Density and Decision-Making: Findings from an Online Survey

Abstract

In many countries, policymakers have used urban densification strategies in an effort to create more sustainable cities. However, spatial density as a concept remains unclear and complex. Little information exists about how density is considered by decision makers, including the different kinds of density and the wider political and economic context in which decisions are made: who makes density decisions, when they make those decisions and what they use to make decisions. To that end, the authors created an online survey to investigate the above issues. One hundred and twenty-nine respondents from the fields of architecture, planning, urban design and engineering answered a 26-item survey over a 3-month period. Findings suggest that decision makers consider more than just population and dwelling density and that city design, planning and policy need to address these other kinds of density. Moreover, the professions making many of the density decisions are not, necessarily, the ones that should be making the decisions; nor are they making decisions early enough. Policymakers also need to be more cognisant of the multi-scalar dimensions of density when creating policy. Finally, more needs to be done in universities to ensure that built environment students receive a broader skillset, particularly in terms of engaging with communities.

The Power of Urban Planning on Environmental Sustainability: A Focus Group Study in Finland

“…A case study by Book et al [56] shows that the state remains a crucial actor in sustainability governance. The local authorities' duty is to interpret national density policies, should they exist, at the municipal and neighbourhood scales with an understanding of the local context [15]. In Finland, high urban density is included in most political agendas of urban regeneration nationwide and is the core of national land use guidelines for environmentally sustainable societies.…”

“…In political discussion, the term urban density is often taken to roughly represent an appropriate combination of the more specific indicators for urban form [15]. An area of high urban density is typically both compact in structure and densely populated.…”

“…Nevertheless, for land use planners, high urban density tends to be interpreted comparatively and in local use it often refers to the intensive use of available urban space rather than to building urban structures in densities that are considered high on a world scale [16,17]. In the context of urban planning, dwelling density, density of green space, road density, traffic density, population density and employment density are commonly used specifications of urban density [15].…”

“…State level governing institutions outline decisions about urban form, urban planners shape them and local authorities (councillors on planning committees) approve the decisions [15,17]. Local autonomy in land use planning is high, and the outcome of the successful implementation of environmental policy at a municipal level should be sustainable urban development [17].…”

Density Challenges of High-Rise Residential Development in Malaysia

“…However, the concept of spatial density remains hazy and difficult to grasp. There is a scarcity of knowledge about how decision makers think about density, including the many types of density and the larger political and economic framework in which decisions are made: who makes density decisions, when they make them, and what they use to make those judgments (Boyko & Cooper, 2013). The various dimensions of 'density' can be explained in a variety of ways, ranging from simple numerical measures to the complicated concept of human perception.…”