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Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 14465

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Felicia Di Liddo

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Construction and Chemistry Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: real estate appraisal; urban planning; sustainable land use; enhancement of buildings in disuse; redevelopment initiatives of degraded and abandoned urban areas; decision-support systems; public-private partnership procedure; plans and investment valuation and public–private partnerships in urban planning
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Prof. Dr. Pierluigi Morano

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Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: real estate valuation; urban development; valuation risk; analysis investment; valuation property; management asset; housing economics; project financing; urban economics; financial analysis; real estate management; project management; applied econometrics; environmental economics; urban sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Francesco Tajani

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Guest Editor

Department of Architecture and Design, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Flaminia 359, 00196 Rome, Italy
Interests: property valuation; mass appraisal; urban economics; risk analysis; engineering economics; financial sustainability; decision support systems; sustainable urban development; life cycle assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Paola Amoruso

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Guest Editor

Department of Management, Finance and Technology, LUM Giuseppe Degennaro University, Casamassima, BA, Italy
Interests: financial markets; real estate valuation; risk analysis; financial valuation; appraisal methods in real estate market; project financing; real estate finance; green real estate; green finance; civil engineering; public–private partnership

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Decarbonization is one of the most current and relevant topics within the construction sector and urban planning policies, which is also in line with the environmental strategies of many European Union countries and the set sustainable development goals.

In order to reach a complete transformation of the global energy system, a progressive transition from fossil energy sources to zero-carbon alternatives is crucial, starting from transportation and heavy transportation areas up to the use of zero-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia, in all sectors.

In this framework, a wide range of development and conservation strategies can help protect the natural environment and, at the same time, make cities more attractive, livable, and economically stable; these strategies are currently strongly promoted. Therefore, new urban design concepts should presuppose the inclusion and reintroduction of biodiversity into the built environment by recognizing the central role urban green spaces could have in the mitigation of an expected warmer climate, the saving of soil consumption, and, in social terms, for providing effective aggregation collective public places.

Urban planning should constantly act in synergy with the evaluation disciplines to obtain city models that are consistent with genuine communities needs and the broader purposes fixed by central governments in relation to a drastic reduction in energy and resource use and the creation of smart cities that are capable of self-generating at least half of the required energy, meeting the changing requirements of the population.

The present Special Issue is part of the mentioned topic, which is mainly related to the definition of innovative support decision-making tools that can guide the processes for the development of effective urban regeneration initiatives. In particular, this Special Issue encourages the reflection of researchers and scholars through theoretical, methodological, and application contributions on the implementation of strategies for real estate dynamics analysis and the definition of urban planning choices from the perspective of urban sustainability.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) issues on the economic valuation of real estate investment projects, urban and land economics, sustainable building transformations and the economic effects on natural and built environments, green buildings, resilient cities, spatial planning and management, decarbonization processes, soil saving, and public–private partnerships.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Felicia Di Liddo
Prof. Dr. Pierluigi Morano
Dr. Francesco Tajani
Dr. Paola Amoruso
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

urban planning
smart cities
low-carbon resilience
decarbonization
sustainable development goals
decision support methods
urban regeneration
built environment
soil saving
evaluation tools

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 1992 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Urban Heat Risk Resilience: Lessons on Opportunities and Barriers to Action from Colombo, Sri Lanka

by Shifana Simath, Rohinton Emmanuel and Eeva Aarrevaara

Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9488; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219488 - 31 Oct 2024

Viewed by 604

Abstract

Cities face increasing heat risk due to global and local warming, and the risk is greater in the developing world. South Asia, in particular, faces increasing urban climate risk, but the translation of urban climate knowledge into sustainable climate-sensitive planning is weak. In this paper, we report on our conversations with experts from the Sri Lankan urban planning community on the barriers to and opportunities for urban climate mitigation action. We uncover six themes (insights, integrate, specify, exhort, commitment, and continuity) that best exemplify both the barriers to and opportunities for enhancing heat risk resilience in this primate city. We then map a set of agencies and actors that need to be involved in any holistic risk resilience plan and draw wider lessons to sustainably manage the urgent practical gaps in heat health planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

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13 pages, 1388 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing a Community-Based Carbon Footprint Questionnaire: Towards a Dynamic Understanding of How Personal Behaviour Interacts with Policy and Economic Change

by Philip Haynes

Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9211; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219211 - 24 Oct 2024

Viewed by 737

Abstract

Carbon footprint measures evidence the impact of organizations and individuals’ contribution to climate change. They can facilitate critical reflection. A community carbon footprint questionnaire is developed in cooperation with local people to enable them to reflect on how to reduce their personal carbon footprint in relation to their social and economic context. The instrument is operationalised in an Anglican church community who have stated an aim to reduce their footprint. It is designed to help participants make a self-assessment of where their behaviour change will make the most social impact. There are three components to the total score: (A) transportation, (B) accommodation energy use, and (C) consumer behaviour. Forty two participants respond. The average carbon footprint score is 5.8 tonnes per annum. Older and middle-aged people are more likely to have a higher footprint than younger adults. This is associated with them having a larger accommodation and being more dependent on private cars. Accommodation energy use contributes the most to the participants’ total scores. Living in smaller accommodation and sharing an accommodation reduces an individual’s carbon footprint. The second largest component is transportation, with the use of diesel- and petrol-fuelled cars contributing the biggest impact, especially where mileage is high. A minority are moving towards electric and hybrid cars. Finally, the smallest contributing component is consumer behaviour, where participants’ scores are the least dispersed in the sample compared to the other components and closer to the mean average. Participants are more likely to make commitments to changing consumer behaviour than changing transportation and domestic energy use and often focus on recycling, reducing the consumption of meat and new goods, and repairing older items. In contrast, when the results are located in the context of changes in policy, the simplest gains to reducing carbon footprints are related to changing behaviour in the purchase of household electricity to ensure the purchase of renewable power. Other important considerations are reducing the size and heated area of an individual’s accommodation space, or sharing an accommodation with more people, and moving away from the use of diesel- and petrol-fuelled private transportation, instead using public transport, cycling, and walking. More complex and expensive strategies for individuals are installing solar panels and heat pumps for accommodation energy generation, and switching personal transportation to electric cars. Policy analysis suggests that participants were largely unaware of new opportunities to change their consumption of electricity towards renewable generation by purchasing greener electricity options. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

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29 pages, 1290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Central Functions of Cities in Poland in Light of Administrative Reform

by Katarzyna Przybyła, Maria Hełdak, Marian Kachniarz, David Ramsey, Alina Kulczyk-Dynowska and Katarzyna Szara

Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8097; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188097 - 16 Sep 2024

Viewed by 741

Abstract

The aim of this article is to determine and assess the changes in the central functions of major Polish cities in the context of Poland’s 1999 administrative reform. This study covers a period of twenty-two years (1998–2019), which provides a solid perspective for evaluating the functional changes occurring within the current territorial division of the country. The conclusions indicate that the dynamics of changes in central functions in former provincial capitals differed from those in cities that retained this status. At the same time, it was found that the administrative reform sanctioned the scope and scale of earlier socio-economic dependencies in the present regional centers. The research results suggest that administrative reforms in Poland solidified existing socio-economic development paths in cities, but were not the sole catalyst for change. They point to a complex interaction of factors influencing urban evolution. By utilizing indicators that measure the centrality of cities in relation to their demographic potential, this research offers a quantitative assessment of the level of development of central functions, which is crucial for monitoring progress towards sustainable urbanization. By providing this information, this research also contributes to a broader discussion on the advancement and dynamics of sustainable urban development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

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20 pages, 10482 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Delimitation and Prioritization of Climate-Affected Areas Using the Example of a Post-Industrial City

by Joachim Bronder, Anna Kurianowicz, Joanna Piasecka, Janusz Krupanek and Jacek Krzyżak

Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 3957; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16103957 - 9 May 2024

Viewed by 985

Abstract

This study adapted and tested an approach to identifying areas that are particularly vulnerable to climate-related hazards using the example of the post-industrial city of Knurów in Poland. This study applied a multi-criteria method using the analytical hierarchy process based on GIS map data. The analysis was divided into statistical regions defined for the city. Fifteen attributes were defined for each statistical region. The applied methods provided verified spatial information related to specific climate change hazards. The results showed that the most vulnerable areas were the areas with intensive development in the city center and in the southwestern part of the city. Among the 15 attributes, the most significant were T1 (number of inhabitants in zones with a higher potential thermal risk index by statistical district) with a value of 0.163, G2 (percentage of the sum of tree-shaded areas in built-up areas within the territory of a given statistical district) with 0.143 and H3 (number of buildings in areas of drainless basins and 100-year water). This method effectively identified the most vulnerable areas. The use of such a method can help in the preparation of planning documents and urban adaptation plans by determining the thermally and hydrologically vulnerable areas with the least developed green infrastructure as an exposure-mitigating factor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

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16 pages, 39732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Landscape Approach to Understanding Carbon Sequestration Assets at a State-Wide Scale for Sustainable Urban Planning

by Siqi Lai, Le Zhang, Yijun Zeng and Brian Deal

Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3779; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093779 - 30 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1478

Abstract

This study presents a refined approach to spatially identify carbon sequestration assets, crucial for effective climate action planning in Illinois. By integrating landscape analytical methods with species-specific carbon assessment techniques, we deliver a nuanced evaluation of forest area sequestration potential. Our methodology employs a combination of landscape imagery, deep learning analytics, Kriging interpolation, and i-Tree Planting tools to process forest sample data. The results reveal a spatial variability in sequestration capacities, highlighting significant carbon sinks in southern Illinois. This region, known for its historical woodland richness, showcases the distinct carbon sequestration abilities of various tree species. Findings emphasize the role of biodiversity in the carbon cycle and provide actionable insights for forest management and carbon neutral strategies. This study demonstrates the utility of advanced spatial analysis in environmental research, underscoring its potential to enhance accuracy in ecological quantification and conservation efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

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24 pages, 4255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Create Healthy, Stress-Resilient Post-Pandemic Cities

by Magdalena Wdowicka, Lidia Mierzejewska, Marta Szejnfeld, Bogusz Modrzewski, Kamila Sikorska-Podyma, Adam Wronkowski and Ewa Lechowska

Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3644; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093644 - 26 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1207

Abstract

This article analyzes the correlation between the city size, population density and character of three Polish cities and the following aspects: (1) inhabitants’ subjective stress level and its change during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) sources and effects of their stress during the pandemic, (3) ways of reducing stress by residents and the role of greenery in this respect and (4) directions of changes in the structure of post-pandemic cities desired by their residents. The main research method was geo-surveys, the results of which were developed using statistical analysis and GIS methods. On the basis of the constructed scale, respondents subjectively assessed the level of experienced stress and its change during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research shows that none of the considered features of cities (including size measured by the number of inhabitants) are related to the level of pandemic stress of their inhabitants. All of them, on the other hand, are correlated with the directions of urban spatial development desired by the residents, conducive to stress reduction. Furthermore, the size of the city and its character affect the subjectively perceived change in stress levels during the pandemic (compared to the stress level before pandemic). Some of the effects of pandemic stress and ways of reducing it depend on the character of the city. The stress experienced by the inhabitants is the lowest in cities with the largest share of green areas in the spatial structure (especially with forest complexes and naturally shaped areas of river valleys), where an effective system of greenery has been adopted (the Howard’s garden city model), and at the same time with dominant single-family housing. The research results were used to indicate new directions for shaping post-pandemic cities that are more resistant to stress and thus healthier for their residents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

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19 pages, 290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Feasibility Analysis of Energy Retrofit Initiatives Aimed at the Existing Property Assets Decarbonisation

by Pierluigi Morano, Francesco Tajani, Felicia Di Liddo and Paola Amoruso

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3204; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083204 - 11 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1459

Abstract

In light of the growing demand for sustainability in the construction sector and real estate market, the European Community (EC) has recently begun incentivizing renovations of private and public European buildings. This aligns with the EC’s aim to reduce harmful emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and to achieve complete decarbonization of buildings, i.e., zero harmful emissions in this sector, by 2050. Given this framework, this study aims to verify the financial viability associated with the construction of “green” buildings, as well as the associated monetary benefits related to the efficient nature of these buildings and the resulting reduction in energy consumption. Lastly, an investigation is conducted to determine the economic feasibility of energy retrofit initiatives on existing building assets by comparing the required costs to retrofit against the potential increase in market value of a retrofitted residential unit. Along with assessing the undisputed environmental advantages for the community and all building users, this research aims to assess the financial and economic feasibility of sustainable construction initiatives, providing insight into how best to pursue the EC’s aims. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

17 pages, 1294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Concrete Self-Healing for Sustainable Buildings: A Focus on the Economic Evaluation from a Life-Cycle Perspective

by Andres Miguel Panza Uguzzoni, Elena Fregonara, Diego Giuseppe Ferrando, Giovanni Anglani, Paola Antonaci and Jean-Marc Tulliani

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13637; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813637 - 12 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3699

Abstract

Concrete is one of the world’s most used and produced materials, based on its dominant role in the construction sector, both for the construction of new structures and for the repair, restoration, and retrofitting of built ones. Recently, research has been focused on the development of innovative solutions to extend the service life of reinforced concrete structures, specifically by introducing self-healing properties aimed at reducing the necessary maintenance interventions and, consequently, the environmental impacts. These solutions imply costs and financial feasibility impacts, which must be measured and evaluated to support the ranking of preferable alternatives. Thus, this paper proposes a methodology capable of supporting the selection of material/product options from the early design stages in the construction sector. Assuming a life-cycle perspective, the Life-Cycle Costing (LCC) approach is proposed for comparing three material solutions applied to the case study of a wall component hypothesized to be used in building construction in Turin, Northern Italy. Namely, traditional standard concrete and two different self-healing concrete types were evaluated using the Global Cost calculation of each solution. The focus is on the material service life as a crucial factor, capable of orienting investment decisions given its effects on the required maintenance activities (and related investments) and the obtainable residual value. Thus, according to a performance approach, LCC is combined with the Factor Method (FM). Assuming the capability of the lifespan to affect the Global Cost calculation, the results give full evidence of the potential benefits due to the use of self-healing materials in construction in terms of the reduction in maintenance costs, the increase in the durability of buildings and structures and related residual values, and consequently, the reduction in the environmental impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

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22 pages, 3635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Accessibility Improvement Index in Urban Areas through Heritage Buildings Used as Museums—Case Studies in the Region of Murcia (Spain)

by José Marín-Nicolás, Mª Paz Sáez-Pérez, Francesco Tajani and Francesco Sica

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13517; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813517 - 9 Sep 2023

Viewed by 2001

Abstract

Equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their abilities, is a fundamental principle in contemporary society. This includes the ability to use any object, service, or environment. The analysis of universal accessibility in the built environment is a requirement to achieve the full inclusion of society as a whole, both in the urban and architectural spheres. This study is based on the analysis of the current and potential states of accessibility, which makes it possible to obtain the accessibility improvement index, a parameter that identifies how much the accessibility of a physical environment can be improved by removing architectural barriers. The methodology is applied to a sample of 25 heritage buildings used as museums to observe how they function. The results show that the feasibility of barrier removal is higher than 75% in all the buildings in the sample, reaching 100% in some cases. The results obtained are contrasted with other works and highlight the potential of expanding the analysis developed to other urban and built environments to ensure full equality of access to the physical environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations)

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