In the face of growing urban problems such as overcrowding and pollution, we urgently need innovative ideas to build smarter and greener cities. Current urban development strategies often fail to address these challenges, revealing a significant research gap in integrating advanced technologies. This study addresses these gaps by integrating green technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), studying its impact on achieving smart and sustainable habitats and identifying barriers to effective use of these technologies, considering local variations in infrastructural, cultural, and economic contexts. By analyzing how AI and green technologies can be combined, this study aims to provide a vision that can be used to improve urban development planning. The results emphasize the significance of environmental responsibility and technological innovation in the development of sustainable urban environments and provide practical recommendations for improving the overall quality of life in cities through planning and urban planning.

Urbanization process affects global socio-economic development. Originally tied to modernization and industrialization, current urbanization policy is focused on productivity, economic activities, and environmental sustainability. This study examines impact of urbanization in various regions of Kazakhstan, focusing on environmental, social, labor, industrial, and economic indicators. The study aims to assess how different indicators influence urbanization trends in Kazakhstan, particularly regarding environmental emissions and pollution. It delves into regional development patterns and identifies key contributing factors. The research methodology is based on classical economic theories of urbanization and modern interpretations emphasizing sustainability and socio-economic impacts and includes two stages. Shannon entropy measures diversity and uncertainty in urbanization indicators, while cluster analysis identifies regional patterns. Data from 2010 to 2022 for 17 regions forms the basis of analysis. Regions are categorized into groups based on urbanization levels leaders, challenged, stable, and outliers. This classification reveals disparities in urban development and its impacts. Findings stress the importance of integrating environmental and social considerations into urban planning and policies. Targeted interventions based on regional characteristics and urbanization levels are recommended to enhance sustainability and socio-economic outcomes. Tailored urban policies accommodating specific regional needs are crucial. Effective management and policy-making demand a nuanced understanding of these impacts, emphasizing region-specific strategies over a uniform approach.

In light of swift urbanization and the lack of precise land use maps in urban regions, comprehending land use patterns becomes vital for efficient planning and promoting sustainable development. The objective of this study is to assess the land use pattern in order to catalyze sustainable township development in the study area. The procedure adopted involved acquiring the cadastral layout plan of the study area, scanning, and digitizing it. Additionally, satellite imagery of the area was obtained, and both the cadastral plan and satellite imagery were geo-referenced and digitized using ArcGIS 9.2 software. These processes resulted in reasonable accuracy, with a root mean square (RMS) error of 0.002 inches, surpassing the standard of 0.004 inches. The digitized cadastral plan and satellite imagery were overlaid to produce a layered digital map of the area. A social survey of the area was conducted to identify the specific use of individual plots. Furthermore, a relational database system was created in ArcCatalog to facilitate data management and querying. The research findings demonstrated the approach's effectiveness in enabling queries for the use of any particular plot, making it adaptable to a wide range of inquiries. Notably, the study revealed the diverse purposes for which different plots were utilized, including residential, commercial, educational, and lodging. An essential aspect of land use mapping is identifying areas prone to risks and hazards, such as rising sea levels, flooding, drought, and fire. The research contributes to sustainable township development by pinpointing these vulnerable zones and providing valuable insights for urban planning and risk mitigation strategies. This is a valuable resource for urban planners, policymakers, and stakeholders, enabling them to make informed decisions to optimize land use and promote sustainable development in the study area.

The article examines the current state of fertility processes in Kazakhstan, the diversity of reproductive scenarios, and the reasons for their formation. The authors proceed by analysing the sovereign demographic system formed in Kazakhstan in the first quarter of the 21st century based on the Kazakh ethnic group. Cluster analysis was performed for demographic zones, considering indicators such as the proportion of Kazakhs in the urban population and the total fertility rate in cities. We believe that case technology allows us to demonstrate the differences in the reproductive attitudes and behaviour of urban Kazakhs, ultimately determining the trends in reproductive processes in the country. The focus is given to the socio-cultural and socio-economic differences across the regions of Kazakhstan and their impact on fertility processes in the context of the accelerated urbanisation of Kazakhs. The main variants of adaptation of the reproductive behaviour of Kazakhs to new urban living conditions are described, and an assumption is made about further prospects for maintaining or changing birth rates in Kazakhstan.

Poverty, and especially the widening disparity between the rich and the poor, leads to social unrest that can interrupt the harmonious development of human society. Understanding the reasons for income inequality, and supporting the development of an effective strategy to reduce this inequality, have been major goals in socioeconomic research around the world. To identify the determinants of the income gap, we calculated the Gini coefficients for Chinese provinces and performed regression analysis and contribution analysis for heterogeneity, using data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2002 to 2018. We found that urbanization, higher education, and foreign direct investment in eastern China and energy in central and western China were important factors that increased the Gini coefficient (i.e., decreased equality). Therefore, paying more attention to the fair distribution of the factors that can increase the Gini coefficient and investing more in the factors that can reduce the Gini coefficient will be the keys to narrowing the income gap. Our approach revealed factors that should be targeted for solutions both in China and in other developing countries that are facing similar difficulties, although the details will vary among countries and contexts.

China is currently at a critical juncture in implementing the rural revitalization strategy, with urbanization and tourism development as crucial components. This study investigates 41 counties (cities) in the Wuling Mountain area of central China, constructing an evaluation system for the coordinated development of these two sectors. The coupling coordination degree is calculated using a combination weighting method and the coupling coordination degree model. Spatio-temporal evolution characteristics are analyzed through spatial autocorrelation, while the geographic detector explores the driving factors of spatial variation. The findings reveal a significant increase in coupling coordination between urbanization and tourism, transitioning towards a coordinated phase. Spatially, urbanization and tourism exhibit positive correlations, with high-value clusters in the southeast and northwest and low-value clusters in the south. The geographical detector identifies industrial factors as the most critical drivers of spatial variation. This study offers novel insights into the dynamics of urbanization and tourism, contributing to the broader literature by providing practical implications for regional planning and sustainable development. The results are relevant to the Wuling Mountain area and serve as a reference for similar regions globally. However, the study has certain limitations, such as regional specificity and data availability, which should be considered in the context of this research.