Next Article in Journal
Evolution and Obstacle Factors of Human Settlement Resilience in Resource-Based Cities of Northern China
Previous Article in Journal
Scenario-Based Assessment of Agritourism Development Using Hierarchical Principal Component Analysis: A Case Study of Iran
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Land
Volume 15
Issue 6
10.3390/land15060966
land-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Systematic Review

Towards Sustainable Urban Development: A Systematic Review of Challenges in Urban Infrastructure Planning and Development in the Global South

by
Frew Fentahun Enyew
1,2,3,
Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu
1,
Thomas Bauer
2,
Tatjana Fischer
3,*,
Reinfried Mansberger
2 and
Gernot Stoeglehner
3
1
Department of Land Administration and Surveying, Institute of Land Administration, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos 269, Ethiopia
2
Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity, BOKU University Vienna, Peter-Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
3
Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, BOKU University Vienna, Peter-Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Land 2026, 15(6), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15060966 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 13 March 2026 / Revised: 20 May 2026 / Accepted: 29 May 2026 / Published: 1 June 2026
Versions Notes

Abstract

Urban infrastructure is crucial to urban development and determines urban functionality, resilience, and sustainability. Effective planning for urban infrastructure development and municipal services driving economic development and improving the quality of urban life. However, many urban areas of countries in the Global South suffer from contextually inappropriate urban planning. This has led to uncontrolled expansion, urban sprawl and inadequate public infrastructure. This study answers the following research questions: What are the main challenges in urban and infrastructure planning, and what are possible solutions to mitigate them for sustainable urban development? Based on a review of 75 studies, keyword co-occurrence analysis and thematic analysis reveal seven key challenges in urban infrastructure planning: governance and institutional challenges; economic constraints and funding gaps; environmental and climate change challenges; urbanization and population growth; technological gaps and innovation difficulties; political instability and conflict; and social inequality and exclusion. To mitigate these issues, this study suggests that the concerned policymakers in the Global South prioritize governance and institutional reform, adopt technological and nature-based solutions and strengthen public–private partnerships, community-based engagement, and capacity building.
Keywords: infrastructure planning; urban planning; sustainable development; Global South; thematic analysis; bibliometric analysis infrastructure planning; urban planning; sustainable development; Global South; thematic analysis; bibliometric analysis

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Enyew, F.F.; Agegnehu, S.K.; Bauer, T.; Fischer, T.; Mansberger, R.; Stoeglehner, G. Towards Sustainable Urban Development: A Systematic Review of Challenges in Urban Infrastructure Planning and Development in the Global South. Land 2026, 15, 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15060966

AMA Style

Enyew FF, Agegnehu SK, Bauer T, Fischer T, Mansberger R, Stoeglehner G. Towards Sustainable Urban Development: A Systematic Review of Challenges in Urban Infrastructure Planning and Development in the Global South. Land. 2026; 15(6):966. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15060966

Chicago/Turabian Style

Enyew, Frew Fentahun, Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu, Thomas Bauer, Tatjana Fischer, Reinfried Mansberger, and Gernot Stoeglehner. 2026. "Towards Sustainable Urban Development: A Systematic Review of Challenges in Urban Infrastructure Planning and Development in the Global South" Land 15, no. 6: 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15060966

APA Style

Enyew, F. F., Agegnehu, S. K., Bauer, T., Fischer, T., Mansberger, R., & Stoeglehner, G. (2026). Towards Sustainable Urban Development: A Systematic Review of Challenges in Urban Infrastructure Planning and Development in the Global South. Land, 15(6), 966. https://doi.org/10.3390/land15060966

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop