Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs (JCUA - Alanya Hamdullah Emin Paşa Üniversitesi)
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Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Renewal Based on Entropy and TOPSIS Method: A Case of Shandong Province
No full textThis study offers a comprehensive evaluation of urban renewal efforts in Shandong Province, China, by employing the entropy method combined with the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). An evaluation index system was constructed to assess the weights of key factors influencing urban renewal, including the renovation of old residential areas, improvement in sewage treatment quality, development of sponge cities, adoption of clean heating, and enhancement of air quality. Analysis of 16 prefecture-level cities in 2019 reveals significant disparities in performance, with Jinan achieving the highest ranking due to notable improvements in infrastructure and environmental management. Meanwhile, other cities displayed varying levels of success, reflecting different developmental stages and capacities. The findings underscore the necessity for tailored strategies to optimize urban renewal outcomes, focusing on high-weight factors such as sewage treatment, clean heating, and residential renovation. This study provides actionable insights for policymakers, advocating adaptive renewal strategies that align with local contexts and encourage continuous innovation. The results highlight the importance of targeted policy interventions to enhance urban renewal quality across Shandong Province, promoting sustainable urban development and better living standards
Wavelet Quantile Evidence on Urbanisation, Human Capital and Economic Growth Impacts on Nigeria’s Ecological Footprint
No full textIn light of growing uncertainties in the climate, it is crucial to identify what is causing environmental pressure in Nigeria. This study explores dynamic links between urbanisation, human capital accumulation economic growth and the nation’s ecological footprint (EF) from 1961 to 2020. Employing Wavelet Quantile Correlation (WQC) and Quantile-on-Quantile Granger Causality (QQGC) approaches, we capture both frequency-specific and distribution-specific dependencies neglected by linear techniques. WQC results indicate that rising urban population, expanding human capital and GDP growth dampen EF in the short- and medium-term, yet predominantly amplify EF over longer horizons; negative correlations persist for lower quantiles (0.1–0.5), highlighting heterogeneous vulnerabilities. QQGC confirms significant bidirectional causality across all quantile pairs, underscoring pervasive interdependence irrespective of economic or ecological states. Policy simulations suggest that integrating environmental education into all schooling levels, promoting renewable energy within rapidly growing cities, and decoupling growth from fossil-fuel dependence are critical for sustaining long-run environmental gains. Our evidence supports context-specific, time-phased interventions that align Nigeria’s urban transition and human capital strategy with its 2050 net-zero commitment. By revealing quantile-dependent effects, the study enriches environmental Kuznets literature and offers nuanced guidance for green development planning strategies
Adopting GIS to Enhance Alexandrian Urban Cultural Heritage: The Case of Alexandria, Egypt
No full textHeritage conservation in Alexandria demands integrative, data-driven approaches that reconcile preservation efforts with satisfactory visitor access. This study investigates how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can document, evaluate, and spatially optimise the city’s cultural heritage. A four-stage framework was applied: (1) compiling a multi-source geodatabase of 294 heritage assets in addition to transport nodes; (2) digitising attributes for value scoring based on five National Organisation of Urban Harmony (NOUH) criteria; (3) conducting spatial analytics—hot-spot, nearest-neighbour, buffer, and network analysis—together with a six-parameter walkability index; and (4) translating findings into policy-relevant interventions and interactive web maps. Results reveal pronounced clustering in the historic downtown;however 83 high-value assets lie outside a 400 m walk from transit, notably in Foad Street, Kafr-Abdo, and Ancient Catacombs sub-areas. Proposed measures—two bus-stop extensions, and one new tram halt would reduce unserved sites to 8.5 per cent. Six optimised cultural routes cut average walking time within heritage clusters to maximise exposure to unique assets. A dashboard links routes, heritage metadata, and multimodal travel options as well as enabling user-defined preference customisation. The research demonstrates GIS’s capacity to integrate qualitative heritage evaluation with quantitative mobility analytics, offering a transferable model for sustainable, economically beneficial urban heritage management
Comparative Analysis of Informal Vendors around Dhaka Metro Stations through a Sustainable Livelihood Framework
Full text linkDhaka’s urban landscape is undergoing rapid transformation with the introduction of the Metro Rail, reshaping mobility patterns and influencing informal economies. This study investigates how the establishment of Farmgate and Mirpur-10 metro stations has affected the livelihoods of informal vendors, applying the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) as an analytical lens. A mixed-method research design was adopted, combining structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, field observations, and photographic documentation with statistical analyses. Fifty vendors were surveyed across the two sites, and independent sample t-tests were performed to compare livelihood outcomes. Results indicate that vendors who relocated their vending spaces after the opening of metro stations achieved significantly higher SLF scores (p < .01), reflecting improved access to financial and social capital. In contrast, vendors who started business after the metro inauguration reported comparatively lower livelihood scores, suggesting vulnerabilities linked to competition, limited infrastructure, and regulatory constraints. Findings underscore the dual role of transport infrastructure as both an enabler of opportunity and a source of precarity for informal workers. The study highlights the necessity of inclusive urban policies, particularly through designated vending zones and supportive planning strategies, to enhance resilience and ensure equitable benefits from infrastructure-led urban transformation
Integrating Metro Stations with the Adjacent Urban Fabric Using TOD Principles: A Case of Agargaon Metro Station, Dhaka
No full textTransit-Oriented Development (TOD) principles offer a promising framework for integrating metro stations with their surrounding urban fabric, promoting sustainable urbanization and efficient transportation systems. Dhaka, one of the fastest-growing cities globally, faces significant challenges in traffic congestion, air pollution, and urban sprawl. Introducing metro systems offers a promising solution to alleviate these issues and enhance urban mobility. This study presents a case study of Agargaon Metro Station in Dhaka City, examining its integration with the adjacent urban fabric using TOD principles. Through a combination of field observations, spatial analysis, and stakeholder interviews, the study evaluates the current state of Agargaon Metro Station. On-site assessments examined the station\u27s physical infrastructure, accessibility, and connectivity with nearby areas, while Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyzed spatial data, including land use patterns and transportation networks. Semi-structured interviews with urban planners, government officials, and community members provided insights into the challenges and opportunities for implementing TOD at Agargaon. The findings reveal that the station is underutilized as a TOD hub, with inadequate pedestrian infrastructure and mixed-use developments, leading to poor connectivity and accessibility. The study highlights the necessity of improved land use planning, policy support, and community engagement to enhance the station\u27s role in fostering TOD. These recommendations, if implemented, could alleviate traffic congestion, improve air quality, and create more livable urban spaces, thereby enhancing Dhaka\u27s overall quality of life. Additionally, the research contributes to the social and economic dimensions of urbanization by offering a framework that can be adapted to similar metro stations in Dhaka and other rapidly urbanizing cities
From Connectivity to Liveability: Enhancing Urban Waterbody Accessibility through Space Syntax in Dhaka
Full text linkUrban waterbodies play a vital role in enhancing ecological sustainability, social interaction, and neighbourhood liveability, yet in rapidly urbanising contexts such as Dhaka, they are increasingly threatened by encroachment, pollution, and reduced accessibility. This study investigates the accessibility and spatial integration of two significant urban waterbodies (Dholaikhal Narinda Pond and Shahjahanpur Jheel) under the Dhaka City Neighbourhood Upgrading Project (DCNUP), which seeks to revitalise public open spaces for disadvantaged communities. Using Space Syntax analysis, the research assesses spatial configuration through measures of Connectivity (CN), Global Integration (Rn), and Local Integration (R4) to evaluate accessibility at city and neighbourhood scales. Results indicate that Dholaikhal Narinda Pond demonstrates higher connectivity and global integration values, positioning it as a potential city-scale destination capable of enhancing urban inclusivity. By contrast, Shahjahanpur Jheel, though limited in city-wide accessibility, exhibits strong local integration, highlighting its potential as a neighbourhood-scale public space. These findings underscore the importance of aligning spatial analysis with urban design strategies to enhance accessibility and maximise social benefits. The study concludes that integrating syntactic measures into early project planning can help policymakers and urban designers anticipate patterns of use and achieve more equitable and sustainable revitalisation of public waterbodies in Dhaka
Heritage-Led Urban Regeneration in Rome: Recontextualising the Campo Trincerato through Network Strategies
Full text linkContemporary peri-urban landscapes face fragmentation, marginalisation, and the neglect of widespread cultural heritage. This article explores heritage-led regeneration as a strategic framework to revitalise marginal areas by focusing on the Campo Trincerato in Rome, a system of fifteen forts and three batteries constructed between 1877 and 1891. Despite being largely abandoned, these fortifications remain structurally intact and spatially coherent, offering opportunities for reconceptualisation as infrastructural nodes within broader urban and territorial networks. The study adopts a multi-scalar methodological approach, combining architectural analysis of typological and structural features with contextual investigation of accessibility, ownership, and planning frameworks. Results reveal that while the Campo Trincerato maintains its systemic coherence, institutional fragmentation and limited reuse represent major barriers to regeneration. Nevertheless, its configuration as a defensive ring highlights potential to establish cultural polarities, ecological connections, and community-driven functions in Rome’s suburban areas. The findings underscore the significance of integrating cultural heritage into contemporary regeneration strategies, transforming neglected military infrastructure into catalysts for urban identity, social cohesion, and sustainable development
Can Cultural Capital and the Right to the City Explain Class-Based Alienation in Thailand’s Art Museums?
Full text linkContemporary art museums in Thailand often fail to engage working-class communities, revealing a disconnect between institutional narratives and the lived realities of marginalized urban citizens. This study investigates how cultural exclusion reflects broader socio-economic inequality, contributing to the journal’s focus on the economic ramifications of urbanization. Through qualitative fieldwork and interviews at four institutions—BACC and MOCA (Thailand), Tate Modern (UK), and Pirelli HangarBicocca (Italy)—it identifies four key dimensions of alienation: psychological, spatial, socio-cultural, and economic. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital and Lefebvre’s Right to the City, the research introduces a typology of alienation that functions as both a theoretical contribution and a practical tool. It demonstrates that exclusion stems not only from cost but also from curatorial tone, spatial design, and symbolic inaccessibility. By centering the perspectives of lower-income participants, this study contributes an interdisciplinary framework that bridges museology, urban studies, and critical ethnography. By situating cultural alienation within the socio-economic transformations of contemporary urbanization, the study demonstrates how exclusion from museums parallels broader patterns of economic inequality and urban segregation in Thailand. Ultimately, it argues that inclusive cultural infrastructure is essential for fostering urban resilience and democratic participation
Investigating the Linkages Between Migration and Image of the City
No full textThis study explores the complex interplay between migration and the image of the city, with a focus on the Hadapsar-Magarpatta area of Pune, India. Using Kevin Lynch\u27s theoretical framework of urban elements—districts, paths, nodes, landmarks, and edges—combined with Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis, the research investigates how migration reshapes urban form and identity. The study employs a decadal analysis of urban transformation, identifying key changes driven by migration patterns. Findings reveal that migration significantly influences the development of new urban nodes, alters paths, and affects the overall spatial structure, leading to evolving city identities. The influx of migrants is found to enhance the functional complexity of urban districts, impact the hierarchy of nodes, and reconfigure the prominence of paths within the city\u27s spatial organization. This transformation contributes to socio-economic shifts, influencing local economies, labor markets, and resource distribution patterns. The study underscores the importance of integrating migration dynamics into sustainable urban planning, promoting the need for resilient infrastructure and inclusive policies to accommodate demographic changes. This research contributes to urban morphology literature by providing new insights into how migration drives urban transformation, reshaping the image and functionality of cities in a rapidly urbanizing world
Can Urban Design Foster Greater Inclusivity for Women in Public Spaces?
No full textAs urbanization accelerates globally, creating inclusive public spaces that accommodate women\u27s rights and freedoms becomes increasingly vital. This study critically assesses the impact of urban environments on women in public spaces within the Indian context, focusing on Marine Drive in Kochi, Kerala. Employing field investigations, mapping, and both qualitative and quantitative analyses—including surveys of 100 women—the research explores elements affecting women\u27s quality of life in urban settings. Key factors identified include safety concerns, inadequate accessibility, and insufficient infrastructure that hinder women\u27s equitable participation in public spaces. Literature reviews and case studies highlighted parameters influencing women\u27s experiences, such as land use, mobility, visibility, and safety. A theoretical framework addressing design, physical, environmental, cultural, and economic aspects was developed to create gender-sensitive urban spaces. Applying this framework to the design element of land led to specific guidelines enhancing accessibility, mobility, and permeability, which are crucial for women\u27s comfort and security. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of women\u27s interactions with urban environments and provide a foundation for urban planners and policymakers to develop women-friendly public spaces, thereby promoting inclusivity and enhancing the overall urban experience