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To
aid in the identification of the Major Issues
relating the link between Greenstructures and Urban
Planning Sybrand Tjallingii - NL (8 Dec 00)suggests
we start with the major issues as set out in the
Memorandum of Understanding (click SCOPE button for
full details
He
draws attention to the following relevant
issues:
1.
State of the art
The knowledge collected
and discussed during the meetings mentioned in the
first section may be categorised in three fields:
areas, flows and actors.
Area
studiesThe relation between built-up and
open space may be defined as density in terms of
the amount of people, buildings or activities per
surface-area. Obviously, the measured density
depends to a large extent on whether density is
measured by block, by district or on any other
level. In relation to green areas, the built and
paved surfaces and the polluting and disturbing
effects of human activities are especially
relevant. Current density coefficients do not
always express these relevant aspects.
The quality of open
spaces, however, is only partly related to the
density of buildings or to functional features.
Local geology, hydrology and topography, for
example, have left their traces in the history of
cities, and sometimes are a source of inspiration
for new urban design for built-up and green areas.
The interaction of these features with regular
blocks and formal structures creates a variety of
places and may enhance the identity of the city.
'Greenways' create interesting walks and cycle
routes through the urban landscape and thus enable
city dwellers to discover and enjoy the qualities
and identity of their city.
In recent years more
research focuses on the importance of green areas
for biodiversity conservation. Suitable habitat
quality and a spatial structure of green areas that
connects these habitats, greatly enhances chances
for achieving biodiversity objectives. In countries
with intensified agricultural land use, many
species take refuge to urban areas. Lack of
coherence in the urban landscape not only deprives
species from a life-support-system, it also impedes
city dwellers to get easy access to a coherent
network of green areas. Recent studies stress the
importance of accessible green areas for the
quality of life of city dwellers. Urban areas have
been studied to identify the effects for people
living in these areas and to find options for
improving the conditions of the
greenstructure.
Here, research focuses
primarily on the interactions between traffic and
waterflows and greenstructures in the context of
urban planning.
Studies on traffic show
increased dependency on car traffic in low density
suburbs, leading to pollution, noise and
fragmentation of green areas. As a result of
innovative technology traffic flows will be less
energy consuming and less polluting in the near
future. However, fragmentation and barrier effects
caused by transport infrastructure will
increasingly affect the spatial quality, especially
of green areas. Concentration of traffic flows in
multimodal corridors is an interesting strategy
that creates opportunities for noise and pollution
control and for bridges and tunnels to overcome the
barrier problem. The use of public transport is
generally high in densely populated cities. This
does not mean, however, that increasing density
automatically leads to increased use of trains and
bicycles. Greenways may contribute to an attractive
network of cycle tracks and, in doing so, may be
part of traffic strategies.
Recently,flow studies on
sewage systems, rainwater and groundwater flows
contributed to new urban water strategies. By
providing rainwater storage green areas contribute
to the implementation of these strategies.
Inversely, in built up areas green areas themselves
also benefit from the presence of more water and
improved water quality.
Other flows such as energy
and organic waste, although less important for
urban planning and greenstructure, may be included
in future studies.
Actor
studies Actor studies firstly focus on the
driving social and economic forces and the power
relations behind urban development. Secondly,
success and failure of planning and management
practices are studied, especially in the fields of
urban renewal, transport policy and the management
and maintenance of green areas. These studies have
already produced important insights into the role
of different actors in decision making. Planning
studies suggest it may be advisable to structure
decision making along two lines:
Decisions about durable
'carrying spatial structures' such as
greenstructures, transport infrastructure and water
networks. Here a central issue is how to plan green
areas and spatial greenstructures that can resist
the pressure of building and road
construction.
Decisions about the use of
open space and green areas in urban districts. Here
the dynamics of activities with relatively short
life times need space and freedom.
The two lines of decision
making have there own key actors and their own
communication strategies. An important issue
relevant to both lines is the question how to cross
the disciplinary and sectoral borders that divide
both researchers and practitioners.
2. Objective and
Benefits
The
main general objective of the proposed COST action
is to reach a better understanding of the role
played by planning, design and management in the
interactions between green and built-up areas,
improving the way green areas contribute to the
quality of life of urban citizens, to the quality
of habitats as a basis for biodiversity and to
other aspects of sustainable urban
development.
Benefits
Pilot project schemes
organised by the EC, the OECD and by other
organisations have demonstrated the importance of
comparative analysis at the project level. The
present Network seeks to combine research at the
project level with studies at the policy level.
It is at these two levels
that researchers and practitioners from more
European countries will benefit from the proposed
COST Action.The benefit of comparing projects
realised under different conditions is a better
understanding of factors that determine success and
failure of these projects. The benefit of comparing
policy measures is a better understanding of the
structural conditions for liveable and sustainable
urban environments.
The situation in different
countries and different cities varies greatly. The
research publications and the discussions during
the meetings of the Network underline the
importance of comparative studies for a better
understanding of generic lessons and of ways to do
right to diversity.
3. Scientific
Programme, questions
The proposed COST action
will facilitate the exchange and further
development of knowledge, practical experience,
views, concepts and methods related to the role of
greenstructures in urban planning. Against this
background a framework for comparative
research, a common language for analysing
planning issues concerning greenstructures in
different urban settings needs to be developed.
Some general and more
specific questions articulate the objectives of the
proposed COST action. These questions are at the
basis of a planned comparative research project.
Questions result from a series of seminars held by
the present network. These seminars will continue
to be organised and the COST action will enable
them to reach a wider public and to discuss the
results of a an extended comparative research
programme.
Questions
The overall question is:
To what extent may existing conceptual
frameworks for sustainable urban development be
used and improved in the context of comparative
research on greenstructure and urban planning?
The framework to be
developed should be useful to formulate research
projects addressing a number of questions such
as:
What can be learned from
case studies about the interaction processes
between greenstructure and urban development?And
what about the contribution of greenstructures to
the quality of life in cities, to the quality of
habitats for biodiversity and to other aspects of
sustainable urban development?
How may cities create
structural spatial and organisational conditions
for the quality of green and open spaces as a
regular part of urban development?
What can be learned about
operational instruments and methods for the
management and maintenance of public open space?
What can be learned about
success and failure of projects?
There is also a need to
initiate thematic studies about more specific
questions:
How to create and assess
ecologically sound and sustainable planning and
design options for urban greenstructures that are
well embedded in the local situation. Such options
combine environmental aspects (health, safety,
biological diversity) with commercial, social and
cultural aspects.
How to create good
procedures for communication and decision
making?
How to deal with power
relations in the urban situations where green areas
are in a vulnerable position?
How to create good
conditions for multidisciplinary co-operation
between researchers from the natural, the technical
and the social sciences? And how to organise better
co-operation between practitioners from different
departments?
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