Urban Planning Practice Research Articles

Learning from the Policy and Practice of Green City Development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The complex challenge of managing urban growth and development in the context of climate and environmental change has led to a proliferation of policy discourses related to the ‘green city’. While useful as a buzzword, it is argued that green city discourses often overlook or even mask questions of social and environmental justice. This case study of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, shows that the presence of green and sustainable city discourses in policymaking does not reflect the reality of urban planning practices. Instead, it has produced an urban vision reflective of the priorities of global capital while contributing to the ongoing destruction of urban biodiversity and the marginalization of urban residents living in poverty. It is argued that a reconceptualization of the green city be undertaken, which incorporates understanding of participatory and distributive justice to ensure that urban planning practices are inclusive and sustainable.

Creative Destruction and Built Environment Heritage in Makhanda, South Africa

Heritage conservation is recognised as an important component of sustainable development but is often considered a lower priority compared to other development imperatives, and societal issues. The prioritization of economic and urban development threatens urban heritage through a process known as creative destruction. This research uses the concept of creative destruction to explore the interplay between market forces and urban planning and management practices on the heritage conservation of the city of Makhanda in South Africa. Makhanda has a rich and varied cultural heritage landscape, including many individual buildings and streetscapes. A qualitative approach, including semi-structured key informant interviews and secondary sources was employed. The study found that municipal dysfunction and other urban management challenges result in difficultly in enforcing legislation and policy, and thereby threatens heritage conservation. The fates of three buildings within the historic urban fabric of the city are explored in terms of the impacts of neoliberal urbanism occurring within this context. The research contends that for heritage management to be successful, there needs to be a balanced approach through improvements in stakeholder relationships, governance, institutional capacity, knowledge sharing and community involvement in decision-making processes.

Valladolid's urban planning since the 1980s: reflection and example of trends in Spain

The city and urban area of Valladolid are a clear example of the trends that have characterised the evolution of the urban system and urban planning in Spain in the cycle that includes the last two decades of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century. Valladolid has experienced the processes of metropolisation and urban expansion typical of this period, and its urban planning framework has reflected the changes in urban planning legislation and practice. Through this case study, it is concluded that in this period certain balances within the urban planning system – between expansion and reform, between planning and management, and between model and fragments – have been broken and must be recovered in order to face a new cycle of urban development focused on regeneration.

Urban planning approaches to the organization of a medical district

The article defines the direct connection between urbanization and the modern development of medicine as a complex of scientific directions for the development of high-tech medical care. The development of group forms of healthcare facilities as medical and urban complexes in world, Soviet and Russian urban planning practice and theory is presented. A modern trend in the development of innovative territorial formations of a medical organization within the boundaries of urbanized territories has been revealed. The concept of a medical area has been introduced. The object of the study is the medical district. The subject of the study is the spatial and territorial principles of the organization of the medical district. The lack of a spatial connection between medical facilities and the urban structure leads to a shortage of territorial growth and development of medical urban complexes, the unavailability of a comprehensive infrastructure for the development of medical science and practice. The research methodology is based on the definition of criteria for the selection of innovative territorial formations of the medical industry in the structure of urbanized territories. 60 medical districts were analyzed. The characteristic of the methodology for determining the planning options of the area, tested at 19 research sites, is presented. The main conclusions of the study are to determine the planning properties of the medical area. Based on the criteria and their characteristics, a systematization of medical districts has been compiled. A modern approach to the spatial organization of innovative territorial formations of the medical structure based on the collaboration of medical facilities and the integration of the medical district into the urban planning structure has been established. The approach of the urban planning organization of the formation of a medical district based on the territorial localization of medical facilities is revealed.

Participatory Action Research for Urban Connectivity: Bridging Inequality in Metropolitan Monterrey

This paper argues for participatory action research as a potent method for urban connectivity, surpassing government or expert-led methods. It introduces two approaches: integrating dialogic interviews to foster reflexivity and adopting an Ecosystem mappingbased approach encompassing social, economic, physical, and cultural dimensions. Dialogic interviews promote inclusivity by enabling diverse perspectives to shape research outcomes. Ecosystem mapping visually captures intricate connectivity dynamics. By combining participatory action research, dialogic interviews, and Ecosystem mapping, a robust framework emerges to address urban connectivity challenges. Empowering communities and embracing diverse axes of connectivity, this approach transforms urban planning practices, fostering contextually relevant and sustainable solutions. A co-created, resilient urban future becomes achievable through engagement and active stakeholder involvement.

Re-thinking new possibilities for urban climate resilience planning in Bangkok: Introducing adaptation pathways through a multidisciplinary design workshop

In many cities in developing countries, the design and implementation of flood adaptation measures face planning challenges, they are often underdeveloped in practice. This paper aims to investigate the potential for urban flood adaptation solutions and design in practice within the context of a climate-vulnerable Southeast Asian city. We specifically explore the “design workshop” -- an essential process providing valuable experience and conditions for effective climate adaptation in Bangkok. As part of our research, the workshop was organized to introduce and experiment the implication of adaptation pathway approach with designers, urban planners, and decision-makers. Findings reveal that the design workshop provided a collaborative environment, offers transformative space for formulating integrated and context-specific flood adaptation solutions - new possibilities for urban climate resilience in the making. The application of the adaptation pathways facilitates a concrete, quantifiable, and time-bound design process for identifying and sequencing potential flood adaptation measures in Bangkok. Consequently, this paper concludes that multidisciplinary and collaborative processes, along with the introduction of adaptation pathways, stimulating urban flood adaptation planning and implementation in a more collaborative and participative way. However, it is important to note that the feasibility assessment of the proposed solutions still requires essential conditions such as policy synchronization, technical skills, and local resources. To effectively realize these strategies in real-world urban planning practice, this research suggests that local governments should consider implementing a multidisciplinary design process in urban development and flood risk management.

Roles of Urban Agriculture towards Contributing Sustainable Cities: A scoping review

This study explores the roles of UA in creating sustainable urban environments. Employing a scoping review based on Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework, the research utilizes NVIVO for thematic analysis to develop a conceptual model. This study emphasizes key UA roles, such as addressing food insecurity and promoting recreation, aesthetics, biodiversity, health, and overall well-being. While acknowledging UA benefits, the findings highlight a significant knowledge gap regarding multidimensional attributes essential for urban sustainability. This research helps achieve diverse, sustainable development goals such as SDGs 2, 11, and 13, contributing to more informed and effective urban planning practices.

Dynamics of mitigation measures in urbanizing Africa: Challenges and opportunities for future climate change

Africa stands at a critical crossroads, grappling with the complex interplay between global climate targets and urbanization dynamics. The rapid growth of urban populations coupled with unsustainable urban planning practices exacerbates inherent conflicts, impeding our collective efforts to mitigate carbon emissions. In this context, we systematically decompose the key demographic, economic, and technological drivers of emissions, evaluating their contributions and spatial variations within African city boundaries from 2000 to 2020. By integrating three shared socioeconomic pathways (i.e., SSP119, SSP245, SSP434) and two urbanization strategies (i.e., linear and urbanization-led), we aim to assess the disparities in carbon mitigation outcomes that correspond to varying urban development trajectories by the year 2060, all while adhering to the same climate targets. Our findings reveal that the pursuit of urbanization may result in a substantial reduction in carbon mitigation efforts, with potential reductions ranging from 34% to a staggering 95%. In the "Middle Road" scenario (SSP434), we posit that land productivity must witness an increase of 26%–46% to attain mitigation outcomes comparable to those achieved through a linear trajectory. This implies that the concurrent efforts to urbanize and mitigate carbon emissions may narrow disparities among cities, limiting diversity of existing mitigation measures. The proactive planning of sustainable urban clusters and the provision of localized subsidies for clean energy are imperative to fortify urban climate resilience.

Farm factors influencing spatial variations of cropland use and change in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia

Urban factors comprising economic and population growth are widely discussed as determinants of cropland-use change decisions and urbanization containment. Despite the academic discussion, farm factors remain detached from urban planning theories and practices. This study used a cross-sectional survey and remote sensing data to investigate farm factors influencing farmers’ cropland-use decisions. To measure human farm factors, a structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from a randomly selected 300 farmers in Jimma peri-urban areas while an unstructured questionnaire was used to gather views of conveniently recruited participants. Landsat-8 and the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) were employed to extract the physical factors. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model was used to determine significant farm factors of cropland-use decisions and the Geographical Weighted Regression (GWR) model was applied to map the spatial variation in cropland-use decisions along the rural-urban continuum. The results revealed that farm factors influenced the cropland-use decisions of farmers. Cropland-use conversion rates increase with distance to the urban center due to greater access to social services. The conversion rates also increase with decreasing slope gradients and good soil quality. Farmers with higher farm income, labour, and extension have lower cropland-use conversion rates while those with higher non-farm income and labour, family size, farm size, and education have higher conversion rates. The findings of this study suggest that government policies aimed at restricting urban growth and sustaining ecosystem services should adopt farm factors to preserve prime cropland-use along the rural-urban continuum. Considering farm factors in urban land-use planning also promotes synergistic rural-urban planning integrations to bring balanced rural-urban development, poverty reduction, slow urban migration, and smart urban growth.

Urban Green Connectivity Assessment: A Comparative Study of Datasets in European Cities

Urban biodiversity and ecosystem services depend on the quality, quantity, and connectivity of urban green areas (UGAs), which are crucial for enhancing urban livability and resilience. However, assessing these connectivity metrics in urban landscapes often suffers from outdated land cover classifications and insufficient spatial resolution. Spectral data from Earth Observation, though promising, remains underutilized in analyzing UGAs’ connectivity. This study tests the impact of dataset choices on UGAs’ connectivity assessment, comparing land cover classification (Urban Atlas) and spectral data (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI). Conducted in seven European cities, the analysis included 219 UGAs of varying sizes and connectivity levels, using three connectivity metrics (size, proximity index, and surrounding green area) at different spatial scales. The results showed substantial disparities in connectivity metrics, especially at finer scales and shorter distances. These differences are more pronounced in cities with contiguous UGAs, where Urban Atlas faces challenges related to typology issues and minimum mapping units. Overall, spectral data provides a more comprehensive and standardized evaluation of UGAs’ connectivity, reducing reliance on local typology classifications. Consequently, we advocate for integrating spectral data into UGAs’ connectivity analysis to advance urban biodiversity and ecosystem services research. This integration offers a comprehensive and standardized framework for guiding urban planning and management practices.

Urban expansion in Greater Irbid Municipality, Jordan: the spatial patterns and the driving factors

Urban expansion within Greater Irbid Municipality (GIM) witnessed an extraordinary rise, expanding approximately ninefold between 1967 and 2020. Recent trends revealed a shift in urban growth towards southern and eastern regions. These dynamics carry critical implications for urban planners and environmental managers, urging a comprehensive understanding of the driving factors behind this expansion to anticipate future challenges. Employing logistic regression (LR) and geographically weighted logistic regression (GWLR) analyses using remote sensing data and GIS, spatially variant coefficients for driving factors emerged, illuminating the evolving landscape of urban development drivers within GIM. Yarmouk University historically promoted urban expansion, but recent proximity to Yarmouk University and JUST University, coupled with higher existing building percentages, inhibited further urbanization. The analysis also revealed that elevation and slope had negligible impacts on urban expansion. These findings underline the evolving dynamics of urban development drivers within the study region. The local perspective depicted significant spatial disparities in coefficients, highlighting variations in magnitude and direction. GWLR emerged as a more robust methodology, effectively capturing regional variations and enhancing model reliability. These findings hold immense value for informing current and future urban planning practices in Greater Irbid Municipality. Proactively addressing identified challenges and understanding the intricate dynamics of urban expansion can assist Irbid in shaping a sustainable and resilient future, avoiding potential pitfalls in its urban development endeavors.

Determination of land surface temperature and urban heat island effects with remote sensing capabilities: the case of Kayseri, Türkiye

Kayseri, a densely urbanized province in Türkiye, grapples with pressing challenges of air pollution and limited green spaces, accentuating the need for strategic urban planning. This study, utilizing Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellite imagery, investigates the evolution of land surface temperatures (LST) and urban heat island (UHI) effects in key districts—Kocasinan, Melikgazi, Talas, and Hacılar—between 2013 and 2022. This research has been complemented with an analysis of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI), exploring correlations among the LST, UHI, NDVI, and NDBI changes. The findings indicate that a significant portion (65% and 88%) of the study area remained unchanged with respect to the NDVI and NDBI differences. This research’s findings reveal that a substantial portion (65% and 88%) of the study area exhibited consistency in the NDVI and NDBI. Noteworthy increases in the NDVI were observed in 20% of the region, while only 4% exhibited higher NDBI. Strikingly, the UHI displayed strong negative correlations with the NDVI and robust positive correlations with the NDBI. The LST changes demonstrated a reduced temperature range, from 21 to 51 °C in 2013, to 18 to 40 °C in 2022. Localized environmental factors, notably at the National Garden site, showcased the most significant temperature variations. Notably, the UHI exhibited strong negative correlations with the NDVI and strong positive correlations with the NDBI. The study’s results emphasize the interplay among the NDBI, LST, and UHI and an inverse relationship with the NDVI and NDBI, LST, and UHI. These findings hold implications for urban planning and policymaking, particularly in the context of resilient and sustainable land use planning and the UHI mitigation. This research underscores the intricate interplay among the NDBI, LST, and UHI, highlighting an inverse relationship with the NDVI. These findings hold crucial implications for resilient and sustainable urban planning, particularly in mitigating the UHI effects. Despite limited vacant spaces in Kayseri, geospatial techniques for identifying potential green spaces can facilitate swift UHI mitigation measures. Acknowledging Kayseri’s complex dynamics, future research should delve into the UHI responses to urban morphology and design, extending this methodology to analyze the UHI effects in other Turkish cities. This research contributes to a broader understanding of UHI dynamics and sustainable urban planning practices, offering valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers alike.

Carbon Storage and Sequestration by Trees in some Urban Public Parks of Jalalabad Afghanistan

‌Urban areas, characterized by rapid development and increasing carbon emissions, have become focal points for climate change mitigation strategies. This research investigates the role of urban trees as crucial components in carbon storage and sequestration, exploring their potential impact on mitigating climate change. The objectives include assessing the efficacy of urban trees in sequestering atmospheric carbon, examining variations in carbon storage across different urban settings, and elucidating the factors influencing the sequestration potential of various tree species. Additionally, the research investigates the indirect impacts of urban tree cover on local climate dynamics, including temperature regulation, air quality improvement, and overall environmental resilience. The anticipated outcomes encompass comprehensive data on the carbon storage and sequestration potential of urban trees, providing insights into the variation of these capacities within different urban contexts. By understanding the relationships between urban trees, carbon sequestration, and climate change, the research aims to inform urban planning, policy formulation, and sustainable development practices. The carbon sequestration of 512 trees belonging to 45 species was estimated. The average carbon content of these trees was 50.391t/tree. The total carbon sequestered by these trees was 120.757t/year. Highest (23709 kg/year) sequestration was observed in Ficus relegiosa and the lowest (50.59 kg/year) in Morus alba. Ficus relegiosa showed the highest average DBH and more carbon sequestration potential, whereas Morus alba showed the minimum carbon sequestration potential. The regression analyses indicated that both DBH and number of trees have a positive relation with carbon sequestration rate of tree species.

Revitalizing Old Facades: Innovations in Facade System Installation and Preservation

This article presents a novel approach to enhancing the aesthetic appeal and longevity of old building facades through the installation of a new facade system. The study aims to improve the appearance of buildings while safeguarding the integrity of existing facades and mitigating various associated challenges. The methodology involves a detailed analysis of the old facade's condition, selection of appropriate materials and technologies for the new system, and implementation strategies for seamless integration. Results indicate significant improvements in building aesthetics, increased durability, and reduced maintenance costs. The implications of this research extend to urban planning, heritage preservation, and sustainable architectural practices, offering valuable insights for architects, engineers, and policymakers globally.
 Highlights:
 
 Facade renovation enhances building aesthetics and preserves historical architecture.
 Innovative materials and technologies ensure long-term sustainability and reduce maintenance costs.
 Global impact: Research findings inform urban development practices, emphasizing heritage preservation and sustainable building strategies.
 
 Keywords: Facade System, Building Renovation, Modernization

Geometric optimization of the space around the buildings based on the improvement of thermal comfort efficiency of the building

Abstract This stud introduces a pioneering investigation into the geometric optimization of building surroundings to elevate thermal comfort efficiency and foster sustainable development within the construction industry. Employing the ENVI-met simulation tool and a novel crow search optimization algorithm, the research rigorously quantifies occupants' dissatisfaction utilizing the predicted percentage dissatisfied model, meticulously considering various environmental parameters. The simulations are based on the weather data of Nanjing, China, and the numerical results were validated against the observed data. The results reveal a remarkable 7% reduction in energy consumption and a corresponding 7.2% decrease in CO2 emissions compared to baseline configurations, underscoring the substantial impact of the proposed crow search algorithm. Notably, the study identifies an optimal configuration, characterized by a 30% vegetation cover, west–east orientation, and a three-story building, highlighting the algorithm's effectiveness in identifying configurations that concurrently enhance thermal comfort and mitigate energy consumption. These findings highlight the critical influence of geometric factors on thermal performance and underscore the significance of integrating innovative methodologies to address contemporary challenges in sustainable building design. By offering novel insights and practical solutions, this research contributes to advancing sustainable practices in architecture and urban planning, ultimately promoting occupant well-being and fostering energy-efficient construction practices.

Urban planning education in the global south: exploring the possibilities for Egyptian curricula

PurposeThe purpose of the research is to propose reforms that would help to bridge the gap between theory and practice and produce more effective urban planners. The research on urban planning curricula in the global South is a valuable contribution to the field of urban planning education. It provides a new perspective on the challenges facing urban planning education in these countries and offers a roadmap for improvement.Design/methodology/approachThe research explores and evaluates the urban planning curricula in the global South, with a particular interest in Egypt. The research employs the use of questionnaires with 56 university instructors, analysed thematically, to evaluate the current content of curricula. The results are compared and correlated with a pilot study exploring research interest, government policies and practices of urban planning in Egypt.FindingsThrough comparing the results of the evaluation with the current research interest in urban planning in Egypt, the paper investigates the possibility of improving current educational curricula using comparative network analysis which would establish stronger interdisciplinary connections.Originality/valueThe seeming disconnects between urbanism concepts taught in educational curricula and their relevance in practice and reality is a vital issue in urban studies and planning. Interdisciplinary connections with topics like politics, economies, gender, and others can assist curricula in becoming more relevant to real-world situations. This disconnect is even more apparent in the global South where most educational content is highly derivative from Northern contexts. Though such interdisciplinary aspects are under discussed in educational curricula, they are frequently discussed in academic research.

Ecosystem Services and Urban Planning

Purpose: The main objective of the study was to explore ecosystem services and urban planning.
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
 Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to ecosystem services and urban planning. Preliminary empirical review emphasized the need for sustainable urban planning practices that integrate ecological considerations, prioritize green infrastructure and biodiversity conservation, and address disparities in access to ecosystem services. Urban planners and policymakers are key actors in ensuring the well-being of urban populations and the environment, making informed decisions about land use, transportation, and sustainability practices crucial. These findings have implications for environmental advocacy groups and policymakers, as they underscore the importance of advocating for eco-friendly urban development to protect and enhance critical ecosystem services, ultimately creating more resilient and equitable cities that benefit both people and the environment.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Urban Political Ecology Theory (UPE), Ecological Modernization Theory and Resilience theory may be used to anchor future studies on ecosystem services. The study provided recommendations to enhance urban planning practices. It suggests integrating ecosystem services into planning processes, emphasizing the importance of green infrastructure and biodiversity conservation within cities, and promoting community engagement and collaboration among stakeholders. These recommendations aim to create more resilient and sustainable urban environments that prioritize the well-being of residents while safeguarding and enhancing the valuable ecosystem services urban areas provide.

Mapping pedestrian heat stress in current and future heatwaves in Cardiff, Newport, and Wrexham in Wales, UK

The paper describes a study that uses computer simulation to assess the extent of heat stress experienced by pedestrians in three Welsh cities during heatwaves, with a view to identifying implications for urban planning and design practice. The simulation model used localized radiant temperature, wind speed, air temperature, as well as the metabolic rate and clothing insulation of occupants. Simulated results were partially evaluated using field measurement data and from the Land Surface Temperature data obtained from Landsat satellite thermography. Results suggest that peak heat stress is expected to increase by 4.5 °C in Universal Thermal Climate Index equivalent temperature by 2080, especially for urban areas exposed to direct sunlight. The percentage of daytime hours without heat stress are expected to decrease significantly, from 30 to 80% in 2020 to 10–70% by 2080. The study suggests that mitigation measures are essential to reduce future heat stress in Welsh cities and towns; these include interventions such as green and blue infrastructure, choice of trees and artificial shading, choice of both artificial surface materials and vegetation cover, and street layout with proper orientation and aspect ratio. The results have significant implications for local authorities, town planning, and landscape practice.

Stakeholders' awareness of urban form effects on rooftop solar photovoltaic in Ghana: Implications for integrated solar energy and urban planning

Integrating solar energy considerations into urban planning practices, a socio-technical and multi-stakeholder approach known as solar urban planning, is essential for maximizing solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in the built environment. While the need for such an approach is articulated in solar energy studies and urban planning, very few research explore the extent to which key stakeholders critical to this process are aware of the connections between urban form and rooftop solar PV and its implication for solar urban planning. This study examines stakeholders' awareness of the effects of selected urban form attributes on residential rooftop solar PV and its implications for solar urban planning in Ghana. Primary data were collected using surveys and interviews of households, real estate developers, licensed solar home system (SHS) installation companies, and government agencies responsible for energy and urban planning. SHS installation companies affirmed that buildings' roof type and shape, roofing material, the height of neighboring buildings, and the trees' position significantly affect rooftop solar PV installation and performance in Ghana. However, households have a low awareness of how these urban form attributes affect rooftop solar PV. Despite the affirmed effects of urban form on rooftop PV, current planning legislations do not necessitate considering such systems in preparing urban and building plans. A robust institutional collaboration is necessary among urban planning authorities, energy regulators, and real estate developers to develop effective strategies for solar urban planning in Ghana.

Tripartite relationship of urban planning, city growth, and health for sustainable development in Akure, Nigeria

We live in an urban planet. As the world continues to urbanize, urban development that support the health and wellbeing of city dwellers is far more important than ever before to achieve sustainable development targets. This study explores the complex relationship among urban planning, city growth, and health as critical drivers of sustainable development in the rapidly growing nodal city of Akure, Nigeria. The study provides a four-decade spatio-temporal model of urban Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes in Akure between the years 1984 and 2023 from acquired Landsat satellite imageries. The result shows more than 20% net change increase in developed LULC classes between the study years. A strong positive correlation exists between the years covered in the analyses and urban development (r = 0.93, p = 0.002), and a strong negative relationship with the forest land use (r = −0.94, p = 0.002) with potential debilitating impacts on residents’ health, green infrastructures and the city’s sustainability in the future. Furthermore, results of key informant interviews (KIIs) of officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD) in Akure, Ondo State, unveil various views on the “place of health” in urban planning practices in Akure. A lack of synergy between urban planners and public health practitioners in the city and limiting scope of functions of urban planning on the impact of health in Akure were observed. Thus, we recommend the integration of a sustainable urban planning approach as a guide to manage the city.