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Delineation of vegetation and water body regions on the earth's surface plays a vital role in the development and planning of an area. For delineation, traditional algorithms and classifiers require more training datasets and interpretation time. For accurate delineation, geometric distortion and mixed pixels in satellite images need to be removed. Geometric distortion is due to various factors such as relief displacement, variations in the satellite altitude and attitude, and curvature of the earth's surface. Mixed pixels arise due to different types of land cover in an area. In this study, the Bayesian optimized transverse dyadic wavelet transform (BO-TDyWT) algorithm enhances the edges and curvatures of a region in an image. BO-TDyWT classifies the vegetation and water bodies in LANDSAT image, which consists of different terrains such as hilly, land and coastal regions. BO-TDyWT removes the geometric distortion and mixed pixels in the hill area water body. Performance of proposed BO-TDyWT algorithm is compared with dyadic wavelet transform and TDyWT. From the results, BO-TDyWT accurately delineates hill areas, vegetation and water body areas than dyadic wavelet transforms and TDyWT. BO-TDyWT results are ground truth verified. The BO-TDyWT algorithm accurately delineates vegetation and water bodies for precise measurement with an accuracy of 96%, which is higher than TDyWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the implementation of a novel concept in Norwegian planning and building law (PBA), the Regional Planning Strategy (RPS), which was introduced before the 2011-2015 electoral period. How the RPS was understood and implemented is the focus of this analysis. This article presents new knowledge of how new strategic elements unfold within a country’s legal framework through its implementation in practice. We add to the planning-theory dialogue by discussing translation by regional re-contextualization in the implementation of a new element in regional strategic planning (Røvik 1998, 2002). A study of the implementation of the RPS over three ‘generations’ (2011-2022) reveals interesting and surprising differences. Drawing on translation theory, we find that the translation, contextualization, and re-contextualization of the PBA with respect to the implementation of RPSs were diverse in 2011/12, that there was a convergence in the second generation, and that diversity reappears in new ways in the third generation. This article confirms how a new idea like RPS develops in regional planning processes is dependent on the central government’s need and ability to manage the counties’ RPS work, as well as the counties’ need and ability to make regional adjustments and to set their own political priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractProblem, research strategy, and findingsTakeaway for practicePlanning under uncertainty and planning for racial equity both require imagination. In confronting the uncertain future, regional planners often opt for exploratory scenario planning: telling multiple future stories to prepare for any outcome. For equity planning, imagination supports vision beyond the deeply unequal present condition, wherein policy tinkering is insufficient for necessary change. And yet, scenario planning and equity planning are estranged. Although regional planners wish to engage both, they lack guidance on how. I look to close this gap by providing a framework (the Framework) for using scenarios in equity planning. The Framework builds on the five types of racial equity, a six-stage hybrid scenario process, and the three outcomes of public-sector scenarios. Using the Framework, I assessed the inclusion of equity in the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Dispatches From Alternative Futures scenario plan. This plan successfully raises racial equity as a concern for the future of the Philadelphia (PA) region. However, the stakeholder group was not sufficiently diverse for deliberative equity and the scenario planners did not use tools that could assess the distributional outcomes. Neither epistemic nor restorative equity were a significant part of the scenario plan, leaving open the possibility for co-designed scenarios for a racial equity future.Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) can use the Framework to ensure that exploratory scenarios advance equity goals. Although the Framework can supply a starting point for MPOs, the most important voices are those from Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and other marginalized communities. Scenario planners should consider how they can reach out to community members not just as stakeholders but as co-creators of a more epistemically equitable scenario planning process, one that addresses the uncertainties and aspirations that already percolate within these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many European countries, regional planning is an established institutional framework. In recent years we have observed a resurgent research interest in regional planning with a specific focus on governance and institutional design and on the strategic and practical relevance of regional planning in pursuing sustainable development. However, in Sweden, regional planning traditionally has a weak position in practice as well as in research. Yet over the past 15 years, we have seen an increasing political interest in experimenting with different forms and formats of regional planning. In this paper, we explore the emerging logics of non-statutory regional planning, which the majority of Swedish regions have chosen. Drawing upon a qualitative research design we identify, compare and discuss three different logics and their inherent rationales, practices, challenges and prospects. Our analysis shows that our three case regions can do very little non-statutory regional planning unless they are part of properly working multi-level networks, and have well-established regional informal arenas for interaction and political backing. More specifically, we point at a number of tensions caused by the large degree of freedom to design non-statutory regional planning, which foster conflicts, confusion and insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The achievement of dual carbon goals varies significantly across Chinese provinces due to the differences in resource endowments and socioeconomic development levels. These variations impose distinct pressures for transitioning along different socioeconomic development paths. Exploration of orderly carbon reduction paths for each province is, thus, crucial, but current predictions have not adequately integrated provincial development plans and carbon emission convergence trends. This study combines the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC's) shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) with a dual-layer target-setting approach based on trends in carbon emissions and each province's five-year plans. The scalable stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence, and technology (STIRPAT) model and ridge regression method were employed to identify the factors influencing carbon emissions. Carbon peak values and timing were then predicted for provinces under different scenarios. The results indicate that total carbon emissions are primarily influenced by provincial economic level and population, with spatial and temporal variations in the driving factors. Carbon emissions are ranked from low to high in the following order: SSP1, SSP2, and SSP5. Provinces were categorized into four tiers based on their peak times: early, on-time, delayed, and significantly delayed peaking. Under SSP1, 24 provinces would achieve carbon peaking as scheduled. Under SSP2, only 17 provinces would achieve carbon peaking on time. Among the first-tier provinces, Beijing and Shanghai would achieve peak carbon five to eight years ahead of schedule; the second-tier provinces of Henan, Fujian, Guangdong, and Inner Mongolia would achieve peak carbon by 2030; the third tier would achieve carbon peak before 2035; and the fourth tier would gradually reach peak carbon before 2050. Policy implications for differentiated carbon peak paths are proposed for different regions based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Awareness of the potential threat posed by drought necessitates the implementation of appropriate procedures to enable effective and systematic actions aimed at mitigating, or at least partially limiting, the impacts of drought events. This paper seeks to analyze the spatial and temporal changes of atmospheric drought in the period 1961–2020 and assesses drought hazards in southwest Bulgaria, which is a region susceptible to periodic water shortages. In this study, the standardized precipitation evaporation index (SPEI), accounting for both precipitation and temperature changes, was used to analyze drought characteristics. The analysis reveals significant temporal changes and spatial differences in drought patterns across southwest Bulgaria. The northeastern part of the region, including the Sofia district, exhibits the lowest risk of drought, while the central part of the region shows a tendency toward moderate and occasional low drought events. Some stations, particularly in the southern part of the region, consistently experienced more severe drought conditions (Blagoevgrad and Sandanski), as indicated by negative SPEI values in different time scales (3, 6, and 12 months). Results indicate an increased frequency of droughts during 1990–2020 compared to 1961–1990, which was driven by climate change and human activities. Across all stations and in both SPEI time scales, the period from the early to mid-1990s was characterized by significant droughts. The study of drought hazards using short-term and long-term SPEI analysis reveals different levels of drought risk and increased hazard from the northern to southern parts of the study area. The share of areas with a high drought hazard exceeds 40% of the territory in the areas with a transitional and continental-Mediterranean climate. Based on the results, the paper highlights the need to integrate drought risk assessments with regional planning to improve agricultural resilience and water resource management in response to anticipated droughts, especially in drought-prone areas such as southwest Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Poyang Lake Basin has experienced considerable land-use/cover change (LUCC) due to urbanization and climate change, impacting ecosystems and altering the provision of ecosystem services (ESs). Precise prediction of LUCC and accurate quantification of the impact of such changes on ESs are essential for effective ecological conservation and management. We assessed the Poyang Lake Basin ESs for 2000, 2010, and 2020. Additionally, we projected land-use maps for 2030 under unrestricted development (UD), ecological protection (EP), and urbanization expansion (UE) scenarios using a logistic CA-Markov improved model. Based on this, future ecosystem changes under different scenarios were revealed, and the response of ESs to different LUCCs were quantified. The findings indicated that the most significant change in the watershed over the past two decades was a 92.50% expansion of built-up land. Although ESs exhibited stability in space and time, local heterogeneity emerged under different scenarios. EP positively influenced carbon storage, habitat quality, and soil retention, while UD and UE negatively affected watershed ES index values. Farmland and woodland significantly influenced ES, contributing more than 86.06%. Conversions from farmland, woodland, and grassland to other land types negatively affected ES, while transformations from built-up and unutilized land to woodland and grassland had positive effects. The critical contributing indices in the watershed were primarily concentrated between farmland and woodland. These study results serve as a valuable reference for sustainable development and spatial planning of regional ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chain Leader System (CLS) is a novel concept of industrial development proposed by the Chinese local government. Initially, it was aimed at chain extension, supplementation, and advancement to address the impact of external uncertainties. However, there has been debate about whether political power from CLS will lead to inefficiencies in green governance. This study aims to formalize industrial CLS for green governance. A survey was conducted to assess public acceptance and the validity of CLS in a resource‐based city. The results indicate that CLS, when aligned with green governance goals, effectively corresponds with market rationality and public value. It is evident that CLS represents a collective effort toward effective governance rather than simply extending industrial chains or enhancing resilience. The efficiency of green governance within CLS is influenced by the factors including communication platform, enterprises' carbon sinks and green clustering, citizens' adoption of green transportation, and communication among different stakeholders. This study provides valuable insights for the governments seeking to establish an efficient CLS that aligns with both market principles and well‐functioning government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban expansion in agricultural areas demands attention regarding land use planning, particularly in dryland ecosystems with limited availability of water and fertile soil. The objective is to identify and characterize the natural, cultural, historical, and current elements that integrate the southwest of Maipu's (Mendoza, Argentina) rural landscape and its connection with territorial changes. Through a mixed methodology applied in a case study, with the analysis of historical documents and the use of open-access software QGIS, we analyzed the natural and cultural values, territorial infrastructure, built heritage, and how urban sprawls invade productive land. Thus, it is possible to extract recommendations for decision-makers in land use planning that promote local development and the inclusion of new territorial categories to interpret and manage the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regional and rural intensivist workforce is vital to delivering high standards of healthcare to all Australians. Currently, there is an impending workforce disaster, with higher senior medical officer vacancy rates among regional and rural intensive care units, with these units being staffed by junior doctors who are in earlier stages of their training, which in turn increases supervisory burden. There is a lack of comprehensive literature on the barriers and enablers of training, recruiting and retaining regional and rural intensivists. To address this gap, a qualitative study was conducted, involving 13 in-depth, structured interviews with full-time and part-time intensivists from eight Australian regional and rural hospitals. Content analysis of the interview data resulted in the identification of four major categories: unique practice context, need for a broad generalist skill set, perks and challenges of working in a regional/rural area and workforce implications. The study findings revealed that regional and rural intensive care practice offers positive aspects, including work satisfaction, supportive local teams and an appealing lifestyle. However, these benefits are counterbalanced by challenges such as a heavier burden of on-call work, a higher proportion of junior staff which increase supervisory burden and limited access to subspecialist services. The implications of these findings are noteworthy and can be utilised to inform government policies, hospitals, the College of Intensive Care Medicine and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists in developing strategies to enhance the provision of intensive care services and improve workforce planning in regional and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans have attempted to control nature since the dawn of time. This paper analyzes riverfront greenway planning in two continents with distinct geographic and climatic contexts: Central Arizona and Central Portugal. It is argued that both places had to innovate in urban design and nature conservancy to survive and flourish. A key finding is that traditions and innovations have unique idiosyncrasies endemic to the places where they are conceived, perfected and implemented. For innovations to travel, professionals ought to work with local communities to identify and implement more appropriate urban design courses of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the spatial‐temporal evolution of urban spatial structure across 269 Chinese prefectural cities from 2002 to 2019. Our analysis identifies a consistent trend toward a more polycentric configuration in the 25 Chinese mega‐cities during this period, primarily due to population growth and a supportive policy environment. However, the evolutionary pathways of small‐ and medium‐sized cities unfolded in a rather complex and diverse manner, with some becoming more polycentric while the majority adhering to a monocentric trajectory. In these cases, population growth is usually associated with a more monocentric pattern, characterized by rapid expansion of the urban core, while polycentric development is primarily attributed to specific spatial policies that support the emergence of subcenters. We conclude that polycentric development, while potentially suitable for mega‐cities to alleviate diseconomies of scale, may be less appropriate for small‐ and medium‐sized cities as it may constrain growth associated with agglomeration economies. We suggest that the development and implementation of regional spatial policy should be considerate of local historical paths and contextual factors. Finally, we propose a stylized framework to more accurately reflect the diverse and complex nature of urban spatial structure evolution in Chinese prefectural cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The publication of Quebec's National Policy on Architecture and Regional Planning (PNAAT) challenges geography in several respects. It is the result of an 18‐month development process and is built around the sustainable development paradigm. This storytelling is part of a generalized trend in planning. In Quebec, several public policies adopted since 2000 show a strong narrative. Consequently, it is necessary to address the nature of this narrative: is it the consolidation of the existing theoretical frame or a partial or total reframing of the paradigm developed in previous policies? In addition, what potential role will be played by the storytelling resulting from the PNAAT in terms of mobilizing stakeholders? These questions will lead us to compare various Quebec public policies, in terms of terminology as well as orientations and objectives. Our results illustrate the fact that the narrative of the PNAAT is in line with the territorial policies previously proposed. In addition, the call for sustainability and the fight against climate change has an obvious mobilizing power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, nature has been increasingly acknowledged in the urban environment for its importance to people's well-being and quality of life, as well as for its role in building sustainable cities. The idea of nature in cities and the conceptualization of 'green' (e.g. green structure, green fingers, green infrastructure, parks and ecosystem services) are correlated in planning approaches. This study explores the conceptualization of green by analysing the concepts used in the two regions of Oslo and Helsinki, and by investigating their current master and regional plans through quantitative and qualitative analyses. The findings exhibit a variety of green concepts and complementary features (between planning concepts introduced earlier and newer ones). Over the years, and in the light of evolving ideas of nature, the master and regional plans of both regions have set up a multi-functionality framework, more recently influenced by ecosystem services approaches. The study contributes to understanding the evolving conceptualization of green in urban and regional planning approaches. The discussion is linked to place-specific contexts and regulatory practices, and connected – to some extent – to the wider international debate and planning ideas that incorporate nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural routes are a composite set of heritage sites that refer to historical routes of human communication. As key products of cultural tourism, they provide visitors with rich cultural experiences across regions. We systematically review reports and studies related to the tourism development of 38 cultural route cases worldwide, with a special focus on their distribution, typology, planning patterns, and tools for cultural tourism. We summarized eight tools and found some differences in how often these eight tools are used by the different types of routes and different planning patterns for route tourism. This study also developed an evaluation system based on the conservation principles of cultural routes to determine how different tourism tools affect the conservation and development of historical regions. Although tourism decision-makers have made numerous efforts to protect and develop cultural routes, there are still many problems and challenges in the process of tourism development along cultural routes. We conclude the paper by making recommendations for decision-makers and researchers concerning future route tourism planning and study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are in transition towards more sustainable mobilities, and many city cores are beyond peak car. However, the suburbs are still largely car based. Although planning principles for compact centres and transit-oriented development have been prevalent since the early nineties, there has been little progress towards more sustainable suburban mobility. This is also the case for the Greater Oslo region. To understand this implementation gap, we have investigated the adoption of the overarching principles of land use and transport planning, as represented in the regional plan for Greater Oslo. In two suburban municipalities, we have focused on key actors in local planning, who are crucial for the implementation of planning principles and strategies to achieve change. We find that the sustainability principles focusing on densification around public transport nodes and in suburban centres are supported. However, essential aspects of social sustainability in the growing suburban towns, have largely been left out. Drawing on the reflexive turn in policies and planning, we argue that this implementation deficit is an unintentional consequence of a too narrow disciplinary spatial planning approach. The implementation of sustainable planning principles requires a broader knowledge base, including the social sciences, in order to take into account peoples' preferences and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of Grand Paris has been partly constructed around the markers provided in the major regional plans that have punctuated the development of the Greater Paris region, from the 1913 'Report for the enlargement of Paris' to the 2009 'Grand Paris international consultation process'. By providing an epistemic framework for understanding the major regional plans, this article clearly posits that their history – i.e., both their succession and development – has a structuring impact on the 'reality' constituted by 'Grand Paris'. The research we present here was conducted as part of the Inventing Grand Paris research programme with the objective of visualizing what we have termed the 'depth of plans', their contents and conflicts as well as their nature and temporality. To this end, a research device was created in the form of a digital 'Atlas of Grand Paris plans'. By presenting the vast corpus of archives generated by the development of regional plans, this helps present a nuanced perspective and clarify the complexity of the metropolitan dynamics of Greater Paris. By looking at the possibilities it opens up for understanding the process, this article ultimately explores the way in which the digital humanities can contribute to the history of planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the implementation of grand spatial planning narratives such as the compact city and polycentricity in planning practice. The effects of overlapping scales on the application of spatial imaginaries in metropolitan space are examined. Using post‐socialist space, the research enriches the geographical context of metropolitan studies. On the basis of a spatial analysis of metropolitan form and centrality and a textual analysis of the relevant spatial plans of three Czech metropolitan areas, the key features in efforts of planning polycentric and compact metropolitan areas are identified as "Administrative blindness", "(De)centralization ambiguity", and "Reactive passivity". By identifying the limits of translating spatial visions into the practical language of statutory regional and land‐use plans, the paper contributes to the debate on the effectiveness of metropolitan planning based on the specific context of Central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach to intersection improvement planning utilizing telematics data from connected vehicles to generate performance measures for mobility, safety, and emissions. Congestion, crashes, and emissions are three major issues in urban areas, particularly at intersections, and agencies often struggle to prioritize improvement plans because of a lack of objective data. Traditional infrastructure sensors provide limited information at selected locations, but it is not feasible to deploy them at all intersections. The use of telematics data from connected vehicles provides a high granularity of information on driving events and trajectories that can be used in conjunction with vehicle emission modeling to efficiently generate performance measures for all intersections. In a case study of over 300 intersections in Arlington, Texas, the Pareto front method was used to evaluate and rank intersections based on multiple criteria. Intersections falling on the Pareto front were identified as having at least one outstanding (poor) performance measure and were required to be given priority for improvement. The results were cross-validated with historical crash reports and the judgments of city traffic engineers, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed framework in generating objective and reliable intersection performance measures. This approach has the potential to significantly improve intersection safety, mobility, and environmental impact, and can serve as a valuable decision-support tool for transportation agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proponents of fair districting reforms continue to face challenges in seeking to address the problem of partisan gerrymandering. Even in states that have successfully enacted redistricting reforms, state actors have been able to evade compliance, and state courts have been unable to guarantee fair districts. In addition, the Supreme Court's decision in Moore v. Harper could also limit state court efforts to guarantee fair districts. This Article argues that state evasion and Moore threaten to undermine the efficacy of fair districting norms recognized by state courts or enacted through either state political processes. Moore could create a one-way ratchet by weakening state courts' role in policing partisan gerrymandering, while allowing state courts to dismantle fair districts and fail to address the problem of evasion. This Article analyzes these dynamics by examining recent examples of evasion of anti-partisan gerrymandering norms by legislatures, redistricting commissions, and other political actors in the post-2020 redistricting cycle in Ohio, New York, and Florida. The Article begins by situating Moore and state evasion dynamics within theories of federalism, democracy, and election law. It then provides a descriptive account of state partisan gerrymandering regimes, by analyzing variation in the pathways through which states have entrenched norms against partisan gerrymandering, and variation in evasion strategies employed by political actors. Finally, the Article assesses the broader implications of Moore and state evasion dynamics for state court decision-making and the efficacy of state reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the Islamic State (IS) collapsed in 2019, tens of thousands of IS fighters, IS affiliates, and their wives and children were captured and kept in detention centers throughout northeastern Syria. Today, these camps remain full of young children, growing up in unsanitary living conditions, vulnerable to recruitment from IS supporters, and lacking the ability to leave the camps, obtain a formal education, and otherwise enjoy a safe, stable childhood. While operating in less dire circumstances, orphanages throughout northeastern Syria and Iraq are also housing the children of IS fighters. These children face similar issues, including social stigmas and isolation, limited resources, and an uncertain future. So far, efforts to conduct large-scale repatriations, rehabilitations, or prosecutions of the detainees have failed. This Note advocates for private adoptions as a limited solution to this problem. Expedited intercountry adoptions would move children out of these detention camps and orphanages, limiting the burden on regional authorities and allowing the children to have a chance to grow up in a stable environment enjoying the rights and privileges they are entitled to under international law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The article analyses intergovernmental relations (IGR) at the subnational level in climate policies in the Spanish case. More specifically, it aims to describe the basic aspects of IGR and identify the IGR instruments used by the actors involved in the policy, pointing out the differences that may exist between the different territories. Methodology: The methodology used is qualitative in nature and resorts to the analysis of a variety of documentary sources (regulations drawn up by the Autonomous Regions on climate and energy, regional plans and strategies, government agreements and other relevant data contained in different institutional websites. Results: In most of the Autonomous Communities (ACs) a variety of IGRs involving regional and local governments can be identified. In these interactions the representatives of the ACs tend to play a leading role, although there are differences between territories. IGRs are developed through a variety of instruments, including coordination and cooperation bodies, intergovernmental funding, and trainings, technical assistance, and information exchange initiatives. Conclusions: The leading role acquired by the ACs in this field, as well as the basic structural factors limiting the capabilities of most local governments, make it unlikely that significant changes will occur in the short term. However, the impact of the European Union, which is clearly felt in the overall IGR system, must also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare precipitation events with return periods of multiple decades to hundreds of years are particularly damaging to natural and societal systems. Projections of such rare, damaging precipitation events in the future climate are, however, subject to large inter‐model variations. We show that a substantial portion of these differences can be ascribed to the projected warming uncertainty, and can be robustly reduced by using the warming observed during recent decades as an observational constraint, implemented either by directly constraining the projections with the observed warming or by conditioning them on constrained warming projections, as verified by extensive model‐based cross‐validation. The temperature constraint reduces >40% of the warming‐induced uncertainty in the projected intensification of future rare daily precipitation events for a climate that is 2°C warmer than preindustrial across most regions. This uncertainty reduction together with validation of the reliability of the projections should permit more confident adaptation planning at regional levels. Plain Language Summary: Very rare extreme precipitation events are particularly damaging to natural and societal systems. Projections of such rare, damaging precipitation events in the future climate vary substantially among climate models. Reducing this uncertainty will aid adaptation planning. We show here that the projected range of future rare precipitation intensification is strongly affected by the projected range of global warming, especially for regions where the intensification is dominated by increases in atmospheric moisture. We verify that using the past global warming trend as an observational constraint can eliminate more than 40% of the warming‐induced uncertainty in the intensification of future rare precipitation events at 2°C warmer above preindustrial across most global land regions. This narrowing of the possible range of future rare precipitation intensification at regional scales can greatly benefit adaptation planning. Key Points: Projections of future rare precipitation intensification exhibit substantial differences among climate modelsA substantial portion of the inter‐model differences can be traced to the projected global warming uncertaintyUsing the past global warming trend as an observational constraint can eliminate >40% of the warming‐induced uncertainty [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, wildfires are increasing in extent, frequency, and severity. Although global climate change is a major driver and large-scale governance interventions are essential, focusing on governance at smaller scales is of great importance for fostering resilience to wildfires. Inherent tensions in managing wildfire risk are evident at such scales, as objectives and mandates may conflict, and tradeoffs and impacts vary across ecosystems and communities. Our study feeds into debates about how to manage wildfire risk to life and property in a way that does not undermine biodiversity and amenity values in social-ecological systems. Here, we describe a case study where features of adaptive governance emerged organically from a dedicated planning process for wildfire governance in Australia. We found that a governance process that is context specific, allows for dialogue about risk, benefits, and trade-offs, and allows for responsibility and risk to be distributed amongst many different actors, can provide the conditions needed to break down rigidity traps that constrain adaptation. The process enabled actors to question whether the default risk management option (in this case, prescribed burning) is aligned with place-based risks and values so they could make an informed choice, built from their participation in the governance process. Ultimately, the community supported a move away from prescribed burning in favor of other wildfire risk management strategies. We found that the emergent governance system has many features of adaptive governance, even though higher level governance has remained resistant to change. Our study offers positive insights for other governments around the world interested in pursuing alternative strategies to confronting wildfire risk [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing academic recognition of the usefulness of regional design for regional coordination and rescaling from the bottom up, the response of practitioners in spatial planning and governance at regional scales remains unclear. To investigate how practitioners assess regional design towards real-world practice, we interviewed practitioners engaged in our educational regional design studios in the Munich Metropolitan Region. Results demonstrate practitioners acknowledging the relevance and potential of regional design to practice amid persistent barriers in administration, such as a lack of resources or support. Disseminating regional design might therefore demand a more comprehensive arena of application than existing spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the shift in spatial planning approaches since the 1990s, moving from plan-led planning to development-led approaches. These new approaches prioritize flexibility and community involvement, utilizing temporary governance arrangements and community-led initiatives. The article also explores the evolving concept of regional design and its importance in spatial visioning, decision-making, and consensus building. The article concludes by introducing a special issue dedicated to examining the impact of regional design on planning decision-making. The special issue includes articles on various aspects of regional design, such as its role in post-mining transformation, river agreements, spatial planning and governance practices, urban climate resilience, urban policy development in Ukraine, territorial analysis and scenario evaluation, and addressing spatial challenges through imagination and anticipation. The editorial emphasizes the need for further research and reflection on the roles and performances of regional design in planning. [Extracted from the article]

Territorial capital is a policy concept that emphasizes the endogenous development and regional competitiveness of particular territories, calling for place-based territorial approaches and greater convergence between spatial planning and regional development policies. However, spatial thinking and imaging are still missing when this concept is applied. This paper introduces a multidimensional assessment model that foregrounds the spatial dimension of territorial capital and enables integration and visualisation of decision-supporting data in planning processes. Taking Sintra's region, Portugal, as a case study, the model helps to consider regional development in spatial planning's strategic visioning as it sets the ground for regional design approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning struggles with the tension between professional expertise and public voice. The approaching 75th anniversary of Philip Selznick's classic, TVA and the Grass Roots, is an apt time to revisit that tension. In Selznick's analysis, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was a modernist institution aligning with local agricultural elites at the expense of vulnerable Black and poor farmers. He coined the term 'informal co-optation' to characterize TVA's affiliation with the powerful. We bring renewed attention to informal co-optation and the institutional aspects of engagement by examining how Selznick's analysis was received contemporaneously, and then considering recent scholarship and the current implications of Selznick's work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Displacement and seismic activities are critical elements in understanding the geodynamic behaviour of regions. Particularly in Banten, a region with significant irrigation infrastructure, these factors have implications for land use and infrastructure stability. From 2017–2020, Banten experienced varying displacement dynamics and seismic events, and DInSAR processing proved instrumental in achieving high-precision vertical displacement measurements. The challenge was to discern the pattern of these displacements in relation to significant earthquakes and the implications for specific high-density irrigation zones. Our study reveals a notable differentiation in displacement dynamics across different periods, especially in regions proximal to earthquake epicentres. For instance, the 2019 earthquake of magnitude 5 MW corresponded with uplift activities in certain irrigation areas, contrary to the subsidence observed in the preceding period. These findings emphasise the intricate relationship between seismic activities, vertical displacements, and their potential impact on key infrastructural elements in Banten. Moreover, understanding this interplay is not only crucial for regional planning but also offers insights into how such dynamics can influence areas with similar geophysical properties globally. Broadly, our results underscore the importance of consistent monitoring and analytical methodologies, like DInSAR, in regions susceptible to seismic shifts. Such knowledge can inform infrastructure development, resource allocation, and disaster preparedness strategies, ensuring the safety and sustainability of both natural and man-made environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Assessing the use of Life Cycle Thinking methodologies in Waste Management Plans. • Evaluation of different levels of implementation of Life Cycle Assessment in WMPs. • Application of the developed model for reviewing WMPs at the Italian level. • Recommendation to improve the use of LCT methodologies in the preparation of WMPs. The aim of this article is to examine how Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) contributes to the development of Waste Management Plans (WMPs). The case of Italy has been deeply investigated. The article first analyses whether and how the LCT methodologies were applied to the 21 regional WMPs; then, it draws indications for using LCT in the preparation of a WMP. Moreover, it outlines why the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology could be used as a powerful tool for regional planning in the waste field, analysing the indications for preparing a WMP that already exist at the European level and in the Italian National WM Programme. Results reveal that only four of the 21 regional WMPs include comprehensive and site-specific LCA studies. Building on these case study results, insights into the opportunities and benefits associated with incorporating LCT methodologies into WMP development and implementation are provided. This study underscores the critical importance of LCT and LCA in promoting sustainable waste management practices, ensuring compliance with European directives, and offering a foundation for more informed regional planning strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of Earth observation satellites, and the area of ground targets requiring observation has also been expanding. To effectively utilize the capabilities of these satellites and capture larger areas of ground targets, it has become essential to plan imaging tasks for large regional coverage using multiple satellites. First, we establish a 0-1 integer programming model to accurately describe the problem and analyze the challenges associated with solving the model. Second, we propose a heuristic algorithm based on the triple grids method. This approach utilizes a generated grid to create fewer candidate strips, a calculation grid to determine the effective coverage area more accurately, and a refined grid to solve the issue of repeated coverage of strips. Furthermore, we employ an approximation algorithm to further improve the solutions obtained from the heuristic algorithm. By comparing the proposed method to the traditional greedy heuristic algorithm and three evolutionary algorithms, the results show that our method has better performance in terms of coverage and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the border regions of Iran, which include West Azerbaijan province, the interwoven dynamics between development and security present a multifaceted set of challenges. This comprehensive study delves into the intricate relationship between these two critical elements, with a focus on elucidating potential scenarios that impact on development and security alike. Employing a rigorous methodological approach, using advanced data analysis tools and incorporating insights from experts, this research identifies seven pivotal factors that play a crucial role in shaping the sustainable development and security landscape of these border regions. By using the Method for Inserting Knowledge into Decision Support Models (Méthode d'Insertion de Connaissances dans les Modèles d'Aide à la Décision) MicMac software, an in-depth analysis of both direct and indirect variables was conducted to precisely gauge their influence in border security. The outcomes of this extensive analysis provide a solid foundation for the construction of diverse scenarios, thus offering a wide spectrum of potential future trajectories for the region. The examination of these scenarios grants invaluable insights into the intricate nexus between development and security, reinforcing the essential need for a holistic and integrated approach to regional planning. This research effectively underscores the vital imperative of nurturing synergies between security and development for the sustained progress of Iran's border areas. With a focus on empirical data and informed projections, this study sheds light on the intricate dynamics at play, emphasising the pivotal role of an integrated approach to regional advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study analyzes the adoption of the Ecological ICMS in the states located in the Legal Amazon and the instruments mobilized by these regulatory state policies to coordinate the environmental actions in their municipalities. Methodology: The relevant legislation was reviewed and a bibliographical analysis of the Ecological ICMS was carried out in the six states where the policy is in force as they contain part of the Amazon forest: Amapá, Pará, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Rondônia, and Acre. Originality/Relevance: The originality of the article lies in its comparison of the instruments for coordinating the ICMS-E legislation and its results in the states of the Legal Amazon to improve current legislation while encouraging other states in the country to adhere to this policy. Results: Regulatory and financial coordination instruments guide ICMS-E policies in the Legal Amazon as the essence of this policy is resource allocation according to environmental criteria stipulated by state legislation. However, greater clarity in the ICMS-E objectives could help municipalities adapt their actions to the practices expected by the states. Higher transfer percentages and coordination instruments related to management were also factors identified that could improve the policy's performance. Social/management contributions: The article contributes to the field of regional planning by offering recommendations for improving ICMS-E policies in states that have already adopted it and for those that have not yet implemented it. The study showed that the more coordination instruments used in the ICMS-E policy, the greater the possibility for states to affect municipal choices for improving environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key part of the national policy agenda, Finland aims to operationalize forest-based bioeconomy. The coordination and implementation of changes are often carried out at the regional level. Yet, it remains unclear what changes can be expected in specific local contexts. Based on an exhaustive review of regional policy documents effective from 2021 onwards, we mapped Finland's regional forest-based bioeconomy-related objectives and measures to achieve them. In the analysis, we include 44 strategy documents published by 18 regions in Finland (excluding Åland). We find that all regions include objectives and measures to intensify forest use, but only three regions explicitly mention forest-based bioeconomy as a focus area in their regional program. Forest bioeconomy-related plans are fragmented and do not necessarily provide enough detailed information that meet the needs of implementing actors, such as municipalities, companies, and forest owners. We discuss how regional plans can be improved to support forest-based bioeconomy development in Finland and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2002, the Upper Cretaceous Abu Roash (G) Member in the Karama Oil Field has been considered to be one of the most important reservoirs in the Abu Gharadig Basin in the North‐Western Desert. This member is located in the Karama Oil Field. For the purpose of increasing oil production, a three‐dimensional reservoir model was developed, and the area's oil resource was determined by employing thirty two‐dimensional seismic lines dispersed in the north–south and east–west directions, in addition to five well logs. Within the Abu Roash Formation, which conformably overlies the Bahariya Formation and unconformably underlies the Khoman Formation, there are seven normal faults that allow for three‐way dip closure for oil accumulation. These faults cut through the Abu Roash Formation. The Abu Roash (G) Member is mostly composed of limestone, shale and intercalated siltstone and sandstone, and it ranges in thickness from 54 to 168 feet (16.5 to 51.2 m) in terms of its net pay. Effective porosity ranges anywhere from 20% to 30%, shale content can be anywhere from 13% to 24%, water saturation can be anywhere from 40% to 55% and hydrocarbon saturation can be as high as 60%. Through the integration of the constructed structural and property models, two new prospect areas have been presented (in the northern part of the study area). In these areas, the petrophysical parameters are good, and the Original oil in place (OOIP) is predicted to be 1107 × 106 Stock Tank Barrels (STB), which will help with the development plans for the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The judgment of the Superior Court of Justice of Castilla y León (Valladolid) on February 29, 2024 addresses the contentious-administrative appeal filed by the "Federation of Ecologists in Action of Castilla y León" against Order FYM/304/2022 and the Agreement of the Ministry of Development and Environment of the Junta de Castilla y León. The appellant considers that the adaptation of the Comprehensive Waste Plan of Castilla y León (PIRCYL) is a revision or modification of the regional plan that should have been subject to the procedural requirements established by the Territorial Planning Law of the Community of Castilla y León. In addition, it argues that the adaptation of the PIRCYL is subject to an ordinary strategic environmental assessment. The Court grants the appellant Federation's claim and annuls the challenged Order and Agreement. [Extracted from the article]

Drone imagery has the potential to enrich urban planning and historic preservation, especially where it converges with the growing creation and use of 3D models in the context of cities and metro regions. Nevertheless, the widespread adoption of drones in these fields faces limitations, and there is a shortage of research addressing this issue. Therefore, we have conducted a systematic literature review of articles published between 2002 and 2022 drawing from reputable academic repositories, including Science Direct, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), to identify current gaps in the existing research on the application of UAVs to the creation of 3D models in the contexts of urban planning and historic preservation. Our findings indicate five research shortcomings for 3D city modeling: limited participation of planning experts, research focus imbalance, lack of usage for special scenarios, lack of integration with smart city planning, and limited interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition, this study acknowledges current limitations around UAV applications and discusses possible countermeasures along with future prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airport-related development raises important city-regional planning and governance issues. The paper examines the development of a new Chinese airport and associated changes in nearby cities. Ezhou Huahu Airport was initiated by one of China's largest delivery and logistics companies. The analysis focuses on the development patterns, growing visions, and changing governance around the airport as well as how the provincial government plays a crucial role in governing the airport region. Furthermore, the study highlights regional coordination manifested in various institutional forms, which warrants solid implementation through regional plans and regional institutions for dispute settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contains the methodology and main results related to the update and extension of the widest interregional input–output tables for the entire EU27, UK and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. This work continues the outstanding effort developed in the past years regarding the estimation and analysis of different multiregional input–output (MRIO) databases at the country level (world input–output database, EXIOBASE, ICIO, FIGARO, etc.) and the MRIO tables developed for the European Union (EU) at the NUTS2 level. The main contribution consists of updating and extending the current EUREGIO collection to obtain a EUREGIO table for 2017, which will be referred (NUTS‐2 Rev.2016) for all the EU27 + UK + EFTA countries and will be embedded in the new FIGARO multicountry 2017. Such effort was developed in the context of the ESPON‐IRIE project. This article summarises the methodology used and compares the results obtained with the ones of the main benchmarks, providing an analysis of the national and regional participation in the global value chains (GVCs). The main results suggest that, on average, 65% of value added is embodied in the goods and services sold to the same NUTS‐2 region, 16% is embodied in the ones sold to regions in the same country and the remaining 20% is exported (to other countries). Exploring the heterogeneity within these figures can also be seen that the variety is higher across regions than across sectors. Our analysis suggests that, to a large extent, the heterogeneous participation of EU27 + UK + EFTA regions in the GVCs is explained by their sectoral structure more than by the regional idiosyncratic characteristics. Such results open the floor for the correct design of industrial policies, embedded in the smart specialisation paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to alleviate the conflict between populations and land resource, Tianjin adopted multi-phase reclamation projects to the formed large-scale artificial reclamation land. The reclamation areas, however, are prone to subsidence, which poses a significant threat to infrastructure as well as the safety and assets of the residents. The SBAS-InSAR was used to acquire surface deformation of Tianjin Binhai New Area from January 2017 to December 2022, analyze in depth the response relationship between land subsidence, reclamation project time, and land-use type. There is a strong correlation between surface deformation and reclamation time. Severe land subsidence occurred over newly reclaimed areas. In the offshore direction, the deformation values of the Nangang Industrial Zone, the Lingang Industrial Zone, and Hangu Harbor were −98 mm to −890 mm, 45 mm to −580 mm, and −140 mm to −290 mm, respectively. Significant differences in deformation were detected among different land-use types where reclamation projects were completed in the same time. Subsidence was positively correlated with surface load; in areas with higher surface loads, the surface settlement was also more severe. The average surface settlement for the heavy shipyard, with 67 grain storage tanks and 27 grain storage tanks, road, and bare land were −201 mm, −166 mm, −107 mm, −64 mm, and −43 mm, respectively. This study reveals significant differences of surface deformation in the reclamation completed at different times, and determines that the load is the main driving factor of settlement difference in the reclamation land completed at the same time. This has important guiding significance for preventing and controlling geological disasters in the reclamation area and later development planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is extensive literature on the agency of actors in urban and regional planning which draws on a wide range of theoretical lenses and concepts. One of the recurring themes is the relationship between agency and structure—the mutual interdependence between individual actions and collective institutions, rules, and norms. This article provides a narrative overview of the wide range of literature on agency and structure in relation to spatial planning clustered around six interrelated themes: institutions, discretion, pragmatism, networks, leadership, and emotions. It identifies new avenues for research, paying particular attention to empirical, scalar, and methodological issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: waterfront; New York; Chicago; regional planning; public trust doctrine EN waterfront New York Chicago regional planning public trust doctrine 342 347 6 10/16/23 20231101 NES 231101 Schlichting, Kara M. 2019. The book explains the legal procedures by which the parks commissions financed the landfill and parks in great detail but is unfortunately silent on how the region's traffic engineers hijacked the pleasure dive and transformed it into an expressway. Other property owners, led by department store magnate Montgomery Ward, resisted proposals to place cultural buildings in Grant Park, the centrepiece of Chicago's downtown parks system. Schlichting demonstrates how, in the absence of a city plan, the New York City Parks Commission acted as the initial planning agency for the South Bronx, creating a system of large parks connected by parkways. [Extracted from the article]

Zoning that supports urban manufacturing may offer new opportunities to promote sustainability benefits ranging from improved job accessibility to reduced waste and resource use. However, industrial uses in urban areas face displacement from competing and conflicting uses. While the process of industrial gentrification is well documented, little work has examined how planning strategies and regulations affect urban manufacturing and its potential contribution to sustainable economic development. Drawing on a review of planning documents and interviews with food and beverage manufacturers, we examine how planning regulates the sustainability potential of manufacturing enterprises in Melbourne, Australia. In doing so, we contribute a deeper understanding of the ways that zoning affects urban manufacturing and the obstacles, tensions, and trade-offs urban planners face in creating a more sustainable local manufacturing base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of all efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, climate change has become a new reality that requires regional planning to provide effective solutions. This article focuses on commercial and industrial areas (Gewerbegebiete), which are important but often overlooked spaces, by means of examples in the Berlin-Brandenburg region. The article investigates whether and how regional planning can help these areas adapt to climate change. Three commercial and industrial areas in different spatial settings are examined, using an inventory of place-based measures, general standards, and regional networking of planning actors. This inventory is based on a backcasting analysis that compares normative future images of climateadapted commercial and industrial areas with their current local situation. Spatially differentiated guidelines for the adaptation of commercial and industrial areas are then developed from a regional planning perspective by "climate-proofing" regional plans. These guidelines provide both place-based and general solutions for integrating and governing climate adaptation measures and standards into existing frameworks using a hands-on regional planning approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the complex context of the current social and economic challenges worsened by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion on 'a future for all places' has gained momentum. Nonetheless, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the specific challenges and opportunities of less populated, peripheral, and economically backward territories. Using STEEP (social, technological, economic, environmental and political) as underpinning framework and a qualitative case-study approach, this study focuses on the pandemic's impact on Low-Density Territories (LDTs), often overlooked in research. By gathering insights from three case studies through in-depth interviews with regional stakeholders and field experts, secondary data and policy practices, this study pinpoints development opportunities created or accelerated by the pandemic, namely new working trends, digitalisation and technology adoption, cooperation and innovation, and new perceptions about the importance of LDTs. The findings stress the importance of adapting planning and regional development research and strategies to a post-pandemic scenario to seize the opportunities identified and break spatial inequalities affecting these territories. Besides, by applying a place-based approach it provides important implications for policy-makers, highlighting several recommendations and examples of local policy answers that other LDTs can adapt to in a post-pandemic reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing integrated energy station (IES) planning does not consider the lifecycle of the energy conversion equipment and the growth modes of various loads at the same time, which will inevitably affect the economics of the IES planning. This paper proposes a planning and design of regional IESs that takes the load growth mode into account, aiming at the lowest total cost of regional IESs in the planning lifecycle. Based on the operation mode about of the IES coupled with the three-networks involving the natural gas network (NGN), power distribution network (PDN) and transportation network (TN), the selection and capacity configuration of the equipment in the IES are optimized. The solution process of staged planning for IESs is proposed based on load calculation, power distribution and economic checking computations. The optimization calculation is carried out by reasonably dividing the time interval and setting the calculation criteria for the power distribution module. Finally, four MW-level IESs coupled with IEEE 33-node PDN, 20-node NGN and 12-node TN are simulated on the basis of MATLAB. The results show that the equipment investment and operation costs of the regional IESs can be decreased by about 7.1%, and the accumulated waste of various equipment capacity is decreased by nearly 16.51 MW, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed model and strategy. Furthermore, the results show that it is more practical and economical to consider the equipment lifecycle and load growth mode for the medium and long-term planning of IESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the perceptions of female sex workers in the city of Porto Murtinho (MS) on the concepts of self-care and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and how their opinions on the subject can affect decision-making in health. The research is based on a qualitative approach developed through semi-structured interviews recorded in audio and analyzed according to the epistemology of emergence. Data collection took place in Porto Murtinho, a city that makes up the Bioceanic Route under construction to connect Brazil to Paraguay as part of a regional socioeconomic development project. In all, 8 women were interviewed who, despite revealing a sexual prevention routine and professional autonomy, reinforced the role of critical health literacy as a tool for permanent self-care and health promotion. In addition, the relationship between the implementation of the Bioceanic Route and its possible negative impact on safety and social determinants in health is highlighted, since the consequent increase in the flow of people and services in the region corroborates the growth of prostitution and sex tourism. With this, it is concluded that more effective public health policies must be taken to ensure greater health literacy for these women, as well as the need to encourage academic debate on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]