In South America, the urban population has been growing rapidly over the last century, with a share of more than 80% expected by 2020. This trend has created new challenges for city planning because municipalities must address issues caused by horizontal urban expansion and the informal occupation of peripheral areas. Frequently, the latter are not designed or equipped for the basic needs of new inhabitants. This research is based on the work of MGI, an initiative for smart, sustainable development in Piura, an intermediate city with one of the highest rates of urban sprawl in Peru. This initiative promotes climate change adaptation and mitigation based on urban analysis embodied in a sustainability profile and an action-oriented roadmap with concrete, feasible, and replicable measures and projects. One such measure is a spatial analysis, prioritising small illegal dumpsites for recovery and converting these areas into a public space using digital planning tools. This study analyses the development of the intervention to be implemented against the city´s opportunities and challenges.

Cities are undergoing significant transformations and face substantial challenges due to climate change and rapid urbanisation. Consequently, planning strategies around smart and sustainable urban development are key to addressing some of the most pressing challenges, such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, and improving resource efficiency. However, local governments have limited financial resources to achieve their development goals, and many times no criteria of sustainability are followed to define local projects. In this sense, it is necessary to include sustainable indicators that help local governments; in order to allow an efficient use of resources, ensure a greater impact and benefit for the citizens and residents of the area of intervention, as well as consolidate with them the established policy guidelines. This research is based on the work of MGI Morgenstadt Global Smart Cities Initiative in Piura-Peru, a project funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), with the primary objective to mitigate the consequences of climate change in the pilot cities, increase their resilience to climate risks, and preserve their natural resources. As part of this broader project, this paper seeks to define valuable contribution to sustainable principles oriented for the definition of urban development projects within the framework of the elaboration of the Metropolitan Development Plan Piura – Catacaos – Castilla – Veintiséis of Octubre 2020–2040. It explores the potential of science-based frameworks that consider sustainable aspects in the description of the project idea and strategies at the local level and provide relevant sustainability indicators for the measurement of the project scope regarding its outcomes and impacts. The methodology contributes to generating projects to transform Piura into a model city of ecological, economic and social sustainability, with accessible public spaces, adequate urban infrastructure designed for its inhabitants.

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