Urban Planning Concepts Research Articles

Using Spatial Justice in Urban Planning with The Systemic Thinking Approach

The unbalanced distribution of public land uses is one of the consequences of the rapid growth of cities in recent decades. This problem causes the unequal of citizens from urban services, which results in the morphing of the polar and dual spatial structures in the city space. The present study is to recognize and analyze the dimensions of spatial justice and apply this concept in urban planning. Therefore, it is applied research. The research method is descriptive-analytic. Qualitative data were collected with an open questionnaire and through interviews and reviewing library documents. The quantitative data used in numerical form and by the weighting of Delphi questionnaires were prepared. In this study, 12 professors, experts in the field of urban planning and management from five top universities of Tehran in Iran (Tehran University, Sharif University of Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, The University of Tarbiat Modarres, and Shahid Beheshti University) were selected as the team of experts. Then, by forming the matrix of the interaction space justice elements and numerical coding of experts based on the logic of the cause-effect and the effect of each criterion on the system and conversely, effective spatial justice indicators in urban planning, were prioritized. The results of the analysis show that urban space has spatial justice when it includes the indicators of "simplicity and readability", "equality of opportunity" and "human scale". Finally, according to the results of previous stages, the neighborhood layout model in the city is proposed based on the concept of spatial justice.

Age and the 20-min city: Accounting for variation in mobility

The political popularity of the 20-min city is a result of its perceived equal treatment of all citizens, yet the ideal geography fails to consider the diversity of mobilities and needs of different age groups. If 20-min cities are to provide equality for people with limited mobility, they need to understand their location and proximity to the services which meet their needs. Considering older people as a subset of the population with diverse mobilities, this research provides a novel exploration of the issue of age and urban mobility through grounded analysis of the 20-min city against a geodemographic classification of older people in Liverpool City Region, England. We construct a new model of accessibility to services that takes into consideration varied mobilities for older residents. We find that reduced walking speed results in a significant diminution of service accessibility, but that this diminution is highly varied for different older person groups. This highlights the need for 20-min city planning to account for the needs of diverse older geodemographic groups and a tighter conceptualization of the 20-min city concerning equity to avoid the pitfalls of some similar urban planning concepts.

Case Study Analysis of Unified and Non-Unified Planning of Urban Public Space

This paper briefly reviews the development history of urban public space management, organizes the public space management tools and methods that accompany urban development, focuses on the analysis of domestic and foreign public space planning cases with different degrees of uniformity, analyzes the problems embedded in urban public space under different plans in the context of relevant design concepts of urban planning, and explores the possibility of disorder-oriented urban planning tools and the balance between uniformity and non-uniformity on the premise of the necessity of uniform planning. The study will explore the possibility of design-oriented urban planning tools and the balance between uniformity and non-uniformity. This paper finds that unified planning is necessary for the planning of urban public spaces, but more attention should be paid to disorderliness in design to avoid disadvantages.

Stalingrad: The feat of creation

Based on archival documents introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, the process of postwar restoration of Stalingrad is discussed. During the Battle of Stalingrad, which became one of the key battles of the Second World War, Stalingrad suffered colossal destruction: not a single one of the 126 enterprises survived, while 48 factories were razed to the ground; the civilian population of the city was reduced to 1515 people. Already in December 1942 - January 1943, the city and oblast authorities decided to begin restoration. Although the fighting in the city was still ongoing, on April 4, 1943, a resolution of the State Defense Committee (GKO) was adopted On Priority Measures to Restore the Economy of Stalingrad and Stalingrad Oblast. The process of developing an urban planning concept and searching for an architectural and artistic solution was rather difficult. The best creative forces of the Soviet Union took part in this work: A.V. Shchusev, B.M. Iofan, K.S. Alabyan, E.V. Vuchetich, and others. The final project for the development of the center of Stalingrad was prepared by a group of the Academy of Architecture under the leadership of Alabyan in 1946; however, after the adoption in 1955 of the resolution of the CPSU Central Committee On the Elimination of Excesses in Design and Construction, this project was not implemented in full. An important milestone in the formation of the modern appearance of Stalingrad (Volgograd) was the construction of the memorial ensemble to the heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad on Mamayev Kurgan in 1959−1967 according to the design and under the direct supervision of the sculptor E.V. Vuchetich and engineer N.V. Nikitin.

Transdisciplinary tools in modern urban planning theory (by the example of the concept of "urban vegetation")

The changes in theoretical urban planning concepts under the influence of transdisciplinarity are investigated. On the example of the definition of "urban vegetation", the variability of the use of linguistic and content structures for its description is discussed. A brief review of texts illustrating the transition from the concept of "resource assessment" (which is centered on the analysis of the consumer value of individual natural components of the urban environment) to the concept of "anthropo-eco-system" (focused on a qualitative assessment of the current state of individual components of the system) is presented. The theme of natural components inherent in the past decades is giving way to a modern view of system components of various origins. The question is raised about the need to rethink a number of theoretical foundations of urban planning in order to deepen their internal links with the socio-economic and cultural agenda.

Reproduction of city blocks while creating a comfortable urban environment

Urban planning and the creation of a comfortable green environment are two integral components of sustainable urban development. Modern cities face many challenges related to pollution, limited resources and lack of space. However, the creation of a green environment and sustainable urban development can help solve these problems. In addition, sustainable urban planning aims to create compact and convenient urban environments. This approach allows reducing traffic flows, using less energy and resources for the construction and operation of urban infrastructure facilities. One example of such urban planning is urban blocks. Urban blocks is an urban planning concept that involves the creation of compact and multifunctional city blocks that combine residential, office, retail and other types of real estate. This concept is designed to improve the quality of life of citizens, create a more sustainable urban environment and reduce traffic flows. Thus, urban blocks and green urban planning have much in common and complement each other. In this article, we will consider the issues of reproduction of urban blocks in construction, their differences from other forms of urban development, as well as what benefits they provide for residents and urban infrastructure in general.

Assessment of Safe Access to Pedestrian Infrastructure Facilities in the City of Almaty, Kazakhstan

Currently, in all large and small cities in Kazakhstan, residential and public buildings are being actively built. It should be noted that the quantitative indicators of the construction of residential facilities prevail. The method applied to building residential facilities at the point and quarter increases the population density in urban areas. Increasing the number of residents requires assessing the levels of comfort for pedestrians at different speeds, the safety of sidewalks, and ensuring the accessibility of infrastructure facilities to people. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the quality of comfortable and safe conditions of pedestrian roads as a part of a district of Almaty. The assessment is based on the study of the presence and quality of elements and objects in the structures of transport roads and pedestrian sidewalks, and the determining level of pedestrian comfort is also applied (PCL). As a result of the study, the most problematic streets, the quality of pedestrian accessibility of extensive infrastructure facilities in each residential sector, and the main shortcomings and proposals for their elimination will be identified. The data obtained because of the study can be used in reconstruction, and urban area spatial planning concepts, allowing people to walk to most daily services and institutions, creating maximum opportunities to walk, reducing dependence on road transport, and contributing to the daily life of the community.

The 15-minute city for all? – Measuring individual and temporal variations in walking accessibility

Popular concepts in urban planning, like the 15-minute city, suggest that everyday services should be accessible to everyone within “walking distance”. However, walking distance is usually considered from the perspective of the average person, and little effort is made to understand the temporal (daily and seasonal) variation in walking accessibility. If our aim is to create inclusive cities, we also need to address the realities of vulnerable population groups.In this study, we analysed how walking accessibility landscapes vary temporally and between population groups particularly focusing on the diverse realities of older people. We hypothesised that the temporal variation, especially seasonal, disproportionately influences their range of mobility options. To test this, we first recorded walking speeds in Finland’s Helsinki Metropolitan Area during dry and winter season. We then created and compared accessibility landscapes between groups with different walking characteristics by integrating data on seasonal walking speeds, diurnal activity opening hours, and the (residential) locations of people.We showed that the diurnal variation has the largest effect on walking accessibility in the study area over seasonal and age-related variation when these variables are considered separately. Combined, these variations can explain reductions in accessibility that, in the worst-case scenario result in only 34% of the older population having 15-minute walking access to the closest grocery shop, compared to a baseline of 93%. However, the intra-group variation between population groups and road conditions remains large.The study highlights the importance of considering the variation in people’s walking abilities, road conditions and service network when modelling walking accessibility. This is particularly important for vulnerable population groups, such as older people, who often rely on running errands on foot and may have impaired mobility. The results support spatial planners to mitigate social and spatial inequalities and help them to promote environmentally sustainable transport.

Evaluating the Integration of Nature-Based Solutions Concept in Strategic Urban Planning in Romania

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are innovative approaches oriented to address societal and environmental challenges. Increasing the interest to implement NbS in cities is strongly connected with their inclusion as potential measures in urban planning. The aim of our article was to assess the inclusion of NbS in Romanian urban development strategies. We used an evaluation matrix to systematically extract data from 249 urban development strategies. Using content analysis, we assessed the level of inclusion of NbS in different sections of the strategies. Only 10% of urban strategies include different aspects related to NbS concepts, while 40% of the documents are linking NbS to objectives. More than a third of the documents focused on the creation, modernization and maintenance of green areas meanwhile ecosystem services were not presented as specific benefits. This scarce presence of NbS in urban strategies warns about limited consideration of innovative approaches in urban planning, which could influence the capacity of Romanian cities to handle climate changes and to become more sustainable, resilient, and equitable.

Impacts of transit-oriented development on car use over a 10-year period in Porto, Portugal: From macro- to micro-analysis

Transit-oriented development (TOD), an urban planning concept that aims to promote sustainable transport modes, has been actively studied in recent years, especially in relation to car trips reduction. However, longitudinal studies on the matter are still rare. In this paper, we analyze the effects of the implementation of a new metro system after its first 10 years of operation focusing on how changes in the number of car trips were influenced by station type – TOD, transit-adjacent development (TAD) and park-and-ride (P&R). Specifically, we perform a before/after analysis of the impact of metro implementation in the Porto area (Portugal) both at a macro scale (civil parish) and at a micro scale (census tract) to analyze the overall effect of metro and more detailed effects only detectable at the micro scale. Census-tract data enables a comprehensive analysis of spatial spillover impacts from different stations, comparing the extent (i.e., the distance range within which the effect of station proximity is noticeable) and the magnitude (the reduction in the number of car trips) of the spillover in each case. Both direct and indirect metro impacts are already visible at the macro scale, yet at the micro scale the magnitude of the spillover effects varies depending on station type. The effects of TOD stations on the reduction of car trips are the strongest across the different station types and are felt up to a 2 km distance from a station, while TAD and P&R effects are weaker and do not reach beyond 1.2 km.

Localization of the Urban Planning Process with the Knowledge-Based Sustainable Development Approach

In recent decades, the concept of a knowledge-based city has been proposed as one of the most important concepts in urban planning. The present study evaluates the ability to localize urban planning indicators in the city of Urmia and determine the desirability of knowledge-based city indicators to provide coherent policies and strategies to achieve sustainable development and a knowledge-based city. Localization is the adaptation of global patterns and methods of development and planning to the internal conditions of the local community. In order to collect data from documents and library studies, experts’ opinions have been used by the Delphi method. Then, indicators related to local urban planning and knowledge-based city were extracted. The present study’s statistical population is 20 specialists and experts related to the research topic through the survey method. In order to analyze the research data, a one-sample t-test was used to assess the ability to localize aspects of urban planning in the city of Urmia. In order to investigate the degree of correlation and factor load of each urban planning indicator, confirmatory factor analysis was used. Using the Swara technique, the desirability and knowledge-based city indicators’ priority level has been evaluated and analyzed. The research results indicate that each of the economic, social, physical, environmental, and managerial aspects of urban planning can be localized in the city of Urmia. Moreover, the situation of Urmia in some aspects is in a situation of incompatibility in terms of the feasibility of the knowledge-based city’s policies. In order to improve the current situation and achieve the desired goals, suggestions have been made in various aspects.

Greenery as an Element of Imageability in Window Views

A window view affects a person’s well-being and comfort. The effect of visual contact with nature on people depends on the quality of the outside scenery, which in turn depends on parameters such as the number of visible layers, the distance to visual elements and environmental information (content) in the window view. Many studies have concluded that views of nature are preferable, while in urban environments a high-quality window view should include greenery. In our study, a survey was conducted among two groups of students at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana, to find out how the respondents perceived urban imageability in a window view. Using the example of five neighborhoods in Ljubljana (Slovenia), which have different urban planning and design concepts and greeneries, we investigated whether respondents perceived the presence of greenery as an important element of visual comfort. They ranked the quality of window views using eight indicators. The analysis of the ranking of the answers showed that the responses were similar for the two survey approaches (with single-selection and with multiple-selection techniques), except for the perception of surface texture. This indicates a common understanding of the role of greenery and an ambiguity in the perception of what is meant by the term ‘texture’.

Influence of TOD Modes on Passenger Travel Behavior in Urban Rail Transit Systems

Transit-oriented development (TOD) mode refers to the integrated development of high-density and multi-functional land in the vicinity of core public transportation stations to increase public transportation rates and address problems such as traffic congestion and land shortages. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend the relationship between TOD areas and the travel behavior of rail transit residents. However, the income level and occupation of residents have a significant impact on their travel behavior, as people tend to choose their residential, work, and entertainment areas based on their economic characteristics. This paper focuses primarily on two aspects: how to distinguish TOD areas from non-TOD areas (specifically, rail stations) and the variations in the travel behavior of the people residing in these areas. Rail stations were first classified via cluster analysis according to the selected TOD indexes; then, a propensity score matching method was applied to control the influence of self-selection behavior. Based on this, the matched results were analyzed to study the difference in the travel behavior characteristics of residents in TOD and non-TOD areas. The results indicate that residents in TOD areas are more likely to travel by public transportation than those from non-TOD areas. The findings of this study promote a people-oriented urban planning concept and would have practical implications for applications of TOD modes on urban public transportation systems.

REDUCING THE POLLUTION OF THE AIRSPACE OF THE CITY'S MAIN HIGHWAY AREAS

The article deals with problems of air pollution in large cities and how to solve them. In Europe, road transport produces nearly half of NOx emissions, which ensures urban air quality. Analysis of reference data has revealed scientists' active interest in reducing air pollution in large cities. However, since the objects of territorial planning continue to develop dangerously, one can speak of the absence of a sufficiently compelling concept of architectural and urban planning to ensure the environmental safety of the air basin of urban areas. Therefore, we propose to consider the object of the research and protection as systemic integrity of three entities: areas near trunk roads, air basins, and population. The paper presents an ER model of the research object and determines the main parameters of each entity, their interrelationships, and the action area. We propose an engineering and planning solution for installing special units to remove the most dangerous admixtures of nitrogen oxides and dust from the air basin near the city trunk roads through ozonation and absorption. The basis of the proposed treatment plant is a scrubber with combined processes of wet dust collection and ozonation characterized by high efficiency in removing fine dust and nitrogen oxides. The work presents a process flow diagram of purification and determines the operating conditions of the equipment. To substantiate the unit's operational safety in an emergency with ozone emission, we have simulated the process of ozone dispersion in the surrounding areas.

ТЕОРЕТИКО-ПРАВОВІ ЗАСАДИ АДМІНІСТРАТИВНОГО РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ ДОЗВІЛЬНИХ ПРОЦЕДУР У СФЕРІ УРБАНІЗАЦІЇ

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the definition, content and features of the application of permitting procedures in the field of urbanization. Attention is paid to the very concept of urban planning, urbanization and urban planning. An attempt has been made to link the concepts of urban planning and urbanization at the level of theory. Attention is paid to urban planning objects. The presence of the corresponding specialization called to study the basic provisions of the theory of town-planning activity, possibilities of its realization in practice is specified. The theoretical understanding of the concept of permitting procedures in the field of urbanization is investigated and generalized, which allowed to identify and generalize the problems of their design and issuance. The concept of the permitting procedures in the field of urbanization is revealed in detail, the shortcomings of their application in practice and their legislative regulation are highlighted, changes are proposed to improve this situation. The range of subjects of legal relations on permitting procedures in the field of urbanization, their responsibility, control over their activity is defined. The case law of the European Court of Human Rights shows the key aspects of the functioning of permitting procedures in the field of urbanization, as well as the problems and shortcomings of their functioning, offers to address the relevant shortcomings. The practice of foreign countries, especially European ones, in the field of regulation and application of such permitting procedures was also applied. The domestic practice of legislative regulation of provisions on permitting procedures in the field of urbanization is taken into account. The content and application of permitting procedures in the practical activities of the subjects of legal relations on permitting procedures in the field of urbanization are characterized. They are shown to be different depending on the type and complexity of construction of a particular urban development object. Examples of practical experience of other countries in the application of permitting procedures and the issue of providing them to certain business and community entities are given. Taking into account the additional domestic experience, the result of solving the problematic aspects of permitting procedures in the field of urbanization was summed up.

Smart urbanism during the COVID-19 pandemic

The present study attempts to predict the possible impacts and consequences of the modern urban concept (smart urbanism) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The article reveals the concept of smart urbanism in more detail, the principles applied in worldpractice during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the specifics of projects that relate to the concept of smart urbanism. The article presents the advantages and disadvantages of smart urbanism in a pandemic situation. Relevance: The study of the modern urban planning concept (smart urbanism) in a pandemic time and its advantages and disadvantages in solving problems in such conditions. Purpose: The study of modern trends in urban design, their effectiveness and shortcomings for solving problems in a pandemic situation (COVID-19). It should be noted that in order to achieve the goals of the study, it is necessary to define the term smart urbanism, its principles and practice; identify the pandemic situation, its characteristics and the city's needs in the current situation; apply the solutions of this concept (smart urbanism) in cities during a pandemic. Methodology: Critical analysis, scientific literature and documents related to the concept of smart urbanism and its application during the pandemic to reach and draw conclusions. The concept of smart urbanism and pandemic control in the city. Originality: The study and analysis of the urban planning concept of a smart city during the pandemic, its advantages and disadvantages to achieve control and find solutions in similar situations.

Mixed-use contextualized: understanding the spatial characteristics of mixed-use in Kansas City, MO

ABSTRACT The mixed-use concept in urban design and planning has become one of the most prevalent principles in the field. Mixed-use is considered “an unquestionable spatial virtue” that provides benefits such as social diversity, safety, public health, and environmental and economic sustainability. However, empirical findings that fully describe the mixed-use concept in relation to its morphological implementation in planning practices are lacking. The present research acknowledges the importance of understanding the morphological context in mixed-use development, and it provides a methodology for assessing various patterns of mixed-use in relation to the urban form characteristics. This research employed factor and cluster analysis to understand mixed land use spatial patterns, as well as developed a typology of mixed-use spatial patterns for 105 block groups in Kansas City, Missouri. Based on the results, this study reviews urban design and planning strategies that can help contextualize the mixed-use spatial patterns for sustainable and localized mixed-use development.

Environmental quality of urban life in small towns: An explorative study of stated and revealed preferences on the periphery of a Czech metropolis

ABSTRACT The purpose of the article is to address the gap in approaches to assessing the quality of urban life (QoUL) in small towns, with a particular focus on the environmental dimension of the QoUL concept. The authors examined a statistical relation between life satisfaction and QoUL in small towns, detected the position of the environment among other dimensions of QoUL, and explored the link between the stated and revealed preferences of residents in a small town on the outer margin of the metropolitan area of Prague, the capital of Czechia. The results revealed a pathway to assess trade-offs in QoUL posed by the varying effects of the proximity of small towns to larger urban centres. The discussion focuses on the limitations of exploring stated and revealed preferences regarding the use of the QoUL concept in urban planning. The authors conclude that the worst QoUL compared with overall life satisfaction resulted from the ‘bounding effect’ of those who were socially and economically bound to the study location. Additionally, they conclude that the environmental concerns represented an important but not major dimension of QoUL, as was also reflected in election manifestos and results.

Managing the challenges of competing interests of different regions in setting the boundaries of neighboring urban areas: the case of Addis Ababa city administration and oromia regional state, Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, urban boundary roles are ineffective, leading to conflicting urban development, particularly on areas share borders and are administered by different regional governments. Therefore, this study examined the nature of shared urban boundaries and related social-ecological challenges. It employed a case study approach, and the findings are conceptualized to the broader urbanization and urban planning trends, with particular relevance to any urban areas sharing borders. Temporal satellite images from 2005 and 2018 were used to examine land use/land cover changes around shared urban regions, and their proposed and existing land-uses were compared with the aid of Geographical Information System and ERDAS IMAGINE. The findings show lack of clear criteria to delineate urban boundaries in Ethiopian urban planning; absence of regional planning leading to indistinct and overlapping boundary setting, which triggered challenges related to: rapid conversion of ecosystem service providing sites to settlements, conflicts over land administration, and land ownership insecurity. Furthermore, non-integrated urban planning trends between urban areas sharing borders amplify the proposal of conflicting and incompatible land uses. As a result, policymakers and planners should employ integrated and participatory urban and regional planning concepts for the effectiveness of urban areas sharing boundaries and administered by different regions.

Critical Indigenism as Approach for Sustainable Urbanization

Within the next 30 years, cities will grow dramatically. Rural areas will become new urban centers, and open spaces will transform into urban cityscapes. Population growth, demolition of natural landscapes, and urbanization are fuelling the already imminent threat of climate change. Indigenous structures with their own “critical regionalism” touch on a wide range of cultural, economic, and societal aspects. The authors of this paper examine the possible influence of indigenous vernacular structures and the important regional dependencies in African communities. Paradigm would be the use of materials, typologies, building layouts, urban planning, and ecological concepts as well as the question of the importance of a defined urban image. The paper is based on results derived from interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration within the framework of the Female Academic Leadership Network for Conscious Engineering and Science towards Sustainable Urbanisation FALCONESS.