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Land
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Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability
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Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Planning and Landscape Architecture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 7901

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carlos José Lopes Balsas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Ulster University, York Street, Belfast BT15 1ED, UK
Interests: urban and regional planning; planning theory and ethics; urban design; metropolitan governance; sustainable transportation planning; digital communities and urban development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Awais Piracha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, 56 Second Avenue, Sydney, NSW 2747, Australia
Interests: liveability of cities; sustainable transport; planning support systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Land for urbanization, analogously to water, exists in high abundance in certain locations and is extremely scarce in others. The water cycle comprises evaporation and condensation. However, contrary to water, land in general does not change stages by itself. Usually, land for urbanization is readily and affordably available in locations where one is not supposed to build and quite scarce and extremely expensive where it barely exists. Excessive urbanization in suburban locations can lead to the potential decline of more centrally located neighborhoods. Anticipatory and integrated strategic land use and transportation planning mechanisms are needed to obviate opportunistic and speculative land markets. In many cities of the Global North, the iatrogenic nature of uncoordinated policy–market imbalances has resulted in sprawl, leap-frog development, spoiled countrysides, vehicle-dependence, long commutes, unfeasible mass transit, unhealthy environments for vulnerable populations, environmental externalities, and overall poor urban quality of life for everybody. This Special Issue of Land seeks review papers and articles dealing with these challenges from economic, environmental, social, normative, technological, historic, and cultural perspectives. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies will be considered. Scholars examining formal and informal urbanization processes, developments, and implications for cities, regions, and countries of the Global North and Global South are encouraged to submit their studies for peer-review assessment and publication.

Major societal transformations, motivated by lifestyle preferences, technological possibilities, the COVID-19 pandemic, and post-growth scenarios, have transformed the ways we live, work, and play. While the level of social interaction has resumed, collective consciousness now requires more strategic approaches to the built and natural environments where were spend most of our time. Professional practice should benefit and ought to incorporate the latest scholarly findings. Therefore, novel approaches to land, land use planning, urbanization, land retrofit, regulatory systems, urban redevelopment, urban regeneration, and ecological approaches to improving and conserving land and natural resources are especially sought after.

Dr. Carlos José Lopes Balsas
Dr. Awais Piracha
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

  • infill redevelopment
  • urban and suburban retrofit
  • novel approaches to land use planning
  • new forms of eco-urbanism
  • land use planning strategies, tools, and instruments
  • coordinated land use and transportation planning interventions
  • land markets and sustainable urbanism
  • greenway planning and urbanization
  • parks and urban growth
  • infrastructure and commercial interventions
  • science and business parks
  • vacant land and community economic development
  • green gentrification
  • land value capture mechanisms

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 744 KiB  
Article
Transport Policy Pathways for Autonomous Road Vehicles to Promote Sustainable Urban Development in the European Union: A Multicriteria Analysis
by Nikolaos Gavanas, Konstantina Anastasiadou, Eftihia Nathanail and Socrates Basbas
Land 2024, 13(11), 1807; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111807 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 614
Abstract
The European Union’s policy aims for the wide-scale deployment of automated mobility by 2030, i.e., within the next programming period (2028–2034), with the deployment of autonomous road vehicles (AVs) in cities playing a key role. Researchers suggest that AV deployment will have complex [...] Read more.
The European Union’s policy aims for the wide-scale deployment of automated mobility by 2030, i.e., within the next programming period (2028–2034), with the deployment of autonomous road vehicles (AVs) in cities playing a key role. Researchers suggest that AV deployment will have complex impacts on urban development, which are difficult to quantify due to scarce real-life data. The present research aims to evaluate different policy pathways of AV deployment for sustainable urban development in the next EU programming period. A multicriteria analysis is conducted, combining AHP and VIKOR, with the participation of experts across Europe. Initially, the potential impacts on sustainable urban development are weighted as evaluation criteria. Then, different pathways are evaluated against these criteria, i.e., AV deployment as collective and/or private transport in specific areas and periods or in the whole Functional Urban Area (FUA) on a 24 h basis. An interesting finding is that the effect on the city’s spatial development, not thoroughly examined by literature, is highly ranked by experts. Regarding policy pathways, autonomous collective transport with 24 h service of the FUA emerged as the optimum alternative. The proposed methodology provides a tool for planners, researchers, and policy makers and a framework for an open debate with society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability)
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23 pages, 6590 KiB  
Article
Understanding the Transformations of San Lorenzo, Rome: An Attempt at Conceptual Order between Gentrification and Urban Policy
by Antonia Astore and Luca Tricarico
Land 2024, 13(10), 1632; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101632 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 767
Abstract
This paper is the result of a preliminary research phase aimed at identifying the phenomenon of gentrification in Rome’s San Lorenzo neighborhood, examining the perception of the phenomenon and the urban planning tools that have been adopted until today to contain it. The [...] Read more.
This paper is the result of a preliminary research phase aimed at identifying the phenomenon of gentrification in Rome’s San Lorenzo neighborhood, examining the perception of the phenomenon and the urban planning tools that have been adopted until today to contain it. The experimental framework proposed, based on qualitative research methods, aims to discuss if some urban transformations can be related only to market phenomenon inherent to gentrification or to the lack of planning tools able to manage—through the construction of a shared view on neighborhoods development—the negative externalities resulting from the real estate investments induced by the tourism sector and linked to the presence of universities in the reference territory. The research combines an international theoretical framework; the analysis of the policies and of the urban transformation during the contemporary history of the neighborhood; and interviews to key informants such as representatives of local institutions and associations, researchers, inhabitants, and others. The research approach intends to deepen the general perception and the comprehension of the phenomenon of gentrification from the local community, in relation to his own involvement in decision-making processes about the strategic regulatory–prescriptive development of the neighborhood. The primary objective of the paper is to advocate for an analytical framework that facilitates a better understanding of gentrification within the national context and explores potential institutional responses. It seeks to clarify the concept of gentrification, which is often misunderstood when interpreted solely through its Anglo-Saxon definition. By doing so, the paper aims to contribute to informed discussions and effective policy-making regarding urban development in San Lorenzo and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability)
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15 pages, 1895 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Impact of Urban Amenities on Business Circle Vitality Using Multi-Source Big Data
by Yi Ji, Zilong Wang and Dan Zhu
Land 2024, 13(10), 1616; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101616 - 5 Oct 2024
Viewed by 578
Abstract
Urban business circles are important locations for economic and social activities. Improving the vitality of urban business circles is conducive to stimulating the potential of the consumer market and promoting sustainable economic development. However, targeted research on the factors influencing business circle vitality [...] Read more.
Urban business circles are important locations for economic and social activities. Improving the vitality of urban business circles is conducive to stimulating the potential of the consumer market and promoting sustainable economic development. However, targeted research on the factors influencing business circle vitality is lacking. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to quantitatively examine the impact of the number and diversity of urban amenities on business circle vitality at the street block level using open-source geospatial big data from 32 Chinese metropolises. We found that the number of residential, transportation, educational, cultural, and recreational amenities and the diversity of catering and retail amenities had significant positive impacts on business circle vitality. Catering and retail diversity were the two most critical factors, followed by the number of transportation, cultural, and recreational amenities. However, the effect of urban amenities on business circle vitality varied considerably across different cities and business districts. The results of this study contribute to a holistic understanding of how to improve the vitality of business circles by optimizing urban amenities at the street block level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability)
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18 pages, 4281 KiB  
Article
Eco-Spatial Indices as an Effective Tool for Climate Change Adaptation in Residential Neighbourhoods—Comparative Study
by Renata Giedych, Gabriela Maksymiuk and Agata Cieszewska
Land 2024, 13(9), 1492; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091492 - 14 Sep 2024
Viewed by 769
Abstract
Eco-spatial indices are commonly used tools to improve the quality of the environment in cities. Initially modelled on the Berlin BAF, indices have evolved to address current challenges, particularly climate change adaptation. The Ratio of Biologically Vital Areas (RBVA), introduced in Poland in [...] Read more.
Eco-spatial indices are commonly used tools to improve the quality of the environment in cities. Initially modelled on the Berlin BAF, indices have evolved to address current challenges, particularly climate change adaptation. The Ratio of Biologically Vital Areas (RBVA), introduced in Poland in the mid-1990s, is an early planning tool for implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) at the site level. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of the RBVA in Poland compared to its counterparts in Oslo and Malmö. The study employed a serious simulation game developed under the Norwegian-funded CoAdapt project, testing six development scenarios, varied in terms of applied NbSs, for a typical multi-family housing estate. The adaptive potential of the tested scenarios was assessed based on the values of five environmental parameters calculated in the game; that is, air temperature, oxygen production, CO2 sequestration, rainwater harvesting, and biodiversity. The findings revealed that the RBVA, in its current form, has limited effectiveness in supporting climate adaptation. Its two-dimensional nature makes it less effective than the more comprehensive Green Factors used in Oslo and Malmö. The research presented in the article proves that better-constructed indices result in the efficiency of applied NbSs and consequently better adaptation to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability)
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20 pages, 2919 KiB  
Article
Nature-Based Solutions Scenario Planning for Climate Change Adaptation in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
by Rifat Olgun, Chingwen Cheng and Paul Coseo
Land 2024, 13(9), 1464; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091464 - 10 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1952
Abstract
Extreme climatic conditions cause a decrease in ecosystem services, the disruption of the ecological balance, and damage to human populations, especially in areas with socially vulnerable groups. Nature-based solutions applying blue-green infrastructure (BGI) against these negative impacts of climate change have an important [...] Read more.
Extreme climatic conditions cause a decrease in ecosystem services, the disruption of the ecological balance, and damage to human populations, especially in areas with socially vulnerable groups. Nature-based solutions applying blue-green infrastructure (BGI) against these negative impacts of climate change have an important role in planning sustainable cities. This study aims to identify priority areas and develop scenarios and strategies for spatial planning to understand the tradeoffs in approaches and to maximize the benefits of ecosystem services provided by BGI in cities with arid and semi-arid climates, using Phoenix, Arizona, a swiftly urbanizing city in the Sonoran Desert, as the study area. Using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making techniques and the Green Infrastructure Spatial Planning model integrated with the city’s existing water structures, this study is conducted at the US census scale. The hotspots for BGI are mapped from the combined GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation and expert stakeholder-driven weighting. In the hotspots where priority areas for BGI in Phoenix are identified, the city center area with a high density of impervious surfaces is identified as the highest priority area. It is revealed that social vulnerability and environmental risks (flooding, heat) have a positive correlation in Phoenix, and stormwater management and the urban heat island are the criteria that should be considered first in BGI planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability)
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18 pages, 12455 KiB  
Article
An Estimation Method for Passenger Flow Volumes from and to Bus Stops Based on Land Use Elements: An Experimental Study
by Jianming Zhang, Jun Cai, Mengjia Wang and Wansong Zhang
Land 2024, 13(7), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13070971 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1048
Abstract
To unravel the general relationship between bus travel and land use around bus stops and along bus routes and to promote their coordinated development, this paper explores a method to estimate passenger flow volumes from and to bus stops based on land use [...] Read more.
To unravel the general relationship between bus travel and land use around bus stops and along bus routes and to promote their coordinated development, this paper explores a method to estimate passenger flow volumes from and to bus stops based on land use types, intensities, and spatial distributions around bus stops and along bus routes. Firstly, following the principle of the gravity model, which considers traffic volumes analogous to gravity based on trip generation and distance impedance between traffic analysis zones (TAZs), a gravitational logic estimation method for passenger flow volumes from and to bus stops was constructed with land use elements between bus stop TAZs and the upstream and downstream collections of bus stop TAZs. Building upon this, the passenger flow volumes from and to 38 bus stops in the Xueyuan Square area of Dalian during weekday morning peak hours were taken as the experimental objects. The basic estimation models of two gravity sets corresponding to passenger flow volumes from and to bus stops were constructed using the bus travel generation based on the aggregation of area-based origin unit method and the bus travel distance impedance based on the probability density method. Finally, the reliability of the estimation method of passenger flow volumes from and to bus stops was verified by regression fitting between the surveyed values of passenger flow volume and the estimated values of the basic models. The results indicate that the fuzzy estimation and transformation of bus travel based on land use elements, which serves as a crucial lever for facilitating strategic alignment in transit-oriented development (TOD), can be effectively achieved by using the area-based origin unit method to aggregate bus travel generation and the probability density method to evaluate the bus travel distance impedance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability)
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Review

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24 pages, 1799 KiB  
Review
Urban Stormwater Management Using Nature-Based Solutions: A Review and Conceptual Model of Floodable Parks
by Silvia Martín Muñoz, Simon Elliott, Jonas Schoelynck and Jan Staes
Land 2024, 13(11), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111858 - 7 Nov 2024
Viewed by 865
Abstract
Climate change is causing the alteration of atmospheric dynamics, leading to extreme precipitation events and floods. On the other hand, landscape modification and increased imperviousness due to urbanization exacerbate the impacts of flooding. In order to become more permeable, cities are increasingly embracing [...] Read more.
Climate change is causing the alteration of atmospheric dynamics, leading to extreme precipitation events and floods. On the other hand, landscape modification and increased imperviousness due to urbanization exacerbate the impacts of flooding. In order to become more permeable, cities are increasingly embracing aquatic Nature-based Solutions which, using natural processes, allow for the mitigation of water-related hazards. One of these solutions is floodable parks, where pluvial runoff is conveyed for its temporal storage into, firstly, permanent retention ponds and, eventually, the partial or totality of their surface. Floodable parks are still a novel aquatic Nature-based Solution and have not yet been investigated. In this paper, a systematic review on current floodable parks was performed in order to study (1) the conditions needed for their implementation, (2) their design, and (3) the connection between design and ecosystem services. A subsequent systematic review was performed to understand (4) the processes occurring within the park. With the obtained information, a conceptual model of floodable parks was developed. The results indicate that both the vegetation surrounding the permanent pond of the floodable park and the biodiversity within the pond enhance the performance of this solution and allow potential water reuse. The implementation of floodable parks will therefore facilitate the transformation of urban areas to create sustainable, climate-resilient, and circular cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability)
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