Challenge For Urban Planners Research Articles

Review of ‘Kalpitiya Urban Development Plan 2021-2030’ using TIES Ecotourism Principles


 
 
 Rapid urbanization-driven economic growth creates opportunities and challenges for inclusive and sustainable urban planning. Kalpitiya, being the only city in Sri Lanka surrounded by both sea and lagoon, with its unique ecosystems, and historical and cultural structures, has become an attractive tourism destination. Kalpitiya, as an emerging tourism destination, contributes 10 percent to the local economy through tourism. It experienced 15,500 visitations in 2017, while the projection for 2030 is 29,770. In 2018, 18 % of residents engaged in ecotourism as an alternative income source while 69 percent expressed their willingness. The Kalpitiya Urban Development Plan 2021-2030 (the Plan) was formulated envisioning, ―Blue Peninsula Emerging from Nature Resort‖-the first goal to make Kalpitiya the most attractive tourism destination. In this context, adopting ecotourism principles in development planning seems prudent for Kalpitiya. The study aimed to assess the extent to which the Plan had incorporated 8 TIES (The International Ecotourism Society) ecotourism principles, which, according to UNEP, have been embraced by a growing constituency of NGOs, private sector businesses, governments, and local communities. Utilizing a qualitative approach, incorporation of 8 TIES principles [P1-minimize impacts, P2-increase awareness, P3- positive experiences, P4-financial benefits for conservation, P5-financial benefits for locals, P6- increase sensitivity to local conditions, P7-low-impact facilities, P8-recognize community rights] into the components of the plan [Introduction-C1, Preliminary studies-C2, Need of the Plan-C3, Framework-C4, Summary and SWOT-C5, the Plan-C6 and Zoning-C7] were assessed. Secondary data were obtained from official sources and reviewed journal articles. Within all components of the Plan, the importance of tourism development was mentioned while addressing P1, P3, and P5. P6 is recognized in C6, while P7 was not mentioned. P8 was recognized in C2, C6 and C7. Although it specifically identified an ecotourism zone, C6 only addressed P2, and P4-through the development of a mangrove garden. The respective project was prioritized as 19 of 25. Rehabilitating and conserving income-earning cultural assets were prioritized as 10 and 11 of 25-without any carrying capacity considerations, despite their importance for the industry. Considering P1, water effluent control measures for shrimp farming-a means of income for many-were not mentioned, despite the pollution of groundwater and estuarine system, on which the ecotourism industry depends. The review reveals that the Plan has not adequately considered or addressed the 8 ecotourism principles, therefore, it is recommended for Kalpitiya Local Government Authority to pass bylaws in line with ecotourism principles, while enforcing a guideline by the Urban Development Authority.
 
 
 
 
 Keywords: Urban development planning, Ecotourism principles, Kalpitiya urban development plan, Local economy, Environmental conservation
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Digital Transformation Framework for Smart Municipalities

Smart cities, as defined by Sustainable Development Goal 11, strive to make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Digital technologies addresses urbanisation concerns, such as rising energy use, pollution, waste disposal, and social inequities. The Internet of Things (IoT) and data-driven technologies are essential drivers, with a focus on infrastructure and decision-making in smart cities and municipalities. Digital Transformation (DT) is a prerequisite for becoming a Smart Municipality. The research objective of this paper is to investigate the role of digital technologies in improving urban processes, focusing on Smart City dimensions for municipalities, namely smart governance, environment, living, and technology. Municipalities in South Africa, particularly in the Eastern Cape, used digital adoption to boost productivity and skill development. However, the need for standardised DT principles presents problems for transitioning municipalities into data-driven organisations. The paper also examines the global energy issue and how smart cities can contribute to energy solutions. Finally, the paper addresses the following research question: ‘How can lessons learned from the Eastern Cape Municipalities digital adoption be scaled to other developing nations facing similar challenges in energy management and urban planning?’ Using a survey method, it provides guidelines in the DT framework, offering empirical insights into Smart Municipality digitalisation.

Navigating Flood Resilience: Challenges, Solutions, and Lessons Learnt from the Dominican Republic

Recent unprecedented events worldwide, such as floods in Dubai, recurring heavy rainfall in Santo Domingo, and abrupt temperature changes in the United Kingdom (UK), underscore the tangible impacts of climate change. In response to escalating threats from natural disasters, global communities prioritise resilience and effective disaster management systems. This paper addresses best practices for managing abnormal floods, laying the foundation for the next generation of preparedness and mitigation plans. Focusing on flood risk in Santo Domingo, the study employs the Community Disaster Resilience Framework, conducting a workshop with over 100 stakeholders from government, private, and academic sectors. The assessment spans physical, economic, environmental, and social aspects, revealing common challenges in infrastructure upkeep, public awareness, urban planning, drainage, and economic disparities. The paper proposes technological solutions like predictive maintenance and smart drainage systems, emphasising the potential for implementation. Recognising the importance of community involvement and preparedness, insights from the United Kingdom guide initial steps in strategy development. The conclusions advocate for collaborative efforts among government, academia, and society to navigate the complexities of disaster management and community resilience, ultimately proposing a framework to address these challenges. Further research is suggested in expanding online platforms for disaster risk reduction education in the Caribbean region.

Bayesian deep neural network for low-carbon scheduling strategy planning of V2G

Abstract With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, the Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) model has become crucial in integrating renewable energy generation. However, challenges exist in developing grid scheduling strategies that are tailored to different regions, as well as in quantifying the economic benefits and carbon emissions associated with such scheduling. To address these issues, our study proposed a novel V2G low-carbon scheduling strategy planning method based on Bayesian neural networks. Initially, we established a stochastic V2G model that incorporated grid and electric vehicle scheduling, along with a mathematical model that captured the random behavior of EV users, enabling us to capture the essential characteristics of scheduling planning. Subsequently, we employed an enhanced Bayesian deep neural network to learn and assimilate these scheduling planning characteristics, allowing for the provision of a grid scheduling strategy that ranks economic benefits based on weighted priorities. Furthermore, we conducted simulation experiments within the coverage area of the Internet of Things in Energy (IoTE) to gather scheduling characteristics. The experimental results demonstrated that our method outperformed other deep learning models in terms of voltage amplitude stability during the grid scheduling process, showcasing superior robustness and accuracy. Moreover, we evaluated the economic benefits of the scheduling model and compared it with the original V2G scheduling model. The findings revealed that our model exhibited higher economic benefits and lower carbon emissions. Considering the future challenges of low-carbon urban planning, our method holds significant potential in terms of grid scheduling economic benefits and carbon emission indicators.

Modeling population distribution: A visual and quantitative analysis of gradient boosting and deep learning models for multi‐output spatial disaggregation

AbstractSpatially aggregated data on socio‐demographic groups often fail to capture the population's spatial heterogeneity in cities. This poses challenges for urban planning, particularly when addressing the needs of groups such as migrants or families with children. Moreover, the commonly provided aggregated units, such as census tracts, vary in size and across data sources. Existing literature on disaggregation typically handles individual subgroups separately, ignoring their interrelations in the downscaling process. This article explores the potentials of multi‐output regression models for simultaneous spatial downscaling of multiple groups and conducts a detailed spatial error analysis using individualized neighborhoods. We experiment with self‐training gradient‐boosting trees and fully convolutional neural networks, assessing the quality of results against ground truth data at the target resolution. We show that the evaluation of the disaggregated results at this detailed resolution requires unconventional methods. The methodology proves convenient and achieves high‐accuracy results using input datasets of building features.

Environmental Adaptation Tools as an Approach to Meet Challenges in Urban Planning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Urban areas are facing the risk of climate change due to high temperatures, floods, storms, droughts, and the expected rise in sea levels, as a result of the rapid growth in urban and industrial activities. Cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are primarily exposed to the effects of high heat and floods after rare events of heavy rainfall. This requires the search for sustainable and appropriate planning solutions to adapt to climate change within the framework of sustainable urban planning. Urban planning can play a significant role in addressing climate change through sustainable adaptation. Therefore, the research aims to study and identify appropriate environmental tools and planning approaches that can be integrated into the urban planning methodology to adapt to climate change in urban areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Some case studies of urban areas exposed to the risk of climate change were studied and analyzed to evaluate the planning tools and approaches adopted to confront these risks. five cases were studied. The challenges and positives of these tools and approaches were deduced. The appropriate planning approach has been selected for the privacy of Saudi cities to face the effects of climate change. The research concluded that sponge cities are the appropriate approach for Saudi cities to face the risks of floods. The suitability of the sponge cities was assessed in comparison with the case of floods in Jeddah city, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research also reached steps to integrate the requirements of converting to spongy cities in the urban planning methodology at the different planning levels

Urban Heat Island Vulnerability in the City of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract This study introduces the urban heat island vulnerability index (UHIVI) for Recife, Brazil, the center of the most populated metropolitan area in the Northeast region. The index, encompassing sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and exposure, integrates demographic data through factor analysis to derive a social vulnerability index (SVI). Urban heat island (UHI) intensity data addresses exposure, enabling a comprehensive analysis of both the physical and social dimensions of the city. Results reveal heightened UHI exposure in the city center and coastal areas, correlating with higher urbanization density. However, populations in most areas of these regions demonstrated higher adaptive capacities, translating to lower UHI vulnerability. Conversely, less-discussed areas in traditional UHI approaches, with limited adaptive capacity and heightened sensitivity, emerge, shedding light on previously overlooked urban vulnerabilities. Regions near the city center featuring irregular settlements prove most susceptible to UHI. Illiteracy, aging demographics, and local environmental conditions emerge as the three main factors contributing to UHIVI. The index’s application unveils spatial complexities and inequalities, offering urban planners a nuanced understanding of the city. This comprehensive insight aids in policy development and decision-making, empowering planners to address urban disparities effectively. The UHIVI thus emerges as a valuable tool for understanding the challenges of urban planning, fostering more resilient and equitable urban development.

Morphology of Kisaran City: The Circulation System in Urban Transformation 1929-2022

The rapid economic growth and significant urbanization in Kisaran City have posed several challenges in urban planning, including adequate housing, health facilities, education, and transportation. The city's development was also influenced by its colonial history, with the dominance of colonial power regulating the production and trade of plantation products as well as the lives of local people. The morphological transformation of the city from 1929 to 2022 reflects the challenges related to infrastructure, visual appearance, and the growth of the commercial sector, which have affected the lives of citizens and demanded the city's adaptation to the development of the times. Historical events, such as colonization by foreign powers and Chinese immigration, have affected the population growth of Kisaran and caused pressure on infrastructure and socio-economic inequality. This study aims to understand the morphology of Kisaran City and the factors that influence its transformation by using the methods of literature study, synchronic approach, and diachronic approach. The results of the study concluded that the morphological transformation of Kisaran City was influenced by the circulation system, which adapted to the needs and trends of society, and interacted with each other in forming the morphology of Kisaran City that continues to develop over time.

Specialized Urban Planning Chatbot: A Participatory Approach for Evaluating Efficiency

This research investigates the use of a specialized Chatbot tool in the field of urban planning as a participatory approach and how efficient it is in handling concerns related to this domain. This specialized urban Chabot was prepared during an exhibition at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2023. We argue that specialized chat-bots, which are trained on a dataset including text and code, exclusively involved in urban planning, have the potential to offer more pertinent and useful insights and suggestions compared to conventional chat-bots. It is also suggested that a transition from standard Chatbots to specialized urban Chatbots is essential because AI (Artificial Intelligence) Chatbots possess the capability to comprehend and address a broader spectrum of inquiries and prompts while also exhibiting the capacity to acquire knowledge and adjust their responses over time. Accordingly, we developed a special urban planning Chatbot and tested the results with the general public from different fields. The findings of our study indicate that almost 65% of the total respondents have emphasized the suitability of this application for planning purposes and its importance in the future. The majority of respondents also highlighted the use of specialized Chatbots, designed for urban planning would be beneficial for city planners. Citizens may use them as a means to collect input, suggest prospective solutions to urban planning challenges, and formulate design briefs for upcoming urban development initiatives. The use of Chatbots in the field of urban planning displays considerable potential for study, and we anticipate that our findings will catalyze further advancements in this domain.

UrbanGenoGAN: pioneering urban spatial planning using the synergistic integration of GAN, GA, and GIS

Introduction: Urban spatial planning is critical for the development of sustainable and livable cities. However, traditional planning methods often face challenges in handling complex planning scenarios and large-scale data.Methods: This paper introduces UrbanGenoGAN, a novel algorithm that integrates generative adversarial networks (GANs), genetic optimization algorithms (GOAs), and geographic information system (GIS) to address these challenges. Leveraging the generative power of GANs, the optimization capabilities of genetic algorithms, and the spatial analysis capabilities of GIS, UrbanGenoGAN is designed to generate optimized urban plans that cater to various urban planning challenges. Our methodology details the algorithm’s design and integration of its components, data collection and preprocessing, and the training and implementation processes.Results: Through rigorous evaluation metrics, comparative analysis with existing methodologies, and case studies, the proposed algorithm demonstrates significant improvement in urban planning outcomes. The research also explores the technical and practical considerations for implementing UrbanGenoGAN, including scalability, computational efficiency, data privacy, and ethical considerations.Discussion: The findings suggest that the integration of advanced machine learning and optimization techniques with spatial analysis offers a promising approach to enhancing decision-making in urban spatial planning. This work contributes to the growing field of AI applications in urban planning and paves the way for more efficient and sustainable urban development.

Planning, Manufacturing, and Sustainability: Three Research Themes

This thematic issue explores the role that revived emplacements of manufacturing and “blue-collar” work play in the search for more effective models of urban sustainability, drawing on intriguing developments in different cities of different sizes in different Western societies—the UK, Germany, Switzerland, the USA, and Australia. Rather than see industry as a “problem” for green city strategies, our point of departure considers what role manufacturing and “blue-collar” work can (and do) play in the search for more effective models of urban sustainability. The articles included here deploy a range of research methodologies, albeit with a predominant emphasis on qualitative case studies, to raise key challenges for urban and regional industrial planning. This editorial provides some overarching context and commentary on the topic and specifically discusses three synoptic themes that emerged most prominently from the collection of articles: the difficulty (and importance) of identifying and illustrating the practical sustainability benefits of local manufacturing; the complexity of advancing “conspicuous production” in the urban context; and the need to broaden industrial politics and planning in order to better utilize existing industrial spaces and enhance the role of production in the city. These themes help to capture emerging trends and challenges in the field while providing foundations for future research.

Assessing the Cooling Potential of Tailing Piles for Urban Heat Mitigation in Germany’s Ruhr Metropolitan Area—A Case Study of the Rungenberg in Gelsenkrichen

Elevated air temperatures in cities with potential negative effects on, e.g., residents are a major challenge for urban planning. Open green spaces on hills where at night air can cool and drain into residential areas are of great importance to ameliorate the heat load in urban areas. In the Ruhr Metropolitan Region in Germany, tailing piles from the former coal mining industry offer a previously neglected potential for cooling neighbourhoods. The genesis and drainage of cold air on tailing piles have not been extensively investigated so far. Tailing piles are often located in or nearby residential areas and are exposed as open spaces, where cold air can build up and drain into the surrounding neighbourhoods due to their slopes. In the present study, the genesis of cold air and the cold air drainage are empirically investigated using thermal infrared imagery and air temperature measurements during one night in 2019 at the Rungenberg tailing pile in Gelsenkirchen. Furthermore, the cooling effect on the adjacent residential area, Schüngelberg, was studied. The results indicate that cold air builds up at Rungenberg and drains into Schüngelberg. However, the cold air flow into the residential area was blocked by a brick wall located at the foot of the Rungenberg tailing pile. More awareness should be given to the cooling potential of tailing piles, and urban planners should improve this cooling potential by keeping tailing piles open and removing barriers located in the drainage pathways in order to alleviate urban heat.

Cooperative planning under pro-development urban agenda? A collage of densification practices in Zurich, Switzerland

Like in many cities and regions worldwide, densification is the current urban development paradigm in Switzerland. Although considered one of the main policy mechanisms for sustainable land use, densification strategies are mainly employed by the private sector, causing adverse social effects. Additionally, profit-oriented urban planning challenges the traditionally exercised norm of cooperative planning. By analysing multiple case studies of densification projects in Zurich, this paper elucidates the nature of cooperation in contemporary urban planning: Is cooperation perceived as genuine inclusion of the weaker parties, or is it dominated by the negotiations between the powerful ones? To address such questions, we examine the main cooperative mechanisms and bottlenecks to achieve effective cooperation; the dominant alliances in planning; and the ways these actors identify compromises. The research reveals an elite-driven and pro-development collaboration approach among public authorities, landowners, and developers with minor integration of less powerful actors, despite the continuous effort to advance (formal and informal) planning instruments to secure social inclusion. Consequently, the study offers some directions for refining contemporary Zurich's mainstream planning approach to address the challenges posed by the neoliberal discourse and practice, hence, being relevant for similar socio-spatial settings confronting a pro-development urban agenda.

The cooling potential of various vegetation covers in a heat-stressed underserved community in the deep south: Birmingham, Alabama

The urban population is expected to grow significantly in the coming years and reach 70% of the world population by 2050, which poses a significant challenge for urban development and planning. Urban heat islands and heat waves already cause considerable stress to urban communities, with disadvantaged communities at the forefront of this issue. Adding vegetation and green covers is one of the strategies to improve street-level thermal comfort. This study quantifies the effects of different vegetation types on the microclimate of a mixed-residential-industrial area. The three primary scenarios for this study are existing vegetation in various canopy widths, native shade-tree species in their mature sizes, and a built environment including only grass cover. The role of the existing built environment with different vegetation covers along with human biometeorological parameters, including mean radiant temperature (Tmrt), physiological equivalent temperature (PET), and universal thermal climate index (UTCI) was evaluated to measure thermal comfort by employing a computational fluid dynamic (CFD)-based microclimate model. The results show that tree types and characteristics determine the thermal comfort pedestrians feel in the daytime. The study will provide insights on effective green cover scenarios to maintain a more comfortable pedestrian environment for future intervention.

Editorial: Challenges in sustainable urban planning and territorial management for the XXI century

Editorial: Challenges in sustainable urban planning and territorial management for the XXI century

Monitoring Urban Happiness through Interactive Chorems

The Sustainable Development Goals laid out in the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly Goal 11, which seeks to create inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements, call on researchers, businesses, and public administrations to address the mounting challenges of urban planning and to leverage them with a tool to enhance the well-being of citizens. This study demonstrates how chorematic maps can facilitate the comprehension of urban planning objectives and their relationship with the mental well-being of residents. To this end, a fresh set of chorems is proposed, which aims to depict the features and components of the urban environment that can affect happiness and, consequently, mental well-being. This research presents various examples of the application of the suggested chorems in an urban setting, which illustrates how they can be employed by experts and citizens alike and thereby can serve as a means to motivate administrators, technicians, and the public to engage with and live in their city with greater mindfulness and involvement.

COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN FOREST SPECIES, SOIL AREA, AND ACCESSIBILITY ON SIDEWALKS

The compatibility between the built environment and trees is also a challenge for urban planning. However, there are few guidelines related to the space for tree growth on sidewalks. This research aimed to analyze the space occupied by trees on sidewalks in the city of Frederico Westphalen, RS, Brazil. We used data from 400 trees of 10 species (dendrometric and qualitative variables) and from the urban structure (width of sidewalks and tree bed area) to analyze the relationship between the species according to the soil capacity and pedestrian’s accessibility. It was found that 90.25% of the trees are in places where the sidewalks promote accessibility to pedestrians and that 60.25% of them tree bed areas with adequate capacity, being possible to increase their size to improve the development of the trees in 39.75% of the cases. Regarding the amount of soil required for each tree, it was found that most species (72.25%) would not have an adequate amount of soil, (Situation 1 – sidewalk width x 4). For Situation 2 (tree bed width x 1), 100% of the individuals would not have an adequate amount of soil. We concluded that the method to evaluate the compatibility between soil area and sidewalk accessibility is easy to replicate and helpful for studies on urban trees and urban planning.

Micro-scale UHI risk assessment on the heat-health nexus within cities by looking at socio-economic factors and built environment characteristics: The Turin case study (Italy)

Today the most substantial threats facing cities relate to the impacts of climate change. Extreme temperature such as heat waves and the occurrence of Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomena, present the main challenges for urban planning and design. Climate deterioration exacerbates the already existing weaknesses in social systems, which have been created by changes such as population increases and urban sprawl. Despite numerous attempts by researchers to assess the risks associated with the heat-health nexus in urban areas, no common metrics have yet been defined yet. The objective of this study, therefore, is to provide an empirical example of a flexible and replicable methodology to estimate the micro-scale UHI risks within an urban context which takes into account all the relevant elements regarding the heat-health nexus. For this purpose, the city of Turin has been used as a case study. The methodological approach adopted is based on risk assessment guidelines suggested and approved by the most recent scientific literature. The risk framework presented here used a quantitative estimate per each census tract within the city based on the interaction of three main factors: hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. Corresponding georeferenced maps for each indicator have been provided to increase the local knowledge on the spatial distribution of vulnerability drivers. The proposed methodology and the related findings represent an initial stage of the urban risk investigation within the case study. This will include participatory processes with local policymakers and health-stakeholders with a view to guiding the local planning agenda of climate change adaptation and resilience strategies in the City of Turin.

A framework to improve urban accessibility and environmental conditions in age-friendly cities using graph modeling and multi-objective optimization

The rapid growth of cities in recent decades has unleashed several challenges for urban planning, which have been exacerbated by their aging population. Among the most pressing problems in cities are those related to mobility and environmental quality, by which a global concern has flourished around enhancing pedestrian accessibility for both environmental and health-related reasons. To tackle this issue, this paper presents a new framework that combines multi-objective optimization with a graph model that aims to support urban planning and management to enhance age-friendly cities. The framework allows designing urban projects that improve accessibility and reduce noise and/or air pollution through the installation of urban elements (ramps and escalators, elevators, acoustic and vegetation panels), while considering the overall economic cost of the installation. To explore the trade-off between these objectives, we resort to multi-objective evolutionary algorithms, which permit to compute near Pareto-optimal interventions over the graph model of the urban area under study. We showcase the applicability of the proposed framework over two use cases in the city of Barcelona (Spain), both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results evince that the framework can help urban planners make informed decisions towards enhancing urban accessibility and the environmental quality of age-friendly cities.

التحليل الجغرافي للتجاوزات في مدينة الصقلاوية

The trespasses are one of the most important problems facing Iraqi cities today, which represent a new challenge for urban planners, as the phenomenon has become a threat to the city in its existence and distort its appearance, and the city of Al-Saqlawiya is not isolated from the rest of the Iraqi cities, in which various forms of trespasses appeared in its basic plan, especially after 2003 as a result of the security chaos and the weakness of the supervisory role of the authorities, and the study aims to know the type of those trespasses, their numbers, area and negative effects on the built environment, represented by the encroachment on the various land uses within the country. The basic design of the city, and outside it on the agricultural lands adjacent to it, the study has reached a set of conclusions that the most trespasses inside the city are industrial trespasses, which amounted to an area of (2.97) hectares on the taboos of roads and parks, while outside it is residential with an area of (60) hectares and that most of the land exceeded is agricultural land.