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XR-Supported Communication in Green Urban Projects. Participating in Urban Change through Virtual and Augmented Reality
Get PDFPublic participation in urban planning and design processes is becoming increasingly important in European
cities to improve transparency, enhance decision-making, and encourage community engegamenent.
However, broad and inclusive participation faces a number of significant challenges. Typical participation
processes rely on face-to-face interaction and are only able to reach small and non-representative groups of
people. To this day, direct means of communication are important because of the high complexity of urban
planning and design tasks and the multi-faceted demands on urban spaces, which can hardly be represented
in online questionnairs and one-way information campaigns. Additionally, urgent measures to reduce heat in
cities and to counteract other negative effects of the climate crisis need to be explained to gain the support of
local communities. These challenges are often compounded by low budgets for participation processes and a
lack of commitment to a thorough communication strategy.
Over the past few decades, new information and communication technologies have radically changed the
way we communicate. The advent of smartphones and the institutionalization of the internet have made it
possible to interact with many people simultaneously in real time and at a low cost. Today, powerful mobile
devices and the emergence of virtual and augmented reality applications promise new ways to communicate
spatial change and to interact with the urban environment. The exploitation of these new technologies to
support climate-friendly urban design projects with broad public participation was the declared goal of the
Green Living Augmented+virtual ReAlity (GLARA) research and development project. At the heart of the
project was the development of the GLARA app, a mobile application that visualizes the spatial and
microclimatic effects of urban design projects. Choosing between the virtual and augmented reality modes,
users could explore the altered urban space from home or directly in the respective public space. In the latter
case, the live image of the mobile phone camera (image of reality) was overlaid with 3D elements like trees,
benches and more. This type of vizualisation provided a unique spatial experience of the proposed design
project. At the same time, the results of a micro-climate simulation, which shows the effects on surface
temperature, perceived temperature, and wind was visualized and made tangible via the app. Last but not
least, the application allowed users to provide feedback on the design from anywhere at any time, decoupling
participation from the need to be physically present at a specific place and time and allowing a wider range
of people to contribute their opinions to the planning process. The GLARA app was combined with a
selected set of face-to-face participation tools to form a holisitc participatory planning service for open
spaces with green infrastructure.
The full GLARA service was tested in a case study in Vienna’s 7th district, Neubau. The local district
administration had plans to redesign a narrow residential street in the course of laying new water pipes. The
GLARA team accompanied the planning process over a period of one and a half years with a balanced mix
of analogue and digital participation tools including the GLARA app. The introduction of a second
participation loop based on the preliminary landscape design for the street was a novelty for the
administration but was well received by the participating residents. The design was visualized via the app
and offered an immersive experience of future spatial change. However, a number of technical and practical
challenges remain for future development of the app, including better ways for device localisation,
operability on less powerful mobile devices, reducing the effort required to create the 3D visualisations, and
further reducing barriers for less tech-savvy populations
The Contribution of Peri-Urban Characterisation to the Development of Sense of Place Indicators
Get PDFPeri-urbanisation is a phenomenon taking place worldwide and affecting not only large cities but also smaller towns and settlements. The diverse set of activities, land uses and processes, which are characteristic for peri-urban landscape, are often poorly regulated and planned by the spatial planning and development policies. This may give way to interests of individual investors, which are rarely supportive of preserving green open spaces to serve the population for their leisure and recreational purposes. In this paper, we focus on the unbuilt spaces of the peri-urban landscape and their role for retaining a sense of place of local inhabitants who use this landscape for their leisure and recreational purposes. This study approaches the sense of place (SOP) as a category of the cultural ecosystem service framework. SOP has previously been highlighted as a specifically difficult category to be directly quantified and assessed with standardised procedures, and is therefore poorly integrated in landscape and management plans. Accordingly, this study is an attempt to set a basis for the SOP indicators development in the peri-urban landscape by (1) exploring and clarifying the notion and spatial characteristics of the peri-urban landscape, (2) identifying spatial planning actions and their influence on the peri-urban land use and functioning, and (3) exploring possibilities for the cartographic representation of SOP in the peri-urban landscape. We conducted a literature review, document analysis and spatial analysis in three case study cities in Slovenia: Ljubljana, Kranj and Koper. Then we developed a framework for peri-urban landscape characterisation and applied it to case studies. We compared results with the characterisation of the peri-urban landscape in formal documents and identified spatial actions and their influence on the peri-urban land use and perception. Finally, we evaluated whether the proposed framework could help in identifying areas according to their SOP potential and in developing SOP indicators for preserving peri-urban open spaces for its users. Our findings can facilitate incorporating information on SOP in a format that can be used by city authorities and spatial planners in the formulation of spatial planning measures and guidelines
Crisis and Green Urban Development: Urban Agriculture and Post-Earthquake Urban Resilience in Christchurch, New Zealand
Get PDFThe paper examines urban agriculture and local food initiatives in post-earthquake Christchurch, New Zealand and discusses their role for urban resilience. Like many other coastal cities in the world, Christchurch is prone to a range of natural and anthropogenic disasters including earthquakes, floods, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise. In 2010 and 2011, the Canterbury region was struck by two major earthquakes and a series of aftershocks. It was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of New Zealand killing 185 and injuring 7000 people. 90 per cent of residential properties were damaged, resulting in the demolition of around 8000 households and 80% of central Christchurch. In addition, recurrent flood events have been devastating large areas of the city on a regular basis.
Shortly after the experiences of the 2010/11 Canterbury earthquakes, various bottom-up urban agriculture initiatives sprung up and have led to the development of a network of organisations and spaces across the city. With the help of exemplary case studies, the paper discusses post-earthquake urban agriculture initiatives in Christchurch against notions of urban resilience. It critically reflects on knowledge gaps, potential areas for future research and related barriers and enablers for green urban development
How to Co-Create Collective Awareness on the Benefits of Trees
Get PDFNature is our ally in solving all kinds of social problems. This was well understood by the researchers of the
ongoing URBiNAT (2018-2023) project, with focus on the regeneration of under-served urban
neighbourhoods1, through the co-creation of Nature-Based Solutions. Combining physical and infrastructural
– green - solutions with social and economic practices, this project aims at creating collective awareness and
contribute to a better understanding of human and non-human dimensions of our urban environments by
conducting research, exploring case studies and implementation in several cities. How can these results and
working methods also apply to trees and better conservation of the tree stock2, which also play a key role in
many challenges society is facing? Trees are essential in tackling climate change through mitigation and
adaptation. They are natural and free air conditioners, they purify the air, provide carbon storage and
biodiversity in the soil/underground and they fulfil a landscape or social role in villages and cities. Moreover,
they provice a green counterweight to the increasing use of space in Flanders3, something that could be
experienced first-hand during the corona crisis. Yet trees still often disappear to make room for other space
claims in Flanders. Today, citizens and permit providers (mainly municipalities) make an important mark on
the above-ground use of space: recent research by the Department of Environment & Spatial Development
Flanders shows that most applications for tree felling are submitted by citizens, and that municipal
authorities approve nearly every application. In this new research proposal, integrating the approach of the
URBiNAT project in order to prevent the disappearing tree stock in Flanders, we want to know why trees are
cut down and how we can co-create collective awareness on the benefits of trees with the stakeholders
involved in Flanders
Thermal Variation and Socio-Environmental Inequality in Taipei Basin
Get PDFThis study assesses the coupling features of socio-environmental depriviation for heat adaptation through the
case study of urbanised areas within Taipei Basin. Multiple data including weather, green space features and
socio-economic attributes are used to understand their interplay across urban neighbourhoods. Using the
weather records from 28 weather stations located inside Taipei Basin and its surrounding hills, this study
maps spatial variation of wind dynamic and temeprature at daytime and night-time in summer months
between 2011 and 2020. Spatial statistical analysis was conducted between this climatological information,
green spaces, and socio-economic status of aging, household income, and education levels.
The result shows that summer temperature is unevenly distributed and has diurnal difference. Downwind
areas tend to be warmer both during the day and night, even though the development in these areas might be
less intensive and have more green and blue spaces. Further analysis with socio-economic status of these
areas finds that some downwind communities are also socio-economically more disadvantaged. This spatial
pattern suggests an unfair consequance due to past urbanisation, which put vulnerable commnities at higher
heat risk. Nature-based interventions should therefore prioritise the reduction of such impacts through a more
systematic consideration of land use zoning, wind path, and mechenism for compensation
Exploring Nature-Based Solutions for Urban River Restoration: Insights from China's Sponge City Programme
Get PDFIn cities, river restoration is widely recognised as an essential Nature-based Solution (NbS) that delivers a
wide range of benefits. However, rapid urbanisation and economic growth over the past four decades have
led to the degradation of Chinese rivers. In response, the Chinese government introduced the Sponge City
(SC) concept in 2013 as part of the 'Ecological Civilisation' era. The SC, considered a hybrid NbS, was
designed to foster urban resilience, particularly against severe disasters such as floods. The nationwide SC
Program (SCP) commenced in 2014. Since then, the number of participating cities has continued to grow. As
a result, a large number of Chinese cities have been transitioning from traditional grey infrastructure to
green/blue infrastructure with substantial investments, leading to the restoration, redesign and revitalization
of urban rivers. Despite these efforts, there is a noticeable lack of research that examines urban river
restoration from a multi-beneficial NbS perspective, a current global research trend. To address this research
gap, the present study adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining expert interviews with bibliometric
analysis, to explore the specific role of urban rivers as an NbS within the SC framework. Our study revealed
an increasing scientific interest in urban river restoration beginning in 2013, viewing them as elements of
sponge construction. Alongside this, there's a progressively nuanced understanding of rivers as
multifunctional NbS. In addition, we identified specific challenges that impede the successful
implementation of these NbS in Chinese cities. To overcome these barriers, we formulated a set of
recommendations that are in harmony with China's new River Chief System policy and the Ecology Oriented
Development (EOD) model. The aim is to enhance the sustainable governance of urban rivers as an NbS in
the long term, thus contributing to overall sustainable development in China
Optimization of Cities through Green Spaces
Get PDF� reviewed paper
REAL CORP 2023 Proceedings/Tagungsband
18-20 September 2023 – https://www.corp.at
ISBN 978-3-9504945-2-5. Editors: M. SCHRENK, V. V: POPOVICH, P. ZEILE,
P. ELISEI, C.BEYER, J. RYSER, H. R. KAUFMANN – Ljubljana, Slovenia 575
Optimization of Cities through Green Spaces
Hans Rüdiger Kaufmann, Thomas Walch, Gamze Ünsal-Peter, Danny Westphal, Thomas Schäfer, Stefan
Bley, Matthias Rädle
(Hans Rüdiger Kaufmann, University of Applied Management Studies; Mannheim, DE; [email protected])
(Thomas Walch, Factory Agency; Mannheim, DE; [email protected])
(Gamze Ünsal-Peter, Hochschule Mannheim; Mannheim, DE; [email protected])
(Danny Westphal, Hochschule Mannheim; Mannheim, DE; [email protected])
(Thomas Schäfer, Hochschule Mannheim; Mannheim, DE; [email protected])
(Stefan Bley, City of Mannheim; Mannheim, DE; [email protected])
(Matthias Rädle, Hochschule Mannheim; Mannheim, DE; [email protected])
1 ABSTRACT
In general, the trend prevailed in recent years that the effects of civilization's interventions in environmental
conditions have not been as prominent in publications as they were before the outbreak of the Corona
pandemic. The Corona pandemic has focused attention on the most pressing problems in recent years, such
as, in metrological terms, the dispersion of liquid aerosols. Although incidences due to Corona are still
extremely high, and the number of days of illness has a massive impact on industrial and societal processes,
Corona is no longer considered the No. 1 issue. This is due in particular to the lower mortality that has
resulted from the immunization of the population and the attenuation of the dangerousness of the new
generations of the pathogen. By pushing the topic of Corona off the front pages of journals, previously
discussed priorities are increasingly resurfacing.
Against this backdrop, the long ‘dead’ discussion about the occurrence and effects of particulate matter is
gaining momentum again. This paper revisits a previous Real Corp conference paper (Westphal et al., 2022),
in which the authors suggest and explain the contributions of an innovative measurement device (ProxiCube)
developed by the City of Mannheim’s ecosystem addressing the key success factors for awarded Smart Cities
and the various factors of an urban management model. This paper exemplifies the cube’s contribution by a
specifically designed and conducted research experiment.
In the research setting of the City of Mannheim, a city in the forefront of the Smart City movement in
Germany, the empirical part of the paper comprises the parameters of liquid aerosol, dry particulate matter,
CO2, humidity, temperature, pressure and light conditions which were measured by innovative and
internationally awarded air quality measurement devices (ProxiCube) (see Westphal et al., 2022)
simultaneously at five parallel measurement points of the city at a high data rate. With the measurement
constellation, influences can be visualized such as the daily course of all these measured variables at a busy
street juxtaposed to the backyard of adjacent buildings or to the building itself implying a crucial impact for
the citizens’ life quality
Brownfield Regeneration in Sarajevo – Sustainable Growth Towards a Polycentric City
Get PDFUrban planning and design processes generally follow standardised procedures that have been tried and tested by generations of experts. However, due to the local context and changing framework conditions in each city and project site, processes always need to be adapted and result in unique planning histories that take into account the specific political, spatial, social, cultural and economic conditions of a place. Adverse circumstances might challenge ambitious process designs and lead to slimmed-down planning processes and unsatisfactory results, while an enabling environment can enrich the process and inspire the outcome. The reality, however, is not always black or white. There are multiple influential factors and it is the task of the planners not to lose sight of the goal and to use the circumstances in the best possible way to achieve high-quality design results. Urban design may be defined as “the process of providing quality contextual places for people” (Black & Sonbli 2019, 21). This indicates the contextuality of place and process and highlights the need to adapt to the local context in order to achieve an adequate result.
Within the framework of a consultancy for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), an international and interdisciplinary planning team composed of architects, spatial planners, economists, and sustainable resource managers, made the effort to implement an integrated and participatory urban design process for two brownfield sites in Sarajevo. This paper explores the manifold challenges and obstacles that the team was confronted with and the creative approaches to overcome these hurdles. It takes a critical look at the adjustments in the process and the results, and gives an outlook and recommendations for the next steps towards implementation and development
Optimizing the Infrastructure of Electric Vehicles and Developing Business Models for Sustainability
Get PDFTransportation is one of the major sources of economy for any country. But the main problem with the vehicles is the amount of pollution conducted by them. One needs a particular source that creates Net Zero Carbon Emissions. Electric vehicles are becoming a popular source of transportation as they do not produce any carbon emissions. But due to a lack of proper infrastructure and customer awareness, consumers hesitate to decide on an Electric Vehicle to date. The paper also covers the expansion of VANET Technology that can improve the traffic management system and reduce the number of accidents. For this reason, this paper aims to identify the area of improvement in building the infrastructure of electric vehicles with economic policies
EVAPO+ Transpiring Green Walls – a Demonstration on How to Maximise the Evapotranspiration Effect to Cool Down our Microclimate
Get PDFIt is undeniable that climate change effects are impacting our daily lives and need to be considered when shaping our living environment and therefore also included in matters of spatial and landscape planning. Climate change adaptation measures mostly address climate change effects in large cities – such as overheating and urban heat islands. New approaches and solutions to improve liveability and to act against the consequences of climate change are required – not only in big cities but also in smaller towns and rural communities.
Nature-based-Solutions (NbS) can tackle some of the most pressing urban environmental and societal challenges such as urban heat islands and by fostering adaptation to climate, halting biodiversity loss and promoting public health and social cohesion. Green and blue infrastructures are considered to be a form of urban sustainability as they not only reduce temperatures and other urban environmental effects, but also improve air and water quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and attract pollinators. Vertical greening and green walls have many advantages and combine a positive effect on the environment and microclimate with an improvement in the quality of life in urban areas.
During the research project “Strasshof. Klimafit!” a concept for “EVAPO+ transpiring green walls” was developed. In comparison to other forms of vertical greening, the EVAPO+ transpiring green walls have a particularly high cooling effect and primarily serve as natural air conditioning in the outdoor area. The name “EVAPO+ transpiring green wall” is derived from the term evapotranspiration, which is the evaporation from plants, water, soil and substrates. EVAPO+ green walls increase and maximise evapotranspiration and thus contribute more effectively than other green wall systems to cooling the microclimate surrounding us.
With the EVAPO+ transpiring green walls which have been innovatively developed, the quality of stay can be improved at many locations in microclimatic areas. Essential functions of green infrastructure and nature-based solutions, such as creating shaded spaces as well as reducing the reflection of incoming solar radiation and cooling of the surrounding environment through evaporation can additionally be strengthened