The aim of this paper is to explore an explicit use of the concept of sustainability within transport planning. This paper analyses the concept of sustainability based on a practical approach for a sustainable development of Nordhavn, an area of Copenhagen, exemplifying a complex planning problem. An exploration of the application of the concept of sustainability is carried out using elements of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM). This approach indicates a need to separate the use of sustainability considerations regarding the transport planning 'process' from the transport planning 'results'. The two approaches are related to the planning levels presented by Ulrich (Syst Prac 1(4): [415][416][417][418][419][420][421][422][423][424][425][426][427][428] 1988). It was chosen to focus on the understanding of a sustainable transport planning process. This focus is addressed by four stakeholder groups interviewed based on the 'ought to' mode of Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH). Finally an outline of some of the factors of a sustainable transport planning process is proposed.

Traffic planning has developed over the years and has produced both long-term and short-termed solutions of different kinds. In general, however, in many urban and regional areas, traffic planning has until now not been able to treat and resolve the increasing problems relating to uncurbed traffic growth. Therefore new planning strategies and approaches are needed. In addition, the quality of transport networks and other types of traffic infrastructure are becoming more and more important features for metropols and regions when competing in attracting investment, development and knowledge. This is especially relevant for a cross-boarder region as the Øresund region treated in this paper. To ensure a sustainable development while at the same time upgrading the quality of urban and reginal transport is thus a major challenge. To deal with this situation the paper outlines a wider approach to sustainable regional transport planning. This is done by setting up a so-called holistic approach to planning and afterwards, based on holistic planning, by presenting the ideas of Strategic Transport Management (STM) as an important new planning and management concept. Finally some conclusions are given together with a perspective.

The pressure effect on amorphous-to-quasicrystalline-to-intermetallic phase transformations in a Zr 70 Pd 30 metallic glass has been investigated by in situ x-ray diffraction measurements using synchrotron radiation. It is found that the glass crystallizes in two steps: ͑1͒ amorphous-to-icosahedral quasicrystalline and ͑2͒ icosahedral quasicrystalline-to-intermetallic Zr 2ϩx Pd alloy. The intermetallic alloy has a tetragonal structure with lattice parameters, a ϭ3.310(1) Å and cϭ10.974(1) Å, and a space group of I4/mmm. External pressure enhances the onset temperatures for the formation of quasicrystalline phase and intermetallic compound with rates of 11Ϯ3 and 9Ϯ4 K/GPa, respectively, while the temperature interval for the stability of quasicrystals remains almost unchanged in the pressure range of 0-3 GPa. External pressure does not affect the phase-selection sequence. The enhancement of the onset temperature for the formation of quasicrystals has been further discussed with the nucleation theory.

Traffic and city planning has for a long period of time been a matter of solving actual problems with specific plans rather than by making visionary long-term planning to prevent new problems from occurring. As the amount of traffic is rapidly increasing and congestion problems are appearing there has, however, been a renewed focus on the interaction between transport and sustainability. To exemplify the advancement of Danish planning methodology this paper in this respect reviews a visionary traffic planning report produced by the Danish Ministry of Transport in 1993 called "Trafik 2005". On this basis a recent set of planning visions for 2015 is examined and by using a simple counting technique the development in Danish transport planning is monitored. Finally some conclusions are given.