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Climate Change and Green and Blue Infrastructure
Full text linkThe living environment faces challenges and risks due to the consequences of globalisation. Climate change and its crisis set a complex scenario, leading us to rethink about planning solutions and how to adapt our living spaces. In order to mitigate current social and environmental challenges, cities play an essential role and have big potential to promote a different (and better) scenario. Often, denser cities are the focus of such climate adaptation, but what about smaller cities and rural areas? How does globalisation affect these places? This paper intends to build analysis from literature about the influences of globalisation on the current living environment, how public spaces in small cities could potentially be adapted to mitigate climate change challenges, and how Green and Blue Infrastructure (as a strategy and scalable method of adaptation) could help cities (local and regional level) to promote liveability for more than humans in the future. Furthermore, two different scenarios are presented and analysed in order to develop a reflection on the consequences of globalisation in Jaboticabal (Brasil) and a public space project in Horn (Austria) as examples of how public spaces in smaller cities could be adapted in order to tackle socio-ecological aspects
Territorial and Economic Evolution of Retail in Flanders: Post-Pandemic Suburbanisation and Dispersion?
Full text linkIn this study, we study a short period (2009-2023) where detailed and (more or less) consistent data are available for publicly accessible functions.
“Locatus” database data for Flanders are made available from 2009 until the end of 2023. Initial analyses show that not all data are kept for the full period, so we need to make the right selection and correction first. In consultation with the members of the working group, a conversion table was made between the Locatus branches and the categories from the IHB decree
In the spatial analysis, we compare the datasets with the historical version of land use plans from 2009, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022. For the combination with other functions, we will use the building block typology from ‘Segmentation VI’ (Zaman, De Mulder & Pennincx, 2022) in addition to the land use map. Following area typologies are screened for their usefulness in function of this study: Urban centers, ribbon development, dispersed development, Urbanised, peripheral, rural, Land use plan categories, Mobility score (public transport, walking cycling) of retail locations.
Based on the findings and critical success factors, an analysis of planning permits (Socio-economic/ environmental permit for retail) will be carried out in the final phase.
The urban development policy stems from the observation that certain functions move from the core to the periphery. The current behaviour of network densification could be at the root of the sprawl of activities. The network dweller, or polycentric urbanite, (Grünfeld, 2010) uses a ‘pallet of places’ in everyday life. At every moment of the day and for every activity, the network dweller seeks maximum gain according to the goals of the moment. Self-interest and comfort is central. He is multi-connected and has complete freedom to shape his choices. Not surprisingly, this freedom is strongly linked to the mobility options available today. The reasons to go out somewhere, go shopping, or walk school,... are based less and less on proximity than on other characteristics such as where friends live, the quality of the offer, ‘something new’, on the way to school or work,... Even the choices of place of residence are less definitive than before. The polycentric urbanite lives in a network of connected cores and places. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the widespread use of e-commerce comes on top of this: ordering and paying online, delivered a few days or even hours later, at home or at work. Within this context, we collectively want the centers of our cities and towns to remain vibrant, to have ‘something to do’. The general trends towards “pleasant”, “fast”, “on the way from A to B”, “digital”,.... often play to the disadvantage of the urban center, because it is easier (and cheaper) to offer this in places that are less complex and easier to control. Within this context, we collectively want the cores of our cities and towns to remain vibrant, to be dynamic and lived in; but there is little well-documented knowledge. While the impact of peripheral developments on the core has been widely depicted, there is little visibility on the opportunities to avoid the negative impact ‘ex ante’.
The behaviour of network urbanisation per se does not seem to be a sufficient explanation of the declining attractiveness of town centers and high streets. Rather, the polycentric urbanist uses in a non-traditional way the opportunities offered by the distribution of activities in the polycentric network, the nebulous city, Città Diffusa (Francesco Indovina), carpet metropolis (W-J Neutelings) the horizontal metropolis (Secchi & Viganò), or the Zwisschenstadt (Thomas Sieverts). To explain the distribution of publicly accessible functions outside the cores, we look more closely at the forces behind it
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Spatial Development Policies in Promoting Spatial Justice and Integration in Johannesburg
Full text linkThis paper investigates the effectiveness of spatial development policies in addressing spatial inequalities in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), a city marked by historical exclusion and segregation. Despite efforts through Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs) to promote spatial justice and integration, significant disparities still persist, particularly for marginalised communities who continue to face barriers to essential resources such as housing, transport, and public services. By analysing the evolution and implementation of these policies, the research revealed that while they aimed to rectify historical injustices, their impact remains uneven. The study contextualised spatial justice within broader social and economic transformations, examining how urban policies interact with power dynamics and resource distribution to affect the residents’ daily lives. The findings underscored ongoing challenges related to urban inclusion and exclusion, highlighting the disconnect between policy objectives and real-world outcomes. The paper advocates for transformative approaches that prioritise participatory governance and equitable resource distribution as critical components of sustainable urban planning. Ultimately, this research enhances the understanding of spatial justice complexities and contributes to discussions on fostering more integrated and just urban environments in cities facing similar spatial challenges
The Arnstein Gap: Twenty Years On, What has Changed?
Full text linkAt REAL CORP 2006 authors Bailey and Grossardt introduced the Arnstein Gap. Pioneering the use of Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation (1969) as a direct gauge, they measured the perception of two key levels of public involvement – the experienced and the desired – using anonymous real-time polling in planning at professional forums and open public meetings in the U.S. Since beginning this protocol in 1999, Bailey and Grossardt had already amassed a database spanning numerous meetings from which they adduced four principles of public involvement. By aggregating these data and mapping the difference between the two measurements, they illustrate a predictable difference between experiences and expectations for specific groups, as well as between groups such as planners and citizens. Beacuse this difference is measured directly using Arnstein’s ladder this is defined as the Arnstein Gap. In the following years, including at subsequent REAL CORP conference (2007) as well as in various journals (e.g. Bailey and Grossardt 2010, Bailey et al 2011, Bailey and Grossardt 2015), the authors continued building the Arnstein database and conducting measurements in a number of US states as well as internationally in countries ranging from Japan, Singapore and New Zealand, to Romania, and Costa Rica and Colombia. Since 2005 other researchers have adopted this framework and applied it during their work, adding to the knowledge base (e.g. Wood 2015, Weymouth and Hartz-Karp 2019, Weymouth et al. 2020).
This article summarizes this work across the temporaral perspective of twenty years and a strongly international geographical range, spanning more than twenty-five countries where such measurements have been conducted. This review in combination with extensive raw stakeholder data obtained by the authors at numerous planning forums, shows that the key Arnstein Gap measurement remains remarkably consistent across time, and that although there are variations in the baseline perceptions of public involvement, depending on local planning experiences, methods, and outcomes and leading to variations in the documented magnitude of the Arnstein Gap from almost four rungs at maximum (Romania, Colombia) to less than two rungs at minumum (Vienna), the desired level of “partnership or level six on the Ladder, is remarkably consistent. These easily-obtainable data present significant implications for planning professionals in both the theory and practice of urban planning. For example, professional assumptions about citizen expectations and perceptions of public involvement may not be shared by the citizens, and that effective planning in the face of a large documented Arnstein Gap ( > 3 rungs) presents different challenges and requires a different set of methodologies and practices than in cases where the measured Gap is smaller
A Participatory Planning Framework using Urban Digital Twins Supporting the Co-Creation of Flexible, Positive Energy Districts
Full text linkThe urban socio-ecological transformation requires pathways for an urban energy transition, including the establishment of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). Technical solutions and simulation tools for urban energy systems are needed for the planning, management and implementation of PEDs. In addition, the involvement of all societal stakeholders is needed to achieve the EU's ambitious target of 100 PEDs by 2025. To this end, innovative research, information and communication strategies must be developed.The transnational funded research project DigiTwins4PEDs focuses on developing an Urban Digital Twin as a dynamic digital representation of urban energy systems using advanced modelling tools. The framework facilitates the integrated energy demand-supply analysis at district scale. It enables the construction and analysis of future development scenarios to simulate the performance of PEDs.It supportsinformed decision-making by citizens and urban administration for a sustainable urban energy transition. The transnational project applies innovative methods and develops implementation strategies supported by a participatory process involving key stakeholders and citizens in co-design, co-creation and co-learning stages of research. Through the framework of living labs in four different case studies, citizens are continuously engaged throughout the project so that citizen-driven actions towards Positive Energy Districts can be considered and implemented more efficiently. New tools and methods are developed and adapted using Urban Digital Twins based on the CityGML data format to enhance public participation in advancing clean energy transition. These toolsenable citizens to actively engage in shaping the future energy transition of their communities and thus supporting informed decision-making.The developed and implemented urban digital twin framework is tested in different urban case study areas (Vienna, Stuttgart, Rotterdam, Wroclaw)within an innovative public participatory process to address the multifaceted aspects crucial for establishing PEDs together with the citizens.
This paper discusses the concept and first prototype of the developedparticipatory planning framework, a shared urban data and modelling scheme,utilizing a digital twin, as well as itsimplementation.It will show how the developed frameworkenables the simulation of urban energy systems with integrated local socio-economic and demographic parameters to identify and visualise current and future energy demand, renewable potential and different energy flexibility strategies in a district. It will discuss how the developed framework can be integrated/combined with other citizens’ engagement tools, focussing on the ones used in the case study sites. Furthermore, we draw conclusions on how this framework can be used to support co-design, co-creation and co-learning of community-driven solutions for energy transformation
Circular Economy Concepts: A Smart Solution for Communities in European Towns
Full text linkThe paper debates the concept of circular economy in cities through introduction of circular communities composed by materials providers, developers, producers, services, distributors and consumers which all must adopt a holistic and collaborative approach. Therefore, circular development necessitates the socio-ecological transformation of our urban systems. It requires that wasted resources are looped, the ecological regenerative capacity and adaptive capacity of urban systems developed. Therefore, spatial planning potentially has a crucial role to play in the delivery of circular development. The challenge is to integrate a circularity-based approaches into spatial planning practice, and vice versa, and to go beyond the search for temporary solutions, which in spatial terms means temporary spaces for circular experimentation, and to lay the foundations for circular spatial planning thinking and action
Spatial Planning on Electricity – What smart meter data can tell us about spatial structures
Full text linkSpatial planning approaches such as densification, the 15-minute city, or net-zero initiatives increasingly promote and necessitate mixed-use land allocations. Traditionally, land use was segmented into distinct categories such as residential, industrial, commercial, or transportation. This zoning-based approach provided clear guidance on expected spatial functions and human activities within designated areas. However, as mixed-use developments become more prevalent, the conventional distinction between living, working, and other activities becomes increasingly blurred. Consequently, traditional zoning regulations use more and more mixed-use zoning to regulate spatial impacts. But the knowledge of spatial impact does not fit the need for coordination and regulation. The dynamics of urban life require planning instruments that go beyond static land-use maps and embrace real-time and usage-based data to inform spatial policies.
To address this challenge, planning authorities require an empirical foundation that captures real-world spatial usage and interactions. Conventional spatial data from federal or state topographic offices primarily describe physical land features but lack insights into actual usage patterns. This gap is increasingly critical as mixed-use developments grow in scale and complexity. The key challenge is no longer defining land use but understanding how space is utilized in real-time to inform better regulatory measures. Additionally, understanding peak hours of electricity consumption can provide indirect yet valuable insights into mobility patterns, working behaviors, and residential activity shifts.
Smart meter data offers a novel and dynamic source of information to bridge this gap. As Engelke (2017) states, "Not only more accurate and up-to-date geodata is available for planning, but also unprecedented knowledge about the actual use of space." By capturing detailed electricity consumption at the household level, smart meters provide indirect but valuable insights into human presence, activity patterns, and the intensity of land use. The mandatory rollout of smart meters presents an unprecedented opportunity to integrate high-resolution temporal data into spatial planning. The EU has decided in 2009 to implement smart meter in all member states, and e.g. Germany decided obligatory smart meters in all households by 2023. Switzerland intends to cover 80% of Swiss households by 2027.
Aggregated smart meter data at neighborhood or district levels allows planners to assess deviations between planned and actual land use, thus informing evidence-based policy adjustments and regulatory interventions. This integration has the potential to refine urban planning strategies, providing a data-driven approach to analyze urban vitality, the success of mixed-use developments, and urban energy efficiency.
Moreover, leveraging smart meter data can help policymakers refine zoning laws and introduce dynamic zoning approaches that adapt to real-time conditions. Instead of relying solely on traditional land-use maps, urban planners can create policies based on actual demand, energy efficiency, and mobility behaviors. For example, if a neighborhood exhibits a sharp increase in electricity consumption during typical work hours, it may indicate the presence of informal office spaces or remote work trends that challenge conventional zoning assumptions. By using smart meter data to validate and adjust planning regulations, cities can enhance the efficiency of land use, reduce urban sprawl, and support more sustainable forms of development.
This paper explores the potential of smart meter data for spatial planning, identifying its strengths, limitations, and future research needs. Using open data from the Swiss Lucerne region as a case study, the paper investigates how temporal spatial structures can be derived from electricity consumption data. The objective is not merely to analyze a specific case but to examine the broader applicability of such data in addressing spatial planning challenges. Furthermore, this research contributes to the debate on how digitalization and real-time data streams can enhance planning effectiveness, ensuring that cities remain adaptable and resilient in the face of growing urbanization and climate challenges
Innovation in Informal Settlement Upgrading: A Case of Johannesburg
Full text linkGlobally, rapid movement from one state to another, mostly from under-developed areas to developed areas takes place. When this movement happen, there is a need for provision of accommodation. Due to lack of proper housing affordability and socio-economic inequalities lead to formation of informal settlements. In Johannesburg there is an increase of informal settlements across the city and now some of these informal settlements developments emerge close to the Central Business District (CBD). Accordingly, the increasing of these settlements create challenges for urban development and service delivery. Traditional approaches to informal settlement upgrading have often fallen short in addressing the complex and dynamic needs of residents. The aim of the study is to explore innovative strategies and technologies being implemented to improve living conditions in Johannesburg’s informal settlements, focusing on infrastructure development, housing solutions, and community participation. A case study research approach is deployed to examine key upgrading initiatives, including in-situ upgrades, smart infrastructure, and participatory planning approaches. Consequently, assesses the effectiveness of these interventions in enhancing access to basic services, and promoting social inclusion. Technological innovations stategies have demontrated the ability to improve housing quality and urban resilience, challenges such as land tenure security, policy constraints, and resource limitations persist. The findings of the study aim to provide insights into the evolving landscape of informal settlement upgrading in Johannesburg, offering recommendations for scalable and sustainable solutions that can be replicated in other urban contexts
Retrofitting the Future: Sustainable Development Through Inclusive Community Initiatives in East Germany’s Mitteldeutsches Revier Region
Full text linkThis paper examines community-led innovation efforts in the Mitteldeutsches Revier, East Germany’s coal-producing region undergoing a seismic transition. These initiatives are reshaping the local innovation system, in performing some of the functions of the traditional pillars of industry, government, and academia amid limited resources. The case studies we look at here rely on trial-and-error methods and local knowledge to act as transfer intermediaries between their communities and external actors. They retrofit old factories, repurpose historical landmarks, and redistribute funds from the coal industry to participatory planning, environmental rehabilitation, and other forward-looking projects. Multifaceted, inclusive collaborations involving different demographic groups, craftspeople, and scientists focus on talent retention, digitalization, and sustainability, addressing broader challenges linked to economic transition. But despite their creativity and resilience, these initiatives encounter persistent barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, unstable funding, participant disengagement or distrust, and overburdened leaders who struggle to meet their goals within institutional frameworks. Through interviews with leaders of selected initiatives, this study explores their obstacles, motivations, existing resources, and learning processes. It focuses on how they transform knowledge into actionable strategies and develop the capability to innovate despite persistent local deficiencies and bureaucracy. Beyond technical expertise, these organizations rely heavily on collaborative decision-making and social connectedness, which propel inclusivity and a shared sense of purpose. These elements, we argue, are essential for achieving sustainable local development in resource-constrained areas. Our analysis points especially to the importance of socialization, as we found the nurturing of strong networks, trust, and a collaborative spirit across stakeholder groups to be a core capability to absorb, apply, and transfer knowledge within a local innovation system
The City as Resilient Organism: the Sustainability Route of Social Innovations and Adaptive Structures for Quality of Life and Social Justice
Full text linkThis paper invites you on a sociological journey, conceptualizing cities as resilient organisms and exploring how social innovation and adaptive structures can improve quality of life and promote social justice. Based on the metaphor of the “resilient organism”, cities are seen as complex, dynamic systems that must constantly adapt to new challenges. But what makes cities resilient and sustainable? How can they improve the quality of life of their residents and promote social justice? In the light of sociological theories by Luhmann, Lefebvre and Latour, a multi-layered picture of urban resilience emerges. It, the sustainable urban reslience, appears as an emergent property that arises from the interplay of social, ecological, economic and technical factors. Particular attention is paid to social innovations and adaptive structures as the key to renewal and adaptability. Resilience is not a value-neutral concept, but is closely linked to issues of power, participation and justice. The example of medium-sized cities is used to illustrate how a manageable size, strong networks and civic engagement can strengthen resilience. The journey culminates in a plea for resilience research and practice that incorporates sociological perspectives and breaks new ground including interdisciplinary work. The conclusion is that resilience must be measured by whether it enables all city dwellers to lead a good life. It requires adaptive, heterarchic governance, experiments, unusual alliances and a vision of the city as a learning, constantly renewing organism