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Land
Special Issues
Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene
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Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Environmental and Policy Impact Assessment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 March 2024) | Viewed by 14703

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vanessa Assumma

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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Interests: environmental impact assessment; mathematical modeling; scenario building and planning
Dr. Caterina Caprioli

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Guest Editor
Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
Interests: sustainable development; participation approaches; integrated frameworks
Dr. Giulia Datola

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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Torino, Italy
Interests: resilience; dynamic models; strategic assessment
Prof. Dr. Marta Bottero

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Guest Editor
Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
Interests: sustainability; decision support systems; sustainable development; environmental impact assessment; urban planning; built environment; economic appraisal; planning evaluation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today, urban and territorial systems are affected by an increase in ambiguity and uncertainty. Design and planning choices are required to meet urban and housing standards that are different from those of the past, and to be sensitive to potential environmental impact from the urban territorial to the building scale. In this context, various international agendas and organizations solicitate both decision makers and policy makers to respond to the impact generated by human and natural actions. Sustainability must be satisfied by integrating economic development, social equity, and environmental compatibility. The intersection of the three dimensions has been enriched in recent years with goals and targets that are closely related to the growing complexity of cities. To guarantee a sustainable plan, program, and project, both traditional and emerging evaluation methods can support decision makers and policy makers in the definition of participatory and shared policies and strategies.

The goal of the Special Issue is to collect real evaluation and design experiences to support the planning processes in urban and territorial systems, aimed at achieving a more sustainable, resilient, and circular future.

On the one hand, economic and strategic evaluation techniques allow us to integrate different aspects, disciplines, and perspectives through multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. These are increasingly requested within the planning and design procedures by decision makers, public administrations, and professionals to support the resolution of complex spatial problems and offer winning solutions for a better quality of urban life.

On the other hand, the support of spatial planning and the definition of policies can be achieved using economic and environmental assessment tools, in which actors and stakeholders who directly participate in the process.

On the behalf of Drs Vanessa Assumma, Caterina Caprioli, Giulia Datola and Marta Bottero, it is a pleasure to invite you to join to submit a paper to the Special Issue of “Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene” in the Journal Land. We are pleased to invite you to send original research for our Special Issue focused on the collection of real evaluation and design experiences to support the planning processes in urban and territorial systems, aimed at achieving a more sustainable, resilient and circular future, accordingly to the journal scope.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Sustainable development goals;
  • Spatial decision support systems;
  • Urban metabolism;
  • Smart urbanism;
  • Circular economy;
  • Resilience as both outcome and process;
  • Brownfield and greenfield evaluation;
  • Ecovillages, ecodistricts and zero carbon cities;
  • Operational research;
  • Land-use/cover changes;
  • Landscape and built-up heritage;
  • Life cycle of materials;
  • Urban regeneration processes;
  • Urban and social ecology
  • Environmental impact assessment;
  • Multilevel governance and place-based approaches;
  • Co-design and participatory planning
  • Computer Science
  • Urban planning and policy-making

We look forward to receiving your contributions!

Dr. Vanessa Assumma
Dr. Caterina Caprioli
Dr. Giulia Datola
Prof. Dr. Marta Bottero
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circular economy
  • sustainable and resilient development
  • integrated frameworks
  • decision-making process
  • ecosystem services
  • land-use changes
  • environmental impact assessment procedures
  • life-cycle assessment
  • urban planning
  • cohesion policies

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 9710 KiB  
Article
Grounded in the Landscape—Climate Action, Well-Being and Public Space in a Small Town in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area
by Sofia Morgado and Jeanna de Campos Cunha
Land 2023, 12(9), 1687; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091687 - 28 Aug 2023
Viewed by 972
Abstract
Retaining their ancestral footprint, rural settlements anchored developments driven by suburbanisation and became small towns embedded in the generic metropolitan landscape in the late 20th century. In subsequent phases, they integrated the functional diversity necessary to maintain a certain autonomy, while always being [...] Read more.
Retaining their ancestral footprint, rural settlements anchored developments driven by suburbanisation and became small towns embedded in the generic metropolitan landscape in the late 20th century. In subsequent phases, they integrated the functional diversity necessary to maintain a certain autonomy, while always being rooted in a community whose bonds are densified. In the specific case of Queijas, in the municipality of Oeiras (Lisbon metropolitan area), apart from the recent identification of the historical nucleus and the maintenance of public spaces, one can infer from the Oeiras Municipal Master Plan (2022) the need for an integrated approach to urban design and planning, which is linked to the requalification of place and the community. That is how climate action, well-being and public space took priority as the leading factors in the present study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene)
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11 pages, 2938 KiB  
Article
The Value of Agricultural Areas: An Estimation Model of the Area to the Southeast of the City of Bari
by Sebastiano Carbonara, Davide Stefano, Michele Fischetti and Lucia Della Spina
Land 2023, 12(7), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071431 - 17 Jul 2023
Viewed by 909
Abstract
The role of agricultural activities in countries with mature economies suggests, on the one hand, the traditional role of producing foodstuffs and dietary fibers; on the other, it speaks to the offering of landscape, cultural, recreational, and environmental services. The member states of [...] Read more.
The role of agricultural activities in countries with mature economies suggests, on the one hand, the traditional role of producing foodstuffs and dietary fibers; on the other, it speaks to the offering of landscape, cultural, recreational, and environmental services. The member states of the European Union have for some time derogated the control of agricultural processes to EU decision-making, within an overarching vision that recalls both roles of this primary activity. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia–Ukraine military crisis have heightened the urgency to protect national agricultural production and guarantee minimum levels of agricultural provisions. In Italy, this orientation clashes with practices of unauthorized construction, favored by policies of “building amnesties”, and the pressure exercised on urban growth that, particularly in fringe areas, modifies the mercantile nature of agricultural lands. This paper examines the theme in operative terms, analyzing an urban fringe in the city of Bari. The use of multiple regression analysis, applied to the agricultural land market, evidenced how prices in these areas are clearly impacted by their potential transformation into buildable terrains, even when urban plans do not foresee this use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene)
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21 pages, 8318 KiB  
Article
A Replicable Valorisation Model for the Adaptive Reuse of Rationalist Architecture
by Isabella M. Lami, Elena Todella and Enrica Prataviera
Land 2023, 12(4), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040836 - 05 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1799
Abstract
Adaptive reuse has progressively become a useful approach for generating new values concerning abandoned or underused buildings, sites, and areas to the extent that the topic is no longer conceived and perceived merely as a “bricks-and-mortar” issue. Instead, it has a dual nature: [...] Read more.
Adaptive reuse has progressively become a useful approach for generating new values concerning abandoned or underused buildings, sites, and areas to the extent that the topic is no longer conceived and perceived merely as a “bricks-and-mortar” issue. Instead, it has a dual nature: (i) one that is technical, linked to the difficult balance between low costs and fostering sustainable building solutions, and (ii) one that is social, which refers to social equity, well-being, and quality of life. Within this context, urban and architectural transformations are among those human activities that play a key role in shaping the territory in an increasingly invasive acceleration of urbanization processes. However, it is precisely here that adaptive reuse can counteract such alterations. This paper proposes a sustainable, economically feasible, and replicable valorisation model for the evaluation of adaptive reuse possibilities of a particular historical–architectural heritage, which is vast and widespread in Italy and an important example of Rationalist architecture. Such a model incorporates flexible and easily replicable spatial implications precisely because it is specifically related to the characteristics of an open-plan structure. In doing so, it aims to redefine the valorisation model based on a constant dialogue between the project and market analysis; the replicability of project strategies for “families” of historic buildings; and the need for the project’s ability to change and adapt according to emerging requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene)
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22 pages, 15999 KiB  
Article
Filling the Gaps in Biophysical Knowledge of Urban Ecosystems: Flooding Mitigation and Stormwater Retention
by Stefano Salata
Land 2023, 12(3), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030702 - 17 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1819
Abstract
Urban flooding is one of the most recognized problems cities must tackle in the coming decades due to climate change conditions. Nevertheless, the empirical knowledge of the biophysical capacity of cities to absorb, store or retain and release water after rainfall events is [...] Read more.
Urban flooding is one of the most recognized problems cities must tackle in the coming decades due to climate change conditions. Nevertheless, the empirical knowledge of the biophysical capacity of cities to absorb, store or retain and release water after rainfall events is limited, partly due to the gaps that modeling has in terms of representing the complexity of urban systems. This limit, in turn, affects the decision-making process related to the system’s adaptation. This work aims to integrate two types of alternative spatial ecosystem modeling and see how results can be combined, evaluated and used in view of a more holistic comprehension of flooding phenomena while reaching a deeper understanding of the vulnerability to multiple types of rain events: flash floods versus annual precipitation. The results of the two modeling sessions will be analyzed and compared. They will be further used to gather a greater understanding of the biophysical complexity of Izmir’s Metropolitan City in Turkey: one of the most dynamic but climatically threatened urban areas in the Mediterranean basin. The findings confirm the extent to which empirical knowledge of the urban system is partial and uncertain, thus requiring continuous progress through ecosystem modeling to support an evolutive interpretation of biophysical performances based on trial and error. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene)
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24 pages, 3913 KiB  
Article
Provincial Inclusive Green Growth Efficiency in China: Spatial Correlation Network Investigation and Its Influence Factors
by Baitong Li, Jian Li, Chen Liu, Xinyan Yao, Jingxuan Dong and Meijun Xia
Land 2023, 12(3), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030692 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1451
Abstract
Inclusive green growth efficiency (IGGE) analysis is an effective tool for improving coordinated economic, social, and environmental development. This study incorporated the game cross-efficiency DEA to measure the IGGE of 30 provinces in China. Then, the modified spatial gravity model and social network [...] Read more.
Inclusive green growth efficiency (IGGE) analysis is an effective tool for improving coordinated economic, social, and environmental development. This study incorporated the game cross-efficiency DEA to measure the IGGE of 30 provinces in China. Then, the modified spatial gravity model and social network analysis model were applied to construct and analyze the spatial correlation network structure of the IGGE. The quadratic assignment procedure was used to mine the influencing factors that affect the formation and evolution of the spatial correlation network of the IGGE. The results are as follows. (1) During the study period, there were significant differences in the IGGE among the 31 provinces, among which the eastern provinces were higher than the central and western provinces. (2) The spatial correlation of the IGGE presented a complex and multi-threaded network structure, indicating that the IGGE has a noticeable cross-regional spillover effect. Beijing, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Guangdong played the role of the “net spillover” block. Qinghai, Guizhou, Guangxi, and the surrounding provinces played the role of the “primary beneficial”. The Yangtze delta and Pearl River Delta economic zone (primarily including Shanghai and Guangdong) acted as a “bridge” to the Yunnan–Guizhou region and the surrounding provinces. (3) The spatial adjacency, degree of openness, economic development, and environmental governance were the prominent factors influencing the formation and evolution of the IGGE spatial correlation network. This work provides an example of constructing an IGGE correlation network while considering various factors, such as the economy, population, and distance. It also could help policymakers clarify the IGGE spatial correlation pattern and the provinces’ roles and potential for IGGE synergic improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene)
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35 pages, 4105 KiB  
Article
Development of a Decision-Making Model to Support the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Revision of the Municipal Plan of Turin (Italy)
by Giorgia Sugoni, Vanessa Assumma, Marta Carla Bottero and Giulio Mondini
Land 2023, 12(3), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030609 - 03 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
This article presents a decision-making model for assessing the sustainability of urban plans and programmes to envision long-term transformation scenarios through the development of consistency matrices. The tool was tested in a real case study, which is the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the [...] Read more.
This article presents a decision-making model for assessing the sustainability of urban plans and programmes to envision long-term transformation scenarios through the development of consistency matrices. The tool was tested in a real case study, which is the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Revision of the General Municipal Plan of the City of Turin (Italy). The changes that have taken place in recent years have highlighted the need for more flexible, dynamic, and streamlined tools that can help the revision of plans and programmes, which are capable also of considering the citizen’s needs. The decision-making model provided in this paper was structured into five phases: normative framing of the environmental assessment procedures; spatial analysis by structures; consistency analysis of conformity between the objectives of the technical proposal of the preliminary draft and the superordinate and coordinated planning; monitoring of the technical proposal through the employment of key indicators; and the definition of guidelines for the General Regulatory Plan of the City of Turin. The tool presented in this work can support planners, municipal technicians, and general public administrations, both in the planning and assessment processes to design and implement sustainable policy recommendations capable of tackling the increasing complexity of urban transformations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene)
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23 pages, 7641 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Basic Public Service Levels in the Yangtze River Delta Region, China
by Tianyu Li, Yizheng Zhao and Xiang Kong
Land 2022, 11(9), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091477 - 04 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1533
Abstract
Basic public services are essential to ensure regional social equity and promote regional integrated development. As the Yangtze River Delta region (YRDR) is an example of integrated regional development in China, the integration of basic public services plays a crucial role in promoting [...] Read more.
Basic public services are essential to ensure regional social equity and promote regional integrated development. As the Yangtze River Delta region (YRDR) is an example of integrated regional development in China, the integration of basic public services plays a crucial role in promoting regions’ integrated development. However, little studies provide evidence of the characteristics and influencing factors of basic public services in the YRDR. Taking the YRDR as the study area, this paper constructed a comprehensive evaluation index system for the basic public services level (BPSL) in the YRDR from 2010 to 2020. Then, it measured and analyzed its spatio-temporal dynamic evolution characteristics using entropy-weighted TOPSIS and exploratory spatial data analysis methods, as well as analyzed the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of its influencing factors using a geographically and temporally weighted regression model. The results show that: (1) The BPSL in the YRDR generally improved during the study period. There was a huge variation within and between provinces in the BPSL. Over time, the BPSL gradually transitions from unipolar polarization to multipolar differentiation and a flattening trend. (2) Spatial differentiation of the BPSL was evident, with a decreasing gradient from east to west with an inverted U-shape distribution in the north–south direction. The overall spatial circle structure was characterized as being high in the east and low in the west, high in the center, and low in the north and south, forming a spatial distribution pattern of high-level and higher-level grades mainly in Shanghai, southern Jiangsu, and northern Zhejiang. The global spatial correlation characteristics became increasingly significant with time, while the local spatial correlation showed the trend of “spatial club convergence”. (3) Various factors influenced the spatial and temporal evolution of the BPSL, including the urbanization level, the economic development level, the industrial structure level, the degree of external openness, the government action capacity, and the regional population size, each of which had evident spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene)
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Review

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21 pages, 5305 KiB  
Review
Land Use Efficiency Assessment under Sustainable Development Goals: A Systematic Review
by Yin Ma, Minrui Zheng, Xinqi Zheng, Yi Huang, Feng Xu, Xiaoli Wang, Jiantao Liu, Yongqiang Lv and Wenchao Liu
Land 2023, 12(4), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040894 - 16 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3698
Abstract
Improvements in and the assessment of land use efficiency are crucial pillars for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study reviews 208 representative papers, oral reports, and project reports to provide a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the current status and future [...] Read more.
Improvements in and the assessment of land use efficiency are crucial pillars for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study reviews 208 representative papers, oral reports, and project reports to provide a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the current status and future trends of research on land use efficiency assessment. The findings reveal that (1) the number of papers on land use efficiency assessment is rapidly increasing, with research primarily focused on environmental science and ecology (n = 157, 75.48%). (2) Quantitative models are gaining popularity for land use efficiency assessment, with more than 46.63% of the studies adopting the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. (3) The definition and analysis perspectives of land use efficiency are diverse, but research on relative land use efficiency and comprehensive analysis perspectives accounts for a significant proportion. (4) Constructing a large and complex model that incorporates geospatial effects, big data, and computer technology is a hot topic for future research methods. On the other hand, conducting land use efficiency research on a global scale is more conducive to achieving the SDGs. (5) The core to improving land use efficiency lies in the joint implementation of multi-pronged measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Supporting Assessment and Planning Processes for a Good Anthropocene)
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