Month: December 2018

BIKE SHARING SYSTEMS AS A TOOL TO INCREASE SUSTAINABLE COASTAL AND MARITIME TOURISM. THE CASE OF PIRAEUS

Efthimios BAKOGIANNIS

Dr. Urban Planner- Transport Engineer, National Technical University of Athens

ebako@mail.ntua.gr

Avgi VASSI

Rural and Surveying Engineer – MSc Urban Planner – cPhD, National Technical University of Athens

avgi.vassi@gmail.com

Georgia CHRISTODOULOPOULOU

Rural and Surveying Engineer – cPhD, National Technical University of Athens

geo_christ@hotmail.com

Maria SITI

Rural and Surveying Engineer- MSc Urban Planner- cPhD, National Technical University of Athens

sitim.atm@gmail.com

Abstract

Piraeus is the fourth largest municipality in Greece and a port city. Piraeus port is one of the biggest in the Mediterranean, serving thousands of passengers, who use the city as a transport corridor to reach Athens. On the other hand, the harbor gives a sense of liveliness in the city, further reinforced by the advantageous geographical position, important archaeological sites and a beautiful shoreline. New perspectives are also opening up for the city due to the development of a new cruise terminal. Among the crucial challenges faced by Piraeus city is the strong car-dependency. In order to cope with this issue and related impacts, but also to reinforce traditional economic activities related to the maritime economy, the municipality has decided to re-orient its planning efforts, visioning Piraeus as a sustainable coastal and maritime tourism destination. As part of this planning goal, the promotion of cycling has been decided, by launching a Bike Sharing System (BSS), being perceived as an excellent tourist attraction along with other advantages this can bring. The paper deals with BSS planning as a smart policy that will directly benefit the local economy. It elaborates on those factors that show how and why changes occur in a city due to a BSS, how and why it is successful or not and what are its benefits but also main challenges. It also gathers knowledge from European BSS in order to embed it in Piraeus’ BSS planning effort for improving citizens and visitors’ sustainable mobility pattern in Piraeus.

Keywords: Port city, Bike Sharing Systems, sustainable mobility, sharing economy, Piraeus

JEL classification: R42
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SPATIAL PLANNING FOR URBAN RESILIENCE. ASSESSING CURRENT PROSPECTS THOUGH A MULTILEVEL APPROACH AND A USE CASE IN NORTHERN GREECE

Margarita ANGELIDOU

Dr. Architect-Urban Planner, School of Spatial Planning and Development Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

mangel@auth.gr

Christina BALLA

Dipl. Civil Engineer, School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

chrimpal@civil.auth.gr

Anna MANOUSARIDOU

Dipl. Civil Engineer, School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

annamanous@civil.auth.gr

Stylianos MARMELOUDIS

Dipl. Civil Engineer, School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

marmelou@civil.auth.gr

Dimitrios NALMPANTIS

Dr. Civil Engineer, School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

dnalba@civil.auth.gr

Abstract

This paper presents a part of ongoing research into the resilience potential of the western coastal front of Thessaloniki, a medium sized city in northern Greece. It aims to assess whether and to what extent the western coastal front of Thessaloniki, Greece, currently a partially developed area, features elements of resilience and what opportunities can be harnessed to this end. We set out by describing the concept of ‘urban resilience’ drawing upon recently published literature. As primary principles of resilience-driven development, we identify (i) the existence of resilience-focused spatial planning attributes (redundancy, modularity, buffering, connectivity, existence of legally binding land-use or zoning plans) (ii) the presence of a highly adaptive urban spatial management mix, (iii) reflectiveness and the ability to learn from past experience and resilience challenges and (iv) civic engagement, largely facilitated by means of smart city applications. We then shift our focus to the characteristics of the study area. In order to investigate the extent to which the identified from the literature factors affecting urban resilience apply in this area, a profiling of the study area is made, followed by an in-depth analysis of whether and how the identified principles of resilience-driven development are realized through the current urban, regional, transportation and environmental planning and management frameworks applicable to the area. We close with highlighting specific aspects of resilience that call for urgent attention and by making comments and recommendations regarding policy integration needs.

Keywords: Urban, Regional, Transport, Environment, Planning, Management

JEL classification: R00, R1, R4, R5, R11, R14, R19, R40, R49, R52, R58
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URBAN SPRAWL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: EVIDENCE FROM COASTAL MEDIUM-SIZED CITIES

Apostolos LAGARIAS

Postdoc Researcher, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

lagarias@iacm.forth.gr

John SAYAS

Associate Professor, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)

isayas@central.ntua.gr

Abstract

Urban sprawl processes taking place in European cities constitute an important problem opposing sustainable growth and environmental protection. This is particularly evident in the Mediterranean, where intense tourism development and coastalization continuously impose urban land pressures on agricultural areas and natural land. In the present study a set of 14 coastal medium-sized cities of Spain, Italy, Greece, Mediterranean France and Malta is used to explore recent urban sprawl trends and to analyze different typologies of urban form and structure. Based on recent data from European databases (Urban Atlas, Corine Land Cover and the Imperviousness-Soil Sealing Degree dataset), soil sealing degree profiles are estimated and the distribution of different urban land uses is analyzed for year 2006 using a set of spatial metrics. Urban growth between 1990 and 2014 is estimated based on data from the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL). Results reveal important differences between the cities in terms of urban form and structure. Geomorphology, different levels of population growth and tourism development, differences in the historical and socioeconomic context constitute among others, the reasons for this differentiation.

Keywords: Urban sprawl, Urban form, Coastalization, Medium-sized cities, Soil sealing, Land use

JEL classification: R110, R140

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