Urban, Community and Regional Planning Commons^™

Mind The Gap: An Exploration Into The Accessibility, Ease Of Use, And Design Of Public Transport Wayfinding, Jack Nierenberg

Honors College Theses

Wayfinding, an essential aspect of public transport, is not always accessible, user-friendly, or well-designed. Because of this, people with disabilities, language barriers, or other difficulties understanding information or navigating public transport are put at a disadvantage. This thesis explores prior research and projects, as well as in-depth case studies of three cities' public transport systems, to identify best practices and guiding principles for enhancing accessibility, ease of use, and design. These principles can be incorporated into a unifying standard to improve public transport wayfinding and bridge gaps in existing systems.

Território Brincapé: The First Adventure Playground Experience In Portugal, Rita Frade, Ana Rita Fonseca, Frederico Lopes, Sandra Nascimento

International Journal of Playwork Practice

Território Brincapé (TB) - Community Space for Free Play was a seminal project in Lisbon designed to deliver weekly play sessions to 112 children between 6 and 10 years old, for 1.5 hours during school time, at a private sandpit just outside a school. TB was developed under the ethos of playwork practice and was conceptualised as an adventure playground. This is a report of how we navigated this endeavour, focusing mainly on the perspective of the playwork practitioners. Specifically, it documents the questions that we dwelled upon through reflection and which aspects of this process we focused on. We …

Observing The Enablers For Achieving Sustainability In Saudi Oil Industry Cities According To Vision 2030 Aspirations: A Case Study Of Jubail Industrial City, Abdulrahman Salem Alruwaili, Mohammad Alghamdi Prof.

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

The research emphasizes the ongoing need to enhance sustainability in Saudi industry cities, which are vital to the Saudi economy and contribute significantly to non-oil revenue streams. This study explores the key factors enabling sustainability in such cities by focusing on Jubail Industrial City, which has developed over 50 years. Using a descriptive-analytical methodology, the research highlights that Jubail Industrial City has a well-developed infrastructure, establishing it as a crucial logistics hub that connects Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with global cities. The city has made significant contributes to the national GDP and attracts national and international talent by adopting sustainable …

How Long-Term Rents Are Being Impacted By The Emerging Of Short-Term Rents In Riyadh, Tahar Ledraa Prof., Sameeh Saad Alarabi Dr, Talal Fahd Bin Saeed Eng

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

الملخص

شهدت الرياض مؤخراً نمواً سريعاً ومتسارعاً للإيجارات قصيرة المدة مما أربك سوق الإسكان بالمدينة بسبب التأثيرات التي أحدثتها على المخزون السكني طويل الأجل وأسعار إيجاراته. فظهور الأنشطة والمهرجانات الترفيهية على شاكلة موسم الرياض وموسم الدرعية والفعاليات المصاحبة بالإضافة إلى انتشار تطبيقات منصات الاستئجار اليومي للسكنات مثل Airbnb، أدى لخلق سوق جديدة للإيجارات قصيرة المدة ساهمت في تغيير رغبات الكثير من زوار المدينة من التوجه للفنادق إلى استئجار الوحدات السكنية لفترات قصيرة. اعتمدت الدراسة على تحليل بيانات أعداد الوحدات الموجهة للإيجارات اليومية ومتوسطات عائداتها من منصة Airbnb ومقارنتها ببيانات الوحدات الموجهة للإيجارات طويلة المدة وعائداتها والتي تم استخلاصها من منصة …

The World Is A Museum: Creating Digital Museum Guides For Self-Directed Site Visits, Elaine Edmonds

Case studies: Digital Education

Site visits are a core part of learning in most built environment courses, and the context of our professions are all around us in the cities and towns. A lot of Planning and Environment modules rely on site visits for real world experiential learning about complex topics and interactions. There are barriers to these visits, particularly with larger classes and in the context of covid restrictions they became almost impossible. The benefits of site visits include adding psychosensory learning to courses which are largely cognitive, and effective learning, allowing for multimodal teaching and development of the students’ critical assessment skills …

Enhancing Pedestrian Safety Around Jacksonville State University: A Gis-Based Perception And Crash Analysis, Husain O. Alegimenlen

Theses

This study uses a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based approach to assess pedestrian safety around Jacksonville State University (JSU) by combining vehicle crash data with perception surveys from 111 pedestrians and 97 drivers. The research identifies high-risk areas, explores contributing factors, and recommends targeted safety improvements.

A total of 209 geocoded crash records (2021 to 2024) were analyzed using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and hotspot analysis in ArcGIS Pro. Crash clusters appeared along Pelham Road North and Mountain Street, marking key vehicular risk zones. Three major pedestrian danger areas were found: (1) Nisbet Street NW and Cardinal Lane NW, (2) …

The Glory Of The Islands: The Narrative Of Islands Behind The Design Of ‘Nagara Rimba Nusa’, Rebecca Victoria Simatupang, Rr. Diah Asih Purwaningrum

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

In the pursuit of creating its new capital city, the Indonesian government conducted a design competition to find alternatives that best represented the fusion between traditional and modern Indonesia. The winning design titled ‘Nagara Rimba Nusa’ employed the narrative of glorious islands as the basis of its design concepts, evoking nostalgic memories of ‘Nusantara’ in the era of the Majapahit Kingdom. This narrative became effective in capturing public attention, followed by the President of Indonesia’s decision to formalize Nusantara as the new name of the capital city. This paper delves into the design of Nagara Rimba Nusa and analyses how …

Correlation Of Socioeconomic Characteristics And Maintenance Level Of Houses In Mass Housing Scheme In Ilorin, Nigeria, Oladimeji Samuel Bolaji, Abubakar-Kamar Tayo Aishat, Adeyemi Olabanji Lukman, Arosanyin Mofeoluwa Victor

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

It is a common belief that certain behaviors are influenced by a person's social level. This claim is taken to apply to housing maintenance in any society, whether it is owned or rented. The aim of this study is to identify the socioeconomic indicators that are most predictive of the maintenance level of houses in mass housing schemes in the metropolis of Ilorin, Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were used in this investigation. Qualitative and quantitative data through structured questionnaires administered on 1125 household heads constituting 27% of the sample frame were collected from sixteen (16) mass housing schemes …

Creating Walkability With Wayfinding Techniques Through Adaptive Reuse For Historical Site, Alaa Al-Merheb, Mary Felix, Eslam M. Elsamahy, Mostafa Khalifa, Khaled El-Daghar

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Wayfinding refers to information systems that guide pedestrians through a physical location, enhancing their understanding and experience of the space. Wayfinding is especially crucial in complex urban environments, healthcare and educational campuses, and transportation systems. An effective wayfinding system ensures that such situations remain less stressful and allows individuals to feel safe and secure. Adaptive reuse, also called building reuse, is basically a process in architecture where old structures get refitted for different uses. Adaptive reuse renews old buildings, making them assets to the local community, be it low-income housing, student housing, community centers, or mixed-use creative venues. The process …

Future Cities: Exploring Circularity For Sustainable Urban Cities, Benjamin Moral

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

In an era marked by rapid urbanization, the imperative of sustainability looms large for future cities. The growing global urban population portends increased resource demand, environmental stress, and socio-economic challenges, compelling a shift towards circularity. Circular principles, aimed at minimizing waste and optimizing resource use, embody a regenerative vision for urban spaces. While this concept gains traction worldwide, comprehensive studies simplifying its application are scarce. This research examines and diagnoses how Circularity can revolutionize urban sustainability, with objectives to evaluate circular economy models and analyses case studies and benefits. Employing an exploratory research design, this study drew data from secondary …

Urban Morphology And Adaptive Re-Use: Balancing Heritage And Modernity In Cairo’S Al-Gamaleya District, Doha Amer, Iman Gawad, Mohamed Abdel-Shakour

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

Understanding the urban morphology of cities is crucial for comprehending how their physical structures can evolve in response to various needs. This study focuses on the historic urban spaces of Gamaleya in Cairo, exploring the evolution of urban morphology and how adaptive reuse can provide a development approach that preserves the character of historic areas. This is particularly important in light of the changes brought about by the accumulation of urban morphological layers over the years. Al-Gamaleya known for its rich culture, heritage and traditional architecture, is a unique case study to examine the influence of urban morphology on urban …

Effect Of Traditional Architecture And New Urbanism On Public Health: A Medical Perspective, Eron J. Powell, Jeremy R. Ellis

Transformative Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Quality-Of-Life Indicators In Developing Ur-Ban Communities: An Applied Study Of The Case Of Egyp-Tian Rural Urbanization, Hatem Mostafa Rashed El Bakry Hatem El Bakry

Journal of Engineering Research

Quality of life is a comprehensive concept that assesses the well-being of individuals and communities based on multiple criteria including health, education, economy, environment, and security. Its definitions vary, but they generally refer to a balance between physical, psychological, and social aspects. The most important criteria for its assessment include public health, income level, quality of education, environmental sustainability, and social security.

Quality of life indicators are used in the development of urban communities to ensure the provision of health and education services, advanced infrastructure, and green spaces. Some developing countries such as Brazil, India, and Kenya also rely on …

A Comprehensive Framework For Assessing The Impact Of Heritage Areas Renewal Projects On Visibility And Pedestrian Movement, Wesam Abou El-Haggag Mehanna, Walaa Abou El-Haggag Mehanna

Journal of Engineering Research

Urban heritage reflects the cultural and historical significance inherent in cities. Heritage environments are pivotal attractions, distinguished by their landscapes, buildings, meanings, and patterns that illustrate the historical and cultural context. The conservation and development of cultural heritage constitutes a primary focus of urban renewal policies, with protecting both their buildings and heritage spaces being a critical trend in urban settings. This represents considerable challenge for planners and designers, as it is essential to ensure that renewal and development activities do not detract from the visual identity of the locality and its heritage district. Unplanned renewal operations may expose these …

Life Cycle Analysis Of Tourism Destinations According To Butler's Model: A Case Study For Tourist Centers On The Red Sea Coast, Mohamed Sayed Hassan Gadallah Mohamed Sayed, Ebtehal Ahmed Abdalmoity Ebtehal Abdalmoity, Ahmed Mohamed Elsayed Abdallah Marzouk Ahmed Marzouk, Heba Mostafa Hassan Heba Mostafa

Journal of Engineering Research

The Butler Destination Life Cycle Model is one of the most prominent analytical tools used to understand the development and change of tourist destinations over time. The model is based on dividing the life cycle of a tourist destination into successive stages: exploration, emergence, development, consolidation, stagnation, and then deterioration or revival. This model helps identify the stages that a tourist destination goes through, providing tools to understand the economic, social, and environmental changes that may affect it.

The importance of Butler’s model lies in the fact that it provides a comprehensive vision for the development and sustainability of tourist …

Comparative Analysis To Evaluate The Effect Of The Green Infrastructure Elements On Thermal Performance In Existing Cities: An Applied Study Of El-Mahalla El-Kubra, Basant Elsayed Abufarrag, Ahmed Rezk, Neveen Youssef Azmy, Walaa Abou El-Haggag Mehanna

Journal of Engineering Research

Urban areas face challenges linked to climate change and rapid urbanization. Factors such as greenhouse gas emissions, reduced vegetation, and increased energy demands for cooling and heating contribute to urban thermal discomfort, exacerbated by the lack of green spaces and overpopulation. These factors have led to elevated temperatures, which negatively affect the thermal comfort and well-being of urban residents. Green infrastructure elements significantly reduce urban temperatures, improve air quality, and enhance thermal comfort, while also supporting biodiversity and enhancing urban resilience. This study aims to evaluate and identify the most effective strategy of green infrastructure elements for improving thermal comfort …

The Smart Village Approach For Employing Technology To Enhance Quality Of Life And Achieve Sustainability In Rural Areas, Amira Mohammed Elnady, Rania Elghamry, Enji Eldarwish

Journal of Engineering Research

The construction of smart villages represents an innovative and forward-thinking vision aimed at bringing about a radical transformation in the lives of rural communities. It seeks to integrate advanced technology and smart solutions into the very core of the infrastructure and services provided to village residents. In a world characterized by rapid development and accelerating changes, it has become essential to keep up with technological advancements and promote sustainable development worldwide, including in rural areas. Smart villages serve as an innovative model for sustainable development, striving to enhance the quality of life for their residents by providing a more efficient …

The Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence And Urban Street Design To Meet Contemporary Human Needs, Azza Sobhi Elsakka, Marwa Ahmed Kamer Eldawla

Journal of Engineering Research

The fast expansion of urban construction has given rise to urgent public health problems in the context of the green economy and sustainable urban development, notably environmental pollution and the rising prevalence of chronic illnesses associated with urbanization.

The idea of developing "healthy cities" is receiving much attention as a result of these growing urban health problems.

In the meantime, urban dwellers' quality of life and health are significantly impacted by the planning and design of urban street space. Urban planners must accommodate resident demands for public events and make adjustments for motor vehicle traffic while adhering to the green …

Housing Affordability Impacting Factors In U.S. Urban Areas From 2010 To 2020: An Empirical Review Of Theoretical Factors, Colby Lee Woodson

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

This study examines housing affordability in United States Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs) and counties from 2010 to 2020, using American Community Survey and Building Permits Survey data. It evaluates theoretical frameworks from George Galster and Kwan Ok Lee. Using a multiscalar approach, affordability is assessed through a costs-over-income ratio, incorporating both supply- and demand-side factors. A novel contribution is the integration of elder dependency rates, which limit housing turnover and exacerbate supply constraints. Findings indicate that rising full homeownership—particularly among older households—has reduced tenure mobility. The study also shows that CSAs offer a stronger analytical resolution than counties. Despite home …

Urban Planning For Regional Food Equity, Miriam Caroline Sullivan

City and Regional Planning

47 million people, including 14 million children, face food insecurity in the United States of America annually. Defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as: when people don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where their next meal will come from. Food insecurity is a systemic issue caused by systems greater than any individual failure. Poverty and unemployment, lack of affordable housing, chronic public health issues, racism and discrimination all play a role in the state of American food security (Feeding America, n.d.). A tenet of this research and project development is the right of all people, …

Student Planners, City Futures: A Crp Documentary, Natalie Kate Venable

City and Regional Planning

Student Planners, City Futures, is a documentary following Professor Dave Amos and 22 students as they prepare a draft of Grover Beach’s General Plan Circulation Element update. Students in their final year in Cal Poly’s City & Regional Planning program take CRP410 – Community Planning Lab I and CRP 411 – Community Planning Lab II during fall and winter quarter as their capstone planning studio. Each studio completes a different project each year. For the 2024-2025 school year, Professor Amos’s section was tasked with completing a General Plan Circulation Element update for the City of Grover Beach. The film …

Religious Spaces Reimagined: Adaptive Reuse And Community Integration In Suburbs, Emily Fischer

City and Regional Planning

Tucked away in a quiet pocket of Los Angeles adjacent to Downtown known as Pico Union, a historic synagogue sat mostly empty, its congregation having long since moved on. But in 2013, the building was given a new purpose. The Pico Union Project transformed it into a multifaith and cultural center, turning what was once an underused space into a thriving community hub. Guided by the Jewish principle of ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ its mission is to uplift and empower diverse communities through arts, social justice, and service. Now, on any given day, families stop by to pick up …

University Avenue Bike Plan, Emma Meyer

City and Regional Planning

The University Avenue Bike Plan provides recommendations for bicycle infrastructure along the 1.7-mile University Avenue corridor in Palo Alto, California. The plan includes background, existing conditions, community engagement, alternatives of conceptual designs, and implementation tools. The University Avenue Bike Plan builds on Palo Alto's Bike and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and informs the multiple University Avenue related projects and plans that are underway.

Urban Agriculture Technical Advisory, Katherine Rose Ivanjack, Kylie J. Preciado

City and Regional Planning

This project serves as a senior capstone, aimed at exploring the potential of urban agriculture to address critical challenges in sustainability, food security, and community development within California cities. This project highlights practical and innovative approaches to urban farming that can be adopted or adapted to suit the unique needs of urban areas across the state.

Understanding The Effect Of Intercity Roads On The Evolution Of Urban Form, Fiona Duvall, Ermal Shpuza

Symposium of Student Scholars

Cities are key to sustainability, social cohesion, public health, and energy use. Successful urban planning relies on understanding the effect of the roads that connect the city with the neighboring settlements, which act as a scaffold for urban growth. The project develops representations and analytical tools for understanding urban evolution.

The research is based on the following analytical methods: 1) Digitally drawing the arterial roads for twenty Adriatic coastal cities in Italy based on historical maps surveyed in 1819; 2) Categorizing the cities into two main groups: those whose arterials have remained mostly unchanged and those whose arterials have been …

Weaving Of Spaces: “Designing Spaces That Create Opportunities For Communication And Freedom Though Ease Of Access”, Fiona Duvall, Ehsan Sheikplharam Mashhadi

Symposium of Student Scholars

The Kennesaw State University campus has much to offer its students and the community, but it has a periphery, disconnecting it from neighboring communities. Marietta square has amazing opportunities for food and community. The main problem here is that the only way to access the square and Kennesaw State University is by car and that these two locations are isolated.

Through the research of the psychological aspects of space, cast studies and psychological research articles. I've found the main problems found in these urban areas are the low walkability, lack traffic safety and lack access to anyone regardless of Finacial …

Locally Stranded - Addressing Rural Cases Of Domestic Violence, Owen Phillips, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

Domestic violence is a nationwide crisis affecting millions of women each year and saw an increase in severity during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022). In Georgia, 37.4% of women report experiencing physical violence by an intimate partner. The situation is especially dire in rural areas, where women experience 150% more incidents at a more intense level than their urban counterparts and must travel three times farther to access resources. Rural women are also nearly twice as likely to be turned away from services due to a lack of space, staffing, and resources. Existing shelters often fail to meet victims' needs because …

Balancing Construction Costs And Environmental And Social Performances In High-Rise Urban Development: A Generative Urban Design Approach, Peng Du, Geoffrey Little, Erick Romero

College of Architecture and the Built Environment Faculty Papers

The urban design process is complex and interdisciplinary, especially in the context of high-density cities with high-rise buildings. The design of high-rise buildings requires input from a variety of stakeholders in the city, who often represent conflicting requirements and interests. However, conventional design approaches struggle to address this complexity. This study introduced a generative urban design approach and applied it to a case study for high-rise urban development in Guangzhou, China. Specifically, 7500 urban forms were generated with variables such as street networks, block offset, building typology, and green space, and then were evaluated and optimized via multi-objective evolutionary algorithms. …

Comprehensive Data-Driven Analysis Of Nyc Real Estate Transactions: Insights Into Pricing Dynamics, Neighborhood Evolution, And Socioeconomic Influences, Ruiming Xu

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This project provides a comprehensive analysis of New York City’s real estate market, focusing on its historical evolution, shifting demographics, and the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing trends. Utilizing data from trusted sources like Zillow, the NYC Department of Finance, and the U.S. Census Bureau, the study investigates how property values have changed over time, highlights neighborhoods undergoing notable transformations, and identifies the economic, cultural, and social factors driving these changes. The research aims to reveal the complex forces shaping the market while offering insights into its future direction and the reasons behind current trends. A key …

Deuce Redemption: Grindhouse Cinema, Moral Panic, And Urban Renewal, Robert Brenner

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

If you consult standard histories of the “redevelopment” of 42^nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenue, AKA “the Deuce,” you will read that it was filled with nothing but criminals and pornographers, that decent people avoided it at all costs, and the only way the block could be “saved” was by seizing it via eminent domain, evicting all the current tenants, and replacing them with Disney and its fellow entertainment corporations.

The purpose of this thesis is to offer a more nuanced alternative to these standard histories. I will argue that the Deuce was a lower-class, multiracial, queer entertainment …