdown registration, simplify employee interaction, and store and systematize information about the city’s public transport fleet. It describes the development of a program for monitoring the operation and maintenance of a passenger transport company’s rolling stock by automating the repair and maintenance records of public transport. The proposed program combines vehicle breakdown registration, simplified employee interaction, and the storage and systematization of information about each vehicle, including a history of breakdowns, repairs, installed spare parts, mileage, and upcoming maintenance dates. The article presents the development stages of a mobile system for monitoring the registration, recording, and repair of passenger vehicle rolling stock and organizing communication between the trolleybus depot divisions of the Volgograd Metroelectrotrans Municipal Unitary Enterprise.
Copyright (c) 2025 Мансуров Марат Рустамович, Менько Александр Александрович, Парыгин Данила Сергеевич, Егоров Константин Викторович, Гущина Виолетта Игоревна (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF METHODS FOR ASSESSING THE WALKABILITY OF URBAN AREAS
The article presents a systematic review of contemporary methods for the quantitative assessment of walkability, with a distinction between Russian- and English-language studies, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The aim of the research is to systematize the approaches used to construct composite walkability indices, identify the sets of metrics and data sources underlying these methods, and compare Russian and international publications. The analysis reveals substantial methodological diversity in walkability assessment and highlights a growing trend toward the use of machine learning techniques for deriving input data for metric calculation. It is shown that Russian-language studies are few in number, rely exclusively on open data sources, and employ a more limited range of metrics compared to English-language publications.
Copyright (c) 2025 Зуев Александр Юрьевич, Калягина Полина Александровна, Парыгин Данила Сергеевич, Назарова Марина Петровна, Соболевская Татьяна Алексеевна (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
SPATIAL PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR MEDICAL FACILITIES IN IRAQI CITIES: THE CASE OF KARBALA
This study aims to analyses the reality of health services in the city of Karbala in light of the rapid urban transformations and the continuous population increase witnessed by the city. The study focuses on the use of geographic information systems (GIS) techniques as an analytical tool to assess the distribution and spatial efficiency of health institutions within the general urban framework. The problem arises in the geographical imbalance between areas of health service availability and areas with clear health deprivation, which leads to imbalances in accessibility and increases pressure on functioning institutions. The study addresses identifying gaps in health service coverage, revealing disparities between regions in terms of population density versus availability of health facilities, and proposing strategies for better distribution. It also seeks to provide a planning vision that enhances spatial justice and supports the efficiency of the health system, in line with the requirements of sustainable development in Iraqi cities. The expected results of this study are an important input for the reformulation of health policies and urban planning on a scientific basis that considers population distribution and existing infrastructure.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ихсаан Дж. Аль-Шебиллави, Корниенко Сергей Валерьевич, Бурак А. Аль-Моссави (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
EMPLOYMENT IN A LARGE CITY: DISCOURSES AND REGULATORY PRACTICES
The article considers labor activity as a part of the everyday life of the population of a large city, taking place in a multidimensional urban social space. A retrospective analysis and reinterpretation of the development of employment in St. Petersburg in the late Soviet and post-Soviet periods in the socio-cultural coordinates of everyday life is carried out. Media discourses and practices of regulating the local labor market are considered from the point of view of their impact on the socio-structural and socio-cultural parameters of the urban population. The chronic imbalance in the structure of jobs and the demands of workers is manifested in St. Petersburg in an acute shortage of skilled industrial workers. An important factor in this shortage is the low prestige of working professions in a multifunctional metropolis, which prevents young citizens from choosing such professional trajectories. The need to increase this prestige turns out to be the leitmotif of power discourse, regardless of political and ideological transformations in the city, country and the world. The global trend of reindustrialization, associated with the reformatting of the global system of division of labor, gives special relevance to this problem. At the same time, the prospect of solving it depends on the efficiency of using available resources (both material and symbolic) at the level of a particular city.
Copyright (c) 2025 Евдокимова Елена Петровна (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: THE EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT
This article examines the development of the conception of environmental justice in contemporary social and philosophical research, with a focus on urban dimensions and the transformation of categories of justice in the context of the Anthropocene. Based on an analysis of twenty-one sources published in recent years, the article reconstructs key directions of theoretical thought: from postcolonial critiques of the uneven distribution of environmental risks to urban studies dedicated to “green gentrification”, infrastructural vulnerability, and the right to nature in the city. It is shown that environmental justice is ceasing to be thought of exclusively as a matter of redistributing environmental goods and is becoming a tool for rethinking the relationships between corporeality, space, and power. The author identifies several philosophical trends: an epistemological turn towards recognition, a shift from normative models to participatory practices, and the integration of ecological concerns into concepts of justice, dignity, and belonging.
Copyright (c) 2025 Карчагин Евгений Владимирович, Янин Кирилл Дмитриевич, Барковская Анна Юрьевна, Назарова Марина Петровна (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ONTOLOGICAL POLITICS OF HERITAGE: PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE LENS OF HYPEROBJECTS AND OBJECT-ORIENTED ONTOLOGY
The article presents a radical reconsideration of the foundations of contemporary cultural and natural heritage preservation policies, with a focus on the historic center of St. Petersburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. By analyzing global crises (ecological, anthropogenic, governance-related) and the fragmentation of discourse -supported by scientometric data and empirical case studies (St. Petersburg, Mosul, Cuenca) - the study reveals the systemic failure of traditional approaches that ignore the fundamental ontology of heritage in historic urban centers. The authors propose a synthesis of hyperobject theory (T. Morton) and object-oriented ontology (G. Harman), supplemented by a historical analysis of Soviet museology (M. Silina). This synthesis leads to an original theory of heritage as possessing external and internal form (analogous to the external and internal form of a word) - a complex and non-obvious system that contradicts instrumentalist understandings of heritage. Heritage is conceptualized as a hyperobject: a distributed, ungraspable network of interacting human and non-human actors whose value is always mediated. Ignoring this ontology leads to conflicts and inefficiency. The article develops a model of ontological heritage politics, based on principles such as: Recognition of hyperobjectivity, Ontological equality of actors, Inevitability of mediation, Politics of unknowing, Aesthetic diplomacy, Governance as assemblage. Practical tools are introduced, including: Interaction Protocols, Aesthetic Mediators, Public Heritage Laboratories. The study also employs a theatrical-metaphorical lens to reinterpret the historic city center and its “Petersburg-ness” as art. By bridging theoretical and practical gaps, the article offers a sustainable alternative to technocratic and ideologically driven heritage preservation paradigms.
Copyright (c) 2025 Марков Александр Викторович, Сосновская Анна Михайловна (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
A DIGITAL ANALYSIS OF LAND PLOTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
The relevance of the study is driven by the challenges of modern urbanization, such as infrastructure overload, social and environmental issues, which necessitate new tools for sustainable urban development. The article presents the development of a web application designed to automate the planning of development for individual land plots within the framework of comprehensive territorial development. A comparative analysis of existing software solutions (ArcGIS Urban, CityZenith, CityEngine) was conducted, revealing their limitations, including high cost and complexity of adaptation. As an alternative, the architecture and a functional algorithm for a web application are proposed and implemented. The application integrates data from the Public Cadastral Map and OpenStreetMap to analyze infrastructure within a 500-meter radius of a plot. The system automatically generates recommendations on permissible types of development based on Land Use and Development Rules. The application's operation is demonstrated through the analysis of plots in Volgograd, including functional and load testing. The developed tool offers practical value for municipal authorities, developers, and designers by optimizing the urban planning decision-making process.
Copyright (c) 2025 Savina Oksana V., Demin Artem A., Kevin Grace Moupegnou Nzoussi, Katerinina Svetlana Yu., Larin Vladimir V. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ASSESSING PUBLIC SATISFACTION WITH URBAN AIR QUALITY UNDER THE “CLEAN AIR” FEDERAL PROJECT
Environmental pollution, particularly air pollution, remains a pressing issue for residents of modern industrial cities. One of the key tools in combating air pollution in Russia is the federal “Clean Air” project, which aims to reduce emissions of priority pollutants. Within the framework of the project, measures are being implemented to modernize production capacities and introduce advanced technologies designed to ensure compliance with hygiene standards for chemical substances in the atmospheric air and achieve an acceptable risk level for public health. The success of these initiatives requires a comprehensive approach, which must include the assessment of public satisfaction with the outcomes of implemented measures. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methodological approaches to determine the level of public satisfaction with air quality and the effectiveness of the measures taken under the project. The study focuses on analyzing the opinions and expectations of residents in industrial cities participating in the project. The toolkit for assessing the integral indicator of public satisfaction should include modules on socio-demographic characteristics, self-assessed health, subjective well-being, and satisfaction with air quality. In this context, it is important to evaluate overall air quality as well as specific pollution indicators and changes in air quality over time. This allows for a more objective understanding of public reactions to the efforts of industrial entities, government agencies, and local authorities. The findings of this study may contribute to the improvement of environmental policy and the enhancement of citizens' quality of life within the framework of sustainable development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Goshin Mikhail E., Dodina Natalia S., Budarina Olga V. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
SOCIO-FUNCTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF THE VISITOR CENTER OF A NATURAL PARK (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE VOLGOGRAD REGION)
The purpose of the study is to identify effective principles of architectural design of visitor centers of natural parks based on socio-functional analysis. The data of an expert sociological survey of the staff of the visit centers conducted in August 2024 with the assistance of the Committee of Natural Resources, Forestry and Ecology of the region are presented. The sample size was 15 questions covering key aspects such as functional areas, technology, environmental sustainability and cultural heritage. The survey results showed that the most sought-after areas are information and museum areas, which highlights the importance of educational content. Accessibility, environmental protection and the introduction of modern technologies are key aspects in the design of nature park visitor centers. The importance of moderate innovation and the creation of comfortable spaces with an emphasis on environmental sustainability is also revealed. The data obtained can be used.
Copyright (c) 2025 Golodny Vladimir M. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE WATER-GREEN FRAME IN THE GRID DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
In the context of the global environmental turn, the sustainable development of urban areas is aimed at creating new spatial paradigms based on the theoretical study of the structure and functions of the water-green frame as a key element of the urban planning system. The relevance of this work is due to the lack of methodological foundations for the formation of the water-green frame. The purpose of this study is analysis of the structure and functions of the water-green frame based on a structural and systemic approach. The methodological basis of the work is based on the principles of scientific structuralism, which allow us to consider the water and green framework as a sign system with invariant relations between its elements, as well as on the system analysis used in urban planning. The article reveals the essence of the water and green framework as an open, multi-level system that integrates natural and anthropogenic-natural elements into a single whole. The article reveals the essence of the water-green frame as an open, multi-level system that integrates natural and anthropogenic-natural elements into a single whole. The article presents an analysis of the structural properties of the water-green frame (integrity, connectivity, and hierarchy), as well as a classification of the external and internal factors that influence its formation (climatic, anthropogenic, topographic, etc.). Special attention is given to the social functions of the frame, including its impact on the mental and physical health of the population, the development of social capital, and the formation of territorial identity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Prokopenko Vyacheslav V. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ANCHOR OBJECTS IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE CITY: APPROACHES TO ASSESSING THEIR IMPACT ON THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT
The article presents a comprehensive analysis of methods for assessing the impact of anchor objects on the quality of the urban environment. Theoretical foundations of the concept of “anchor object” and its role as a center for forming economic, social, spatial, and environmental linkages are examined. Based on Russian and international studies, approaches to evaluating university campuses, business centers, cultural and sports complexes are analyzed. The review shows that existing assessment methods rely on index-based approaches, benchmarking, urban microclimate modeling, and socio-economic and institutional assessments. It is demonstrated that while current methods are highly detailed, they are mainly limited to separate aspects of influence. The authors conclude that there is a shortage of comprehensive methodologies capable of integrating engineering, social, economic, and environmental indicators into a unified assessment system. A direction for further research is proposed - the development of an integrated methodology for assessing the quality of the urban environment that ensures accuracy and comparability of research results, contributing to sustainable and balanced urban development in the planning and operation of anchor objects.
Copyright (c) 2025 Meisner Tatiana N., Kovalev Nicolay A. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
INTEGRATIVE THEORY OF URBAN FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT: SYNTHESIS OF TEKTOLOGY, CENTAURISTICS, AND THE CLUSTER APPROACH
This paper advances an integrative theoretical framework for understanding urban formation and development by synthesizing three complementary strands of thought. First, it draws on A. A. Bogdanov’s Tektology as a universal science of organization, emphasizing systemic principles of structure, feedback, and transformation. Second, it incorporates D. S. Danin’s concept of Centauristics, which highlights the methodological potential of reconciling seemingly incompatible elements through constructive complementarity. Third, it employs a cluster-based model of urban systems to operationalize processes of specialization, integration, and disintegration across spatial and temporal scales. Within this framework, the city is conceptualized as a multi-level, adaptive system in which formative and regulatory mechanisms, recursive feedbacks, and the dynamics of ingression and desingression shape the emergence and evolution of functional clusters. The approach provides practical instruments for comprehensive urban diagnostics, design of inter-cluster interfaces, adaptive coordination, and interdisciplinary capacity-building. Special attention is given to temporal integration, balancing short-term operational measures with long-term strategic trajectories, and establishing mechanisms for horizontal and vertical governance coordination. By emphasizing crises as transition points that catalyze reform and innovation, the paper outlines a platform for empirical validation and pilot implementation across diverse urban contexts. The proposed framework contributes to urban theory by linking systemic organizational principles with applied tools for sustainable and resilient urban development.
Copyright (c) 2025 Panfilov Alexander V. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
CULTURAL AND LEISURE PREFERENCES OF THE POPULATION OF THE VOLOGDA REGION
The article presents the results of a study of cultural and leisure preferences of the Vologda region population, taking into account the territorial specifics. The empirical basis of the work was the data from a sociological survey conducted as part of the “Monitoring of the economic situation and social well-being of the Vologda region population for 2024” ( n = 1500), as well as official statistics and national public opinion polls. It has been established that the dominant forms of leisure in the region are informal communication (“meetings with friends”) and passive recreation. Territorial differences have been identified: for residents of large cities (Vologda, Cherepovets) active and social forms of leisure are more typical, whereas in rural areas passive practices and household management prevail. Cinema is the most popular among the population, while both Soviet and modern Russian films and TV series are positively evaluated. Interest in literature, on the contrary, is weakly expressed. Digitalization is transforming cultural consumption, but the Internet is mainly used for communication and news, rather than for the consumption of “high” cultural products. The study also showed that a significant part of the respondents noted a decrease in the number of cultured people in their environment, especially in Vologda. In the mass consciousness, a “cultured person” is associated with good manners, politeness, education and erudition. The results emphasize the need to take regional specifics into account when developing cultural policy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zhdanova Angelina E. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE SONIC ENVIRONMENT OF CITIES IN COMPUTER GAMES: WHY IT IS OF INTEREST TO SOCIOLOGISTS
The article explores the sociological dimensions of urban soundscapes reproduced in computer games, where sound functions not as a secondary effect but as a medium of cultural memory, identity, and social critique. The study aims to demonstrate how the practice of listening to game cities generates new modes of perceiving and interpreting urban environments. The first part analyzes the sonic strategies of memorialization and historicization: the archiving of vanished sounds, the reconstruction of acoustic epochs, and the documentary or museological logics embedded in game design. Drawing on examples from “Assassin’s Creed”, “Mafia III”, “L.A. Noire”, and “The Witcher”, “Atomic Heart” the article argues that games construct an “audio archive” of history in which the soundscape becomes a lived form of the past and a medium of emotional memory. The second part focuses on the political and satirical functions of sound. Titles such as “Grand Theft Auto”, “Sleeping Dogs”, “Night Call”, and “Like a Dragon/Yakuza” are examined as acoustic laboratories of the metropolis, where noise, accents, radio shows, advertising signals, and urban voices operate as instruments of social reflection. Through sound, the player recognizes the “other” - by voice, intonation, or the density of urban noise - and thus enters a space of ethical engagement. Applying the frameworks of soundscape studies and the sociology of everyday listening, the article interprets computer games as audiovisual laboratories of the contemporary city. In these digital environments, hearing becomes not only a means of navigation and empathy but also a form of social cognition that interweaves memory, politics, and aesthetics.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sergeyeva Olga V. (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
INTERACTIVE DIGITAL EXHIBITION OF TERRITORY OBJECTS IN VIRTUAL REALITY
The article analyzes modern trends in the use of virtualization technologies in the museum and exhibition sphere. It describes the development of a concept for a software and information solution for creating a digital exposition of objects of the territory, which involves the creation of three-dimensional interactive models of locations, including cultural and historical monuments and their contextual environment. The software architecture of the digital exposition project, an approach to choosing objects of virtual display and the formation of additional user experience are proposed. The implementation of several related virtual scenes based on the landmarks of the Volgograd region is demonstrated: the 19th-century Lutheran Church in the village of Verkhniy Yeruslan and the Verkhneeruslansky lock bridge across the Yeruslan River in the Staropoltavsky district. The stages of creating 3D models of the central objects of the exposition, other components of the location of their placement, as well as the interactive functionality of the scenes are shown.
Copyright (c) 2025 Парыгин Данила Сергеевич, Феклистов Владислав Александрович, Смирнова Татьяна Владимировна, Толстоусов Даниил Андреевич, Срыбный Владислав Дмитриевич (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ANALYSIS OF SURFACE URBAN HEAT ISLAND INTENSITY IN SUMMER AND WINTER SEASONS BASED ON LANDSAT 9 DATA
As part of this study, Landsat 9 images were selected for the summer of 2024 and the winter of 2024-2025. Land surface temperature (LST) was calculated within the administrative boundaries of Volgograd, and the intensity of summer and winter urban heat islands was assessed and compared using two approaches: UHI-driven and land-cover-driven. The results indicate the presence of an urban heat island in Volgograd during both summer and winter seasons; however, its spatial localization may differ depending on the time of year. It was also found that cropland areas lead to negative UHI intensity values in both seasons, whereas the influence of water bodies on winter surface UHI intensity may be minimal.
Copyright (c) 2025 Зуев Александр Юрьевич, Садовникова Наталья Петровна, Алексеев Андрей Леонидович, Колядов Артём Николаевич, Жалалов Виталий Витальевич (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
EXPERIENCE OF DEVELOPING LOCAL UNIVERSITIES IN A HISTORICAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM
In this article, the authors examine the experience of developing the University Quarter of Amsterdam, which is an example of integrating the educational function into the historical environment and modern urban planning solutions. The authors emphasize the importance of preserving the cultural and historical heritage during the modernization and expansion of university territories, as well as the need to create open, permeable public spaces that promote active interaction between the university and the urban community. Particular attention is paid to approaches to adapting historical buildings to modern functions without losing their authenticity, as well as the development of infrastructure solutions - pedestrian routes, water communications and connecting transport corridors - to improve the accessibility of the territory. The article demonstrates that a harmonious combination of historical identity with innovative urban planning concepts contributes to the formation of a dynamic, sustainable and socially integrated urban environment. The analysis is based on the materials of the strategic master plan “University Quarter”, prepared jointly by the University of Amsterdam, the municipality and the studio of urban design and landscape architecture West8. The article provides cultural and historical experience of the university development, the current state and problem areas, solutions and the university's vision. The experience of the University of Amsterdam serves as a valuable example for the development of strategies for the development of university territories in the historic centers of other cities, focused on the preservation of heritage and active participation of citizens.
Copyright (c) 2025 Шаронова Олеся Александровна, Антюфеев Алексей Владимирович (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD
In the article the first to assess the sustainability of objects of regional architecture of post-war reconstruction period based on the principles of an environmentally responsible, socially oriented and sustainably managed habitat (ESG-principles). A rating of the integrated development of Mira Street, the first restored street of post-war Stalingrad, was carried out in 10 green categories and 81 green criteria according to the Russian Standard GOST R 70346-2022. For the life cycle of restored buildings, a rating of "good" was assigned. The architects of the post-war restoration period laid the foundation for green construction. Our task is to preserve the sustainability of cultural and historical heritage sites for future generations.
80th ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
Copyright (c) 2025 Корниенко Сергей Валерьевич (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF KUBAN IN THE WAR AND POST-WAR PERIODS (1941-1950)
The importance of preserving the historical memory of the war and post-war years from the point of view of architectural heritage is noted. The influence of military actions on the social perception of the surrounding reality is indicated. Historical aspects of the martial law in the Krasnodar territory in 1942-1943 are revealed. The situation in the area of the town of Goryachy Klyuch and Bolshoy p. Krasnaya Polyana in Sochi is described. Individual restored objects of architectural heritage of Krasnodar are presented. Attention is drawn to the prevention of similar tragedies of the past.
Copyright (c) 2025 Субботин Олег Степанович (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
FROM THE HISTORY OF EVACUATION HOSPITALS IN ASTRAKHAN
The purpose of the study is a comprehensive study of the evacuation hospitals of the Astrakhan Region, preserving and transmitting the historical memory of the city's role as the evacuation center of Russia. Based on a variety of historical sources, data from previously unpublished archival documents were introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The main issues and problems of the organization of evacuation hospitals are presented. In order to perpetuate the memory of the labor feat of the Astrakhan people, a project with the same name "Architectural heritage of Astrakhan. Wartime Chronicles". It includes: the organization of tourist routes in the historical part of the city, along cultural heritage sites adapted during the Great Patriotic War for evacuation hospitals, an information leaflet with the introduction of interactive elements has been created.
Copyright (c) 2025 Новоселова Татьяна Алексеевна, Мамаева Юлия Васильевна, Бельмакова Ксения Андреевна (Автор) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0