Growing concerns about environmental issues have led to the consideration of alternatives to current mobility. Electric mobility is one such alternative that is receiving a great deal of attention in Europe. In particular, a new legal framework for the introduction of an electric mobility system in Portugal has recently been set up by the government. A key issue in this system is recharging the batteries and, consequently, the location of charging stations. This paper presents a study on the location of electric-vehicle charging stations for an area of Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, characterized with a strong concentration of population and employment. This type of area is appropriate for slow charging because vehicles stay parked for several hours within a 24-h period. The methodology used here is based on a maximal covering model to optimize the demand covered within an acceptable level of service and to define the number and capacity of the stations to be installed. The results clearly indicate that this methodology can be useful in the future planning of electric mobility systems.

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Nowadays, the elderly tend to make more trips: Health benefits resulting from their daily walking routines are an important topic in the context of urban renewal processes. Many health organizations and researchers have demonstrated the influence of the urban environment on walkability levels. This article aims to design a multifactor Walkability Index for Elderly Health (WIEH), capable of associating both the adequacy level of public spaces to elderly walkability, and physical exercise benefits while walking. The methodological approach comprised two main parts: Firstly, a literature review of main reports, legislation, and scientific articles was conducted at the intersection of ‘gerontology and physical exercise’ with ‘urban design and mobility’, leading to the selection of four aging-related studies as main contributors to the design of the WIEH; and, secondly, the development of the WIEH was undertaken, based on two premises and designed according to four steps. The first premise defined three systematic areas (urban tissue, urban scene, and safety), variables, and criteria to classify the pedestrian network; and the second premise focused on slopes and stairs in public spaces. The WIEH is divided in four steps: (1) Analyzing public spaces and characterizing their quality for walking, (2) considering the existence of slopes and stairs, (3) calculating different routes for the elderly in their daily routines, or when going to points of interest, and (4) selecting the “heart-friendly route” for elderly people. Adequate walking paths for the elderly can be identified through this innovative approach, with the aim of achieving direct health benefits during their daily routines. Ultimately, the WIEH is capable of supporting decision makers and designers in creating inclusive and age-friendly spaces.

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