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A comprehensive understanding of the elements at risk, through the identification of the main hazards, level of exposure and different dimensions of the vulnerability of the communities, is an essential step toward the definition and adoption of more effective risk reduction strategies. Historic urban centres have received special attention in the assessment of damage and physical vulnerability to earthquakes, but it is well known that vulnerability also depends on the social and demographic characteristics of communities. This paper discusses the application of a holistic approach aimed at assessing the seismic vulnerability of historic urban centres by considering their physical and social dimensions. Two index-based methodologies are presented, and the data are analyzed using the CENSUS block as the unit of study, which is scarcely present in the literature. The results of both indices are crossed through a matrix, which allows the classification of the blocks in five levels of priority and are mapped using a Geographic Information System tool. The Historic city centre of La Serena, one of the oldest in Chile, was selected as a case study. This historic city centre still preserves historic buildings of raw earth of diverse architectural typologies widely distributed throughout the country, which makes it relevant, not only by itself but as a model that can be replicated and extrapolated to other historic centres of similar constructive characteristics.

Predicting how changes to the urban environment layout will affect the spatial distribution of pedestrian flows is important for environmental, social and economic sustainability. We present longitudinal evaluation of a model of the effect of urban environmental layout change in a city centre (Cardiff 2007–2010), on pedestrian flows. Our model can be classed as regression based direct demand using Multiple Hybrid Spatial Design Network Analysis (MH-sDNA) assignment, which bridges the gap between direct demand models, facility-based activity estimation and spatial network analysis (which can also be conceived as a pedestrian route assignment based direct demand model). Multiple theoretical flows are computed based on retail floor area: everywhere to shops, shop to shop, railway stations to shops and parking to shops. Route assignment, in contrast to the usual approach of shortest path only, is based on a hybrid of shortest path and least directional change (most direct) with a degree of randomization. The calibration process determines a suitable balance of theoretical flows to best match observed pedestrian flows, using generalized cross-validation to prevent overfit. Validation shows that the model successfully predicts the effect of layout change on flows of up to approx. 8000 pedestrians per hour based on counts spanning a 1 km2 city centre, calibrated on 2007 data and validated to 2010 and 2011. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that a pedestrian flow model with assignment has been evaluated for its ability to forecast the effect of urban layout changes over time.

BackgroundPeri-urbanization, the expansion of large metropolitan centers into adjacent peri-urban regions, is a growing concern due to land scarcity and escalating housing costs. These zones, a blend of rural and urban features, blur the line between urban and rural areas, creating new landscapes. This study examines historical, present, and potential growth trends in the peri-urban area surrounding Durgapur Municipal Corporation (DMC). Analytical techniques and spatial metrics are used to track development intensity changes over time, including built-up density, Shannon’s entropy, Landscape expansion index, Average Weighted Mean Expansion Index, Annual Built-Up Expansion Rate, Built-Up Expansion Intensity Index, and Built-Up Expansion Difference Index. Landscape indices like Patch Density, Edge Density, Landscape Shape Index, Largest Patch Index, Ratio of Open Space, and Area Weighted Mean Patch Fractal are used to understand fragmentation, connectivity, and spatial relationships. The Logistic Regression Model (LRM) is used to identify influencing factors and CA-Markov modeling for future built-up areas.ResultsBetween 1991 and 2001, built-up area in the region increased significantly, primarily due to urban development near industrial zones, roadways, and mining areas. The growth was primarily concentrated in the western sector and near National Highway-2 (NH-2). Urban sprawl was a continuous trend, with the highest built-up density in the South-South-East (SSE) direction from 1991 to 2011. Additionally, a key determinant of built-up development was the distance to the city core. By 2031, the built-up area is expected to concentrate in the western and southeast regions, reaching 177.90 km2.ConclusionsThis expansion is attributed to urban development near industrial zones, roadways, mining areas, and other infrastructure. The study identifies distance to the city center as a significant influencing factor for built-up development. The results emphasize the need for inclusive urban planning methods prioritizing sustainable development principles and prudent resource management for future growth and efficient management in the DMC’s peri-urban area.

Urban development through property development in central parts of cities rather than through sprawl is key to achieving sustainable future cities. However, realising desired projects in complex city centre environments is challenging and risky due to the involvement of numerous actors. This paper offers novel insights into developers’ perspectives on how the conduct of public authorities influences city centre zoning plan processes. Based on interviews with 11 employees of property development firms, working on mixed-use city centre projects ranging from 1100 to 112,000 m2 Gross Floor Area in small and medium-sized Norwegian cities, the study identifies key challenges developers experience in their interactions with public authorities across sectors and administrative levels during planning processes and analyses how these challenges relate to goals, knowledge and power among key actors. The study finds that public authorities can improve the efficiency of zoning plan processes and enhance city centre project delivery by altering their conduct. First, by more explicitly clarifying that the realisation of desired city centre property developments is a primary policy objective, maintaining this focus throughout the processes and taking responsibility for reconciling conflicts in ways that enable feasible projects. Second, by improving their knowledge of the fundamental need for projects to be profitable in order to be realised, and the impact of authorities’ requirements on project viability. Third, by exercising their agenda-setting power more constructively and flexibly throughout the zoning plan process. The paper examines underexplored perspectives in planning research and yields actionable recommendations for planning practice.

Seismic risk evaluation of built-up areas involves analysis of the level of earthquake hazard of the region, building vulnerability and exposure. Within this approach that defines seismic risk, building vulnerability assessment assumes great importance, not only because of the obvious physical consequences in the eventual occurrence of a seismic event, but also because it is the one of the few potential aspects in which engineering research can intervene. In fact, rigorous vulnerability assessment of existing buildings and the implementation of appropriate retrofitting solutions can help to reduce the levels of physical damage, loss of life and the economic impact of future seismic events. Vulnerability studies of urban centres should be developed with the aim of identifying building fragilities and reducing seismic risk. As part of the rehabilitation of the historic city centre of Coimbra, a complete identification and inspection survey of old masonry buildings has been carried out. The main purpose of this research is to discuss vulnerability assessment methodologies, particularly those of the first level, through the proposal and development of a method previously used to determine the level of vulnerability, in the assessment of physical damage and its relationship with seismic intensity. Also presented and discussed are the strategy and proposed methodology adopted for the vulnerability assessment, damage and loss scenarios for the city centre of Coimbra, Portugal, using a GIS mapping application.

Jan Gehl, an eminent Danish Architect and Urban Designer, has worked in more than forty cities around the world and contributed to revitalising their city centres. Although his work in Australia has drawn considerable attention in recent years, not much is known about his early and exemplary work on revitalising the city centre in Melbourne. This paper explores Gehl’s urban design work in Melbourne by examining his engagement with the City of Melbourne after being invited to lead the ‘Places for People’ initiative in 1993. Gehl’s main contributions during his collaboration with the council include developing the methodology for the Public Space Public Life surveys and co-authoring of the Places for People study reports. Gehl made several key recommendations in the reports that turned out to be instrumental in formulating urban design approaches to help transform the Melbourne CBD into a vibrant city centre. This transformation, which led to the revival of the public realm, is evident in several significant changes made to some major public spaces between 1994 and 2004 and beyond. This paper contributes to the urban design discipline by adding new knowledge of Gehl’s work in Melbourne and widening its recognition in Australia and internationally.

Historical city centers are one of the reasons that give cities their identity, memory, and sense of belonging. The commercial areas within these centers are particularly important, as they contribute significantly to the vitality of the urban environment. However, due to rapid developments in recent times, many of these historic commercial streets have lost their significance and fallen victim to informal usage, resulting in the erosion of their historic identity. Consequently, it becomes imperative to renovate these historic commercial streets to preserve the community’s identity. The proposed methodology aims to foster local culture by revitalizing these streets and emphasizing the principles and criteria of heritage preservation that not only preserve the community’s identity but also serve as vibrant and inclusive spaces for residents and visitors alike to fulfill the concept of vitality and livability. In this context, the focus is on protecting historical areas and ensuring their ongoing relevance and benefits, extending not only to street users but also to the entire community. To achieve this, a series of steps are suggested for the renovation of historic commercial streets within city centers, accompanied by a reliable set of criteria that preserve their visual identity rooted in history. To demonstrate the application of these criteria, a case study was conducted for the proposed renovation of Mahmud Al-Banna Street, a historic commercial street in downtown Tanta, Egypt. The objective of the study was to develop strategies that would effectively address various aspects, including urban, visual, environmental, and economic issues. As a result, the research concluded that the proposed regeneration strategies, if implemented, could enhance the vitality and livability of the historic commercial districts for other urban environments.

Historic city centres have evolved through years of rigorous transformation, which is often visible in the form of derelict built environment. In this age of rapid urbanisation, addressing urban blight has become a pressing concern for urban practitioners. The lack of place-based knowledge about the socio-spatial attributes of blighted areas has triggered the proliferation of urban blight in the core city areas, threatening the structural integrity and usability of critical historic structures. This research thus aims to identify the inherent spatial characteristics of blighted areas in historic city centres and highlight the resulting socio-behavioural outcomes of their spatial configuration. By taking the case of historic city centre of Kolkata, a city in the Global South, the space syntax technique has been used to interpret the topological structure of the study areas and their socio-spatial properties. The comparative syntactic mapping and axial graph analysis revealed that the blighted areas have segregated spatial systems with limited legibility and permeability, leading to low urban vitality. The in-depth analysis of the spatial characteristics, backed by literature reviews, reconnaissance surveys, census data, and syntax maps, has resulted in a set of spatial features that elucidate how spatial conditions mediate socio-behavioural outcomes, perpetuating the cycle of blight. Based on the research findings, targeted interventions have been proposed for traffic management, place-based enhancements, and crime prevention through environmental design. A comprehensive understanding of the socio-spatial attributes of blighted historic areas will aid urban practitioners in devising pragmatic solutions for reintegrating these areas into the urban fabric.

This study explores incompatibility in the distribution of facilities and trade in the city of Batna, Algeria, using two examples (the city center and the periphery) and a spatial analysis incorporating betweenness centrality. The analysis revealed that the city is far from effectively implementing the concepts of strategic planning. With an area of 83 ha, the city center is marked by low accessibility, further hampered by a concentration of 105 facilities occupying 60% of the space. Based on an examination of four outer areas, the periphery presents a different situation: It is characterized by high accessibility and low betweenness, placing trade and attractiveness out of concern. This arrangement has generated disarticulated spaces with huge flows to the city center, mostly for purchasing goods and securing administrative services. Recent planning proposals have also demonstrated how new access routes can significantly improve accessibility to the currently constricted city center. These results constitute a valuable tool for local authorities to understand how disarticulated the system is.

PurposeThe main objectives of the current study are to assess the existing situation of historical city centers in Iran and to offer prioritized appropriate regeneration strategies for their sustainable development.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a questionnaire-based survey in four historical city centers of Iran: Kashan, Naeen, Ardakan and Yazd. The required data have been collected using multiple tools including questionnaires and interviews with local residents and officials in the aforementioned case studies. Using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) technique, a set of appropriate strategies for the sustainable regeneration of these valuable fabrics has been proposed and the best of them have been prioritized employing quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) matrix.FindingsThe results show that the current situation in all the case studies is not in line with sustainability and cultural heritage protection. Their multiple problems are mostly associated with their weaknesses, whilst their strengths, including a considerable potential as a tourism attraction, are scarcely exploited. The experts and residents surveyed for this research have provided basic information to establish the conservative strategies that should take priority when preparing the urban regeneration process of these areas.Originality/valueSince most of the adopted regeneration strategies in Iran are not supported by empirical studies, the current study largely fulfills this shortcoming by setting up a proper diagnosis of historical city centers in Iran and proposes the most appropriate regeneration strategies based on the findings.