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Land
Special Issues
Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth
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Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Contexts and Urban-Rural Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 20243

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pedro Chamusca

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Guest Editor
Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Interests: spatial planning; governance; territorial cohesion; urban geography
Dr. André Carmo

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Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
Interests: urban studies; social and cultural geography; geographical thinking
Dr. Ricardo Almendra

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Guest Editor
Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Coimbra, 3004-530 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: urban health; thermal discomfort; climate and health; biometeorology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Patrícia Pereira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universidade Nova De Lisboa, 1099-085 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: sociology; urban studies; qualitative methodologies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

During the last decades, climate change and biodiversity loss have been highlighted as major causes of the environmental crisis, impacting the health and wellbeing of citizens and highlighting the need to rethink current urban systems. With 74% of people living in urban areas in Europe, cities are experiencing rapid changes. One of the key challenges faced is how to co-create sustainable cities that are planned around people’s needs while reducing the impact of the means to achieve those needs. At the same time, the current wave of technological innovation and the broad application of information and communication technologies are changing private and public services, industrial production, and individual behaviors. Cultural and digital transformations are changing social relations, working styles, mobility, and shopping patterns, with their effects being particularly felt on cities, which should also be taken as drivers of these changes. Ecological and digital transitions pose major challenges and opportunities for cities worldwide. Their performance depends on how different sectors and agents interact, both in the construction of a greener and technologically more advanced territory, and their contribution to build a fair society on an increasingly urban world.
Based on the proposed topic, the special issue will look on theoretical and empirical analysis of recent urban dynamics, transitions and its impact on citizens health and wellbeing. Developing innovative approaches for urban sustainable development will be important to provide answers to the urban challenges identified before. Moreover, the publications will provide evaluations of urban problems and solutions in different parts of the world, which might be useful for more efficient public policies.

All themes addressing recent urban dynamics and experiences will be welcomed, namely those related to:

  • Positive Energy Districts
  • The 15-Minute City
  • Circular Urban Economies
  • Area-based initiatives for sustainable urban development
  • Degrowth actions
  • Cultural and digital projects for local development

Dr. Pedro Chamusca
Dr. André Carmo
Dr. Ricardo Almendra
Dr. Patrícia Pereira
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable urban development
  • urban resilience
  • urban dynamics
  • degrowth theories
  • circular economies
  • 15-minute city
  • urban governance
  • urban art, culture and social movements

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 5324 KiB  
Article
Empirical Analysis on the Mechanism of Industrial Park Driving Urban Expansion: A Case Study of Xining City
by Ming Tian, Zhuo He, Jinpeng Wei and Yicong Tian
Land 2024, 13(10), 1577; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101577 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 444
Abstract
Taking Xining City as an example, this article analyzes the mechanism by which industrial park construction drives the expansion of urban population size and built-up area, based on a review of the process of industrial park development and urban population growth. It also [...] Read more.
Taking Xining City as an example, this article analyzes the mechanism by which industrial park construction drives the expansion of urban population size and built-up area, based on a review of the process of industrial park development and urban population growth. It also discusses future urban governance models in light of urban development trends. The research finds: (1) In the process of urban development, industrial park construction is often the initial factor in the cumulative and cyclical development of a city; (2) As the level of development improves and the mode of economic growth changes, the government should timely adjust its strategies, shifting from the expansion of industrial park construction towards structural optimization and quality improvement. The most significant difference from previous research is that this paper emphasizes the importance of government planning. This study can not only demonstrate the general process of industrial parks promoting urban expansion, but more importantly, it explains the fundamental reasons for the transition of urban expansion to adjustment from a mechanism perspective, thereby eliminating the drawbacks of simply predicting urban scale evolution through data models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth)
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22 pages, 1533 KiB  
Article
How Resource-Exhausted Cities Get Out of the Innovation Bottom? Evidence from China
by Zihan Hu, Min Wu, Dan Yang, Tao Luo and Yihao Tian
Land 2024, 13(8), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081153 - 27 Jul 2024
Viewed by 2136
Abstract
The transformation and upgrading of resource-exhausted cities are crucial for regional sustainable development, but how to help them overcome innovation challenges remains to be explored. Based on data from 2003 to 2016, this study used a difference-in-differences (DID) method to examine the impact [...] Read more.
The transformation and upgrading of resource-exhausted cities are crucial for regional sustainable development, but how to help them overcome innovation challenges remains to be explored. Based on data from 2003 to 2016, this study used a difference-in-differences (DID) method to examine the impact of China’s support policy for resource-exhausted cities on urban innovation and tests for long-term mechanisms. The results indicate that the support policy significantly enhanced regional innovation levels. The mechanism tests showed that these policies promoted urban innovation through long-term mechanisms of increasing marketization and upgrading industrial structures. Further analysis revealed that the innovation-promoting effects of the policies were more significant in resource-exhausted cities located in the eastern region, those not dependent on coal, those with a low reliance on extractive industries, and those with a favorable talent environment. The findings suggest that the government should provide policy support to achieve the transformation, upgrading, and sustainable development of resource-exhausted cities through urban innovation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth)
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24 pages, 8237 KiB  
Article
Uncovering the Triple Synergy of New-Type Urbanization, Greening and Digitalization in China
by Qiangyi Li, Jiexiao Ge, Mingyu Huang, Xiaoyu Wu and Houbao Fan
Land 2024, 13(7), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071017 - 8 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1020
Abstract
The in-depth discussion and analysis of the synergistic effect of new-type urbanization, greening and digitalization (NUGD) is important for the achievement of sustainable social, ecological and economic development. Therefore, in this study, an evaluation index system composed of these three subsystems was constructed [...] Read more.
The in-depth discussion and analysis of the synergistic effect of new-type urbanization, greening and digitalization (NUGD) is important for the achievement of sustainable social, ecological and economic development. Therefore, in this study, an evaluation index system composed of these three subsystems was constructed for Chinese cities from 2011 to 2021. The comprehensive and collaborative development levels of each subsystem were measured by means including the entropy weight method and the coupling coordination model, respectively. Then, methods such as ESDA and the Dagum Gini coefficient were applied to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution and spatial differences in the triple synergy effect of the NUGD system in Chinese cities. Finally, the constraining factors of the triple synergy effect were revealed using the obstacle degree model. The findings demonstrated the following: (1) Overall, the NUGD subsystems and their comprehensive levels were increasing, with moderate overall development levels. (2) The synergistic development of the NUGD system exhibited an upward trend. Spatially, the synergistic development level showed distinct differentiation, being higher in the east and lower in the west. The multidimensional dynamic variation characteristics obtained through kernel density estimation revealed that the triple synergy level exhibits high stability. (3) The differences within the east and between the eastern and western areas were the largest, with the intensity of transvariation as the main source. (4) The five criterion layers, including social and spatial urbanization variables, were the key constraints that affected the triple synergy of the NUGD in Chinese cities, and the restrictive role of factors such as the proportion of urban construction land and the per capita postal business volume should not be ignored. This study provides a valuable reference and decision-making guidance to promote China’s acceleration toward a new urbanization path supported by both digitalization and green transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth)
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20 pages, 8575 KiB  
Article
Unlocking Economic Resilience: A New Methodological Approach and Empirical Examination under Digital Transformation
by Chenchen Shi and Jinjing Lu
Land 2024, 13(5), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050621 - 4 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2129
Abstract
Economic resilience is crucial for urban sustainability as it ensures stability and growth in the face of external shocks, promotes social cohesion and inclusivity, fosters environmental sustainability, and enhances cities’ adaptability to future challenges. This study expands the conventional perspective on economic resilience [...] Read more.
Economic resilience is crucial for urban sustainability as it ensures stability and growth in the face of external shocks, promotes social cohesion and inclusivity, fosters environmental sustainability, and enhances cities’ adaptability to future challenges. This study expands the conventional perspective on economic resilience beyond the context of shocks, focusing on the inherent resilience of regional economic systems. A novel method for quantifying economic resilience is introduced, emphasizing system sensitivity and adaptability. Using Chinese prefecture-level city data and an econometric model, we empirically examine how Fintech, a major digital transition in current urban systems, affects economic resilience. The findings reveal that Fintech has a substantial positive effect on economic resilience, primarily through the upgrading of industrial structures and technological innovation. Furthermore, there is significant regional heterogeneity in the impact of Fintech on economic resilience, with more pronounced contributions in the east, central, and western regions of China, as opposed to the northeast. Additionally, the impact of Fintech on economic resilience is more substantial in large-scale cities. The promotion of economic resilience through digital transformation serves as a potent risk prevention measure. Understanding the role of economic resilience in urban systems holds valuable implications for countries worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth)
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15 pages, 10095 KiB  
Article
Tourism-Led Change of the City Centre
by José Fernandes, Pedro Chamusca, Rubén Lois, Helena Madureira, Juliano Mattos and Jorge Pinto
Land 2024, 13(1), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010100 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2194
Abstract
In multicentric and increasingly complex urban regions, a city centre reinvents itself. In the case of Porto, tourism was essential for its “Baixa” renaissance. A relevant increase in visitors meant also a dramatic increase in real estate prices and significant land-use change. In [...] Read more.
In multicentric and increasingly complex urban regions, a city centre reinvents itself. In the case of Porto, tourism was essential for its “Baixa” renaissance. A relevant increase in visitors meant also a dramatic increase in real estate prices and significant land-use change. In field interviews, retailers noticed a “new life” before COVID-19 arrived, remarking on the positive role of tourism on urban rehabilitation and the economic viability of companies, and the negative effects for residents and traditional shops, directed to the common resident. In this article, we present and discuss its main effects in this exceptional area in Portugal’s second city. We also discuss tourism dependency and the challenge of sustainability in a high-density context, defending public policies oriented for a “city with tourists” that replaces the current construction of a “city of tourists”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth)
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19 pages, 4994 KiB  
Article
Enabling In-Situ Urbanization through Digitalization
by Le Li and Tao Song
Land 2023, 12(9), 1738; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091738 - 7 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1595
Abstract
The bourgeoning of e-commerce in the context of the information era has accelerated the urbanization trend by broaching a new horizon of economic and industrial boosters for rural places, epitomized by a great number of “Taobao Villages” in China. This paper has two [...] Read more.
The bourgeoning of e-commerce in the context of the information era has accelerated the urbanization trend by broaching a new horizon of economic and industrial boosters for rural places, epitomized by a great number of “Taobao Villages” in China. This paper has two objectives: (1) explore the process and mechanism of digitalization enabling rural in-situ urbanization represented by e-commerce; (2) nuance the specific case evidence of Daiji Town, where digitalization enabled in-situ urbanization recently. We build up a theoretical framework for digitalization-enabled in-situ urbanization from the juxtaposition of four interlinked elements: industry, talent, rural governance, and land use. It then analyzed the details and evidence of digitalization enabling rural in-situ urbanization through the case study of Daiji Town. The main conclusions of this paper are as follows: First, digitalization plugs rural areas into production and consumption networks in wider contexts, promoting the transformation and prosperity of rural economies. Secondly, the reverse migration of young generations to rural areas becomes the key to rural in-situ urbanization. Thirdly, digitization materializes the urbanization of rural spaces. Finally, digitalization enables the rural transformation and improvement of urban-rural relations in the Global South, which needs to be further explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth)
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22 pages, 3384 KiB  
Article
The Impact of High-Speed Rail on Economic Development: A County-Level Analysis
by Fangting Chi and Haoying Han
Land 2023, 12(4), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040874 - 12 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 8842
Abstract
High-speed rail has an important impact on the location choices of enterprises and the labor force, which is reflected in a complex space–time process. Previous studies have been unable to show the change characteristics between enterprises and the labor force at the county [...] Read more.
High-speed rail has an important impact on the location choices of enterprises and the labor force, which is reflected in a complex space–time process. Previous studies have been unable to show the change characteristics between enterprises and the labor force at the county level. Therefore, based on the new economic geography theory, we first constructed a theoretical analysis framework to explore high-speed railway’s impact on county economy development and then obtained the two economic subdivision factors’ impacts: industrial enterprises and secondary labor force. Then, based on the panel data of 1791 county units in China from 2003 to 2019, the study constructed a multi-period PSM-DID model to empirically explore high-speed rail’s impact on the county’s agglomeration of industrial enterprises and secondary labor force. The results show that high-speed rail has a long-term negative effect on the county area’s agglomeration of industrial enterprises. From the perspective of the labor force, high-speed rail has a long-term and continuous positive effect on the agglomeration of the secondary labor force in county units. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Transitions and Dynamics: Cultural, Ecological, Digital and Degrowth)
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