The role of Eco-Urbanism studies in creating a comfortable and favorable urban environment

02025


Introduction
Currently, the comfortable urban environment formation is of particular importance for the city development.The concept of a "comfortable environment" first of all means that modern world residents of many countries have become more demanding for the surrounding space.The necessity to modernize and improve urban space is conditioned by many reasons.The study relevance is formed with the fact that a comfortable urban environment predetermines the region's development rate.
A comfortable urban environment includes:  Developed infrastructure. Ecologically clean areas.
 Ennobled recreational areas. Availability of sports grounds, walking alleys, and bike paths for the population.
An increase of green spaces leads to improvement of ecology and growth of urban environment comfort.The relationship between ecology and urban space is explored by eco-urbanism.
Eco-urbanism is an ecology branch that analyzes and searches for solutions to modern cities' environmental problems.Eco-urbanism deals with the design of the urban systems in such a way that life of the citizens caused the least damage to nature on the one hand and on the other hand make citizens' life as comfortable as possible.
It is important that current activities and meeting the needs of modern society do not harm subsequent generations, but find a balance between them.That is, sustainable development is needed both globally and in various rural and urban regions.At the same time, the use of resources and interaction between people and the environment should be carried out on the basis of innovations, in which the satisfaction of the life needs of the current generation is achieved together with the preservation of the environment, the strengthening of personal and public health, and without depriving such opportunities of future generations [1].
Modern city ecology is affected by many negative factors.A large city changes all natural environment components -atmospheric air, soil, vegetation, surface, and underground waters.The city concept means comfort, making life easier, high density of communications, wide selection, and availability of satisfying varied needs.But at the same time, the most important human needs are not fulfilled in the city: these are the needs for clean air and clean water, silence, primary food [2].
There are various worldwide solutions in the eco-urbanism area, to be most widely applicable in Canada, the USA, France, Norway.
Toronto uses "green roofs" whose merits are providing thermal insulation certain level.
This type of roof eliminates the problem of excess rainwater, birds can nest on the buildings' roofs, noise levels on the upper floors are reduced, air pollution is reduced, and lung diseases are reduced [3].Disadvantages -such roofs are to be covered in cold areas for winter.However, not all buildings have a suitable roof to withstand the additional load.You also need plants that are adapted to extreme growing conditions.
The "Green Walls" of Paris (Figure 1) are not only an elegant decoration but also a solution to problems with soundproofing and air purification [4].The frame is located at a 10 cm distance from the wall of the house, and therefore the wall always remains dry.There is no soil, so the plants are nourished with the fertilized water coming from the roof.Plants are selected depending upon their climatic conditions adaptation.Disadvantages -requires constant care, allergic reactions are possible.
The introduction of eco-urbane elements in Russia is only at the design and implementation stage since in urbanization little is paid to environmental issues.Public spaces are being introduced in Moscow, new projects are being embedded to create a comfortable city environment.For example, energy-efficient thermal stabilization of the roadway contributes to the role of eco-urban studies in creating a comfortable urban environment [5].
So, it is necessary to analyze the urban environment to select the eco-urbanism elements in order to create favorable and comfortable living conditions for humans, taking into account these elements.

Materials and methods
The purpose of the study is to calculate the urban environment quality index when using the elements of eco-urbanism to increase living comfort.
The tasks include:  Selection of eco-urbanism elements. Analysis of the relationship between life quality indicators -ecology, living conditions, and the population health. Analysis of public opinion polls on problems related to environmental pollution. Calculation of the urban environment quality index indicators, taking into account the eco-urbanism element.
The eco-urbanism element choice is carried out by comparing existing solutions, analyzing their advantages and disadvantages.Different countries' well-being analysis in terms of life indicators quality, such as ecology, living conditions and the population health, is carried out with the Internet provided information [6].The analysis of population surveys is carried out according to statistical data presented on the RIA Novosti portal [7].
The calculation of the urban environment quality index indicators is carried out according to the methodology [8] and six types of urban spaces are assessed:  Housing. Green spaces. Public and business infrastructure. Social and leisure infrastructure. Street and road network.
Each of them is assessed according to six criteria: safety, comfort, environmental friendliness and health, identity and diversity, modernity and the environmental relevance, and management efficiency.An indicator is constructed at the intersection of each type of space and criterion [9].indicator is constructed at the intersection of each type of space and criterion [9].
Each of the indicators is rated on a ten-point scale.The urban environment can be accepted as favorable being scored 50% or more of the maximum possible value, which is 360 points.The methodology's essence is to get away from subjectivity and translate the individual perception of the urban environment into an objective numerical criterion [9].Moscow has scored a maximum point of 293 in 2021 and 299 in 2022.Figure 2 shows indicators for 6 urban environment spaces.The calculation is carried out using the formulas presented in the methodology [9].The threshold value of the score to be calculated (xn) is determined by the formula:

хn = ((Max -Min) /10 + Min + (Max -Min) /10)
Where: nis the point serial number; Maxis the maximum value in the data array; Minis the minimum value in the data array.The maximum value in the data array (Max) is determined by the formula: Where: Q1is the value of the lower quartile for the selected absolute values; Q3is the value of the upper quartile for the selected absolute values.
The minimum value in the data array (Min) is mutually determined by the formula: The results of these formulas are used as the maximum and minimum values to calculate the scores for the group.The calculation results will be indicators from the methodology [9] that takes into account the ecological orientation and green plantings areas, using the eco-urbanism elements.

Results
Ecological problems are noted by most of the population.When choosing the implementation for the eco-urbanism solution, it is necessary to take into account the opinion and wishes of the region inhabitants.Comparison of welfare levels in different countries, including such indicators of life quality as environment, living conditions, and population health (Figure 3) [6].
(3) The histogram shows all elements to be closely related to each other -ecology, standards of living, and public health.Improving the environment and living conditions directly affects human health.Safe and healthy standards of living and urban environment are the main parts of the basic requirements in any society.
Analysis of public opinion polls indicated the problems associated with environmental pollution to be present [7].The majority of respondents believe air pollution to be high and little attention is paid to environmental issues and greening of the urban environment.Therefore, the opinion of residents while choosing one or another event when creating a favorable and comfortable urban environment, being applying eco-urbanism, is necessary to be taken into account [10].
First of all, the concept of a "comfortable environment" means the modern world inhabitants of many countries to become more demanding for the surrounding space.The assessment of the urban environment comfort can be carried out with various methods.More than 200 different indexes and city ratings in the world are presented.In Russia, there is a tool for environmental state monitoring in the country's cities.Within the framework of the federal project decision "Formation of a comfortable urban environment", the task has been set to improve the urban environment comfort and to increase its quality index by 30 percent [11].
The urban environment quality index [8] assesses not only statistical indicators.At the same time, six types of urban spaces are assessed: housing, green spaces, public and business infrastructure, social and leisure infrastructure, street and road network, and citywide space.Each of them is assessed according to the six criteria: safety, comfort, environmental friendliness and health, identity and diversity, modernity and relevance of the environment, and management efficiency.An indicator is constructed at the intersection of each type of space and criterion [9].
Vertical landscaping has been chosen as an eco-urbanism element  a vertical "green" wall.The advantages of the application are:  Space-saving. A significant landscaping area. Each project and the space adornment uniqueness. Minimum care efforts.
 Climate and air quality improvement, maintenance simplicity.
Urban environment quality index calculation using eco-urbanism elements (vertical "green" walls) gives an increase of 9 points, indicating an improvement of the urban environment.Since the beginning of the introduction of this rating in 2018, it has been 276 points with a maximum of 360 points.
For Moscow, the index for 2021 was 293, in 2022 -299.Thus, the application of the eco-urbanism elements would increase the urban environment quality index up to 302 and 308.For the cities with an uncomfortable environment, i.e. the urban environment quality index is below 180, this innovation is more relevant since it makes it possible to implement a greater contribution to this index increase.Table 1 presents indicators from the calculation methodology [9], that take into account the ecological focus and green spaces.The indicators calculating results for assessing the urban environment quality index, taking into account the elements of eco-urbanism, are also presented.

Discussion
Using the calculation methodology, we received confirmation that the obtained indicators, which are part of the urban environment quality index for the public space "Green planted squares", associated with environmental criteria to be compared with the original methodology indicators, show this index increase.However, this calculation is applicable only for large cities with a population of more than 250 thousand people.For cities with a lesser population, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities and correct assessment according to the groups [9].In addition to analyzing the public space "Green planted squares", for a more precise calculation of the urban environment quality index, it is necessary to take into account other urban spaces types.
Different countries' well-being analysis in terms of life indicators quality showed the relationship between ecology, living conditions and population health, but at the same time, the correlation coefficient according to other calculations does not show a strong addiction, so it is necessary to take into account all the parameters included in the research [5].The results of the analysis presented in the study show the necessity to take into account all 11 aspects that make up well-being and improve life for a more complete and accurate life quality representation (for example, the situation in different countries).
Indicators selection was based on a range of statistical criteria, such as significance (validity, depth, and so on) and data quality (predictive value, coverage, timeliness, country comparability), as well as consultations with experts in different countries.
The calculation is usually carried out according to a formula that converts the indicators initial values into the numbers in the range from 0 to 1.We propose to take into account a wider range of resulting indicators for a more precise calculation and presentation of indicators incoming in the urban environment quality index.
The public opinion polls analysis showed the common concern about environmental problem.Thus, it is necessary to take into account the residents' opinion when choosing different events for favorable and comfortable urban environment creating.The citizens can offer their own options for solving environmental problems.But at the same time, the survey requires a broader selection and diverse respondent groups, compilation of survey sheets, taking into account the territorial location and methods of obtaining information, citizens' participation in the decisions and existing solutions awareness.An independent expert judgment is required for the accurate compilation of survey sheets and the results assessment.
The selected element of eco-urbanism allows saving recreational space and increasing the total area of green squares amid dense urban buildings but has several limitations.Therefore it's necessary to consider the other eco-urbanism elements application to increase the urban environment comfort.It is also necessary to carry out additional calculations to assess the economic feasibility of using eco-urbanism elements in city areas.

Conclusion
The urban environment quality index calculation using the elements of eco-urbanism showed these elements' application perspective to increase the living comfort.
The existing eco-urbanism solutions analysis showed the vertical "green" walls implantation effectiveness, but the climatic conditions are to be further considered, as well as the construction features for the placement of the eco-urbanism elements.
It is necessary to carry out additional population surveys to find out the townspeople's opinions to select measures to create a favorable and comfortable urban environment using eco-urbanism.Moreover, further analysis of the relationship between different life quality indicators and a broader number of influencing factors is necessary.

Fig. 2 .
Fig. 2. Criteria for assessing urban environment spaces in Moscow in 2022.

Fig. 3 .
Fig.3.Dependence graph of environmental indicators, housing conditions, and public health for different countries [6].

Table 1 .
Calculation of the urban environment quality index indicators.