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In the context of a secular decline in internal migration across more developed nations, this paper examines the degree of counterurbanisation in New South Wales – Australia's most populous state – for 2016-21, a period that included the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a nuanced demarcation of 'metropolitan' and 'non-metropolitan', the paper investigates how genuinely counter-urban and pro-rural these movements are. The paper also explores the role of rural amenity as a 'pull' factor on city populations, using the most influential elements of the rural environment that best predict in-, out-migration and net-migration flows as separate measures rather than combine them into an index of composite variables. The results suggest that counterurbanisation exists as a particular migration current in NSW, though the spatial patterning of in- and net migration rates suggests that exurbanisation and displaced urbanisation more accurately describe and explain the vast majority of moves. Relatively high in- and net migration rates recorded in the most remote local government areas also suggest an element of anti-urbanisation, perhaps in response to the COVID-19 public health measures. Spatial regression modelling of selected amenity indicators against in-, out- and net migration produced high coefficients (Spearman's rho) for the in- and out-migration models, while the net migration model registered coefficients about half the size of the other two models. Two indicators – median slope and tourism employment – were strong and statistically significant influences over the in- and net migration models, and in the direction hypothesised. These results suggest that counterurbanisation is substantially influenced by the presence of landscapes of varied relief and with some tourism attraction potential. • The spatial patterning of in- and net migration rates between the New South Wales metro region and non-metro regions suggest that exurbanisation and displaced urbanisation more accurately explain the vast majority of moves. • Relatively high in- and net migration rates recorded in the most remote local government areas of NSW also suggest an element of anti-urbanisation, perhaps in response to the COVID-19 public health measures. • Two indicators – median slope and tourism employment – had statistically significant influences over the in- and net migration models in spatial regression modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid population growth has outpaced the planning interventions in most large Indian cities resulting into unplanned, leapfrogged physical development and considerable transport challenges for intra-city and regional traffic. As an afterthought, these concerns have been addressed by formulation of spatial development strategies to guide rapid urban expansion creating planned real estate development opportunities, and to ease regional traffic movements. This paper is based on two unique case studies of regional transportation corridors developed in the fringe areas of rapidly growing mega cities – Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Global Corridor (KMPGC) in the national capital region of Delhi (16 million people and the largest city in India) and Sardar Patel Ring Road (SPRR) in the City of Ahmadabad, India (6 million people and the seventh largest city in India). Both the cases employed unique land development strategies to achieve the larger public purpose while creating planned land and real estate development opportunities. The KMPGC Delhi case employed compulsory purchase for reserving 325-foot wide right-of-way (ROW) and created multiple economic nodes as theme cities, strategically located along its 135 km (84 miles) corridor. While, the case of SPRR Ahmadabad employed land readjustment (LR) technique for reserving 76 km (47 miles) long and 200-foot wide ROW of a regional ring road. Using these two cases, this paper explains both types of land development processes and the financing models involved in these cases, and compares benefits and constraints of compulsory purchase and LR technique, especially in context of regional level real estate and economic development opportunities via new real estate markets as spatial corridors and economic nodes. The paper finally recommends a new hybrid model – a strategy for rapidly growing cities, where both models can be used in a hybrid form to achieve regional level public asset, create real estate market opportunities in fast growing fringe areas and achieve a planned development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Building sustainability assessments are driving greater market demand for sustainable buildings in the developed world. However, do such assessments actually demonstrate building sustainability? Some critics of building sustainability assessment argue that the methods should evolve toward an “absolute” assessment of building sustainability. That is, rather than assessing a building relative to a average like-type building as is typically done, the assessment should be made to whatever is deemed sustainable using a credible science. One possible form of absolute assessment is using the indicator of sustainability known as carrying capacity. After discussing the opportunities with a carrying-capacity-based assessment of buildings, this paper proposes a computational model that provides such an assessment. There are four main components to the presented computational model. The first is the amount of carbon (C) stored on the building site in its native state. This native-site carbon storage is defined as the baseline carbon storage and represents the carrying capacity of the building project. The second is land use change, which accounts for the removal or addition of vegetation and other carbon storing elements to the project site. The third and fourth carbon emissions sources in the model are building construction and operation. A building is considered sustainable in the model if by the end of its expected lifetime the total amount of carbon emissions are completely offset. Building designers and their clients can use this model to more comprehensively account for carbon emissions and identify options for reducing and offsetting them. To drive greater adoption, the model has been developed into an online resource, Green Footstep (www.greenfootstep.org). To demonstrate the usefulness of the model, this paper presents a case study of an institutional building in Lake Placid, Florida, USA. The case study shows that the design team used the model to better understand what it means to have a “low-carbon” goal. The model showed them that over one hundred years, the building project must reduce and offset carbon emissions at a rate of 16 tonnes C per year. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There has been a growing interest in transfer of development rights (TDR) in urban planning and economics literatures. Most studies report new practices and evaluate their policy effectiveness in developed countries, such as the United States and Europe. This paper aims to fill in an empirical gap in TDR studies by analyzing a case from a developing country. It studies the evolution of land rights trading in one Chinese province, Zhejiang. Unlike industrialized societies, the initial driving force for this institutional innovation was not local preservation movements; rather it was a strategic response to the central government''s tight farmland regulation. In the late 1990s, to secure food resources, the central leaders introduced the “toughest” land regulatory regime in China and controlled farmland conversion through a number of quotas. To balance development and preservation in a fast growing regional economy, Zhejiang allowed local governments to earn land-use quotas and, more importantly, established a market for trading. More developed areas traded in land-use quotas to growing their businesses and cities, while poor areas traded out development rights for financial compensations. Drawing on extensive interviews and internal publications, this paper supports the claim that land rights trading has achieved both objectives of farmland preservation and development. The study broadens the scope of existing studies on TDRs by highlighting different dynamics in a developing country. TDR should be an attractive option for developing countries that are under high pressure for growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The issue of poor solid waste management (SWM) is a challenge throughout the world, in both developed and developing countries. People always generate solid waste through their daily activities. This solid waste needs to be properly managed in a way that minimises risk to the environment and human health, which means storage, collection and proper disposal. At the same time solid waste creates livelihoods for the urban poor in terms of employment and business. This paper looks into one aspect of SWM, namely collection service. The importance of SWM is now recognised at international, national and community level. The Agenda 21 declaration of the United Nations [UN. (1993). The global partnership for environment and development: A guide to agenda 21 (pp. 88–94). New York: United Nations] addresses the issue of environmentally sound management of solid waste, with emphasis on the extension of solid waste service coverage to all urban and rural areas worldwide. SWM is a service for which local governments are usually responsible. However, due to inadequate capacity in the public sector, in many developing countries the private sector has stepped in to fill the gap in service provision. Dar es Salaam (DSM), Tanzania, is one such developing country city in which the private sector has become involved in solid waste collection services. The sector comprises Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), and local private companies [Kassim, S. M., & Ali, S. M. (2003). Private solid waste collection SERVICE, Dar es Salaam Tanzania. In Proceedings of the 29th WEDC international conference: Towards millenium development goals. Abuja Nigeria, Water and Engineering Centre WEDC]. The private sector in solid waste collection in DSM has been promoted by Sustainable DSM Programme (SDP) through Environmental Planning and Management (EPM) [UNCHS. (1994a). Sustainable Human Settlements Development: Implementing Agenda 21; UNCHS. (1994b). UNCHS (Habitat) Activities; New Envoy to UNCHS from the United Republic of Tanzania. Habitat News, 16, 1–3]. Contracting out of solid waste collection services to the private sector has emerged to fill the gap in service delivery. In 1991 the city was generating 1400 tonnes of solid waste per day out of which only 5% was being collected. Currently daily solid waste generation is estimated at about 2500 tonnes and approximately 48% of the total waste generated is collected. At present, privatisation covers 44 out of 73 city wards, and 45 1 [1] The data found during the study (Source: DSM City Council’ Local document, 2004). active registered private companies are involved [Chinamo, E. B. M. (2003). An overview of solid waste management and how solid waste collection benefits the poor in the city of Dar es Salaam. Solid waste collection that benefits the poor, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Collaborating Working Group on Solid Waste Management in Low and Middle -Income Countries (CWG)].This paper presents the findings of a study that explored the households’ perspective on solid waste collection services provided by the private sector. The study showed that the solid waste collection service by the private sector is greatly influenced by households’ attitudes and behaviour. Their participation, demand for service, awareness, satisfaction level and views on cost recovery are important in the sector. The study concludes that the above factors would be superior if customers (households) were more involved in the planning and decision-making. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Since climate change is no respecter of geographical boundaries, concerted mitigating actions such as clean development mechanism (CDM), are desirable. In CDM, developed countries can earn certified emission reduction credits from emission reduction projects undertaken in developing countries. Recent research suggests that, theoretically, CDM can be extended to the building sector. However, there is limited research on how CDM can be integrated in the development approval process (DAP) of buildings. This paper presents an investigation on how CDM could be integrated into the DAP of buildings in urban Uganda. A method of process modelling was used to describe the existing DAP, and also to design a new DAP. To demonstrate how CDM could be integrated into the new DAP, a typical dwelling unit was used. Two options for the dwelling were considered: a baseline (i.e. constructed using typical materials, plant, and workforce) and alternative (i.e. constructed using provisions to reduce carbon emissions). The difference in emissions in the two options constituted the basis for a CDM. Results suggested that the existing DAP does not consider carbon accounting and thus was not congruent with CDM modalities. A new DAP which is compatible with CDM was proposed. When the CDM concept was integrated into the new DAP, a bottom-up projection regarding construction of 28,000 houses annually within the capital city showed that reductions of over 200 ktCO 2 could be achieved in a period of 10 years. These figures were comparable with prevailing CDM initiatives. The structure of a CDM programme aided by the new DAP was presented and discussed. This study shows that integrating CDM into the DAP of buildings in Uganda is possible if assessment of carbon emissions is incorporated in the existing DAP. The overall findings suggest that CDM could promote market-based mechanisms of enhancing sustainable construction in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effects of the new economy on national city size distribution in 102 countries. Results show that the new economy has significant effects on city size distributions and such effects are heterogeneous across countries. Human capital contributes to the polarization of city size distribution in developed countries and service-dominated countries, while it helps to equalize city size distribution in industrial-dominated countries. While innovation promotes an equalized city size distribution in general, globalization promotes polarization and then equalization of city size distribution. Information and communication technology triggers an equalized followed by a polarized city size distribution, and has contributed to an equalized city size distribution in service-dominated countries. It is evident that thriving new economic processes are changing the global urban hierarchy and reshaping national city size distribution. This study facilitates an in-depth understanding of the effects of the new economy on city size distribution, which is of great importance to promote more equitable development and urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the application of transit-oriented development (TOD) concept to urban development has been proposed based on the planning principles of smart growth and sustainable development. The development of appropriate design techniques for the surrounded built environment of TOD has become increasingly important as TOD concepts apply to urban development. The available evidence lends itself to the argument that a combined design strategies and TOD patterns planning approach that promotes the quality of urban built environment will help create active, healthier, and more livable communities. This is an essential element of this research. The TOD design strategies can be proposed by utilizing the supply side prediction methodologies of planning. There has also been an increasing interest in the urban built environment design in the past decade. This interest is motivated by the possibility that design policies associated with the built environment can be used to control, manage, and shape individual activity and behavior. This paper first studies and classifies smart growth principles based on literature review. Then the individual expert's judgments are obtained and utilized to evaluate the relative importance of smart growth principles. Next, the site selection for a new metro transit station in Taipei (Taiwan) is conducted to show the application of our proposed methodological approach. A combined Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model with assurance region approach is applied to select the most suitable station from a given set of possible station sites. Both the selected station and the proposed methodological approach are provided to the public sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's urbanization process has followed a unique course and transformed the country in a very short period of time. Yet problems have arisen and the New Urbanization Policy 2014–2020 is designed to overcome many of these. This policy note outlines the objectives of the new policy, including a partial relaxation of the strict urban residency ( hukou ) rules, the move toward people-oriented urbanization and the expected changes that will occur in rural areas, particularly with respect to rural land. The paper concludes with a number of questions that do not appear to have been satisfactorily answered by the new policy. Will the differentiated hukou system be effective? Will the rapid urbanization of rural land be curbed? Will the new urbanization make China's cities more or less efficient? What are the plans to reform local government finance? How will the problem of loss of rural collective lands be addressed? The new policy is viewed as an important first step, but unanswered questions remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's market reforms are restructuring its cities. The value of land, previously allocated by the state – is now better reflected in market price, with a strong gradient from high values in the center to lower values in the periphery. Using data from a 2006 Beijing household survey, this paper explores the extent to which the emerging socio-spatial pattern conforms to this new pattern of land value gradient. The results offer little support for this. We argue that although land prices are becoming a significant determinant of urban development, the actual settlement pattern is still strongly affected by other factors. One is the inertia of the socialist pattern placing households with higher standing in that system near the center. Another is the continuation of a set of policy rules that relegated migrants to peripheral locations. Land values do matter but market processes based on price still operate within a larger pattern determined by settlement history and public policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tour or trip chain based travel analysis has been a feature of transportation research for several decades, but has largely been the preserve of developed countries. Furthermore, the important associations between urban form and trip-chaining behaviour have received little attention. Based on detailed land use data and an activity dairy survey for workers in Beijing, China, this paper investigates how socio-demographic attributes of households, individuals and urban form characteristics at both residence and workplace, correlate with the tour-based travel decision process. We focus on tour frequency, tour scheduling (type and order of stops made) and tour interdependence mechanisms. Empirical results show that socio-demographic attributes and commuting time strongly correlate with tour decisions, but that there is no significant gender difference in tour frequency, as seen in developed countries, although women tend to make more stops within a tour. Urban form characteristics at home and at workplace are significantly associated with tour frequency, but differ with respect to tour complexity. For example, higher residential density is associated with more home-based tours with fewer stops, while mixed land use at workplaces having higher density and accessibility is associated with more stops within one work tour, or a more complex tour pattern. The research also reveals, for the first time, a tour interdependence effect for workers who undertake multiple tours. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper focuses on the need to contextualise and to address the neglected occupational health and safety rights of workers in the informal economy. Informal economy workers constitute the majority of workers in most countries and the number of informally employed, unprotected and low-income workers is increasing rapidly in both developing as well as developed countries. National and international policies have not acknowledged the linkages between poverty, employment, working conditions, living environment and health inequities. Information on the scale of the problem and the health impact of worsening informal working conditions is still limited. However, the occupational health and safety hazards they face are often added to those of poor living environments, poor nutrition and unsatisfactory housing. They are not covered by social protection or comprehensive health care and besides work-related injury and disease, they are commonly affected by poverty-related diseases. The authors argue that the current context of workers’ health differs in many aspects from the past. Therefore, conventional occupational health and safety mechanisms, such as norms and good practices enforcement are insufficient to address the challenges that informal work and poor living environments poses for workers and their families. Given the nature of globalisation and urbanisation, an integrated rights-based approach of determinants at various levels and a more people-centred empowerment perspective is needed. Informal workers’ representation, organisation, participation is important for ensuring the right to health of workers in the informal economy. Social mobilisation may prove critical as it did in the past. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]