The Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Problem in Urban Planning and Design

Dear Colleagues,

In urban planning and design, multi-attribute decision-making issues arise at both the meso and micro levels, and these decisions often require balancing numerous conflicting criteria while fully leveraging modern technological tools to support the decision-making process. Multi-attribute decision-making challenges are pervasive, particularly at the meso and micro levels. At the meso level, planning primarily involves designing regions, communities, and the overall functional zoning of the city. Decision-makers at this level must consider multiple factors simultaneously when addressing issues such as land use, transportation networks, and public facility configurations, including:

• Economic benefits and cost control;
• Environmental sustainability;
• Social equity and participation;
• Technological and managerial innovation.

These multi-attribute factors are often interdependent and mutually influential, requiring decision-makers to employ both quantitative and qualitative methods to comprehensively evaluate and trade off the various criteria, thereby formulating integrated plans that meet economic, environmental, and social demands. At the micro level, the focus shifts to the specific details of urban design, such as architectural design, public space planning, and detailed landscape design. Although the scope of decision-making at this level is narrower, its impact directly affects the daily quality of life of urban residents. Potential research areas include, but are not limited to:

• The application and challenges of multi-attribute decision-making in urban land use planning;
• The integration of GIS and big data technologies in urban decision support systems;
• Multi-objective decision models and empirical analysis in smart city construction;
• Multi-attribute assessment and innovative practices in urban public space design;
• Human-centered urban environmental design—from microclimate regulation to ecological buildings;
• Application and empirical study of multi-attribute decision-making in urban environmental design.

Dr. Lei Xiong
Dr. Bowei Zhu
Guest Editors

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• multi-attribute decision-making
• urban design
• public facility configuration
• social equity
• public space design
• human centered