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Vulnerability, land use and sustainability are some of the main elements of major concern in the last decades that can be translated in practice through efficient development and planning. The role land use plays is recognized worldwide due to the rapid and continuous urban growth and development, which determine the occurrence of new powerful forces leading to social, demographical, environmental, technological and governmental changes. The large number of disasters in recent years demonstrated that the most effective and accessible method of reducing the pressure exerted by natural and technological risks is to reduce the level of vulnerability of communities exposed to a particular hazard. The vulnerability of populated areas to natural and technological disasters is also exacerbated by the decades of inefficient spatial planning policies that did not incorporate hazards and risks. This paper is aiming to create a bridge between the existing vulnerability theories and their implementation in land use planning policies, by assessing the need of a new methodology that will incorporate vulnerability reduction into spatial planning. The paper focuses on a case study of a developing country in SE Europe, Romania, using high resolution data obtained from the Urban Atlas inventory. The discussion and results section illustrates the spatial development of urban and rural areas in Romania in the last years. Moreover, this section demonstrates the impact of land use changes on vulnerability and the need to develop future sustainable development policies that can support decision makers, coming from the public or the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about informal Romani settlements housing are not found in books or archives. They are found "live", in settlements. The intent of this paper is to point out that they represent a world of signals that can be detected through the methodological tools of observation and discussion with residents, also and therefore, to create guidelines for operational tools useful for an aware and contemporary design of Romani house. The paper starts from the fact that including cultural components in projects that are meant for Romani housing should also include special spatial requests that refer to the enabling of the development of user's cultural characteristic. In parallel, the context is completed by the choice that cultural plurality only represents a path to a reciprocal education through the exchange of cultural components whose diversity is accepted as if they were values and that the construction of an adequate physical space dedicated to Romani housing alludes that besides accepting differences (seen as values, not as a value that represents the essence of separation) they also need to be understood. It is in fact this type of treatment of culture that is making a key stride, which is a principal change of the approach to the term culture itself from a humanistic determination to an anthropological determination of the term. In the anthropological definition of the term, culture is not selective, it includes all human activities and elements of heritage, it is not elitist i.e. it is not a characteristic of a small group but of society as a whole and is neutral in value since even culture in the sense of the lifestyle as a whole of a people or a group is equally good. In this key the main hypothesis is that a Romani settlement represents a key source of information on Romani housing, and that it is therefore possible to obtain such information by observing the lifestyle within the settlement and in communicating with the residents of the settlements. The paper will showcase a case study of a Romani settlement using a methodological apparatus that was inspired by the following aims: observe and talk/ask its concept and steps of research, as well as possible designing results that have been achieved in using such a procedure. The purpose of the paper is seen in collecting and archiving findings on housing in Romani settlements, thus achieving a double effect: building bases that will allow good quality planning for the future of the Romani house and the settlement on one hand, and on the other hand their significance for the city and strengthening consciousness about them is intensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many European regeneration projects in large urban distressed areas arise as the result of industrial dismissal sites, ensuing unemployment, poverty, environmental damage and social exclusion. In order to contribute to the development of innovative policies for integrated regeneration and renewal of depressed urban areas, the paper addresses the experience of the London's South Bank project. Several integrated and complex projects have converted this area (formerly home to factories and working-class houses) into one of Europe's most important cultural hubs. After a brief description of the process through which the area has been transformed, this paper focuses on the strategies and feasibility factors that have led to a successful regeneration project, known for being packed with opportunities and amenities that attract millions of visitors every year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the theme has been studied for more than a decade, the green transformations of buildings are limited in practice and often new buildings, by large private or public estates, promoted and publicized it to gain public support. Is it possible to think about a widespread action to “green” our cities? If in other European countries the responsiveness to this issue is certainly greater, in Italy there is still too little attention on this topic (in facts some people seem to be still more focused on economic expenditure than on the environmental impact) and the presence of a historical/monumental building heritage can be a further issue, because it requires specific authorization process (longer times) and rises the level of the restoration project (costs). Neglecting the monumental heritage which actions (on a national scale) can “green” the big cities, starting from the maintenance of the building façades? The paper introduces, first, the new national ‘facade bonus’ that will be used to improve building façades, in a perspective of greater urban decorum, with a tax credit of 90% for the restoration and recovery expenses. Then, it analyses the current maintenance condition of private properties and some green façade solutions. Assuming widespread interventions in the form of extraordinary maintenance, it discusses – for a case study – environmental (water and CO2) and economic issues. At the end, it proposes some modifications to the recent national rules to facilitate interventions, awarding not just the simple redevelopment of the façades but, where possible, “green” actions on buildings to achieve the Strategic Agenda objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the main strategic benchmarks of the urban water supply and sanitation systems. The authors have studied the results of the biggest Russian urban water supply companies operation for the last three year period. The indicators that were considered: financial profits, investments, losses of water, the structure of costs etcetera. The results were compared with world level parameters. Many companies have really effective investment programs. This activity is related with, on one hand, the forthcoming strengthening of environmental legislation starting in 2020 and, on the other hand, financial support instruments of government. In addition, key directions of development of water economy were analyzed. The socioeconomic development strategy of Russian Federation identifies the need to strengthen the role of private companies. That is why difficulties and pressures of some enterprises were revealed. Furthermore, the water supply industry in Russia is characterized by the modification of institutional administration system. In conclusion, the prospects of the water supply companies according to the improving legislation and state and regional policy in this field are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of increasing of urban population cities are currently facing a growing demand for space for residential, commercial, industrial or leisure use. Brownfield sites are very common in Romania, especially in big cities like Timisoara and in former industrial cities. Reusing brownfields is a way forward for the Romanian cities. There are many inspiring examples of brownfields regeneration in the EU, but every site is unique (including regulations, landowners, market attractiveness etc.) and all these particular aspects have to be considered. There is a clearly need for better understanding of the factors underlying the occurrence of brownfield sites and why they are still derelict. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of brownfields identification and the necessity of managing the further development of these sites, especially because Timisoara won the title of European Capital of Culture (year 2021). We focus particularly to develop a brownfield sites inventory to indicate the industrial sites that are underused or abandoned or industrial spaces that do not serve existent market needs. In the context of challenges of urban development, we can imagine an infinite number of possible solutions for creating sustainable cities. Unlocking these sites and reuse them in a more sustainable way may have multiple benefits for the public and private sectors, and for citizens, in general. The involvement of all stakeholders (landowners, authorities, investors, experts, community, etc.) in developing concept plans, evaluating and refining the possibilities for the redevelopment of brownfield sites can be a challenge, but is more efficient and can add value to the city. Reusing brownfield sites is also about mitigating the climate change and tackle environmental challenges that cities are facing with: urban sprawling, pollution, urban flooding, increased temperature etc. Some recommendations for future redevelopment plans are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization is one of the topics that are currently discussed both at European and global level. Also, in the development of General Urban Plans, architects are placed in difficulty because of the constant updating of the studies necessary to frame the concept of sustainable development in cities. Currently in Timisoara is in place a comprehensive program to revitalize neighbourhoods built during the communist regime. This idea has become a priority in terms of urban planning and the environment in the cities of Eastern Europe, Timisoara, the city located on the Bega River. This can be achieved also by measures to reduce noise pollution adopted by architects respecting urban plans. Making noise maps prove that their importance is essential when urban solutions are developed and zones that require noise reduction interventions are defined. In this paper we want to emphasize the importance of noise maps and efficient management of urban agglomeration involving unhealthy traffic in terms of noise pollution. For this purpose we used the analyses of the thematic maps drawn up in 2012 having as beneficiaries the Timisoara City Hall and the acoustic measurements made in 2014 in the areas of interest of the city affected by traffic. Through the studies of architectural terms we concluded that in central areas of the city, absorbing panels do not fit into the landscape and through the historical terms, the sound insulation of buildings is not an option, while an agreed solution is to use green walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the landscape influences the entire ecological stability and quality of the territorial structure of the area. This requires knowledge and evaluation of those factors which have a positive or negative influence on its territorial or functional use. Negative impacts of anthropogenic activity can be partially avoided or reduced by providing for the ecological optimization of the territory. Evaluation of development potential methodology of the environment is designed to achieve general prosperity of the territory and its population under conditions of sustainable development. Ensuring sustainable rural development is directed towards ensuring the sustainability of the heritage quality of rural country so as to provide the same quality environment for future generations. The paper focuses on sustainable development and its application in land use planning and environmental assessment in rural country. Sustainable land use planning requires depth analysis of the existing resources and understanding of development characteristics in order to identify uses for natural resources that will not influence future development. The methodology is based on the Total Index of Environment Quality, Landscape Ecological Planning and Marriott's Evaluation of Suitability for Tourism, which together evaluate the development potential of the area. This methodology was applied in the conditions of the Čermeľ valley in the eastern part of Slovakia for two alternatives of development potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green infrastructure has historically been used for aesthetical purposes, making landscapes visually pleasant. More recently the green infrastructure in urban and suburban areas has started to be applied to help solve a broad range of problems that city dwellers are facing. These problems include natural disasters, overheating, excessive flows rainwater, biodiversity decline and food insecurity among others. Thus, implementation of green infrastructure as Nature-based Solutions has become increasingly popular. This trend is likely to continue in future as global climate change poses more and more changes to city dwellers. Urbanization and population growth are likely to drive implementation of urban green infrastructure across the globe and especially in the Global South, where impacts of the global heating are likely to be particularly strong. Implementation of green infrastructure may be developed either mostly for aesthetical purposes or as Nature-based Solutions or both. It is, however, important to note that the integrated approach is likely to have the greatest potential to meet global challenges. Furthermore, implementation of the green infrastructure is likely to have the greatest positive impact when implemented as a holistic system rather than individual elements. Thus, there is a clear need to evaluate opportunities for green infrastructure development that could simultaneously maximize aesthetic impact and effectiveness of the urban green and blue spaces to act as Nature-based Solutions. Here we illustrate some of the variables and system dynamics involved. Using a simplified model with specific focus on food supply, system structural analysis suggests that the urbanization variables commonly considered in urban design models are not closely connected with those that would provide long-term sustainability. The positive feedback between variables within each of these two groups and negative impacts between groups create barriers to their combined assessment for practical mitigation actions. The various sub-systems and an expanded variable set can ideally be addressed with a similar methodology. We also discuss opportunities for integration and provide recommendations for policy makers, city planners and other stakeholders involved in construction and management of urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluates the current state of application of sustainable city development principles in Slovakia. It focuses to the analyses of master plans, key tools for controlling the urban development, of selected cities. This study emphasis evaluation of density regulation methods, rate of area usage of selected cities, its build up areas, as well as they proposed development areas. One of the goals of this study is an analysis of the ratio between expected exploitation of free or transformable areas inside the cities to expected usage of "new areas" outside the city. This paper also evaluates application of indicators of land use intensity, which define the future density of urban structures in the observed master plans, in the scope of international theory and praxes. Master plans of selected cities were used to evaluate the range of development areas and capacities of urban structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the new context of European urban and environmental politics, Romania's small towns must go directly toward sustainability in order to ensure high life quality for their communities on the long term. The smallest urban settlements of Romania are confronted with diverse issues due to the former communist regime, the adaptation to the market economy, the planning policy of the sate and historical environment state. As many urban sustainability assessment methods were developed in literature, the present study is focus upon interrelations and interdependencies of social, economic and environmental development evaluation, applied in the case of small Romanian towns-which can play, at local level, a significant role of polarization or decentralization phenomenon. The paper tries to offer a geographical image of the urban development in order to help minimizing the gap among theory and practice and to offer a tool for estimation of sustainability both for local authorities and case-studies research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The desired future state of sustainability implies a paradigm shift in the way we live, work and play. Besides constructed quality and environmental quality, the quality of facilities in buildings has influential to the living quality of numerous occupants there. The functional quality of the facilities, in turn, is dependent on the quality of their operation and management. Since the birth of the sustainable development concept and its application to urban planning and construction projects, countless sustainability indicator sets have appeared. This paper analyses the main aspects of facility management services, in particular one of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whole issue of town planning-environment-tourism relationship, a relationship mediated by economic development, is to find and implement methods, techniques, methods to preserve the ecological balance, ensuring at the same time investment and technological development policies appropriate to natural and human resources, in the terms of meeting social, cultural needs of recreation and hygiene of human communities. After the frenzy of previous years' growth characteristic it was obvious that recoil would follow, a crisis, especially an environmental crisis, a reaction of a system that no longer meets expansion with no basis… "The great economists" who until recently argued about "self regulation of markets" and the de-regulated neoliberalism that will magically solve all social, environmental and economic problems… are now reconsidering their position …, stating that "economic laws" no longer work, those that until the day before spoke with the certainty of the fool offering details! This is especially why new environmental management systems are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the article is to determine criteria and indicators of urban territory efficiency based on the concept of high and best urban territory use. Efficient use of urban territory is considered to be conformity between the urban land use and the City interests as a unified social-economic spatial system, rational location of different functional properties on the urban land, considering municipal and local needs of the land users System formation for efficiency criteria and indicators for urban territory use involves decomposition of this statement, its specification by the formalized indicators that reflect different aspects of efficiency. The article contains the offer and algorithm to form the system as follows. At the first stage the main aspects of the term ‘Efficiency of the Urban Territory Use’ are described. The authors represent the concepts for sustainable social-economic development and ‘green economics’ and define the following aspects: economic, social, ecological, urban planning aspects. The concept of high and best land use (HBLU) is proposed to be applied as the methodological base to form the system of indicators and efficiency. The below definition of HBLU as applied to the urban territory is proposed in the article: ‘High and best urban land use is the use option that is socially acceptable (it does not decrease the living standards of the citizens or some of them; or even improves social status of the citizens), e. g. ecologically (it meets the regulations, does not increase the environmental impact (or increases it within permissible limits)), acceptable from the urban planning point of view, and maximizes the rental income from the urban territory. At the second stage the efficiency criteria for the above aspects is described. At the third stage the efficiency criteria is being developed into the system of complementary indicators The article discloses the algorithm for the indicators system that reflects achievement of the above efficient urban development aspects, their structure and subordination. Two levels are proposed in the criteria system for the urban territory efficiency – direct and indirect criteria and efficiency indicators. The main criteria for urban territory efficiency on the first level is the territory rental yield, and the indicators are economic forms where it is reflected: land tax, rental payment, land price. Rental yield is to be maximized and provided by meeting ecological, social, and urban planning restrictions. The article contains a list of the above restrictions. The second level is introduced by the criteria and indicators of the chosen option impact on the urban industrial and territorial development [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green areas are effective cross sections to the understanding of sustainable urban plans. The amount of green areas and their diversity give an important knowledge about quality of life and ecological planning. In this research, 1/1000 scaled master plans of ten districts in Istanbul-Turkey are examined for their green areas and their plan legend diversities with the help of MS Office Excel software. Although Turkish Land Development Laws describe the size of the green areas as m2 per person, it does not give any description about green area regularities, planning and distributions. Besides, green area usage is a featured subject in Plan Production Regulation which is in draft process. So this study becomes important as being in the agenda of Turkey's sustainable development. Therefore, the aim of this study is evaluation of green area land use and legend diversities in master planning process. And a systematical hierarchy classification in green dimensions of master plans has been prepared as a proposal by using GIS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]