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A Mannheim Best Smart City Case: New Measuring System for the Complex Analysis of Spatially Distributed Environmental Data
Get PDFServing Smart City (SC) and societal objectives (i.e. contributing to better air quality and combat the Corona
virus), a novel measuring device is presented as the latest offspring of the SC Ecosystem Mannheim. In this
paper – based on the description of the concerted activities of the various players of the Mannheim SC
ecosystem – we aim to present the findings of our study of the distribution of gases and particles and their
impact on the health of SC citizens of all ages and the ecological balance. Furthermore, the relationship
between CO2 and liquid aerosols is discussed. In particular, the questions of how corona-relevant droplets
spread and how quickly they evaporate are investigated. A broad portfolio of possible applications suggested
by Nevoox rounds off the article. The practical case is interlinked with the results of the DevOps
Competences for Smart Cities project with competences being the common denominator. The case reflects
necessary transversal (such as creative, innovative, entrepreneurial, networking) and technical competences
(i.e. related to coding, data architechture, big data, cloud computing or AI) to exist in an ecosystem aiming
for sustainable innovation
Factor Analysis for Land Value Index in Urban Areas Using Agent Analysis Indicator
Get PDFThe factors affecting a land value index such as land assessments are important for the development and
growth of urban areas. Ota and Kaneda (2018) conducted a comparative analysis of a land value index in the
central Nagoya area of Japan and reported that the factor structure could be explained by three factors:
distance from the nearest station as an accessibility factor; the concentration of neighborhood commercial
and business uses as a facility volume factor; and the integration value of the entire area as an indicator of
the street network centrality of the vis graph analysis of space syntax theory, or “VGA”, as a space
configuration factor.
In an urban area, a busy street’s land value index is considered to be higher. The integration value of the
VGA indicator, which represents the street network centrality as a space configuration, has been used as a
busy street factor. However, high street network centrality is not always needed for a busy street. Therefore,
it is a possible that simulating actual pedestrians from the space configuration is a stronger factor for a busy
street than a high street network centrality. Simulating actual pedestrians from the space configuration can be
conducted using agent analysis, or “AA.”
In this paper, we examine a multiple regression model for the factors and a land value index of the
Kanayama area of Nagoya City using a VGA indicator and then replacing the VGA indicator with the AA
indicator as a new factor. By comparing the two models, we explore the potential for using the AA indicator
as a land value index factor.
In conclusion, the global integration value of the VGA indicator was selected as a factor for a busy street
with a multiple correlation coefficient of 0.750, a coefficient of determination of 0.562, and an Akaike
information criterion (AIC) of 352.093 with a standard partial regression coefficient of 0.362 in the
conventional factor structure. On the other hand, when the number of AA footprints (station occurrences) of
the AA indicator was selected as a factor for a busy street, it had a multiple correlation coefficient of 0.830, a
coefficient of determination of 0.689, and an AIC of 294.477 with a standard partial regression coefficient of
0.618 in the new factor structure. Thus, we discovered that replacing the VGA indicator with the AA
indicator could significantly improve the land value factor structure model
Biophilic Design Approach: Towards Better User's Urban Open Spaces Experience and Improve the Lingering Factor in the University Campus – Case study Faculty of Engineering Campus, Alexandria University, Egypt
Get PDFStudents spend most of their time in the university campus where they either study inside the internal spaces
(lecture halls, studios,...) or in the external spaces around the campus buildings. Most universities provide
well-designed external spaces inside their campus that allow students to spend their time there for any
purpose they want, such as studying, waiting, or spending free time. After observing those outdoor spaces, it
has been found that some of those spaces are crowded and others are abandoned at the same complex.
This study aims to find out the impact of natural elements and the biophilic approach of landscaping the
outdoor university campus spaces on the students lingering and sense of the experience of such spaces.
Moreover, to highlight the relation between using the biophilic approach and the livability of students’
campus open spaces, a field study was conducted with several students of the Faculty of Engineering
campus, Alexandria University in which the biophilic theory is applied as one of bringing nature into the
space forms. It also aims to study whether this approach will affect the students’ well-being and lingering
factor.
Through observation, dialogues, and public questionnaires, the study ended up with several results
describing the effects of implementing the theory of biophilia in the design of the campus’ urban spaces. The
results illustrate changes of the students lingering factors, as well as how biophilic design was affecting
students’ well-being and how the biophilic urbanism approach was influencing the vitality of the space
Experimental Governance for Sustainable Cities and Climate Action – Case Study ANN (A New Normal) RADAR Hamburg
Get PDFIn response to the challenges of climate change and other environmental and structural problems, different
new forms of urban governance have been developed and tested throughout European cities. Urban Living
Labs constitute one form of experimental governance, whereby urban stakeholders develop and test new
technologies and ways of living to address the challenges of climate change and urban sustainability.
Characteristics of Urban Living Labs in the sense of experimental governance are temporal limitation, spatial
selectivity and problem-orientation.
Staging urban experimentation requires an evidence-based process to identify suitable urban target locations
for urban testbeds. The research project ANN (A new Normal) RADAR addresses this challenge. Through a
data-driven evidence base, it aims at identifying areas that have a particular demand and provide ample
context for experimental interventions. The underlying research question is in how far experimentation
strategies for sustainable urban development and climate mitigation can benefit from digitalisation by
enriching the political decision-making process of identifying potential urban testbeds with analysing,
processing and visualising available data. This paper describes the ANN RADAR approach and
methodology, reflects experiences from pilot application and discusses issues relevant for further research
Reviewing the Evolving Categorisation of Metropolitan Municipalities: A South African Perspective
Get PDFFrom a theoretical perspective there is limited understanding of how settlements develop, from villages to
metropolitan regions. Research reveals that this limitation is due to settlements developing differently,
ascribable to the variation in cultural, politics and topography amongst others, globally. As a result, the
United Nations found that countries have categorised and delimited their settlements according to their own
definitions. Consequently, there is limited comparable knowledge on how settlements develop or how they
are categorised, from an empirical perspective. This paper seeks to unpack how administrative regions were
delineated in South Africa (a member of the United Nations) and provides empirical insight into the criteria
used in South Africa to categorised metropolitan region (post 1994). The research utilised both qualitative
and quantitative data to unpack the Section 2 criteria as prescribed in the Municipal Structures Act, as
employed by the Municipal Demarcation Act (MDB). The study found that although the Act has many
theoretical sound concepts, the application of these concepts is not easy and this has resulted in many
different forms of metropolitan regions in South Africa. This questions the ease with which the criteria
could be manipulated and unmasks the challenges the country has experiences in the delimitation of
administrative regions. Lessons learnt contribute to the broader understanding of how administrative regions
can be re-categoris ed and policy mishaps be avoided
Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis of Urban Planning Methods towards Resilient Open Urban Spaces
Get PDFCities are dynamic systems that need to plan for development with resilience, while facing an increasing set
of multidimensional challenges and emerging operating trends (e.g. Smart Cities) (Schmitt, 2015). In the
framework of new Urban Strategies (Digital Europe Program, 2021-2027; Green Deal, 2019), local
authorities play a key role in making the right decisions for covering current and future needs.
Public/outdoor urban spaces are vital parts of cities as they define citizens’ quality of life and the ability of
cities to respond to urban challenges. In this context, this research aims to support the decision-making
process for shaping, designing and managing public/outdoor urban spaces by using measurable and
multicriteria indicators to evaluate alternative climate-sensitive design and regeneration plans of urban areas
within risk and uncertainty.
Emphasis is placed on both supply and demand for outdoor urban areas. Demand is studied by disaggregate
analysis for identifying citizens’ needs through questionnaire survey. Supply side is placed at the center of
the research by developing a multiple-criteria assessment methodology of urban planning methods. The main
evaluation criteria involve the bioclimatic impact of the studied methods, the air pollution detected in
microclimate as well as financial cost for their implementation and operation.
In particular, questionnaires’ results revealed that citizens prefer open spaces as they provide a feeling of
freedom and the chance to be closer to nature. Based on these, citizens visit open spaces with green areas,
incoorporating nature based solutions, as well as places that support walkability and green mobility. In
addition, simulation and cost assessment results regarding the studied methods showed the planning
solutions involving medium size plants and greenery are low cost interventions, creating favorable
microclimate conditions and leading to medium CO2 concentration.
The benefit of the current research is in the innovative, interdisciplinary and holistic approach of a complex
real-word problem combining different research areas, such as environmental science, bioclimatic urban
planning and decision-making process. The multiple-criteria analysis of urban plans leads to a model of the
decision-making process on open urban spaces to enhance citizens’ quality of life and to ensure urban
resilience as well as cities’ operational and sustainable future
The Transport Challenges in one of the Most Beautiful Micro Regions of Hungary
Get PDFThe Szigetköz is one of the most beautiful areas in Hungary, which is located in Western Transdanubia.
However, in recent years more and more people have moved out of the region, mainly from the City of Győr,
which due to their traffic has increased significantly. All this is the result of Győr's growing industry and
economy, which has had a major impact on the growth of real estate prices. Therefore besides with the
people of higher income also the people with lower income has been settled in one of the settlements of the
Szigetköz. However, in the typical way of suburbanisation, people living in the area still go to work and
study in the city, so there are serious congestions, especially in the morning and afternoon rush hours. These
congestions not only affect the city of Győr, but can already be felt in several settlements of the Szigetköz.
Therefore, in my study I present how the traffic of the Szigetköz has increased in recent years, how its green
space has changed, and what transport-related development is planned in each settlement. At the end of the
study, I suggest what what kind of development could be used to make liveable the traffic of the area
Long-range, Seamless Traffic Density Monitoring using Fibre Optic Acoustic Sensing
Get PDFAccurate real-time traffic sensing is of key importance, especially in the urban environment to be able to
optimise traffic flow by intelligent traffic systems (ITS). Often the high density of traffic sensors, needed to
achieve an accurate real-time monitoring of important arterial roads, is difficult to implement due to
technical contraints or because of high installation cost. Furthermore, existing traffic sensing technology uses
sensors that are only able to measure traffic flow on a cross-section of the road where they are installed
(typically on a junction), giving no information on the situation in between. An alternative "seamless"
measuring technology, is to use floating car data, with Google Maps being the most prominant example. This
technology allows to derive traffic information over wide road sections, however it is unable to deliver real-
time information, and it relies on the “cooperation” of the data providers (the fleet owner or the mobile
phone users). Fiber optic acoustic sensing (FOAS) is a new alternative technology that allows a seamless,
real-time monitoring of the road traffic situation over large distances of up to 50 km using the existing
telecom fiber optic cable infrastructure.
In our previous work we presented an algorithm and results for traffic flow and average speed computation
from FOAS raw data at a specific location along a highway and compared it to reference traffic data [1],[2].
In this paper we demonstrate the potential of the seamless nature of the technique by evaluating the traffic
density over a length of 25 km of the monitored highway for different days and times of the day
Pathways to Effective Public Participation for Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Development: Experiences of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project
Get PDFWorld cities, particularly in the global south, have been experiencing rapid urbanisation. Seemingly, rapid
and high urbanisation levels that have been experienced are forcing governments at all levels to plan and
implement transport infrastructure that meet the ever incerasing travel demand. Coincidentally, sustainability
discourses have been gaining momentum in the past few decades. At the heart of the quest to develop and
manage sustainable and inclusive transport infrastructure is the adherence and promotion of public
participation throughout the project life cycle. If the effectiveness of public participation is not monitored,
such processes are perceived to be limited to simply informing the public or manipulation of the public and
controlling of planning outcomes by authorities. Consequently, this paper explores the different types of
public participation experienced during the conceptualisation, planning, implementation and management of
the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP). The work adopted a qualitative research approach
wherein an exploratory reseach design was applied in the GIFP case study in South Africa. We sought to
get insights into the extent and scope of engagement of stakeholders throughout the GFIP project lifecycle.
Research findings reveal that the public outcry over the GFIP electronic payment tolling (e-tolling) resulted
in defiance of the payments. The e-toll debate in Gauteng has caused widespread criticism and this strong
response to the method of road levy rests on the perception that decision makers undertook insufficient
public participation. Besides the statutory public participation requirements executed in terms of the
applicable by-law, public engagements were perceived to have not been effective, yet the user-pay scheme
makes the user or public an important component of the project. Future studies are necessary for assessing
the public participation from conceptualisation, not after the implementation of plans. This study reviews a
project already implemented and it might be necessary to analyse a project before implementation so that
processes involved are analysed during the real-life cycle. The public participation process must be
interrogated before project commencement and future research is necessary
The Effect of Digital Media in Reviving Urban Public Spaces
Get PDFUrban public spaces have always been valued by city residents and experts. Pioneers and critics have
managed to develop several evaluation parameters that indicate space efficiency and success.
Unfortunately, a new social trend is emerging, pushing the public towards virtual life. People's over reliance
on media is unprecedented. Public spaces' importance is decreasing, they are becoming more deserted than
ever. Urbanisation has pushed this phenomenon to its extreme. However, what is regarded as a massive
defeat and a huge promoter of public space abandonment, can be interpreted differently. Digital media can
be utilised in public domain revitalisation.
The study focuses on public space assessment, using nine qualities retrieved from the literature review,
followed by a proposal of prospects for reviving the common realm using media tools. This was accredited
by the case study of a neighborhood park in Smouha, Alexandria. A questionnaire was used in order to
determine the effect of several media interventions' suggestions on qualities of success of the park, and how
far they can reestablish the lost spaces. This research aims to reach a clear conclusion about the effect of
media use in public involvement and on space qualities to reach specific recommendations for public space
improvement