Sustainable Urban Planning Models for New Smart Cities and Effective Management of Land Take Dynamics

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Planning and Landscape Architecture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2022) | Viewed by 20093

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Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: real estate market; risk management; urban and real estate economics; real estate investments; building management; economic valuation of real estate investment projects; environmental economics; real estate appraisal; property valuation; financial and economic analysis for investment projects; econometrics
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: real estate valuation; urban planning; investment; financial analysis; algorithm analysis; valuation; real estate management; investment management; property valuation; city planning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The subprime crisis of 2007 and the health emergency of COVID-19 have highlighted the economic, social and environmental shortcomings of urban systems. The most difficult challenge of the 21st century is therefore related to our ability to carry out effective interventions on cities in order, on the one hand, to mitigate urban genetic anomalies (urban sprawl, urban sprinkling, etc.), and on the other to preclude further land consumption. In particular, the alterations of the natural balances resulting from the irreversible intervention of soil sealing are manifest and tangible: rises in temperatures, floods and landslides, droughts and fires, atmospheric and acoustic pollution, and the degradation and depletion of the soil and natural landscapes.

Since the 1972 "Stockholm Conference", the European Union has brought to the attention of the technical tables of governments the need to plan actions aimed at reducing the negative effects caused by land use focused on the maximization of productivity and related economic interests. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and the recent financial recovery instrument "NextGenerationEU" represent the current global effort developed by Member States in an attempt to improve the future of urban development and create new smart cities that are more resilient and have fewer negative impacts on the environment. It is therefore imperative to pursue the efficient management of the existing real estate assets and an adequate regulation of new building according to compensatory schemes focused on maximizing the quality and extension of the green area—also in consideration of the current relevance of the ESG criteria (Environmental, Social and Governance).

In this context, there is also the need for an appropriate assessment of the risk of investments related to the economic–financial, social, and environmental issues generated by the phenomenon of land consumption in the urban environment. Public and private subjects involved in the preparation of sustainable urban plans and projects require the use of appropriate methodological approaches that allow fir the evaluation and determination of the most significant factors in the land consumption’s reduction at all territorial scales.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. The aim is to collect innovative scientific contributions on the assessment and evaluation frameworks concerning, but not limited to: indicators and indices based systems, real estate evaluation models, geographic information systems, urban planning compensation schemes and financial operative tools that can support the decision processes that occur during public–private partnerships in the determination of the economic-financial, social and environmental risks related to land consumption reduction.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Marco Locurcio
Dr. Francesco Tajani
Dr. Debora Anelli
Guest Editors

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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.

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Keywords

  • land use policy
  • land deal
  • land market
  • land take
  • ecological indicators
  • urban policy
  • sustainable development and finance
  • decision support tools
  • risk assessment
  • real estate assessment models
  • index and indicator-based system

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 175 KiB  
Editorial
Sustainable Urban Planning Models for New Smart Cities and Effective Management of Land Take Dynamics
by Marco Locurcio, Francesco Tajani and Debora Anelli
Land 2023, 12(3), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030621 - 06 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1281
Abstract
The development and management models of land use—both natural and man-made—and infrastructures, in order to be considered sustainable, must guarantee the inhabitants of the area the satisfaction of their vital needs in a way that can also continue to be implemented in the [...] Read more.
The development and management models of land use—both natural and man-made—and infrastructures, in order to be considered sustainable, must guarantee the inhabitants of the area the satisfaction of their vital needs in a way that can also continue to be implemented in the future, without conflicting with the limited availability of natural resources on the planet [...] Full article

Research

Jump to: Editorial

16 pages, 2214 KiB  
Article
The Time-Varying Effect of Interest Rates on Housing Prices
by Cheonjae Lee and Jinbaek Park
Land 2022, 11(12), 2296; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122296 - 14 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3754
Abstract
This study analyzes the time-varying effect of interest rates on housing prices. As housing prices are too high for most consumers to afford with income alone, they use bank loans. Consequently, when interest rates fall, the demand for housing increases, causing prices to [...] Read more.
This study analyzes the time-varying effect of interest rates on housing prices. As housing prices are too high for most consumers to afford with income alone, they use bank loans. Consequently, when interest rates fall, the demand for housing increases, causing prices to rise. This effect of interest rates was common in countries that implemented low-interest rates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Korean data from March 1991 to March 2022, this study examined the impact of interest rate shocks on housing prices by employing a time-varying parameter vector autoregressive model. According to the analysis, in Korea, while the impact of the interest rate shocks on housing prices was not significant before the global financial crisis, it increased dramatically afterward. Particularly, the impact of interest rate shocks was strongest relative to the past during the period of the increase in house prices from 2020 to 2021. The rise in the effects of interest rate shocks on housing prices is attributed to the increased dependence on loans for housing purchases. The results suggest that given the recent substantial increments in interest rates due to inflation, an interest rate shock would likely cause a global housing market recession. Full article
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20 pages, 3051 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Analysis of Drivers Impacting Urban Densification for Cross Regional Scenarios in Brussels Metropolitan Area
by Anasua Chakraborty, Hichem Omrani and Jacques Teller
Land 2022, 11(12), 2291; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122291 - 14 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1541
Abstract
Our research aims at unveiling the various drivers that can have an impact on urban densification. Unlike the usual logistic modelling techniques, our study considers multi-level built-up densities ranging from low to high built-up density. The commonly used dataset for a number of [...] Read more.
Our research aims at unveiling the various drivers that can have an impact on urban densification. Unlike the usual logistic modelling techniques, our study considers multi-level built-up densities ranging from low to high built-up density. The commonly used dataset for a number of present studies is based on raster images. Our study uses vector-based cadastral data to create maps for the years 2000, 2010 and 2020 in order to better trace densification. Furthermore, our study addresses the situation of a metropolitan area, Brussels, that spreads over three different regions that are developing independent land-planning policies. Since the state reform of 1993, Belgium has undergone a significant political transformation with a decentralization of land-planning policies from the state level to regional authorities. This reform allowed a progressive divergence of planning policies between the three regions, i.e., Flanders, the Brussels Capital Region and Wallonia. According to our findings, all the controlling factors exhibit distinct variation over all their density classes for the three regions. This may be due to differences in socioeconomic, territorial, and regulatory factors. For Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region, slope and distance to roadways are the most significant drivers explaining densification, whereas densification in Wallonia is predominantly influenced by land-use policies, especially the zoning regime. These results highlight the impact of considering cross-regional divergences in the implementation of planning policies at the metropolitan level, especially in those metropolitan areas that are expanding into different regions with divergent planning policies. Full article
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19 pages, 1521 KiB  
Article
Localization of the Urban Planning Process with the Knowledge-Based Sustainable Development Approach
by Asghar Abedini, Farshid Aram, Amin Khalili, Meysam Saket Hasanlouei and Hiva Asadi
Land 2022, 11(12), 2266; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122266 - 11 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2288
Abstract
In recent decades, the concept of a knowledge-based city has been proposed as one of the most important concepts in urban planning. The present study evaluates the ability to localize urban planning indicators in the city of Urmia and determine the desirability of [...] Read more.
In recent decades, the concept of a knowledge-based city has been proposed as one of the most important concepts in urban planning. The present study evaluates the ability to localize urban planning indicators in the city of Urmia and determine the desirability of knowledge-based city indicators to provide coherent policies and strategies to achieve sustainable development and a knowledge-based city. Localization is the adaptation of global patterns and methods of development and planning to the internal conditions of the local community. In order to collect data from documents and library studies, experts’ opinions have been used by the Delphi method. Then, indicators related to local urban planning and knowledge-based city were extracted. The present study’s statistical population is 20 specialists and experts related to the research topic through the survey method. In order to analyze the research data, a one-sample t-test was used to assess the ability to localize aspects of urban planning in the city of Urmia. In order to investigate the degree of correlation and factor load of each urban planning indicator, confirmatory factor analysis was used. Using the Swara technique, the desirability and knowledge-based city indicators’ priority level has been evaluated and analyzed. The research results indicate that each of the economic, social, physical, environmental, and managerial aspects of urban planning can be localized in the city of Urmia. Moreover, the situation of Urmia in some aspects is in a situation of incompatibility in terms of the feasibility of the knowledge-based city’s policies. In order to improve the current situation and achieve the desired goals, suggestions have been made in various aspects. Full article
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16 pages, 4132 KiB  
Article
Greenery as an Element of Imageability in Window Views
by Alenka Fikfak, Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik and Samo Drobne
Land 2022, 11(12), 2157; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122157 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1228
Abstract
A window view affects a person’s well-being and comfort. The effect of visual contact with nature on people depends on the quality of the outside scenery, which in turn depends on parameters such as the number of visible layers, the distance to visual [...] Read more.
A window view affects a person’s well-being and comfort. The effect of visual contact with nature on people depends on the quality of the outside scenery, which in turn depends on parameters such as the number of visible layers, the distance to visual elements and environmental information (content) in the window view. Many studies have concluded that views of nature are preferable, while in urban environments a high-quality window view should include greenery. In our study, a survey was conducted among two groups of students at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana, to find out how the respondents perceived urban imageability in a window view. Using the example of five neighborhoods in Ljubljana (Slovenia), which have different urban planning and design concepts and greeneries, we investigated whether respondents perceived the presence of greenery as an important element of visual comfort. They ranked the quality of window views using eight indicators. The analysis of the ranking of the answers showed that the responses were similar for the two survey approaches (with single-selection and with multiple-selection techniques), except for the perception of surface texture. This indicates a common understanding of the role of greenery and an ambiguity in the perception of what is meant by the term ‘texture’. Full article
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17 pages, 6080 KiB  
Article
Unlocking Land for Urban Agriculture: Lessons from Marginalised Areas in Johannesburg, South Africa
by Doctor S. Nkosi, Thembani Moyo and Innocent Musonda
Land 2022, 11(10), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101713 - 02 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1559
Abstract
Amidst the global discourse on the identification of strategic land, there has been a growth in planning support systems aimed at assisting policymakers in unlocking the value of strategic land. Despite planning support systems’ immense benefit of aiding planning, there are limited planning [...] Read more.
Amidst the global discourse on the identification of strategic land, there has been a growth in planning support systems aimed at assisting policymakers in unlocking the value of strategic land. Despite planning support systems’ immense benefit of aiding planning, there are limited planning support tools to aid communities in marginalised areas to unlock the value of land. Therefore, this study adopts a GIS-based approach to develop a planning support system to identify, quantify and visualise an index for urban agricultural land in a marginalised area. The proposed solution utilised Greater Orange farm, a marginalised area in the City of Johannesburg, as a case study to inform spatial planning for emerging economies. Using the Charrette visioning process, indigenous knowledge systems were incorporated in formulating the criteria, weights, and rulesets. The results reveal spatial sites ranked through an index where sustainable investment in urban agriculture infrastructure should be targeted. The developed index identifies suitable locations for urban agriculture infrastructure and supporting programs. Furthermore, the solution builds from the existing reservoir of PSS in Southern Africa by demonstrating the potential for planning support systems as sustainable data-based decision-making tools to inform spatial planning. Lessons emerging from this study are that there is an inseparable existential connection between indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary sustainability planning, which is critical for ensuring sustainable development. Full article
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17 pages, 2257 KiB  
Article
The Economic Spatial Structure Evolution of Urban Agglomeration under the Impact of High-Speed Rail Construction: Is There a Difference between Developed and Developing Regions?
by You He, Alex de Sherbinin, Guoqing Shi and Haibin Xia
Land 2022, 11(9), 1551; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091551 - 13 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1555
Abstract
It is foreseeable that the next few decades will be the golden age of high-speed rail (HSR) development, with many new construction plans emerging. The construction of the HSR will inevitably cause an impact on the economic spatial structure of urban agglomeration, but [...] Read more.
It is foreseeable that the next few decades will be the golden age of high-speed rail (HSR) development, with many new construction plans emerging. The construction of the HSR will inevitably cause an impact on the economic spatial structure of urban agglomeration, but it is still unclear whether the impacts differ between economically developed and developing areas. How and to what extent do such differences exist? Based on the modified gravity model, this paper employs a social network analysis method and selects the Yangtze River Delta and Sichuan-Chongqing (Chuanyu) urban agglomeration as the research area to analyze the differences. The main conclusions are as follows. With the construction of HSR: (1) The network density and the average economic connection of urban agglomerations have shown a trend of gradual increase. (2) The number of core areas in developed regions has gradually increased, but there were no changes in the center of developing regions. (3) In developed regions, the new metropolitan areas are the cities that have benefited the most from the HSR construction. In developing regions, the central city with difficult topography benefits the most. (4) The network structure of developed regions tends to be more balanced. The edge cities in developing regions are getting farther from the center. Full article
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35 pages, 10245 KiB  
Article
Mismatched Relationship between Urban Industrial Land Consumption and Growth of Manufacturing: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta
by Congguo Zhang, Di Yao, Yanlin Zhen, Weiwei Li and Kerun Li
Land 2022, 11(9), 1390; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091390 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1830
Abstract
Background: The precise allocation and efficient use of industrial land are necessary for the development and optimization of urban production space; however, the mismatches between urban industrial land consumption and the growth of manufacturing are becoming more serious and has become the primary [...] Read more.
Background: The precise allocation and efficient use of industrial land are necessary for the development and optimization of urban production space; however, the mismatches between urban industrial land consumption and the growth of manufacturing are becoming more serious and has become the primary obstacle to sustainable urban development. Methods: Based on a combination of the Boston Consulting Group matrix, spatial mismatch model, decoupling index, GIS, and Geodetector tools, this paper conducts an empirical study on the Yangtze River Delta region in an attempt to reveal the spatio-temporal evolution of the mismatch between urban industrial land changes and the growth of manufacturing and provide a basis for spatial planning and land management in the new era. Results: The distribution of urban industrial land is characterized by high heterogeneity and agglomeration, the coexistence of expansion and contraction, and increasingly complex and diversified changes. Gross domestic product, government revenue, the added value of tertiary industry, and government investment in science and technology indicate that the goal orientation and scale effect of economic growth play a decisive role in the allocation of urban industrial land and that the influence of industrial structures and technological innovation is rapidly increasing. The interaction between the different factors is a bifactor enhancement, for example, land used for logistics and storage, utilities, commercial and other services, and the import and export trade, which have a strong synergistic enhancement effect. The mismatches between urban industrial land changes and the growth of manufacturing are still within a reasonable degree but there is an increasing number of cities with negative mismatches, making it necessary to implement a differentiated spatial adjustment and management policy. Conclusions: Compared with the mismatches of mobile resources such as labor, finance, and capital, the mismatches of immovable land resources have an increasing impact with more serious consequences and it is harder to make optimizations and corrections. However, the academic community has limited knowledge about land resource mismatches. By quantitatively assessing the mismatches between industrial land consumption and the growth of manufacturing in YRD cities, this paper argues that the mismatches can be rectified through spatial and land use planning and suggests the establishment of a zoning management and governance system to achieve the optimal allocation of urban industrial land resources through the implementation of a “standard land + commitment system” and industrial land protection lines. Full article
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28 pages, 5666 KiB  
Article
Increased Attention to Smart Development in Rural Areas: A Scientometric Analysis of Smart Village Research
by Qian Wang, Shixian Luo, Jiao Zhang and Katsunori Furuya
Land 2022, 11(8), 1362; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081362 - 21 Aug 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3696
Abstract
As the research on smart cities matures and thrives, research focusing on smart rural development has also emerged into the spotlight in recent years. An increasing number of scholars have called for extending the discussion of smart development in the rural context. In [...] Read more.
As the research on smart cities matures and thrives, research focusing on smart rural development has also emerged into the spotlight in recent years. An increasing number of scholars have called for extending the discussion of smart development in the rural context. In response, this paper aims to conduct a comprehensive scientometric review of the current academic literature in the discussion of smart development in rural areas, centering on the concept of the smart village, which is the most recognized concept in the existing literature and practices. The contributions of this study are threefold. First, an overview of the current implementation and understanding of smart village initiatives and conceptual frameworks provides practical and theoretical insights as prerequisites for comprehending the concept. Second, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first complete scientometric study in the smart village field and will establish baseline data for future analysis and comparison. It describes the status of the scientific landscape based on quantitative analysis and an intuitive visualization, identifying patterns, hotspots, trends, and gaps. Finally, we find that the current trend puts a relatively narrow focus on the technology-driven approaches, while the dimensions of society, services, and culture have been largely neglected. Therefore, a dynamic conceptual model is proposed to call for more human-driven perspectives. We believe that a knowledge-based, community-led, and human-centric rural society is the core of a smart village ecosystem. Full article
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