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Sustainability, Circularity, Urban Metabolism and Resilience in the Transformation of Urban Spaces and Land Management

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 7333

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carlo Pisano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Regional Design Lab, Department of Architecture, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Interests: regional design and visioning; metropolitan and strategic planning; spatial concepts; urban regeneration and resilience; urban design and climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fabrizio Battisti

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, University of Florence, Via della Mattonaia 8, 50121 Florence, Italy
Interests: urban planning; decision-making in real estate initiatives; public–private partnership; sustainability in land management processes and urban planning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the 2030 Agenda and, in particular, with Sustainable Development Goal n. 11, the transformation of urban centers into sustainable cities becomes a globally relevant goal. To achieve this goal, we must put forth: the creation of access to housing, even for the most vulnerable segments of the population, an enhancement in basic services and means of transportation, a reduction in negative impacts on the environment, an enhancement in green areas and public spaces by making them safe and inclusive, with specific attention paid to urban peripheries, the preservation of the common artistic and cultural heritage and the protection of natural resources and agricultural areas.

In this context, not only sustainability, but also circularity, urban metabolism and resilience, are issues that breakthrough in the transformation of urban spaces and in the management, preservation and enhancement of architectural and infrastructural heritage, as well as non-urbanized, natural or agricultural areas.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to invite academics and researchers to submit proposals for papers that deal with the sustainable, metabolic, circular and resilient management of urban spaces and natural and agricultural land. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

- sustainable urban transformations and metabolism;

- urban metabolism on energy, water and waste;

- circular economy applied to production process and real estate development;

- preservation and protection of natural resources;

- enhancement and utilization of historical architectural heritage;

- resilient urban models;

- inclusive governance models in spatial planning choices;

- assessment methods and techniques for sustainable and metabolic transformations

Dr. Carlo Pisano
Dr. Fabrizio Battisti
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

  • sustainable urban transformations and metabolism
  • urban metabolism on energy, water and waste
  • circular economy applied to production process and real estate development
  • preservation and protection of natural resources
  • enhancement and utilization of historical architectural heritage
  • resilient urban models
  • inclusive governance models in spatial planning choices
  • assessment methods and techniques for sustainable and metabolic transformations

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 2169 KiB  
Article
Closing the City Cycle: An Approach for Defining Cross-Sectoral Circular Actions to Be Included in a Circular Urban Plan
by Federica Paoli and Francesca Pirlone
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7747; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177747 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1125
Abstract
The topic of the circular economy and its potential applications to urban areas is currently widely discussed as it is seen as a possible solution to the state of environmental, economic, and social unsustainability resulting from the previous consumption model. However, although many [...] Read more.
The topic of the circular economy and its potential applications to urban areas is currently widely discussed as it is seen as a possible solution to the state of environmental, economic, and social unsustainability resulting from the previous consumption model. However, although many contributions focus on one or more key sectors affecting the urban environment (Mobility, Waste, Built Environment, Water, Energy, and Food), few attempts address the topic comprehensively, promoting a broad vision that encompasses all sectors and evaluates their interrelation. This paper aims to meet this need by first providing an overview of the topic of circular cities, best practices, and circular actions, and subsequently defining a synergistic methodological framework of intersectoral circular actions that considers the interrelation of the various key sectors and that can be used as a tool to contribute to the overall closure of the urban cycle of a city. The city of Genoa is proposed as a case study for a first application. This research should be incorporated into a possible Urban Circular Action Plan aimed at implementing current international strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability, Circularity, Urban Metabolism and Resilience in the Transformation of Urban Spaces and Land Management)
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20 pages, 5417 KiB  
Article
Interplay between Land Use Planning and Functional Mix Dimensions: An Assemblage Approach for Metropolitan Barcelona
by Carles Crosas, Eulàlia Gómez-Escoda and Enric Villavieja
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7734; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177734 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1267
Abstract
The concept of mixed-use urban planning is gaining recognition as a crucial element in the development of sustainable and vibrant urban environments. In contrast, many 20th-century cities were designed with segregated land uses and monofunctional zones, following the principles set out in the [...] Read more.
The concept of mixed-use urban planning is gaining recognition as a crucial element in the development of sustainable and vibrant urban environments. In contrast, many 20th-century cities were designed with segregated land uses and monofunctional zones, following the principles set out in the 1933 Athens Charter. Over time, this approach has been widely criticized, and in the present era, mixed-use environments are praised for fostering social interaction, generating economic synergies, and reducing environmental impacts. This article explores the complex relationship between urban activities, morphology, and planning, with a particular focus on the Barcelona metropolitan area. Utilizing GIS mapping and morphological drawings, this research offers innovative perspectives by analyzing a series of selected urban fragments, highlighting the differences and similarities among various urban fabrics. After a review of the evolution of mixed-use planning regulations and plans since the mid-20th century, a threefold analysis was conducted: examining planning standards and codes, assessing the ground floor activities in promoting urban mixticity, and defining the characteristics of urban patterns’ vitality. Through mapping and indexes, the research offers both qualitative and quantitative evaluations, uncovering new tools to better understand functional mix as a critical element in addressing the challenges of contemporary urbanization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability, Circularity, Urban Metabolism and Resilience in the Transformation of Urban Spaces and Land Management)
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14 pages, 1695 KiB  
Article
Beneficial Use of Water Treatment Sludge with Stabilizers for Application in Road Pavements
by Túlio W. Takao, Vivian S. Bardini, Amanda D. de Jesus, Leonardo Marchiori, Antonio Albuquerque and Fabiana A. Fiore
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5333; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135333 - 22 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1137
Abstract
Water treatment sludge (WTS) is the residue produced during water treatment processes for public use. Exploring the reintroduction of these wastes into the production chain to generate new, value-added materials presents a current challenge. This could promote their reuse and reduce the negative [...] Read more.
Water treatment sludge (WTS) is the residue produced during water treatment processes for public use. Exploring the reintroduction of these wastes into the production chain to generate new, value-added materials presents a current challenge. This could promote their reuse and reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with their disposal. This study assessed the technical feasibility of using aluminum-based WTS to partially replace silty sand soil in mixtures that include two stabilizers (hydrated lime and Portland cement), potentially for use in road pavements. After conducting a thorough physical, chemical, and geotechnical characterization of both the soil and the sludge, bench-scale experiments were carried out to test the mixtures’ resistance, with WTS proportions of 5%, 8%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, stabilized with either lime or cement. The findings confirm that WTS does not contain potentially toxic elements, according to Brazilian standards, and all tested composites appear suitable for paving. However, the mechanical resistance of the soil–sludge–cement mixtures decreases as the WTS content increases, with an optimum California bearing ratio (CBR) of 41.50% achieved at a 5% WTS addition. Meanwhile, incorporating 15% WTS into soil–sludge–lime mixtures resulted in the highest CBR value of 21.25% for this type of mixture. It is concluded that incorporating stabilizers into soil–WTPS mixtures for road construction allows for an increased percentage of WTPS in silty-sandy soils. Further studies are recommended with different soil types and the addition of fibers to the mixes, to assess the long-term performance of the structure, along with economic and environmental analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability, Circularity, Urban Metabolism and Resilience in the Transformation of Urban Spaces and Land Management)
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Graphical abstract

37 pages, 389 KiB  
Article
SDGs and ESG Criteria in Housing: Defining Local Evaluation Criteria and Indicators for Verifying Project Sustainability Using Florence Metropolitan Area as a Case Study
by Fabrizio Battisti
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9372; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129372 - 9 Jun 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2953
Abstract
According to recent estimates (Reuters), the cost of implementing the sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030 will be USD 176 trillion. This amount seems unattainable, even when considering the public resources currently available to governments that are part of the United Nations. It [...] Read more.
According to recent estimates (Reuters), the cost of implementing the sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030 will be USD 176 trillion. This amount seems unattainable, even when considering the public resources currently available to governments that are part of the United Nations. It is undoubtedly necessary to involve the private financial sector, within the so-called finance for sustainable development. To achieve the SDGs, it may be also necessary to schedule local-level initiatives and actions that consider the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, which can be used to source forms of private finance for sustainable development and contribute to the implementation of the SDGs. Based on these observations, this article deals with the study of clearly defined parameters: (1) the factors that should be considered when assessing the sustainability of a (local) real-estate project and, in particular, of a housing project, in order for the project to be considered sustainable and participate, albeit pro rata, in achieving one (or more) of the eleven SDG sub-goals; and (2) funding opportunities in the world of sustainable-development finance. The specific goal of the research contribution presented in this paper was to use the Delphi method to define a set of local-level evaluation criteria and indicators for real-estate projects, specifically housing projects, with an ESG matrix and in line with some of the SDG 11 targets, considering the Florence Metropolitan Area as a case study. The application of the Delphi method to the case study made it possible to test the usability of this method for the definition of the criteria and indicators, at the local level, for assessing the level of implementation of the SDGs. Specifically, a set of 48 criteria and 74 indicators were defined for assessing the consistency of housing projects with SDG 11 and ESG criteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability, Circularity, Urban Metabolism and Resilience in the Transformation of Urban Spaces and Land Management)
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