What is it about?
Land for urbanization, analogously to water, exists in high abundance in certain locations and is extremely scarce in others. The water cycle comprises evaporation and condensation. However, contrary to water, land in general does not change stages by itself. Usually, land for urbanization is readily and affordably available in locations where one is not supposed to build and quite scarce and extremely expensive where it barely exists. Excessive urbanization in suburban locations can lead to the potential decline of more centrally located neighborhoods. Anticipatory and integrated strategic land use and transportation planning mechanisms are needed to obviate opportunistic and speculative land markets. In many cities of the Global North, the iatrogenic nature of uncoordinated policy–market imbalances has resulted in sprawl, leap-frog development, spoiled countrysides, vehicle-dependence, long commutes, unfeasible mass transit, unhealthy environments for vulnerable populations, environmental externalities, and overall poor urban quality of life for everybody.
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Why is it important?
This Special Issue of Land seeks review papers and articles dealing with these challenges from economic, environmental, social, normative, technological, historic, and cultural perspectives. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies will be considered. Scholars examining formal and informal urbanization processes, developments, and implications for cities, regions, and countries of the Global North and Global South are encouraged to submit their studies for peer-review assessment and publication.
Perspectives
Major societal transformations, motivated by lifestyle preferences, technological possibilities, the COVID-19 pandemic, and post-growth scenarios, have transformed the ways we live, work, and play. While the level of social interaction has resumed, collective consciousness now requires more strategic approaches to the built and natural environments where were spend most of our time. Professional practice should benefit and ought to incorporate the latest scholarly findings. Therefore, novel approaches to land, land use planning, urbanization, land retrofit, regulatory systems, urban redevelopment, urban regeneration, and ecological approaches to improving and conserving land and natural resources are especially sought after.
Dr. Carlos J. L. Balsas, AICP
Ulster University Belfast
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Strategic Planning for Urban Sustainability, Land, July 2025, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/land14071458.
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