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Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 19184

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Silvia Rossetti

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Interests: urban planning; Geographic Information Systems (GIS); sustainable mobility; accessibility; road safety; urban regeneration

Dr. Barbara Caselli

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Guest Editor

Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Interests: urban and regional planning; urban regeneration; urban accessibility and open space planning; landscape planning; Geographic Information Systems implementation for spatial planning and city management.

Dr. Astrid Kemperman

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Guest Editor

Department of Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Interests: smart healthy cities; urban planning and quality of life; social cohesion and inclusion; active transportation; big data for urban analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Chiara Garau

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Guest Editor

DICAAR, Department of Environmental, Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Interests: smart cities; participatory processes; cultural heritage; urban governance and urban policies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our cities are dealing with a series of social, economic, environmental and climate challenges, which have been increased recently by the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges demand immediate response and adaptation. These issues, imprinted by external forces or internal frictions, require innovative and smart approaches to urban transformations, land use limitation and development, social equity and cohesion, healthy living environments, sustainable mobility and climate change adaptation. In contrast to traditional planning, which resulted in uncontrolled land consumption, negative impacts of infrastructure and wasting resources, the planning and management of the urban environment in many countries must now place a greater emphasis on urban regeneration processes in response to urban decay and land consumption and to increase the adaptation of cities to climate change.

In line with Goals 11 and 13 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, this Special Issue examines how smart and sustainable urban planning can help to make our cities more sustainable, livable and resilient, for our present and future generations by collecting research methods, theories and techniques paying attention to the implementation, regeneration and management of urban settlements by integrating multiple aspects: land uses, mobility, landscape, environmental and climate issues.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Theories, concepts and practical approaches to urban development and urban regeneration, including schools of thought and paradigm shifts;
Advanced urban surveys applied to the study of urban and territorial phenomena (also through the deepening of Geographical Information Systems), aimed at supporting decision making in urban planning;
Evaluation of innovative planning and programming tools (also sectoral focused of infrastructure, land use or climate change), also through the monitoring of their effects;
Smart, sustainable and active mobility planning in urban areas, as well as through the regeneration and redevelopment of public open spaces;
Innovative processes of urban regeneration and smart transition, with attention to technological innovation which facilitates governance processes, ensuring high levels of participation and social interaction, and ICT as supporting tools for the sustainable management of urban systems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Silvia Rossetti
Dr. Barbara Caselli
Dr. Astrid Kemperman
Dr. Chiara Garau
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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 planning
urban regeneration
sustainable development
smart city
adaptation to climate change
mobility planning
open space
GIS

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unveiling Urban Regeneration Risks in China: A Social Perspective

by Hong Xie, Saina Zheng, Yue Zhai, Jingfeng Yuan and Qiming Li

Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041671 - 18 Feb 2024

Viewed by 675

Abstract

China’s urbanization process is currently in a transition phase from rapid growth to slow growth, necessitating the implementation of sustainable measures in urban planning. Urban regeneration (UR), being one of the fundamental mechanisms for achieving sustainable urban development, has received considerable attention. UR promotes sustainable development by reusing abandoned land and buildings, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing the ecological environment. However, UR involves numerous stakeholders who may have conflicting interests due to factors such as the environment, technology, and economy, thereby giving rise to social risks (SRs). These SRs pose a threat to the success of UR projects and can also lead to social instability, as well as hindering sustainable urban development. Identifying risk sources forms the foundation of and key to risk management. Therefore, this research employs an integrated qualitative and quantitative method to explore the SR factors (SRFs) related to UR for China. On the basis of the grounded theory method, case study examination was used for data collection, resulting in the identification of 22 specific categories and five main categories. Through quantitative analysis, the identified SRFs and five main classifications of UR in China were verified, namely the negative effects of demolition and relocation, the negative environmental effect, the negative effect of technology, the organization-related negative effect, and the negative effect of policy. Among them, the unfair compensation for demolition and relocation has the greatest impact on the SRs in UR. Based on further analysis of the quantitative results, this study proposes three measures to alleviate the UR-related SRs for China on the macro, meso, and micro levels, which include improving policy and the legal system, enhancing collaborative governance capacity, and strengthening public participation. This research also has reference value in the context of promoting UR for other developing countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities)

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29 pages, 2377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Spatial Strategies of the Gulf Cooperation Council: A Comparative Analysis and Lessons Learned

by Mohammad Arif and Adel S. Aldosary

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13344; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813344 - 06 Sep 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2050

Abstract

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members have experienced tremendous transformation in their smart cities in recent years. Every GCC nation has its own urban planning authority to manage urban growth and development since its independence from British rule. These planning agencies create strategies, plans, rules, and oversee the building process. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive analysis, cross-border comparisons, and the generation of insights that contribute to a deeper understanding of urban planning dynamics and strategies within the Gulf Cooperation Council. The objective of this article is to examine the national spatial strategies (NSS) and vision plans of GCC countries. This study discusses the existing methods, plans, and efforts to accomplish this goal while emphasizing prospective opportunities, problems, and difficulties. We used the SWOT method to evaluate the national vision plans of GCC countries. The analysis identifies successful outcomes that the GCC countries have already achieved in terms of their national spatial strategies. The weakness in the current strategies is oil dependency, which could be strengthened. Potential opportunities in the tourism sector need to be taken full advantage of, and potential threats, like regional tension, need to be managed to prevent the failure of the development of the existing urban system. The primary suggestion entails executing programs outlined by the respective line ministries and ensuring efficient management of urban spatial expansion by municipal authorities. However, the findings could serve as lessons for those at the helm of affairs in GCC countries to collaborate and achieve a comprehensive national strategic plan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities)

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23 pages, 4837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Widespread Urban Regeneration of Existing Residential Areas in European Medium-Sized Cities—A Framework to Locate Redevelopment Interventions

by Martina Carra, Barbara Caselli, Silvia Rossetti and Michele Zazzi

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 13162; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151713162 - 01 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1124

Abstract

Within the scientific debate on urban regeneration, this paper intends to question possible planning techniques to address the implementation of widespread regeneration interventions in obsolete residential areas within medium-sized European cities, with particular attention to constructing a cognitive framework to locate redevelopment interventions. The widespread urban regeneration approach has yet to be sufficiently explored in the scientific literature, which focuses much more on replacing large derelict areas, though it seems particularly relevant for research and urban practice. This paper aims to illustrate a methodological framework for defining obsolete and degraded areas (at the block scale) suitable for redevelopment. Various criteria are considered, e.g., land use, buildings’ dating, state of preservation, population density, public spaces, and facility provision, and degree of accessibility. The methodological framework is then tested in the medium-sized Italian city of Parma. Data set parameters and threshold values to quantify the previously introduced criteria and perform GIS-based statistical and spatial analysis. The results show 96 areas potentially in need of regeneration, providing an opportunity to reflect on the criteria of suitability and priority for transformation and the framework of past and future planning scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities)

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16 pages, 1781 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Differentiation of Multi-Airport Logistics in Four Urban Agglomerations in China

by Danyang Shen, Xiudi Li and Haoran Zhao

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7346; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097346 - 28 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1183

Abstract

A Multi-airport Logistics System (MLS) involves the logistics development of multiple airports in an urban agglomeration. Calculating spatial differentiation in MLS and examining its characteristics have theoretical and practical value. Based on MLS, we established an index system and applied the entropy-criteria importance through the intercriteria correlation weighting method to data from 2019 to evaluate the development and spatial differentiation of multi-airport logistics in four Chinese urban agglomerations in three dimensions: logistics resources, service chains, and market demand. The results showed the following: (1) The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area showed logistics resource-type development. (2) Given its considerable market demand and service support, the Yangtze River Delta ranked first in the service-chain aspect. (3) The market-demand performance of the Chengdu–Chongqing Double Cities Economic Circle was poor. (4) Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei showed mediocre performance in all three aspects. Based on the findings, we make suggestions for MLS development in urban agglomerations for the purpose of achieving high-quality development and supporting China’s overall national transportation network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities)

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20 pages, 6257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Open Urban Space Regeneration Strategies Based on Urban Welfare: A Project and Experiment in the San Lorenzo District in Rome, Italy

by Carmela Mariano, Ignacio Gràvalos Lacambra and Patrizia Di Monte

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16487; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416487 - 09 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2391

Abstract

The current socio-economic dynamics and the consequences induced by the pandemic emergency have generated a reflection on the need to recover the dimension of proximity and to share resources, spaces, infrastructures, and experiences. This solicits a remodelling of the system of public open spaces, based on a resilient, adaptive model; multifunctional and linked to the temporality of the functions that spaces can accommodate. The paper deals with the issues of planning and design of public open spaces around the needs of proximity and welfare. This is achieved through collecting and systematizing state of the art concepts on the role of public space within the urban structure of the city, and the formulation of guidelines for design, deduced from an empirical application conducted on a pilot district in the city of Rome. The paper aims to suggest to policymakers and planners a new approach and a path for future research and practice in the planning and design of more sustainable and inclusive green areas and public spaces, meeting the diverse needs of citizens. We undertook this objective through the experimental application of an intervention methodology on the public space system of the San Lorenzo neighbourhood in Rome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities)

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21 pages, 1092 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

How Are Medium-Sized Cities Implementing Their Smart City Governance? Experiences from the Emilia-Romagna Region

by Barbara Caselli, Gloria Pellicelli, Silvia Rossetti and Michele Zazzi

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15300; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215300 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1826

Abstract

Within the smart city debate, this paper aims to reflect on whether and how medium-sized Italian cities are organizing their smart transition technically as well as administratively. The smart city concept was developed in the 1990s when major European cities began a smart transition through widespread urban regeneration projects and the introduction of advanced technologies applied not only to the physical city but also to governance, policymaking, and communication, involving multiple sectors of city administrations. In the last decade, medium-sized cities have also started this transition process, although with lower emphasis than metropolitan cities. In most medium-sized Italian cities, this transition, in accordance with national and regional guidelines, has sometimes led to competencies reorganization within local governments. Within this framework, the paper examines the tools with which medium-sized Italian cities’ administrations address the smart transformation in their territories, comparing a sample of 10 cities in Emilia-Romagna and considering policymaking, governance structure, past and current projects, and communication transparency. The expected result is therefore a systematic review of experiences to reconstruct a complex picture of the political and administrative choices that have led to the implementation or setting in motion of smart transformation processes to draw some useful lessons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities)

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Review

Jump to: Research

27 pages, 14805 KiB

Open AccessReview

Deciphering the Evolution, Frontier, and Knowledge Clustering in Sustainable City Planning: A 60-Year Interdisciplinary Review

by Haochen Qian, Fan Zhang and Bing Qiu

Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16854; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416854 - 14 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1239

Abstract

Scholars have sought to integrate sustainable principles, attitudes, and methodologies into urban development, drawing insights from the natural and social sciences as well as historical contexts. However, current sustainable urban planning (SUP) research has a broad scope, unclear boundaries, and an absence of systematic literature reviews. To fill this research gap, this review presents a visual analysis of 38,344 publications on SUP indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) from 1964 to 2023, with the aim of detailing the trajectory of SUP research. Utilizing data retrieval and scientific metrology techniques, we: (1) Identified distinct phases in SUP research: budding (pre-1990s), exploration (1990s), foundation (2000s), and maturation (2010–present). (2) Discovered that publications predominantly focused on urban research, landscape architecture, and ecological studies, with publishing trends favoring developed, highly urbanized, and coastal nations. (3) Employed visualized dual map overlays, co-citation clustering networks, and keyword statistical charts to construct a knowledge framework of the interdisciplinary progression and thematic shifts in SUP. Key knowledge clustering included ‘community planning’, ‘urban expansion’, ‘ecosystem services’, and ‘nature-based solutions’. (4) Described the progression of SUP, green innovation is the most promising direction for future research. (5) Defined its scope and elements and advocated for three foundational principles: equity and justice, value articulations, and practical needs, offering a path to actualize SUP efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities)

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31 pages, 7676 KiB

Open AccessReview

Realization of Sustainable Development Goals with Disruptive Technologies by Integrating Industry 5.0, Society 5.0, Smart Cities and Villages

by Padmanathan Kasinathan, Rishi Pugazhendhi, Rajvikram Madurai Elavarasan, Vigna Kumaran Ramachandaramurthy, Vinoth Ramanathan, Senthilkumar Subramanian, Sachin Kumar, Kamalakannan Nandhagopal, Raghavendra Rajan Vijaya Raghavan, Sankar Rangasamy, Ramkumar Devendiran and Mohammed H. Alsharif

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15258; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215258 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6636

Abstract

Significant changes in society were emphasized as being required to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, a need which was further intensified with the emergence of the pandemic. The prospective society should be directed towards sustainable development, a process in which technology plays a crucial role. The proposed study discusses the technological potential for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals via disruptive technologies. This study further analyzes the outcome of disruptive technologies from the aspects of product development, health care transformation, a pandemic case study, nature-inclusive business models, smart cities and villages. These outcomes are mapped as a direct influence on Sustainable Development Goals 3, 8, 9 and 11. Various disruptive technologies and the ways in which the Sustainable Development Goals are influenced are elaborated. The investigation into the potential of disruptive technologies highlighted that Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0 are the most supportive development to underpin the efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The study proposes the scenario where both Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0 are integrated to form smart cities and villages where the prospects of achieving Sustainable Development Goals are more favorable due to the integrated framework and Sustainable Development Goals’ interactions. Furthermore, the study proposes an integrated framework for including new age technologies to establish the concepts of Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0 integrated into smart cities and villages. The corresponding influence on the Sustainable Development Goals are also mapped. A SWOT analysis is performed to assess the proposed integrated approach to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Ultimately, this study can assist the industrialist, policy makers and researchers in envisioning Sustainable Development Goals from technological perspectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Planning for Smart and Sustainable Cities)

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