Planning and development

The paper describes the development role of the London Docklands Development Corporation and what sort of plan it uses. It describes the government initiative that promoted the regeneration idea and appraises the Dockland's approach. Finally, it discusses local authority involvement in the Urban Development Corporation's initiatives.     

Urban channel adjustments in a management context: an Australian example

The impact of urbanization on stream channels has been investigated in a range of areas; the degree and extent of the channel adjustments have been demonstrated; and for a few areas these characteristics have recently been placed into a spatial context. A method of rapid field survey for depicting the channel network of urban areas in terms of near natural, adjusted, and channelized systems is illustrated for the urban area of Armidale NSW, for which Armidale Dumaresq Council had prepared a stormwater management plan. Such a survey could enable channel characteristics and adjustments, as well as water quantity and quality, to be included in the management plan. Possible options for management to address are suggested for each of the channel categories. A channel classification system of the kind suggested can provide a basic complement for the further development of the stormwater management plan, can afford a basis for specifying management alternatives, and can be helpful in demonstrating the options offered for community consultation.     

An Application and Evaluation of the CAL3QHC Model for Predicting Carbon Monoxide Concentrations from Motor Vehicles Near a Roadway Intersection in Muscat,Oman

The CAL3QHC model was used to predict carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations from motor vehicles at an existing urban intersection (Star Cinema in Muscat area, Oman). The CO concentrations predicted from the model were compared with those measured in the field. Predicted average CO concentrations were found to compare favorably with measured values obtained at all eight receptors considered within the modeled intersection. In general, the comparison indicates good agreement with some underprediction for CO. For receptor 6, the model overpredicts the average CO concentration. This overprediction is associated with the presence of trees and green area in the location of receptor 6. In general, the measurements and the model results indicated that the highest CO concentrations were found to occur close to the intersection and, hence, a decrease in the concentration levels was seen as the distance from the road increased. The results indicated that the levels of CO were well below the ambient air quality standard and that probably no health risk was present in areas adjacent to the star cinema intersection. However, the predicted worst-case 1-h CO concentrations assuming inversion atmospheric stability conditions (class F) and wind speed of 1 m/s indicated that the levels of CO were close to or higher than the Omans National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) value of 35 ppm at all receptors considered. The results of this study are useful in transport development and traffic management planning.Published online.     

Evaluation of Heritage Trees for Conservation and Management in Guangzhou City (China)

The recent fast pace of urbanization in China and other developing countries has exerted pressure on urban trees, which constitute a key urban environmental asset. The most outstanding trees should be treated as natural-cum-cultural heritage. Guangzhou Citys growth has threatened its rich urban-tree endowment, a diversified assemblage of 200,000 trees represented by 254 species and located in three major habitats: roadside, park, and institutional grounds. Mainly based on age and performance, 348 trees were officially designated as heritage specimens. They were evaluated in the field for tree dimensions, habitat, performance, and landscape contribution, to establish enhanced conservation and management strategies. With only 25 species, heritage trees were dominated by five cultivated natives and encompass some of the citys rare species; some common urban-forest species were not represented. Older districts and roadside habitats, despite their compact town plan and limited growing space, had the largest tree dimensions and largest share of heritage trees. Many heritage trees were large with long life expectancy and the potential for biomass expansion, and had pivotal cityscape impacts where they occur. Old neighborhoods, traditional haven for the arborescent treasure, are being changed by construction activities and periodic typhoon and windstorm damages. Increasing development density could degrade the heritage trees and their growing space, and reduce tree quality and life span. Upgrading the statutory-administrative systems and arboricultural care can enhance long-term survival of the precious natural-cum-cultural heritage. The experience of Guangzhou in identifying and preserving its high-quality urban trees can provide management strategies for other cities.     

城市轨道交通行车安全保障信息系统的研究

在分析城市轨道交通安全系统现状的基础上 ,笔者阐述了建立行车安全保障信息系统的必要性 ;提出需先期建立综合调度指挥中心 ;而后 ,重点介绍了作为该中心基本组成部分的行车安全保障信息系统及其各个子系统的构成情况 ;进而对监测子系统的设计进行初步研究。城市轨道交通行车安全保障信息系统可以增强事故处理实时性 ,也可在一定程度上减轻事故损失 ,从而指导安全管理工作 ,同时也是提高城市轨道交通自动化水平的一个创新性探索。     

城市安全规划的可视化技术研究

城市安全规划是提高城市安全水平的重要手段 ,笔者分别介绍了利用GIS(地理信息系统 )技术实现安全规划可视化的方法 ;介绍了以安全规划对象的可视化组织、安全规划对象的可视化编辑、安全规划结果可视化、危险源危险性可视化等方面的研究成果。该系列成果及其应用有利于安全规划工作的自动化、智能化和工作绩效的提高。     

城市轨道交通的振动和噪声及其控制的研究

地铁、轻轨等城市轨道交通会给市民和旅客带来便捷 ,同时也会给沿线的居民和建筑物带来振动及噪声等环境污染的公害。笔者分析了振动和噪声的控制与评价标准和预测方法 ,针对城市轨道交通的振动和噪声的特点和传播规律 ,从声源的控制、振动传播与声传播控制以及承受物控制 3个方面 ,提出了相应的控制措施和途径     

系统论方法在城市公共安全系统构建中的应用

概述了城市公共安全系统的基本组成 ,运用系统论的方法从整体性、动态相关性、预决性和层次性等方面对城市公共安全系统的特征进行了分析。基于对相应结构和建设要素的探讨 ,提出了城市公共安全系统优化和完善的途径     

A simple method for predicting the consequences of land management in urban habitats

Land management in urban areas is characterized by the diversity of its goals and its physical expression in the landscape, as well as by the frequency and often rapidity of change. Deliberate or accidental landscape alterations lead to changes in habitat, some of which may be viewed as environmentally beneficial, others as detrimental. Evaluating what is there and how changes may fit into the landscape context is therefore essential if informed land-management decisions are to be made. The method presented here uses a simple ecological evaluation technique, employing a restricted number of evaluation criteria, to gather a spatially complete data set. A geographical information system (GIS) is then used to combine the resulting scores into a habitat value index (HVI). Using examples from Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom, existing real-world data are then applied to land-management scenarios to predict probable landscape ecological consequences of habitat alteration. The method provides an ecologically relevant, spatially complete evaluation of a large, diverse area in a short period of time. This means that contextual effects of land-management decisions can be quickly visualized and remedial or mitigating measures incorporated at an early stage without the requirement for complex modeling and prior to the detailed ecological survey. The strengths of the method lie in providing a detailed information baseline that evaluates all habitats, not just the traditional “quality” habitats, in a manner that is accessible to all potential users—from interested individuals to professional planners.     

A moving target: planning Britain's inner cities

The authors look at Britain's post‐war response to the challenge of the Inner Cities and attempts to account for this response's more obvious failings. The paper considers the challenge facing the planners and considers the nature of their response, concluding that the future of planning as a weapon in the armoury of public policy is assured.