Here's how you can adjust your urban planning to meet evolving community priorities and needs.

"Participatory Approach" is critical and crucial in every step of urban planning- From understanding the needs and aspirations of different members of the community, discussions on suitability and adoption of the proposal solutions/strategies, to actually implementing the solutions. In the process it is important to acknowledge the diversity existing within the community itself. Focused group discussions, perception surveys, public consultations, codesign workshops are some of the tools to facilitate the same. Further it is important to promote meaningful participation and representation of different marginalised groups. Empowerment of the community through training, sensitisation and involving them as change makers is also important.

Engaging in face-to-face interaction with all stakeholders is key to making co-commitments (via co-planning) to achieve co-production of plans. Everyone has a role - the planners, categories community members, traditional and government authorities, civil society, and donors, to mention a few. In this partnerships structure, the people who own, occupy, use and exercise rights and privileges on the areas to be planned should be at the centre of of the planning process. This is because they are the ones who will live with the plan. They ill be the most affected when every other partner is gone. They will provide the most realistic feedback necessary for (and play a role) in monitoring and evaluation, and in the initiation of future plans.

Effective urban planning requires face to face communication in charrette style workshops where the planner's role is facilitator/listener. In recent years in my city, planners seem to have gotten lazy or corrupted by lobbyist influence, relying on town halls/open houses where they talk at people and use push pull surveys to manufacture consent. Engagement is a totally different animal that always renders better results than ivory tower planning. It empowers the community and taps into the wisdom of the people who live in a place and make it special. The planner's role is to synthesize that wisdom with best planning practices, rather than stomping into a place waving magical zoning amulets.

Many thanks to Brussels Perspective to have organized this European presidency meeting about urban sprawl and planning and our common European issues

I completely agree that engaging with local residents is a fundamental factor in successful urban planning. Utilizing town hall meetings, surveys, and online feedback platforms helps ensure that the community's voices are heard. This collaborative approach leads to identifying the unique needs of each neighborhood and fostering a sense of ownership among residents. Prioritizing local input is key to creating a shared vision for the community's future and ensures that urban development aligns with the residents' desires and priorities.

Trend analysis is one factor. We also need to analyse the region, planning might require course corrections from trends. Induced growth could be necessary in some cases, while analysis of carrying capacity might even suggest slowing down growth. These are not necessarily captured through trend analysis only.

Les métropoles africaines au subsahariennes ont pour un défi majeur aujourd'hui la mobilité urbaine. Un cas pratique est celui de la ville de Cotonou qui abrite les ressources administratives et économiques du Bénin mais dont les acteurs résident pour la plupart dans les villes périphériques telles que Ouidah, Abomey-Calavi, Sèmè_Podji et Porto-Novo. Ce phénomène a crée une conurbation désigné par le terme "Grand Nokoué"qui induit une congestion du Trafic automobile et cyclable aux heures de pointe le matin et le soir. Des réflexions ont été nourries pour revoir les modes de transports dans le Grand nokoué avec à la clé la réalisation des plans de mobilités urbaines des villes du Grand Nokoué.

Die Analyse von Trends ist elementar, um Erfordernisse der Nutzerinnen und Nutzer des urbanen Raums abzuleiten. Dabei sollten sowohl Datenbanken wie auch eigene gewonnene Projektreferenzen und Umsetzungsbeispiele herangezogen werden.

Staying informed about demographic and technological trends is indispensable. Analyzing shifts in population, economic patterns, and technological advancements allows planners to proactively address future needs. For instance, understanding the increasing trend towards urbanization and digital connectivity enables us to design flexible infrastructure that can accommodate remote work, smart transportation, and sustainable living practices. This foresight ensures that urban environments are not only resilient but also capable of evolving with the changing demands of their inhabitants.

Integrating blue-green infrastructure is advisable. A spatio-temporal analysis of NDVI and NDBI may be also advisable to identify existing trends and strategise future growth.

The question is, if we are planning to add green spaces or "green infrastructures" we should consider the sustainability and how it would help reduce the scorching heat of the sun by its integration? An urban planner should know the trees or plants that should be planted in an overcrowded metropolis or highly urbanized cities. Also, one must be equipped with the knowledge of the ratio of trees with the human's daily carbon footprint.

é importante, além da incorpora??o dos espa?os verdes na malha urbana, avaliar a funcionalidade das hortas / jardins / vegeta??o, o percurso ideal ( para n?o termos as cal?adas demarcadas, mas o pedestre “passa” pelos outros acessos, entre gramas e jardins, por exemplo) e a sustentabilidade e manuten??o dos mesmos. Tem que ser considerar ainda o clima e a regi?o, para a correta inser??o das espécies e durabilidade do projeto, assim como o entorno , ponderando pontos de inteferências com as raizes, cabos elétricos, marquises e varandas dos prédios.

As a biodiversity expert in Albania and co-compiler of the Tirana Biodiversity Action Plan, I firmly believe that integrating green spaces into urban environments is vital for both ecological balance and community well-being. In our work, we emphasize the multifaceted benefits of urban greenery, such as boosting biodiversity, creating wildlife corridors, and enhancing ecosystem services. Implementing green infrastructure like urban forests, and vertical gardens can transform city landscapes, offering natural habitats and promoting biodiversity. Moreover, these green spaces provide essential recreational and social venues, fostering a connection between residents and nature

E n?o somente… acessibilidade para cadeirantes, carrinhos de bebê, pessoas com bengalas, cegos , entre outros… Avisos sonoros em ciclovias e cruzamentos com semáforos também precisam ser considerados dependendo da localidade. Aciono ainda aten??o às sinaliza??es e ilumina??es em casa caso: cal?adas, ciclovias e parques.

It is vital to be aware of being in a very dynamic environment driven by technology advances, changes in lifestyle, and heretofore unrecognized uses of space, residential and commercial. There is no question that the capacity to adapt and adjust has always been important but never more so then now. Indeed, what is becoming increasingly evident to keep pace with the changing environment is the ability to explore new approaches to key tools in planning including types of zoning, new factors in building codes, and new balances in demand for open space.