scholarly journals Sustainable urban development of metropolitan Johannesburg: The lessons learned from international practice

Spatium ◽  
2004 ◽  
pp. 21-40
Author(s):  
A.C. Mosha ◽  
Branko Cavric
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ◽  
Santiago De Chile ◽  
Federal Institute ◽  
Institute Of Technology

This paper consists of an overview of programmes supporting sustainable planning and management in the City of Johannesburg one of the most important social and economic hubs of the transitional Republic of South Africa. Following from this is an analysis of the experience identified as most appropriate for Johannesburg City and its metropolitan region (Gauteng). This case study is used to highlight efforts and lessons learned from the international project "Designing, Implementing and Measuring Sustainable Urban Development" (DIMSUD) which have intended to contribute to new solutions for sustainable urban development through a collaborative multi-disciplinary, and participatory approach combining research, urban design, and capacity building. DIMSUD (http://sustainability.ethz.ch) is carried out jointly by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), University of Botswana, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) and the Catholic University of Santiago de Chile. Another partner was the United Nations University (UNU) at Tokyo. The project has enabled a global overview of core problems, providing a synthesis of realizable strategies and offering both a scientific forum and an "urban field laboratory" for joint learning. The strategies developed will not only help improve the conditions in the case study cities (Gaborone Johannesburg, Santiago de Chile), but will also provide working examples so that other cities can learn from and adapt and adopt appropriate "best practices".

The social imperative in sustainable urban development

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasim Randeree ◽  
Nadeem Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Markets ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Imperative

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine social sustainability effectiveness of eco-cities through the case of Masdar City’s strategy for urban sustainability in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach Using a case study approach, the paper is an exploratory, qualitative analysis, which investigates the social, environmental and economic performance of Masdar City, a purported carbon-neutral, zero-waste urban development. Findings Though Masdar City substantively contributes to innovation in sustainable urban development within environmental and economic contexts and has been effective in capital circulation in green technology markets, the impetus as a commercially driven enterprise is most evident. Successful sustainable urban development requires greater consideration for the social imperative. Practical implications Eco-city mega-projects, such as Masdar City, have the potential to fuse achievements in innovation, technology and economic enterprise with the social imperative of functional urban habitats. Originality/value Eco-cities are of increasing interest given the growing need for sustainable, energy-efficient living. This paper contributes through a novel case study, exploring how the concept of the eco-city has been developed and understood in the Masdar City context and discusses successes and deficits in its strategic implementation.

A Framework of Local Geospatial Data Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azman Ariffin ◽  
Nabila Ibrahim ◽  
Ghazali Desa ◽  
Uznir Ujang ◽  
Hishamuddin Mohd Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Geospatial Data ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Data Infrastructure ◽  
Shape Category ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
Data Layers ◽  
Conceptual Data

This paper addresses the need to develop a Local Geospatial Data Infrastructure (LGDI) for sustainable urban development. This research will highlight the effective and efficient framework for the development of local infrastructure. This paper presents a framework (a combination of domain based and goal based frameworks) for developing a Local Geospatial Data Infrastructure. The basis of this research is on a case study conducted in a Malaysian city. The main focus of the case study was on measuring and assessing sustainability. Six conceptual frameworks were produced based on 6 key dimensions of sustainability. The developed framework consists of 6 conceptual data models and 6 conceptual data structures. It was concluded that 30 spatial data layers are needed of which 12 data layers are categorized as point shape, 17 data layers are categorized as polygon shape and 1 data layer as line shape category.

scholarly journals Designing a Transit Oriented Development with a Trackless Tram System—Case Study Bulawayo

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. p117
Author(s):  
Vinnet Ndlovu ◽  
Peter Newman
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Land Development ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Transit Oriented Development ◽  
Transit System ◽  
Developing Cities ◽  
Two Phases

The need for a mid-tier transit system and the opportunities created by 21st century transit technologies like Trackless Trams System (TTS) has been analysed in an earlier paper to show TTS could be a leapfrog solution for the future of sustainable urban development in developing cities. This paper outlines how the TTS can be created as a part of Transit Oriented Development (TOD). Informed by literature, this study identified four factors that are important for enabling transition towards TOD. Using three of these factors a framework for assessing and evaluating TOD is formulated. The study then applies the formulated framework to the potential corridors that could potentially enable a transition towards a successful TOD for Bulawayo and enable the TTS to be delivered in a partnership with urban land development. The findings do reveal that most of the station precincts that are closer to the CBD have a higher potential to enable transition to TOD. This could suggest that the TTS could be implemented in two phases, the first phase covering the high impact station precincts.

A case study of transformation in four African universities.

2021 ◽  
pp. 240-250
Author(s):  
David Kraybill ◽  
Moses Osiru
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Agricultural Education ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Institutional Transformation ◽  
The University

Abstract This chapter presents selected analytical narratives of successful institutional transformation of tertiary agricultural education (TAE) from four African universities. The four universities analysed are Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya (JKUAT); Gulu University, Uganda (GU); University of Abomey Calavi, Benin (UAC); and the University of Venda, South Africa (UNIVEN). The study examines what each of the universities changed, and how they went about effecting and supporting those changes. The discussion focuses on both 'soft changes' in organizational culture and strategies, and 'hard changes' in enrolments, staffing, programmes, departments, faculties/colleges and campuses. Outcomes of the transformation process are described, along with lessons learned.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Suitability of Urban Expansion Based on the Logic Minimum Cumulative Resistance Model: A Case Study from Leshan, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haijun Wang ◽  
Peihao Peng ◽  
Xiangdong Kong ◽  
Tingbin Zhang ◽  
Guihua Yi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Development ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Expansion Process ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Resistance Factors ◽  
Ecological Barriers

This paper focuses on the suitability of urban expansion in mountain areas against the background of accelerated urban development. Urbanization is accompanied by conflict and intense transformations of various landscapes, and is accompanied by social, economic, and ecological impacts. Evaluating the suitability of urban expansion (UE) and determining an appropriate scale is vital to solving urban environmental issues and realizing sustainable urban development. In mountain areas, the natural and social environments are different from those in the plains; the former is characterized by fragile ecology and proneness to geological disasters. Therefore, when evaluating the expansion of a mountain city, more factors need to be considered. Moreover, we need to follow the principle of harmony between nature and society according to the characteristics of mountain cities. Thus, when we evaluate the expansion of a mountain city, the key procedure is to establish a scientific evaluation system and explore the relationship between each evaluation factor and the urban expansion process. Taking Leshan (LS), China—a typical mountain city in the upper Yangtze River which has undergone rapid growth—as a case study, the logic minimum cumulative resistance (LMCR) model was applied to evaluate the suitability of UE and to simulate its direction and scale. The results revealed that: An evaluation system of resistance factors (ESRFs) was established according to the principle of natural and social harmony; the logic resistance surface (LRS) scientifically integrated multiple resistance factors based on the ESRF and a logic regression analysis. LRS objectively and effectively reflected the contribution and impact of each resistance factor to urban expansion. We found that landscape, geological hazards and GDP have had a great impact on urban expansion in LS. The expansion space of the mountain city is limited; the area of suitable expansion is only 23.5%, while the area which is unsuitable for expansion is 39.3%. In addition, it was found that setting up ecological barriers is an effective way to control unreasonable urban expansion in mountain cities. There is an obvious scale (grid size) effect in the evaluation of urban expansion in mountain cities; an evaluation of the suitable scale yielded the result of 90 m × 90 m. On this scale, taking the central district as the center, the urban expansion process will extend to the neighboring towns of Mianzhu, Suji, Juzi and Mouzi. Urban expansion should be controlled in terms of scale, especially in mountain cities. The most suitable urban size of LS is 132 km2.This would allow for high connectivity of urban-rural areas with the occupation of relatively few green spaces.

scholarly journals E-Learning in Engineering through Videoconferencing: The Case of the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Bedilu Habte
Keyword(s):  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Developing Nation ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
Teaching Learning

In addition to their ability to reach distant learners, interactive e-learning environments have the potential to make the teaching-learning process more effective. This paper highlights some of the e-learning implementation efforts at the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT) in Ethiopia. This case study shows that limited resources do not deter a developing nation to exploit the power of e-learning. Based on feedback from participants in the first national videoconferencing program held in Ethiopian higher education system between October 2011 and June 2012, the paper addresses the lessons learned and recommended actions for moving forward to a successful implementation of e-learning in Ethiopia, particularly in a videoconferencing mode.

scholarly journals Spatial Patterns and Driving Forces of Conflicts among the Three Land Management Red Lines in China: A Case Study of the Wuhan Urban Development Area

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2025
Author(s):  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Yanfang Liu ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Xuesong Kong ◽  
Ying Jing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Construction Land ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Development Area

The delimitation of three land management red lines (LMRLs), which refers to urban growth boundaries (UGBs), ecological protection redlines (EPRs), and basic farmland protection zones (BFPZs), has been regarded as a control method for promoting sustainable urban development in China. However, in many Chinese cities, conflicts extensively exist among the three LMRLs in terms of spatial partitioning. This study clarifies the connotation of conflicts among the three LMRLs. Moreover, a red line conflict index (RLCI) is established to characterize the intensity of conflicts among the three LMRLs. The Wuhan Urban Development Area (WUDA) is used for a case study, in which the spatial patterns of the three types of conflicts among the three LMRLs (i.e., conflicts between EPRs and BFPZs, EPRs and UGBs, and UGBs and BFPZs) are analyzed through numerous spatial statistical analysis methods (including spatial autocorrelation, urban-rural gradient, and landscape pattern analyses). In addition, the driving forces of these conflicts are identified from the perspectives of natural physics, socioeconomic development, neighborhood, policy and planning using three binary logistic regression models. Results show that the conflicts between EPRs and BFPZs, EPRs and UGBs, and UGBs and BFPZs are mainly distributed on the edge of the WUDA, inside Wuhan’s third circulation line, and at the urban–rural transition zone, respectively. The patch of conflict between BFPZs and UGBs has the lowest aggregation degree, the highest fragmentation degree, and the most complex shape. Logistic regression results show that the combination and relative importance of driving factors vary in the three types of conflicts among the three LMRLs. In the conflict between EPRs and BFPZs, the distance to city centers is the most important influencing factor, followed by the proportion of ecological land and elevation. In the conflict between UGBs and EPRs, the proportion of construction land, the distance to city centers, and whether the land unit is within the scope of a restricted development zone are the three most important factors. The proportion of construction land, the distances to the Yangtze and Han Rivers, and the proportion of cultivated land significantly influence the conflict between UGBs and BFPZs. This study aids in our understanding of the causes and mechanisms of conflicts among the three LMRLs, and provides important information for the “integration of multi-planning” and land management in Wuhan and similar cities.

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