Urban infrastructures and services—such as public transportation, innovation bodies and environmental services—are important drivers for the sustainable development of our society. How effectively citizens, institutions and enterprises interact, how quickly technological innovations are implemented and how carefully new policies are pursued, synergically determine development. In this work, data related to urban infrastructure features such as patents and recycled waste referred to 106 province areas in Italy are investigated over a period of twenty years (2001–2020). Scaling laws with exponents characterizing the above mentioned features are observed and adopted to scrutinize whether and how multiple interactions within a population have amplification effects on the recycling and innovation performance. The study shows that there is a multiplication effect of the population size on the innovation performance of territories, meaning that the dynamic interactions among the elements of the innovation eco-systems in a territory increase its innovation performance. We discuss how to use such approach and the related indexes for understanding metropolitan development policy.

This research article explores the intricate relationship between cultural impacts and leadership styles in social science management. It emphasizes the importance of cultural-informed decision-making, highlighting its role in fostering inclusive managerial choices. The study also delves into how diverse leadership styles enhance team dynamics and collaboration, contributing to an innovative work environment. While recognizing the potential benefits, challenges like miscommunications are acknowledged, with recommendations for leadership development programs. The research underscores the significance of leadership flexibility in managing diverse teams. In conclusion, the article emphasizes the positive impact of cultural awareness on decision-making, collaboration, and innovation in social science management.

Biomimicry is increasingly being used to drive sustainable constructional development in recent years. By emulating the designs and processes of nature, biomimicry offers a wealth of opportunities to create innovative and environmentally friendly solutions. Biomimicry in industrial development: versatile applications, advantages in construction. The text emphasizes the contribution of bio-mimetic technologies to sustainability and resilience in structural design, material selection, energy efficiency, and sensor technology. Aside from addressing technical constraints and ethical concerns, we address challenges and limitations associated with adopting biomimicry. A quantitative research approach is implemented, and respondents from the construction industry rank biomimicry principles as the optimal approach to enhance sustainability in the industry. Demographic and descriptive analyses are underway. By working together, sharing knowledge, and innovating responsibly, we suggest approaches to tackle these obstacles and fully leverage the transformative power of biomimicry in promoting sustainable construction industry practices. In an evolving global environment, biomimicry reduces environmental impact and enhances efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness in construction industries.

This study applies machine learning methods such as Decision Tree (CART) and Random Forest to classify drought intensity based on meteorological data. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of these methods for drought classification and their use in water resource management and agriculture. The methodology involved using two machine learning models that analyzed temperature and humidity indicators, as well as wind speed indicators. The models were trained and tested on real meteorological data to assess their accuracy and identify key factors affecting predictions. Results showed that the Random Forest model achieved the highest accuracy of 94.4% when analyzing temperature and humidity indicators, while the Decision Tree (CART) achieved an accuracy of 93.2%. When analyzing wind speed indicators, the models’ accuracies were 91.3% and 93.0%, respectively. Feature importance revealed that atmospheric pressure, temperature at 2 m, and wind speed are key factors influencing drought intensity. One of the study’s limitations was the insufficient amount of data for high drought levels (classes 4 and 5), indicating the need for further data collection. The innovation of this study lies in the integration of various meteorological parameters to build drought classification models, achieving high prediction accuracy. Unlike previous studies, our approach demonstrates that using a wide range of meteorological data can significantly improve drought classification accuracy. Significant findings include the necessity to expand the dataset and integrate additional climatic parameters to improve models and enhance their reliability.

The urgency of adapting urban areas to the increasing impacts of climate change has prompted the scientific community to seek new approaches in partnership with public entities and civil society organizations. In Malaysia, Penang Island has developed a nature-based urban climate adaptation program (PNBCAP) seeking to increase urban resilience, reduce urban heat and flooding, strengthening social resilience, and build institutional capacity. The project includes a strong knowledge transfer component focused on encouraging other cities in the country to develop and implement adaptation policies, projects, and initiatives. This research develops a model adopting the most efficient processes to accelerate the transfer of knowledge to promote urban adaptation based on the PNBCAP. The methodology is developed based on a review of literature focused on innovation systems and change theories. The integration of success strategies in adaptation contributes to informing the creation of solutions around the alliance of local, state, and national government agencies, scientific institutions, and civil society organizations, in a new framework designated the Malaysian Adaptation Sharing Hub (MASH). MASH is structured in 3-steps and will function as an accelerator for the implementation of urban climate adaptation policies, with the target of creating 2 new adaptation-related policies to be adopted annually by each city member, based on knowledge gathered in the PNBCAP. It is concluded that, to speed up urban adaptation, it is necessary to reinforce and promote the sharing of knowledge resulting from or associated with pilot projects.

This study aimed to examine the impact of digital leadership among school principals and evaluate the mediating effect of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) on enhancing teachers’ innovation skills for sustainable technology integration, both in traditional classroom settings and e-learning environments. Employing a quantitative approach with a regression design model, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) were utilized in this research. A total of 257 teachers from 7 excellent senior high schools in Makassar city participated in the study, responding to the questionnaires administered. The study findings indicate that while principal digital leadership does not directly influence teachers’ innovation skills in technology integration, it directly impacts Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Moreover, PLCs themselves have a significant influence on teachers’ innovation skills in technology integration. The structural model presented in this study illustrates a noteworthy impact of principal digital leadership on teachers’ innovation skills for technology integration through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), with a coefficient value of 47.4%. Principal digital leadership is crucial in enhancing teachers’ innovation skills for sustainable technology integration, primarily by leveraging Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). As a result, principals must prioritize the creation of supportive learning environments and implement programs to foster teachers’ proficiency for sustainable technology integration. Additionally, teachers are encouraged to concentrate on communication, collaboration, and relationship-building with colleagues to exchange insights, address challenges, and devise solutions for integrating technology, thereby contributing to sustained school improvement efforts. Finally, this research provides insights for school leaders, policymakers, and educators, emphasizing the need to leverage PLCs to enhance teaching practices and student outcomes, particularly in sustainable technology integration.