A diagram of public spaces within urban landscape as a strategy for sustainable urban planning in Chinese cities

Destruction of historical urban fabric in many Chinese cities and towns, without the possibility of its recovery as an urban asset, leads us to consider alternative strategies and criteria for formulating new urban projects, using creative urban planning instruments and strategies to provide a sense of place and identity to the urban landscape. The challenge is to set up an urban structure that constitutes a spatial reference system, a structure consisting of a set of urban landmarks that construct a system of related public spaces, endowed with collective significance and identity. Such a network could include a wide variety of urban typologies and natural elements. An important result of this strategy would be the recovery of the social and cultural values attached to the natural landscape in Chinese civilization. Hangzhou city will be analyzed as a case study

The Benefits of building barrier-free: a contingent valuation of accessibilty as an attribute of housing

Estimating the social benefits of barrier-free building has always required indirect solutions, such as calculating the savings in social services, hospitalisation or adaptations made possible by the increase in accessibility. This research uses the Contingent Valuation Method to gain a direct appraisal of the benefits from barrier-free housing. When comparing two similar dwellings, with the only difference being their accessibility conditions, the 1,007 randomly chosen households that answered the direct survey would pay, on average 12.5 per cent more for being barrier-free. None of the different appraisals made on accessibility costs reaches 5 per cent. This confirms the social profitability of building without barriers and shows the potential size of the private market for those housing developers that meet the demand. Accessibility is a general concern, an economic good or attribute that most households value, irrespective of the physical conditions of their members.

Historic evolution and urban planning typology of Olympic Village

Article providing a broad historical overview of the role and typology of Olympic villages along the history of the Modern Olympic Games. This article was published in the book entitled ���Olympic Villages: a hundred years of urban planning and shared experiences��� compiling the papers given at the 1997 International Symposium on International Chair in Olympism (IOC-UAB).

Geography of resonances and Arnold diffusion in a priori unstable Hamiltonian systems

"Vegeu el resum a l'inici del document del fitxer adjunt."

Mobility and Housing Satisfaction: An Empirical Analysis for Twelve EU Countries

Using panel data for twelve EU countries, we analyze the relationship between selfreported housing satisfaction and residential mobility. Our results indicate the existence of a positive link between the two variables and that housing satisfaction exerts a mediating effect between residential characteristics and dwellers' mobility propensities. Some interesting cross-country differences regarding the effect of other variables on mobility are also observed. Our results can be used in defining, implementing and evaluating housing and neighbourhood policies. Residential satisfaction is put forward as one of the most appropriate indicators of the success or failure of such policies. Keywords: Housing satisfaction, residential mobility JEL classification: R21, D19

Disentangling the Housing Satisfaction Puzzle: Does Homeownership Really Matter?

There is a general consensus that homeownership has beneficial effects for both individuals and society in many outcomes. However, research regarding the effect of homeownership on individuals' subjective well-being remains inconclusive. In this paper, for the first time, we provide empirical evidence for the link between homeownership and housing satisfaction using panel data. We use the eight waves of the European Community Household Panel (ECHP) covering the period 1994-2001. We observe that renters who become homeowners not only experience a significant increase in housing satisfaction, but also after changing their tenure status, they obtain a different utility from the same housing context. This evidence might provide support to the hypothesis that a share of the differences in the perceived utility derived from housing can be attributed to (un)fulfilled expectations or aspirations regarding homeownership. Keywords: Housing satisfaction, subjective well-being, homeownership, fixed-effects, housing aspirations JEL classification: D1, R2.

EU cohesion aid to Spain: a data set. Part I: 2000-06 planning period

In this paper we construct a data set on EU cohesion aid to Spain during the planning period 2000-06. The data are disaggregated by region, year and function and attempt to approximate the timing of actual executed expenditure on assisted projects.

Recerca versus doc��ncia en una experi��ncia d'internalitzaci�� dels estudis de Geografia a la Universitat de Girona: The faces of landscape, Catalonia and North Karelia = Research versus teaching in one experience of internationalization of the Geography degree studies in the University of Girona: The faces of landscape, Catalonia and North Karelia

Un dels reptes cabdals de la Universitat ��s enlla��ar l���experi��ncia de recerca amb la doc��ncia, aix�� com promoure la internacionalitzaci�� dels estudis, especialment a escala europea, tenint present que ambdues poden actuar com a catalitzadores de la millora de la qualitat docent. Una de les f��rmules d���internacionalitzaci�� ��s la realitzaci�� d���assignatures compartides entre universitats de diferents pa��sos, fet que suposa l���oportunitat d���implementar noves metodologies docents. En aquesta comunicaci�� es presenta una experi��ncia en aquesta l��nia desenvolupada entre la Universitat de Girona i la Universitat de Joensuu (Finl��ndia) en el marc dels estudis de Geografia amb la realitzaci�� de l���assignatura 'The faces of landscape: Catalonia and North Karelia'. Aquesta es desenvolupa al llarg de dues setmanes intensives, una en cadascuna de les Universitats. L���objectiu ��s presentar i analitzar diferents significats del concepte paisatge aportant tamb�� metodologies d���estudi tant dels aspectes f��sics i ecol��gics com culturals que s���hi poden vincular i que s��n les que empren els grups de recerca dels professors responsables de l���assignatura. Aquesta part te��rica es completa amb una presentaci�� de les caracter��stiques i din��miques pr��pies dels paisatges finlandesos i catalans i una sortida de camp. Per a la part pr��ctica es constitueixen grups d���estudi multinacionals que treballen a escala local algun dels aspectes en els dos pa��sos, es comparen i es realitza una presentaci�� i defensa davant del conjunt d���estudiants i professorat. La llengua vehicular de l���assignatura ��s l���angl��s.

Turismo, percepci��n del paisaje y planificaci��n del territorio

The perception of the landscape is a broad, multidisciplinary. complex field of study, but one which is vital for systematic landscape planning. This is especially true with regard to tourism, which is particularly sensitive to landscape considerations. Both the article's analysis from the point of view of human geography, and the process by which the individual and the collective group perceive and engage in an aesthetic evaluation of the landscape, are of fundamental importance to any interaction with the landscape

Nous processos i formes de creixement urb��: el cas del districte industrial de Montebelluna a It��lia

This article analyses the spatial organization of Montebelluna's industrial district (Italy) as an exemple of the dinamics of urbanization phenomenon in small urban areas. The study is divided in two parts: in the first one I present the social organisation's model of production named ��industrial district�� and its relation with the space, which is characterizeded by the rising of diffused urbanization settlements; in the second part I try to verify some explanatory factors pointed out by different autors in this specific area with an historical analysis of processes point of view. The diffused organisation of economic and housing activity show a change in the urban morphology

Una Nova dimensi�� de la xarxa de les ciutats a Catalunya: Les ��rees de cohesi��

L���article parteix de la hip��tesi de l���exist��ncia d'un nou concepte de ciutat. Aquesta ha passat de ser d'una naturalesa nodal o focal a ser-ho de funcionament, de concepte i percepci�� difusos. L'objectiu principal ��s determinar l���amplitud d'aquesta ciutat, utilitzant com a par��metre principal la mobilitat laboral obligada. Es parla de ciutat real, d�����rees de cohesi�� a Catalunya, i de ciutats reals estructuradores del territori catal��

Urban design proposes for the norwegian cities

Alta is the biggest city in the country of Finnmark. The area of study, Bossekop, is situated 4km from the city centre. It has some commercial areas, offices, hotels and housing, mostly single family housing. The most important Norwegian road, E6 goes through Bossekop, there for it has a big traffic flow. The concept builds on the idea of two axis, one local leading from the local sports development area into the centre core, and one on a higher level, the E6. In Bod��, after analysing carefully the surroundings we reached the conclusion that it is posssible to conserve a lot of the green as well as offering the municipalities the chance to develop with several housing typologies. Nature should be preserved and with this connect directly the mountain to the sea, using the existing creek to make the water connection. In order to keep a big part of this land untouched, we suggest that the rest of the site can be developed quite densely in one of the areas and then continuously fading out in direction of the mountains. Finnsnes is an important communication point for the region with its good connections. In that way it is becoming a central point for commerce and leisure. The concept is based on the wish from the municipality of Lenvik to look upon the city���s connection to the surrounding sea and green areas, together with the wish to make the pedestrian access better and the car traffic lighter., and in that way improve the conditions in the city

Safety in vicinity of industrials plants: risk assessment and land use planning

The aim of this book is to survey on different Land Use Planning and safety approaches in vicinity of industrial plants. As this research is associated with three broad fields of Land Use Planning, safety and security, the set principle is to avoid unnecessary and over detailed information, but including the useful ones to provide a comprehensive resource which can be applicable for several purposes. Besides, the proposed method, which is explained in Chapter 7, can initiate a new field for future of Land Use Planning in vicinity of industrial plants.

Al di l�� del fiume - attraverso il fiume: il basso corso del Ter in Catalogna

La ricerca prende in considerazione dal punto di vista dell���architettura e dell���urbanistica la relazione tra la citt�� e il fiume che la attraversa o la lambisce; l���insediamento umano viene analizzato nel contesto del bacino idrografico al quale appartiene. La ricerca �� stata sviluppata in seno alla tesi dottorale ora in fase di elaborazione presso il Departamento de Urbanismo y Ordenaci��n del Territorio dell���Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya. La tesi ha come caso studio il tratto basso del fiume Ter in Catalogna. Nella discussione sul paesaggio urbano contemporaneo oggi la riflessione �� centrata sulla citt�� che si territorializza; la dimensione urbana interferisce con gran parte della superficie della terra facendo sfumare le tradizionali distinzioni tra urbano e non-urbano, tra spazio costruito e spazio aperto. In questo contesto, quale termine di conciliazione tra la dinamica naturale e la costruzione storica dei luoghi prodotta dall���intervento umano, il fiume si rivela uno strumento essenziale di analisi e progetto. L���obiettivo di questa ricerca �� suggerire un���approssimazione al progetto della citt�� che si sviluppa lungo il corso fluviale costruendo strumenti per la riflessione ���attraverso il fiume���. Partendo dall���ipotesi che la citt�� si insedia lungo un corso d���acqua secondo una sintassi territoriale stabilita dalla geograf��a e dalla geomorfologia del fiume stesso, il fine �� fornire strumenti per il processo di recupero degli spazi fluviali in contesti urbanizzati. Il fiume diviene componente geografica chiave degli insediamenti dispersi e risorsa per costruirne l���abitabilit��.

Optimization of floor cleaning coverage performance of a random path-planning mobile robot

Floor cleaning is a typical robot application. There are several mobile robots aviable in the market for domestic applications most of them with random path-planning algorithms. In this paper we study the cleaning coverage performances of a random path-planning mobile robot and propose an optimized control algorithm, some methods to estimate the are of the room, the evolution of the cleaning and the time needed for complete coverage.