Urban Planning Process Research Articles

“The integration of Business Analytics in Smart Cities”

The integration of business analytics in smart cities represents a paradigm shift in urban development, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. This paper explores the significance of business analytics in the context of smart cities, aiming to understand its implications for urban planning, resource allocation, and decision-making processes. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and case studies, the paper examines the diverse applications of business analytics in smart city initiatives, ranging from optimizing transportation systems to improving public safety and infrastructure management. Despite the potential benefits, challenges such as data privacy concerns, skills gaps, and organizational barriers pose significant obstacles to effective implementation. By analysing successful integration strategies and identifying key lessons learned, this paper offers insights and recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and other stakeholders to harness the full potential of business analytics in shaping the cities of tomorrow.

Enhancing spatial accessibility of tourist spots in Al Kharj city through space syntax analysis

The tourism industry plays a pivotal role in the economic growth and cultural enrichment of cities. Urban regeneration has been considered as a key focus of urban tourism development. This study investigates the application of space syntax as an analytical and design tool in urban regeneration efforts, specifically focusing on Al Kharj City, Saudi Arabia, as a burgeoning tourist destination. The research aims to enhance the spatial accessibility of tourist spots in Al Kharj through space syntax analysis, addressing existing gaps in understanding and optimizing accessibility within the city. By integrating space syntax analysis into urban planning processes, this study seeks to inform stakeholders about the importance of spatial accessibility in enhancing the visitors’ experience and fostering sustainable urban development. Through a multi-scale approach and advanced analytical techniques, the study provides insights into the complex relationships between spatial structures, economic activities, and functional distributions, offering recommendations for improving accessibility and optimizing the spatial distribution of tourist services in Al Kharj. Integrating spatial analysis into urban planning, enhancing connectivity and integration, promoting community involvement, addressing spatial disparities, and implementing evidence-based interventions could result in a more accessible and inclusive urban environment for the enhancement of urban tourism.

Seismic Risk Assessment of Built Environment in the Himalayan Foothill City of Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Himalayan foothill city of Dehradun in Uttarakhand state is located in a tectonically active region and is prone to earthquakes. The growth of Dehradun city is analysed using high resolution remote sensing datasets in the current study, with a focus on its vulnerability to seismic risks for single and double storey structures as the city is predominantly made up of low-rise structures. Analysis shows that 10% of urban expansion has occurred in spectral acceleration zones that are vulnerable to double-storey buildings, while 38% of urban expansion has happened in spectral acceleration zones that are vulnerable to single-storey buildings. The proposed land use as per Dehradun Masterplan 2041 is examined with reference to National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) for seismic regulating provisions. It is emphasized that the intended land use is incongruous in areas with higher spectral acceleration zones since it comprises structures with higher occupancy and the amenities required during post-earthquake rehabilitation. On the other hand, the open spaces are more appropriate in these locations, which will lessen susceptibility as the influence of seismic forces can be sufficiently attenuated. The present study, thus highlights the significance of including seismic risk information in urban planning processes in order to ensure resilient cities.

Industrial location and urban macroform prediction model based on cellular automata and multi-criteria decision-making methods (ILAUFM)

The relationships between industrialization and urban regions, as well as technological advancements, innovations, and new work patterns and organizations, significantly impact the structuring of cities. Industrial sectors can become key drivers in shaping the form and macrostructure of a city over time. By examining and evaluating the existing system of structures and relations in the settlements in order to “estimate the land use differentiations” that may arise in the future and “to determine the spatial location of industrial facilities or sites,” a model has been developed. This model aims to predict potential “land use differentiations” and determine the “spatial location selection of industrial facilities or sites” in the future based on the analysis and evaluation of existing structures and relational systems in settlements. The model consists of the integration of the LUCAM, which is based on a cellular automata operating system, along with the “GIS-Based Integrated Industrial Area Location Selection Model,” which evaluates all data under the main headings of natural structure characteristics, socio-economic structure characteristics, and built environment characteristics using weighted overlay analysis. In this article, the general structure of the model developed within the scope of the research and İnegöl sampling are explained. The outputs of this model can be used for alternative separation for logistics centers, residential areas, secondary centers, reinforcement areas, and industrial sites in different settlements. In addition, in the research, a detailed model was designed by integrating decision-makers (central administrations, local administrations, registered users, NGOs) into the urban planning process. The proposed model can be used as a tool in designing transportation and other urban systems (distribution order of equipment areas, green area system, grading of centers, etc.).

Remote Sensing-Enabled Urban Growth Simulation Overlaid with AHP-GIS-Based Urban Land Suitability for Potential Development in Mersin Metropolitan Area, Türkiye

This study delves into the integration of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information system (GIS) techniques to identify suitable areas for urban development in six districts within the Mersin Metropolitan Area of Turkey. The specific aim is to generate an urban land use suitability map, in order to facilitate informed decision-making for urban development. Drawing on open Landsat satellite imagery and employing the random forest (RF) algorithm, the study spans a fifteen-year period, over which land use/land cover (LULC) changes are measured. Furthermore, a novel approach is introduced by incorporating the urban land use suitability map into an urban growth simulation model developed using a logistic regression (LR) algorithm. This simulation forecasts urban growth up to 2027, enabling planners to evaluate potential development areas against suitability criteria. Findings reveal spatial patterns of land suitability and projected urban growth, aiding decision-makers in selecting optimal areas for development while preserving ecological integrity. Notably, the study emphasizes the importance of considering various factors such as topography, accessibility, soil capability, and geology in urban planning processes. The results showcase significant proportions of the study area as being moderately to highly suitable for urban development, alongside notable shifts in LULC classes over the years. Additionally, the overlay analysis of simulated urban growth and land suitability maps highlights areas with contrasting suitability levels, offering valuable insights for sustainable urban growth strategies. By overlaying the urban land suitability map with a simulated LULC map for 2027, it is revealed that 2247.3 hectares of potential new urbanization areas demonstrate very high suitability for settlement, while 7440.12 hectares exhibit very low suitability. By providing a comprehensive framework for assessing urban land suitability and projecting future growth, this research offers practical implications for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders involved in Mersin’s development trajectory, ultimately fostering more sustainable and resilient urban landscapes.

Evaluating the Impact of Heat Mitigation Strategies Using Added Urban Green Spaces during a Heatwave in a Medium-Sized City

Recognizing the growing trend of the urban population and the undeniable fact of global and regional climate change, it becomes increasingly important to explore how we can improve the livability of our cities not only in the distant future but also in the next few years. A critical aspect of this endeavor involves studying how we can effectively mitigate human heat load in urban areas. In our research, in the case of a medium-sized city (Szeged, Hungary), we examined the effect of surface modifications caused by vegetation on human thermal perception during the day and night of two heatwave days. To achieve this, we used the MUKLIMO_3 micro-scale climate model to simulate the thermal climate of Szeged, while the thermal load was assessed with the perceived temperature calculated by the Klima-Michel model. Our analysis also relied on the local climate zone (LCZ) system to describe the original land cover and the additional urban green spaces in the study area. We scrutinized the effects of added vegetation of different types and densities, as well as the presence of protective forests surrounding the city. Our findings revealed that the effect of the added vegetation can only be detected on the modified surfaces and in their immediate vicinity. Notably, dense urban greenery resulted in up to a 2–3 °C reduction in perceived temperature in certain areas during the daytime, highlighting the profound impact of targeted green space development. In addition, it is crucial to consider the airflow-blocking effect of woody vegetation, which can increase thermal load by 1–3 °C in the areas located in a downwind direction. Therefore, the changing regional climatic conditions (e.g., wind direction) and the development of the right type and location of urban green areas deserve special attention during modern urban planning processes.

Future-oriented Codesign Workshops as a Method of Empowering Citizens in Urban Infrastructure Development: A Capabilitarian Analysis

ABSTRACT Urban mobility infrastructures have a major impact on the everyday life of city residents. Not only their mobility, but also their health, enjoyment of life and development of lifestyle preferences are affected by them. However, inclusive participation in infrastructure planning processes is difficult to achieve. We explore a foresight approach that develops desirable urban visions that involve residents in the preparation of decisions that will impact their lives. We propose future-oriented co-design workshops for the operationalisation of a capabilitarian focus on conscientisation, conciliation and collaboration to involve citizens in the visioning of infrastructure planning. The study is based on future-oriented codesign workshops held in Montreal in 2022–2023. Residents were invited to evaluate and discuss various future scenarios that re-imagine a highway currently cutting through the city. The results show the capabilitarian co-design workshops to promote critical thinking, vision creation and to a lesser extent collaboration in the discussions triggered by the future-oriented codesign workshops. The results also reveal the difficulties of making such discussions truly inclusive, as well as their ambivalent relation to urban planning processes.

ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ КОЛОРИСТИКИ ГОРОДСКОЙ СРЕДЫ ПОД ВЛИЯНИЕМ ЦВЕТОВОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ И ЦВЕТОВЫХ ПРЕДПОЧТЕНИЙ СУБЪЕКТА

Colour plays an important role in creating a safe and informative urban environment. However, there is still a tendency towards colour monotony or, on the contrary, chaotic flashy colours in the colourism of urban space. The globalisation process in urban planning also has a negative impact and leads to the loss of individual image and recognition of modern fast-growing cities, including Tyumen. The article studies the colouristics of the city, its formation under the influence of colour culture and colour preferences of citizens. The author compares the existing methods of formation of urban environment colouristics based on a set of different factors. A special place in the study is given to regional colour culture. Its basis lies in the colour preferences of a person, certain social groups or a nation. The study of the history of colour culture in Tyumen relies on historical and qualitative methods, analysis of archival materials, various written and visual documents. The study gives examples of the influence of colour culture on the formation of urban environment colourism. Field surveys of real architectural objects in the central part of Tyumen and the analysis of changes in colour preferences caused by the change of colour carriers made it possible to identify the colouristics peculiarities in the city in certain periods of its construction. Scientific novelty consists in an in-depth consideration of the formation of urban environment colouristics in the context of regional colour culture.

E-PARTICIPATION IN URBAN PLANNING: ISTANBUL SENIN APPLICATION

In parallel with the developments in information and communication technologies, traditional participation in urban planning processes is gradually evolving into e- participation applications. For the effective use of e-participation applications, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness and quality of the applications in terms of participation mechanisms, design, interaction, structure, transparency, and security of processes. The aim of the study is to examine Istanbul Senin application in terms of e-participation, to investigate the use of this application by the citizens and to offer suggestions for its improvement.The study seeks answers to the questions of what the positive and negative aspects of the Istanbul Senin application are in the context of e-participation and how it is used by citizens. The study was designed in two stages. First, Istanbul Senin application was analyzed in line with the criteria for evaluation of e-participation platforms. Second, a survey was conducted to examine the use of this application. The sample group was determined on a voluntary basis and a sample of 100 participants was determined within a reasonable margin of error (10%), taking time and cost into account. Accordingly, issues such as informing and raising awareness of the citizens about the importance of participatory processes, increasing the familiarity of the application, improving the design and increasing the ease of use, improving the way of interaction have been emphasized for the Istanbul Senin application.

Contribution to the Research on New Belgrade: The Unbuilt Projects and the Concepts of Nikola Dobrović

<p class="Abstract" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="sr-Cyrl-BA" style="mso-fareast-language: BS-LATN-BA;">Architect Nikola Dobrović is best known in Serbia for his only constructed building in Belgrade, the complex of the State Secretariat of National Defense (DSNO), better known as the General Staff, today an endangered cultural heritage and a crumbling building with an uncertain future. However, his short-term engagement as the head of the Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Serbia from 1946-1947, and his later professorship at the Faculty of Architecture University of Belgrade, are equally significant for Belgrade and Serbia. Documents testifying to the post-war period of his work are scattered in several places: in the Urban Planning Institute of Belgrade, the Museum of Science and Technology, the Historical Archive of Belgrade, and the rare publications can only be found in a few libraries in Serbia. In the course of his short-term work on New Belgrade, Dobrović provided several conceptual projects and sketches for New Belgrade within the Urban Planning Institute: the perfomance square, road schemes and the urban planning solution of the zone between the Palace of the Federation and the Railway Station - today's Central Zone of New Belgrade. Finally, at different stages of his career, Dobrović also designed individual objects, such as the project for the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the building of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, which remained in the domain of 'paper architecture', unbuilt, and which provides an insight into the way he thought about the process of urban and spatial planning, through the positioning of builidngs which would've generated the character of their immediate and distant surroundings.</span></p>

Assessment of environmental odor pollution using a dispersion model in an industrialized urban area of Kocaeli, Turkey

AbstractThe main goal of the present study was to highlight how crucial odor evaluation methods may be for raising the general standard of living in a region. For this, the dispersion of odor concentrations detected by an olfactometric method in an area of Kocaeli, Turkey, where odor problems are frequently experienced, was investigated using the AERMOD atmospheric dispersion modeling system. According to the findings of the olfactometric measurement, the mean odor concentrations in the industrial area was high at 1342 OU m–3, while in the residential areas the values were lower, at 578 OU m–3 within the selected study area. As a result of the modeling study, the maximum odor concentration was 2081 OU m–3 at the 1 h. The model also showed that the coordinate points where the maximum odor concentration was observed changed with time, and that the concentrations recorded at the 1 h may decrease by as much as 88%–91% at the 24 h. In the study, a survey was also conducted to identify possible effects of odor pollution on people. The survey findings showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the two areas (industrial and residential) for seven variables of a total 28. We suggest that measuring odor concentrations, modeling their distribution, and conducting surveys are effective methods when managing the urban planning process.

On a critical walk: The politicisation of pedestrian planning as a tension in participatory planning

This paper analyses urban walking during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as an object of urban planning in Helsinki. The paper investigates planners' experiences of planning for temporary spatial solutions during a time of exceptionality in urban life. The paper is motivated by the wish to determine the influence of residents' environmental critique on official urban planning processes. Analysis is primarily based on walk-along interviews with urban planners and residents in the densest eastern downtown neighbourhoods of Helsinki. Supplemental data, including a survey, chat group discussions and planning documents, are used to deepen analysis. Results discuss the politicisation of planning and the delicate relationship between public planners and the political steering of planning in a Nordic welfare planning system. The paper discusses how the politicisation of planning imposes barriers to participatory planning by tying planners' time and attention to organisational tensions, but also by not being able to direct public attention to contentious planning topics. To analyse the role of planners in advocating for pedestrian planning and citizen participation, the study incorporates concepts from organisational communication and urban governance: tensions, rational ignorance and guerrilla governance.

Johannesburg’s transit revolution: a critical report on transit-oriented development strategy

ABSTRACT In urban planning processes, global policies that are evaluated positively may not achieve favorable performance in specific urban, social, and policy circumstances. The practice of transit-oriented development (TOD) strategy in Johannesburg is a representative example. This report focuses on its role in balancing ecological sustainability, social inclusion, economic development, and impact on citizens. The report finds that while TOD can theoretically help eliminate social inequalities and promote economic and ecological sustainability, its practical effect is limited, manifesting in exacerbated government deficits and a growing gap between the rich and the poor. This report examines the causes and provides recommendations.

The cyclical nature of dualistic trends in urban design. Historical analysis of the creative attitudes of selected masters over the centuries

In this article, the authors raise issues of dualistic solutions in urban design and city development. It should be noted at the outset that the very concept of duality is not obvious and is inherently ambiguous. The numerous definitions that exist are very general. We can distinguish several disciplines and scientific areas where the concept of dualism occurs or can appear. At the same time, the definition of each of these phenomena will be different, depending on the area in which it occurs. Hence, the authors have made a far-reaching reduction in the types of dualisms, narrowing the area of research to the creative attitudes of urban planners, philosophers of space, artists, and architects in historical terms. The aim of the search for dual features in spatial forms is to find the key to a better understanding of the laws governing urban planning and urbanisation processes. Verification of opposites and dual characteristics takes place on three levels: community, form, and function. The urban conditions that occur contribute to the creation of new qualities and new spatial forms, which help redefine the city and its development. The paper is based on the thesis that dualism is a permanent feature of spatial solutions (a recurring feature) across the spectrum of history.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Science for Sustainable Urban Planning

The rapid urbanization of modern cities presents significant challenges in sustainable development. To address these challenges, there is a growing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Environmental Science to enhance urban planning processes. This research aims to assess the impact and utility of AI techniques within the framework of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for sustainable urban planning. Specifically, it investigates how AI-enhanced GIS tools can be employed to improve urban development strategies and enhance sustainability assessments. Employing Spatial Analysis with GIS, this study analyzes data on land use, population density, and environmental indicators across several metropolitan areas. The methodology incorporates machine learning algorithms to predict and simulate urban growth patterns, enabling the assessment of various urban planning scenarios. The findings reveal that AI-enhanced GIS tools significantly improve the precision of development forecasts and sustainability assessments. These tools facilitate more informed decision-making in urban planning by enabling precise predictions about urban expansion and its environmental impacts. The integration of AI with environmental science not only enhances the efficiency of urban planning processes but also contributes to the resilience and sustainability of urban environments. The study provides urban planners and policymakers with advanced tools to forecast and mitigate the environmental impacts of urbanization, thereby setting a benchmark for future studies in the realm of sustainable urban planning. This research demonstrates the practical application of AI in enhancing the capabilities of GIS for complex spatial analyses, contributing significantly to the field of urban planning.

Analysis of cold island effect in city parks from the perspectives of maximum and cumulative values – a case study of Xi'an City

The continuous process of urbanization and climate change has led to severe urban heat island (UHI) effects. Constructing parks with cooling capabilities is considered an effective measure to alleviate UHI effects. However, most studies only quantify the cooling effect from a maximum value perspective, lacking a measure of temperature diffusion in space. This study combines the perspectives of maximum value and accumulation to define a cold island index, quantifying the cooling effect of 40 urban parks in the main urban area of Xi'an city. The results show that, on average, urban parks can reduce the surrounding environment by approximately 2.3℃, with a cooling range of about 127.1ha, which is three times the park area. Different factors drive the measurement of the cooling effect using different cold island indexes, but all indexes are highly correlated with green space area. There are significant differences in the cooling effect among different types of parks, and overall, ecological parks have the best cooling effect. The directional spread of internal cold islands in parks is most related to park shape, while external spread is related to surrounding green spaces. The research results have practical value in the construction of parks with cooling effects and the sustainable development of cities in urban planning processes..

Urban Borderlands: Difference, Inequality, and Spatio-Temporal In-Betweenness in Cities

The concept of urban borderlands helps us to understand how divisions take <em>place</em> in the city. Urban borderlands expand territorially beyond the mere linear border, drawing together what exists in or across both sides of the divide. In that they are not merely physical, but of course always socially, culturally, and experientially densely charged, the notion of the urban borderland offers itself as a useful analytic in the study of urban conditions that are marked by contiguity and coexistence. Contributions in this issue explore the potential of urban borderline studies across global cities, spanning various scales and employing theoretical frameworks such as borderlands, liminality, and multiple identities. This issue emphasizes the importance of considering bordering processes in urban planning and design and shows that urban borderlands are sites of contestation, negotiation, and coexistence, offering valuable lessons for the future of urban research and practice.

Conceptualizing Place Borders as Narrative: Observations From Berlin-Wedding, a Neighbourhood in Transformation

Place is of central significance to urban planning processes that specifically target community involvement and co-ownership of development decisions. Consequently, the intriguing but often daunting task of understanding how a sense of place emerges, develops, and evolves has been a subject of interdisciplinary study that links the social sciences, humanities, and more recently, cognitive sciences. Since Kevin Lynch’s classic study of urban images and mental maps, borders within cities have either directly or indirectly featured as vital meaning-making elements of place identities. However, despite some remarkable precedents, analysis of political and socio-cultural borders has only begun to link place-making and bordering processes in ways that resonate with urban planning studies. In this article, we will suggest that borders emerge in the embodied creation of social space as a means to interpret the environment and stabilise ways of knowing the wider world. Building on our own previous research on participatory place-making initiatives in Berlin, we will indicate how border stories (i.e., the social communication of neighbourhood distinction, relationality, and transformation) represent vital knowledges of place. These knowledges reflect embodied experiences of place as well as contestations and tensions that characterise place development processes. Perhaps most importantly in terms of planning, the salience of urban borders lies in broadening understanding of how and why places function—or fail to function—as communities.

Insights/Opinion: Promoting Urban Studies and Practice with Emerging Technologies: City Laboratory, New City, and Future City Exploration

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, marked by emerging/disruptive technologies like mobile internet, big data, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), immersive media (VR/AR/MR), and the Internet of Things (IoT), is transforming cities and promoting urban development. This paper argues that these technologies foster urban studies and implementation in three pathways: methodology, epistemology, and practice. First, the new data environment offers a foundation for quantitative and objective urban studies, enabling researchers to treat cities as laboratories and conduct city experiments worldwide. Second, emerging technologies are reshaping contemporary urban life and space, promoting the update of urban theories. Third, these technologies are expected to be applied as new elements in the urban planning and design processes to create smart urban spatial forms that cater to contemporary needs. Overall, this paper highlights the potential significance of emerging technologies for urban research and development in terms of research methods and data support, theoretical updates and iterations, and practical urban planning and design.

No Room for Modesty in Heritage Significance: The Case of Dennesig in Stellenbosch, South Africa

Significance and authenticity are two key concepts that run through the practice of urban heritage conservation. When combined, they form a powerful tool within a value-based system that ensures the preservation and continued use of historic places. Stellenbosch, being the second oldest town in South Africa, holds great importance as a historic town. However, several historic suburbs have experienced processes of redevelopment, studentification, and gentrification over the past decade, resulting in their deterioration. But what happens when the unique heritage character of a place is considered insignificant by developers, heritage practitioners, architects, and the local authority? This paper focuses on the Dennesig neighborhood in Stellenbosch, where the broader context of modest heritage significance has been neglected and erased from historical records due to poorly conceived planning, urban design, and mismanagement of heritage resources. The argument put forth in this paper is that in order to evaluate a specific case study site, one must consider the complexities of broader heritage and urban planning processes. This understanding is crucial to comprehend the factors that have shaped the current context and the eventual significance attributed to a particular place, setting, or townscape.