Infographics for smart people in smart cities

Since 2012 the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency has been working on a series of infographics on mobility, energy, food, water, waste and cargo flows in the Netherlands. The aim of these graphic visualisations is to create smarter and more sustainable urban environments by informing experts, policy makers and the general public about relevant urban flows and possible perspectives for action. The infographics show the scale, proportion and systemic relationship of flows on various scales, from global to local, and are based on recent scientific research by the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Inspired by the work of the Austrian sociologist Otto Neurath and the German graphic designer Gerd Arntz, a first booklet on infographics on food, energy and mobility in the Netherlands has been published by PBL in 2012. Currently, the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency is working on graphic visualisations of ten urban flows, such as mobility, energy, waste, cargo and water, that will be published and exhibited at the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam 2014. This paper shows and describes a selection of infographics that are relevant for smart people in smart cities

The rural-urban fringe in the Netherlands: recent developments and future challenges

In recent decades, most rural-urban fringes in the Netherlands have seen substantial urbanisation. Urban expansions at the rural-urban fringe have formed complex hybrid landscapes consisting of residential areas, commercial zones, agricultural land, recreational and nature areas. In certain regions, urbanisation is rather compact and concentric, whereas others show dispersed and polycentric morphological patterns. Based on quantitative and qualitative spatial research, this article analyses recent urban developments and urbanisation patterns along the rural-urban fringe in the Netherlands, and identifies challenges for planning and design at national, regional and local levels. Urban compaction policy has prevented urban sprawl in the Netherlands. However, in some regions traditionally unwanted urban development patterns can be discerned. On a national level, an important question is how increasing dispersed urbanisation may affect the economic performance of cities and the efficient use of existing infrastructure. On a regional level, there is a need for urbanisation strategies that transcend municipal boundaries. On a local level, innovative urban design/re-design strategies may help improve connections between separated functions, involve local stakeholders, and upgrade the identity of places at the fringe

Smart, Green and Inclusive Urban Growth: Visualising Recent Developments in European Cities

Cities are expected to play a key role in delivering the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, green and inclusive growth. Concerning smart growth, cities are at the forefront of innovation. Moreover, the physical concentration of people, capital and business opportunities means that cities are more productive than other places. In relation to green growth, healthy, compact and energy-efficient cities are key to achieving sustainability in Europe. Many European cities are currently developing or expanding their networks for walking, cycling, public transport, waste management, district heating and green infrastructures. Finally, cities can contribute to inclusive growth. For example, by combating social polarisation and poverty, by providing affordable housing and by integrating refugees and migrants. In the context of the Urban Agenda for the EU and the Dutch EU presidency in the first half of 2016, the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency has recently published ‘Cities in Europe’ (PBL, 2016), a publication that visualises facts and figures concerning recent urban developments in relationship to smart, green and inclusive growth in the European Union. Based on the harmonised definition of urban areas by Eurostat and the OECD (OECD, 2012), European cities are compared with each other and recent trends are described, such as those in migration, risk of urban poverty and urban-rural divergence in employment growth. Furthermore, the following questions are being explored: which cities have shown strong growth in population, GDP and employment? Are the growth rates related to the size of the agglomerations? In which cities is the population showing high levels of satisfaction about quality of life? And which cities are falling behind? What types of territorial patterns can be distinguished? This paper summarises the main findings of the publication and presents a number of infographics that give insight into the scale, dimension and relationships of urban developments in Europe

Vier scenario’s voor de inrichting van Nederland in 2050 : Ruimtelijke Verkenning 2023

In de Ruimtelijke Verkenning 2023 heeft het PBL scenario’s ontwikkeld voor de inrichting van Nederland in 2050. In dit hoofdrapport worden vier mogelijke ruimtelijke toekomsten gepresenteerd. Dat zijn: Mondiaal Ondernemend (een toekomstscenario waarin grote bedrijven de lead hebben), Snelle Wereld (de nog verder toegenomen digitalisering doet afstanden verdwijnen), Groen Land (veel ruimte voor de natuur) en Regionaal Geworteld (burgers nemen het initiatief in hun eigen leefomgeving). Voor elk scenario zijn op basis van ruimtelijke modellering en ontwerpend onderzoek gedetailleerde kaarten van het bijbehorende Nederland van 2050 gemaakt. Deze scenariokaarten brengen in beeld welke gevolgen verschillende keuzes hebben