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Land
Special Issues
Integrating Spatial Analysis and Regional Science to Guide Urban Planning
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Integrating Spatial Analysis and Regional Science to Guide Urban Planning

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Systems and Global Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 9402

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Apostolos Lagarias

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Guest Editor
Department of Geography and Regional Planning, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Interests: urban & regional planning; spatial analysis; sustainable development; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Poulicos Prastacos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics of the Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
Interests: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications; remote sensing methodologies and statistical analysis of spatial data in the areas of urban and regional analysis; environmental planning; water resources management
Dr. Despina Dimelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Architecture, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chanai, Greece
Interests: urban and regional planning; sustainable urban mobility; smart cities
Dr. Alexandra Delgado-Jiménez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Escuela Politécnica Superior University, Nebrija, Spain
Interests: urban planning; urban sustainability; urban ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, urban planning is assigned a crucial role in meeting a new and evolving combination of challenges, including climate change, increasing urbanization and globalization, and environmental degradation. Issues like urban sprawl, rural-to-urban interactions, climate resilience, and urban sustainability underline the need for innovative approaches on how to handle the environmental consequences of urban growth at a regional scale. Integrating spatial analysis methods into regional science theories is particularly important in order to manage the spatial complexity of urban development, and to better inform spatial planning decisions involving multiple interactions between different stakeholders.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore the latest advances in the fields of spatial analysis and regional science, focused on integrated methodologies, strategies, and frameworks to guide urban planning decisions. To this end, we search for innovative approaches linking the regional to urban planning dimension from a spatial analysis perspective.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

  • Advanced spatial analysis tools, including spatial optimization, suitability analysis, land use/land cover modeling, and simulation modelling;
  • Innovative geospatial methodologies for the examination of land use conflicts and land degradation due to urbanization;
  • Models and methods evaluating the environmental and climate-related parameters of urban areas to support regional sustainability;
  • Decision support systems and tools for urban areas, handling local to global connections on a regional scale;
  • Exploration of regional science tools and methods for guiding sustainable urban development.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Apostolos Lagarias
Dr. Poulicos Prastacos
Dr. Despina Dimelli
Dr. Alexandra Delgado-Jiménez
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

  • spatial analysis
  • urban planning
  • regional science
  • spatial optimization
  • land use modelling
  • decision support systems
  • sustainable development
  • policy making
  • environmental management
  • climate change
  • local-global connections

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

32 pages, 20009 KiB  
Article
Scale-Dependent Relationships Between Urban Morphology and Noise Perception: A Multi-Scale Spatiotemporal Analysis in New York City
by Siting Chen, Bingjie Yu, Guang Shi, Yiping Cai, Yanyu Wang and Pingge He
Land 2025, 14(3), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030476 - 25 Feb 2025
Viewed by 456
Abstract
Urban morphology significantly influences residents’ noise perceptions, yet the impact across different spatial and temporal scales remains unclear. This study investigates the scale-dependent relationship between urban morphology and noise perception in New York City using noise complaint rates (NCR) as a proxy for [...] Read more.
Urban morphology significantly influences residents’ noise perceptions, yet the impact across different spatial and temporal scales remains unclear. This study investigates the scale-dependent relationship between urban morphology and noise perception in New York City using noise complaint rates (NCR) as a proxy for perceived noise levels. A multi-scale analysis framework was applied, including four spatial scales (100 m, 200 m, 500 m, and 1000 m) and three temporal classifications (daytime/nighttime/dawn, weekdays/weekends, and seasonal divisions). Statistical analyses, including Spearman correlation, Moran’s I test, and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), examined spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Results show: (1) NCR and urban morphology indicators vary significantly across spatial and temporal aggregations. (2) Correlations between NCR and urban morphology indicators generally strengthen with larger spatial units, revealing a scale effect. Temporal variations, e.g., residential land ratio (RES) and greenery percentage (SVI Green), show stronger correlations with NCR in summer than in winter. (3) The Moran’s I index revealed significant spatial clustering at the 1000 m scale. Multi-temporal GWR analysis revealed spatial variations in urban morphology-noise relationships across different temporal contexts; in residential areas, building density exacerbates complaints more during non-working periods than during working hours. This study enhances understanding of urban sound environments, offering insights required for more precise urban planning policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Spatial Analysis and Regional Science to Guide Urban Planning)
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17 pages, 2458 KiB  
Article
Integrating Gender Perspectives in Participation to Guide Changes in Urban Planning in Serbia
by Nataša Čolić Marković and Nataša Danilović Hristić
Land 2025, 14(2), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020258 - 26 Jan 2025
Viewed by 745
Abstract
Participation is an essential instrument for the expression of diverse knowledge and interests in urban planning. It ultimately influences outcomes in the built environment, fostering inclusive, safe, and accessible spaces and environments. However, urban planning is often viewed, by the public and practitioners [...] Read more.
Participation is an essential instrument for the expression of diverse knowledge and interests in urban planning. It ultimately influences outcomes in the built environment, fostering inclusive, safe, and accessible spaces and environments. However, urban planning is often viewed, by the public and practitioners alike, as an expert-driven, administrative, and semi-closed system, focusing on the provision of resources that are fit for all, seldom targeting the participation of gender expertise in decision-making. Drawing on empirical qualitative research conducted with planning practitioners in Belgrade in 2023 within the UN Women project “Safety of Women and Girls in Public Spaces”, this paper investigates if and how gender perspectives are integrated into urban planning policy and practice in Serbia, and the role of knowledge creation and participation in informing planning about diverse needs at the local level. The research draws on practical insights from practitioners in the fields of urban and spatial planning, traffic, and urban safety. The findings reveal how limitations to modifying the national legislative framework in terms of gender integration could be overcome at the level of planning policy and practice. The importance of including the participation of gender expertise alongside achieving gender parity in knowledge creation is highlighted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Spatial Analysis and Regional Science to Guide Urban Planning)
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20 pages, 1528 KiB  
Article
The Integrated Analysis of Territorial Transformations in Inland Areas of Italy: The Link between Natural, Social, and Economic Capitals Using the Ecosystem Service Approach
by Davide Marino, Antonio Barone, Angelo Marucci, Silvia Pili and Margherita Palmieri
Land 2024, 13(9), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091455 - 7 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1172
Abstract
This paper examines how spatial dynamics have impacted natural capital and the provision of ecosystem services. The units outlined by the National Strategy for Inland Areas (SNAI) have been used as the territorial units for this study. The SNAI is a public policy [...] Read more.
This paper examines how spatial dynamics have impacted natural capital and the provision of ecosystem services. The units outlined by the National Strategy for Inland Areas (SNAI) have been used as the territorial units for this study. The SNAI is a public policy focused on enhancing the quality of services to citizens (such as transportation, healthcare, and education). It proposes the economic revitalization of inland areas undergoing processes of marginalization. Our focus on inland areas stems from two primary reasons: first, no previous studies in Italy have analyzed the changes in ecosystem services in SNAI areas; and second, SNAI areas are well-suited to providing ecosystem services that are in demand by urban areas. Although this study does not cover all aspects inherent to the topic, it represents a starting point aimed at understanding the links between environmental and socio-economic dynamics and ecosystem service changes. This is essential for both current and future generations. By analyzing the processes of permanence and transformation, modifications in the supply–demand balance have hereby been studied, as well as the economic variations in ecosystem services. The period considered runs from 1990 to 2018. These findings could help governmental institutions in developing sustainable governance models, in line with spatial policies and strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Spatial Analysis and Regional Science to Guide Urban Planning)
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32 pages, 15896 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Microclimate Conditions Considering Urban Morphology and Trees Using ENVI-Met: A Case Study of Cairo City
by Ahmed Yasser Abdelmejeed and Dietwald Gruehn
Land 2023, 12(12), 2145; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12122145 - 9 Dec 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2487
Abstract
This research aims to optimize the use of trees to enhance microclimate conditions, which has become necessary because of climate change and its impacts, especially for cities suffering from extreme heat stress, such as Cairo. It considers elements of urban morphology, such as [...] Read more.
This research aims to optimize the use of trees to enhance microclimate conditions, which has become necessary because of climate change and its impacts, especially for cities suffering from extreme heat stress, such as Cairo. It considers elements of urban morphology, such as the aspect ratio and orientation of canyons, which play an important role in changing microclimate conditions. It also considers both sides of each canyon because the urban shading is based on the orientation and the aspect ratio, which can provide good shade on one side of the canyon but leave the other side exposed to direct and indirect radiation, to ensure a complete assessment of how the use of trees can be optimized. As Cairo city is very large and has a variety of urban morphologies, a total of 144 theoretical cases have been tested for Cairo city using ENVI-met to cover the majority of the urban cases within the city (Stage 1). Then, the same tree scenarios used in the theoretical study are applied to an existing urban area in downtown Cairo with many urban morphology varieties to validate the results of the theoretical study (Stage 2). After testing all cases in both stages, it became very clear that the addition of trees cannot be the same for the different aspect ratios, orientations, and sides of the different canyons. For example, eastern roads should have more trees than other orientations for all aspect ratios, but the required number of trees is greater for the northern side than the southern side, as the southern side is partially shaded for a few hours of the day by buildings in moderate and deep canyons. Northern streets require a very limited number of trees, even in shallow canyons, on both sides. The correlation between the number of trees on each side for the different orientations and aspect ratios shows a strong negative relationship, but the correlation values change between the different sides and orientations. The results of applying trees to an existing urban area show almost the same results as the theoretical study’s results, with very slight differences occurring because of the irregularity of the existing study area. This proves that when adding trees, not only the aspect ratio and orientation but also the side of each canyon should be considered to ensure that pedestrians, in all cases, have better microclimate conditions and that the use of trees is optimized. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Spatial Analysis and Regional Science to Guide Urban Planning)
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25 pages, 18530 KiB  
Article
Impervious Land Expansion as a Control Parameter for Climate-Resilient Planning on the Mediterranean Coast: Evidence from Greece
by Apostolos Lagarias
Land 2023, 12(10), 1844; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101844 - 27 Sep 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1995
Abstract
Impervious land expansion is linked to ecosystem fragmentation and degradation, posing threats to nature conservation and multiplying climate change impacts. This is particularly true on the Mediterranean coast, where persistent urbanization is coupled with tourism development, further intensifying coastal erosion, flood risk, heat [...] Read more.
Impervious land expansion is linked to ecosystem fragmentation and degradation, posing threats to nature conservation and multiplying climate change impacts. This is particularly true on the Mediterranean coast, where persistent urbanization is coupled with tourism development, further intensifying coastal erosion, flood risk, heat stress and biodiversity loss, while decreasing carbon sequestration. In this research, high-resolution imperviousness data were analyzed through a geospatial methodology to detect patterns and processes in a heavily burdened Mediterranean coastal area, namely Greece. The methodology was structured on a set of GIS tools, analyzing the distribution of new impervious cover between 2006 and 2018, to evaluate pressures exerted on coastal territories and on the environmental protection network. The results revealed relatively slow rates of impervious land expansion at a nationwide scale, mostly attributed to the economic recession period in Greece. However, certain locations exhibited continuing artificialization of land even within Natura 2000 areas, while future pressures on coastal territories are expected to increase due to the restarting of construction activity and the continuing dynamic of the mass tourism sector. The conclusions imply that controlling for imperviousness is important in order to develop spatial planning policies for climate resilience, which should be decisively enforced in the Mediterranean to prevent a business-as-usual scenario. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Spatial Analysis and Regional Science to Guide Urban Planning)
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