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What characterizes the ideal urban futures that are envisioned and promulgated within smart city initiatives today? This paper argues for the usefulness of utopia as a lens to examine contemporary urban development projects, specifically smart cities. Drawing on scholars upholding utopianism as key for critical scholarship, the paper explores narratives around smartness in Stockholm, Sweden, and the utopian logics embedded within these narratives. Based on an in-depth case study in Stockholm, the research points to utopian logics of visibility , predictability and controllability within smart city initiatives. These further point to a common tendency where planning is sought perfected–and believed to approach perfection through the supplantation of human planners by smart technologies. As urban planning is faced with pressing urban challenges and dwindling resources, "mere" brain capacity largely appears as too limited and as necessary to compliment with computerized intelligence. • Using utopia as a lens, this paper explores the smart city initiative in Stockholm and the idealized futures it promotes. • Methodologically, the paper draws on extensive empirical research conducted using "Utopia as Method." • The paper points to "smart Stockholm" being characterized by utopian logics of visibility , predictability and controllability. • Together, these point to a tendency where planning is sought perfected through the integration of computerized intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative, a pioneering approach initiated by India to propel sustainable urban development through targeted behavioural change. Positioned at the nexus of individual action and urban sustainability, LiFE underscores the potential of integrating lifestyle adjustments into the broader urban planning and policy-making framework. By examining the initiative's evolution from a grassroots movement to a key element of government policy, this paper highlights its innovative strategies aimed at promoting eco-friendly living and its significant impact on urban environments. Through case studies and an analysis of the initiative's alignment with global sustainability goals, we reveal how LiFE complements existing urban agendas by focusing on the micro-level actions of individuals and communities. This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable urbanization by showcasing the critical role of behavioural change in achieving urban sustainability goals, thereby offering insights into the formulation of more holistic and effective urban policies. Significantly the paper articulates how LiFE's principles, through enhancing global policies and harnessing the power of technological advancements within the Smart Cities agenda, herald a new paradigm in urban sustainability efforts. • The LiFE initiative emphasizes individual behavioral changes over infrastructural reforms to promote urban sustainability. • The concept originated as a grassroots movement in India and has evolved into a significant element of governmental policy on environmental sustainability. • Case studies, such as the eco-village of Piplantri, demonstrate how individual and community actions can significantly contribute to sustainability goals. • LiFE strategically complements Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) and the New Urban Agenda by focusing on micro-level actions that bridge the gap between policy intentions and tangible outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban morphology and spatial forms shape a city's character and user behavior, often embracing a particular type of people and unwelcoming other kinds of gender. City design policies and legislation have favored men since its beginning, affecting overall urban planning and design. While the world is delving into new techniques and methods to empower women, constraints in public space activities remain prevalent. This paper explores the scope of urban design strategies to catalyze women's social and physical inclusion in these spaces. It presents a systematic approach to identifying women's social roles during the use of public spaces and introduces the 'GenUrban: Shaping Cities for All Genders' framework to guide researchers and designers alike promote inclusive urban design and planning. The investigation, in the central area of Hong Kong, focuses on the cultural landscape created by the women-centric 'Foreign Domestic Helpers' community. A desktop literature review, direct observation of public spaces, and in-depth interviews with a focus group of women in the city's heart established and mapped the marginalized users' collective viewpoint and their appropriation of space. The framework can be used by professionals to transform urban spaces through a gender lens to improve the overall quality of public spaces and make them more inclusive and accessible. The paper generates gender-sensitive urban design principles that can be translated for planners to use for various user groups and contexts. When women become key drivers in activating public space, they are given back their right to the city. • Women's traveling patterns are frequent due to their caregiving responsibilities. • The unique cultural landscape of a city creates gender-centered activities. • Integrating gender-specific features ensures urban spaces cater to women's needs. • Reliable public transport is vital for women's mobility and engagement in city life. • A city catering to women tends to accommodate those they care for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceleration of urban imagery data analysis, driven by computer vision (CV), has created noteworthy opportunities for urban studies and planning. Data on street environments with high granularity derived from geo-tagged street views allow urban researchers to obtain geospatial data on greenery, pavement materials, and dimensions, building facades, urban furniture, lighting, vehicle presence, etc. However, how such attributes have been classified and used to address urban studies, planning, or mobility questions remains relatively poorly understood among non-technical researchers. Targeting urban planning and design researchers who do not have a background in CV, this paper reviews planning-relevant attributes that CV approaches of urban streetscapes have delivered to date and examines some of their research applications. We present a systematic analysis of 146 papers scrutinizing 104 street attributes in four groups. By exploring a subcollection of 24 papers, we discuss the effectiveness of those attributes being incorporated into current quantitative urban studies. This study's primary contribution lies in providing a comprehensive summary of CV-driven street attributes, their applications, and the algorithms used, serving as a valuable resource for future urban research. Additionally, we identify key challenges in this field, such as unclear definitions of attributes, a disproportionate emphasis on selecting models and features, and the absence of standardized measurement and definition methods. Furthermore, we offer recommendations for future research directions in this area. • We review 104 street attributes collected with computer vision in urban studies • We summarize 23 chosen attributes' correlations with known urban design measures • We provide a table of CV-driven street attributes with model details, references, and impacts • We highlight challenges in attribute definitions, research focus, and impact clarity • We provide recommendations for standardizing data and future research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent years, and as a result of the recent global health pandemic, resilience has become increasingly central to contemporary policy discourses in urban planning and development in both the Global North and Global South. Drawing from ongoing empirical studies of community resilience and everyday practices that have been co-designed and co-produced alongside Brazilian marginalised communities which are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, this paper highlights the growing importance of dialogical stakeholder engagement methodologies in designing alternative urban visions – so-called resilience imaginaries or counter-cities - across the Global South based on social diversity, equity and spatial justice. More specifically, the dialogical participatory mapping approach outlined in this paper utilises citizen science approaches to develop local resilience imaginaries, building on the pedagogical work of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire and the conceptualisation of dialogue as a comprehensive and progressively unfolding methodological approach. Practically, we adopted a range of community engagement approaches that allowed local citizens to become more aware of their own risk context and embed this tacit knowledge into the operation of civil protection programmes. Our empirical results highlight the potential of such dialogical participatory approaches to capture lay knowledge from local citizens and contribute to the development of enhanced resilience approaches. The paper concludes by reflecting on the role of formerly marginalised voices in the advancement of local urban policy and on the novelty and promise of critical pedagogical approaches to co-production within existing regimes of urban governance and the imagining of radically independent counter-cities. • Novel community engagement approaches based on dialogue allow local citizens to become more aware of their own risk context. • The process of geospatial data production can be a transformative moment capable of nurturing enhanced community resilience. • Dialogical participatory mapping is a method for re-imagining future city-visions. • Western resilience scholarship needs learn from emerging resilience building grounded practices in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an urbanized world, the challenges posed by climate change need to be met through innovative planning for cities and regions. Urban resilience demands that cities adopt new models centered on carbon neutrality, ecosystem services and biodiversity enhancement, circularity, and social inclusion. In light of the multiple interdependencies of metropolitan systems and the natural and territorial potentialities present on their fringes, this paper discusses the metropolitan fringes as strategic for urban resilience and sustainable transitions. By combining a mixed-method analysis of adaptation and urban plans with semi-structured interviews performed with key technicians, the analysis is focused on an inter-municipal fringe zone within the Barcelona Metropolitan Area - the Besòs territory. Aiming to contribute to the discussions related to Territorial innovation for cities and regions, the paper offers a multi-scale perspective and illustrates innovative urban transformation strategies across scales. The results highlight that governance and multiple planning and participation instances together with technical and financial support are essential for consensus building in an incremental process. Furthermore, the planning strategies of the case study sought to integrate and enhance the green and blue infrastructures and transform consolidated urban areas with a focus on energy transition, sustainable mobility, circularity, and social inclusion. In conclusion, it is argued that resilience has a multi-scalar perspective within the metropolitan context and should be integrated with planning policies at different scales from a coordinated vision. Although adaptation and urban projects have a critical local element, a broader and more strategic vision is necessary, especially in metropolitan fringe areas. • Although adaptation and resilience have an essential local element, a broader and more strategic vision is necessary. • Metropolitan planning and governance towards urban resilience must have a multi-scalar perspective. • Metropolitan fringes are key to urban resilience and sustainable transitions due to their environmental and urban attributes. • A coordinated metropolitan vision with technical and financial support is vital for sustainable urban transitions in fringe areas. • The intermediate scale is critical since it represents a bridge between supra-municipal instances and municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses urban walking during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as an object of urban planning in Helsinki. The paper investigates planners' experiences of planning for temporary spatial solutions during a time of exceptionality in urban life. The paper is motivated by the wish to determine the influence of residents' environmental critique on official urban planning processes. Analysis is primarily based on walk-along interviews with urban planners and residents in the densest eastern downtown neighbourhoods of Helsinki. Supplemental data, including a survey, chat group discussions and planning documents, are used to deepen analysis. Results discuss the politicisation of planning and the delicate relationship between public planners and the political steering of planning in a Nordic welfare planning system. The paper discusses how the politicisation of planning imposes barriers to participatory planning by tying planners' time and attention to organisational tensions, but also by not being able to direct public attention to contentious planning topics. To analyse the role of planners in advocating for pedestrian planning and citizen participation, the study incorporates concepts from organisational communication and urban governance: tensions, rational ignorance and guerrilla governance. • Temporary pedestrian planning in Helsinki became a politicised planning topic amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. • An approach of rapid qualitative research utilised multi-method data gathering. • Urban planners experienced tensions in planning which impeded participatory planning processes. • Residents themselves portrayed rational ignorance and scepticism towards their participatory agency. • Planners used hidden tactics of guerrilla governance to advance the pedestrian agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ease of mobility within a city is one of the essential aspects of urban planning. Quality of pedestrian mobility is the key to attain liveability and inclusivity in a city. However, the gender lens towards understanding the mobility patterns of women and young girls is largely missing from the urban planning process. Due to this exclusion, the majority of Indian cities are not gender friendly. To address this issue, this study tried to propose a 3 step framework for mitigating gender safety issues while a woman walks in a city. The 3 steps involve identifying the key elements of pedestrian mobility; quantitatively evaluating the qualitative parameters; and visual analysis for validating the major issues. This paper presents a pilot study conducted in the city of Kanpur, India. The research was initiated by conducting focus group discussions among 23 participants to map their typical movement patterns and identify 6 key elements of pedestrian mobility. Subsequently, the study conducted a net promoter score (NPS) survey among 423 participants to gauge the safety perception levels on each of the 6 key elements against 5 deduced qualitative parameters via literature review. NPS is a user satisfaction measurement tool which is based on the user perception used by companies and brands. Since urban safety is largely to do with perception, a NPS metric is employed. Further, the paper employed heatmap analysis and derived 3 critical areas based on gender safety perception to deep dive i.e. accessibility and lighting at sidewalks; lack of lighting at underpass; and absence of street furniture at bus stops. Visual analysis was undertaken to understand and validate the respective safety perceptions. The NPS score and visual analysis helped to generate actionable recommendations to enhance the safety perception of women in the city, especially pertaining to pedestrian mobility. • Mobility and pedestrian movement pattern helps to identify gaps in gender sensitive urban planning. • Net Promoter Score (NPS) can also be applied to gauge the safety perception levels in urban areas. • Etic and emic visual analysis can help in diagnosing the issues better than armchair research. • Gender concerns in urban areas can be dealt both qualitatively and quantitatively using mixed methods. • Participatory approach is key to attain social sustainability in urban areas wrt gender safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the evolution of the urban spatial structure is of great significance for clarifying the stage and trajectory of urban development and formulating future urban development plans. Given that previous studies have marginally explored the long-term evolution of the urban employment spatial structure, this paper proposes a theoretical model hypothesizing five sequential stages of a complete evolution cycle from the perspective of mono- and polycentricity: mono-centralization, main-centralization, multi-centralization, de-centralization and re-centralization. Further empirical results based on 292 prefecture-level cities in China from 1997 to 2017 support the model and demonstrate that most cities present an evolution in line with the hypothesis, except a few cities experiencing short-term fluctuations, and approximately 60 % of cities are in the stage of multi-centralization, where subcenters have a growth advantage, and the main center has a scale advantage. Additionally, this paper reveals two characteristics of the evolution of the urban employment spatial structure in China: spatiotemporal compression and government intervention. • Propose a theoretical evolutionary model of urban employment spatial structure. • Empirically test the theoretical model based on a sample of 292 prefecture-level cities in China from 1997-2017. • The evolution of the urban employment spatial structure in China gradually tends to be polycentric. • Spatiotemporal compression and government intervention are features of China's urban employment spatial structure evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of public space management (PSM) in the Mexican context by analysing the perspectives of different governance actors. Issues in the PSM literature include ineffective political decisions, prevalence of the private sector, lack of coordination between government institutions, and a need for more effective social participation. While most PSM studies focus on European cities, empirical PSM knowledge in the Latin American context is scarce. To address this gap, this research elucidates the Mexican context by investigating and adapting a PSM framework in Mexico City and Puebla. The case study research is based on qualitative document research and interview analysis from four groups of governance actors: government officials, academics, NGOs, and architecture/urban planning firms. We found multiple PSM challenges: uncoordinated efforts in the maintenance of public space, lack of and polarisation of investment, and privatisation of public space. At the intra-governmental level, the research identified a lack of coordination between government institutions, increasing reliance on the private sector, and limited opportunities for residents to participate in PSM processes. The paper highlights missing links between existing governance actors involved in PSM and wider residents, in the pursuit of the ambitious role of achieving public space quality. • Public Space Management theory contrasts with the reality in the Mexican context. • Governments rely on the private sector for the development of public spaces. • Limited opportunities for local residents to participate in Public Space Management processes • Awareness is needed among governance actors on the management of public spaces. • Lack of transparency in publicly available data affects how public spaces are managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological Urbanism and Water Sensitive Urban Design have a central contribution to make in protecting and caring for people, nature and water in cities but readings of Urban Political Ecology evidence how ecological metaphors in urban design can easily translate into discriminatory urban development processes. This paper posits that for UPE to become meaningful for urban design practice, it is necessary to move beyond a critique. Instead, the insights of UPE should be pro-actively mobilized to develop a new vision of water sensitivity. The paper therefore identifies ways in which the key learnings of the critical social sciences, namely UPE, can be mobilized to support Water Sensitive Urban Design practice. How can ecological urbanists imagine new, more politically astute, forms of water sensitive living, charting design processes that not just recognize but also actively question and challenge uneven socio-ecological dynamics? In answering this question, the goal of this article is to make use of critique from UPE to influence Ecological Urbanists' goals and activate their political alignment with agendas that prioritize social equity. In imagining a new form of WSUD, we tried as much as possible not to over-instrumentalize UPE by rejecting the suggestion that some UPE 'lessons' or 'insights' could simply be inserted into ecological urbanism. On a different direction, we argue for a different emphasis in WSUD that does not deny the causes of current environmental degradation, pollution and depletion but, on the contrary, actively takes issue with and challenges the extractive and exploitative roots of contemporary urbanization processes. • Re-composition of Ecological Urbanism and WSUD is needed. • WSUD needs to actively challenge the extractive and exploitative roots of urbanization. • Critical designs will become more controversial and contested. • Designers are/should be mediators and activists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fifth Session of the UNEA-5 defines Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as "actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use and manage natural or modified terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, which address social, economic and environmental challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being, ecosystem services and resilience and biodiversity benefits". A large number of the EU HORIZON 2020 research program projects include the implementation of NbS in urban settings. The proGIreg project implemented several NbS for urban regeneration with and for citizens in its Living Lab in the city of Turin (Italy), among others. Focusing on the NbS of urban forestry, this paper addresses the following question: where can NbS be implemented within the city, in order to maximize their social impact? To achieve this goal, by identifying neighborhoods in need of NbS implementation, the 3–30-300 rule proposed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was adopted and implemented, taking greater account of environmental and social characteristics. The paper also proposes an index to identify neighborhoods of the city that could have precedence in the implementation of NbS. The results highlight 10 neighborhoods where there is a high need of NbS implementation. • Nature-based Solutions (NBS) can contribute significantly in adapting urban environments to climate change. • Where to localize the implementation of NBS in cities is a highly political process, which requires a critical perspective. • A multidimensional and multiscalar context-based approach is required in identifying areas that need precedence in NbS implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The policy assemblage approaches offer productive ways to understand how actors, institutions, and discourses interact to steer policies in different directions and produce new meanings and relations in society. However, they are disadvantaged by the lack of productive methodologies. This study addresses this gap by introducing the method of 'constructive juxtaposition' and engaging with an interdisciplinary approach to studying policy assemblages. This method facilitates a critical engagement in a single study, with, on the one hand, intended or unintended outcomes of policies or related instruments and, on the other hand, the understanding of the ways in which those outcomes are (re)produced in interplays between actors, institutions, and discourses in given contexts. The method of 'constructive juxtaposition' brings these two, often separate, research agendas into a productive dialogue. Building on the approaches and techniques of 'studying through' or 'following' policies, this method is based on the assumption that researching and exploring both sides of juxtaposition simultaneously bring a more comprehensive understanding of policy assemblages. By applying this method, this paper demonstrates how 'European city' ideals are produced in the interplay between actors, institutions, and discourses in the processes of implementation of the European Union's initiatives for designating common European heritage. • The policy assemblage approaches lack productive methodologies. • This paper introduces 'constructive juxtaposition' as a new policy assemblage method. • This paper unpacks policy assemblages related to the European Union's heritage agendas. • The European Union's initiatives for common European heritage make 'European city' ideals. • 'European city' ideals play important roles in urban planning and reconstruction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessibility is a relevant condition for social inclusion, depending on both context (transport system, land use patterns, temporal availability) and individual features. Based on this, it may be used for measuring people's ability to participate in social life and activities that contribute to their well-being. With the aim of dealing with the accessibility by proximity concept, this paper proposes an Inclusive Accessibility by Proximity Index (IAPI), conceived as a tool for assessing accessibility levels to services and activities deemed essential for local inhabitants, while recognizing the impact of the physical and perceptual characteristics of urban spaces and paths on active mobility. By considering the needs and habits of different mobility profiles in relation to the spaces and paths they live and cross daily, IAPI can help direct the construction of planning and urban design measures aimed at promoting walkability and cyclability and improving accessibility via active modes, thus envisioning a more sustainable and inclusive city. Taking a cue from the experience conducted in the testbed of Bologna (Italy), this paper describes the methodology for constructing and applying the index, presents the results obtained, and outlines the steps to make the tool scalable and sensitive to the different contexts. • An Inclusive Accessibility by Proximity Index is proposed at the district scale. • IAPI measures the accessibility by active modes to essential daily services. • IAPI is based on the physical and perceived features of urban spaces and paths. • IAPI supports the design of policy measures devote to accessibility by proximity. • An application of IAPI in Bologna (Italy) is offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of neoliberal urban planning on urban governance, using Dar es Salam as a case study. Drawing on planning literature and the concepts of 'state-capitalist,' 'coercive monopoly,' and 'de jure collusion', the paper examines how the desire to spur economic growth has undermined planning practice and city management. By combining literature, observations and interviews with practitioners and academics, the paper reveals that neoliberal planning promotes elite interests, over the needs of the poor, limiting their right to the city. Planning is reduced to a mere exercise of market facilitation, with little to no social impact. Lack of social resonance, the paper notes, suggests a misplaced priority and a parochial preoccupation among city authorities. To create equitable urban spaces and development, the paper argues for a shift toward inclusive planning approaches in the cities of the Global South. • State capitalist, coercive monopoly and de jure collusion are employed to analyse neoliberal planning and urban governance. • Neoliberal urban planning promotes elite interests, leaving little room for inclusive governance. • Planning is reduced to a mere exercise of facilitation, with little to no social impact. • Inclusive planning approaches are needed for local needs contextualization and effective project management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While urban redevelopment has been a global phenomenon for many decades, the redevelopment of urban villages (villages-in-the-city or c hengzhongcun) in China has attracted increasing scholarly attention in recent years. However, few studies focus on urban planning forces and their impacts on the redevelopment of urban villages, especially the transformation of open spaces. This paper therefore examines how urban planning transforms the space of urban villages through a case study of Yangji Village in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. The large increase in public spaces related to the transformation of Yangji results from collaborative governance driven by trends in urbanization and the work of urban planners. The latter are empowered by their strategic use of state support, professional knowledge and public interest incentives. However, in the Yangji redevelopment, as a state-hegemonic project, such planner-led collaborative governance remains limited in scope amid the exclusion of migrant tenants from decision-making. Although rarely regarded in the literature as playing a key role in redeveloping urban villages, this paper highlights urban planners as a salient force in the morphology of urban villages. Without challenging the hegemonic substance of urban village redevelopment, planners can coordinate with and occasionally manipulate other stakeholders to legitimate and facilitate negotiation during physical planning. Hence, redeveloped urban forms, rather than stakeholders' economic profits in short-term redevelopment, may influence urban lives in the long term due to planners' efforts. • Multiple stakeholders form collaborative governance in the physical planning of Yangji Village redevelopment to increase much open space. • The collaborative dynamics in the physical planning are built upon stakeholders' trust, fostered through informal meetings, led by planners, and fundamentally driven by urbanization. • Such collaborative governance is limited, largely due to the exclusion of migrant tenants. • Planners define the field of urban form beyond economic profit to improve redevelopment without challenging neoliberal and authoritarian hegemony. • State support, professional knowledge, and public interest ensure planners' leading role in collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban rail transit (URT) is under accelerated construction worldwide, which exerts important effects on the ridership of existing stations. However, few studies evaluated the determinants of station ridership considering the development of URT system. By employing the spatial difference-in-differences (SDID) model, this paper evaluates the impacts of a new line on the ridership of existing stations and analyzes its spatial heterogeneity. Combined with a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model, an interaction analysis is performed to understand the spatial variations of the impacts of the new line and surrounding land use on the ridership of existing stations. The results show that the operation of a new line can effectively share the ridership of existing stations and has spatial spillover effects. For different lines and different areas, the impacts can be heterogeneous. Additionally, the coordinated development of the new line and residential land accelerates the ridership growth of existing stations. Conversely, business development around the new line can attenuate the ridership of existing stations. The findings of this paper can help to make proactive planning of URT and provide policy implications for the integrated development of URT and surrounding land use. • Evaluates the impacts of a new urban rail transit line on the ridership of existing stations. • Explores the interaction effects of the new line and surrounding land use on the station ridership. • The operation of the new line can share the ridership of existing stations and has spatial spillover effects. • The interaction effects vary across the space. • Provides policy implications for the proactive planning of urban rail transit systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing upon recent post-political critiques on ineffective participation and urban planning, this paper reflects on the challenges facing participatory and collaborative planning in China's latest neighborhood regeneration practices. In 2017, Guangzhou launched a new micro-scale neighborhood regeneration program that shifted the discursive emphasis on participatory planning while China strives to create a new national image of a "people's city". This paper critically examines the implementation of old community renovation policies in 32 Chinese provinces and 776 neighborhood regeneration projects in Guangzhou. By examining the objectives and outcomes of legitimate power over participation, we uncover institutional conditions, implementation issues, and local responses in different participatory planning configurations. We found that a "co-production" model emerged in China, highlighting the role of institutionalized participatory planning activities. The conclusion is threefold: 1) Shared objectives in the emerging neighborhood regeneration discourse constitute legitimate power over participation in China's neighborhood regeneration; 2) The outcomes of legitimate power over participation are reflected in the local responses to the "co-production" activities; and 3) The "co-production" model—to produce planning schemes through co-design and joint-negotiation among multi-scalar actors including planners and residents—performs as an alternative to immature collaborative planning in China. Local governments can skillfully avoid direct confrontations with residents by introducing the function of community planners. These institutional arrangements of "co-production" have profoundly impacted the reshuffling of the state-society relationship in post-political China. While the implementation of China's latest neighborhood regeneration policy shows post-political risks in terms of depoliticized narratives, instrumentalized planning strategies, and technicized planning tools, we find "co-production" to be fruitful in promoting substantive participation and stimulating the accumulation of local knowledge. • An analytical framework to conceptualize the legitimate power of participation in China's emerging small-scale neighborhood regeneration program. • A response to the debate between two currents in the post-political context—consensus-oriented and conflict-based. • Critically examines the implementation of old community renovation policies in 32 Chinese provinces and the participatory planning practices of 776 projects in Guangzhou. • "Co-production" reflects both the objective and the outcome of legitimate power embodied in the neighborhood regeneration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population ageing is creating opportunities and challenges for many communities across the globe, as one in six people is expected to be older than 65 by 2050. Initiatives to develop age-friendly communities (AFC) have increased in popularity for more than two decades. While the physical environment and outdoor spaces are recognized as the core domain of the concept of AFC in the literature, most articles are published in the journals of ageing, gerontology, health and social policy and not in mainstream urban planning or design journals. The aim of the paper is to examine the spatial interventions and built-environment related discussions in the scholarly literature in the realm of AFC in the fields of landscape architecture and urban planning and identify gaps in the literature with the focus on spatial interventions. In addition, this paper aims to call urban planners and designers to action to be more engaged in the discussions and implementation of age-friendliness of communities. Findings suggest that urban planners and designers have the ability and power to contribute to the implementation of AFCs by raising awareness, changing attitude towards ageing issues, develop networks and collaboration, increase empathy, initiate and change policies, and put policies into action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There exists a deep and inherent linkage between the urban residential environment and perceived safety. Nonetheless, evidence on how outdoor play spaces in urban residential areas affect children's perceived safety is scarce. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of urban residential built environments on children's perceived safety, particularly by examining the characteristics of play spaces and their potential influences. Employing multiple regression and mediation analysis, we constructed a model to understand how these characteristics impact children's perceived safety. The findings reveal a significant positive effect of plot ratio on children's perceived safety, surpassing the influence of green space ratios. The abundance of natural materials was identified as the most influential spatial characteristic, followed by different sizes and types of spaces. Contrastingly, vegetation surprisingly showed a negative impact. Furthermore, visual stimulation from environmental characteristics are found to have a more significant influence on perceived safety than challenging aspects of the environment. Notably, the number of playmates plays a crucial mediating role in this relationship. Our research aims to enhance children's free play in urban outdoor spaces, offering evidence-based solutions and interventions for child-friendly urban design and policy regulation. [Display omitted] • Ensuring the safety of children playing outdoors is essential for developing child-friendly cities. • The spatial form and greenery levels in urban residential areas significantly affect children's perceived safety. • Richness in natural materials is a key factor influencing children's perceived safety. • The number of playmates mediates the impact of outdoor play spaces on perceived safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban proximity planning is foreseen as a solution to foster a "sustainable" city, including economic viability, environmental soundness and social inclusivity. This paper focuses on the inclusivity aspects by questioning the adoption of urban proximities: how far planning for urban proximities resonates or conflicts with current residential preferences and practices? Based on functional, social, and sensitive attributes, five latent residential preferences have been identified: spatial proximity, tranquility, elitism, social proximity, and conviviality. These aspirations form the basis for a longitudinal, spatial, and clustering analysis. The results of the analysis, conducted on 2200+ respondents in Geneva, reveal characteristics in residential preferences. Firstly, preferences are stable over time, but malleable to changing circumstances. Secondly, some preferences show clear spatial distribution patterns when regressed with residential location choice. Thirdly, the gap between preferences and actual residential practices varies across morphological attributes. As a main result, the clustering analysis shows that 43 % of the population aspire more to tranquility than to functional proximity; and those aspiring for proximities (32 %) are the youngest and wealthiest. This questions the relevance of models of urban proximities as an inclusive solution – raising issues of generational divide, territorial segregation, and injunctive and targeted planning. • 43 % of the population prefers tranquility over functional proximity. • Those aspiring for proximities (32 %) are the youngest and wealthiest. • The preferences for Spatial Proximity and Conviviality are oriented inward. • Elitism and Social Proximity are spread across the territory. • Residential preferences are stable over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greeneries contribute enormously to the health and physical wellbeing of individuals and sustainability of cities. This notwithstanding, greeneries in African cities have significantly declined over time. There have thus been several calls, notably, to plan for and create green cities by incorporating greeneries in homes and urban neighbourhoods. Achieving this requires local understanding, acceptance and positive attitudes of residents toward planning for and integrating greeneries in homes and the environment. There is however dearth of research in Ghana on the knowledge and willingness of households and city officials to plan for the creation of green cities as well associated barriers. This paper responds to this gap by employing the multi-case approach, comprising of two suburbs (a high- [Nhyiaeso] and low-income [Aboabo] neighbourhoods) in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of 380 households and various relevant city planning agencies were engaged in semi-structured interviews. The findings show considerable but variegate understanding of green cities, which is influenced by several factors such as study community, residency status, housing typology and educational attainment. Most households in both communities indicated their willingness to incorporate greeneries in homes and neighbourhoods. However, resource constraints, nonchalant attitude of some residents and poor maintenance practices, were reported as major barriers that impede the efforts to incorporate greens in homes and communities. Several recommendations are proffered. The study concludes that promoting and achieving the benefits of green cities can be shaped by the knowledge of it; hence, the need to consciously and continually educate households on their importance. • Greeneries contribute enormously to health and physical wellbeing of individuals. • There is considerable but variegate understanding of green cities. • Perception of individuals shape attitudes toward greening homes. • Residents showed willingness to incorporate greens in homes and neighbourhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban segregation can happen in many dimensions. Its study reveals city inequalities to inform urban planning policies; access to green and leisure spaces can contribute to well-being and social mixing. Different studies underline different characteristics. However, studies in Latin America, especially north-east Brazil, explore few segregation dimensions. This paper investigates multi-dimensional socio-spatial patterns in a broader urban area of João Pessoa city, relating residential census information - as income, race/colour, literacy and types of dwellings -, space syntax street network centralities, and public leisure spaces access. Variables were correlated and characterized k-means groups for sectors and neighbourhoods. Results indicate spatial wealth patterns with more whites and literates living in more apartments in areas stemming from the city expansion to the coast beyond municipal boundaries. Impoverished areas concentrate further from the sea, with barely any access to large leisure areas, transitioned by the city centre and Bancários neighbourhoods. Income was related more to access to large leisure areas than city-scale street network centralities. K-means clustering indicated heterogeneous profiles as poorer clusters, despite lower street network centrality and little sanitation, were either the densest or sparsest. Meanwhile, areas with higher street network access exhibited intermediate-to-high rather than highest-income inhabitants. Findings indicate a need to look over municipal boundaries and distribute better city amenities. • Findings indicate a tendency of white, literate, and wealthy living in apartments • Low income, particularly very low, have barely any reach to large leisure areas • Very high-income groups have access to large leisure areas, most close to the sea • K-means shows two poorest areas profiles: sparsest or densest, located differently • Intermediate income clusters exhibit higher street integration than higher income [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban policies financed in the framework of the European Cohesion Policy are a privileged area for the study of the Gender Mainstreaming (GM) due to the gender European rules and to the importance of the European Union in urban development. The aim of this paper is to validate an instrument for the systematic measurement of the application of the GM tool, and to evaluate the implementation of GM in Spanish urban policies financed by the EU. For this purpose, based on previous measurements and analysis, a specific methodological tool has been elaborated and applied to the 89 urban intervention projects implemented in Spanish big cities in the framework of the URBAN I, URBAN II, URBANA, and ISUD (Integral and Sustainable Urban Development) calls for proposals (1994–2020). The results reflect a sectorial orientation in the application of the GM. Moreover, we observed a more significant implementation of the strategy in the direction setting dimensions and a scarcer integration in the actor-oriented dimensions. The dimensions' scores could reflect the classic difficulties for actor-oriented dimensions in urban policy design and the effect of the EU's lack of clarity about gender equality on a multi-level governance policy. • Validates a tool to measure Gender Mainstreaming in urban projects. • Direction-setting and actor-oriented dimensions of urban policies apply to the integration of Gender Mainstreaming. • Limited integration of Gender Mainstreaming in Spanish urban projects (1994-2020) for actor-oriented dimensions. • The European Union and national level play a relevant role in gendering local policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaotic post-socialist suburbs need retrofitting through planning a system of local centres. The paper is aimed at recognizing the orientation of recent suburban planning in Poland through a focus on centres and identifying conditions for and examples of a proactive approach to planning local centres. The hierarchy of centres and the set of functions assigned to them is important since it could prevent the dispersion of public facilities and strengthen the potential of higher-order centres. Documents subjected to analysis encompassed spatial policies of 27 suburban municipalities included in the Functional Area of Warsaw. The Polish spatial planning system neglects centres as a category of functional, economic, and social space, leaving municipalities complete freedom in planning them. The study proved that a system of local centres should become an urban planning standard since it helps municipalities locate public functions more reasonably. A vision of local centre development is rarely based on rational premises. The Polish case shows that in outer suburbs, a proactive approach to LC planning that involves designing a desired future and then inventing ways to create that future state is still a long way off. • Chaotic post-socialist suburbs need retrofitting through planning a hierarchical system of local centres. • Service hierarchy corresponding to centre levels helps municipalities prevent the dispersion of economic potential. • The best arrangement of suburban local centres is a four-level order with local integration space as the lowest level. • The problem is that in Poland, the arrangement of local centres is rarely based on rational premises. • In post-socialist Poland, a proactive approach to local centre planning is still a long way off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review conducts a systematic analysis of a total of 90 Smart City articles from an urban context perspective based on the 'Urban Engagement and Impact Analytical Framework'. Many previous smart city reviews have been conducted through bibliometric analysis from a holistic viewpoint, finding the performance, trend and focused area of smart city research. Therefore, the principal objective of this review is to explore the gap in the adequacy of smart city research engagement with diverse urban contexts, to provide a smart urban environment focusing on Smart Urbanism. This paper highlights three principal aspects of each article; 1) Whose perspective that Smart City research mostly conducted by, 2) The depth of Urban context engagement conducted during Smart City development, 3) Which part of urban development is particularly affected by. These three dimensions are significant factors correlated to each other, that form healthy smart urbanism. By doing so, the findings from this review will lead the smart city research to a practical intervention in urban planning through engagement with the insightful urban contexts. This will offer a positive impact on developing a sustainable urban livelihood for the inhabitants by extending the view of the smart city development towards Smart urbanism within the urban context viewpoint. • In-depth urban contextual engagement is lacking in current Smart City research. • An Extension view of Smart City embracing balanced urban context is essential. • Taxonomy analytical framework is proposed for the review analysis. • The practical intervention urges for Smart City growth as urban planning. • Active engagement of scholars from architecture and urban planning is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overcrowding has been recognised as a common issue in urban schools and a major barrier to children's outdoor activities in their school environments. Many urban schools draw on their neighbourhood open space yet associated governance issues have not been sufficiently analysed. This qualitative study explored key stakeholders' perspectives on various governance topics that supported or discouraged sharing neighbourhood open spaces with schools. We involved school principals, local council officers, state government representatives, urban design experts, and primary school students aged 8–12 from across four Australian metropolitan areas. The findings reveal the relationship between the stakeholders at various governance levels; their capacities, power and interests in managing shared use of public space; as well as essential governing tasks and tools. The paper argues for governance through networks, in which power is dynamic and distributed among a range of stakeholders. This will require the development of mutually agreed guidelines to bridge gaps in the coordination of design, implementation and management of public open spaces. The governing tasks include planning schools close to public open spaces, establishing safe urban corridors between schools and public open spaces, designing essential amenities in public open spaces, and adapting school curricula for outdoor learning. • Shared use necessitates a cooperative relationship between multiple services. • Shared use requires stakeholder collaboration at both policy and operational levels. • Stakeholder power and capacity are dynamic as patterns of open space use change. • Development of mutually agreed guidelines can leverage the capacity of actors. • Shared use requires co-design of shared spaces with key stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban inequality is a highly complex and multidimensional phenomenon that involves several aspects, such as education, urban mobility, environment, technological or digital exclusion, food deserts, and inequalities in the distribution of urban facilities. Due to its impact on the living conditions of populations residing in the most deprived and unhealthy areas of cities, inequality in the distribution of urban public services is a particularly relevant issue. The measurement of urban inequality to discuss possible policy implications requires the synthesis of its sub-dimensions. Therefore, this paper applies the multicriteria method called ordered weighted averaging to evaluate the distribution of public goods in census tracts of the city of São Sebastião do Paraíso in Brazil. In particular, ordered weighted averaging, which allows the calibration of different degrees of non-compensability between sub-indicators and considers the heterogeneity of the census tracts, permits the evaluation of both positive and negative aspects of the studied phenomena. Two different composite indicators are calculated: the "Tax Index," which analyses the presence of public goods and the benefits in terms of property value and well-being that their presence generates, and the "Infrastructure Index," which examines the areas with the greatest lack of infrastructure. • Two composite indicators are constructed through ordered weighted averaging • The Infrastructure Index reveals priority areas for investment in public goods • The Tax Index shows which areas of the city benefit most from public goods • The indices form a mechanism for equitable allocation of public goods in the city • Taxes from the Fiscal Index fund public goods allocated by the Infrastructure Index [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to investigate how a blockchain-based platform for citizens' participation in urban planning should be developed adopting a Value Sensitive Design approach (VSD). VSD can be considered as an overarching methodological framework for new technologies development which takes into account moral and human values of all the direct and indirect stakeholders which might be impacted by the technology. By considering the perspectives of the different involved stakeholders, the paper specifically addresses the call for more research about blockchain-based services which adopts a human-centred approach instead of technocentric. The paper is based on the empirical analysis of a DApp called BBBlockchain which was specifically created with the purpose to improve citizens participation in urban planning decisions in two major residential development projects in Berlin, Germany. BBBlockchain is a proof of concept which is currently running on its own in-house test network but it can run on every EVM compatible blockchain. From the analysis of the information layer of participation, it can be argued that the most important values include transparency, inclusiveness and confidentiality. • Value Sensitive Design proved to be a good approach to develop a blockchain-based platform for citizens' participation in urban planning. • The most important values include transparency, inclusiveness and confidentiality. • Taking the perspective of the different involved stakeholders, the paper adopts a human-centred approach instead of technocentric. • Stakeholders' values should be incorporated into the design of the platform to enhance stakeholders' adoption. • Conflicts among stakeholders' values have emerged and they have been addressed through platform's design and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an in-depth city profile analyzing Martil—an emerging coastal satellite urban center in northern Morocco. Situated within a rapidly urbanizing context, Martil exemplifies organic satellite city dynamics in the Global South. The analysis tracks Martil's demographic, spatial, economic, social, environmental, and planning transformations since the 1970s. Accelerated rural-urban migration fueled unstructured peripheral expansion, straining infrastructure and producing socioeconomic disparities. Unregulated construction encroached on floodplains and coastal habitats, increasing climate risks and environmental degradation. Recent urban development plans aim to balance growth priorities with sustainability concerns through zoning, partnerships, and critical projects. However, persisting governance gaps between ambitions and on-ground outcomes continue to hinder equitable development and ecological resilience. The study situates Martil locally and comparatively, underscoring mismatches between prevailing models and satellites' distinct realities. Satellite urbanism's complexities validate calls for fundamental paradigm shifts prioritizing social welfare, climate adaptation, economic diversity, and participatory planning essential for sustainable urban development. This multi-dimensional analysis of a rapidly evolving coastal satellite city on the Mediterranean contributes an original perspective to urban studies scholarship while offering integrated recommendations for practitioners and policymakers. • Rapid coastal satellite urbanization trends unpacked through Martil city case profile • Population influx and unstructured peripheral expansion fuel socioeconomic and ecological pressures • Environmental hazards and groundwater risks analyzed vis-à-vis uncontrolled construction • Intent and implementation gaps in balancing urban growth with sustainability surface • Comparative insights on coastal satellites inform adaptive planning and policy pathways [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector cellular automata (VCA) are effective models for cadastral-scale land use change modeling, leveraging fine spatial granularity information from cadastral plot data. The temporal dimension has the potential to improve the performance of VCA further. However, it is challenging to precisely capture long sequence information of cadastral plot temporal data for VCA while ensuring accurate capture of fine granularity information simultaneously. Our paper introduces the Temporal-VCA framework, which fully utilizes fine spatial and temporal granularity information of cadastral plot temporal data to enhance the accuracy of VCA. Applying Shenzhen's annual cadastral plot data from 2009 to 2014, this study shows how deep learning techniques can elucidate the temporal aspects of VCA models. Temporal-VCA notably improves precision by up to 22.12 %, outperforming the regular VCA models and traditional raster CA models. It reveals the complex nonlinear temporal patterns within cadastral-scale urban development processes. Designed simulations for 2030, including scenarios of disordered development and ecological protection, highlight the benefits of fully leveraging fine temporal granularity information of temporal data into urban planning, potentially reducing ecological damage by 70 %. Our findings offer a novel methodology for urban land use simulation, with significant implications for urban planning and the advancement of sustainable cities. • Temporal-VCA enhances cadastral land use modelling by improving VCA's long sequence data acquisition • Our model simultaneously utilizes the fine spatial granularity and time series data of cadastral data • Policy scenarios are designed to optimize future land resources use by evaluating policy impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models of residential location choice suggest that the decision where to live depends on various economic, social, and environmental factors, including housing prices, lifecycle stage, household structure, job accessibility, and commuting time. By focusing on the motivational dimension of choice, and by linking the concept of regulatory focus to residential location preferences, the present paper extends these classic models. According to regulatory focus theory, goal-pursuit behavior is regulated by two motivational systems – promotion and prevention. Individuals with a promotion focus are motivated by the need for accomplishment, and use eager strategies to attain their goals. They take risks, are creative, and have a preference for a high-speed and fast-paced lifestyle. Individuals with a prevention focus are motivated by the need for safety and security, and use vigilant strategies. They try to avoid risk, attach high importance to stability, and prefer a more relaxed and slow-paced lifestyle. Three studies tested the effect of regulatory focus on residential location choice. Study 1 (n = 85) examined the relationship between promotion focus and the choice to live in fast-paced cities. The participants' regulatory focus was assessed as a chronic disposition using the regulatory focus questionnaire, after which they viewed images of a vibrant city (crowds of people rushing in the streets, heavy vehicle traffic), and were asked whether they would be willing to live in this city (yes/no). Promotion focus positively predicted the probability of 'yes' responses. Study 2 (n = 79) examined the relationship between prevention focus and the choice to live in slow-paced cities. The participants' regulatory focus was first measured using the regulatory focus questionnaire. Then, they viewed images of a relaxed city (people walking slowly from one place to the other, sparse vehicle traffic), after which they were asked whether they would be willing to live in this city (yes/no). There was no direct relationship between prevention focus the probability of 'yes' responses. In Study 3 (n = 102), priming was used to have participants experience either a history of promotion success (vs. promotion failure) or a history of prevention success (vs. prevention failure). Then, the participants viewed images of a fast-paced city and images of a slow-paced city, and were asked to choose in which of the two cities they would prefer to live (fast-paced city/slow-paced city). The experience of promotion success was positively associated with choosing to live in a fast-paced city. The experience of prevention success was not associated with choosing to live in a slow-paced city. Together, these findings suggest that individuals with a promotion focus are attracted to, and prefer to live in, vibrant and fast-paced urban environments. There was no evidence in this research for a direct relationship between prevention focus and the choice to live in slow-paced urban environments. Implications for urban planning and land use management are discussed. • There is a relationship between regulatory focus and residential location choice • Promotion focus is directly and positively associated with a preference to live in fast-paced cities • Prevention focus is not directly associated with a preference to live in slow-paced cities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equity and inclusion continue to pose significant challenges for many cities. Disparities in access to resources and facilities among the residents of these areas are often influenced by factors such as geographical location and income level, among others. Therefore, creating a quantitative basis to detect spatial and socio-economic inequities in residents' access to vital infrastructures is crucial for advancing smart cities. This paper introduces a novel measure of Spatial Inequity that is based on 1) computing building-level scores for each building in terms of access to facilities, and 2) comparing the distribution of the scores of these facilities using the Gini coefficient. The proposed building-level scores will enable the identification of GIS hotspots at a high resolution. Then, the Gini-based measure will facilitate a comparison of the distribution of the scores, and determine if they are evenly distributed and equitably accessible. The Gini coefficient was highest (0.89) for waste management and elderly care, and lowest (0.56) for hospitals, reflecting varying levels of inequality. This study applies this Spatial Ineqity methodological framework to Hong Kong, a representative of Highly Dense Cities. The framework benchmarks urban infrastructure, identifies hotspots, and selects interventions for equitable urban development. • Novel approach identifies spatial inequities via building-level scores & Gini coefficient. • Precise hotspot identification enhances targeted interventions in dense urban areas. • Applied methodology in Hong Kong offers insights into urban development complexities. • Gini coefficient unveils varying degrees of inequality across essential services. • Geospatial analysis & quantitative measures support equitable urban resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent months, 15-min city policies have faced significant backlash across social media, in opinion pieces, and even through street demonstrations, casting doubt on the future of x-minute city policies as effective tools in the fight against climate change. The protests and backlash not only challenge the effective implementation of x-minute city policies, but also highlight our lack of understanding regarding which acceptability factors affect public reactance to this new kind of urban policy. This paper reviews the existing literature to reveal the four main factors shaping policy acceptability. It then juxtaposes these factors against the common criticisms leveled at the 15-min city model. This comparative analysis not only illuminates the limitations of applying traditional policy frameworks to the x-minute city context, but also identifies critical gaps in the existing literature. By bridging this divide, we aid policymakers in navigating the spectrum of public skepticism of the 15-min city model, from addressing and debunking conspiracy theories to engaging with scientifically-grounded critiques. Our findings offer a roadmap for transforming these innovative urban planning concepts into widely embraced solutions for climate change mitigation. • We identify key factors shaping 15-min city policy acceptability. • Analyzes the role of conspiracy theories in public resistance • Emphasizes participatory co-design to enhance fairness and acceptance • Advocates for flexible, localized 15-min city policy implementation • Calls for future research on environmental justice and gentrification concerns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of municipal revenues is crucial for long-term socio-economic planning at the city level. This paper presents the impact of changes in legal regulations mandating the transformation of perpetual usufruct into ownership on preferential terms. Using micro-level information on transactions and plots handed over in perpetual usufruct for single-family housing, we determined potential losses in the City of Poznan caused by the new regulations. The research uses mass appraisal models to assess the fees related to the land value of properties affected by the legal transformation, scenario analysis, and Monte-Carlo simulation to evaluate the consequences of the change in the regulation in the long run. The simulation results indicate that the municipalities are deprived of relatively stable revenues after the reform. In Poznan, we assess that the net present value of revenue losses ranged from −327.3 mln PLN to −419.6 mln PLN (74.6 % to 92.9 % reduction of the baseline revenues, respectively). Incorporating provisions allowing the perpetual usufruct of developed land to be converted to housing is less financially beneficial for municipalities than for perpetual usufruct holders. Additionally, it significantly manages municipal strategic control of local development within the city and reduces municipal land resources. The research attempts to narrow the gap in knowledge about the role of land leases in municipal revenues. • The regulations introduced by the Law on Perpetual Usufruct Transformation of 2018 are financially disadvantageous for municipalities. • In the long run, the decrease in revenues will most likely cause a sub-optimal expenditure reduction and, to some extent, will lower the quality of local public utility services. • Reducing municipal land resources significantly limits local development and the scope of public utility services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) is crucial for socio-ecological systems that tackle urbanisation challenges. Participatory approaches involve the public in local environmental decision-making, and they are receiving renewed attention from academics, policymakers, and design professionals to achieve more inclusive urban development practices. This paper examines public participation in UGI delivery in the UK by evaluating the relationship between policy and practice. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including expert interviews and a nationwide survey, to explore financing, governance, perceptions of participation, and public willingness to engage in UGI delivery. The data reveals factors that influence people's inclination to participate in UGI delivery. Attitudes toward UGI and nature are favourable, but not the primary motivators for participation in UGI-related community or conservation activities. The research highlights the potential of deliberative public participation with the right policy instruments and support infrastructure to deliver effective UGI addressing ecological and socio-cultural priorities. The research emphasises the importance of public involvement in achieving sustainable urban development and the critical role of UGI in developing socio-ecological systems that address urbanisation challenges. It also highlights differences between rhetoric and practice in inclusive urban planning discourse. • This study provides empirical data indicating the factors which affect people's inclination participate in UGI delivery. • The majority of UGI strategies in the UK still adopt a top-down and expert-driven approach. • We examined the overarching motivations and barriers to the adoption of participatory approaches toward UGI development. • Most respondents agreed community greening projects would enhance social interactions amongst residents. • Awareness of UGI benefits may foster interest in participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban theorist Jane Jacobs related the presence of people with street safety, coining the expression "eyes on the street" and connecting it with morphological characteristics of architecture and urban space. However, urban studies have usually focused on people's perceptions of fear and social features rather than establishing a connection between where violence takes place and how the built environment looks like. This paper aims to estimate a potential relationship between street safety and urban morphology in a neighborhood of Quito, Ecuador, called la Mariscal. Crime Data was provided by the competent local government and morphological indicators were taken from a recent study of the neighborhood. Both categories were tested using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) econometric model. Results show that five morphological indicators related with the presence of people, non-basic commercial and facility balance, street area, distance to squares and pocket parks, distance to public transport stations, and distance to border vacuums, referring to big urban areas abandoned or with massive single uses, are strongly correlated with the number of robberies. This outcome provides evidence to support that urban planning and design principles may incorporate safety considerations. • The presence of people helps to reduce the number of street robberies. • Morphological urban indicators related to the presence of people are strongly correlated with the number of street robberies. • Jane Jacobs's postulate regarding eyes on the street is still valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of how modern Open Data Ecosystems (ODEs) work is critical in the context of current trends towards sustainability and smartness, while is seen to be an asset to support urban governance and development, in coordinating actions, and fostering civic engagement. This paper aims to establish such understanding by analyzing the contextual patterns, platforms, and components shaping sustainable ODEs by employing platform theory. This study explores and compares characteristics, similarities, differences, and best approaches in 19 cities across 8 countries. In this study we (1) identify 50 patterns that influence and shape sustainable ODEs and their platforms, i.e., Open Data Platform Ecosystems (ODPEs); (2) explore the relationships between platforms and other ODPEs components by developing a respective model, and identifying internal platforms and other components; (3) empirically validate the conceptual findings of five types of ODPEs presented in the literature, redefining them from the conceptual to real-life implementation of the respective components in sample cities; (4) considering the experience gained during the study with respect to the ODPEs and external pressures and environments that shape or influence them, we define 12 recommendations for policy planning and urban governance of more sustainable ODEs. • Identifies 50 patterns that influence and shape sustainable ODEs in smart cities • Defines the Open Data Platform Ecosystem (ODPE) and its components and relationships • Empirically validates the conceptual findings of five types of smart city ODPEs • Defines 12 recommendations for urban development of more sustainable ODEs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major problem for policymakers is to ensure that levels of citizen participation reflect the society in its diversity, but they must also ensure that those citizens who want to get involved have the means to do so. Despite empirical evidence of the role of urban planning in health, well-being, and livability, studies have not delved into the implications of how low-density sprawled urban forms influence civic involvement. This paper adds new evidence regarding the significance of urban form, built environment characteristics and more in general city planning, as intermediary factors between public and private life connected to civic engagement and public space use. Based on surveys and geographic data from the Greater Metropolitan Area of San José, in Costa Rica, the article investigates how the results of citizen participation change depending on whether residents are from a compact or dispersed study area, relating to urban rhythms and mobility metrics. Findings suggest that inhabitants of group A (lower-density neighborhoods) differ significantly from group B (compact-city areas) in four variables: means of mobility, commuting time, public space use, and civic activism, while having similar sociodemographic composition. Compared with residents of group A, group B report higher levels of use and knowledge of public spaces and civic participation. These two aspects constitute, the Urban Civic Participation Index, which, related to self-reported free time, forms what we define as Public Time. The main characteristics of the compact city (higher population and building density, high street connectivity, grid presence and proximity of services, mixed land use) were found to be positively related to the outcomes of accessibility to public space and community participation. In contrast, there are no significant differences in the availability of free time between the two groups. This study, along with others on the compact city, shows that there are other reasons to reduce daily commuting distances in cities and the need of urban time policies to redesign urban society's temporal dimension besides the known environmental impacts. It also raises the question of how low urban density affects people's time and disposition to participate in public life. • The physical environment can affect public participation in urban life. • There are significant differences between lower-density and compact-city areas in urban rhythms. • Compact cities have more citizen activism and public time. • Results concern how low urban density affects civic engagement and time availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban planning exhibitions have been a long-standing element in planning culture, on a worldwide level. Until now, there has been a considerable gap in researching the efficiency of urban planning exhibitions in communication, especially from a quantitative perspective. Rooted in communicative planning and built on Generic Learning Outcomes and Contextual Model of Learning theory, this paper aims to explore the role of urban planning exhibitions in communication and the factors that influence their efficiency, using the recently opened Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Hall (UPEH) as an example. The 115 participants in this study were divided into two groups (experimental and control) and asked to answer a series of urban planning questions before and after visiting the Guangzhou UPEH. Results showed that except for the level of education, the personal and sociocultural factors had no significant effect on changes in participants' knowledge on the subject. However, the physical factors of participants' visits, including the length of the visit, the number of exhibits seen by participants and the degree of engagement with the top-rated exhibits, significantly influenced learning about urban planning. The results demonstrated that urban planning exhibitions can provide inclusive platforms in facilitating planning communication and public engagement. • Measurement of public learning in a permanent urban planning exhibition • Participants significantly gain knowledge about urban planning after their visits. • Physical attributes of participants' visits significantly influence their learning. • Socio-cultural background of participants generally does not affect their learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are championed for providing co-benefits to cities and residents, yet their environmental justice impacts are increasingly debated. In this paper, we explore whether and how hybrid governance approaches, such as Mosaic Governance, may contribute to just transformations and sustainable cities through fostering long-term collaborations between local governments, local communities, and grassroots initiatives. Based on case studies in three major European cities, we propose and then exemplify six possible pathways to increase environmental justice: greening the neighborhood, diversifying values and practices, empowering people, bridging across communities, linking to institutions, and scaling of inclusive discourses and practices. Despite the diversity of environmental justice outcomes across cases, our results consistently show that Mosaic Governance particularly contributes to recognition justice through diversifying NBS practices in alignment with community values and aspirations. The results demonstrate the importance of a wider framing of justice in the development of NBS, sensitive to social, cultural, economic and political inequities as well understanding potential pathways to enhance not only environmental justice, but also social justice at large. Especially in marginalised communities, Mosaic Governance holds much potential to advance social justice by enabling empowering, bridging, and linking pathways across diverse communities and NBS practices. [Display omitted] • Mosaic Governance strengthens collaborations between civil society and governments. • Procedural justice may be better served by participation than by plural valuation. • Case studies illustrate impacts depend on enactment of Mosaic Governance approaches. • Grassroots contribute to empowerment, bridging and linking marginalised communities. • Environmental justice cannot be separated from social justice issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In post-conflict and divided cities where urban spatial injustice is reinforced by enduring divisions, the frameworks of spatial intersectionality and transformative justice hold significant potential to address inequity through urban planning. All cities can be considered divided in some way and these divisions often represent spatial injustice or inequitable access to resources and space. However, in post-conflict and divided cities these divisions may be entrenched and may transgenerationally maintain conditions of inequity and violence. This paper presents spatial intersectionality and transformative justice as frameworks for urban planning that have the potential to address inequity and divisions in all cities, but particularly in cities catergorised as divided due to violence or conflict. I propose a set of guiding questions for transformative justice informed urban planning. • Spatial intersectionality can help identify how structures of inequality restrict movement and use of cities. • Applying transformative justice to urban planning can address the roots of social and structural inequity. • The two frameworks are complementary and can broaden the scope of urban planning to address inequity, violence, and division. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History matters. Yet, explanations about the contemporary dynamics around informal settlements in global South cities are often divorced from their historical antecedents. We argue that a retrospective approach is important in analyzing and understanding the current dynamics around informal settlements. Applying the historical institutionalism approach and the concepts of critical junctures and path dependency, this paper develops an institutionalist approach to exploring the messy and complex dynamics of urban informal settlements in Abuja, Nigeria. Using interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, and participant observations, we identify four key critical junctures: the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ACT of 1976; the Land Use ACT of 1978, the 1979 master plan of Abuja, and the attempted demolition of Mpape in 2012 and the resulting 5-year court case that ended in 2017. These critical junctures have created path dependencies that explain the contemporary state of the urban informal settlements in Abuja, particularly in relation to land rights and tenure (in)security. This study shows how inconsistencies in the formulation of policies and their implementation in the planning of cities are a result of historically embedded problems. Insights into such historical legacies are the first step to a comprehensive understanding and future planning of urban informal settlements. • History matters. Contemporary cities are shaped by legacies of the past as well as current governance circumstances. • The use of critical junctures and path dependency frameworks provides meaningful insights into the informalisation processes of informal settlements. • Informal settlements in Abuja are the result of the path-dependent actions of the state and non-state actors. • Insights into historical legacies are important for sustainable future planning and regularisation of urban informal settlements. • Future studies on urban informal settlements need to account for the historical antecedents and path-dependencies in their governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas and historical centres are exposed to climate change, decay, human threats, among other menaces, which jeopardize their safeguard. Besides, in general, stakeholders, or decision-makers, do not require interventions to be sustained by previous evaluations of their impact in the urban heritage. To fill this gap, the international organizations in charge of the protection of cultural heritage (e.g., UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM), in line with what happens with the environment, request a holistic and integrated evaluations, regarding heritage impact assessment to maintain the urban heritage. The paper proposes a Monitoring and Assessment Heritage Tool (MAHT) to collect data concerning heritage, technical and social dimensions of urban heritage buildings. This tool aims to create shared databases, using a systematic assessment and monitoring to identify attributes and transformations, especially regarding physical features of urban fabrics and buildings, and the quality of life of citizens. It involves data analysis, supported by statistical procedures, which underline complementarity dimensions, and combined indicators, i.e., distinct levels of quantitative information. Finally, the paper concludes that, as a holistic assessment tool, MAHT contributes to catalogue buildings in cities, providing structured and systematised data, to support the decision-making processes of the different stakeholders at different urban heritage levels. • The rehabilitation of urban areas requires cataloguing and periodic monitoring. • A Monitoring and Assessment Heritage Tool (MAHT) is designed to assess urban heritage. • MAHT allows measuring, comparing and classifying urban heritage buildings indicators. • Distinct levels of information are assessed through combined indicators. • Proposed information feed and improve urban instruments and policies in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With more than one-third of children worldwide living in urban areas, the call for child-friendly cities (CFC) has increased in urgency; however, many cities are still largely unfriendly to children. This paper uses a systematic literature review and bibliometric tool to identify papers from Scopus between 2001 and 2020. It reviews the existing knowledge and gaps about child-friendliness within the sphere of socio-spatial urban planning. The findings reveal a three-dimensional perspective of the concept of child-friendly cities: rights, physical environment, and governance. Moreover, it shows that existing knowledge appears rather limited in its explanation of the governance processes that lead to translating children's rights into suitable physical environments. In the conclusions, a research avenue is proposed to close the existing gaps that can contribute to achieving CFC. [Display omitted] • Child-friendly cities (CFC) have three dimensions: rights, physical environment, and governance. • The physical environment is a platform to fulfill children's rights. • Good governance is widely recognized as a factor towards child-friendly cities. • There are limited studies about the child-friendly cities governance processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizens' role evolved to become active agents in decision-making. However, existing policy definition procedures are still not tailored to engage citizens and the participation of specific groups. Moreover, it is vital to understand citizens' interests and motivations to set the methods and build democratic methodologies that make them feel comfortable and willing to participate. In this context, this paper explores how policymakers view the role of citizens in policymaking. Specifically, it looks at the obstacles outlined by policymakers to the involvement of citizens in the policy definition. Second, it explores how citizens view their participation and the respective challenges. This study was conducted within the Portuguese context, following a methodology supported by mixed methods research, which combined interviews with policymakers and questionnaires applied to citizens. Furthermore, this research shows detailed data about how the Portuguese population and how particular groups wish to engage in decision-making. Guidelines are presented in the following areas: willingness to be identified, subjects, topics, methods, and channels to participate. The findings suggest there is significant heterogeneity on the engagement modes. Therefore, to promote the inclusion of different groups of citizens, policymakers should tailor participatory methodologies to these, in line with the guidelines of this paper. • Study of the methods to engage citizens and the participation of specific groups • Comparison between policymakers and citizens perspectives in the Portuguese context • Citizens' preferences differ according to the age, gender and educational attainment. • Guidelines on identification, subjects, topics, methods and channels of participation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densification is the key intervention strategy proposed in the urban sustainability planning literature. Nevertheless, the blueprint for action is still vague, and especially so in small cities. Is, for example, the premise for and reward of densification relatively transferable between city scales? In addition, does difference in centre structures and distribution of facilities in small cities have an implication for active travel? By focusing on three Norwegian small cities, this paper addresses how built environment and attitudes influence active travel behaviour in small cities with different centre structures. Using descriptive statistics, ANOVA test and negative binomial regression on survey data, the paper finds that attitude towards active travel as well as accessibility significantly influence walk/bike trip frequency. Moreover, variation in small-city centre structure has an important implication for active travel but the effect varies between facility types. • Theoretical premise on the causal mechanism between urban form and travel behaviour in small city context is laid out. • City-scale built environment factors are strong predictors of average accessibility by active modes in small cities. • Attitude towards active modes strongly contributes to the propensity for active travel when alternative modes are available. • Distribution of facilities that optimizes active travel in a small city differs by facility categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between urban spatial configuration and retail location. We present the Contact model to quantify the capacity of diverse urban configurations to foster economic interactions. Employing a network approach, the model simulates potential interactions between residents and retail activities as they move through the city. The model computes the number of shortest paths, weighted by resident density, in a network loaded with retail activities. The method allows for ranking different urban networks based on their potential to stimulate or constrain interactions between inhabitants and retail establishments. The weighted Contact model is tested across various metric radii in a sample of 35 US cities, utilizing population data from US Census Bureau (c2020) and retail data from the ReferenceUSA database (NAICS, c2020). To validate the model, we correlate results with total retail sales data for each city. Our findings reveal that cities with higher weighted Contact values exhibit greater retail sales volume, particularly within smaller radii up to 1000 m. The differences and relevance of this measurement decreases at >1000 m radius showing that the Contact model is relevant at the local level. We conclude that the urban spatial configuration remains to play an important role in the urban economic environment, holding implications for business and service planning, as well as urban planning and design. • Urban spatial configuration and retail location relationships are explored. • Using a network-based approach, Contact model is presented. • Contact model quantifies how urban configurations promote economic interactions. • Urban spatial configuration plays a role in the number of economic interactions. • Contact model is flexible to build specific scenarios for different land uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy retrofitting of residential buildings is considered a challenge to be tackled not only at building level, but also at urban scale, to give a stronger impulse for a concrete transition towards climate neutrality. This paper presents an easy-to-use analysis method based on the elaboration and scaling-up of data collected through the energy performance certificates (EPCs) to identify different urban energy zones distinguished by their energy performance index. This method is therefore conceived for better informing urban planning decisions, thus boosting more effective energy-sensitive urban planning strategies and eventually to foresee dedicated financial instruments to act in the more energy demanding areas of the city, establishing priorities for integrated strategies. This analytical method has been applied and tested in one municipality in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, where the recent urban planning law is pushing municipalities towards the development of urban planning strategies oriented to drastically improve the energy efficiency of the existing building stock. Results show that only a small number of areas manage to reach a good performance with fairly low levels of energy performance index, with the most critical situation found in the most central areas of the capital and in the hamlets. • Easy-to-use method for assessing energy performance of residential building at urban scale is proposed • Method based on data easily available for local authorities, like energy performance certificates (EPCs) and urban morphology • The method supports urban planners in municipalities in taking more targeted decisions for improving energy efficiency • The main output of the method is the definition of an energy performance index (EPI) for different urban contexts • EPI allows to wisely balance economic incentives, identifying areas where multi-purpose interventions are recommended [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human mobility is of importance in supporting smart cities, urban planning and constructions of resilient environments. Previous studies on dominant mobility models (i.e., gravity and radiation models) rarely describe the refined spatiotemporal process of human mobility flow forces especially within city. To address this gap, this paper proposes a spatiotemporal flow force model (FFM) of sink/source human mobilities within city, which is derived from Navier-Stokes equation in the field of fluid mechanics. The FFM model outperforms the gravity and radiation models in modeling the refined spatiotemporal flow force process of source/sink human mobilities, in the aspect of intensity and direction of mobility flow force. Comparison results show that the gravity and radiation models in the source mobility scenario can give a rough force estimation about the total outflow from source mobility areas while without the capability of explaining the specific directions of mobility flow from source mobility areas. Pearson correlation coefficient between the intensity results of the two models and those of FFM range from 0.65 to 0.90 and direction differences between the results of the two models and FFM respectively show no clear regularity. In the sink mobility scenario, the direction of mobility flows can be estimated well by the gravity and radiation models while the intensity of mobility flow between small-scale areas within cities is susceptible to inaccuracies. Pearson correlation coefficient ranges from 0.13 to 0.59 and direction differences follow a stepped distribution from high to low within the range of 0° to 180°. In addition, the potential field of human mobility flow force provides a powerful tool for visually analyzing mobility flows within cities. This proposed model enriches human mobility models and is generalizable in supporting smart cities, urban planning, and constructions of resilient environments in terms of the refined spatiotemporal process of mobility flow force. • A spatiotemporal flow force model (FFM) of sink/source human mobilities within city is proposed. • Gravity and radiation models fail to explain specific directions of mobility flow from source mobility areas within city. • Mobility flow intensity between small-scale areas modeled by gravity and radiation models is susceptible to inaccuracies. • FFM model outperforms the gravity and radiation models in intensity and direction of mobility flow force. • The proposed model is generalizable in supporting smart cities, urban planning, and resilient environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]