Walkable City and Military Enclaves: Analysis and Decision-Making Approach to Support the Proximity Connection in Urban Regeneration

Abstract

Accessibility and urban walkability are the cornerstones of urban policies for the contemporary city, which needs to be oriented towards sustainable development principles and models. Such aims are included in the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, as well as in the ambitious objectives of the ‘European Green Deal’. These concepts are closely linked to the paradigm of a sustainable city—livable, healthy and inclusive—based on a system of high-quality public spaces and on a network of services and infrastructures, both tangible and intangible, capable of strengthening and building new social, economic and environmental relationships. It is necessary to recognize potential opportunities for connection and permeability in consolidated urban environments. These are very often fragmented and are characterized by enclaves of very different kinds. Ghettoes and gated communities, old industrial plants and military installations and facilities, to cite a few, represent examples of cases where closures on urban fabrics are realized, impeding full walkability and accessibility. Within such a framework, the present research is aimed at focusing on a particular set of enclaves, such as those represented by the military sites being reconfigured to civilian use, a phenomenon that characterizes many urban areas in the world; in Europe; and in Italy, in particular, given the recent history and the Cold War infrastructure heritage. In such a sense, the city of Cagliari (Sardinia Island, Italy) represents an interesting case study as it is characterized by the presence of a series of military complexes; real ‘enclaves’ influencing the proximity connections; and, more generally, walkability. Building on previous research and analysis of policies and projects aimed at reintroducing, even partially, this military asset into civilian life (Green Barracks Project (GBP)-2019), this paper proposes and applies a methodology to evaluate the effects of urban regeneration on walkability in a flexible network logic, oriented to the ‘15 min city’ model or, more generally, to the renewed, inclusive, safe “city of proximity”, resilient and sustainable.

Using Systems Thinking and Modelling: Ecological Land Utilisation Efficiency in the Yangtze Delta in China

“…However, urbanisation has also brought some negative effects regarding human and environmental well-being. These include water pollution and food security [12], air pollution that spreads many diseases including COVID-19 [18], loss and fragmentation of biological habitats [19] etc. pose challenges to human sustainable development goals, especially in developing economies, such as India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Indonesia [12].…”

“…Many programmes have been implemented to reduce or offset the side effects of urbanisation. From the perspective of urban planning, the 15-Minute Life Cycle [21] and Superblock Street Networks [22] with walking [18] or cycling have been increasingly used all over the world. From the perspective of industrial adjustment, the adjustment from productive industries to producer services to reduce export pollution has also achieved successful results in some cities, such as Bilbao in Spain [23].…”

Optimization of Production–Living–Ecological Space in National Key Poverty-Stricken City of Southwest China

“…It is highly relevant to the 17 SDGs that involve environmental integrity, social equity, and economic prosperity, which comprise the triple bottom line approach of human wellbeing [21,22]. International academic research has discussed food security [23], tourism [24], agriculture [25], and urban regeneration [26] under the background of urban sustainability but rarely focuses on PLE space. After all, the concept has been proposed by the Chinese government in the context of China.…”

“…Firstly, multi-objective optimization algorithms still face some challenges in flexibility and convergence, especially in preference adaptation for various formulations [33,34]. Secondly, difficulty and International academic research has discussed food security [23], tourism [24], agriculture [25], and urban regeneration [26] under the background of urban sustainability but rarely focuses on PLE space. After all, the concept has been proposed by the Chinese government in the context of China.…”

Analysis of Spatial Patterns and Socioeconomic Activities of Urbanized Rural Areas in Fujian Province, China

“…For example, the various non-agricultural activities in rural areas markedly increase incomes and alleviate poverty, which contributes to SDG 1. Rural urbanization can also improve the accessibility of urban services to rural residents via improved transportation (related to SDG 9) [32,33]. However, the other SDGs, including mitigating land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, might be very difficult to achieve because of built-up land expansion in urbanized rural areas.…”