Research

16 pages, 1146 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Inequalities and Injustices of Urban Green Regeneration: Applying the Conflict Analysis Perspective

by Annegret Haase

Land 2024, 13(3), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030296 - 27 Feb 2024

Viewed by 794

Green regeneration has become one of the most powerful strategies for improving the quality of life in cities, supporting climate change adaptation, and reducing the carbon footprints of cities. While it is the ambition of most green regeneration projects to create benefits for [...] Read more.

Green regeneration has become one of the most powerful strategies for improving the quality of life in cities, supporting climate change adaptation, and reducing the carbon footprints of cities. While it is the ambition of most green regeneration projects to create benefits for residents and users, reality shows that green regeneration also reinforces existing or even shapes new ‘green inequalities’. These can result from green gentrification and displacement, procedural injustices, and exclusion from participation or barriers to the access and use of newly created urban green spaces. Set against this background, the paper uses a conflict analysis perspective to look at the inequalities and injustices that evolve within the context of green regeneration. Applying social conflict theory, it seeks to understand (1) why and how green regeneration may lead to inequality and justice conflicts and (2) how conflict analysis helps to understand the nature and implications of green regeneration conflicts in more depth. As for its empirical foundation, the paper reanalyses empirical evidence that was examined in earlier projects on a residential area in the city of Leipzig, Germany. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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18 pages, 4779 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Relations between the Theatre and Its Surroundings: An Assessment Protocol on the Example of Warsaw (Poland)

by Agnieszka Starzyk, Kinga Rybak-Niedziółka, Janusz Marchwiński, Ewa Rykała and Elena Lucchi

Land 2023, 12(6), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061225 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1560

Abstract

Theater as a place, but also as a field of human and team activity involving the creation of performances performed in the presence of the viewer, has a centuries-old history. This study aims at examining the links between theatre architecture/space and public spaces, [...] Read more.

Theater as a place, but also as a field of human and team activity involving the creation of performances performed in the presence of the viewer, has a centuries-old history. This study aims at examining the links between theatre architecture/space and public spaces, trying to answer to what extent these objects have become attractors in its space and how they affect the activity of cultural and social life. The subjects of the study are Warsaw theatres, both historical and contemporary, in the context of their impact on the surrounding public spaces. A specific methodology was elaborated to evaluate potential impacts. According to the spatial relations between the theatre and its surroundings, they are clustered in the following typologies: emanation, isolation, and interference theatre. The research methods applied for defining and solving the scientific problem are: (i) critical analysis, (ii) comparative analysis, (iii) observation without intervention, and (iv) intuitive method based on the author’s personal experience. The conclusions are based on empirical research, with particular emphasis on the research material obtained by field research. The results of the research allow one to draw conclusions regarding the influence of theatrical places on public spaces in the city structure. The mission of the theater is changed, activating events and building social bonds. Theater space and its surroundings are shaped in accordance with these new standards and social expectations to be transformed into a public space of a cultural nature. Thus, presently, urban theatrical space is a site for spectacle, with a social and cultural mission. Theater space and its surroundings should be shaped in accordance with changing standards and social expectations, and it should be a public space of a cultural nature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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17 pages, 574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Public Spaces, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Connecting Disabled Entrepreneurs to Urban Spaces

by Helen Lawton Smith

Land 2023, 12(4), 873; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040873 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1559

Abstract

In the UK and in many other countries, the lack of support for disabled entrepreneurs is an economic, cultural, and societal issue. This is because while disabled entrepreneurs belong to and contribute to public spaces, there are often barriers to their full engagement [...] Read more.

In the UK and in many other countries, the lack of support for disabled entrepreneurs is an economic, cultural, and societal issue. This is because while disabled entrepreneurs belong to and contribute to public spaces, there are often barriers to their full engagement in the local economy. Where interaction is well established, such entrepreneurs add to the cultural richness of places, to personal and societal well-being and economically by wealth creation. The goal of the study is to identify what can be done to overcome the marginalisation of disabled entrepreneurs, which leads to increased local equality of opportunity, thereby adding to the diversity of local economies and, thus, to a more inclusive society. However, as the evidence from this study of the geography of specialised networks which support disabled entrepreneurs in the UK shows, the entrepreneurial capacity of public spaces (inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems) for disabled entrepreneurs is better in some places and entirely absent in others. It is this local dimension that has been missing in other studies of disabled entrepreneurs. By focusing on the formal networks that have been established to support disabled entrepreneurs rather than the entrepreneurs themselves, the particular knowledge gap that this paper addresses is the importance of the networks in making those connections and bringing about systemic change in urban spaces. They do this in three ways. They provide access to resources that disabled entrepreneurs need to start and grow a business; in turn, they need to engage with other local public and private sector organisations in order to sustain their own activities, and by their role as advocates on behalf of their members through their leadership, they increase the visibility of disabled entrepreneurs within urban spaces. The contribution to academic literature is to explore the interconnection between the agency of particular organisations to improve inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and overcome embedded exclusion within urban spaces. Examples from the UK and from the USA provide empirical insights into what can be done. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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12 pages, 2879 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hotel Rooftops as a Space for Consumption in Historic Centres: The Case Study of Palma (Spain)

by Pere Mercadé-Melé, Fernando Almeida-García, Aitor Martinez-Garcia and Miquel Angel Coll-Ramis

Land 2023, 12(3), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030657 - 10 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1567

Abstract

This research analysed the transformation of hotel rooftops in the historic centre of Palma into new spaces for tourist consumption. Nowadays, tourists are looking for unique and special experiences, which has led tourist destinations to seek new attractions to offer. Rooftops are becoming [...] Read more.

This research analysed the transformation of hotel rooftops in the historic centre of Palma into new spaces for tourist consumption. Nowadays, tourists are looking for unique and special experiences, which has led tourist destinations to seek new attractions to offer. Rooftops are becoming privileged places and provide a differential experience, leading to an increase in the offer of tourist services on hotel rooftops. This study explored the change of use in hotel rooftops in historic city centres for the commercialization of tourism. In this sense, this research sheds light on the factors that influence the commodification of rooftops and the attributes that are most valued by users in Google Maps and TripAdvisor reviews of their experiences. Furthermore, the transformation of rooftops has not followed a single model of commodification, but different typologies were identified according to uses and access modalities. Finally, implications for the city’s tourism planning and management are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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17 pages, 3121 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Citizen Participation and Knowledge Support in Urban Public Energy Transition—A Quadruple Helix Perspective

by Peter Nijkamp, Karima Kourtit, Henk Scholten and Esmeralda Willemsen

Land 2023, 12(2), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020395 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2353

Abstract

Climate change, energy transition needs and the current energy crisis have prompted cities to implement far-reaching changes in public energy supply. The present paper seeks to map out the conditions for sustainable energy provision and use, with a particular view to the role [...] Read more.

Climate change, energy transition needs and the current energy crisis have prompted cities to implement far-reaching changes in public energy supply. The present paper seeks to map out the conditions for sustainable energy provision and use, with a particular view to the role of citizens in a quadruple helix context. Citizen participation is often seen as a sine qua non for a successful local or district energy policy in an urban area but needs due scientific and digital support based on evidence-based knowledge (using proper user-oriented techniques such as Q-analysis). The paper sets out to explore the citizen engagement and knowledge base for drastic energy transitions in the city based on the newly developed “diabolo” model, in which in particular digital tools (e.g., dashboards, digital twins) are proposed as useful tools for the interface between citizens and municipal policy. The approach adopted in this paper is empirically illustrated for local energy policy in the city of Rotterdam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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12 pages, 1089 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Waste Management and Territorial Impact in the Canary Islands

by Juan C. Santamarta, Luka Miklin, Cynthia Olivia Gomes-Nadal, Joselin S. Rodríguez-Alcántara, Jesica Rodríguez-Martín and Noelia Cruz-Pérez

Land 2023, 12(1), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12010212 - 09 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2549

Abstract

Insularity presents several challenges in the development of Europe’s outermost regions. In the case of the Canary Islands, one of these challenges is waste management, which faces a series of difficulties inherent to territorial disparities, including land use and availability, a high percentage [...] Read more.

Insularity presents several challenges in the development of Europe’s outermost regions. In the case of the Canary Islands, one of these challenges is waste management, which faces a series of difficulties inherent to territorial disparities, including land use and availability, a high percentage of protection, a large number of annual tourists and a high level of product imports. The archipelago is made up of eight islands, and waste management is significantly different in the two capitals, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and the rest of the smaller islands. European targets for adequate waste management have not been achieved in those areas. As an example, only 16% of the collected waste is recycled currently, mainly due to a lack of infrastructure and a lack of agility on the part of the corresponding institutions. There is also pressure exerted on this sector by tourism, which accounts for approximately 40% of employment in two of the islands. As a general conclusion, valorized waste management is proposed, where the use of by-products, such as biogas or compost is implemented in sectors where they can be used, i.e., as electricity, potentially of 19 GWh/year, and agricultural supply, thus promoting recycling and the circular economy in the Canary Islands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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19 pages, 309 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Testing and Enhancing the 8R Framework of Responsible Land Management with Documented Strategies and Effects of Land Reclamation Projects in Indonesia

by Walter Timo de Vries and Iwan Rudiarto

Land 2023, 12(1), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12010208 - 09 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1414

Abstract

Whereas most contemporary frameworks evaluating land management aspects focus on institutional settings at a national level, the 8R framework of responsible land management aims at evaluating individual land management projects or interventions. This 8R framework is, however, still under development and needs testing, [...] Read more.

Whereas most contemporary frameworks evaluating land management aspects focus on institutional settings at a national level, the 8R framework of responsible land management aims at evaluating individual land management projects or interventions. This 8R framework is, however, still under development and needs testing, validation and further detailing, such that specific operational characteristics and internal and external effects can be included in the evaluation. This article addresses this need by demonstrating how the 8R framework could improve when knowing both the operational details and external effects of a land management intervention. By reviewing the documented implementation strategies and effects of eight different types of land reclamation cases in Indonesia, the article derives adaptations and extensions of the 8R framework assessment, such that the framework can better detect whether a specific project is sufficiently responsible in any of the 8R aspects. The induction shows that the number of types of systematic prompts needs to be extended and further detailed if it aims to capture and detect specific problems of structures, processes and impacts. Zooming in to documented reclamation projects in Indonesia shows that there are various types of such projects, which are oftentimes contested, yet each requires integrated land management and development strategies. Furthermore, they draw on dissimilar, mostly contextual, justifications and legal frameworks, which makes it difficult to compare the generic relevancy and sustainability of reclamation as a land management intervention tool. Nevertheless, testing the 8R framework for reclamation cases in Indonesia can improve its methodology and extent or specify the use of the systematic prompts designed to qualify and quantify the respective aspects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

18 pages, 1570 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Digital Technologies and Public Policies Applied to Green Cities

by Maria José Sousa

Land 2022, 11(11), 2097; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11112097 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1472

Abstract

Digital technologies and public policies are fundamental for cities in defining their urban greening strategies, and the main goal of this research is to identify the applied digital technologies and the public policy dimensions implemented at the national level by the member states [...] Read more.

Digital technologies and public policies are fundamental for cities in defining their urban greening strategies, and the main goal of this research is to identify the applied digital technologies and the public policy dimensions implemented at the national level by the member states to promote urban greening in the literature and official documents. The methodology used is a systematic literature review (based on international studies), a Delphi study with experts, and a policy analysis, aiming to understand how the Portuguese government has implemented policies and identify the main technologies applied to urban greening. The main findings regard (i) the focus on the interaction between actors in policymaking; (ii) interpretive approaches used to examine the application of technologies in urban greening problems; and (iii) how policies reflect the social construction of ‘problems’. The research focuses on how policy analysis provides a powerful tool that can be used to understand the technologies, actions, interests, and political contexts underpinning policy decisions. The main lessons learned from this research are that urban greening can benefit urban centers together with the non-urban environment on which they have a functional impact, such as agricultural hinterland areas, forest spaces around the cities, and the rural–urban interfaces. Initiatives for urban greening are designed to enhance cross-border coordination, complementarities, flexibility, productivity, and access to the main international markets and territories. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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25 pages, 6059 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Systematic Review of a City in a City: An Aerotropolitan Perspective

by Emeka Austin Ndaguba, Jua Cilliers and Sumita Ghosh

Land 2022, 11(9), 1499; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091499 - 07 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2475

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to demystify literature on aerotropolis using systematic review. Literature on aerial life and aeronautical studies suggests that airports are frequently cited outside urban centres. However, recent events surrounding the growth of aerotropolis contradicts existing realities. In fact, [...] Read more.

The purpose of this research is to demystify literature on aerotropolis using systematic review. Literature on aerial life and aeronautical studies suggests that airports are frequently cited outside urban centres. However, recent events surrounding the growth of aerotropolis contradicts existing realities. In fact, the pull and push factors constitute the life cycle of aerotropolis in urban enclaves. In generating data for this study, Dimensions, an artificial intelligence databank, was adopted, and a hybrid method which combines both VOSviewer and Citespace software was the preferred analytical tool for analysis. Key findings were imperative in establishing certain parameters regarding aerial life, including but not limited to knowledge about the technologies adopted, quality of stakeholders, in addition to existing relationships of urban space, urbanisation, and geography. Furthermore, two recurrent themes were identified, such as the development in ICT, and smart technologies, which corresponds with the multiple potentials that exist for developing sustainable airports, such as eco-innovation, greenovation, and social innovation. This study contributes to the concept of transit-bound tourism, a concept we coined to depict the role tourism can play in transit philosophy and economics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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20 pages, 597 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Fiscal Decentralization Affect Regional High-Quality Development by Changing Peoples’ Livelihood Expenditure Preferences: Provincial Evidence from China

by Dingqing Wang, Enqi Zhang and Hongwei Liao

Land 2022, 11(9), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091407 - 27 Aug 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1788

Abstract

The reform of the fiscal and taxation system is important for building a sound livelihood protection system as well as resisting the impact of uncertain events and thus promoting the quality of regional development. We explore the strengths and limitations of China’s fiscal [...] Read more.

The reform of the fiscal and taxation system is important for building a sound livelihood protection system as well as resisting the impact of uncertain events and thus promoting the quality of regional development. We explore the strengths and limitations of China’s fiscal decentralization system from the perspective of peoples’ livelihood expenditures, and provide an empirical basis for institution building for countries to withstand the shocks of uncertain events and promote high-quality regional development, using each provincial-level region in China as the research object. We find that fiscal decentralization has an inverted U-shaped relationship with regional high-quality development, and the inverted U-shaped relationship of fiscal decentralization with regional quality development is significant in the innovation, greenness, and openness dimensions. It is further found that in the process of constructing regional high-quality development, fiscal decentralization will raise the preference for healthcare expenditures, improve the modern public health system, and indirectly promote regional high-quality development, while it will lower the preference for social security employment expenditure, neglect the basic resident social security employment problem, and slow down the process of high-quality development. This paper expands the research on the correlation between fiscal decentralization, livelihood expenditure preferences, and regional development quality, and provides an important theoretical and practical basis for the improvement of the fiscal system and the improvement of social welfare levels in the post-COVID-19 era. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Spaces: Socioeconomic Challenges)

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