Urban Planning Department Research Articles

Introducing the Pedestrian Accessibility Tool: Walkability Analysis for a Geographic Information System

The indexes for walkability proposed so far refer generally to the closest amenities and public transport stops and the existing network structure. The weights of the attributes do not reflect the independently measured preferences of the users and residents. Design attributes such as the location and type of crossings and walkway design features are usually surveyed in walkability audits. However, such attributes are usually not considered when pedestrian walksheds or other accessibility-based walkability indexes are calculated. Nevertheless, these design attributes are very relevant for actual planning decisions. The proposed walkability index can be behaviorally calibrated, has been implemented as a geographic information system tool, and is published as open source software. The pedestrian accessibility tool allows the evaluation of existing and future urban plans with regards to walkability. The tool calculates Hansen-based accessibility indicators with the use of a customizable specification of the generalized walking costs, and it incorporates user-defined weights of destination attractiveness. The basic user workflow of the tool is summarized. Three case studies show real-world applications of the tool to support the planning of pedestrian infrastructure in an urban context. With indications of potential areas of improvement that have been reported by pilot users working in an urban planning department, hints are also given for future research.

Comparison of different windows for low-energy houses

This paper deals with an outcome of long-term experimental measurement of windows suitable for low-energy or zero houses. Three different windows are evaluated since 2011 in the Laboratory of the Department of Building Engineering and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zilina. All windows have implemented triple glazing, but with various frame type. Two frames are made from plastic and one from wood. The plastic frames differ from each other with use of thermal insulation inside one of mentioned frames. The test room has adjustable indoor boundary conditions and is exposed to real outdoor climate conditions measured through the own detached experimental weather station. Temperatures and heat fluxes are continuously measured on glazings and frames. This paper compares the windows by the requirements of Slovak standard on the inner surface temperatures and differences of the thermal transmittance for glazing and sash.

Micro-intervenciones para la reconquista del espacio urbano. Grupo TaMaLaCà

he TaMaLaCa (the acronym for Tutta mia la citta) Group was born as a research lab of the Department of Architecture, Design and Urban Planning of the University of Sassari. This article discusses the ideas of the group through three landmark projects conducted in the city of Sassari, Sardinia, Italy. The first project took place in the San Donato quarter, in the city’s old town, while the other two were conducted in the suburban neighborhood of Monte Rosello. The common approach of all three projects was winning back urban spaces under parameters of sustainability. In these projects, the city’s agents of change are the citizens themselves, particularly those who are negatively impacted by poor urban approaches, such as children, pedestrian or the disabled.

Community-University Collaborations for Environmental Justice: Toward a Transformative Co-Learning Model.

Community-university collaborations for environmental justice have pushed the boundaries of the modern research university, yet remain rooted in a research frame. This article lays out a transformative co-learning model, which aspires to cultivate long-term, place-based, reciprocal partnerships where university and community co-produce knowledge and action toward a more just, sustainable, and democratic society. Starting with joint inquiry and planning, community and university integrate teaching, research, and service activities over a cycle of three to five years and, if sustained, co-evolve in place over the decades. Co-learning partnerships can anchor transformational learning, support community-based research, address critical community issues, and diversify the university. Tufts Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning has recently developed a three-year co-learning partnership model with long-time partner Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. Yet, challenges still remain in resourcing community partners, valuing local anchoring, aligning university rewards with co-learning, and ensuring that community benefits are prioritized.

ISLAMISATION OF TOWN PLANNING EDUCATION: A REVIEW ON THE COURSES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

The Islamisation of the town planning education in Malaysia especially in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) could successfully be materialized via the smart team-teaching approach where lecturers from the town planning Department collaborate with their counterpart in the Islamic studies Kulliyyah. This paper reports a desk study on the status of Islamic inputs in the current town planning course content. Out of 140 credit hours of town planning core courses and University required courses, it was found that 34% have already embodied Islamic-related topics whilst the remaining 66% were silent. Enhancements via compatible Islamic inputs to strengthen the existing curricula need to be done for the former while for the latter new Islamic inputs need to be incorporated. This paper reiterates that the epistemological and methodological approach combined is the way forward for sustainable education.

ISLAMISATION OF TOWN PLANNING EDUCATION: A REVIEW ON THE COURSES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

The Islamisation of the town planning education in Malaysia especially in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) could successfully be materialized via the smart team-teaching approach where lecturers from the town planning Department collaborate with their counterpart in the Islamic studies Kulliyyah. This paper reports a desk study on the status of Islamic inputs in the current town planning course content. Out of 140 credit hours of town planning core courses and University required courses, it was found that 34% have already embodied Islamic-related topics whilst the remaining 66% were silent. Enhancements via compatible Islamic inputs to strengthen the existing curricula need to be done for the former while for the latter new Islamic inputs need to be incorporated. This paper reiterates that the epistemological and methodological approach combined is the way forward for sustainable education.

Learning for Parallel Virtual Urban Workshop: An Innovate Method for Teaching Planning

Since 2012 a Parallel Virtual Urban Workshop (PVW) has been developed at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (School of Architecture of Madrid, UPM). It was created by a group of professors in the framework of the Postgraduate Program. In 2014 this project became a consolidated Group of Educational Innovation called Urban Net-Working Workshop supported by the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UNWW-UPM). The initial targets of this workshop were: (i) improving international cooperation among academic institutions based on a virtual network, (ii) the implementation of a quasi-professional practice approach on urban regeneration projects and (iii) the development of a comprehensive methodology to manage complex urban issues in diverse urban contexts. Up until today, there have been five workshops: in 2012, a joint workshop between UPM (Madrid) and MIT (Boston); in 2013 and 2014, a collaborative workshop between UPM (Madrid) and UCL (London); in 2015, between UPM (Madrid) and KNG (London); currently, a parallel workshop is in progress between UPM (Madrid) and AF (Zagreb). Even though, every edition of the Urban Parallel Workshop has been rather unique, it can be asserted that initial targets have been overcome throughout successive workshops. ITCs and digitals tools have been gradually incorporated.

Structural and mechanical characterization of Cr-Co alloy after oxygen plasma immersion ion implantion

Event Abstract Back to Event Structural and mechanical characterization of Cr-Co alloy after oxygen plasma immersion ion implantion Letícia Marin De Andrade1, Carlo Paternoster1, Marcello Cabibbo2, Gianni Barucca3, Nora Lecis4, Ehsan Mostaed4, Maurizio Vedani4, Stéphane Turgeon1 and Diego Mantovani1 1 Laval University, Lab. for Biomaterials & Bioengineering (CRC-I), Dept. Min-Met-Materials Engineering & CHU de Quebec, Canada 2 Marche Polytechnic University, Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences - DIISM, Italy 3 Marche Polytechnic University, Department of Materials, Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning - SIMAU, Italy 4 Milan Polytechnic University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Italy Introduction: Plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) is a useful material modification technique that can effectively tune the surface properties of metallic material for biomedical applications. Ti alloys, Ti-based shape memory alloys, Co-based alloys and stainless steel[1], [2], [3], [4] are substrates currently used for this kind of surface treatment. This technique is known to affect not only the chemical composition, but also its crystalline structure and hence its biological response and corrosion properties, increasing biocompatibility and decreasing the release of toxic ions by metallic alloys [5], [6]. Structural, mechanical and chemical features of an oxygen plasma implanted Co alloy surface are studied in this work. Specifically, the correlation between these properties were investigated for two varying implantation parameters (antenna power, P, and implantation time, d). Materials and Methods: Specimens cut from an L605 Co-Cr alloy was used as substrate after a specially designed and tested electropolishing protocol. Plasma implantation was performed at an accelerating pulsed voltage of 10 kV. Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the microstructure of the implanted layer, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and glowing discharge optical emission spectroscopy provided information on the chemical composition and thickness of the modified layer. Scanning electron microscopy provided information on the surface state before and after the implantation process. Mechanical properties were assessed by nanoindentation and scratch test. Results and Discussion: Oxygen implantation led to the formation of a mostly hexagonal Co-oxygen rich phase on the surface of the material, with some presence of Si due to sputtering of the quartz window. The surface layer created by the implantation process modified the chemical composition, the structure and the thickness of the oxidized layer. In fact, the natural oxide layer formed after electropolishing was thinner and richer in Ni and Cr than the implanted one, composed only by cobalt oxide. The implantation process appeared to remove the grain boundaries through amorphization of the topmost layer, as evidenced by SEM micrographs Scratch tests, performed in the range 0.03 – 10 N, evidenced for all the implantation conditions a relevant plastic deformation of the substrate (presence of slip lines), but no severe delamination of the implanted layer was found. A critical load of ~5 N was found for the thicker layer. The hardness, as measured by nanoindentation experiments, was found to be in the range ~ 4 to 5 GPa. Conclusions: PIII oxidation allows the formation of a Co-O rich layer on the surface of L605. The modified layer composition, structure and thickness can be modulated according to the implantation conditions. Oxygen implantation, even for higher doses, is responsible for a change in the mechanical properties of the modified layer, increasing both elastic modulus and hardness; the modified layer adhesion did not change in a significant way for all the considered conditions. This work was partially funded by NSERC-Canada, FRQ-NT-Quebec and CFI-Canada. LMA was awarded of an undergraduate scholarship from CNPq - CAPES Foundation and Ministry of Education of Brazil. CP, DM and MV were recipiendaries of the Linkage Grant from Quebec/Italy sub-commission of the Quebec Ministry of Intl Relations. The authors would also thank Daniele Ciccarelli (DIISM technician) and Adriano Di Cristoforo (SIMAU technician) from Marche Polytechnic University.

Prioritizing action on health inequities in cities: An evaluation of Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (Urban HEART) in 15 cities from Asia and Africa

Following the recommendations of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008), the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (HEART) to support local stakeholders in identifying and planning action on health inequities. The objective of this report is to analyze the experiences of cities in implementing Urban HEART in order to inform how the future development of the tool could support local stakeholders better in addressing health inequities.The study method is documentary analysis from independent evaluations and city implementation reports submitted to WHO. Independent evaluations were conducted in 2011–12 on Urban HEART piloting in 15 cities from seven countries in Asia and Africa: Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Mongolia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.Local or national health departments led Urban HEART piloting in 12 of the 15 cities. Other stakeholders commonly engaged included the city council, budget and planning departments, education sector, urban planning department, and the Mayor's office. Ten of the 12 core indicators recommended in Urban HEART were collected by at least 10 of the 15 cities. Improving access to safe water and sanitation was a priority equity-oriented intervention in 12 of the 15 cities, while unemployment was addressed in seven cities.Cities who piloted Urban HEART displayed confidence in its potential by sustaining or scaling up its use within their countries. Engagement of a wider group of stakeholders was more likely to lead to actions for improving health equity. Indicators that were collected were more likely to be acted upon. Quality of data for neighbourhoods within cities was one of the major issues.As local governments and stakeholders around the world gain greater control of decisions regarding their health, Urban HEART could prove to be a valuable tool in helping them pursue the goal of health equity.

Obituary: Professor Joseph Andy Soesilo - Founder of Jurnal Dimensi - predecessor of Civil Engineering Dimension journal

Obituary: Professor Joseph Andy Soesilo Founder of Jurnal Dimensi - predecessor of Civil Engineering Dimension journal Djwantoro Hardjito & Benjamin Lumantarna | Civil Engineering Dimension May 25, 2015 Professor Joseph Andy Soesilo passed away on Friday, May 22, 2015 at the age of 71, in Tempe, Arizona, USA. Born in Blora, Central Java, Indonesia as Djwa Bian An, Andy came to Surabaya to pursue his tertiary education and received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Petra Christian University in 1972. He was in the first batch of students in the civil engineering department in the university in 1962. He got his masters degree from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, in 1976, and later on his Ph.D from the Department of Geography, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA in 1982. During his studentship, Andy was actively involed in student movement. Among others, he pioneered the student magazine GENTA in 1964, especially to promote the university to wider community. GENTA is still exist right now, and considered as one of the oldest student magazines in Indonesia. Andy was the first president of the student council in the university, in the era which was characterized with political turmoil in the country. He joined the Civil Engineering Department at Petra Christian University as lecturer in 1972, later becoming the Director of Student Affairs in the University from 1976-1977, and Director of Research and Community Outreach from 1977-1981. While at Petra Christian University (PCU), he made major contributions to the establishment of Jurnal Dimensi in 1980, a journal to publish scientific articles, particularly resulted from research carried out by PCU lecturers and scholars. This journal is the predecessor of the current Civil Engineering Dimension Journal and several other journals published by PCU. The establishment of Jurnal Dimensi was visionary and exemplary, as at that time publication of scientific articles has yet to become obligation to Indonesian lecturers. Until his last day, Andy has served as a member of the International Advisory Board of CED journal. In 1982, Andy moved to USA, to join the Arizona State University (ASU) as a Research Associate until 1988. For twenty years from 1988, Andy was affiliated with Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) as an environmental planner. Following his retirement from ADEQ, He was still lecturing as an adjunct professor at Urban Planning Department at ASU. Together with several friends, he founded Persekutuan Kasih Kristus Arizona (PKKA), Inc., a foundation to help Indonesian Christian schools in the rural areas. Among his publications are ‘ Site Remediation: Planning and Management ’ (CRC Press, 1997) and ‘ Hazardous Waste Planning ’ (CRC Press, 1995). He supposed to present his paper entitled ‘ The Role of Municipal WWTPs in Arizona’s Water Conservation ’ in the coming ‘The Fifth Euro Asia Civil Engineering Forum’ (EACEF-5) conference, to be held at Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia, from 15-18 September 2015. Andy, who had lived in Tempe, Arizona, USA, was the husband of Ursula (Lanny) Soesilo and the father of Irene and Stanley Soesilo.

Investigation of the Environmental Attitudes and Approaches of University Students’

The purpose of this study is to determine university students’ approach to environment and nature, and their awareness of environmental protection. For this purpose, a survey with sample of 12% applied to the students of the Faculty of Architecture, Gazi University. Approaches and attitudes of students evaluated according to variables of age, gender and their attended programs and grades within the scope of protection of the environment, human-environment-nature relationship, the use of natural resources, environmental issues, economic growth and industrialization issues. Descriptive statistics and quantitative methods were used in the process of analysis and evaluation of the data collected. In the conclusion of study, It has been determined that students participated to this study are indecisive about environmentalist and nature-centered approaches. Students were also found to be indecisive about sensitivity related to environment, nature and environmental issues, in taking individual responsibility and changing their attitudes and behaviors. When approaches and sensitivities of students analyzed according to their gender; sensitivities of girl students were higher, and according to their department; sensitivities of students at the department of urban and regional planning were found to be higher. There is no significant relationship found between the environmental awareness of students and courses taken by these students about ecology and the environment.

Students Exploration on Campus Legibility

University Campuses are significant functional areas of cities. Successfully designed campuses help to balance university's academic, research and service missions with its educational services and raise learning performances. Campuses’ high level of design and planning service has close relation with its legibility. Kevin Lynch, one of the leading theorists who had research on place legibility used cognitive mapping as a tool and defined five fundamental elements, have great influence on place legibility. In this study, Black Sea Technical University is selected as the research area and its legibility level has determined. Aim of this study is to define the legibility level of the campus by students perceptions. In this context, Lynch's five fundamental legibility elements directed students to generate cognitive maps of the campus, and each student's perception level on campus area is determined. Respondent group include students from Architecture, and Urban and Regional Planning departments have contributed this study. End product is the analysis of the cognitive maps, produced by each student, based on legibility elements. The result of the analysis legibility map of the campus has created, and the legibility level of the campus area is determined. Following, the results are classified as the areas with high, medium and low cognition. Finally, possibility of raising university's educational and research activities through design are discussed.

The epistemologies of local climate change policies in Germany

Measures for climate adaptation and mitigation at the local level result in profound changes for the daily routines of municipal administrative staff. New agencies are created, new organisational relationships are established and the development of new competencies is needed. In particular, urban planning and environmental planning departments claim leading roles in cities’ socio-technical transitions. This article seeks to describe how knowledge is generated and used in this transition process in three German cities. The results show the combination of climate adaptation and mitigation is the dominant ‘narrative’ in large parts of the municipal administrations (as is the case in most other German and European cities). All three cities developed sophisticated strategies for ambitious goals to reduce CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the governance of local knowledge shares distinct characteristics and organisational aspects in the cities. However, internally competing epistemologies – in the sense of the infrastructure for the interpretation of reality and determination of what is known and how – can be identified and discussed.

A sustainable requalification of bracciano lake waterfront in Trevignano Romano

This paper describes the first interventions carried out in accordance with the results of the three years bilateral research SoURCE (Sustainable Urban Cell) performed by CITERA (Inter department Centre for Territory, Building, Conservation and Environment) of the Sapienza University of Rome and the Department of Urban Planning and Environment of the Royal Institute of Technology of Stockholm (KTH) regarding urban redevelopment and distributed micro-generation of buildings. The location is the municipality of Trevignano Romano in the area (urban cell) of the lake waterfront aimed at the integration of all facilities that will increase the tourist accommodation of the area. The concept of the project is to utilize empty spaces, in all lake waterfronts, for the construction of public toilets and showers, introduction of electric boat and bike rental for sightseeing with charging stations and construction of an energy efficient wooden prefabricated building to be used as a general shop for tourists (closest analogue service is about 3 km). The research is included in the executive programme for the scientific and technical cooperation between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Italy, in the area defined ‘Energy and Environment: Sustainable Cities’.

Geohazards Monitoring in Roma from InSAR and In Situ Data: Outcomes of the PanGeo Project

Within the PanGeo project (financed by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Program), the Geological Survey of Italy (ISPRA) and the Urban Planning Department of the City of Roma developed a geodatabase and map of the geological hazards for the territory of Roma, integrating remotely sensed data (PSInSAR—Permanent Scatterer Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar) and in situ geological information. Numerous thematic layers, maps and inventories of hazards (e.g., landslides, sinkholes, cavities), geological and hydrogeological data added to historical and recent urbanization information were compared to the permanent scatterer (PS) data from the European Remote Sensing satellites (ERS-1/2, 1992–2000) and ENVISAT (2002–2005) descending scenes, in order to produce a ground stability layer (GSL). Based on the PS data, most of the territory appears stable (almost 70 % of PS velocities are within ±1 mm/year). About 14 % of the PSs show positive line-of-sight (LOS) velocities (measured along the LOS of the satellite) between 1 and 3 mm/year and more than 2 % exceed 3 mm/year; more than 11 % of PSs show negative LOS velocities between −1 and −3 mm/year, while about 3 % exceed −3 mm/year (with tens of the PSs showing velocities over −20 mm/year). The GSL is comprised of polygons or multi-polygons (multipart polygons grouping individual polygons under a single identifier geohazard) enclosing areas where geohazards have been pointed out by PS data and/or in situ surveys (observed instabilities), and by polygons enclosing areas potentially affected by geohazards, based on the available knowledge of the territory (potential instabilities). In Roma’s GSL, 18 multi-polygons (covering ca. 600 km2) related to observed instabilities have been outlined, where ground movements could be detected through InSAR data or where landslides and sinkholes are known to have occurred. Other 13 multi-polygons (covering nearly 900 km2) concern areas where the potential occurrence of geohazards was inferred by combining geological and/or geothematic data (potential instabilities). The geohazards mapped in Roma have been: landslides, collapsible grounds, compressible grounds, groundwater abstraction, mining, man-made ground, tectonic movements, and volcanic inflation/deflation. The lattermost is the likely cause of the significant uplift observed in the Alban Hills area. However, this paper focuses on two more currently impending hazards: subsidence and sinkholes. In general, sinkhole-prone areas (areas of dense underground cavities) are hard to discern from satellite data, but can be revealed by ruling out other potential causes of observed ground movement based on in situ data. Subsiding zones are effectively detected by the available PSInSAR dataset over a total extent of about 60 km2, mostly overlapping the recent alluvial areas of the Tiber and its tributaries. PSs show a very different behaviour inside and outside the historical centre. Inside, loading by anthropogenic construction and man-made ground since ancient times has led to an almost complete consolidation of the recent river deposits, marked by modest to absent subsidence. In contrast, outside, subsidence clearly stands out, with negative LOS velocities that, although generally within several mm/year, can locally exceed −25 mm/year. PS data have provided motion information at both a regional and local scale (up to the scale of a single building). Closer to the sea, in the Tiber delta area, velocities increase, especially above recently reclaimed marsh areas, rich in peat and organic clays. Velocities can change significantly over short distances, as in the international airport area, reflecting the local stratigraphic setting. The same occurs in the two subsiding areas located within the Alban Hills volcanic complex, which is generally affected by ground uplift. As a whole, PSInSAR ground motion velocities offer a significant contribution to susceptibility and hazard recognition studies. In particular, such a method provides a fast and effective tool available to local authorities to monitor ground and building behaviour, possibly allowing for timely prevention activities, especially when coupled with appropriate in situ knowledge.

Evolución de las políticas de rehabilitación en Áreas de Rehabilitación Integrada en España (1978-2012)

The aim of this article is to study the evolution of urban intervention policies through Areas of Integrated Renovation (known by the acronym ARI in Spanish) implemented in Spain between 1978 and 2012. The analysis explores the birth and consolidation of the concept in national housing policy from Royal Decree 3148/1978 to the 2009-2012 Housing Plan. It also studies the ‘integrality’ of interventions in urban areas by analyzing twenty representative study cases. Integrated interventions are those that include not only urban planning but also urban design and local environment, building and socio-economical dimensions. The work is based on results extracted from previous research on the analysis of national and European policies on urban regeneration and district renovation conducted for the Ministry of Economic Development under the auspices of an agreement signed with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (ETSAM, UPM) in 2011.

Review: Ed Bacon: Planning, Politics, and the Building of Modern Philadelphia, by Gregory L. Heller and Insuring the City: The Prudential Center and the Postwar Urban Landscape, by Elihu Rubin

Gregory L. Heller Ed Bacon: Planning, Politics, and the Building of Modern Philadelphia Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013, 320 pp., 25 b/w illus. $39.95 ISBN 9780812244908 Elihu Rubin Insuring the City: The Prudential Center and the Postwar Urban Landscape New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2012, 256 pp., 50 b/w illus. $30.00, ISBN 9780300170184 On 9–10 April 1956, the Harvard Graduate School of Design convened a landmark conference on urban design, the intention of which was “to be exploratory, not didactic, and to try to find a common basis for the joint work of the Architect, the Landscape Architect and the City Planner in the field of Urban Design. In the minds of its sponsors, Urban Design is wider than the scope of these three professions, though all have vital contributions to make.”1 Many argue that this convocation initiated urban design as a discipline distinct from both architecture and planning and that the conference solidified the notion that urban design is a radically interdisciplinary field in which foregrounding public needs takes precedence over issues of beauty and scale. One invitee to that conference was the executive director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, Edmund N. Bacon, whose plangent call for a more humanistic and holistic approach to urban design underscored the need for a new specialization: “Planners have traditionally considered the design of physical structures as detail. Administrators almost invariably think in terms of specific projects and procedures rather than the underlying correlative relationships. What we need is the architect-planner-administrator, and if we ever get it we will then really have an urban designer.”2 Bacon’s prescient plea for comprehensive interpersonal cooperation in the success of urban renewal was consistent with the views of others at the conference, but Bacon remained isolated in the larger context of American postwar urban policy. He had a history of iconoclasm but also of advocating for community participation as a way of supplementing the work of professional planners with input from members of the public.3 He instinctively understood not only that people make cities but also that cities make people. As simple as that formulation may …

Organisation does matter – planning for cycling in Stockholm and Copenhagen

This article explores how the organisation of urban and transport planning departments affects the development of a sustainable transport system and the promotion of bicycling. Interviews conducted in Stockholm and Copenhagen showed that the organisation of the departments affects the social relations between the planners and creates power relations that either foster or marginalise cycling within planning processes. In Copenhagen, an integrated planning organisation allows for more knowledge exchange between urban, transport, and bicycle planners and creates an environment of understanding for different professional views on planning. However, this is not the case in Stockholm where cycling is marginalised in planning and in the existing infrastructure. This study concludes that the integrated transport and urban planning organisation in Copenhagen promotes cycling more than the less integrated planning organisation in Stockholm. Furthermore, it is concluded that the different organisations have led to different power relations that shape the outcome of the planning processes.

The Research-Led Pedagogy in Contemporary Planning Education

This paper aims to explore the research-led pedagogy in contemporary planning education. A case study was conducted in the Department of Urban Planning and Design, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, to show a range of teaching and learning methods which aimed to embed research into the academic experience, thereby facilitating students’ active learning. The application of these new teaching models (e.g. integrated teaching across different modules, interdisciplinary workshops, field studies, summer undergraduate research projects, games, etc.), as a move away from the lecture-based approach to a hands-on approach, provides an opportunity for students to engage with some innovative concepts (e.g. sustainability, resilience, etc.) and explore their applicability and value in practice. It was found from this study that there is an urgent need to foster a research-led learning environment which can facilitate innovative educational practices or similar. Such an ongoing process can also help students deepen their understanding of the latest requirements of China’s overall strategic development plans (e.g. the integrative development of urban and rural areas) and thereby cope with new issues arising in the urban-rural transformation. Since the host institution of this study (XJTLU) is itself a joint venture between Xi’an Jiaotong University China and the University of Liverpool UK, some findings from this case study reflect the differences of educational practices between the UK and China.

Climate-Change Sensitive Residential Areas and Their Adaptation Capacities by Urban Green Changes: Case Study of Linz, Austria

AbstractAs summer air temperatures continue to increase, urban areas will be most affected since urban building structures and materials intensify the heat island effect. The number of people who will be affected by increasing temperatures will rise, especially those in the heat-sensitive group of elderly people. Urban planning departments have to develop adaptation strategies in order to limit negative effects of climate change on their citizens. Due to their climatic ecosystem services, urban green areas can play an important role in this process. Since the effects of climate change can vary in different urban areas, a study was conducted focusing on identification of residential areas most affected by climate change according to surface cover structure and demographic characteristics in the City of Linz, Austria by using satellite images and demographic data. Residential areas with low vegetation cover and a high number of risk group members are identified as “climate-change sensitive residential areas...