Urban Multifunctional Land Use: Theoretical and Empirical Insights on Economies of Scale, Scope and Diversity

A recent planning device aimed at dealing with land scarcity is the propagation of multifunctional land use. This paper describes the evolution of urban planning concepts and their links to economic theory. We argue that the most distinctive feature of multifunctional land use is its emphasis on return to diversity. This concept is rooted in the modern economic theory of agglomeration. Empirical evidence is shown to provide some support for the quantitative relevance of return to diversity, but is still to a large extent in its infancy. More evidence is required for policy purposes aimed at identifying the optimal extent to which multifunctional land use projects have to be pursued

The role of biomass in the renewable energy system

Europe is striving for zero carbon electricity production by 2050 in order to avoid dangerous climate change. To meet this target a large variety of options is being explored. Biomass is such an option and should be given serious consideration. In this paper the potential role of biomass in a NW-European electricity mix is analyzed. The situation in NW-Europe is unique since it is a region which is a fore runner in renewable technology promotion but also an area with little sun, almost no potential for hydro and a lot of wind. This will result in a substantial need for non-intermittent low-carbon options such as biomass. The benefits and issues related to biomass are discussed in detail from both an environmental and an economic perspective. The former will focus on the life cycle of a biomass pellet supply chain, from the growth of the trees down to the burning of the pellets on site. The latter will provide detailed insights on the levelized cost of electricity for biomass and the role of biomass as a grid stabilizer in high intermittent scenarios. During the discussion, biomass will be compared to other competing electricity technologies to have a full understanding of its advantages and drawbacks. We find that biomass can play a very important role in the future low carbon electricity mix, the main bottleneck being the supply of large amounts of sustainably produced feedstock

Division of Research and Economic Development Monthly Report for June 2014

The monthly reports include statistics for project proposals and awards received by individual academic and administrative departments at the University of Rhode Island

Division of Research and Economic Development Monthly Report for May 2014

The monthly reports include statistics for project proposals and awards received by individual academic and administrative departments at the University of Rhode Island

Drivers of Rural Development Strategies at the Farm Level: a Case Study on Circular Agriculture in the Netherlands

The sustainability of the agricultural sector worldwide is increasingly being pressurized by ecological, economic, and social developments. The Dutch government is promoting enhancing circular agriculture as an important rural development strategy in response to the challenges the sector is facing. All farmers in the country will have to be involved in closed cycles by 2030, but many farmers do not want to or cannot make this transition. This study aims to identify the different factors that influence a farmer’s decision to transition towards circular agriculture. Based on thirteen semi-structured interviews with already transitioned farmers, a policy officer, a consultant, and a coordinator of a circular farmers’ network, it presents an updated framework through which the linkages between different drivers and circular agriculture as a rural development strategy can be studied. This study informs policy makers, and fills a gap in literature between studies on rural development, drivers of diversification, and circular agriculture. From the results, it becomes clear that the most important incentives for farmers to actively work on closing their cycles, are the presence of a learning network, subsidies, and the personal objectives related to gaining insights into the business. Circular agriculture should not be seen as a rural development strategy per se. Many farmers do not link circular agriculture to rural development strategies, but see their business as circular by nature. It fits many different farming styles, and has the potential to contribute to sustainability in the sector as it reduces the creation of waste and need for inputs, regardless of what strategies are pursued. Further research is needed to test the framework in different contexts, and to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that withhold farmers from actively transitioning towards closed cycles

Division of Research and Economic Development Monthly Report for July 2013 - March 2014

The monthly reports include statistics for project proposals and awards received by individual academic and administrative departments at the University of Rhode Island

The blue-green path to urban flood resilience

Abstract Achieving urban flood resilience at local, regional and national levels requires a transformative change in planning, design and implementation of urban water systems. Flood risk, wastewater and stormwater management should be re-envisaged and transformed to: ensure satisfactory service delivery under flood, normal and drought conditions, and enhance and extend the useful lives of ageing grey assets by supplementing them with multi-functional Blue-Green infrastructure. The aim of the multidisciplinary Urban Flood Resilience (UFR) research project, which launched in 2016 and comprises academics from nine UK institutions, is to investigate how transformative change may be possible through a whole systems approach. UFR research outputs to date are summarised under three themes. Theme 1 investigates how Blue-Green and Grey (BG + G) systems can be co-optimised to offer maximum flood risk reduction, continuous service delivery and multiple co-benefits. Theme 2 investigates the resource capacity of urban stormwater and evaluates the potential for interoperability. Theme 3 focuses on the interfaces between planners, developers, engineers and beneficiary communities and investigates citizens’ interactions with BG + G infrastructure. Focussing on retrofit and new build case studies, UFR research demonstrates how urban flood resilience may be achieved through changes in planning practice and policy to enable widespread uptake of BG + G infrastructure.EPSR

Designed fields: increasing the collaboration between landscape architecture and sustainable agriculture in the design of multifunctional landscapes

Master of Landscape ArchitectureDepartment of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community PlanningTimothy D. KeaneTraditionally, sustainable agriculture has been focused on soil health and the economics of production, however, this definition is now broadening to include ecology and education. The goal of sustainable agricultural practices is to minimize the adverse effects of farming on surrounding ecosystems and instead strive for long-term stability of the entire agricultural enterprise, environmental protection, and consumer safety (McDonnell 2011; Powlson et. al. 2011). Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor space to achieve environmental, social, and/or aesthetic outcomes (Jellicoe, 1975). Though landscape architecture has traditionally leaned towards aesthetics and social interaction, since the mid-20th century the work of many landscape architects has shifted towards ecological sensitivity while maintaining existing aesthetic and sociological functions. Today, sustainable agriculture and landscape architecture are becoming even more similar and face many of the same challenges. Although key differences remain, both fields emphasize ecology, economics, sociology, and aesthetics (Hill, 2016; Yu, 2016). Despite overlaps in design considerations and outcomes of intervention, the two fields and those working within them, rarely collaborate. In this project, landscape architecture and sustainable agriculture theories, principles, and research are studied in order to clearly illustrate their similarities and differences. The fields are compared to identify areas where existing knowledge bases overlap. Examples of successful and unsuccessful collaboration between the fields to design and implement multifunctional landscapes in urban and peri-urban environments are researched and analyzed according to a series of metrics to determine successes, failures, and opportunities for improvement. The analysis of existing projects in combination with a rich understanding of the fields result in a series of projective design strategies and culminate in a single design project. The final design project, Twin Lakes Park in Homer Glen, IL, is a 250-acre property consisting primarily used for corn and soybean farming. The property is redesigned into a multi-functional agricultural landscape and park. The new design of Twin Lakes Park is analyzed according to the same metrics as the selected case studies in order to identify successes and failures within the design and within the metrics themselves. Final metrics and design strategies have the potential to influence existing landscape performance metrics and sustainable site strategies, encouraging a greater degree of collaboration between the fields of landscape architecture and sustainable agriculture

East Midlands urban action plan 2005-2011

This is the second urban action plan (UAP) for the East Midlands. The plan sets out a framework for urban renaissance in the East Midlands and provides a delivery plan that includes significant schemes in the priority urban areas that will influence the transormation of urban areas and contribute to the region's economic development

A study on the future sustainability of Sejong, South Korea’s multifunctional administrative city, focusing on implementation of transit oriented development

Since the appearance of steam engines in the late 18th century, cities have been growing with the development of transportation and the consequent increase of its urban population and economic activities. Presently, cities accommodate more than half of the world population and are expected to be responsible for 73% of the world’s energy use in 2030. Cities come to the fore as a problem, being also the roots of solution for current environment and energy-related problems. The Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems applied in Latin American cities have shown the possibility of establishing efficient urban transport networks and sustainable urban structures at low cost. Meanwhile, Asian cities are anticipated to accommodate 54% of the world urban population by 2050. Sejong city, South Korea is the newest planned city in the region aiming to see its completion in 2030. The aim of this paper is to assess the future urban sustainability of Sejong city by analyzing first the Master Plan of the construction of the city in accordance with PEBOSCA (Physical, Economical, Biological, Organizational, Social, Cultural, and Aesthetical) resources, and second its implementation in general with a focus on the expected role of Transit-Oriented Development in particular looking at BRT. Putrajaya’s case is referred for anticipated shortcomings which Sejong should be prepared for. Secondary data and interpretations from books and articles regarding contemporary urban problems are comprehensively reviewed to systemically analyze the influences of implementation of TOD upon urban sustainability. This study revealed that planned actions derived from TOD will play an important role in resolving urban problems in Sejong city by relieving urban traffic congestion, CO2 emission and fossil fuel consumption. And systemic influences on improvement of business activities, government tax income, social activities and equity, and olfactory quality of the city are expected. Therefore, TOD is deemed to be a better option for existing cities and is necessary for newly developing planned cities in Asia and Africa