To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (Goal 6), “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” private companies need to appropriately treat domestic wastewater discharged from their business sites. However, in Indonesia, conventional septic tanks emit large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and discharge effluents with high biological oxygen demand (BOD) directly into the environment. Japanese Johkasou technology, which has a high BOD removal rate, is expected to replace septic tanks. A previous study showed that GHG emissions from septic tanks were 1.8 times higher than those from the Johkasou systems. However, in addition to GHGs, other environmental and social impacts (related to the SDGs) should be considered. In this study, we analyzed the social return on investment (SROI) for replacing septic tanks with Johkasou at two sites around Medan City, Indonesia. Technical education and public consultation meetings held in parallel with the installation of Johkasou were also included in the scope of the evaluation. The results showed that the SROI was 1.10. As the SROI exceeded 1.00, the replacement was an effective investment.

The spaces located at the bases of street trees (hereinafter referred to as “street tree bases”) are invaded/colonized by numerous of plants. These invading/colonizing plants are typically considered to be weeds and are eliminated. In recent years, several studies have been published that frame these invading/colonizing plants in a positive light (improving the urban biodiversity). In the present study, we investigated investigations on the methods by which plants colonize street tree bases and the relationship between invading/colonizing plants and street tree base area. We surmised that the most plants invading/colonizing street tree bases dispersal seeds on nearby greenspaces and spread via secondary dispersal through attachment to people and cars. In addition, depending on the tree species, street trees themselves may serve as one of sources for plants invading/colonizing street tree bases. On the other hand, even in a small space such as a street tree bases, a combination of these can serve as spaces for play a role like an urban greenspaces.

This study uses principal component and cluster analysis to classify the types and layout of “mountain and water” (shanshui) features in 18 private gardens in Beijing, China during the Qing dynasty. Its aim is to clarify the spatial characteristics of shanshui composition and their causal mechanisms, focusing on the type and layout of the gardens. Ultimately, cluster analysis reveals four groups of shanshui patterns, groups A to D, reflecting different degrees of influence of the status/occupation of the garden owner, the scale of the garden and shanshui. The gardens in Group A have a large scale. “Earth mountains” and streams are the main shanshui features, which surround the garden space, isolating it from the outside world. In Group B, mountain and river features are scattered in a disorderly manner in the gardens, forming various types; In Group C, the shanshui model integrates the characteristics of groups A and B. Earth mountains are prevalent, surrounding the garden space, and water bodies are mostly banded, surrounded by mountain features. Group D is the largest, with concentrated characteristics. The construction of shanshui in these gardens is more abstract and concise, influenced by the style of private gardens in the south.

Mount Tai (Mt. Tai) as a world mixed heritage site has been chanted in poetry for 2000 years, yet studies that focused on the poetry and the significant spiritual meanings of the mountain are few. Interpreting the meanings of the Mt. Tai poetry more comprehensively is contributed to offer reference for Mt. Tai heritage management planning. On the basis of the framework of elements classification, with the combination of quantitative and qualitative approach, the elements of 253 poems from PreTang era to Contemporary era of Mt. Tai landscape are extracted. The results are summarized as follows: (1) The poetry of Mt. Tai landscape is classified into 9 types. (2) The primary elements and the secondary elements are identified in each element type and the image of Mt. Tai depicted by elements are clarified. (3) The three stages of poetry development of the mountain are identified considering the distribution of poetry in different eras. In conclusion, the meaning of Mt. Tai landscape has been transited from the mysterious sacred mountain to the real famous mountain with excellent natural landscape, and then to the specific natural and cultural landscape was revealed.

The hypothesis of the beneficial effects of agricultural activities on the maintenance of positive health conditions has been empirically tested using several data sets. However, the association between good health and agricultural activities has not been examined across a wide geographical area, and no convincing census has yet been obtained. This study used big data to test the hypothesis. Medical receipt data, which represent a form of big anonymous data, were used as objective indicators of health conditions. The extent of agricultural activities conducted in particular regions was estimated from the census of agriculture and forestry, and comparisons were then affected by the health conditions of the specified areas. The use of medical receipt data is restricted because such data can directly indicate the health conditions of individual residents. This study set the unit of analysis as multiple neighboring cities and towns to avoid constraints on data use. The analysis results revealed that the reduction of agricultural activity paralleled the deterioration of health conditions in some regions. However, the study did not confirm the overall apparent effects of agricultural activity on the amelioration or deterioration of health conditions. More determinate knowledge may be attained by separately reviewing the data on agricultural activities and health and by extending the period of data collection.