Sustainable Planning Approach Research Articles

Spatiotemporal dynamics of LULC change and implications for sustainable urban growth in Saudi Arabia

This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) change in Saudi cities between 2013 and 2023. Using Landsat satellite imagery and a Maximum Likelihood Classifier, LULC changes are analyzed in nine cities to understand the impact of Saudi Arabia’s rapid urbanization following the oil crisis. The objectives are: (1) to evaluate the LULC changes in nine cities between 2013 and 2023; (2) to explore the spatiotemporal patterns of LULC changes in this period; and (3) to interpret the urban expansion that occurs in Saudi Arabia in the light of the kingdom sustainable development plan. The results identifiy four primary LULC change models: Urbanization, Vegetation Recovery, Land Degradation, and Ecological Transition Models. The Urbanization and Land Degradation Models determine Saudi Arabia’s urban growth trend, posing significant challenges to sustainable development. Most cities experienced substantial increases in impermeable surfaces and developed lands, while concurrently losing high terrain and barren areas. However, the small cities showed lower urbanization and land degradation rates than major cities, showing an opportunity to sustainably grow by adopting sustainable planning approaches. The study’s findings show that more targeted and comprehensive policies are needed to address the challenges of urbanization and land degradation, mitigate environmental impacts, and ensure long-term resilience. It underscores the importance of considering Ecological Urbanism in urban development plans.

Determinants for the development of creative tourism: A stakeholder perspective

This study aims to investigate the determinants that contribute to the sustainable development of creative tourism, a transformative shift from traditional cultural tourism which possess high economic potential. Grounded in stakeholder theory, a qualitative approach was employed to explore the perspectives of 23 existing suppliers of creative tourism in the Greater Bay Area, China, through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with key management in exiting business, this study uncovers determinants for the development of creative tourism. The findings shed light on the significance of fostering creative synergies and their implications for sustainable growth in the industry. While a positive attitude from suppliers is crucial, this study emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding of creativity to generate momentum, integration of local culture and regional knowledge, and the development of creative products. Moreover, removing barriers faced by suppliers such as a lack of financial support, insufficient government policies and regulations, and inadequate infrastructure is imperative for sustainable development. This research significantly contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing an overview of the current research status on suppliers' perspectives towards creative tourism. It offers valuable directions for future scholarly inquiry in this field. Moreover, the research offers valuable insights that can assist policymakers and destination planners in developing efficient policies and sustainable planning approaches.

Simulation–optimisation approach for sustainable planning of intermodal logistics in the Brazilian grain export industry

Planning nationwide sustainable logistics for grain exports at a tactical level assumes flexibility in handling uncertainties. Despite the dynamic operations, the solution’s approach focuses mainly on optimisation, leaving out the queuing requirements. This paper presents a simulation–optimisation approach for planning the Brazilian intermodal grain export chain by integrating trucks, railways, and port terminal operations. We evaluate a base scenario, aiming to minimise CO2 emissions in rail transport, meeting demand requirements, and three alternative planning scenarios concerning demand retraction, trend, and expansion. The sustainable grain transportation plan of the base scenario shows a 66.8 kilo tons CO2/year emission reduction while increasing the exports by 2.51% (approximately 146 kilo tons grains/year) and a contribution to profit of $43.82 million in the short term. Scenario analyses open discussions about sustainable investments in intermodal transport for the medium and long term. The proposed approach is suitable for other commodity chains, representing a step towards consistently applying environmentally oriented supply chain planning.

A decision-centric approach for techno-economic optimization and environmental assessment of standalone and grid-integrated renewable-powered electric vehicle charging stations under multiple planning horizons

The automotive sector is undergoing a transitional phase towards electrification with the goal of achieving climate sustainability. Renewable-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure can play a vital role in this paradigm shift. To support and provide a roadmap to this transition, the current study aims to investigate a sustainable planning approach for optimal renewable-powered electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) within institutional premises. A feasibility analysis for multiple renewable-based EV charging station configurations has been carried out based on multi-objective techno-economic and environmental indicators including Levelized cost of energy (LCOE), Net present cost (NPC), and carbon emissions. The proposed planning approach has been applied under Fast charging for private vehicles and on-board charging for Ez-bikes and shuttles (FCOBC) and Medium- charging for private vehicles and on-board charging for Ez-bikes and shuttles (MCOBC). Results reveal that a PV system backed with a utility grid enabling both energy purchase and sale during peak hours and off-peak hours respectively remained the most feasible configuration for EV charging infrastructure experiencing an LCOE of $0.1289/kWh to $0.1262/kWh and $0.1168/kWh to $0.1161/kWh for both FCOBC and MCOBC, respectively. Along with the environmental analysis, a forest absorbing carbon emissions analysis has been performed to provide a policy optimization for the future environmental outlook. Results validations have been undertaken for levelized average tariffs of single point supply (above 66 kV) of different government-owned distribution companies, which indicated the commercial efficacy of the proposed EV charging infrastructure, where the LCOE is lower than the real-time operational tariffs within the region. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is carried out under different uncertainties to check the optimization behavior of proposed systems.

LCA of Different Construction Choices for a Double-Track Railway Line for Sustainability Evaluations

The international commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in the next few decades has oriented human activities towards the preservation of natural and non-renewable resources. In this context, a great research effort has been devoted to the search for sustainable solutions for the infrastructure construction sector, based on a thorough assessment of the environmental impact (EI). In this regards, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is considered one of the main components of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and, for a comprehensive analysis, all the costs incurred by stakeholders during the useful life of the infrastructure should also be taken into account, applying the Life Cycle Cost (LCC) methodology. So far, there is a lack of combined LCA and LCC analyses of railway projects to support a proper sustainable decision-making process at a project level. Therefore, this study aimed to contributed to this topic by determining the environmental effect and related costs of different planning and construction choices in terms of material and maintenance strategies. For this purpose, first, an LCA of typical railway infrastructures with a ballasted track was developed. The case study considered two different functional units of a double-track railway line: 1 km of embankment section and 1 km of a cut section, in straight alignment. After defining five alternative railway infrastructure scenarios with different materials (virgin or recycled material) and construction methods (e.g., lime stabilization), two different railway track maintenance approaches were analysed. SimaPro was used to analyse the case study, and the results were compared with those obtained using the PaLATE software, suitably adapted for use in the railway sector. Finally, a cost analysis was carried out using Life Cycle Cost (LCC) methodology for all the scenarios analysed. The results obtained in terms of EI and related costs of each scenario provide useful information, allowing a sustainable planning approach: as a general result, the initial construction phase always involves the larger part of the total environmental impact while the material production is the most polluting phase, reaching percentages always higher than 50% of the total.

Development of a Cellular Automata-based model approach for sustainable planning of affordable housing projects: an application case study in Algiers

Being considered as a basic necessity and a key element in the development of sustainable communities, housing is a major concern for the Algerian government. Algiers is facing for the last years a challenging housing shortage and as a way to overcome this problem, many housing projects have been launched. However, the pressing need to address this crisis has disregarded what the pattern of landscape will be, how the existing infrastructures will accommodate with such housing projects and how they will impact on human well-being. This research aims to advance the challenges of planning for sustainability by proposing a methodological approach in a context of high lack of data to support decision-makers in the elaboration of affordable housing projects. The main objective is to trade off urban growth with residential satisfaction and the preservation of natural resources. We developed two Cellular Automata (CA) based residential development scenarios to identify suitable locations for future affordable housing projects: Urban densification scenario (UD) and Constrained urban sprawl scenario (CUS). Both scenarios are based on indicators of residential preferences and measures taken in order to counter the negative effects of urbanization. Results reveal the low capacity of Algiers to meet the housing shortage according to the conditions set for each scenario. The scenarios were evaluated by quantifying their spatial patterns using a preselected set of six class-level landscape metrics. Results show a combination of aggregated and dispersed patterns growth for both scenarios meeting trade-offs among the advantages and the challenges of urban densification and urban sprawl. Then, Standard deviation and regression analysis were conducted to assess the accuracy of CA simulation and the evaluation of pattern changes in the simulated scenarios. The resulting values indicate the good performance of CA and confirm its effectiveness in predicting the future locations of housing projects.

The Other Side of the Urban Densification ‘Coin’: Impacts on Social Sustainability in Redeveloped Urban Sprawled Communities in United Arab Emirates

Urban sprawl has been a persistent sustainability impediment caused by its associated low urban density that led to heavy reliance on private cars. To overcome this problem, urban densification, as a sustainable planning approach, has been widely advocated. Al Ain, one of the most affected cities by urban sprawl in the United Arab Emirates, has recently adopted an urban densification process through its Al Ain Plan 2030 and started applying it by 2010 in a pioneering redevelopment project in Bida Bin Ammar neighborhood. This research aims at studying the impacts of the applied urban densification measures and tools on social sustainability in this neighborhood. The research adopts a qualitative case study method utilizing field observations as the main source of primary data collection, while the analysis of CAD drawings, census data, land-use plans, and Google Earth maps forms a secondary source of data for this study. Based on the results of the study, it is concluded that urban densification through its two applied measures, the Intensification and the Infill Development, have enhanced social sustainability in Bida Bin Ammar neighborhood but with various degrees of success for each of the social sustainability principle and indicators. While mixed use and accessibility principles have been partially enhanced in the study area, density, mobility, social capital, quality of life, sense of belonging, and safety and security have been weakly enhanced. Accordingly, a proposed set of guidelines have been initiated to inform decision-makers in the city, and maybe in other cities in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region, to help them revise the applied urban densification process in a way that helps achieve more socially sustainable urban communities.

A Procedure Model for Low Emission Transportation Chain Planning

Low-emission planning in freight transportation is one of the main levers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For a sustainable planning approach, a strategic solution for this planning problem is needed. Based on several literature reviews, a procedure model is developed, which is meant to be used for the development and adjustment of a low-emission transportation chain reference model. The procedure model consists of the decision steps needed to develop a low-emission transportation chain (LETC) reference model and it is structured into main decision processes and sub-decision processes. A first draft of the LETC-Model is presented in form of an ARIS-Express model.

Smart Region Mobility Framework

A smart city describes an urban setting which aims to effectively apply ICT technologies to help improve the well-being of its citizens and reduce the negative impacts of urbanization. The priority areas considered in the Global Smart City Index (SCI) by the Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) World Competitiveness Centre were key infrastructures and technologies in (1) health and safety, (2) mobility, (3) activities (e.g., recreational spaces), (4) opportunities (work and school), and (5) governance. A smart region is a term used to extend the concept of a smart city into both urban and rural settings to promote a sustainable planning approach at the regional level. A direction that must be considered is the adoption of a “Smart Region Mobility Framework” to effectively transform our urban and rural regional transportation networks. This research study focused on the development of the smart region mobility framework for an island region group in the Philippines. The smart region goal is to integrate intelligent transportation system (ITS) platforms such as advanced public transportation system (APTS), advanced traveler information system (ATIS), and advanced rural transportation system (ARTS) to the local public transportation route plans (LPTRP) of the region. The activities include the data collection, analysis, and evaluation of multimodal regional transportation networks and social services infrastructure. The transportation network modeling process follows the four-step transportation planning process of trip generation, trip distribution, modal-split analysis, and trip assignment. Based on the analysis of 6 provinces, 16 cities, and 114 municipalities included in the study, there are two cities identified as smart city candidates. One of the smart city candidates is designated as the smart city regional center. In the context of a smart region, the available social services (e.g., employment opportunities, education, and health services) in the designated smart cities can also be made accessible to connected cities/municipalities through ease of transportation and mobility services in the region. Lastly, the study presented the implementation of data flow architecture of the smart region mobility framework, and the regional traveler information system using mobile and web application services.

Integrated sustainable planning of micro-hub network with mixed routing strategy

This paper presents an integrated sustainable planning approach for a micro-hub location and vehicle routing problem with mixed delivery and pick-up for urban small-package shipping in an electronic commerce context. The problem is formulated as two integer-programming models using different service strategies provided by the micro-hub depending on the characteristics of the returned goods. A hybrid heuristic algorithm called CWIGALNS is proposed to solve the problem. The performed computational experiments indicate that CWIGALNS can search the solution space efficiently. Finally, we use a case study to demonstrate the real-world application of the proposed model and method.

Planning Approaches Towards Sustainable Urban Mobility

Urban mobility has become a matter of concern for most of million sized Indian cities. Rapid urbanization, rapid motorization and alarming rise in share of private vehicles, unregulated parking norms have led to severe road congestions, deterioration of air quality and road safety and as a result other related socio- economic problems. The main objective of the paper is to analysis the issues related to urban mobility, with focus on Kolkata through graphical and statistical analysis and propose some of the sustainable planning approaches to improve the traffic conditions prevailing in Indian urban areas.

Correlation between Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Land Use Catchment Areas, and Local Environmental Transformation

Transit-oriented development (TOD) has been recognised as a sustainable planning approach and that is typically designed for a whole city. Individual land use characteristics and the causations have often been ignored. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to explore the factors that influence the land use catchment area (LCA) characteristics at a station neighborhood level. First, it contributes a methodology to measure the LCA by introducing a new concept. The density gradient was introduced to generate the scale and compactness degree of each station. Second, it provides a theoretical framework for understanding the causes of different LCAs. The partial least squares (PLS) regression model was employed to explore the accessibility effects. By analysing density gradient curves, it reveals that stations grew to fit the negative exponential function. Regarding the scale and form degree of LCAs, the impact of accessibility before and after a station construction have been corroborated. Moreover, the effects of facilities function before construction, distance from main roads, and elevated stations have been emphasized. The results provide support for a more sophisticated concept of catchment area relating to land use at the level of an individual TOD station, while shedding light on the benefits of those engaged in the future design of TOD with due consideration of the local physical environments.

An Agent-Based Modeling approach for sustainable urban planning from land use and public transit perspectives

Urbanism is a challenging topic in the world, which has resulted in several land-use and transportation issues in urban environments. To address these issues, urban planners follow integrated planning approaches that are more compatible with sustainable development objectives. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is widely recognized as one of the most feasible and comprehensive sustainable planning approaches. In this research, a three-step TOD-based method was developed for sustainable urban planning in the central region of Tehran. First, a measurable index was developed to assess public transit infrastructure (PTI) and TOD levels in the study area. At the second step, which was the focus of the research, an Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) approach was used to make a balance between TOD and PTI levels. ABM is a bottom-up approach that can solve spatial problems and can be integrated with top-down policies and spatial analysis tools. Finally, the performance of the model was evaluated by conducting several statistical, visual and empirical assessments using Tehran municipality's reference data. These assessments confirmed the efficiency and feasibility of the model.

Contemporary Currents in Japanese Machizukuri (Citizens Collaborative Community Improvements and Management) and Their Socio-Cultural Meanings

This paper studies the contemporary attempts of Japanese Machizukuri, Citizens Collaborative Community Improvement and Management, and their socio-cultural meanings in order to shed light on the sustainable planning approaches dealing with population ageing and decreasing. In recent years, as response measures for non-physical local issues such as environmental problems and welfare, and with the aim of further enhancing community-centred planning capabilities against a background of decentralisation in various fields and the establishment of civic society, new cooperative/collaborative-style planning theory is being deployed. Through this process, community improvement and management is becoming deeper, in terms of technology, systems, and technique. The study attempts to find out a solution to real-world problems—how to construct a comprehensive planning theory based on spatial and social challenges arising in modern civic communities, with local resources, social capital and systems that have resulted from such issues. It also seeks to show how to achieve a vision for the city as a whole by mutually compiling individual community improvement and management scenarios and programs, based on the autonomous determination and future vision of the organisations and residents that play leading roles in the community.

A review of approaches and challenges for sustainable planning in urban peripheries

As urban systems continue to grow worldwide, urban peripheries increase in number and typologies, which makes their planning a challenge for sustainable development. The aim of this article is to explore approaches and challenges related to the application of sustainable planning to urban peripheries. We reviewed the content of 102 papers related to sustainable planning in urban peripheries by applying a framework built on two main research questions that address: i) the type of peripheries and sustainable planning approaches considered; ii) the challenges and recommendations reported. The results show that urban peripheries are difficult to synthesize in operative classifications, and are not central in the discourse on sustainable planning approaches. The studies described are mainly context-specific and solution-oriented, aimed at responding to local socio-economic and ecological issues, and the analysis reveals uncertainties about their transferability to other geographical contexts. Few common trends can be highlighted, but many authors acknowledge the cross-cutting risks and trade-offs related to the complexity and dynamism of urban peripheries, which may eventually lead planning to unsustainable or unlivable outcomes. Integration among different scales and sectors emerges as a requirement for effective sustainable planning. We conclude with a remark on the underexploited opportunities offered by urban peripheries, especially with regard to ecological planning approaches.

Planning a Sustainable New City

Pakistan, the sixth most populous country with 185 million people, grows in the last years at approximately 3.2 million people per year, generating a strong demand for new urban areas [1]. The Defense Housing Authority (DHA), among Pakistan’s most reputable land developers, has been instrumental in providing land for both residential and commercial use in several metropolitan areas. In Karachi, DHA has provided urban land in phases, with such land being most desirable to live and work, significantly improving the existing stock and allowing the growth of competitive economic activities. When DHA started Phase 10, at a distance of 55 km from the center of Karachi, the objective became to develop a self-sustained new city, although it should function as a satellite to the main metropolitan area. Pakistan has had a best experience from the planning of Islamabad by the legendary planner Constantinos Doxiadis, based on the Ekistics concept. So, the planners for the new city, called DHA City Karachi (DCK), also followed the Ekistics concept, enhanced to address the sustainability requirements of DHA. The resulting highly complex planning process, resulting from an uneven terrain and an irregular boundary, was possible to be carried out by employing advanced computer algorithms in the form of parametric design and GIS, tools that were unavailable to Doxiadis in the 60 s but fascinated him at the end of his professional life. This paper presents the sustainable planning approach for the new city of 600,000 people, handling physical constrains and site issues whilst ensuring adaptation to context. Then, the paper introduces how computing was employed towards applying Ekistics.

Sizing an Off-stream Reservoir with Respect to Water Availability, Water Quality, and Biological Integrity

Sizing a new reservoir is a challenging task, which normally requires simultaneously a cost-effective, risk-informed, and forward-looking decision analysis with respect to basin-wide hydrological features, environmental quality, and biological integrity. Such a sustainable planning approach takes into account the global trend to balance the needs of economic growth, ecological conservation, and environmental protection. To achieve the goal of sustainability, emphasis in this paper was placed upon the correlation of three physical, chemical, and biological indices, including the dissolved oxygen (DO), the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and the index of biotic integrity (IBI), for the optimal planning of a reservoir in a river basin. This new methodological paradigm has been employed for sizing an off-stream reservoir in the Hou-Lung River Basin, central Taiwan. The internal linkage between the water quality parameters (DO and BOD5) and the IBI levels further enables us to formulate a special biotic integrity constraint which reflects fish community attributes to suit a relatively low-density and unspecialized freshwater fish fauna in response to the changing water quality conditions in the river basin. The tradeoffs among economic, environmental, and ecological aspects for reservoir sizing can then be based on the river flow patterns, the water demand, the water quality standards, and the anticipated biological integrity in some critical river reaches. Findings in a preliminary case study suggest that an optimal pumping scheme may be smoothly maintained on a yearly basis within a combined multicriteria and multiobjective decision-making process.

Coastal Land Use Planning: A Case Study of Kordonboyu (Çanakkale)

Turkey is bordered on three sides by the sea and has a long coastline. Çanakkale is one of the most important cities of Turkey, with its natural, cultural, and historical characteristics. With a 750-kilometer-long coastline and the Dardanelles, one of the most important waterways of the world, this part of the country has historically been an attractive area. The Kordonboyu coastal area, ca. 2 kilometers long, is the most important attraction in the city. Located east of the Dardanelles, the study area has always been a center of interest. The aim of this investigation was to determine the negative effects of settlement, industry, trade, or similar activities associated with a rapid increase in city population on the coastal structure of Çanakkale and to provide suggestions for rearrangement studies with sustainable planning approaches. The study was carried out in two stages by collecting and analyzing data. In this study, the factors that affect planning in the city (natural factors, demographic structure of the population, socioeconomic structure) have been inspected. Current land uses in the Kordonboyu coastal area and environs have been analyzed. Also, to determine the inclinations of the people of Çanakkale toward current land use of the research area, a questionnaire was made. Chi square analysis showed that the relationships between age groups and other parameters were significant (p < 0.05). The data taken from the questionnaires show that the Çanakkale community is concerned with land use and has a desire to live in a modern and well-arranged city. For this reason, the local administrations that are in a position to make decisions on land use policy should conduct studies that will take ecological criteria into account.

Specifying soil volumes to meet the water needs of mature urban street trees and trees in containers: P. Lindsey & N. Bassuk, Journal of Arboriculture, 17(6), 1991, pp 141–149

As urban systems continue to grow worldwide, urban peripheries increase in number and typologies, which makes their planning a challenge for sustainable development. The aim of this article is to explore approaches and challenges related to the application of sustainable planning to urban peripheries. We reviewed the content of 102 papers related to sustainable planning in urban peripheries by applying a framework built on two main research questions that address: i) the type of peripheries and sustainable planning approaches considered; ii) the challenges and recommendations reported. The results show that urban peripheries are difficult to synthesize in operative classifications, and are not central in the discourse on sustainable planning approaches. The studies described are mainly context-specific and solution-oriented, aimed at responding to local socio-economic and ecological issues, and the analysis reveals uncertainties about their transferability to other geographical contexts. Few common trends can be highlighted, but many authors acknowledge the cross-cutting risks and trade-offs related to the complexity and dynamism of urban peripheries, which may eventually lead planning to unsustainable or unlivable outcomes. Integration among different scales and sectors emerges as a requirement for effective sustainable planning. We conclude with a remark on the underexploited opportunities offered by urban peripheries, especially with regard to ecological planning approaches.