Urban Planning Practice Research Articles

Enhancing flood forecasting accuracy in Data-Scarce regions through advanced modeling approaches

Flood forecasting in data-scarce regions poses significant challenges due to irregular rainfall patterns and limited hydrological monitoring networks, particularly in semi-arid regions in Africa, South America, and Asia. However, despite significant efforts and advancements, there remains a substantial gap in the accurate prediction of flood events necessary for effective risk management and mitigation, evidenced by the recurrence of devastating floods in middle to low-income countries in recent years. Here, we address this problem by testing advanced modeling techniques in a local African case, using a combination of statistical methods for extreme event prediction, hydrodynamic modeling, and remote sensing data, to recommend the most adapted and accurate approach under a variety of settings. Our case study is an emerging urban area in Northern Morocco, situated in a triangular plain interposed between adverse geomorphological and precipitation settings, and unregulated expansion flow, creating an exceptionally overwhelming context for disastrous floods. In the absence of previous studies, we integrate frequency distribution analysis to predict extreme rainfall events and flood flow modeling to simulate floodplain inundation. Data sources included high-resolution remote sensing, local hydrological measurements, fine topographical data, and interviews with stakeholders. We found the Pearson Type 3 distribution to be the most suitable for modeling extreme precipitation in coastal areas, whereas the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution better fits inland areas. For flood flow assessment, the Gradex method proved to be the most accurate, while other empirical methods outlined critical limitations. Findings reveal that advanced hydrodynamic models significantly enhance flood hazard assessments, even in regions with limited data, showing outstanding correlations with previous flood records and stakeholder feedback. The outcomes carry critical implications for highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate models based on geographical and climatic conditions to inform more resilient urban planning and disaster management practices. We anticipate that these insights will support local decision-makers and urban planners in developing strategies that enhance community resilience and reduce the adverse impacts of flooding. Our work contributes to the broader field of flood risk management, providing a foundation for future developments and practical applications in similar regions worldwide.

Nighttime Lights and Population Variations in Cities of South/Southeast Asia: Distance-Decay Effect and Implications

Urbanization in South and Southeast Asia is accelerating due to economic growth, industrialization, and rural-to-urban migration, with megacities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Jakarta leading the trend. By analyzing VIIRS nighttime satellite data from 323 cities across 17 countries, we investigated the relationship between nighttime light (NTL) brightness and population density at varying distances from city centers. Our findings reveal a significant distance-decay effect, with both the intensity of NTL brightness and the strength of the NTL-population density relationship decreasing as the distance from city centers increases. A clear negative exponential relationship with the highest R2 was observed between NTL brightness and the distance from the city center. Our analysis indicates that a 105 km radius most effectively captures the extent of major metropolitan areas, showing a peak correlation between NTL brightness and population density. Cities like Delhi and Bangkok exhibit high NTL brightness, reflecting advanced infrastructure, while mountainous or desert cities such as Kabul and Thimphu show lower brightness due to geographical constraints. These results highlight the importance of adaptive urban planning, infrastructure development, and sustainability practices in managing urbanization challenges in South and Southeast Asia.

Inclusionary housing policy and practice in South African cities: planning as a spatial transformation tool

AbstractGlobally, housing forms an integral part of accessing the wide range opportunities that cities offer, however, inequality can be exacerbated when significant segments of the inhabitants are excluded from the real estate market or through inaction by the state. The need for affordable housing in cities with hyper-property markets is of global concern for public sector authorities that are pursuing goals of socially just and economically inclusive cities. In the global south, inclusionary housing policies and associated practices have emerged as important tools to increase access for those excluded from the opportunities available in towns and cities. In South Africa, the post-1994 democratic state has continued with the apartheid era practice of providing subsidised housing for the majority urban residents on the outskirts of towns and cities, thereby further entrenching poverty traps and racially based separate developments. Contrary to practice, the state’s well-documented policy position is to reverse the legacy of apartheid through spatial transformation so that cities and towns become economically more inclusive and socially just. It is argued that this requires prioritising the provision of affordable housing in urban centres of towns and cities that offer meaningful working, residing, shopping, recreational and other social opportunities. Although inclusionary housing policy has emerged internationally as an important mechanism to spatially transform urban areas, this forms only one component of a wider range of other possible public interventions. These framework mechanisms could include broader housing development policies, legislation and programmes as well as the urban development policies, spatial planning and land use management practices and incentives. Other incentives that can be used as leverage include the use of publicly owned property (land and buildings), capital infrastructure and development incentives. The public sector can offer both direct and indirect financial assistance and tax incentives to support an inclusionary housing policy. Critically, this should be contingent on the public sector understanding the feasibility, risk and benefits associated with housing projects pursued by private sector real estate developers.

Identification of Determinants That Reduce Women’s Safety and Comfort in Urban Public Spaces (UPS)

Urban development and population growth present new challenges for developing urban public spaces (UPS) in cities. The significance of cities as centers of integration of different socio-cultural groups is growing. Taking into account the diversity of needs and expectations of sensory-sensitive groups (women) as residents and users of urban public spaces is a key task facing modern city managers. Women’s public participation is relevant and important, because recognizing their needs and taking them into account in urban spatial policy contributes to creating cities tailored to the needs and expectations of residents and users, according to the principle of “everyone-important”. This article has goals for the identification of factors that reduce the safety and comfort of women’s activities and the most important architectural features UPS. The results of the research indicate that the determinants that reduce the friendliness of safety and comfort in UPS are a lack of lighting, lack of esthetics of space development, lack of benches and toilets, and street noise. A space tailored to women’s needs and expectations should be well-lit with a level walking and sidewalk surface and include architectural infrastructure elements such as adequate municipal sanitation (toilets), benches and urban furniture, with landscaped green space (squares, flowerbeds, trees), which is in line with the principles of universal design. This study’s results found that such factors can help create safe, egalitarian, and inclusive cities. They complete the research gap in the field of sustainable urban development and are key to developing gender-equitable urban planning and urban development policy practices.

Examining the impacts of urban tree structure and condition on adult depression in the United States

Urbanization can stimulate economic growth through industrialization; however, urbanization can also lead to dense development and high population densities. Both factors cause stress and negatively impact the quality of life of inhabitants living in cities. In response, a growing body of research has examined the association between urban trees and human health, in general and psychological well-being, in particular. Although this literature has tended to focus on tree canopy broadly, questions remain regarding the effects of specific tree characteristics (e.g., crown dieback, tree with damage, and leaf area). This study examines the association between adult depression and tree structure and condition metrics in ten cities across the United States. Adult depression data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and individual tree structure and condition data were calculated using the Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis Program. The linear mixed-effects model showed a positive relationship between depression and tree crown-dieback percentage (p = 0.03). Understanding the interplay between individual tree characteristics and adult depression can inform urban planning, design, and maintenance practices.

Off the rails: the failure of Turkey’s twenty-year-long construction frenzy

ABSTRACT Despite the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) two-decade-long urban development campaign and its extensive control over urban governance and housing, the 2023 earthquake in Turkey resulted in over fifty thousand deaths and left hundreds of thousands homeless. What explains this paradox? This paper addresses this question by examining the AKP’s distinct pattern of urban neoliberalism. It reveals how the party’s urban development strategies fostered a self-perpetuating cycle between state-led developers, contractors, and subcontractors, where illicit activities flourished alongside rapid urbanization and housing developments. The paper argues that the AKP’s urban planning practices not only cultivated public-private alignments, typical of neoliberal urbanism globally, but also stimulated a new form of private construction sector with minimal oversight and regulation. This paper demonstrates how this uncontrolled construction boom, fuelled by authoritarian governance, transformed a natural disaster into a catastrophic human tragedy.

Investigating the response of urban surface thermal environment to urban morphology changes in Nanjing

The urbanization process has significantly impacted urban morphology, which in turn has led to changes in the urban surface thermal environment (USTE). A summarization of the empirical patterns of past urban morphology changes and an evaluation of the USTE effects produced by different patterns will contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge regarding the response of USTE to urban morphology changes and facilitate the development of sustainable urban planning and design practices. This study investigated the response of USTE to urban morphology from the overall and local based on the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) framework during 2005–2020 in Nanjing. The results validated the rationality of the LCZ framework for describing urban morphology changes and their USTE responses. It was found that the overall USTE was continuing to deteriorate, with an increase in high temperature and sub-high temperature areas. LCZ 4, LCZ 5, and LCZ 8 were the major contributors to overall urban heat, and their growth in the amount and changes in USTE characteristics mainly caused the overall USTE deterioration. In localized areas, it was found that urban regeneration had the most potential to optimize USTE. The conversion processes of LCZ 5 to LCZ 4, LCZ 8 to LCZ 4, and LCZ 8 to LCZ 5 were considered more advantageous in improving daytime USTE, which should be advocated. The results can provide important insights into the perception of urban morphology and USTE, and support the urban regeneration policies for climate-resilient cities from the environmental performance perspective.

Impact Assessment of Mixed Land-Use Planning in Ethiopia: The Case of Addis Ababa

Urbanisation presents complex challenges that necessitate sustainable solutions for equitable resource distribution, environmental protection and economic growth. Mixed land-use planning (MLUP) offers a promising approach by integrating residential, commercial and recreational spaces, thereby enhancing urban resilience and inclusivity. However, its comprehensive impact on Addis Ababa remains underexplored, highlighting a notable research gap. This study aims to address this gap by examining the socio-economic, physical and environmental effects of MLUP across key Addis Ababa zones using a mixed-methods approach. Involving 384 households, 40 urban planning specialists and 14 key informants, including higher officials and diverse local community members from the Kir-kos and Bole sub-cities, the research used various sampling methods and data collected from 2002 to 2017 through surveys, interviews and observations. The analysis assesses MLUP’s role in promoting economic growth, social cohesion, efficient land use and environmental sustainability. Findings reveal considerable variations in MLUP’s impact on transportation and access to amenities, underscoring the need for context-specific planning. Insights from planners and community members highlight the benefits and challenges of MLUP and provide recommendations for improved urban planning practices that support sustainable urban environments.

Cluster Dimensions of the Space of a New Residential District of Ukrainian ‘Post-Socialist’ City

The article presents research material devoted to new dimensions of the spatial organization of residential areas of Ukrainian “post-socialist” city. He is currently faced with the challenges of military actions aimed at destroying the urban environment of Ukrainian cities. Residential areas of the micro-district type of the “post-socialist” city are mostly built on the basis of the postulates of functionalism. In the theory and practice of urban planning, they did not foresee the vulnerability of objects of necessary and social infrastructure. The criteria of centrality, as focus of concentration of functions of the spatial organization of the city, are currently being transformed into criteria of dispersion. Functional zoning acquires the multiplicative nature of multidimensional functional zoning. Fractal urbanism methodology assumes local freedom and global cohesion of individual urban planning elements. New exponential organizational structures with innovative digital technologies create “breakthrough” models of development. One of which is the urban planning cluster. The new residential area “Levada-2” in the city of Poltava (Ukraine) is presented, which demonstrates the latest approaches in the cluster organization of living space.

Cluster Dimensions of the Space of a New Residential District of Ukrainian ‘Post-Socialist’ City

The article presents research material devoted to new dimensions of the spatial organization of residential areas of Ukrainian “post-socialist” city. He is currently faced with the challenges of military actions aimed at destroying the urban environment of Ukrainian cities. Residential areas of the micro-district type of the “post-socialist” city are mostly built on the basis of the postulates of functionalism. In the theory and practice of urban planning, they did not foresee the vulnerability of objects of necessary and social infrastructure. The criteria of centrality, as focus of concentration of functions of the spatial organization of the city, are currently being transformed into criteria of dispersion. Functional zoning acquires the multiplicative nature of multidimensional functional zoning. Fractal urbanism methodology assumes local freedom and global cohesion of individual urban planning elements. New exponential organizational structures with innovative digital technologies create “breakthrough” models of development. One of which is the urban planning cluster. The new residential area “Levada-2” in the city of Poltava (Ukraine) is presented, which demonstrates the latest approaches in the cluster organization of living space.

Cross-sectoral interventions to promote health-supportive urban environments

Abstract Background As dealing with the complexity of urban living conditions becomes more and more evident and urgent, it is fundamental to promote cross-sectoral interventions that allow cities to become more inclusive and supportive of health. The Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, has promoted a participatory initiative to structurally integrate health into urban planning tools, identifying a framework of tailored urban indicators linked to locally perceived population health issues. Methods Through internal discussion and systematic literature research, a set of urban planners, epidemiologists, and public health experts from regional offices, local health services, universities, and environmental protection agencies identified the urban and health dimensions most suitable for embedding population health into city planning. The result was summarised in a preliminary working paper, which included a matrix of associations between urban features and health dimensions framed according to the DPSEEA framework. Its applicability was then tested in a participatory process (March-May 2024) involving urban planners and public health departments of 7 different sized municipalities. Results A group of epidemiologists identified local-level computable indicators for the health dimensions already included in the matrix or added at request. Each municipality focused on specific topics based on local priorities: 3 groups assessing their already-approved urban plans and looking for computable urban indicators; the others integrating their under-construction plans with local health indicators. Conclusions The need for professional contamination and cross-sectoral interventions is significant. Epidemiological support is pivotal in integrating different professional languages and reading health data. The outputs of this experience will contribute to a technical document outlining how to incorporate health promotion into urban planning tools and practice while actively considering the local context. Key messages • Although the development of a common vocabulary can be difficult, multidisciplinary collaboration is essential in promoting a model for integrating health promotion into urban planning. • Local municipalities’ involvement in the experimentation can improve the model’s applicability by taking into account territorial specificities.

Decoding urban power: Architecture, symbolism and territorial control in Caracas

This study examines the conflictual dynamics surrounding the utilisation of state-architecture and symbolic imagery as instruments for power consolidation, profoundly shaping national identity and perceptions within the built environment. Drawing on Bourdieu's concepts of symbolic power and cultural capital, this research illuminates the complex interplay between architecture, territory and power. It offers insights into the endurance of societal values and the ongoing renegotiation and reconfiguration of urban space. The research also analyses how urban planning and territorial practices can ignite resistance and challenge existing power structures. The city of Caracas serves as a case study, where two key strategies employed by the current government are analysed: the “Great Housing Mission Venezuela” and the proliferation of Chávez symbolism across the urban realm. By exploring these territorialisation practices in Las Adjuntas, Macarao, the study further unveils the dynamics of power and socio-spatial hierarchies encoded in the urban landscape. These architectural and symbolic interventions are interpreted as attempts to shape perceived realities, consolidate hegemonic control, and regulate the city's socio-spatial order. The findings assert that these practices not only reflect power distribution, but also grant the potential for dominating, producing and controlling territories in nuanced ways. This multidisciplinary study provides a novel framework for decoding power structures embedded in the built environment.

Green horizons: Exploring the potential of vertical green walls

The term “Green walls” also known as vertical gardens or living walls has emerged as a promising solution to combat the environmental challenges posed by rapid urbanization. This review explores the concept ornamental, plant choice suitable and benefits associated with green walls in urban settings. Utilising vegetation to cover vertical surfaces, green walls offer several benefits to the environment, society and economy. They contribute to improved air quality, noise reduction, energy conservation and biodiversity enhancement. Vertical greenery allows for the utilization of unused wall surfaces, creating green areas without occupying valuable ground space, which is often scarce in urban environments. Additionally, green walls offer aesthetic appeal, promote urban agriculture and create opportunities for community engagement. However, their implementation requires careful consideration of factors such as structural integrity, irrigation and maintenance. Despite these challenges, green walls offer a sustainable and innovative approach to enhancing the quality of urban life while mitigating the negative impacts of urban development on the environment. The current emphasis highlights the significance of green walls as an effective tool in sustainable urban planning, underscoring the need for further research and their integration into urban planning practices.

URBAN PLANNING AND VULNERABILITY IN SÃO FÉLIX DO XINGU

This paper investigates the topic “Urban Planning and Vulnerability in São Félix do Xingu: The Role of Civil Defense in Responding to Floods and Flash Floods.” The main objective is to identify the key urban planning practices discussed in the literature that can be applied to mitigate the impacts of hydrological disasters in São Félix do Xingu, in the Amazon region. A qualitative approach was used, focusing on a literature review, analyzing the interaction between urban planning policies and Civil Defense actions. The research considers studies published in the last ten years, focusing on tropical regions similar to the Amazon, and categorizes urban planning practices by geographic regions and their integration with Civil Defense. The main results highlight the need to strengthen coordination between Civil Defense and urban planning, as well as the importance of early warning systems and relocation strategies to reduce vulnerability. The comparative analysis revealed gaps in public policies and the need to adapt best practices to the local context. The study concludes that reducing the vulnerability of São Félix do Xingu requires an integrated approach between different sectors, strengthening urban infrastructure, and involving local communities. For future studies, it is suggested to conduct field research and develop local vulnerability and resilience indicators to support the formulation of more effective and contextualized public policies for the Amazon region.

Participatory Planning in the Special Allocation Fund Preparation Process in Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta

The theory and practice of urban planning have both shown a significant amount of attention in regards to community participation. Numerous studies have added to the growing body of literature highlighting the benefits of community participation in city planning and management. On the other hand, the literature on participation contains just a handful of theory-based empirical studies that investigate the role of community participation in the planning process of special fund programs in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. This research method uses quantitative analysis involving data collection using probability sampling techniques to collect data from 64 respondents. After that, a survey was conducted with the help of a questionnaire that was given out to respondents in order to obtain sample data. After that, the data that was gathered were examined by means of multiple regression analysis, which was carried out with the assistance of the SPSS Statistics 25 program. The results of this study indicate that knowledge, awareness, social media, political culture, and education have a positive and significant effect on community participation. This shows that active community participation in the special fund preparation program in the Special Region of Yogyakarta can be more targeted according to community needs.

How outdoor and indoor green spaces affect human health: a literature review.

The analysis of the complex interactions between outdoor or indoor greenness and the health of individuals and ecosystems is a topic of current and growing interest. This review aims to examine and summarise the results of studies conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure to greenness on various aspects of human health and the natural environment. For this purpose, in April 2024 we searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, Google Scholar and specialised books. Evidence gathered demonstrates a remarkable correlation between exposure to outdoor and indoor greenness and the improvement of mental health, including the reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression. Contact with greenness is also associated with improvements in physical health, such as reductions in blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammation, as well as in cognitive abilities, concentration, and overall recovery. These benefits are recognisable both in outdoor spaces, such as urban parks, oases, and public gardens, and in indoor spaces, through the introduction of plants and nature-evoking elements in living and working environments. The presence of vegetation in indoor environments, such as offices, schools, healthcare facilities, prisons, and others, can contribute to improving the quality of social spaces, fostering communication, and collaboration, and attenuating aggressiveness and inequalities, thereby increasing employee satisfaction and work efficiency. The combination of outdoor/indoor green spaces and the well-being of the living environment includes exposure to greater biodiversity, mitigation of extreme weather events, absorption of atmospheric pollutants, attenuation of urban background noise, and increased privacy. The presence of vegetation in urban areas has a positive impact on social cohesion, promoting interpersonal interaction and facilitating the development of more cohesive and inclusive communities, thus supporting a sense of belonging and collective identity. In conclusion, these results underline the importance of considering contact with greenness as a fundamental element in promoting the psychophysical health and well-being of individuals and ecosystems, suggesting the adoption of nature-based therapies and interventions in public health policies and urban planning practices.

The Impact of Street Trees on Temperature Reduction in a Nature-Based Climate Adaptation Program in George Town, Malaysia

Nature-based solutions have been promoted as an effective strategy to address climate impacts, including urban temperature reduction. In this paper, we analyze the impacts of the introduction of street trees on temperature (Universal Thermal Climate Index, UTCI) for three different dates, 2000, 2023, and 2050. A 3D model was developed in Rhinoceros software for a part of George Town, on Penang Island. Four different sections of streets were simulated after integration of the model with the Grasshopper plug-in, where a parametric system was built for temperature measurements based on simulations in the Ladybug and Honeybee plug-ins. The tree species used were selected from a pool of tree species commonly planted in urban settings in Malaysia that have low and medium sensitivity to climate impacts. The results show a maximum reduction of 7 °C between 2000 and 2050, achieved on a street with an NW–SE orientation that was planted with three rows of trees. The minimum UTCI reduction achieved was 3 °C, between 2023 and 2050, in a street with NW–SE orientation that was planted with one tree row. The two streets with a SW–NE orientation showed a 5 °C temperature reduction between 2023 and 2050. Both streets have only one row of trees but different species and sizes, with the bigger trees reducing the temperature in a slightly larger area. The results show the importance of introducing and safeguarding street trees to reduce urban temperatures in the country, potentially keeping temperatures below life-threatening levels, thereby safeguarding urban health, while also reducing costs of energy consumption. Solar orientation, the number of tree rows, and their distribution impact the outcomes. The findings provide useful guidance for climate-conscious urban planning practices in Malaysia.

The Practice of Urban Planning In Managing Urban Expansion: The Case of Level-I Towns in Southern Ethiopia

The world’s urbanization continues to grow rapidly occurring in developing regions. The rapid pace of urbanization without equivalent economic growth causes uneven spatial dispersion, land speculation, urban sprawl, ecological damage, and socio-cultural chaos. Urban planning is a key tool in managing such urbanization and particularly urban expansion challenges through several strategies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the practice of urban planning in managing urban expansion by applying both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The first-hand data was collected by a structured questionnaire survey, interview, and physical observation, whereas secondary data was analyzed from spatial and non-spatial data of the study towns, national urban policy and strategy documents, and the national urban development spatial plan. Descriptive analysis, principal factor analysis, spatial trend analysis, and content analysis techniques were applied with the help of the SPSS and GIS analysis tools to reach the findings. The practices of urban planning in managing the urban expansion of the study town were evaluated on the basis of factors including urban spatial growth management, community engagement, economic change, and peri-urban communities’ understanding of urban planning. The major findings indicated that these variables are poorly practical, and their failure has been collectively posing significant obstacles to the effectiveness of urban planning. This implies that the urban planning practice in managing urban expansion was insignificant in the study towns. Therefore, it is best to use the alternative expansion area planning strategy, that promotes planned spatial growth, community inclusivity, mixed economic activity, environmental sustainability, and the community’s awareness of expansion areas.

Minoritised youth’s environmental justice priorities in a gentrifying context: brokenness and repair

ABSTRACT Youth engagement in urban planning research and practice can help reveal their distinct experiences, priorities, and provide direction for future action. Environmental justice scholarship has documented critical insights learned from youth co-researchers. This article adds to this tradition by exploring how youth in Austin, Texas, experience environmental injustice within the context of gentrification. Using photovoice methods, youth researchers identify and discuss these dual challenges. We illustrate how their emphasis on brokenness links and builds on environmental justice, repair and maintenance, and reparative literatures. Findings also highlight how youth actively work to improve their communities, challenging planning scholarship’s tendency to frame youth action as aspirational or as happening in structured, programmatic ways.

Urbanization provocateur: Reaching urban planning-led development in Saudi Arabia

While urbanization has been a core feature of global urban development for centuries, it does not always lead to sustainable development outcomes, especially in global South cities where the phenomenon is rapid and often unplanned. Framed around sustainable development thinking, this paper intends to provide critical analysis of sustainable urbanization by examining the barriers, drivers, processes, and outcomes associated with urban planning-led development. A case study research approach was applied in three major cities in Saudi Arabia to present convergence and divergence of urbanization-induced growth and development outcomes as well as urban planning limitations in a region that scholarly research on urbanization is recently emerging. Our findings show the critical relevance of an engaging urban planning practice across different scales of cities, and to the critical strategy of public participation for the promotion of urban planning-led development to addressing infrastructure inadequacies, inequalities, and environmental deterioration.