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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (11 March 2020) | Viewed by 61234

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Wendy Steele

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Guest Editor

RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Interests: cities, urban governance, critical infrastructure, climate justice

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue on ‘Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability’ focuses on new city planning and development to better address the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in future settlement planning trajectories. New city thinking is shifting the 21^st century urban settlement vision around what is possible in a climate of growth-led change. Whereas cities were once seen as the locus of the problem in terms of crime, sprawl, congestion, poverty, social alienation, slums, pollution etc.; they are now viewed as beacons of possibility for furthering economic, democratic, and sustainability goals (see C40 cities, Resilient Cities). New cities that are smart, green, low carbon and energy efficient are being designed and built from scratch, drawing on new technologies, funding models and critical infrastructure. This special issue invites papers that offer theoretical, conceptual and empirical insights into the planning and development of new cities and the infrastructure that supports sustainable development such as: carless and walkable cities; green cities that produce oxygen through eco-skyscrapers; smart cities with high speed internet embedded in the urban fabric, waste converted into energy; and new city development on reclaimed land increasing strategic port and trade positioning.

Prof. Wendy Steele
Guest Editor

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Keywords

cities
sustainability
urban infrastructure
sustainable development goals (SDGs)
climate change

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3928 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sustainability-Based Lifecycle Management for Bridge Infrastructure Using 6D BIM

by Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Jessada Sresakoolchai and Zhihao Zhou

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2436; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062436 - 20 Mar 2020

Cited by 73 | Viewed by 9139

Abstract

A number of bridge infrastructures are rising significantly due to economic expansion and growing numbers of railway and road infrastructures. Owing to the complexity of bridge design, traditional design methods always create tedious and time-consuming construction processes. In recent years, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been developed rapidly to provide a faster solution to generate and process the integration of information in a shared environment. This paper aims to highlight an innovative 6D BIM approach for the lifecycle asset management of a bridge infrastructure by using Donggou Bridge as a case study. This paper adopts 6D modelling, incorporating 3D model information with time schedule, cost estimation, and carbon footprint analysis across the lifecycle of the bridge project. The results of this paper reveal that raw materials contribute the most embodied carbon emissions, and as the 6D BIM model was developed in the early stage of the lifecycle, stakeholders can collaborate within the BIM environment to enhance a more sustainable and cost-effective outcome in advance. This study also demonstrates the possibility of BIM applications to bridge infrastructure projects throughout the whole lifecycle. The 6D BIM can save time by transforming 2D information to 3D information and reducing errors during the pre-construction and construction stages through better visualisation for staff training. Moreover, 6D BIM can promote efficient asset and project management since it can be applied for various purposes simultaneously, such as sustainability, lifecycle asset management and maintenance, condition monitoring and real-time structural simulations. In addition, BIM can promote cooperation among working parties and improve visualisation of the project for various stakeholders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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13 pages, 2035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Sidewalk Block Pavement Condition Index (SBPCI) using Analytical Hierarchy Process

by Jangrak Kim, Daegeun Park, Youngchan Suh and Donghyuk Jung

Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7086; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247086 - 11 Dec 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3179

Abstract

This study aimed at developing SBPCI (Sidewalk Block Pavement Condition Index) with sidewalk pavement condition survey data of Seoul city in order to attain a quantitative evaluation method of sidewalk pavement condition. The distress patterns of sidewalk pavement were classified into four groups of Crack/Loss, Roughness, Aging, and Corner Break. AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) technique was employed on the basis of the raking process of 31 pavement managers in order to analyze the influence of the distress patterns on the sidewalk pavement condition. The AHP analysis result indicated the weight of pop out, roughness, surface abrasion, and corner break were 0.521, 0.244, 0.164, and 0.070, respectively, by distress type. A model equation was derived by using the sidewalk pavement condition data from 420 sections. The correlation analysis between the result of the model equation and distress type revealed that the correlation of corner break was low to be excluded from SBPCI model; while pop out, roughness, and surface abrasion were statistically significant to be used as three variables of the developed SBPCI model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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18 pages, 31823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Urban Functional Regions Based on Floating Car Track Data and POI Data

by Beibei Yu, Zhonghui Wang, Haowei Mu, Li Sun and Fengning Hu

Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6541; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236541 - 20 Nov 2019

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4205

Abstract

Along with the rapid development of China’s economy as well as the continuing urbanization, the internal spatial and functional structures of cities within this country are also gradually changing and restructuring. The study of functional region identification of a city is of great significance to the city’s functional cognition, spatial planning, economic development, human livability, and so forth. Backed by the emerging urban Big Data, and taking the traffic community as the smallest research unit, a method is proposed to identify urban functional regions by combining floating car track data with point of interest (POI) data recorded on an electronic map. It provides a new perspective for the study of urban functional region identification. Firstly, the main functional regions of the city studied are identified through clustering analysis according to the passenger’s spatial-temporal travel characteristics derived from the floating car data. Secondly, the fine-grained identification of the functional region attributes of the traffic communities is achieved using the label information from POI data. Finally, the AND-OR operation is performed on the recognition results derived by the clustering algorithm and the Delphi method, to obtain the identification of urban functional regions. This approach is verified by applying it to the main urban zone within Chengdu’s Third Ring Road. The results show that: (1) There are fewer single functional regions and more mixed functional regions in the main urban zone of Chengdu, and the distribution of the functional regions are roughly concentric centering in the city center. (2) Using the traffic community as a research unit, combined with dynamic human activity trajectory data and static urban interest point data, complex urban functional regions can be effectively identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 16869 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sidewalk Zoom-In: A Spatial–Temporal Negotiation and Self-Organization within a Sociable Space

by Haoying Han, Thuy Van T. Nguyen and Noman Sahito

Sustainability 2019, 11(22), 6241; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226241 - 7 Nov 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4002

Abstract

In Asia, sidewalks in big cities always raise controversial issues in society. Increasingly, sidewalks are rethought on their features and functions as the scholars gradually focus on the interrelationships between physical characteristics of streets and behavioral practice of users. In Vietnam, the sidewalk is often occupied by the encroachment of personalized street fronts and street vendors, so that the authorities can only resort to dividing the sidewalk width with no vital regard for pedestrians. Although there are periodic sidewalk clearance campaigns carried out by local authorities, they lack the desired efficiency since the sidewalks are repeatedly in a state of disorder. By direct observation, this paper examines the mixed-use type of sidewalk in the context of Vietnam to justify appropriacy. A segment of Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, a large and bustling street in Ho Chi Minh City, is investigated as an empirical evidence. As a result, this research suggests the existing sidewalks are not appropriate and desirable. As sidewalks have their own self-negotiation, an inclusive space approach to enhance sociable sidewalks should be considered by city planners and authorities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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17 pages, 7179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Identification and Use Efficiency Evaluation of Urban Industrial Land Based on Multi-Source Data

by Lin Qiao, Huiping Huang and Yichen Tian

Sustainability 2019, 11(21), 6149; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11216149 - 4 Nov 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2396

Abstract

Urban industrial land (UIL), which is classified for industrial purposes, is an indispensable component of urban land. Obtaining up-to-date and timely UIL details from the industrial development perspective has practical significance for UIL planning. Therefore, we propose a practical method for integrating UIL identification and use efficiency evaluation at the parcel scale based on multi-source data. The Open Street Map (OSM) data were utilized to generate parcels, which served as basic analytical units. Point of Interest (POI) data combined with a Continuous Bag-of-Words (CBoW)-based Word2Vec model was utilized to acquire UIL information. The entropy-weight Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution method, combined with economic and environmental UIL indicators obtained from remote sensing images, ground observation data, and statistical data, was used to evaluate UIL use efficiency, and the spatial distribution and utilization degree of UIL within Beijing’s fifth ring road was analyzed. The region within Beijing’s fifth ring road was classified into commercial land, industrial land, and other types, with an overall accuracy of 92.24%. With this method, we found that the distribution of UIL presented a ring structure developing outwards along the ring roads and contained concentrated commercial areas. UIL utilization exhibited a south–north differentiation, and industrial land had lower use efficiency. Our work fully utilized the available fine-scale multi-source data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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26 pages, 581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Crowd Logistics Solutions—The Stakeholders’ Analysis Approach

by Jagienka Rześny-Cieplińska and Agnieszka Szmelter-Jarosz

Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5361; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195361 - 27 Sep 2019

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6143

Abstract

This article presents the assessment results for crowd logistics (CL) solutions from the perspective of the needs of different stakeholders. The uniqueness of this study lies in entering these needs in the implementation of the three spheres of sustainable development in cities (social, economic, and environmental). The purpose of this publication is to present the benchmark solutions for the CL area, helping to adjust the business model and market offer of other providers to the needs of different groups of stakeholders. The reason for such valuation is the fast-paced sharing economy development in the city logistics area, as well as in the courier activity. For this study, the AHP (analytic hierarchy process) method was applied in order to develop the proposed evaluation tool of the CL initiatives. The evaluation criteria (the needs of particular groups of respondents) are derived from document-based data analysis and the primary data for the model are derived from information provided by service providers. The list of the best solutions is made for indicating benchmark brands on the market. The recommendations for managers were drawn on how to adjust solutions to the stakeholders’ needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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19 pages, 1519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Sidewalk and Corridor Walkability in Developing Countries

by Khaled Shaaban

Sustainability 2019, 11(14), 3865; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11143865 - 16 Jul 2019

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7127

Abstract

Finding a simple and less expensive method to assess and improve sidewalk and corridor conditions in developing countries is essential in order to motivate more people to walk. This study aimed to design and test a method that uses direct observations of driver behavior and street measurements to assess sidewalk and corridor walkability in developing countries. The proposed method includes different walkability indicators related to sidewalk features, crossing facilities, sidewalk facilities, and driver behavior to provide one score that represents the walkability of a sidewalk and one that represents the walkability of a corridor. The method was tested on streets from 10 neighborhoods in the city of Doha, Qatar. The results indicated that the developed method was easy to use and could efficiently measure various indicators, illustrating that it can be used to evaluate corridors with different characteristics to identify and rank areas that require improvement. The study’s findings will provide maintenance agencies, policymakers, and practitioners in developing countries with a simple, efficient, and cost-effective method to evaluate, plan, rank, and improve the walkability of sidewalks and corridors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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19 pages, 6172 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Simple GIS-Based Model for Urban Rainstorm Inundation Simulation

by Xianhong Meng, Min Zhang, Jiahong Wen, Shiqiang Du, Hui Xu, Luyang Wang and Yan Yang

Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2830; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102830 - 17 May 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4773

Abstract

With rapid urbanization, floods that occur are more frequently associated with non-riverine, urban flooding. Reliable and efficient simulation of rainstorm inundation in an urban environment is profound for risk analysis and sustainable development. Although sophisticated hydrodynamic models are now available to simulate the urban flooding processes with a high accuracy, the complexity and heavy computation requirement render these models difficult to apply. Moreover, a large number of input data describing the complex urban underlying surfaces is required to setup the models, which are typically unavailable in reality. In this paper, a simple and efficient urban rainstorm inundation simulation method, named URIS, was developed based on a geographic information system (GIS) with limited input data. The URIS method is a simplified distributed hydrological model, integrating three components of the soil conservation service (SCS) module, surface flow module, and drainage flow module. Cumulative rainfall-runoff, output from the SCS model, feeds the surface flow model, while the drainage flow module is an important waterlogging mitigation measure. The central urban area of Shanghai in China was selected as a study case to calibrate and verify the method. It was demonstrated that the URIS is capable of characterizing the spatiotemporal dynamic processes of urban inundation and drainage under a range of scenarios, such as different rainstorm patterns with varying return periods and different alterations of drainage diameters. URIS is therefore characterized with high efficiency, reasonable data input, and low hardware requirements and should be an alternative to hydrodynamic models. It is useful for urgent urban flood inundation estimation and is applicable for other cities in supporting emergency rescue and sustainable urban planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 4022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accelerating Cities in an Unsustainable Landscape: Urban Expansion and Cropland Occupation in China, 1990–2030

by Yaoping Cui, Jiyuan Liu, Xinliang Xu, Jinwei Dong, Nan Li, Yiming Fu, Siqi Lu, Haoming Xia, Bo Si and Xiangming Xiao

Sustainability 2019, 11(8), 2283; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11082283 - 16 Apr 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3642

Abstract

It is crucial to assess the effects of urban expansion on croplands to allow sustainable urbanization and cropland supply. However, owing to the complexity of land conversion and various land policies in China, it is difficult to quantify the cropland dynamics and implications of urban expansion throughout the whole accelerated stage of urbanization. This study was based on land use data from 1990 to 2015 and urban expansion data from 2000 to 2030, analyzing urban expansion and predicting its impact on croplands. We found that urban area would continue to increase and croplands would contribute more than 70% of the urban expansion area. The urban area in China will likely reach 71.6–87.0 thousand km² or more by 2030. Although the overall area of croplands may remain at a similar magnitude in future decades, our findings imply that croplands will tend to shift northward, resulting in some potential challenges owing to resource limitations in northern regions. Our study provides a new perspective in terms of assessing future cropland dynamics and the effects of urban expansion and highlights the significance of ensuring a realistic land policy in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 4679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Urban Functional Areas Based on POI Data: A Case Study of the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone

by Yunfeng Hu and Yueqi Han

Sustainability 2019, 11(5), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051385 - 6 Mar 2019

Cited by 106 | Viewed by 12143

Abstract

Functional areas are the basic spatial units in which cities or development zones implement urban plans and provide functions. Internet map big data technology provides a new method for the identification and spatial analysis of functional areas. Based on the POI (point of interest) data from AMap (a map application of AutoNavi) from 2017, this paper proposes an urban functional areas recognition and analysis method based on the frequency density and the ratio of POI function types. It takes the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone as a case study to analyze the main function and spatial distribution characteristics of the detailed functional areas. The research shows the following: (1) The POI frequency density index and the function type ratio can effectively distinguish the functions of the grid units and analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of a complex functional area. (2) The single functional area is the most common area type in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone. The largest proportion of all areas is allocated to traditional manufacturing industry functional areas, followed by high-tech enterprises, catering and entertainment, real estate, and education and health care, in descending order. The smallest proportion is allocated to finance and insurance functional areas. (3) The current layout of the functional areas in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone conforms to the overall requirements and planning objectives of the central and local government. The layout and agglomeration of different blocks within the economic development zone are consistent with local industry’s target orientation and development history. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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14 pages, 1951 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Releasing Greenbelt Restrictions on Land Development in the Case of Medium-Sized Cities in Korea

by Jae Ik Kim, Jun Yong Hyun and Seom Gyeol Lee

Sustainability 2019, 11(3), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030630 - 25 Jan 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3387

Abstract

Many metropolitan areas around the world aim to control urban growth with a view to achieving efficiency and containing urban problems. Among many urban growth policy tools, the green belt (GB) policy is known as the most rigid and strongest. However, there has been no study on the consequences when GB restrictions are completely removed. The primary purpose of this study is to analyse the spatial effects of greenbelt removal on land development in Korea’s medium-sized cities between 2000 and 2017. To do so, we used the Landsat thematic mapper (TM) 5 satellite image (2000) and Landsat OLI TIRS 8 satellite image (2017) along with various attribute data to model the spatial effects of greenbelt removal in the cases of three medium-sized cities in Korea. The result of difference-in-difference (DID) analysis confirms that the effects of GB removal on land development vary depending on the local conditions of land development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Cities: Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Sustainability)

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