PLANNING MALAYSIA

HOW URBAN PARK CPTED INFLUENCES REVISIT INTENTION THROUGH PLACE ATTACHMENT WITH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AS A MODERATOR

Fei Hou — 2026-08-09

Urban parks offer spaces for daily leisure and psychological recovery. However, safety concerns can reduce users’ willingness to revisit. This study draws on crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and environmental psychology. It examines how CPTED shapes revisit intention in urban parks. It also tests place attachment as a mediator and socioeconomic status (SES) as a moderator. The data were collected from 361 users of Baitashan Park in Lanzhou, China. The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results show that CPTED has a significant positive effect on place attachment. CPTED also has a significant positive effect on revisit intention. Place attachment partially mediates the link between CPTED and revisit intention. This pattern suggests that safety-oriented design encourages repeat use by building emotional bonds with the park. SES further strengthens the effects of CPTED on both place attachment and revisit intention. However, SES does not change the association between place attachment and revisit intention. Overall, the findings highlight an emotional pathway through which CPTED supports sustained park use. They also stress the need for socially inclusive safety design in urban parks.

STAYING OR LEAVING FLOOD-PRONE AREAS (FPAs)? COMMUNITIES’ DECISION-MAKING AND ADAPTATION PATHWAYS IN THE MAHAKAM CASCADE LAKES (MCL), INDONESIA

Yaskinul Anwar — 2026-08-09

The decision to move or stay in FPAs is crucial and impacts livelihood sustainability (LS). This study investigates household decisions to stay or relocate in flood-prone communities around the MCL in Indonesia and analyzes how these choices shape adaptation strategies. Drawing on qualitative data from in-depth interviews with residents of Pela Village (PV) (original settlement) and Sangkuliman Village (SV) (relocation site), the study reveals that the interplay of flood risk perception (FRP), place attachment (PA), and livelihood security (LSc) influences decisions. Communities remaining in PV have normalized flooding and are investing in structural adaptations, such as elevating house foundations to sustain their livelihoods and social ties. Conversely, relocated communities prioritize flood safety but face new challenges related to livelihood access and economic burden. Both groups exhibited active adaptive capacities and a willingness to bear adaptation costs, highlighting adaptation as a continuous process rather than a one-time response. The findings emphasize that relocation should be integrated within a holistic framework that balances risk reduction with economic and sociocultural sustainability, supported by community participation to enhance resilience in flood-prone settlements.

INTRA-URBAN DISTANCE VARIATIONS IN PERCEIVED 20-MINUTE NEIGHBOURHOOD FEATURES: A KRUSKAL-WALLIS ANALYSIS WITHIN AN 800m WALKABLE CATCHMENT IN BAYAN BARU, PENANG, MALAYSIA

Siti Noorhawa Azyze Ellah Azyze — 2026-08-09

The 20-Minute Neighbourhood (20MN) has emerged as a prominent urban planning framework aimed at promoting accessibility, sustainability and local living. However, its application often assumes a uniform walking threshold, potentially overlooking variations in mobility needs, environmental perceptions, and demographic characteristics. This study examines how perceived neighbourhood performance varies across age groups and distance bands within an 800 m walkable catchment in a compact urban context. Using questionnaire data and non-parametric statistical analysis, the study evaluates six 20MN domains: safe, accessible and connected mobility; local economy and daily needs; essential services and community destinations; climate resilience and environmental comfort; high-quality public realm and open spaces; and housing diversity and affordability. Kruskal–Wallis tests identify significant differences in perceived neighbourhood features across distance bands, while age-group comparisons show limited variation across the six domains. The findings indicate that spatial proximity plays a stronger role than age in shaping perceived 20MN performance within the study area, although demographic characteristics remain relevant for inclusive neighbourhood planning. This study contributes to context-sensitive 20MN planning by highlighting the importance of considering intra-neighbourhood spatial variations when evaluating accessibility and neighbourhood quality in compact tropical urban environments.

ANALYSIS OF THE LEVEL OF USER AWARENESS OF SAFETY IN USING PUBLIC BUS TRANSPORTATION IN BATAM CITY

Ery Sugito — 2026-08-09

Safety awareness among public transport users is a critical component of traffic safety and sustainable urban mobility, yet empirical evidence focusing on passenger-centred behaviour remains limited in developing city contexts. This study examines the level of safety awareness among city bus passengers, identifies factors associated with different awareness levels, and proposes planning-oriented recommendations to enhance public transport safety. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a questionnaire survey, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), ordinal logistic regression, and in-depth interviews. The descriptive results indicate that most passengers demonstrate a moderate level of safety awareness, suggesting that basic safety knowledge exists but has not been fully internalised into consistent behaviour across all stages of the journey. The EFA confirms that safety awareness is a multidimensional construct consisting of three domains: boarding safety awareness, on-board safety behaviour, and alighting safety practices. Ordinal logistic regression analysis reveals that demographic characteristics, particularly age and gender, are significant predictors of safety awareness levels, with older passengers and female users more likely to exhibit higher awareness. In contrast, experience of safety incidents, exposure to safety information, and frequency of bus use do not show statistically significant effects, although their positive coefficient directions indicate a supportive role. Qualitative findings further suggest that inexperienced users tend to exhibit riskier behaviours and that learning through experience and information requires structured reinforcement. Overall, the findings highlight that passenger safety awareness is shaped by an interaction between individual characteristics, learning processes, and institutional context. This study contributes to traffic safety research by applying ordinal modelling to passenger safety awareness and provides evidence-based implications for safer public bus systems in medium-sized cities.

SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION OF THE SILOKEK GEOPARK AREA TO BECOME A LEAD TOURISM DESTINATION IN WEST SUMATERA, INDONESIA

Zilvina B — 2026-08-09

Geoparks play an important role in integrating geological conservation with sustainable tourism development. However, many geopark studies remain largely descriptive and provide limited analytical insights into governance and spatial planning implications. This study examines sustainable conservation practices in the Silokek Geopark, West Sumatra, Indonesia, focusing on the interaction between geodiversity conservation, community participation, and institutional governance within a spatial planning context. A qualitative approach was employed through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis. Data were analyzed using the sustainable geopark management framework proposed by Xu and Wu, which emphasizes environmental conservation, community participation, and governance structures. The findings show that conservation practices in the Silokek Geopark are supported by strong community involvement through local institutions. However, governance arrangements remain largely operational and have not been fully integrated into formal spatial planning frameworks. This situation limits the strategic role of conservation in guiding sustainable tourism development and regulating spatial use. This study contributes to the planning literature by demonstrating that effective geopark conservation requires not only environmental protection but also the integration of community-based conservation into spatial planning instruments and governance systems. The findings provide policy insights for strengthening sustainable geopark management in developing regions.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DEMAND TO TOURISM DESTINATIONS IN ACEH PROVINCE, INDONESIA

Cut Rika Aprilia Naja — 2026-08-09

According to the 2020–2034 Aceh Besar Regency Tourism Development Plan, Lhoknga Beach Recreation Area is one of the province’s leading tourism destinations. Coastal tourism destinations often exhibit high dependence on private vehicles, resulting in congestion, environmental degradation, and reduced accessibility. Therefore, the provision of public transportation is essential to facilitate tourist mobility between origins and destinations. This study aims to examine tourists’ potential demand for public transportation and identify the key factors influencing their willingness to shift from private vehicles. A quantitative approach was adopted, with a questionnaire administered to 306 tourists visiting six beach destinations, and the data were analysed using factor analysis. The results reveal three principal factors influencing tourists' potential demand for public transportation: (1) traffic and cost-related factors, including congestion, fuel prices, parking limitations, and safety concerns; (2) service quality attributes, such as punctuality, comfort, cleanliness, accessibility, and information availability; and (3) tourists’ perceptions of public transport, including flexibility, privacy, and perceived mobility constraints. These findings suggest that enhancing service quality and addressing congestion and travel cost issues can significantly increase tourists’ acceptance of public transportation. This study contributes empirical evidence to support sustainable transport planning and policy development for tourism destinations in coastal areas.

SATURATION DEVELOPMENT PATTERN OF BUILT-UP AREAS IN KUALA LUMPUR CITY CENTER

Dayang Shahrizat Abang Mahmud — 2026-08-09

Kuala Lumpur, designated a city in 1972 and a Federal Territory in 1974, has undergone rapid urbanisation, significantly impacting its infrastructure and environmental systems. With a population exceeding 1.9 million by 2022 within 242.7 square kilometres, the city's land area has expanded to 2,584.11 hectares, reflecting intense development pressures and increased land densification. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the spatio-temporal dynamics of urban development within the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) between 2015 and 2023. The primary objective is to evaluate the intensity and saturation of development patterns within a one-kilometre radius of the Petronas Twin Towers and to investigate the correlation between these patterns and existing development control instruments. A mixed methodology is employed, integrating qualitative field observations with quantitative analysis of satellite imagery through advanced image processing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Situated within the context of the KLCP 2040's land use targets and the high-intensity zoning of the "City Centre" (plot ratio 4:1 to 10:1). The results indicate that built-up areas increased significantly between 2015 and 2023, with Bukit Bintang recording the highest saturation level. Development intensity was strongly associated with zoning regulations, plot ratio controls, and high-rise mixed-use developments within the KLCP2040 framework. The findings provide evidence to support sustainable development control and urban growth management within Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF TRANSITIONAL SPACES AND STUDENT BEHAVIOUR ON A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Zhi Ziyi — 2026-08-09

Transitional spaces (outdoor and semi-open areas) are increasingly used by university students for informal learning and social interaction; however, these spaces are often overlooked in campus planning, resulting in environmental conditions that may not support learning-related behaviours and user satisfaction. This study aims to evaluate the environmental qualities of campus transitional spaces and examine how these qualities relate to students’ behaviours and satisfaction in a tropical university setting. A case study was conducted at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) main campus using on-site observation and a questionnaire survey (n = 300). Environmental quality was assessed across six dimensions (colour, size, temperature, ventilation, acoustics, and lighting), while students’ behaviours were measured through learning outcomes and interactions, together with satisfaction regarding environmental quality. Descriptive and inferential analyses show that temperature and lighting are the most problematic aspects across the study areas and are associated with students’ behaviours and satisfaction. Higher temperatures, unstable thermal conditions, and insufficient lighting are linked to reduced learning outcomes and lower satisfaction in transitional spaces. These findings suggest that improving transitional spaces requires a system-level approach rather than isolated upgrades, and they support planning actions to integrate transitional spaces into campus public realm optimisation strategies for tropical university campuses.

THE IMPACT OF SPATIAL FACTORS ON STUDENTS’ PERCEIVED RESTORATION IN CAMPUS TRANSITIONAL SPACES

Yizhi Shu — 2026-08-09

University academic buildings contain extensive transitional spaces such as corridors, entrance halls, and terraces that students use daily between classes. However, how the spatial conditions of these everyday environments are associated with students’ perceived restoration remains insufficiently understood. Drawing on Attention Restoration Theory (ART), this study develops and tests a conceptual model linking spatial factors, student preferences, and perceived restoration in academic building transitional spaces. A questionnaire survey was conducted among undergraduate students at Hunan University of Science and Engineering (HUSE), a comprehensive public university in Hunan Province, China, capturing their evaluations of key spatial conditions and activity-related preferences across different transitional space types. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to examine the proposed direct and indirect associations. The results indicate that supportive spatial conditions are positively associated with students’ perceived restoration, with this relationship partially mediated by preferences for using transitional spaces for informal learning and social interaction. Spatial attributes related to legibility and accessibility, short-stay usability (including layout and furniture), and basic study-support facilities emerge as particularly important. This study extends ART to routine academic building contexts and offers design implications for supporting students’ everyday restorative experiences.

A STUDY ON THE STRUCTURAL GAPS BETWEEN OFFICIAL PARTICIPATION NARRATIVES AND RESIDENTS’ PARTICIPATION PERCEPTIONS IN THE MICRO-RENEWAL OF PUBLIC SPACES IN OLD RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES

Fujuan Feng — 2026-08-09

With the transition of urban renewal in China from large-scale redevelopment to micro-renewal of existing built-up areas, public participation has become an increasingly institutionalized component in the renewal of public spaces in old residential communities. However, how institutionalized participation translates into residents’ lived participation experiences remains insufficiently understood, resulting in persistent discrepancies between official participation narratives and residents’ participation perceptions. This study adopts an exploratory cross-case analysis based on preliminary site observations, unstructured interviews, and official narrative materials from six micro-renewal projects in Shanghai to examine how public participation operates in practice. The findings identify three recurring types of structural gaps: information gaps, procedural gaps, and meaning gaps. These gaps emerge from mismatches in information transmission, limited visibility of participatory processes, and differences in how participation is interpreted and experienced by residents. The results suggest that participation effectiveness is not determined solely by the presence of formal procedures, but is shaped by the interaction of communication practices, institutional implementation, professional translation, and trust relationships. By conceptualizing these discrepancies as structurally recurrent gaps, this study provides a mechanism-oriented explanation of the divergence between institutionalized participation and lived experiences. It advances existing public participation research by shifting the focus from procedural arrangements to experiential processes, and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of participation–design interaction in micro-renewal contexts. The findings also offer practical implications for improving participation mechanisms and design communication.

DESIGN INTERVENTIONS AND HERITAGE REVITALIZATION IN HISTORIC URBAN PARKS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SUZHOU DONGYUAN PARK AND SHANGHAI PEACE PARK

Zhihao Guo — 2026-08-09

In the process of urban renewal in China, the redevelopment of historic urban parks concerns not only the enhancement of public space quality but also the preservation and regeneration of historical and cultural heritage. However, existing studies have primarily focused on the post-renewal spatial form and landscape effects, with limited exploration of how design interventions specifically influence the processes and outcomes of heritage revitalization. This paper takes Suzhou Dongyuan Park and Shanghai Peace Park, two representative historic urban parks in the Yangtze River Delta region, as case studies. Through field observation, document analysis, and comparative research, it examines the mechanisms by which different design intervention approaches affect the revitalization of heritage values. The findings show that Dongyuan Park’s renewal, centred on cultural continuity, strengthens local identity and historical perception by restoring garden patterns and extending traditional spatial imagery. In contrast, Peace Park’s renovation, guided by functional activation, enhances public accessibility and vitality through boundary openness and facility reorganization, but to some extent weakens historical narratives and cultural memory. These two approaches represent distinct renewal models: context oriented and function-oriented design interventions. The study argues that the landscape design process serves as a key mediating mechanism in heritage revitalization, balancing the tension between historicity and contemporaneity. The research provides process-based insights and practical references for the future design and management of historic urban parks.

EXPLORING CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH MIGRANT CHILDREN’S OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFORDANCES IN A CHINESE URBAN VILLAGE

Wang Yang — 2026-08-09

Urban village accommodated a large number of migrant families in Chinese rapid urbanization, but the outdoor environments often fail to support migrant children’s daily activities and development. Migrant children living in these dense environments commonly experience limited access to safe, diverse, and child-friendly outdoor spaces. More importantly, little is known about how environmental affordances shape their outdoor activities. Guided by affordance theory, this study explores the relationship between the outdoor environment and migrant children’s activities in Liutan Village which is an urban village in Wuxi City, China. A qualitative approach was employed which combined children’s mapping, walkabout interviews and non-participant observations. Twenty-four migrant children aged 8-12 years participated in this study. The results show that migrant children mainly engaged in cognitive activities in the urban village. The playground afforded the most balanced mix of affordances, while the hanging garden and grassland provided more limited and uneven affordances. As a result, migrant children adapted their play behaviours to available conditions. It revealed the environmental deficiencies that constrained their opportunities for play, learning and social interaction. This study highlights the need for child-friendly environmental design that better supports the holistic development of migrant children in urban villages.

FROM IMAGE TO LOYALTY: THE SERIAL MEDIATING ROLES OF PERCEIVED QUALITY AND SATISFACTION IN CHENGDU’S URBAN PARKS

Huang Menglan — 2026-08-09

Urban parks play an important role in sustainable urban development, yet the psychological mechanisms underlying visitor loyalty in the context of “Park City” remain insufficiently examined. This study uses the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model to explore how park image and perceived quality affect the satisfaction and loyalty of visitors in Chengdu, China. A total of 513 valid questionnaires were collected through on-site surveys of two representative urban parks. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to examine the hypothesised relationships among the constructs. The results indicate that park image significantly predicted perceived quality (β = 0.600, p < 0.001), while park image (β = 0.337) and perceived quality (β = 0.264) significantly enhanced visitor satisfaction. Satisfaction also had a significant positive effect on loyalty (β = 0.400). The validated serial mediation pathway (Park Image → Perceived Quality → Satisfaction → Loyalty) demonstrates that park image is a foundational driver of visitor loyalty, whose influence is translated through perceived quality and satisfaction with the park experience. These findings suggest that Park City planning should align image construction with everyday experiential quality, enabling positive park perceptions to support satisfaction, revisit intention, and public recommendation.

ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF SLOW-TRAFFIC NETWORK CONFIGURATION ON TOURIST EXPERIENCE AND COMMERCIAL VITALITY: A SPACE SYNTAX STUDY OF WUHAN’S HUBU LANE HISTORIC DISTRICT

Li Ran — 2026-08-09

Based on the theory of Space Syntax, this study takes the Hubu Lane historic district in Wuhan as a case study. Through axial line analysis, spatial characteristics of the pedestrian and non motorized network were quantified, including connectivity (mean 2.84±1.70), integration (global mean 0.89±0.16), and intelligibility (R²=0.66). Combined with 401 tourist questionnaires, the impact of these spatial features on commercial vitality and tourist experience was examined. The results show that 62.58% of slow traffic routes near scenic entrances have a depth value between 5 and 10, indicating relatively poor accessibility. Areas with high integration (e.g., the intersection of Jiefang Road and Minzhu Road) show a significant correlation with shop density (r=0.42, p<0.05). Accordingly, recommendations such as adding wayfinding signage and improving the connectivity of branch roads are proposed.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STREETSCAPE QUALITY AND PLACE ATTACHMENT IN THE HISTORIC TOURIST CITY, CHINA

Zhang Weining — 2026-08-09

Streetscape quality is crucial for fostering residents’ place attachment. The research explores the influence of perceived streetscape quality on residents’ place attachment. Streetscape quality contains four dimensions: safety, comfort, walkability, and imageability. Place attachment includes place identity and place dependence. A total of 428 valid questionnaires were collected from residents in Zhengding Ancient City, China. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results indicate that different dimensions of streetscape quality have differential effects on place identity and place dependence. Comfort and imageability positively impact place identity. Safety, comfort and walkability positively influence place dependence. These results provide valuable guidance for local governments to enhance streetscape quality.

BRIDGING THE GREEN GAP: ACCESSIBILITY ASSESSMENT AND BLIND SPOT IDENTIFICATION OF URBAN PARKS IN KUNMING, CHINA

Qin Tan — 2026-08-09

Urban green spaces (UGS) are critical infrastructure for sustainable high-density living, yet traditional assessment metrics often obscure spatial inequities and service gaps. In rapidly urbanizing contexts, the lack of fine-grained demographic data further hinders the accurate identification of service "blind spots" where resident demand exceeds accessible supply. Addressing these challenges, this study evaluates UGS accessibility in Kunming’s central district. Innovatively, the research utilizes "total floor area" derived from building footprints as a high-resolution proxy for population distribution to overcome census limitations. By integrating Weighted Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and network analysis within a GIS framework, a supply-demand raster overlay model is constructed to precisely delineate service deficits. The findings reveal a significant spatial mismatch: while the city core benefits from a strong "North-South Green Axis," peripheral areas exhibit severe polarization. Notably, the Tuodong sub-district, despite its high density of elderly residents, suffers from a "green vacuum" with only 7% service coverage. This study confirms that aggregate statistical compliance does not ensure spatial justice. It advocates for a paradigm shift from quantity-oriented to efficacy-oriented planning, proposing targeted "urban acupuncture" and transport integration strategies to foster a more equitable built environment.

CONSTRAINING EFFECTS OF POPULATION DECLINE AND POPULATION AGEING ON RURAL AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIAL PROSPERITY: EVIDENCE FROM PROVINCIAL PANEL DATA IN CHINA, 2008–2023

Liu Xin — 2026-08-09

Rural revitalization evaluation has expanded rapidly in China, yet increasingly large indicator systems can reduce interpretability and weaken policy operability. To address this issue, this study focuses on rural agricultural industrial prosperity (AIP) and measures it using observable agricultural and production-condition indicators from statistical yearbooks. Using provincial panel data for 31 provinces from 2008 to 2023 (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan), this study estimates a two-way fixed effects model to examine the relationship between rural population decline, rural ageing, and AIP. It also tests whether human capital, proxied by the average years of schooling of rural residents, conditions these demographic effects. The results show that population decline is negatively and robustly associated with AIP across alternative index construction methods, ageing measures, lagged specifications, and treatments for census-year or breakpoint shocks and outliers. In contrast, the direct effect of ageing is unstable and mostly insignificant. Moderation results show that the interaction between ageing and education is negative and significant, whereas the interaction between population decline and education is not significant. Regional interaction models further show stronger negative effects in specific regions. Overall, population decline is the more consistently supported demographic correlate of lower AIP, whereas the relationship between ageing and AIP appears to be more conditional. By focusing on AIP within a unified framework, this study provides more interpretable evidence for rural planning and governance under demographic change.

LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS AS DETERMINANTS OF STREETSCAPE IDENTITY: A DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR MALAYSIA’S HISTORIC ROYAL URBANISM

Wan Norisma Wan Ismail — 2026-08-09

Street landscapes are pivotal in shaping the character of historic urban environments, particularly in royal towns where cultural heritage is embedded in the urban fabric. However, within the field of urban design, the role of landscape structures in shaping streetscape identity has received limited empirical attention, leading to a gradual decline in spatial and cultural distinctiveness in many heritage towns. This study aims to examine how landscape structures influence the visual-spatial and functional qualities of streets within the historic royal urban context of Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia. A mixed-methods approach involving field observations, historical analysis, 21 semi-structured interviews, and a survey of 330 respondents was employed to identify key landscape features and assess their role in reinforcing spatial identity. The analysis is guided by a conceptual framework that interprets landscape structures through four urban design attributes: attractiveness, visibility, human scale, and comfort. The findings demonstrate that landscape components enhance visual appeal, human scale, comfort, and social engagement, revealing a strong interdependence between physical aesthetics and street performance. The study proposes a landscape-oriented design framework tailored to heritage settings, contributing both theoretically to urban design discourse and practically to policy formulation for Malaysia’s royal towns. It concludes by advocating a holistic, context-sensitive approach to preserving street character and cultural continuity in historic urban landscapes.

LIVING ON DISPLAY: NEGOTIATING GENTRIFICATION AND CULTURAL RESILIENCE IN CHEW JETTY, GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA

Chai Chi Hin — 2026-08-09

The designation of World Heritage Sites often precipitates a paradox where tourism capital threatens the very living heritage it aims to safeguard. This study examines Chew Jetty, a historic clan settlement within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, Malaysia, to analyse how residents negotiate the tension between economic opportunism and cultural continuity. Adopting a qualitative case study approach with a sample representing a significant majority of the population, the research identifies a distinctive phenomenon of ‘commercial gentrification from below’. Motivated by the ‘rent gap’, residents actively commodify domestic spaces, leading to phenomenological displacement within the home. However, findings indicate that this does not equate to cultural erasure. Instead, the community exhibits ‘negotiated resilience’, employing strategies such as spatial regulation and the bifurcation of rituals to sustain their intangible heritage. The study challenges existing facade-oriented planning frameworks, arguing that true heritage sustainability in UNESCO sites depends on recognising resident agency. It concludes that governance must support community-led adaptation to prevent the ‘museumification’ of living settlements.

FRAMED VIEWS: NATURE-INSPIRED LATTICE WINDOWS AND LIGHT–SHADOW TRANSLATION IN CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR SPACE

Pei Wang — 2026-08-09

This paper explores how Huizhou lattice motifs can be translated into modular perforated screens for contemporary interior spaces, so that they function as spatial boundaries rather than surface decoration. Based on field photography in southern Anhui, four motifs—ice-crack plum blossom, ancient coin, lingzhi, and begonia—were redrawn and simplified in AutoCAD to generate repeatable modules, which were then developed into screen panels and tested through digital interior scenarios in 3ds Max. To move the study a step beyond digital visualisation, a model-scale physical prototype of the lingzhi-based screen was fabricated from basswood plywood using laser engraving and cutting to examine modular repetition, wall integration, and visual permeability. In addition, a structured visual assessment rubric was used as an analytical aid to compare daylight filtering, shadow readability, visual permeability, and graded privacy under controlled scenario conditions. The findings show that differences in module density, opening distribution, and edge continuity influence how the screens filter daylight, cast readable shadows, and shape graded privacy within interior space. The study proposes a practical motif-to-module process and contributes to the discussion of heritage-sensitive, lightweight, and reversible interior boundary design.

EFFECTIVENESS OF TOURISM PLANNING STIMULI ON TOURISTS’ WILLINGNESS TO STAY LONGER IN HOI AN WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Ho Nhu Ngoc — 2026-08-09

Tourism planning in heritage destinations currently faces challenges of reconciling an increasing number of tourists with sustainable economic outcomes. In this regard, tourist length of stay is an indicator which directly engages the growth of tourist expenditure. By encouraging tourists to stay longer, heritage destinations increase, thereby boosting tourist revenue and positively affecting the economy. Thus, this study examines tourists’ willingness to stay longer as a tourism planning outcome by applying the Stimulus-Organism-Response model. Tourism planning stimuli include world heritage designation, destination attributes, and social media advertising. A quantitative survey was conducted on 260 tourists in Hoi An, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test the proposed model. The findings show that all three planning stimuli significantly influence tourists' expectations, which in turn positively affect tourist satisfaction and, subsequently, increase tourists’ willingness to extend their length of stay. This study highlights length-of-stay intention as an indicator of destination performance and offers policymakers insights to improve sustainable tourism planning in World Heritage cities such as Hoi An.

EVALUATING E-TENDERING READINESS IN MALAYSIAN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS PROCUREMENT: A PLS-SEM APPROACH

Nurul Wahida Mat Aron — 2026-08-09

The digitalisation of public procurement has accelerated the adoption of electronic tendering (e-tendering), particularly in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) procurement. However, many public organisations remain inadequately prepared for effective implementation. This study examines multidimensional e-tendering readiness in Malaysian PPP procurement by evaluating people, operational, technological, organisational, service provider, and legal-security dimensions. Data were collected from 121 government officers involved in Malaysian PPP procurement and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that People factors (β = 0.170, p = 0.020) and Operational factors (β = -0.458, p < 0.001) significantly influence readiness, whereas Technology, Work Environment, Service Provider, and Legal and Security factors do not exert statistically significant direct effects. Overall, the findings indicate that human capability and process design are more decisive than technology availability alone. The paper offers a context-specific readiness model based on the perceptions of Malaysian government officers involved in PPP procurement and provides practical implications for public agencies seeking to strengthen digital tendering reform.

DEVELOPING A CONCEPTUAL PROJECT FRAMEWORK FOR BLOCKCHAIN-ENABLED HERITAGE BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (HBIM) IN MALAYSIA

Muhammad Hadi Mustafa — 2026-08-09

The challenges in heritage building documentation and management in Malaysia highlight the need for a more secure and integrated digital framework. Although Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM) has improved digital documentation and lifecycle management, current practices remain constrained by data fragmentation, limited transparency, and inefficient stakeholder collaboration. While blockchain technology offers considerable potential to enhance data security and trust, its integration with HBIM in heritage conservation projects remains underexplored. This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework in exploring the interrelated themes influencing the implementation of blockchain integration with HBIM in Malaysian projects. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with industry professionals, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. The proposed conceptual framework is empirically informed by practitioner interviews, allowing the study to capture both technological possibilities and implementation realities within the Malaysian heritage project context. The findings suggest that blockchain-enabled HBIM has the potential to strengthen data integrity, transparency, traceability, stakeholder accountability, and lifecycle decision-making, although these benefits require further validation through pilot implementation. Future research should further validate the proposed framework through pilot projects, and blockchain governance guidelines tailored to the Malaysia’s heritage conservation sector.

PERCEIVED ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF KLUANG RAILWAY STATION: A STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS

Nor Amaleena Mazlan — 2026-08-09

Railway station upgrades are widely promoted as drivers of local economic development, yet stakeholders’ perceptions of these impacts remain insufficiently examined in secondary city contexts. This paper investigates whether stakeholders perceive positive economic impacts from the Kluang Railway Station in Johor, Malaysia, and whether perceptions differ between train users and economic operators. Six economic indicators were measured: visitor increase, customer flow, business attraction, employment opportunities, property value increase and local competitiveness. Based on the survey data from respondents within a 400-meter station catchment area, the study employs Binomial tests to show the statistical significance of stakeholder agreement and Chi-Square tests to identify whether perceived benefits differ between train users and economic operators. The results show that positive responses significantly exceed fifty percent for all six indicators, with rates ranging from eighty to ninety percent. The highest rates are observed for visitor increase and business attraction, while property value increase shows the lowest rate at eighty percent. The Chi-Square tests reveal no significant differences between train users and economic operators across any indicator, indicating strong stakeholders’ alignment. The paper concludes that the railway station is perceived as generating substantial economic benefits by all stakeholder groups, with no perception gap between business operators and transport users.

A MULTI-CRITERIA QUALITY ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS IN KUALA LUMPUR AT DESIGN STAGE USING THE INTEGRATED VALUE MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE ASSESSMENT (MIVES)

Ahmad Nashriq Abdul Mutalib — 2026-08-09

Affordable housing is a policy focus area in Malaysia, with the 13th Malaysia Plan aiming to develop one million affordable housing by 2035. This paper creates a Multi-Criteria Quality Assessment Framework of Affordable Housing Projects in Kuala Lumpur during the Design Phase based on the Integrated Value Model of Sustainable Assessment (MIVES). Development of the framework was based on three steps, with a desktop analysis of twelve Malaysian housing related policies generating 43 policy provisions, which were screened to 25 candidate criteria and reduced to a final 24 through a Modified Delphi Method involving 35 experts. The importance weights were obtained through surveying 450 prospective house buyers. MIVES was chosen because its value functions are defined by the policies and guidelines that set the quality standards for affordable housing, allowing projects to be assessed against these established benchmarks. A Reference Project allows each project to be both classified against a policy-defined benchmark and ranked relative to the others. The most weighted criteria are the area safety level (4.82%), house price (4.79%), and waste management (4.59%). Application of frameworks to five actual Kuala Lumpur projects created consistent rankings, two of the projects being Above Benchmark.

EXAMINING THE AFFORDANCES OF HABITUAL RANGE IN MALAYSIA’S SOCIAL HOUSING THROUGH MARGINALIZED CHILDREN’S PERSPECTIVES

Lee Ning — 2026-08-09

This study examines how children living in Malaysia’s urban social housing, in particular the Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), perceive and envision their neighborhood environments within their habitual range. However, within these high-density settings, the issue arises where children’s rights to protection, development, and participation are undermined by spatial constraints that limit their everyday freedoms. To foreground children’s perspectives, a child-centered approach was adopted using child-led walks and children’s drawings with participants aged 7–12 (N=23). These methods triangulated lived experiences with visualized aspirations to identify key environmental affordances that children valued. Findings reveal that safety, comfort, nature, sensory quality, and accessibility are central to children’s priorities. These insights advance child-friendly urbanism by foregrounding the realities of high-density, adult-dominated social housing environments. By evidencing how children navigate current constraints and reimagine improved environments, the study positions them as stakeholders whose perspectives are indispensable for shaping inclusive and context-sensitive environments for children.

MANAGING SCOPE CREEP IN INTEGRATED TOURISM PROJECTS: A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE

Norhanim Zakaria — 2026-08-09

Scope creep is traditionally framed as a technical failure in project management; however, in complex urban development projects, it is often shaped by governance and institutional dynamics. This study examines scope evolution in large-scale integrated tourism resort projects through a multi-site qualitative case study of five resorts in China. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, document analysis and thematic analysis. The findings reveal three distinct scope outcomes: rational scope increase, irrational scope creep, and scope suspension. These outcomes are influenced by governance configurations, power distribution, and competing institutional logics, particularly the interaction between administrative, market, and professional perspectives. The results highlight that scope changes are not merely technical deviations but are embedded within broader governance structures and stakeholder dynamics. This study contributes to the literature on project planning and governance by introducing a governance-based perspective to understand the dynamics of scope changes in complex development projects. It extends scope management theory by introducing a more detailed typology of scope outcomes and by integrating institutional and stakeholder perspectives into project management. Furthermore, empirical evidence from an integrated tourism resort project in China strengthens the understanding of how governance structures and power relations influence scope evolution in large-scale projects involving multiple stakeholders.

PERCEPTIONS OF TREE SURVIVABILITY AMONG LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PROFESSIONAL MATURITY

Khalilah Hassan — 2026-08-09

The perception that retained trees are unlikely to survive continues to influence decision-making in urban development, often leading to their removal. This study examines the relationship between professional maturity, measured by years of field experience, and perceptions of tree survivability among landscape architects in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 265 practitioners. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare responses across different experience groups. The results show significant differences in skepticism across years of professional experience (p < 0.05). Practitioners with 1–5 years of experience recorded the highest agreement with the statement that retained trees are unable to survive (M = 4.21), whereas those with more than 21 years of experience reported lower agreement (M = 3.04). The findings indicate that experience is associated with differences in perceptions of tree retention outcomes. This may be attributed to the accumulation of practical knowledge and exposure to varied site conditions over time. The study suggests that differences in perception across experience levels should be addressed through knowledge sharing and continuous professional development to support more informed decision-making in tree retention practice.

FROM FRAGMENTATION TO INTEGRATION: DEVELOPING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY DATA SHARING FRAMEWORK FOR SURVEYING PRACTICE IN MALAYSIA’S DIGITAL BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Elia Syarafina Abdul Shakur — 2026-08-09

The rapid digital transformation of the built environment has increased the need for effective interdisciplinary data sharing within surveying practice in Malaysia. However, persistent fragmentation across technical systems, organisational structures, and professional workflows continues to hinder seamless integration. This study aims to develop a structured interdisciplinary data sharing framework tailored to Malaysia’s digital built environment. A qualitative research design was adopted using semi-structured interviews with 12 experts from multiple surveying disciplines under the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM). The data were analysed through thematic analysis to identify recurring barriers, opportunities, and governance requirements. The findings reveal that data fragmentation is shaped by three interconnected dimensions: technical interoperability barriers, organisational and contractual constraints, and behavioural and collaborative culture challenges. In response, the study proposes an empirically informed socio technical framework that integrates interoperable digital infrastructure, governance mechanisms, and lifecycle collaborative workflows, based on insights from a purposively selected group of RISM affiliated experts. The study contributes theoretically by advancing understanding of interdisciplinary data sharing challenges in surveying practice and, practically, by offering a framework for policymakers and industry practitioners. Its novelty lies in its context specific focus on surveying data sharing and in the development of an empirically grounded framework that is intended to inform data sharing practices within the Malaysian surveying context. Future research should incorporate broader industry participation and industry based case implementation.

MITIGATING MAINTENANCE COST OVERRUNS IN NON-STRATIFIED GATED AND GUARDED COMMUNITY (GACOS) DEVELOPMENT

Nur Farhana Azmi — 2026-08-09

Maintenance cost overruns have become a significant challenge in non-stratified Gated and Guarded Community (GACOS) housing scheme in Malaysia, leading to financial strain on property owners and affecting the overall performance and longevity of buildings. In contrast to stratified developments where maintenance costs are managed through a maintenance account fund and a formal management body governed under the Strata Title Act 1985 (Act 318) and Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757), non-stratified properties including GACOS often lack a structured approach to ensure sufficient financial planning and cost control. In addition to the absence of legal frameworks that govern maintenance and management of the non-stratified properties, a clear strategy to overcome cost overruns in GACOS has also not received adequate attention in existing research. Therefore, this paper attempts to explore key factors contributing to maintenance cost overruns in non-stratified developments and propose practical solutions to mitigate these issues. Two focus group discussions with 13 and 16 participants in each group were conducted to examine stakeholders’ perspectives regarding root causes of cost overruns and recommendations to prevent maintenance cost overruns for GACOS. The findings demonstrated that cost overruns in GACOS were exacerbated following to the absence of legislative frameworks, financial management problem, and ineffective maintenance practices. The paper ends with the conclusion that handover the facilities and infrastructure to local authority, long term strategic and saving planning, fund raising, active participation and collaboration, structured in-house teams, and termination of redundant facilities could improve overall cost efficiency. This research contributes to the limited body of knowledge on the long-term management of non-stratified GACOS by foregrounding resident-driven strategies that enable financial resilience and operational sustainability.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC HOUSING MAINTENANCE IN MALAYSIA: THE MODERATING ROLE OF MAINTENANCE BUDGET

Ong Oi Ling — 2026-08-09

Effective building maintenance is crucial for the sustainability of public housing, but it frequently faces challenges due to budgetary and operational constraints. This study identifies and analyses Critical Success Factors to develop a contextualised framework for optimising maintenance performance (MP) within the People’s Housing Programme (PHP). This research redefines the Maintenance Budget (MB) as a dynamic moderating variable rather than a conventional, static input. Following `a systematic literature review, factors were validated through a three-round Delphi study involving 15 highly experienced industry experts and ranked using the Relative Importance Index (RII). The structural relationships were subsequently tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with cross-sectional survey data from 156 practitioners across Peninsular Malaysia. The findings revealed that technology-related factors (β = 0.328, p < 0.01) and operations and management-related factors (β = 0.233, p < 0.01) exert the strongest direct impacts on MP. Furthermore, the empirical data confirm that MB significantly moderates the relationships between organisational, technical, human resource, building user, and operational factors and MP. The framework provides evidence-based guidance for policymakers to prioritise funding allocations within Outcome-Based Budgeting mechanisms.

FACILITIES OF GREEN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ELEMENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON LIFE CYCLE COSTS IN HOUSING PROJECT DESIGN

Mohd Saidin Misnan — 2026-08-09

Green buildings are designed to promote environmental stewardship and resource conservation throughout their life cycle, from construction to demolition. In response to global warming and growing urban populations, the adoption of green features in residential buildings has become an essential practice to conserve the natural environment, reduce resource consumption, and protect human health. This study investigates the utilisation of green features in certified green residential buildings and examines their impact on life cycle costs. A qualitative research design was adopted, involving multiple case studies of five GBI-awarded green residential projects. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with developers and document analysis of project records to capture real descriptive perspectives and prevailing cost trends in the industry. The analysis reveals that, from a cost-effectiveness perspective, building orientation, window design, and rainwater harvesting systems are the most commonly applied green features across all projects, contributing to improved energy and water efficiency. The findings also indicate that the highest cost implications occur during the design and construction phase of the life cycle, while reduced operational costs over time help offset the higher initial investment. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing empirical insights into how specific green residential building features influence life cycle cost components in the Malaysian context, thereby informing developers and policymakers on cost-effective strategies for sustainable housing. Future research should further explore the constraints in implementing green building features and assess the level of awareness of life cycle costing among construction stakeholders to support more effective sustainable construction practices.

HOME ENVIRONMENT SAFETY RISKS AND PERCEIVED SAFETY AMONG EMPTY-NESTER ELDERLY IN NANCHANG, CHINA: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY

Wang Yaqi — 2026-08-09

China’s rapid population ageing and urbanisation have resulted in a growing number of empty-nester elderly living in housing environments not designed to support ageing in place. Despite policy initiatives such as Healthy China 2030, a critical gap persists between age-friendly policy ambitions and the actual safety conditions of domestic environments. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach to examine home safety risks and the adoption of smart elderly care among 384 empty-nester adults (aged ≥60) across six urban districts in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. A structured survey was complemented by in-situ observations of ten purposively selected households to capture lived spatial practices and environmental conditions. The findings demonstrate that home environmental factors significantly influence perceived safety, explaining 89.7% of the variance (R² = 0.897, p < 0.001). Key determinants include mobility safety (β = 0.409), non-slip surfaces (β = 0.326), and adequate lighting (β = 0.191). Qualitative insights reveal the normalisation of unsafe adaptive practices, such as reliance on handheld lighting for night-time mobility and the use of temporary floor coverings to mitigate uneven surfaces. Spatial disparities across districts further highlight uneven implementation of age-friendly planning principles, with newer developments exhibiting barrier-free features, while older neighbourhoods remain inadequately retrofitted. The study contributes to urban planning discourse by exposing the disconnect between age-friendly policy frameworks and micro-scale residential realities. It calls for a more integrated planning approach that combines housing retrofitting strategies, inclusive design standards, and smart care technologies within local governance systems.

PROFESSIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AND REGULATORY MISALIGNMENT IN MALAYSIAN REAL ESTATE AGENCY PRACTICE: INSIGHTS FROM ELITE PRACTITIONERS

Zulhafiy Zolkipli — 2026-08-09

The Malaysian real estate agency sector is governed by a formal regulatory framework intended to uphold professionalism, protect consumers, and preserve market integrity. Despite this, persistent concerns regarding illegal brokerage, weak enforcement, inadequate negotiator oversight, uneven technological adaptation, and declining professional standards continue to affect the sector. This study examines how regulatory and governance challenges shape the sustainability of professional real estate agency practice in Malaysia. Using a qualitative exploratory design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five experienced registered estate agents in Malaysia and analysed thematically. The analysis identifies four interrelated challenges: outdated legislation, enforcement asymmetry, uneven oversight of real estate negotiators, and business and digital pressures affecting sustainable compliance. Together, these challenges point to a broader condition of regulatory misalignment in which formal professional expectations are insufficiently aligned with operational realities. The study argues that the sustainability of professional real estate agency practice depends not only on formal compliance structures but also on the degree to which regulation, supervision, market conditions, and institutional capacity are mutually aligned. By reframing familiar industry problems as a governance issue affecting professional sustainability, the paper offers an integrated and analytically grounded interpretation of reform needs in Malaysian real estate agency practice.

IS GREEN A PREMIUM? AN INVESTIGATION ON THE IMPACT OF URBAN PARK ON HOUSING PRICE

Chin-Tiong Cheng — 2026-08-09

Urban green spaces are increasing recognised as an important element of residential development. In line with this, this study aims to quantify the extent to which urban park landscape features contribute to housing prices. This study utilized residential transaction data spanning from 2016 to 2023 across three major housing areas, incorporating both conventional and modern landscape designs. This study employs hedonic price modelling to estimate the green premium via Ordinary Least Squares regressions. The findings suggest a positive correlation between housing prices and the presence of urban parks, indicating the existence of a “green premium”. The research contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the urban park landscape's economic value in the housing market. It underscores the critical role of urban park landscape in shaping the economic dynamics of the housing market. It provides valuable insights for urban planners, valuers, financial institution and policymakers in advocating for a holistic approach to urban development that harmonizes economic objectives with environmental and aesthetic considerations.

BEYOND WILLINGNESS: COMMUNITY READINESS FOR PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM IN KAMPUNG ROSOB, SABAH

Ainul Salsabila Affandi — 2026-08-09

Community-based ecotourism (CBET) is widely promoted for sustainable development, yet participation remains uneven in rural contexts. This study addresses this gap by distinguishing between willingness and readiness in explaining community participation. Focusing on Kampung Rosob, Sabah, it adopts an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. The quantitative phase (n = 153) applies an integrated Theory of Planned Behaviour–Norm Activation Model (TPB–NAM). It is analysed using PLS-SEM, followed by qualitative interviews to contextualise the statistical findings. Results show that perceived behavioural control, reconceptualised as community readiness, is the only significant direct predictor of willingness to participate. Readiness serves as a mediator between attitudes and moral norms, increasing willingness to participate. In contrast, subjective norms are not significant. Qualitative findings highlight the role of structural and institutional constraints in shaping readiness. The study contributes to rural tourism planning by demonstrating that community readiness enables willingness to participate in CBET.

CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR LASER SCANNING ADOPTION IN HBIM FOR HERITAGE ASSET AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA

Choy Poh Keong — 2026-08-09

This study examines the adoption of laser scanning technology within Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) workflows for heritage asset management in Malaysia. Although laser scanning and HBIM have the potential to improve documentation accuracy, information integration, and lifecycle-oriented management, their practical application in Malaysian heritage projects remains limited and fragmented. A qualitative research approach was adopted through semi-structured interviews with seven stakeholders involved in heritage asset management, including conservators, architects, HBIM specialists, laser scanning practitioners, quantity surveyors, and government representatives. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify key adoption challenges and strategic responses. The findings reveal that adoption is constrained by high implementation costs, limited technical expertise, fragmented organisational workflows, weak stakeholder coordination, and insufficient policy or contractual support. In response, the study highlights the need for financial support mechanisms, capacity-building programmes, standardised scan-to-HBIM workflows, clearer project requirements, and stronger institutional support. The study contributes to planning and heritage-management practice by demonstrating how laser scanning and HBIM can support conservation documentation, maintenance planning, condition monitoring, adaptive reuse assessment, and more evidence-based decision-making for heritage assets. The findings provide practical insights for planners, policymakers, local authorities, and industry practitioners seeking to strengthen digital adoption in Malaysian heritage asset management.

FIRE EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS AMONG OLDER RESIDENTS IN AN INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITY

Muhammad Firdaus Anuar — 2026-08-09

This study examines fire evacuation preparedness among older residents in an independent living facility, with particular attention to self-reported fire safety knowledge, perceived evacuation cues, and egress-related preparedness. Using the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) as a guiding framework, a structured survey questionnaire was administered to 137 residents aged 50 years and above at an Independent Living Complex, Temerloh, Pahang of whom 75 provided complete responses for analysis, immediately after an inaugural fire drill conducted at the facility. The questionnaire comprised four sections addressing respondent background, environmental and social cues, protective action decision-making, and fire safety knowledge. Findings indicate that respondents placed strong importance on route-related orientation, place of assembly, and alarm-related cues, while mobility-related considerations remained relevant to perceived evacuation readiness. Given that the survey relied on self-reported responses from a single site immediately after a drill, findings are interpreted as exploratory post-drill perceptions rather than definitive evidence of evacuation performance. Nonetheless, the study offers practical insight for planning and facility design, highlighting the need for clearer wayfinding signage, accessible and redundant alarm communication systems, and structured assisted-evacuation arrangements to strengthen fire preparedness among older residents in independent living settings.

SPATIAL ASSESSMENT OF FLOOD-PRONE AREAS IN MELAKA TENGAH, MALAYSIA, USING THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS AND GIS

Nur Haidah Jaafar — 2026-08-09

Driven by population growth and tourism, urban expansion in Melaka Tengah has converted natural landscapes into built-up areas, escalating regional flood risks. This study evaluates flood susceptibility using a Geographic Information System (GIS) -based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), assessing five core factors: land-use change, rainfall, drainage density, slope, and elevation. Results indicate a 6% increase in built-up areas from 2014 to 2023, with rainfall identified as the primary risk driver (31% weight). Cross-referenced with local 2035 planning blueprints, this spatial framework offers empirical insights for sustainable risk mitigation and municipal urban governance.

EVALUATION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT POLICIES FOR COMMUNITY FLOOD RESILIENCE IN MALAYSIA

Mariani Ariffin — 2026-08-09

The risk of floods is expected to increase as the frequency of extreme weather events driven by climate change increases. Strengthening community flood resilience requires an effective governance framework. This study uses a qualitative approach to examine the extent to which existing disaster management and other relevant policies in Malaysia support community resilience to floods amid climate change. National policy documents related to disasters, floods, and climate change were analysed using the multidimensional Flood Resilience Measurement for Communities framework, complemented by semi-structured interviews with key informants from government agencies. The study found that Malaysia's existing policy framework provides a foundation for community flood resilience, although important gaps remain across financial, human, social, physical, and natural capitals. Financial capital remains largely reactive, while physical capital focuses on large-scale infrastructure. Human capital development is uneven, social capital remains constrained by limited community participation, and natural capital is weakly integrated at the community level. Addressing these gaps is essential to enhance community-level preparedness, adaptive capacity, and long-term flood resilience in Malaysia.

ECONOMIC VALUATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PES: A CASE STUDY OF ULU TAMPIK WATERFALL, MALAYSIA

Mohd Rusli Yacob — 2026-08-09

The degradation of forest ecosystems due to expanding development and unsustainable land use continues to threaten the provision of essential ecosystem services. This study evaluates the economic value of ecosystem services at Ulu Tampik Waterfall (UTW), Malaysia, to inform the design of a community-based Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme. Employing the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) using a dichotomous choice–double-bounded format, the study estimates the mean willingness to pay (WTP) between RM12.51 and RM30.89, generating a projected annual revenue of RM60,048 to RM148,272. Complementing the valuation, the stakeholders' analysis was also applied to assess community engagement in conservation and livelihood enhancement. Results indicate that community-based PES can effectively support biodiversity conservation, improve household income, and contribute to state revenue. This research underscores the critical role of economic valuation and inclusive management strategies in advancing sustainable forest resource governance towards more enforceable roles, standards, and rules for future reference and service quality for the economic value of ecosystem services.

SUSTAINABLE GREEN TRANSPORTATION UTILISATION: A GENERATIONAL COMPARATIVE STUDY ON FACTORS INFLUENCING MALAYSIAN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADOPTION INTENTION

Mohd Rusli Yacob — 2026-08-09

As climate change intensifies, the Malaysian government is promoting SDGs to mitigate the impacts through carbon emission reduction, renewable energy, and adaptation strategies. This study explores factors influencing EV purchase intention among Generation X and Y in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Specifically, it examines the roles of environmental concern (EC), social influence (SI), perceived economic benefits (PEB), and perceived ease of use (PEOU), with perceived usefulness (PU) as a mediating factor. Multigroup analyses were employed to investigate gender differences in the model. Findings revealed that EC significantly affects PU, indicating that environmentally conscious individuals view EVs as more beneficial. Moreover, PU mediates the relationship between EC and purchase intention, suggesting that concern for the environment enhances the PU of EVs, thereby increasing purchase likelihood. SI and PEB also significantly impact EV purchase intention. Gender does indeed play a moderating role, with significant differences between men and women. These findings support an extended TPB framework and offer practical insights for policymakers and industry players. By aligning environmental values with tangible benefits, stakeholders can more effectively promote EV adoption among Malaysian consumers, particularly in targeted generational groups.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PM10 CONCENTRATIONS BETWEEN SEMI-ENCLOSED AND ENCLOSED STATIONS OF MASS RAPID TRANSIT IN KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA

Wang Mingzi — 2026-08-09

Urban air quality is a growing concern in rapidly developing regions, where the physical structure of public spaces often dictates the level of pollutant exposure. Within this urban landscape, public transport systems like the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) serve as critical environments where commuters are frequently exposed to varying levels of particulate matter such as PM₁₀. The concentration of pollutants in these spaces is largely determined by station design. This study investigates PM₁₀ concentrations in semi-closed and enclosed stations of MRT in Klang Valley, Malaysia to determine the influence of specific station designs and ventilation systems towards the indoor air quality. The results show that there are significant differences in PM₁₀ concentrations between these two types of stations (t=-35.805, df=142.00, p<0.05). These variations indicate that semi-enclosed stations often experience higher PM₁₀accumulation due to the influence of external ambient air, where concentrations fluctuate based on nearby traffic density and local wind patterns. Conversely, enclosed stations are depending more on the ventilation conditions and occupancy levels. These findings highlight the need to give extra consideration to station design and ventilation in managing PM₁₀ exposure, as different station designs can lead to varying air quality levels that directly impact commuters’ health.

FROM CLAIMS TO ACTIONS: HOW GREEN MARKETING SHAPES SUSTAINABLE TOURIST BEHAVIOUR

Hasan Mohamed Zakaria — 2026-08-09

This study examines how green marketing influences sustainable tourist behaviour by identifying the mediating roles of perceived green business practices (PGBP) and environmental knowledge (EK). Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Social Practice Theory, survey data from 1,037 tourists in Langkawi, Malaysia were analysed using PROCESS Model 4 parallel mediation with HC3 heteroskedasticity-consistent standard errors and 5,000 bootstrap resamples. The direct effect of green marketing on sustainable tourist behaviour becomes non-significant once mediators are included, whereas indirect effects through PGBP and EK are both significant. PGBP represents the larger indirect pathway, while environmental knowledge provides a complementary mechanism by strengthening tourists’ ability to interpret sustainability cues and enact responsible practices. These findings suggest that aligning sustainability communication with verifiable green practices and embedding knowledge-building interventions throughout the tourist journey may help translate claims into action. Causal inference should be reserved for experimental or longitudinal designs.

CULTURAL SPACES IN ORANG ASLI ORAL TRADITIONS

Aisyah Abu Bakar — 2026-08-09

This study develops a spatially grounded Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) framework for Orang Asli (OA) oral traditions. The study interprets oral heritage through cultural spaces linked to ancestry, Adat, sacred ecology, place memory, mobility, restriction and cosmological meaning. Existing documentation is dispersed across separate studies of myths, folktales, historical narratives, transmitted beliefs and proverbs, making it difficult to interpret Orang Asli oral traditions as an integrated ICH system. The study combined interviews with OA knowledge holders and community representatives with ethnographic records, publications and heritage reports. Content analysis identified manifestations by narrative form, function, symbolic meaning and community context. Inductive-deductive thematic analysis organized them into codes, facets and themes. Six experts assessed the framework using the Content Validity Index, informing four themes and sixteen facets. Spatial interpretation generated four conceptual layers and eight cultural spaces covering lineage, customary order, sacred landscapes, story landmarks, mobility routes, restricted areas, spirit guardians and cosmic time. The framework supports documentation, place-memory mapping, cultural-route planning, sacred-site protection and community-led safeguarding.

SPATIAL INTERPRETATION OF ORANG ASLI PERFORMANCE HERITAGE

Aisyah Abu Bakar — 2026-08-09

This paper identifies the cultural spaces sustaining Orang Asli (OA) performing arts within a planning-oriented framework for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Domain 2. Existing records often isolate dances, chants, healing ceremonies, instruments and symbolic enactments, obscuring their relationships within performance settings. The study combined semi-structured interviews with OA knowledge holders and community representatives with ethnographic materials, studies and heritage reports. Content analysis classified manifestations by performance form, occasion, cultural purpose, symbolic meaning and practice setting. Inductive-deductive thematic analysis interpreted their ritual, sonic, bodily and communal functions. Six experts assessed the framework using the Content Validity Index, informing four themes and sixteen facets. These encompass ritual and ceremonial performances, vocal and oral expressions, embodied enactments and instrument-led performances. Spatial analysis produced four conceptual layers and eight performance spaces, including healing grounds, ancestral settings, seasonal landscapes, processional routes and soundscapes. The framework strengthens performance-space inventories, landscape assessment, development screening and place-sensitive safeguarding.

VISITORS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR IMPROVED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AT BATU HITAM BEACH

Afiqah Mohd Nordin — 2026-08-09

Batu Hitam Beach is a growing tourism site in Pahang that offers an aesthetic view, particularly its black volcanic stones along the shoreline. However, the rising number of visitors and the expansion of beach activities have increased solid waste generation. It creates challenges for the current solid waste management at Batu Hitam Beach. This study aims to estimate the visitors’ willingness to pay and to analyse the factors influencing visitors’ willingness to pay for improved solid waste management at Batu Hitam Beach. This study employs a questionnaire survey using the Contingent Valuation Method with integration of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. This study focuses on how sociodemographic factors and behavioural determinants, which are attitude and perceived behavioural control influences willingness to pay. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 166 visitors, and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The estimated average willingness to pay is RM2.12 per visit for improved solid waste management provides a useful reference for designing a small visitor contribution scheme to strengthen solid waste management services. The findings also show that visitors’ willingness to pay was positively influenced by their perceived behavioural control, while attitude was not found to be a significant factor. It suggests the management strategies to prioritise strengthening visitors perceived ease and confidence to contribute through clear information on fund use, simple payment options, and visible improvements in cleanliness and facilities.

BEHAVIOUR DETERMINANTS OF INDIVIDUAL INTENTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN KLANG VALLEY, SELANGOR

Syazwani Sahrir — 2026-08-09

Climate change poses increasing environmental, social, and economic challenges, particularly in highly urbanised regions such as the Klang Valley, Malaysia, where strengthening climate resilience has become an important environmental planning priority. Understanding the behavioural factors that influence individuals' intentions to adopt climate change adaptation measures is essential for developing effective community-based adaptation strategies and supporting climate-resilient urban planning. This study applied the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to examine the influence of threat appraisal and coping appraisal on behavioural intention towards climate change adaptation. A quantitative survey involving 450 respondents was conducted using a multistage cluster sampling technique, and the data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression. The findings revealed that the overall level of behavioural intention towards climate change adaptation was medium-high. Response efficacy (β = 1.534, p < 0.001), self-efficacy (β = 1.331, p < 0.001), and response cost (β = 0.480, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of behavioural intention, whereas perceived severity and perceived vulnerability were not statistically significant. The positive association observed for response cost suggests that perceived financial and practical challenges did not necessarily discourage respondents from adopting climate change adaptation measures. These findings provide valuable insights for environmental planners, local authorities, and policymakers in designing targeted interventions that strengthen community preparedness, enhance adaptive capacity, and support climate-resilient urban development.

A REVIEW OF RISK CATEGORIES IDENTIFICATION ON HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING (STRATA) OPERATIONS

Ku Mohammad Asyraf Ku Azir — 2026-08-09

High-rise residential buildings, or know as strata, significantly influence urban living, necessitating effective operation to preserve property values and harmonious communities. Generally, rapid urbanisation has expanded strata-titled properties, due to scarcity of land, congested building structures and of preferred property style living. Despite regulatory oversight, high-rise residential building communities face complex risks, prompting a need for tailored risk management strategies. The crucial process in risk management is risk identifying. Risk in strata can be varies based on its environment and purposes. This paper aims to identify risk categories inherent in high-rise residential building (strata) management. Using an interpretive in-depth literature review and selected strata cases as secondary documentary evidence of issues in high-rise residential building, nine critical risk categories were identified which is financial, legal and compliance, structural and maintenance, management and operational, resident-related, security and safety, environmental, technological, and reputational risks. Each risk significantly consequences on building operation, resident satisfaction, and overall sustainability. Conclusively, identify these risks through holistic review tailored to Malaysian strata buildings is vital in risk management process. Future proper risk management must emphasise and embedded in high-rise residential building (strata) operations to ensure excel building operation and satisfaction within resident communities.

EVALUATING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE (QOS) OF URBAN BUS PERFORMANCE IN THE CAPITAL STATE OF PERAK, MALAYSIA

Shuhairy Norhisham — 2026-08-09

Global urbanisation results from demographic trends, such as population growth, migration from less urban to developed areas and international migration to developed countries. Rapid population growth has increased the number of vehicles. Moreover, ongoing infrastructure development has struggled to keep pace with the urban population growth. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of urban bus services in Perak, Malaysia. The data were collected from Terminal Bus Medan Kidd in Ipoh, Perak. To assess bus performance in this study, the transit capacity and quality of service manual (TCQSM, 2013) were selected as the main guidelines. Results showed that the average operational duration was 14 h and 4 min with daily rating of QOS C. The average service frequency recorded a headway of 76 min, a corresponding rating of QOS E. Punctuality assessment had an average on-time departure rate of 80.74%, a corresponding rating of QOS D. The overall QOS corresponded to an overall classification of QOS C (QOS score of 3.75). Bus services in Ipoh are operationally sufficient, but operational optimisation is required to achieve a more reliable and user-oriented bus service.

HOW INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AFFECTS RESIDENTIAL SATISFACTION BY CONSIDERING THE ROLE OF LIFE STRESS AND GENDER

Yang Du — 2026-08-09

Residential satisfaction, defined as individuals’ evaluative responses to their living environments, is shaped by the interaction between physical environmental quality and psychological well-being. Although Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) has been widely studied in relation to residential comfort, the psychological mechanisms linking IEQ to satisfaction remain insufficiently understood. In particular, the role of life stress as a mediating or moderating factor has received limited empirical attention. Guided by Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) theory, this study examines how key IEQ dimensions—air quality, visual comfort, and acoustic comfort—influence residential satisfaction among working-age residents in high-rise apartment complexes, and whether these relationships are mediated by life stress and moderated by gender. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted with 454 residents of the Shengda Jingdu Apartment Complex in Haikou, China. Structural equation modelling (SEM) indicates that IEQ significantly predicts residential satisfaction both directly and indirectly through life stress. Furthermore, gender moderates these effects, with male residents deriving stronger life stress reducing benefits from IEQ. These results suggest that residential design should integrate environmental quality improvement with psychological well-being considerations to foster healthier and more satisfying indoor living environments.

WHERE DO BIKE LANES WORK BEST? ALTERNATIVE PRIORITIES FOR IMPROVING BIKE LANE SERVICE PERFORMANCE IN URBAN AREA

Imma Widyawati Agustin — 2026-08-09

As one of East Java's largest cities, Malang has significant potential for developing bike lanes and eco-friendly transportation. Although a bike lane has been installed on Jalan Besar Ijen, its use remains suboptimal due to several service issues. This study aims to identify priority recommendations for improving bike lane performance on Jalan Besar Ijen using questionnaire-based data collection. Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) is applied to assess service performance, followed by Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to formulate recommendations. The combined findings yield three priorities: (1) installing bicycle lane traffic signs at key locations, (2) establishing protected bike lanes, and (3) providing user-friendly bicycle parking spaces.

GIS-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT IN INDUSTRIAL CITIES: METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK AND APPLICATION TO ALMALYK, UZBEKISTAN

Adilov Zarif Himmatovich — 2026-08-09

Industrial cities are characterized by the coexistence of intensive production, dense settlement patterns, transport infrastructure, and long-term anthropogenic pressure on environmental systems. Under such conditions, environmental risk is not confined to a single medium but emerges through the interaction of atmospheric pollution, groundwater and soil contamination, ecological degradation, and human exposure. This study develops a geoinformation-based methodological framework for assessing environmental risks in industrial urban territories and applies it to Almalyk, Uzbekistan, as a representative mining and metallurgical city. The framework integrates remote sensing, spatial interpolation, buffer analysis, thematic layer overlay, and multi-criteria evaluation within a unified GIS environment. Environmental indicators related to air quality, groundwater contamination, land use, vegetation condition, industrial proximity, and population vulnerability are standardized and combined to derive a composite environmental risk index. The results show that environmental burden in Almalyk is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in industrial zones and adjoining residential territories, especially those influenced by mining and metallurgical activity, waste disposal areas, and pollutant transport pathways. The resulting risk map provides a practical analytical basis for environmental monitoring, urban planning, zoning control, and public health protection in industrial cities.

INTEGRATED GIS AND DIGITAL TWIN–BASED FRAMEWORK FOR SCENARIO-BASED SEISMIC VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF URBAN BUILDINGS: CONCEPTUAL ARCHITECTURE AND CASE STUDY OF TASHKENT

Bakhrom Tulaganov — 2026-08-09

Urban areas located in seismically active regions are exposed to complex multi-factor risks arising from the interaction between seismic hazards and structural characteristics of the built environment. This study proposes an integrated analytical framework for scenario-based seismic vulnerability assessment of urban buildings that combines structural engineering analysis, multivariate regression modeling, geospatial information systems, and digital twin concepts, formulated here as a conceptual architecture that links structural databases, probabilistic simulations, and GIS visualization in an updateable decision-support loop. The methodology incorporates a structured building inventory including geometric, material, structural, and condition-related parameters to calculate a quantitative vulnerability index for each building under defined seismic loading scenarios. The proposed model was applied to a representative sample of buildings in Tashkent, where vulnerability levels were classified using a five-tier risk scale. Results demonstrate that the calculated vulnerability index effectively captures the combined influence of structural attributes and allows identification of buildings with elevated seismic susceptibility. Spatial visualization within a GIS environment revealed pronounced heterogeneity of risk distribution, highlighting localized clusters of structurally vulnerable buildings. The findings confirm that integrating engineering-based evaluation with data-driven modeling significantly improves predictive accuracy compared to traditional deterministic assessment approaches. The developed framework represents a scalable and transferable decision-support tool suitable for urban resilience planning, seismic risk mitigation, and prioritization of structural strengthening measures in earthquake-prone regions.

THE KHATABA VENTILATION METHOD: ENHANCING FOUNDATION DURABILITY IN KHIVA'S ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS

Salaev Ergashbek Atonozarovich — 2026-08-09

This article examines the importance of the Khataba method in the restoration and preservation of architectural monuments, especially in the historic regions of Ichan Qala and Deshon Qala in Khiva. The study explains Khataba as a traditional ventilation technique applied to foundations, walls, and roof structures to reduce moisture, salt migration, and capillary absorption, which damage historic materials. Based on historical sources, field observations, and restoration practice, the paper discusses the scientific basis of the method and its application in several monuments. The findings show that the Khataba system improves durability, reduces the harmful effects of groundwater, and contributes to the long-term conservation of monument structures.

SMART CITY INITIATIVES IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR URBAN POPULATION

Marlyana Azyyati Marzukhi — 2026-08-09

Smart cities are widely accepted worldwide as an important component of the modernisation initiatives. The use of technology offering an alternative way to tackle complex and dynamic problems in urban studies. As urban areas progressively adopt intelligent and interconnected technologies, the rapid urbanisation and population expansion has adversely affected human health and their quality of life due to living in heightened densities area, worsened traffic congestion, and deteriorated pollution levels. Smart cities are not just about integrating technology into urban life. It also involves a comprehensive and holistic approach to city administration and planning authorities that includes multiple systems that lead to a good quality life. Therefore, the goal of this article is to explore the integration of smart city technologies as a strategic framework for enhancing quality of life of urban dwellers. The aim of this article is to increase the understanding of how smart cities may facilitate urban planning processes that grappling with a range of urbanization challenges with a focus on smart living and smart environment. A questionnaire survey was distributed to residents who work or live in the urban area. A total of 220 respondents living in Seremban City have participated in this study. The findings that have been identified are in line with the quality of life model which highlighted the relationship between the implementation of smart city technology and the well-being of the community. Hence, a collaboration between stakeholders and community involvement is vital to increase awareness and improve the quality of life of urban community in Seremban.