This paper proposes a bimodal urban traffic control strategy based on a multi-agent model. We call bimodal traffic a traffic which takes into account private vehicles and public transport vehicles such as buses. The objective of this research is to improve global traffic and reduce the time spent by buses in traffic jams so that buses cope with their schedule. Reducing bus delays is done by stu...

A well-known effect of urbanisation is the warming of the local climate relative to surrounding rural areas, creating a phenomenon known as the ‘urban heat island’ (UHI). UHI intensity varies across a city and over time, but temperature differences may reach 9 °C in the UK. Factors that contribute to a UHI include the thermal properties, height and spacing of buildings, the production of waste ...

Part 1 of this two-part paper presented a spatial economic model of the urban development process which captures developers' profit-seeking behaviour, communities' welfare-seeking behaviour, and the mediating effects of alternative systems of land-use rights. Different systems of rights were shown to result in different land-use and density outcomes. In part 2 we describe the simulation model u...

The Right to Build is defined by textual elements that determine what an owner can build on a parcel. Such regulations contain elements that can influence the development of territories. Expressed through legal texts, their effects on the territory are difficult to assess because of the documents’ complexity and of the diversity of urban configurations. In this paper, we present a generic and e...

Urbanization is one of the great challenges of our time and unchecked haphazard urbanization is a serious threat both to the environment and social and economic balance. In order to meet global sustainability targets, rapid urban growth must be channelled into environmentally friendly, sustainable and liveable urban environments. Thus, this special issue focuses on sustainable urban design whic...

The (re)integration of nature into cities has been a progressively promoted strategy to foster sustainable urbanization. To quantify the ecosystem services (ES) provided by urban nature, spatially explicit ES modeling is key method. However, particularly in absence independent validation data, there clear need for multi-model assessments order better understand uncertainties model outcomes. Her...

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly being promoted as a means to address societal and environmental challenges, especially flood risk reduction. In the context of rapidly urbanizing catchments, NBS can take part development sustainable cities, either by conserving peri-urban ecosystems from urban sprawl or developing green infrastructure in cities. Both provide wide range co-benefits ...

Urban ecosystem services are crucial for human well-being and the livability of cities. A central challenge for sustaining ecosystem services lies in addressing scale mismatches between ecological processes on one hand, and social processes of governance on the other. This article synthesizes a set of case studies from urban green areas in Stockholm, Sweden—allotment gardens, urban parks, cemet...

Urban tree planting initiatives are being actively promoted as a planning tool to enable urban areas to adapt to and mitigate against climate change, enhance urban sustainability and improve human health and well-being. However, opportunities for creating new areas of green space within cities are often limited and tree planting initiatives may be constrained to kerbside locations. At this scal...