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A Bibliometric Review of Global Research Trends on Designing Inclusive Public Spaces
Full text linkThis bibliometric review examines global and international research trends on designing inclusive public spaces, with a focus on participatory approaches to improving accessibility and inclusivity in marginalized areas. Utilizing bibliometric analysis through VOSviewer, the study identifies key themes, methodologies, and conceptual frameworks shaping the discourse on inclusive urban design. It explores the influence of international guidelines, such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Design Principles, in driving innovative approaches to urban accessibility and participatory planning. The review maps collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrences, and citation trends to provide a comprehensive understanding of the global research landscape. Case studies from diverse geographical contexts illustrate how participatory practices have been adapted to address unique social, cultural, and economic challenges. By situating South African townships within this global research framework, the paper highlights opportunities and challenges in applying international best practices to local contexts. This study contributes to the broader dialogue on inclusive urban development by synthesizing global research insights and offering recommendations for future applications in marginalized areas
Climate Change Impacts on Food (In)Security: a Case Study of Enyezane, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Full text linkClimate change significantly threatens food security, and localized studies are crucial for effective responses.
This study examines the impacts of climate change on food security in Enyezane, KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa. Enyezane faces increased climate-related shocks like droughts and temperature extremes, leading to
crop failures, reduced agricultural yields, and water scarcity. The study explores these challenges and the
community's coping mechanisms, including diversifying crops, using resilient varieties, and relying on
traditional knowledge and social networks. The importance of urban planning in mitigating food insecurity is
highlighted. Planning can promote climate-resilient agriculture, efficient water management, and
community-based food systems. This study calls for government support, social safety nets, and
infrastructure development to bolster food security in Enyezane, aligning with the Sustainable Development
Goals. The study emphasizes the adverse effects of climate change on Enyezane's food security. It analyzes
the community's coping strategies while highlighting the potential of urban planning to address these
challenges. The findings offer valuable insights to inform policies and targeted interventions that can
promote food security and climate resilience in Enyezane, and similar regions facing the impacts of climate
change
Investigating the Research Landscape of Virtual Reality in Built Environment Education on the African Continent: a Bibliometric Review
Full text linkThe Fourth Industrial Revolution brought disruptive changes that profoundly impacted all industries, promising revolutionary progress in ideologies and processes. Although this revolution casts a shadow of uncertainty, it brings great potential to improve how humanity will live, learn, work, and play in the future. Industry 4.0, like previous revolutions, significantly impacts the often-sluggish Construction Industry and, equally, the education of future construction professionals. Disruptions by technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various automated derivatives and other technologies have shown a significant impact on the design and creation of the Built Environment (BE). Consequently, education and training in Industry 4.0 systems are crucial for smooth progress in articulating the development of future professionals. In this research, the authors investigate the research landscape of virtual reality and BE education in an African context. An appropriately curated bibliometric review process is utilised to examine the current trends in this niche body of knowledge. The review process utilises exported data from Scopus using the terms ‘virtual reality’, ‘education’, ‘built environment’ and ‘Africa’ between 1998 and 2024. The exported data was then analysed using Vos Viewer software to illustrate the main keywords around the study area through network maps. Preliminary results reveal that VR technology in BE education is severely under-researched in Africa and globally. However, a steady incline in VR technology research reveals an increase of 719.73%. With due consideration of the importance of VR in an educational setting, the lack of research reveals not only an under-researched field but also an underutilised resource that has the potential to be incredibly impactful. Therefore, a recommendation is made to conduct empirical studies in educational settings using VR technology as part of the pedagogical approach to training future BE professionals
The Built Environment and Universal Design: Are Architectural Competitions a Qualified Instrument to a Better Consideration of the Diversity Dimension Impairment?
Full text linkProcedures of building planning and delivery are of crucial importance in generating better and more inclusive built enviroments (named “architecture” from here on) following the idea of Design for All/Universal Design. In contrast to other “products” of the everyday life, architecture is comparably complex in generation and maintenance, given the multitude of stakeholders involved in generation and operation, the longevity of interventions, the involved cost, and its role in ecological, economical and social dimension of mankind. Needless to say, architecture has a significant impact on society aspects, and thus also on the different diversity dimensions of societies. To ensure high quality in interventions toward the built enviroment, the instrument “architectural competitions” has been established decades, if not centuries ago. Today, usual architectural competitions target the call for high-quality design ideas or suggestions for specific requirements within the built enviroment. Architectural competitions differ in their scope, their procedural and organisational structure, the number of competition entries, and other methodological aspects. Typical timeframes for architectural competitions take 6 to 8 weeks of preperation work and 8 to 15 weeks of time for competition entry developments, and – in most cases – the winning project is intented to be realized/built. This paper presents concept, method, and results of an empirical study pertaining to the relation of architectural competitions and the consideration of Universal Design/Design for All aspects within the competition. Thereby, both the call for entries and the overall provided information, as well as a comparable large number of competition entries was examined in a structured process: In a first step, we generated a checklist template that targeted different aspects related to Universal Design/Design for All in the framework of the competition call for tender. The checklist was also adapted for evaluation of aspects of Design for All within examined competition entries. In a second step, recently conducted architectural competitions were selected. For these competitions we collected both the call for tender documents, as well as selected competition entries. Subsequently, the checklist was applied on the collected data, to generate both quantitative results and to identify good and bad practices regarding the consideration of universal design aspects within the competitions.
15 different architectural competitions and 76 competition entries were analyzed. The consideration of Universal Design aspects in the entries happened mostly rudimentary, but some specific best practice and worst practice cases could be identified. A major finding of the overall evaluation procedure is that – disappointingly – there is a lot of improvement potential for a better consideration of Design for All/Universal Design aspects in this early phase of building delivery processes
The Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Project Management
Full text linkSuccessful Project Management plays a more than ever before central and crucial role in Smart City Planning and Operations in times of multiple examples of public funded major project, which could only be realized paired by cost explosions and long expanded timelines. The central idea for this research is to implement the current achievements of Artificial Intelligence resulting in innovative Project Management.
The implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Project Management (PM) has gained significant attention, with roots dating back to 1987 but experiencing recent advancements in machine learning and data analytics. AI has the potential to revolutionize project management, affecting planning, scheduling, risk management, and decision-making. However, its impact on working personnel remains a debated topic.
This thesis explores the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on project management, specifically focusing on its effects on employees. It aims to understand how AI adoption can enhance project management processes, improve certain areas of PM, and boost productivity, while also addressing ethical concerns.
The research combines literature analysis and semi-structured interviews with project managers from Europe and India to investigate the advantages and challenges of integrating AI in project management. It highlights benefits such as workload reduction, better decision-making, and access to insightful data through AI-driven analytics.
Moreover, the study underscores the importance of addressing ethical issues like algorithmic bias, data privacy, and decision-making transparency associated with AI adoption. It emphasizes the need for providing proper training and support to team members to ensure successful AI utilization and mitigate potential opposition or anxiety among project stakeholders.
Overall, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on AI's role in project management by emphasizing its benefits for employees. It aims to provide insights into AI integration to guide future strategies while prioritizing ethical considerations and ensuring the effectiveness and well-being of project management teams
A Comparative Analysis on the Impact of Culture, Norms and Attitudes on the Adoption of Eco-Friendly Transportation in Mannheim and Tokyo
Full text linkIn the conversation on eco-friendly practices, the role of cultural values, norms, and attitudes as to sustainable urban transportation remains crucial yet still understudied. A lot of work has been done to identify the facets of sustainable transportation, yet there exists a gap of how culture elements shape the adoption and effectiveness of eco-friendly practices (Brown & Wang, 2018). This exploratory comparative qualitative research in progress investigates the key indicators derived from cultural values, norms, and attitudes on the adoption and effectiveness of eco-friendly transportation practices in Germany (such as Freiburg) and Japan (such as Tokyo)
Development of an Energy Transition Cycle in the City of Eisenstadt
Full text linkIn course of the project “Creative Circle” a so called “energy transition cycle” in Eisenstadt is developed.
This energy transition cycle aims to support the efficient use of the local renewable energy production. In
addition, climate change adoption measures are implemented.
The local district heating network, the sewage treatment plant and photovoltaic systems form the basis of the
project. A large part of the population is currently supplied with heat from the district heating network that is
mainly heated with biomass. Currently, a part of the heat goes unused with the wastewater to the sewage
treatment plant. This is set to change in the future. The thermal energy in the wastewater will be integrated
into the district heating network by using a heat pump. With regards to the electricity supply, a renewable
energy community was established. The electricity demand of the heat pump as well as the electrical demand
of the inhabitants of Eisenstadt can be partly covered with renewable energy from the energy community, at
favorable tariffs. The energy from the energy transition cycle is also used for the environmentally friendly
operation of a multifunctional Cooling Center, which provides a cool place to shelter from extreme heat free
of charge and also functions as a social meeting point. As first part of the energy transition cycle, the Cooling
Center located in the town house of Eisenstadt was completed in summer 2023. The foyer in the town hall
was redesigned to make the stay as pleasant as possible and an innovative cooling system was implemented.
The planning of the wastewater heat utilization at the sewage treatment plant was carried out in parallel. The
integration of a heat pump in the sewage treatment plant shows considerable potential for reducing biomass
and gas consumption and increasing the efficiency of the district heating network. However, the
implementation of the project is not without its challenges. The technical design of the heat pump integration
requires careful planning and coordination with the existing systems. Choosing the right size of heat pump,
taking the biomass system into account, and increasing efficiency are complex tasks that need to be tackled
carefully. Detailed planning and economic evaluations are currently being carried out
Sustainable, Smart and Humane Cities: From Utopia to Reality
Full text linkThis paper gathers the results of the research undertaken by the authors on the phenomenon of “New Cities” (NCs) conceived during the last thirty years, when urbanism began to be ruled by two basic principles: sustainability and smartness. Eighty case studies were selected from 38 countries on five continents in order to explore this dynamic and to answer the questions that triggered this research. What motivated NCs? What specific response did they adopt? What motivated their implementation or abandonment? Were they able to fulfil their own expectations
Synergizing BIM, Digital Twin, and XR: An Approach for Real-Time Building Analysis and Enhanced Laboratory Management
Full text linkThe emerging shift in the use of innovative and digital technologies in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry promises an opportunity to create consistent, system-intelligent buildings that provide a reliable source of all relevant information about the building for maintenance, technical management, or decision-making processes in real time. For this vision, the integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Digital Twins (DTs), Internet of Things (IoT), and Extended Reality (XR) in the context of operative building management and research data utilization within laboratory environments proves to be essential to leverage smart buildings as an enabling pillar of a smart city. This paper presents a novel approach for in situ generation of 3D building models from point cloud scans, providing a valid real-time representation of the existing state of a building. This process significantly enhances the accuracy and utility of BIM in existing structures where pre-existing digital models are not available.
Further, we delve into the enrichment of these models with IoT sensors strategically placed within building spaces. These sensors are designed to monitor indoor air quality and occupancy through motion detection, offering a comprehensive view of the buildings environmental and usage patterns. This real-time data, coupled with the integration of laboratory measurement devices and their DT, facilitates a more dynamic and responsive building management system. In contrast to the majority of current approaches and concepts in research, the resulting models emphasize live data and, in accordance with the definition of a DTs, reflect the state and feedback representation bidirectionally into the virtual space and vice versa back into the physical space substantiated by XR technologies.
An essential component of our methodology is the development of interfaces between the BIM model and DTs of laboratory equipment, seamlessly incorporating the generated research data into the building model. This integration ensures that the BIM model remains a central, up-to-date repository of both physical and functional characteristics of the building and its contents.
Moreover, we introduce a collaborative XR environment, enabling transdisciplinary teams to interact with and analyze the BIM model and associated data in a highly immersive and intuitive manner. This XR platform fosters enhanced collaboration and decision-making, bridging the gap between various stakeholders involved in building management and research. The approach demonstrates the potential of utilizing advanced technologies to not only create these models post-construction but also to continuously update and enrich them with operational data, thereby facilitating a more efficient and informed management process. Providing standardized interfaces to smart buildings with the BIM and IoT information obtained through the concepts presented can also create added value in the context of smart cities through clusters of such smart buildings.
This paper contributes to the field by showcasing how the synergy of BIM, DTs, IoT, and XR can revolutionize building management and Research Data Management (RDM), offering a comprehensive, real-time, and interactive digital representation of physical spaces and their operational dynamics
Transformation ehemaliger Arbeiterinnen- und Arbeitersiedlungen in Niederösterreich
Full text linkDer gemeinnützige Wohnbau stellt in Österreich eine wesentliche Säule für die Schaffung und Sicherung sozialen und leistbaren Wohnraums dar. Viele der heute rund 185 gemeinnützigen Wohnbauvereinigungen sind in der Tradition entstanden, Arbeiterinnen und Arbeiter – rund um Fabriken und Arbeitsstätten – mit adäquatem Wohnraum zu versorgen. So sind nicht nur in den Landeshauptstädten, sondern auch in ländlichen Gemeinden, die durch Industrialisierung geprägt waren, insbesondere zwischen den 1920er und 1970er Jahren zahlreiche Arbeiterinnen- und Arbeitersiedlungen entstanden. Heute sind diese Siedlungsstrukturen vielfach erneuerungsbedürftig und stehen vor der Herausforderung, in Hinblick auf Wohnungsangebot und Wohnformen, aber auch in Hinblick auf Energieversorgung und Klimaresilienz an aktuelle Anforderungen angepasst zu werden. Die Relevanz dieses Themas zeigt sich auch in Zahlen: Der Bestand gemeinnütziger Wohnungsunternehmen umfasst mit 971.050 Wohnungen rund 20% des Wohnungsbestands in Österreich (Statistik Austria 2022), ca. 489.020 Wohneinheiten bzw. rund 10% wurden bis 1980 errichtet (GBV 2021)