Inclusive Urban Development Research Articles

Towards inclusive urban real estate: Innovative strategies for shaping urban real estate developments in South Africa

South Africa, like many emerging economies, grapples with the challenges of rapid urbanisation, unequal access to resources, and historical spatial inequalities. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that reimagines urban real estate development as a catalyst for positive social change. This paper explores the imperative of inclusive urban real estate development in South Africa and presents innovative strategies to promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in urban environments. Following a quantitative inquiry technique, primary data was gathered from 109 built environment professionals with experience in sustainable urban development. To support this, descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used. According to the descriptive analysis using the mean score (MS) ranking technique, the development of affordable housing was one of the higher up-front innovative strategies for reshaping real estate development. Ensuring objectivity in city planning, re-engineering the city streets and buildings to create a safer environment were among the highly ranked strategies. The EFA further demonstrated that “urban redevelopment”, “government regulations”, “spatial planning”, “urban policy” and “diversification” were the underlying groups of new approaches for inclusive development. Implementing these innovative strategies, South Africa can move towards a more inclusive and equitable urban landscape, where urban real estate development becomes a force for positive social change, fostering sustainable economic growth and improving the quality of life for all citizens. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on urban development in South Africa and offers actionable insights for policymakers, developers, and community stakeholders invested in shaping more inclusive cities.

Culture-Led Regeneration in the UK——A Case Study on Hull

Culture-led regeneration is an important development of cultural policy in recent years. This paper takes the city of Hull, which was selected as a British cultural city in 2017, and discusses the strategy and implementation process of cultural regeneration. Analyzes the cultural activities of Hull City, and assess its impact on economic growth, social solidarity, and resident well-being. The study found that cultural regeneration significantly promoted the local economy, enhanced community cohesion, and improved the quality of life of the residents. However, Hull City also faces challenges in resource allocation and long-term sustainability. The conclusions of this paper show that cultural regeneration has reference value for other cities intentionally implementing similar strategies and helps to achieve sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Strategic planning and investment analysis for affordable housing: Enhancing viability and growth

Strategic planning and investment analysis are critical to enhancing the viability and growth of affordable housing projects. As urban populations rise and housing affordability challenges persist, effective strategies are needed to ensure that affordable housing developments are both financially viable and scalable. This paper explores key aspects of strategic planning and investment analysis in the context of affordable housing, emphasizing their role in fostering sustainable growth and maximizing impact. Strategic planning involves setting clear objectives, identifying key success factors, and developing actionable plans to achieve desired outcomes. In affordable housing, this includes assessing local housing needs, understanding market dynamics, and aligning development goals with community priorities. Effective strategic planning ensures that housing projects are responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income populations while addressing broader urban development goals. Investment analysis plays a crucial role in determining the financial feasibility and sustainability of affordable housing projects. This includes evaluating funding sources, estimating costs, and projecting financial returns. Key components of investment analysis include financial modeling, risk assessment, and scenario planning. By employing robust analytical tools, stakeholders can identify potential financial challenges and opportunities, optimize resource allocation, and ensure that projects are financially sound. Case studies from various regions highlight successful strategic planning and investment practices. For instance, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program in the United States has demonstrated how targeted investment incentives can stimulate the development of affordable housing while achieving financial and social returns. Similarly, initiatives in European countries have illustrated the importance of integrating strategic planning with innovative financing mechanisms to address housing shortages. Despite these successes, challenges remain, including securing adequate funding, navigating regulatory environments, and managing project risks. Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative approach involving government agencies, private investors, and community organizations. By leveraging strategic planning and investment analysis, stakeholders can enhance the viability and growth of affordable housing projects, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and inclusive urban development. In conclusion, strategic planning and investment analysis are essential for advancing affordable housing initiatives. They enable stakeholders to navigate complex financial landscapes, mitigate risks, and achieve long-term goals, fostering the growth of affordable housing and improving housing stability for underserved populations.

Computational urban science needs to go beyond computational

In this paper, I advocate for a radical expansion of computational urban science to encompass a multidisciplinary, human-centered approach, addressing the inadequacies of traditional methodologies in capturing the complexities of urban life. Building on insights from Jane M. Jacobs and others, I argue that integrating computational tools with disciplines like sociology, anthropology, and urban planning can significantly enhance our understanding and management of urban environments. This integration facilitates a deeper analysis of cultural phenomena, improves urban policy design, and promotes more sustainable, inclusive urban development. By embracing qualitative research methods—such as ethnography and participatory observations—alongside computational analysis, I highlight the importance of capturing the nuanced social fabrics and subjective experiences that define urban areas. I also stress the necessity of including community stakeholders in the research process to ensure that urban science not only analyzes but also improves the lived experiences of urban populations. Furthermore, I underscore the need for ethical governance and the mitigation of biases inherent in computational tools, proposing rigorous model auditing and the inclusion of diverse perspectives in model development. Overall, this work champions a holistic approach to urban science, aiming to make cities smarter, more equitable, and responsive to their residents’ needs.

Beyond Borders: Exploring the Lives of Migrant Workers in Chandigarh

The phenomenon of migration is intricately woven into the fabric of modern societies, shaping economies, cultures, and identities. Amidst the bustling urban landscape of Chandigarh, a city emblematic of India`s aspirations for progress and modernity, lies a diverse tapestry of migrant workers whose narratives remain largely unexplored. This study seeks to delve into the lives of these migrant workers, illuminating their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. Drawing upon quantitative research methodology, this study aims to uncover the multifaceted dimensions of migrant labour in Chandigarh. Through survey and structured interviews. It endeavour to comprehend the socio-economic, cultural, and psychological dynamics that underpin the lives of migrant workers. By examining factors such as employment patterns, living conditions, access to social services, and integration processes, we aim to elucidate the complexities of their daily existence. By amplifying the voices of migrant workers and providing a nuanced understanding of their lives, this research seeks to inform policy interventions and social initiatives aimed at improving their well-being and fostering inclusive urban development in Chandigarh. Through its exploration of the lives "Beyond Borders," this study endeavours to shed light on the resilience, struggles, and aspirations of Chandigarh`s migrant workforce.

Asymmetric spatial competition and dynamics in digitalization: Will public R&D support and marketization exacerbate spatial polarization?

This paper investigates the asymmetric spatial spillover effects of digital development across different types of cities. The results of the two-regime spatial Durbin models, using the panel data of 279 cities in China from 2011 to 2021, reveal the spatial polarization phenomenon in digitalization, where stronger cities such as smart cities, provincial capitals, and port cities become more dominant while weaker cities struggle to catch up. Increasing public R&D support leads to positive spatial spillover effects but exacerbates the spatial “Matthew effect” of digitalization. Additionally, marketization plays a moderating role by enhancing resource allocation efficiency and suppressing negative spatial spillover effects. Higher levels of marketization result in smaller digital gaps between cities. The findings provide valuable insights for decision-makers and stakeholders seeking to foster balanced and inclusive urban development in the digital age.

Resident demand-oriented selection and spatial layout strategy for public sports facilities

In response to elevated living standards and evolving recreational values, public sports facilities have become a focal point. This study, targeting the central districts of Yiyang City across 17 neighborhoods, integrates questionnaire surveys, in-depth interviews, and geographic information system analysis to address the diversified needs in sports infrastructure. It reveals a discrepancy characterised by uniform facility types and flawed layouts, notably in Heshan and Ziyang, that fail to satisfy the diversified demands of residents. Consequently, the research introduces a bottom-up strategy, emphasising the need for facility selections and spatial layouts informed by community needs. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of demographic factors such as age, income, and education in guiding facility placement strategies to accommodate a broad spectrum of users. By doing so, the study contributes a novel, resident-focused framework to the discourse on public sports facilities, promoting sustainable and inclusive urban sports environment development.

Valuing urban green spaces for enhanced public health and sustainability: A study on public willingness-to-pay in an emerging economy

Statement of problemRapid urbanization threatens urban green spaces (UGS), impacting ecological sustainability and public health. Research gapThere is a notable research gap in understanding public willingness to pay (WTP) for UGS in developing countries, including Brazil, which this study addresses. PurposeThis study aims to explore the association between public WTP for UGS and the recognition of their health benefits in Brazil, contributing to urban sustainability and public health. MethodEmploying a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates statistical quantitative analysis of WTP through surveys with qualitative insights into public perceptions of UGS benefits. Results and conclusionsThe findings reveal a significant willingness among the public to pay for UGS, driven by the recognition of their health benefits. The study underscores the importance of UGS for urban well-being and sustainability, highlighting a strong correlation between health benefits recognition and WTP. Practical implicationsThe results inform urban planners and policymakers of the critical value placed on UGS by the public, suggesting the need for inclusive urban development policies that prioritize green space accessibility and maintenance. Future directionsFurther research is recommended to explore innovative funding mechanisms for UGS to ensure equitable access and sustainability, alongside the impact of educational programs on public support for UGS.

Development of a conceptual model for an information management system in spatial planning projects. Case study of making-city project

Efficient information management is pivotal for the effective execution of spatial planning projects, yet many encounter hurdles stemming from disjointed information systems and processes. In this article, authors consider the intricacies of information management within the realm of spatial planning, leveraging insights from the multifaceted MAKING-CITY project to elucidate common challenges and propose innovative solutions. The proposed conceptual model for an integrated information management system offers a holistic approach, aiming to eliminate weaknesses inherent in existing information landscapes by seamlessly integrating diverse information components into a unified framework. By facilitating robust communication channels and synchronizing the actions of all project participants and stakeholders, this model enhances collaboration, streamlines workflows, and fosters informed decision-making. Importantly, the adaptability and versatility of developed model ensure its applicability across various spatial planning initiatives, offering a scalable solution to address the evolving demands of urban development projects. Through a meticulous examination of real-world challenges and practical solutions, this article contributes to the advancement of information management practices in spatial planning, laying the groundwork for more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive urban development processes in today's dynamic landscape.

Analysing the drivers of smart city implementation using DEMATEL method

<p>Indian cities are becoming more and more populated, and the technological, environmental, social, political, and economic infrastructure of those cities is deteriorating, necessitating the development of more innovative methods to enhance public utilities and services. The growth of smart cities encourages the creation of a stable, networked, and sustainable metropolitan structure. The “100 Smart Cities Mission” was started by the Indian government to encourage planned development. However, there is also a literature of criticisms of the indicators used by the smart city mission. A thorough investigation is necessary to identify the critical infrastructure, important resources, and development patterns for smart city planning. The purpose of my study is to achieve and move towards Smart City Mission goals in a holistic framework. This research paper proposes a weighted criteria to assess the eligibility factors identified from the literature studies of the Smart City Mission, to analyze the complex relationships among the indicators, to develop a holistic approach, and to classify factors based on the drivers of dependence and implementation. The findings of this study shed light on the key drivers and barriers to the implementation of smart city initiatives. The DEMATEL method provided a valuable tool for analyzing the complex interrelationships between different factors and identifying the most influential drivers. The results can guide policymakers, city managers, and other stakeholders in developing more effective strategies for smart city implementation. However, the study also highlights the need for further research to explore the context-specific factors that may affect the drivers of smart city implementation in different regions and cities. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of literature on smart cities and provides practical insights for decision-makers seeking to promote sustainable and inclusive urban development.</p>

Making Slum Resettlement More Affordable Through Innovative Techniques

This research paper delves into the pressing issue of slum resettlement in Indore, India, exploring innovative techniques to make such resettlement more affordable. With rapid urbanization, slums have become a prominent feature of many Indian cities, presenting complex challenges related to housing, infrastructure, and socio-economic development. In this paper, we analysis the existing strategies for slum resettlement in Indore and propose innovative techniques to enhance affordability, sustainability, and community engagement in the resettlement process. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including case studies , existing literature and surveys . we highlight the potential of innovative approaches involves the use of eco-friendly building materials and construction methods to create affordable and environmentally sustainable housing solutions, green infrastructure, Modular construction methods , and public-private partnerships to address the affordability gap in slum resettlement. The findings underscore the importance of holistic, community- centered solutions to improve living conditions and foster inclusive urban development in Indore and beyond. The urgent need for sustainable solutions is underscored by the detrimental effects of slum living on residents health, well-being, and socio-economic prospects. Innovative approaches hold the potential to mitigate these challenges while fostering inclusive urban development. Keywords : Slum Resettlement , Affordable , Innovative Techniques .

Exploring urban housing disadvantages and economic struggles in Seoul, South Korea

The present study investigates urban poverty in Seoul, South Korea, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on housing and economic challenges. Employing principal component analysis, clustering algorithms, and visualization techniques, it analyzes archived data to uncover disparities in housing conditions and economic well-being across Seoul. The research reveals significant socio-economic divisions, with over 75% of the city’s areas marked by vulnerability, indicating widespread poverty or the concentration of economically disadvantaged populations. This highlights the pervasive nature of poverty and the precarious situation of the urban poor, who are at risk due to fragile living conditions. The findings advocate for inclusive urban development strategies that prioritize the needs of marginalized groups, suggesting a shift from focusing solely on economic growth to ensuring equitable welfare for all residents.

Socio-Economic Dynamics Inhibiting Inclusive Urban Economic Development: Implications for Sustainable Urban Development in South African Cities

Globally, the need for sustainable urban development has never been more urgent than it is now. This is because estimates indicate that more than half of the global population will be living in urban areas by 2050, with South Africa estimated at 80%. This paper focuses on socio-economic nuances that impede sustainable urban development, as well as the strategies that can accelerate sustainable and inclusive urban development in South Africa. Through a literature-review methodology, the analysis identified the following issues as impediments to sustainable urban development in South Africa: informality, lack of consultations with urban citizens, unresolved apartheid legacies, crime and insecurity, and migration intricacies in South Africa. The paper also establishes prospective strategies to accelerate sustainable urban development, such as working with informality and not against it, promoting inclusivity and access to resources, accelerating policy reforms, investing in rural towns, and investing in superior technology and innovation. These findings imply that there is a need to seek alternative development models and approaches, to address poverty, unemployment, and poor housing, aspects that negatively impact urban development planning and sustainable development. The paper recommends inclusive urban housing as a remedy to address the challenges of access, affordability, and the quality of housing facilities in urban areas.

Under the banner of heritage conservation: The gentrification of dilapidated low-income neighborhoods in the Daming Palace Protection and Renovation Project

Understanding the dynamics and implications of urban redevelopment projects, particularly in the context of China's rapid urbanization, could inform sustainable and inclusive urban development strategies. This abstract provides an overview of the Daming Palace Protection and Renovation Project (DPPRP). Unlike other redevelopment projects that prioritize economic benefits, the DPPRP is predominantly driven by political interests, with cultural and economic factors playing supporting roles. As part of the broader integrated conservation and redevelopment program, the DPPRP holds political significance, and its implementation demonstrates clear state involvement, led by the local government. The response from residents reflects the failure of China's attempts to promote citizen participation in local governance, suggesting challenges even for participatory authoritarianism. These developments have negative implications for Chinese citizens' pursuit of their right to the city, hindering their ability to shape urban spaces and participate meaningfully in decision-making processes. The purpose of this study is to analyze the Daming Palace Protection and Renovation Project (DPPRP) in China, providing insights for policymakers and urban planners to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of urban redevelopment projects.

Revisiting the impact of public spaces on the mental health of rural migrants in Wuhan: an integrated multi-source data analysis

Current research on public spaces and mental health often focuses on the independent relationship of one or more social mediators, neglecting the nuanced implications and serial mechanisms inherent in the progressive social process. Using Wuhan city, China, as a study case with multi-source data, this research applies Multilevel Generalized Structural Equation Modeling and deep learning techniques to explore the differential effects of public spaces with varying degrees of publicness (i.e., typical, semi-, and privately owned) on rural migrants’ mental health. Crucially, this study scrutinizes both explicit (social interaction) and implicit (perceived integration) social mechanisms to revisit the relationships. The findings reveal that not all public spaces equally influence mental health, with typical and privately owned public spaces conferring profound benefits. Notably, public spaces impact mental health chiefly through perceived integration instead of through direct social interaction. Social interaction improves mental health primarily by enhancing perceived integration, suggesting that meaningful connections beyond superficial encounters are critical. In particular, we observed significant social effects in typical and privately owned public spaces but limited social functionality in semi-public spaces. This evidence contributes to the knowledge required to create supportive social environments within public spaces, integral to nurturing inclusive urban development.

Unveiling Disparities: Investigating the Gap between Palestinian Authority Counter Segregation Policies and Local Implementation Amid Deteriorating Conditions in the West Bank

Spatial segregation in the West Bank remains a pressing issue with profound social, economic, and political implications. This study examines the gap between the Palestinian Authority's (PA) political statements and the local implementation of strategic planning measures to counter segregation in Palestinian communities. By analyzing the Strategic Development and Investment Plans (SDIPs) from 2018-2021, this research investigates the extent to which these plans address the challenges posed by Israeli settlements and promote inclusive urban development. The findings reveal significant shortcomings, including limited coverage of settlement-related challenges, inadequate strategies to confront settlement activity, and a lack of context-specific approaches; Out of the 122 plans analyzed, only 15 (12.3%) explicitly addressed the geopolitical situation, while 67 (54.9%) acknowledged settlements as a challenge. Disturbingly, 28 plans (22.9%) neglected the significance of Area C, highlighting a substantial oversight.

Efficient implementation of a wavelet neural network model for short-term traffic flow prediction: Sensitivity analysis

The concept of a smart city is emerging to address significant challenges arising from rapid urbanization, economic growth, and climate change. Innovative technologies can be used as a means to promote sustainable and inclusive urban development. These technolgies include the deployment of the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), energy management, and smart transportation. In a smart city, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) play a vital role in efficient traffic management. This paper explores the use of hybrid artificial intelligence techniques for predicting short-term traffic flow data from M25 motorways in the UK. Since volume traffic flow data are non-stationary, wavelet transform (WT) as a powerful signal analyzer is applied for signal decomposition for the elimination of redundant data from input matrices. The feature selection method based on Gram-Schmidt (GS) is used for the selection of more valuable features. The elimination of redundant data can speed up the learning process and improve the generalisation capability of the prediction models. After a pre-processing stage, a wavelet neural network (WNN) with a simple structure is applied as a powerful prediction tool. Two separate structures are considered for the prediction of weekday and weekend traffic volume data. The experiments explore that the debauchies-4 (db4) wavelet function with 7 decomposition levels leads to the best detection accuracy. Moreover, the range of forecasting, the type of the day, the level of decomposition, and other factors all have an impact on prediction stability. Compared with existing prediction methods, the proposed approach produces lower values of root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for all step-horizons analyzed. These findings provide valuable implications and insights into the development of an efficient and reliable road condition monitoring system for delivering secure and sustainable transportation services.

Unlocking the Potential of German Smart Cities: Strategy Analysis through Online Content Examination

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of smart city strategies in Germany through the examination of online content. Smart city initiatives have gained significant attention worldwide as urban areas seek innovative solutions to address various challenges. In Germany, renowned for its technological achievement and commitment to sustainability, has witnessed the emergence of numerous Smart City projects. The aim of this study is to investigate the current status of Smart Cities strategy initiatives in Germany based on a sample of 82 cities. To achieve this, an online content analysis methodology is employed, using the official web presences of the selected cities and information published on them. The content analysis focuses on identifying empirical evidence related to digitalisation, data and governance, and obtaining their transparency and progress in a sample of 82 major German cities. The findings of this study reveal the diversity and richness of German smart city approaches, but also a varying degree of sophistication and transparency of strategic initiatives. As an expression of Germany's federal structure, the cities focus on different aspects, such as mobility, energy efficiency or data-driven administration. The insights gained from this online content analysis provide valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners and stakeholders involved in the design of smart city strategies. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of existing initiatives, policymakers can refine their approaches, address challenges and promote sustainable and inclusive urban development. Furthermore, this study contributes to the academic discourse on smart cities by providing empirical evidence on the implementation of strategies in a German context. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the German smart city landscape and serves as a basis for future research, policy formulation and the pursuit of smarter and more liveable cities.

Evaluating Riyadh's smart city initiatives: insights from the IMD Smart City Index framework

Abstract This research article evaluates Riyadh's smart city initiatives using the IMD Smart City Index framework, identifying key strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. The findings indicate that Riyadh excels in public safety, medical services, and digital connectivity, reflecting significant investments in these areas. However, the city faces challenges related to traffic congestion, air quality, and inclusiveness, highlighting the need for improved transportation solutions, stricter environmental regulations, and enhanced integration programs. To address these challenges, the study provides policy recommendations, including expanding digital infrastructure, improving public transportation, enhancing safety measures, promoting inclusivity, and increasing green spaces. Comparative analysis with leading smart cities, such as Singapore and Amsterdam, offers best practices that Riyadh can adopt. The study emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure the effective implementation of smart city strategies, guiding policymakers and urban planners toward sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Unraveling energy justice in NYC urban buildings through social media sentiment analysis and transformer deep learning

This study explores the intricate relationship between human sentiment on social media data, herein tweet posts on X platform, urban building characteristics, and the socio-spatial dynamics of New York City (NYC) boroughs. Leveraging Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, particularly sentiment analysis, augmented by the capabilities of transformer deep learning models, RoBERTa, the study places particular emphasis on the term ‘Stay-at-Home’ to encapsulate the pronounced shift in building occupancy during the pandemic's inaugural year. This focus intertwines with pivotal terms like ‘Energy Bill’ and ‘HVAC’, shedding light on their interconnected implications. The sentiment analysis leverages data from New York City's PLUTO and the Department of Energy's LEAD databases to emotional disparities connected to urban building characteristics as well as demographic and socioeconomic factors. This analytical approach unravels prevailing public emotions and extends the discussion to include energy justice concerns, viewing them through the lens of the city's built infrastructure. The research uncovers profound disparities in the built environment and the allocation of resources in NYC, highlighting the critical need to embrace a spatial justice framework for a sustainable future. This research can aid designers, planners, and policymakers in their efforts to promote equitable and inclusive urban development.