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Experiences of Socio-Spatial Injustice and Inequality: a Case of Galeshewe Township, Kimberley
Full text linkThe enduring legacy of spatial apartheid continues to shape the lived experiences of many South Africans, particularly in urban areas. Historical injustices have resulted in fragmented spatial configurations that exacerbate socio-economic inequalities. Galeshewe Township in Kimberley, Northern Cape province, South Africa, serves as a case study of a community grappling with these challenges. This study aims to investigate the socio-spatial injustices and inequalities experienced by Galeshewe residents. The research is motivated by the significant and ongoing impact of these issues on the community, as well as the dearth of scholarly research addressing this topic within the South African context. Ten key socio-economic factors were identified for analysis: income disparity, rural-urban divide, educational attainment, health outcomes, public service access, land tenure security, poverty, employment patterns, and spatial freedom. A qualitative research methodology, employing semi-structured interviews and a qualitative survey, was utilized to collect data. The sample comprised fifteen residents of Galeshewe and five professional planners. Purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques were employed to select participants from the township. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The findings revealed that the unequal distribution of societal benefits significantly contributes to economic deprivation and limited access to essential services. Based on these results, the study concludes by advocating for social cohesion, inclusivity, and equitable planning practices. This research contributes to the field of urban planning by highlighting the enduring impacts of historical injustices and the need for more equitable and socially just urban development
Exploring the Relationship Between Gentrification and Vulnerability in Taipei City
Full text linkGentrification is a process of urban development in which an area undergoes redevelopment, which raises the cost of housing, rent, and standard of living, attracting middle-class and other higher-income earners to move in, which in turn leads to the displacement of lower-income residents, changing the composition of neighborhoods and generating population replacements. This study takes Taipei City as the study area, utilizing Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) to synthesize the data on socioeconomic indicators and overlapping them into a Geographic Information System (GIS). The overlapping results identify the areas that meet the screening criteria of each indicator to recognize the gentrification areas in Taipei City and analyze the characteristics of the areas. The results were used to indentify gentrification area in Taipei City and explore relationship between gentrification and social vulnerability
Enhancing Urban Resilience through Integrated Energy, Climate, and Spatial Planning: Introducing the IN-PLAN Practise
Full text linkFragmented sectoral policies hinder spatial planning from driving sustainable development and diminish the impact of EU-funded investments, posing a significant challenge for urban development in Europe (ESPON, 2018). The IN-PLAN project addresses this problem by empowering local and regional authorities to integrate climate adaptation, energy and mobility policies and spatial planning. The developed IN-PLAN Practice provides a structured framework, milestones and strategies for action and stakeholder engagement to support integrated planning. Pilot projects in Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Sweden and Romania demonstrate the adaptability and feasibility of implementation of the practice. This paper presents the findings throughout the project and highlights the lessons learnt from these pilot projects to stimulate a wider uptake of integrated planning approaches across Europe. It also reflects the provision of support structures and documents for integrated planning
Exploring the Role of Urban Identity in Sustainable Development: The Conceptual Framework and Methodological Steps for its Application in Serbia
Full text linkSimilar to other regions in Europe, the strategic positioning of medium-sized and small towns in Serbia has not yet been developed to its full extent. At the same time, its potential to contribute to sustainable, balanced territorial development and cohesion at national, regional, and local levels has been recognized through planning documents, strategies, and academic literature. The role of urban identity in the sustainable development of small and medium-sized towns has been especially emphasized. Therefore, there is a need to explore the complex concept of urban identity through analyzing the relevant literature dealing with its definition and practical use in planning. The main goal of the identity analysis is to highlight the specific characteristics of the selected settlements and value them as spatial, material, and immaterial elements that should be at the same time protected and developed. This implies the application of a place-based approach in planning and developing strategies to include the concept of identity as an important parameter for the qualitative assessment of planning solutions. The resulting conceptual framework consists of material and immaterial elements of identity that can be grouped into sets of specific characteristics. Secondly, the sustainable development policy framework for small urban areas in Europe has been investigated, resulting in a set of key thematic fields applicable in general practice and all contexts. The third step subsumes relating the elements of identity with the key thematic fields and creating the framework for measures and strategic directions that would enable simultaneous protection of existing and creation of new place values. This methodology has been applied to the study of identity of five territorially connected municipalities in Western Serbia, that already share a number of common characteristics. Consequently, not only their individual but also their common identity, compared to other regions in Serbia, can be examined. The uniqueness of the individual towns affects the sustainable development policies at the urban level – for regeneration and revitalization of urban centers, their specialization, and positioning. The uniqueness of the common territory opens up possibilities for sustainable development policies at the regional level, for catalyzing economic growth and reinforcing polycentric development at the national level
Entwicklung eines Bewertungssystems für Radverkehrsnetze auf der Grundlage eines digitalen Modells und einer 4-D-Bewertungsmethode
Full text linkIm Rahmen des Transferprojektes „move.mORe“ wird ein nachhaltiges Asset-Management-System entwickelt, das zur Förderung der Mobilitätswende und zur Steigerung der Entwicklungspotenziale von Radverkehrsnetzen, insbesondere im ländlichen Raum, beitragen soll. Die konzeptionellen Aufgaben der Modellierung und Bewertung werden dargestellt. Durch eine multidimensionale Qualitätsbewertung auf Grundlage eines einheitlichen Datenmodells kann die Qualität von Radverkehrsnetzen strukturiert evaluiert und Handlungsbedarfe gezielt ermittelt werden
Exploring Spatial Patterns of Urban Heat Islands in Zagreb
Full text linkUrban heat islands are a spatial phenomenon characterized by increased temperatures in urban areas compared to their suburban and rural surroundings, driven by spatial patterns of built-up areas, land use, and land cover, as well as the absence of vegetation and variations in land surface temperature (LST). This study examines the relationship between built-up intensity, planned land use, and LST in the City of Zagreb, focusing on its core urban area. Utilizing Landsat-9 satellite data for LST extraction and urban spatial planning documents for vegetation classification, the study explores key spatial factors influencing the intensity and spatial distribution of urban heat islands. The methodological approach integrates Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA), regression models, and spatial autocorrelation to determine the spatial dependencies between land use and temperature variation, conducted using the R programming language. The analysis identifies specific areas where built-up land use categories contribute most to temperature increases, while planned green zones have a significant cooling effect. Spatial regression highlights the varying impact of different planned land-use categories on local thermal conditions, particularly the role of designated green areas in mitigating urban heat accumulation. Spatial autocorrelation techniques confirm the presence of clustering effects in heat island distribution, emphasizing the spatial dependency of UHI formation. These results emphasize the need for an integrated urban planning approach to mitigate the negative effects of urban heat islands and improve the quality of life
Formalising the Informal: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Sustainable Urban Development in South Africa
Full text linkThe 21st century is the era of continuous rapid and high levels of urbanisation, particularly in cities of the developing world. Projections show that by 2050, over half of the global population will reside in urban areas. It is estimated by the United Nations (UN) that 71.3% of South Africa’s population will live in urban areas by 2030, increasing to nearly 80% by 2050. This study explores the diverse challenges hindering sustainable urban development in South Africa. The paper identifies key barriers through a systematic literature methodology, including the ripple effects of apartheid, the sheer prevalence of urban informal settlements, unemployment, and limited citizen engagement. However, it does not stop at identifying the problems. It also proposes an innovative approach: "Formalising the Informal" through a multi-stakeholder lens. It argues that achieving this goal requires addressing the informal sector's complexities, often viewed as a problem rather than a potential asset. The approach stresses collaboration between government, communities, and the private sector to integrate the informal sector into the urban fabric, supporting secondary cities and further tackling societal concerns such as unemployment and inadequate housing, adversely affect urban sustainable development. The study argues that recognising informal actors' ingenuity and economic contributions can pave the way for more sustainable and inclusive cities in South Africa
Lebenswelten internationaler Arbeits- und Fachkräfte am Innovationsstandort Heilbronn
Full text linkDer demografische Wandel und die zunehmende Digitalisierung stellen Deutschland vor große Herausforderungen bei der Sicherung des Fachkräftebedarfs (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, 2024). Besonders in Bereichen wie der künstlichen Intelligenz und anderen zukunftsweisenden Technologien wird der Mangel an qualifizierten Arbeitskräften zunehmend spürbar (BMAS, 2022). Als Reaktion hat die Bundesregierung ein umfassendes Maßnahmenpaket initiiert, dessen Kernstück das reformierte Fachkräfte-Einwanderungsgesetz darstellt. Dieses wird durch gezielte Anwerbestrategien für qualifizierte Arbeitskräfte aus EU-Ländern und Drittstaaten flankiert (BMI, 2023). Vielversprechendes Potenzial liegt in der Zunahme internationaler Studierender an deutschen Hochschulen, deren Zahl nach Angaben des DAAD (2024) im Wintersemester 2024/2025erstmals die Marke von 400.000 Studierenden überschritten hat. Die akademisch qualifizierten Fachkräfte verfügen bereits über wichtige Grundlagen für eine erfolgreiche Integration in den deutschen Arbeitsmarkt. Die nachhaltige Integration internationaler Fachkräfte erfordert jedoch einen ganzheitlichen Ansatz, der über arbeitsmarktpolitische Maßnahmen hinausgeht. Während bereits punktuelle Unterstützungsangebote wie Sprachkurse oder Jobvermittlung existieren, fehlt es häufig an einer systematischen Einbindung der Stadtentwicklung in den Integrationsprozess (BMAS 2021). Die Stadtplanung steht vor der Herausforderung, die spezifischen Bedürfnisse internationaler Fachkräfte zu erfassen und bei der Gestaltung des urbanen Lebensraums zu berücksichtigen (BBSR, 2024). Diese Herausforderung gewinnt zusätzlich durch die Transformation der Arbeitswelt im Zuge der Digitalisierung und Flexibilisierung an Bedeutung. Die damit einhergehenden veränderten Anforderungen an Arbeitsorte, Mobilität und Wohnkonzepte erfordern innovative städtebauliche Lösungen, die sowohl den beruflichen als auch den sozialen Bedürfnissen internationaler Fachkräfte gerecht werden
Das Schutzgut Fläche der Umweltprüfung – Beitrag zur Reduzierung des quantitativen „Flächenverbrauchs“ und zur Stärkung eines qualitativen Freiraumschutzes
Full text linkSchutz und Entwicklung unbesiedelter/unbebauter Freiräume innerhalb und außerhalb von Siedlungsbereichen werden als fundamentale Handlungsfelder des natürlichen Klimaschutzes und der Anpassung an den Klimawandel betrachtet. Zugleich gilt der Freiraum als multifunktionaler Träger von Biodiversität und Ökosystemleistungen. In der Raumplanung werden mit Unterstützung des Instruments der Umweltprüfung bereits bisher für Klima und Umwelt wertvolle Freiräume gesichert sowie raumbeanspruchende Vorhaben auf ihre Klima- und Umweltverträglichkeit geprüft und optimiert. Mit der UVP-Änderungsrichtlinie der EU von 2014 wurde das „Schutzgut Fläche” in den Schutzgüterkatalog der Umweltprüfung zusätzlich aufgenommen. Damit sollen weitergehende Fortschritte bei der Reduzierung des sog. „Flächenverbrauchs“ für Siedlung und Infrastruktur erreicht und entsprechende Freiraumverluste begrenzt werden. In diesem Kontext geht der Beitrag der Frage nach, inwiefern das Schutzgut Fläche als Impuls und Unterstützung für die Eindämmung des Flächenverbrauchs und zugleich für einen multifunktional begründeten Freiraumschutz genutzt werden kann. Eine Analyse der aktuellen Praxis der Umweltprüfung zeigt im Hinblick auf die Bearbeitung des Schutzgutes Fläche im Ganzen erhebliche Defizite, in einzelnen Fällen aber auch innovative, über das Thema des quantitativen Flächenverbrauchs hinausgehende Ansätze eines qualitativen Freiraumschutzes auf. Bisher werden die Auswirkungen auf das Umweltschutzgut Fläche aufgrund fachlicher Unsicherheiten wie auch fehlender Bewertungsmaßstäbe nur selten einer fundierten Bewertung unterzogen. Verbindliche Flächenkontingente und Dichtewerte einerseits sowie planerische Festlegungen zu einer stärker multifunktional begründeten Freiraumsicherung und -entwicklung andererseits werden deshalb als Umweltziele für die Umweltprüfung mehr als bisher benötigt
Success and Failure of New Cities as Drivers of Urban Growth
Full text linkThis paper builds on the findings of our REAL CORP 2024 paper: “Sustainable, Smart and Humane Cities: from utopia to reality. On the purpose and meaning of urban planning today: lessons from the New Cities”. Based on publicly available data, we found some 80 new settlements, loosely defined as „New Cities” (NC), planned and/or under development. Most of them took place in fast urbanising Asia and Africa, fewer in South America, North America, Russia, and none in Europe, likely due to the smaller scale of its urban settlements and its own tradition of new towns.
Our analysis found five categories of NC depending on their key drivers: creating new seats of government (national and regional capital NC); stimulating and transforming national economies (productive NC); global corporate wealth seeking new lucrative investment opportunities (real estate NC); companies accommodating themselves (business NC) and satisfying ecological and social needs (green NC). International design consultancies seeking commissions of masterplans, combining ecocity and smart city design principles into increasingly futuristic images – are also an important part of NC drivers.
Studying the implementation progress of NC was more difficult. Although NC aimed at rapid development many of them did not progress quickly and some stalled altogether. Often kick-started by the public sector with investment in infrastructure, relaxed regulations and availability of cheap land, a first phase took place. However, subsequent development expected to be provided by private investment slowed down or stopped altogether, leading sometimes to ghost towns. Despite their often idealistic objectives, NC were accommodating the growing local middle class, excluding the low income population, and sometimes specific ethnic or religious groups. In some cases, smart technology was used for surveillance of inhabitants' activities.
After our initial review and analysis of the NC phenomenon, we aimed to understand the dynamic of these settlements better. We refrained from dwelling on the concept of “New City”, as it amounts de facto to a very broad typology of urban settlements at diverse scales, mainly in developing countries, and in particular those with dynamic economies. Thus we focused on whether and how these NC-tagged settlements progressed over time.
We found that information in the public domain on emerging NC, embellished by starchitect generated images in pursuit of meeting client demands and attracting private investors was abundant, but their development tended to diverge from real-time progress. We opted to use information from Google Earth images to detect the current situation of the NCs on the ground. This method enabled us both to locate them in their physical context – not always an easy task – and to approximate the degree of compliance of NC realisations with their initial intention over time