Plan and design public open spaces incorporating disaster management strategies with sustainable development strategies: a literature synthesis

Abstract

The current focus of planning and designing public open spaces has been mostly given on creating sustainable cities contributing to its’ three pillars; economic, social and environmental. However, the negative implications of rapid urbanization and the implication of climate change have increased disaster risk in cities mounting more pressure on the path of sustainable development. Therefore, it is imperative to incorporate the enhancements of disaster resilience with the sustainable development strategies. Yet, the integration of disaster management strategies with planning and designing public open spaces remains unrehearsed within the urban planning context. Accordingly, this ongoing research study emphasizes the need for incorporating disaster management strategies with sustainable development strategies when planning and designing public open spaces in cities. This paper first analyses the disaster management literature, providing evidence of the potential use of public open spaces as an agent of recovery, to provide essential life support, as a primary place to rescue and for shelters and potential for adaptive response. Secondly, the paper cross-analyses planning and designing literature with disaster management literature to find out the methods and approaches that can be used to harness the identified potentials. Finally, the paper suggests a set of strategies to plan and design public open incorporating disaster management strategies with sustainable development strategies.