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Recent Progress in Urbanisation Dynamics Research Ⅱ

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Contexts and Urban-Rural Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (21 July 2023) | Viewed by 9757

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Iwona Cieślak

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Guest Editor

Department of Socio-Economic Geography, Institute of Spatial Management and Geography, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: spatial analysis; GIS; urban planning; urban sustainability; urban development; urbanism; city planning; spatial planning; sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Andrzej Biłozor

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Department of Socio-Economic Geography, Institute of Spatial Management and Geography, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: spatial planning; urban analysis; optimization of urban space; spatiotemporal analysis; fuzzy set theory; changes in land use and land cover
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Luca Salvati

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Guest Editor

Department of Economics and Law, University of Macerata, Via Armaroli 43, I-62100 Macerata, Italy
Interests: climate change; desertification; land-use; sustainable agriculture; urban sprawl; urban and rural geography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the Special Issue of Land on “Recent Progres in Urbanisation Dynamics Research II”.

This Special Issue is dedicated to urbanization, which is observed every day, as well as the methods and techniques of monitoring and analyzing this phenomenon. In the 21^st century, urbanization has gained momentum, and the awareness of the significance and influence of this phenomenon on our lives make us take a closer look at it not only with curiosity, but also great attention. There are numerous reasons for this, among which the economy is of special significance, but it also has many results, namely, economic, social, and environmental. First of all, it is a spatial phenomenon, as all of the aspects can be placed in space. We would therefore like to draw special attention to the results of urbanization seen on the Earth's surface and in the surrounding space. The urbanization–and relation seems obvious, but is also interesting and multi-layered. The development of science and technology provides a lot of new tools for observing urbanization as well as the analyses and inference of the phenomenon in space. In the presented Special Issue, we would like to include manuscripts that present the latest trends of research that use experience in the widely-understood geography of the area. Contributions dealing with various aspects of in urbanization dynamics processes underway throughout the world are desired, including, but not limited to the following: spatial changes in city structures; the challenges of infrastructure provision; the loss of agricultural land; creating new spatial forms; and environmental, economic, and social changes. This Special Issue is focused on multidisciplinary phenomenon, i.e., urbanization, with the use of the satellite and photogrammetric observation technologies and GIS analyses.

Prof. Dr. Iwona Cieślak
Prof. Dr. Andrzej Biłozor
Prof. Dr. Luca Salvati
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

urban analyses
urban sprawl
environmental changes
land management
change land use
land cover
suburbanization
GIS analyses
remote sensing data

Related Special Issue

Recent Progress in Urbanisation Dynamics Research in Land (15 articles)

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Sprawl and Changes in Landscape Patterns: The Case of Kisangani City and Its Periphery (DR Congo)

by Julien Bwazani Balandi, Jean Pierre Pitchou Meniko To Hulu, Kouagou Raoul Sambieni, Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Jean-François Bastin, Charles Mumbere Musavandalo, Timothée Besisa Nguba, Jacques Elangi Langi Molo, Tresor Mbavumoja Selemani, Jean-Pierre Mate Mweru and Jan Bogaert

Land 2023, 12(11), 2066; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112066 - 16 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1221

Abstract

The rapid population growth in sub-Saharan Africa requires regular monitoring of the spatial expansion of cities in order to facilitate efficient urban planning. In this study, we quantified the dynamics of urban and peri-urban areas in the city of Kisangani from 1987 to 2021, based on morphological criteria. Results demonstrate continuous urban and peri-urban growth, with respective average annual change rates of 8.2% and 7.6%. The urban core area expanded from 13.49 km² to 100.49 km², resulting from an alternating process of diffusion and coalescence. Peri-urbanization indexes developed to assess the trend of the decline in urban densities indicate a phase of urban densification over the period 1987–2010 succeeded by a decline in urban density over the period 2010–2021 that is characterized by a large expansion of the peri-urban area. However, despite this trend observed between 2010 and 2021, the decrease in urban density was not effective between 1987 and 2021 in Kisangani, as the fraction of peri-urban area observed in 1987 remains equivalent to that observed in 2021. This suggests a continuity of urban densification despite increasing peri-urbanization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Urbanisation Dynamics Research Ⅱ)

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18 pages, 3633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preferences and Perception Influencing Usage of Neighborhood Public Urban Green Spaces in Fast Urbanizing Indian City

by Shruti Ashish Lahoti, Ashish Lahoti, Shalini Dhyani and Osamu Saito

Land 2023, 12(9), 1664; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091664 - 25 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1286

Abstract

In rapidly expanding Indian cities, the current provisions for public urban green spaces (PUGS) falls below the minimum standards recommended by the WHO, linked with the well-being of urban dwellers. The local authorities are struggling to fulfill the supply side gap, with a disparity in PUGS provisions. Currently, the provisions focus on fulfilling the prerequisites identified by the planning agencies and do not appropriately address the urban greenspace demands. However, effective planning has been emphasized as a way to respond to the diverse, competing and changing demands of PUGS, allowing the incorporation of the needs and preferences of urban dwellers in the planning and management of PUGS to help determine their multifunctionality, usefulness, and popularity. In response, this study attempts to capture the demands of urban dwellers through local social data for neighborhood PUGS of the fast-urbanizing Nagpur. We attempt to assist local authorities in better understanding the provisions for planning and managing PUGS that can fulfil the growing PUGS needs of urban dwellers. Via a social survey of users and residents, we capture visitations, usage, activities, motives of visits, and perceptions about neighborhood PUGS characteristics. The findings highlight the determinants that influence the usage and favored activities. Urban dwellers have a strong tendency to use neighborhood “parks and gardens” due to their convenient proximity, emphasizing how crucial their location is in shaping urban residents’ engagement with these spaces. The socio-demographics shape the preference, and the locals hold negative perceptions about size, vegetation, amenities, as well as maintenance. The identified determinants (access and availability), influencing factors (socio-demographic), and the barrier to usage (negative perceptions) need prioritized attention from the local authorities to accommodate the diverse and competing demands of different sub-groups of the urban dwellers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Urbanisation Dynamics Research Ⅱ)

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17 pages, 3965 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Increasing Coastal Urbanization in the Mediterranean Environment: The State of the Art in Italy

by Daniela Smiraglia, Alice Cavalli, Chiara Giuliani and Francesca Assennato

Land 2023, 12(5), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051017 - 05 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1795

Abstract

This paper describes the state of the art of urbanization in Italian coastal areas in 2021, both at national and regional level. Moreover, we focused on six coastal municipalities, aiming to evaluate land consumption in relation to population dynamics between 2012 and 2021 and assessing per capita consumed land in each municipality. Finally, an analysis of land consumption in specific areas prone to natural risks along the coastline (hydraulic, landslide and seismic, hazard) was provided. We considered areas of medium hydraulic hazard, of high and very high landslide hazard, and of high and very high seismic hazard. The results indicate an intense process of urbanization in the first 1000 m from the coastline at national, regional, and municipal levels, which is also increasing in the presence of stabilization or dwindling inhabitants. Furthermore, urbanization is also affected by geomorphology, leading to the developments of settlements in the most accessible areas, such as coastal plains, without taking into consideration the presence of natural hazards. The study highlights the importance of monitoring land consumption to the understanding of processes related to urbanization in coastal areas, from the perspective of future effective policies and to support sustainable planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Urbanisation Dynamics Research Ⅱ)

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21 pages, 2236 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Mixed Land Use as an Intrinsic Feature of Sprawl: A Short-Term Analysis of Settlement Growth and Population Distribution Using European Urban Atlas

by Alessia D’Agata, Giovanni Quaranta, Rosanna Salvia, Margherita Carlucci and Luca Salvati

Land 2023, 12(5), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12050972 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1185

Abstract

This study investigates the land-use/population mix over time as the base to derive an indicator of urban sprawl. Land-use individual patches (provided by Urban Atlas, hereafter UA, with a detailed spatial geometry at 1:10,000 scale) were associated with the total (resident) population based on official statistics (census enumeration districts and other public data sources), providing a comprehensive mapping of the spatial distribution of population density by land-use class in a representative case study for the Mediterranean region (metropolitan Athens, Greece). Data analysis adopted a mix of statistical techniques, such as descriptive statistics, non-parametric curve interpolation (smoothing splines), and exploratory multivariate statistics, namely hierarchical clustering, non-metric multi-dimensional scaling and confirmative factor analysis. The results of this study indicate a non-linear gradient of density decline from downtown (dominated by compact settlements) to peripheral locations (dominated by natural land). Population density in agricultural land was locally high and increasing over time; this result suggests how mixed land use may be the base of intense sprawl in large metropolitan regions. The methodology implemented in this study can be generalized over the whole sample of European cities included in Urban Atlas, providing a semi-automatic assessment of exurban development and population re-distribution over larger metropolitan regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Urbanisation Dynamics Research Ⅱ)

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21 pages, 8107 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality Index Approach for Analysis of Urban Green Infrastructure in Himalayan Cities

by Mangalasseril Mohammad Anees, Ellen Banzhaf, Jingxia Wang and Pawan Kumar Joshi

Land 2023, 12(2), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020279 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1691

Abstract

In fast urbanizing cities, fragmentation of urban green infrastructure (UGI) commonly arises due to lack of efficient planning to maintain the quantity and improve their quality. As ecological processes and landscape patterns are closely intertwined, it is a prerequisite to investigate landscape structure when aiming at better provision of ecosystem services. This study integrates remote sensing, geographic information system, combination of landscape metrics, and multi-variated statistics to delineate structural attributes influencing UGI Quality (UGIQ). We exemplify our methodology in three capital cities of Indian Himalayan states at administrative ward level. The UGIQ is derived by comparing landscape characters defined by nine metrics denoting area, shape, and aggregation attributes. By employing principal component analysis (PCA) and multi-collinearity diagnosis, a set of quality defining metrics are obtained for each city. Further, to gain insightful spatial basis for improving connectivity, Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) is used to visualize and classify patches into seven morphological classes. Landscape characterization highlights a pattern of low-quality wards having a limited number and area of UGI patches in urban centers, and high-quality wards with complex and aggregated patches towards fringes. PCA identifies the positive influence of area (LPI, AREA_MN) and shape (LSI, FRAC_AM, CONTIG) metrics and negative influence of patch distance (ENN_MN) and fragmentation (PD) on UGIQ in different combinations across the cities. Higher shares of morphological core and edge classes are recognized for overall UGIQ improvement. The results provide quantitative measures to develop integrated spatial planning strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Urbanisation Dynamics Research Ⅱ)

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20 pages, 4204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Is the Future of the Bush Capital? A Socio-Ecological Approach to Enhancing Canberra’s Green Infrastructure

by Fahimeh Mofrad and Maria Ignatieva

Land 2023, 12(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12010039 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1812

Abstract

Canberra, a city known as a “garden city” that emerged in the early twentieth century, is developing at a speedy rate. The compact city vision for Canberra was announced in ACT Planning Strategy 2018 while the city encounters climate change impacts. Although urban compaction has its own benefits, it is considered a challenge for maintaining and developing the quality and quantity of urban green spaces. Canberra owns a unique urban design legacy and is known for its bush capital/garden city character, which has intertwined the social and ecological layers of the city. The concern around urban compaction and densification calls for holistic green infrastructure (GI) planning to balance the built and non-built infrastructure. To do so, it is necessary to understand the underlying social-cultural and ecological layers of Canberra’s green spaces and the Ecosystem Services (ESS) they offer. The application of multiple ESS in the current GI planning and governance practices is another issue that needs to be examined to inform future development. Thus, this qualitative research seeks to understand the ESS discourses in Canberra’s GI and the challenges in applying these ESS in planning and governance. We used a socio-ecological approach to design the research and understand the multidimensional values and benefits of Canberra’s green spaces. We adopted semi-structured interviews with twelve experts from relevant disciplines with specific knowledge of Canberra’s urban landscape and green spaces to find out the socio-ecological synopsis of Canberra’s GI and green spaces governance. We found that it is necessary to mainstream multiple ESS in Canberra’s GI to amplify the existing socio-ecological values. The abundance of green spaces in Canberra can be better used to make a multifunctional landscape that serves multiple ESS. However, we identified the maintenance and budget issues as the main challenges that can be addressed by improving community engagement. To design an effective GI network and mainstream ESS in green spaces, the planning and governance system should employ a transdisciplinary, multi-object and multi-scale approach and state-of-the-art technologies. Moreover, this research underlined the importance of a protocol and guidelines that monitor the landscape projects’ design and delivery correspondence to the high-level policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Urbanisation Dynamics Research Ⅱ)

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