Understanding the urban spatial structure of Sub-Saharan African cities using the case of urban development patterns of a Ghanaian city-region

Many cities evolve over time, but some are designed from scratch. Brasília is presented as a unique case on urban planning for having been built from figuratively nothing, based on a design concept that was the brainchild of Brazilian urbanist Lucio Costa. The present study aimed to analyze the interrelation between urban planning and spatial structure change over time to understand the role of urban development policies on the spatial organization of Brasília. The study was conducted based on three interrelated aspects: (1) The intentions of the plans, (2) territorial governance, and (3) external conditions. The results showed that the circumstances of territory occupation—characterized by a polycentric development system with dispersed satellite cities economically dependent on Brasília—have been gradually replaced by strategic development policies, mainly influenced by social and political driving forces. Accordingly, this research suggests a reconsideration of the scale of development instrumentations based on a better understanding of the metropolitan area of Brasília as a unique structure by strengthening its interrelations and seeking better coordination of interests and adaptability of governance processes.

Download Full-text

Relationship between urban development patterns and noise complaints in England

Environment and Planning B Urban Analytics and City Science ◽

10.1177/2399808320930247 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 239980832093024

Author(s):

Huan Tong ◽

Jian Kang

Keyword(s):

Urban Development ◽

Industrial Structure ◽

Data Sets ◽

City Region ◽

Natural Landscape ◽

Research Attention ◽

Development Patterns ◽

Government Data ◽

The Relationship

The role of urban planning in sound environments has recently received increased research attention. This study aims to examine the relationship between the rate of noise complaints and urban development patterns concerning planning and landscape at city/region level. Open-source government data sets are used for statistical analysis across all district and unitary local authorities in England. The indicators for urban development patterns are categorised into six groups: population, industrial structure, built-up area, transport network, commuting, and natural landscape factors. Our research found that noise complaints tend to be higher in service-dominated cities/regions with high population densities; large and uneven cities/regions also tend to have more noise complaints, as do clustered cities/regions. However, dispersed, fragmented, and/or cities/regions having ragged boundaries are likely to have less noise complaints. These findings were confirmed by analysis of transport networks and commuting factors. Finally, cities/regions with more natural landscapes and greater separation of residences from workplaces also have fewer noise complaints.

Download Full-text

Towards Sustainable and Resilient Urban Development: Rethinking Stormwater Management in Sub-Saharan African Cities

10.4324/9781003181484-6 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107-131

Author(s):

Desmond Ofosu Anim ◽

Eric Gaisie ◽

Abena Boatemaa Asare-Ansah

Keyword(s):

Urban Development ◽

Stormwater Management ◽

African Cities ◽

Sub Saharan

Download Full-text

Toward comparative polycentricity scores: Assessing variations in regional delineation and subcenter identification

Environment and Planning B Urban Analytics and City Science ◽

10.1177/23998083211065765 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 239980832110657

Author(s):

Ryan Thomas ◽

Stephan Schmidt ◽

Stefan Siedentop

Keyword(s):

Spatial Structure ◽

Urban Development ◽

Urban Spatial Structure ◽

Bottom Up ◽

Decision Points ◽

Statistical Approaches ◽

Selection Of ◽

Three Phases

Urban spatial structure is increasingly characterized by polycentricity, the presence of multiple interconnected centers of similar size. Polycentricity indicators, which influence research and policies related to urban development, rely on three phases of analysis: (a) delineating regions, (b) identifying subcenters within these regions, and (c) operationalizing polycentricity; and each phase contains decision points for analysts. This paper argues that polycentricity methodologies should be thought of in terms of pathways, then systematically applies 15 such pathways to the case of German regional polycentricity and compares the results. Findings suggest that questions of polycentricity are more robustly measured by comparing across multiple regional delineation methods and selection of subcenters, then looking for signs of agreement or disagreement. When possible, constructing regions from larger areas through bottom-up methods tends to avoid the biases of administratively defined regions. When this is not possible, statistical approaches to subcenter identification can serve as a check to avoid forced selection of subcenters in poorly defined regions.

Download Full-text

Polycentricity in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA): More Cohesion or More Disparities?

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11113106 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3106 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wen Chen ◽

Komali Yenneti ◽

Yehua Dennis Wei ◽

Feng Yuan ◽

Jiawei Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Structure ◽

Yangtze River ◽

Yangtze River Delta ◽

River Delta ◽

Urban Agglomeration ◽

Urban Spatial Structure ◽

The Yangtze River ◽

City Region ◽

The Impact ◽

The Yangtze River Delta

Urban spatial structure is a critical component of urban planning and development, and among the different urban spatial structure strategies, ‘polycentric mega-city region (PMR)’ has recently received great research and public policy interest in China. However, there is a lack of systematic understanding on the spatiality of PMR from a pluralistic perspective. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the spatiality of PMR in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA) using city-level data on gross domestic product (GDP), population share, and urban income growth for the period 2000–2013. The results reveal that economically, the YRDUA is experiencing greater polycentricity, but in terms of social welfare, the region manifests growing monocentricity. We further find that the triple transition framework (marketization, urbanization, and decentralization) can greatly explain the observed patterns. Although the economic goals are accomplished with better spatial linkages and early economic development policies, inequality in spatial distribution of public services and the continuing legacy of central planning remain barriers for the YRDUA to emerge as a successful PMR. The results of this research offer meaningful insights on the impact of polycentric policies in the YRDUA and support policymakers in the implementation of appropriate urban spatial development strategies.

Download Full-text

Study on the Relationship between the Development of Rail Transit and the Evolution of Urban Spatial Structure: Taking Guangzhou as an Example

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.641-642.736 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 641-642 ◽

pp. 736-740

Author(s):

Zheng Liang Zhu

Keyword(s):

Spatial Structure ◽

Urban Development ◽

Network Planning ◽

Sustainable Urban Development ◽

Rail Transit ◽

Urban Spatial Structure ◽

Future Planning ◽

Interactive Relationship ◽

Big Cities ◽

The Relationship

At present, rail transit in China is booming. At the same time, some big cities are undergoing a crucial stage of adjustment of urban spatial structure. Therefore, it is significant to study the relationship between the development of rail transit and the evolution of urban spatial structure. This paper reviews the development of Guangzhou rail transit and the evolution of Guangzhou urban spatial structure, and discusses the relationship between them. The conclusion is that there is interactive relationship between the development of rail transit and the evolution of urban spatial structure, and the construction and planning of rail transit should coordinate with the current condition and future planning of urban spatial structure. During network planning, the focus should not only be placed on the rail transit project itself, but the construction of a scientific and reasonable urban spatial structure, so that rail transit can contribute to sustainable urban development.

Download Full-text