This paper reviews the emerging potential of mid-tier transit, articulating how a complex set of established and new factors could contribute both to better transit outcomes and the associated urban regeneration around station precincts. The analysis is based on two structured literature reviews, supported by insights from the authors’ original research. The first provides an overview of the established and new rationale for mid-tier technologies such as the established Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as well as the new Trackless Tram Systems (TTS). The established role for mid-tier transit is now being given extra reasons for it to be a major focus of urban infrastructure especially due to the need for net zero cities. The second review, is a detailed consideration of established and new factors that can potentially improve patronage on mid-tier transit. The established factors of urban precinct design like stop amenities and improved accessibility and density around stations, are combined with new smart technology systems like advanced intelligent transport systems and real-time transport information for travellers, as well as new transport technologies such as micro-mobility and Mobility on Demand. Also explored are new processes with funding and development models that properly leverage land value capture, public private partnerships, and other entrepreneurial development approaches that are still largely not mainstreamed. All were found to potentially work, especially if done together, to help cities move into greater mid-tier transit.

Afforestation is a main tool for preventing desertification and soil erosion in arid and semiarid regions of Iran. Large-scale afforestation, however, has poorly understood consequences for the future ecosystems in the term of ecosystems protection. The objective of the present study is to identify changes in soil properties following different intervals of planting of Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) in semiarid afforestation of Iran (Chitgar Forest Park, Tehran). For this purpose, sand, silt and clay ratios, bulk density, soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, total soil N, and total carbon was measured. Our study highlighted the potential of the invasive trees by A. altissima, to alter soil properties along chronosequence. Almost all soil quality attributes showed a declining trend with stand age. A continuous decline in soil quality indicated that the present land management may not be sustainable. Therefore, an improved management practice is imperative to sustain soil quality and maintain long-term productivity of plantation forests. Thinning activity will be required to reduce the number of trees competing for the same nutrients especially in a older stand to protect forest soils.

In recent years, phytoremediation as a promising ecological restoration technique has emerged. Phytoremediation is a repair method that uses green plants to transfer, contain, or convert contaminants to the environment. Phytoremediation is a heavy metal, organic or radioactive element contaminated soil and water. The results show

that the use of plant absorption, volatilization, root filtration, degradation, stability and other effects, can purify soil

or water pollutants, to achieve the purpose of purifying the environment, so phytoremediation is a great potential, the development of the clean environment Pollution of green technology. The use of plants to repair contaminated soil is a cheap and durable bioremediation technique. The protection and management of Taihu Lake is an indispensable measure for the protection of Taihu Lake water, and the advantages of phytoremedry investment, low freight and

low leakage of pollutants show that its promotion has this unusual significance. This paper expounds the difference

of remediation soil between Taihu Lake Ecological Shelter Forest, and the comparison of the soil capacity of the

experimental tree species. Second, the correlation between the monitoring projects is discussed.