Author: Raymond Charles Rauscher
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319175726
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 236
Book Description
This book examines the planning and implementation of policies to create sustainable neighborhoods, using as a case study the City of Sydney. The authors ask whether many past planning and development practices were appropriate to the ways that communities then functioned, and what lessons we have learned. The aim is to illustrate the many variations within a city and from neighborhood to neighborhood regarding renewal (rehabilitation), redevelopment (replacement) and new development. Case study examples of nine City of Sydney neighborhoods note the different histories of planning and development in each. Features of the studies include literature searches, field work (with photography), and analysis. The authors propose a set of sustainability principles which incorporate elements of the twenty seven principles of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Part One explores sustainable urban planning, and the importance of planning tools that enable best planning outcomes for communities and investors. Common factors in the nine case study neighborhoods are renewal, redevelopment and development pressures affecting Sydney from the 1970s to 2014. Also discussed are the differing circumstances of planning faced by authorities, developers and communities in each of the study areas. Part Two of the book is focused on the case study areas in City of Sydney East area: Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross. Part Three covers case study areas in Sydney's Inner South area: Chippendale, Redfern and Waterloo District. Part Four surveys the Inner West suburb of Erskineville. Part Five looks at the City West area, including the Haymarket District and the Pyrmont and Ultimo District. Part Six concentrates on the North West area suburb of Glebe. Part Seven of the book looks at the growth area of South Sydney District, which includes the suburbs of Beaconsfield, Zetland and the new localities of Victoria Park and Green Square. The authors recount lessons learned and outline directions of planning for sustainable neighborhoods. Finally, the authors challenge readers to apply the lessons of these case studies to further advances in sustainable urban planning.
Sustainable Neighbourhoods in Australia
Author: Raymond Charles Rauscher
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319175726
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 236
Book Description
This book examines the planning and implementation of policies to create sustainable neighborhoods, using as a case study the City of Sydney. The authors ask whether many past planning and development practices were appropriate to the ways that communities then functioned, and what lessons we have learned. The aim is to illustrate the many variations within a city and from neighborhood to neighborhood regarding renewal (rehabilitation), redevelopment (replacement) and new development. Case study examples of nine City of Sydney neighborhoods note the different histories of planning and development in each. Features of the studies include literature searches, field work (with photography), and analysis. The authors propose a set of sustainability principles which incorporate elements of the twenty seven principles of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Part One explores sustainable urban planning, and the importance of planning tools that enable best planning outcomes for communities and investors. Common factors in the nine case study neighborhoods are renewal, redevelopment and development pressures affecting Sydney from the 1970s to 2014. Also discussed are the differing circumstances of planning faced by authorities, developers and communities in each of the study areas. Part Two of the book is focused on the case study areas in City of Sydney East area: Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross. Part Three covers case study areas in Sydney's Inner South area: Chippendale, Redfern and Waterloo District. Part Four surveys the Inner West suburb of Erskineville. Part Five looks at the City West area, including the Haymarket District and the Pyrmont and Ultimo District. Part Six concentrates on the North West area suburb of Glebe. Part Seven of the book looks at the growth area of South Sydney District, which includes the suburbs of Beaconsfield, Zetland and the new localities of Victoria Park and Green Square. The authors recount lessons learned and outline directions of planning for sustainable neighborhoods. Finally, the authors challenge readers to apply the lessons of these case studies to further advances in sustainable urban planning.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319175726
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 236
Book Description
This book examines the planning and implementation of policies to create sustainable neighborhoods, using as a case study the City of Sydney. The authors ask whether many past planning and development practices were appropriate to the ways that communities then functioned, and what lessons we have learned. The aim is to illustrate the many variations within a city and from neighborhood to neighborhood regarding renewal (rehabilitation), redevelopment (replacement) and new development. Case study examples of nine City of Sydney neighborhoods note the different histories of planning and development in each. Features of the studies include literature searches, field work (with photography), and analysis. The authors propose a set of sustainability principles which incorporate elements of the twenty seven principles of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Part One explores sustainable urban planning, and the importance of planning tools that enable best planning outcomes for communities and investors. Common factors in the nine case study neighborhoods are renewal, redevelopment and development pressures affecting Sydney from the 1970s to 2014. Also discussed are the differing circumstances of planning faced by authorities, developers and communities in each of the study areas. Part Two of the book is focused on the case study areas in City of Sydney East area: Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross. Part Three covers case study areas in Sydney's Inner South area: Chippendale, Redfern and Waterloo District. Part Four surveys the Inner West suburb of Erskineville. Part Five looks at the City West area, including the Haymarket District and the Pyrmont and Ultimo District. Part Six concentrates on the North West area suburb of Glebe. Part Seven of the book looks at the growth area of South Sydney District, which includes the suburbs of Beaconsfield, Zetland and the new localities of Victoria Park and Green Square. The authors recount lessons learned and outline directions of planning for sustainable neighborhoods. Finally, the authors challenge readers to apply the lessons of these case studies to further advances in sustainable urban planning.
Urban Eco-Communities in Australia
Author: Liam Cooper
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811311684
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 228
Book Description
This book offers one of the first detailed anthropological studies of emergent ecotopianism in urban contexts. Engaging directly with debates on urbanisation, sustainability and utopia, it presents two detailed ethnographic case studies of inner urban Australian eco-communities in Adelaide and Melbourne. These novel responses to the ecological crisis – real social laboratories that attempt to manifest a vision of the ‘eco-city’ in microcosm – offer substantial new insights into the concept and creation of sustainable urban communities, their attempts to cultivate ways of living that are socially and ecologically nourishing, and their often fraught relationship to the capitalist city beyond. These studies also suggest the opportunities and limitations of moving beyond demonstration projects towards wider urban transformation, as well as exposing the problems of accessibility and affordability that thwart further urban eco-interventions and the ways that existing projects can exacerbate issues of gentrification and privilege in a socially polarised city. Amidst the challenges of the capitalist city, climate change and ecological crisis, this book offers vital lessons on the potential of urban sustainability in future cities.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811311684
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 228
Book Description
This book offers one of the first detailed anthropological studies of emergent ecotopianism in urban contexts. Engaging directly with debates on urbanisation, sustainability and utopia, it presents two detailed ethnographic case studies of inner urban Australian eco-communities in Adelaide and Melbourne. These novel responses to the ecological crisis – real social laboratories that attempt to manifest a vision of the ‘eco-city’ in microcosm – offer substantial new insights into the concept and creation of sustainable urban communities, their attempts to cultivate ways of living that are socially and ecologically nourishing, and their often fraught relationship to the capitalist city beyond. These studies also suggest the opportunities and limitations of moving beyond demonstration projects towards wider urban transformation, as well as exposing the problems of accessibility and affordability that thwart further urban eco-interventions and the ways that existing projects can exacerbate issues of gentrification and privilege in a socially polarised city. Amidst the challenges of the capitalist city, climate change and ecological crisis, this book offers vital lessons on the potential of urban sustainability in future cities.
Sustainable Communities: A Framework for Planning
Author: Raymond Charles Rauscher
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400775091
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
This book is in part a response to the attempts of governments to address increasing concerns over such environmental issues as the impact of climate change; carbon emissions; pressures from overpopulation of cities; coal seam gas extraction and depleting natural resources. The authors have developed a Sustainable Communities Framework (SCF) which incorporates social-cultural, environmental and economic sustainability principles in the process of urban planning. The authors propose a five-step SCF built on an application of sustainability tables. The book examines a wide range of urban planning practices utilizing sustainability criteria, outlining both qualitative and quantitative tools. Separate chapters discuss application of the SCF to both the natural environment and the built environment. This framework is applied to a case study of the outer Sydney growth area of Wyong Shire, Central Coast, NSW, Australia. Addressing the question of how best to measure the environment, the authors present a table for selecting indicators of sustainability, and outline sustainability scorecards which use color-coded ratings of green, red and amber to measure indicators of sustainability. The authors show how aggregating these ratings allows the framework to be scaled up for application to larger areas. Finally, the authors show how scorecards can be incorporated in sustainability reports, with actions and monitoring components. The authors also examine urban planning education including land use planning, natural resource planning and sustainable urban planning, focusing on the extent to which schools incorporate principles of sustainability. The authors offer their critique on the movement of planning practices towards a more coordinated and holistic framework, in incorporating sustainability principles. Sustainable Communities: A Framework for Planning concludes by drawing a future scenario on the application of the SCF to incorporate principles of sustainability into urban planning. The authors propose future options for SCF applications, including adopting a systems program; environmental performance monitoring and showing how the framework will accommodate the social-cultural and economic components of sustainability, in addition to the environmental ones as examined in the case study.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400775091
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
This book is in part a response to the attempts of governments to address increasing concerns over such environmental issues as the impact of climate change; carbon emissions; pressures from overpopulation of cities; coal seam gas extraction and depleting natural resources. The authors have developed a Sustainable Communities Framework (SCF) which incorporates social-cultural, environmental and economic sustainability principles in the process of urban planning. The authors propose a five-step SCF built on an application of sustainability tables. The book examines a wide range of urban planning practices utilizing sustainability criteria, outlining both qualitative and quantitative tools. Separate chapters discuss application of the SCF to both the natural environment and the built environment. This framework is applied to a case study of the outer Sydney growth area of Wyong Shire, Central Coast, NSW, Australia. Addressing the question of how best to measure the environment, the authors present a table for selecting indicators of sustainability, and outline sustainability scorecards which use color-coded ratings of green, red and amber to measure indicators of sustainability. The authors show how aggregating these ratings allows the framework to be scaled up for application to larger areas. Finally, the authors show how scorecards can be incorporated in sustainability reports, with actions and monitoring components. The authors also examine urban planning education including land use planning, natural resource planning and sustainable urban planning, focusing on the extent to which schools incorporate principles of sustainability. The authors offer their critique on the movement of planning practices towards a more coordinated and holistic framework, in incorporating sustainability principles. Sustainable Communities: A Framework for Planning concludes by drawing a future scenario on the application of the SCF to incorporate principles of sustainability into urban planning. The authors propose future options for SCF applications, including adopting a systems program; environmental performance monitoring and showing how the framework will accommodate the social-cultural and economic components of sustainability, in addition to the environmental ones as examined in the case study.
Sustainable Communities
Author: Hugh Barton
Publisher: Earthscan
ISBN: 9781853835131
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 332
Book Description
First Published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Publisher: Earthscan
ISBN: 9781853835131
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 332
Book Description
First Published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Cities in Global Transition
Author: Raymond Charles Rauscher
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319398652
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 380
Book Description
This book examines the planning of cities in global transition, looking at Australia’s Greater Sydney as a case example. The focus is on metropolitan districts (groups of municipalities) within the Greater Sydney region. The subjects of global transition and sustainable urban planning (SUP) are introduced in Chapter 1. How Greater Sydney approaches planning of its region and its districts is then outlined in Chapter 2. In this chapter, three case study districts are selected for critiquing planning in the face of population and new development changes. The districts, beyond the City of Sydney, are: Sydney Inner West, Greater Parramatta and St George. The book further outlines a methodology to assess planning practices within each of the municipalities (twelve case study municipalities in all within the three districts). Included here are State planning principles applying to Greater Sydney, with key principals selected to apply to the case study municipalities and to each district as a unit.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319398652
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 380
Book Description
This book examines the planning of cities in global transition, looking at Australia’s Greater Sydney as a case example. The focus is on metropolitan districts (groups of municipalities) within the Greater Sydney region. The subjects of global transition and sustainable urban planning (SUP) are introduced in Chapter 1. How Greater Sydney approaches planning of its region and its districts is then outlined in Chapter 2. In this chapter, three case study districts are selected for critiquing planning in the face of population and new development changes. The districts, beyond the City of Sydney, are: Sydney Inner West, Greater Parramatta and St George. The book further outlines a methodology to assess planning practices within each of the municipalities (twelve case study municipalities in all within the three districts). Included here are State planning principles applying to Greater Sydney, with key principals selected to apply to the case study municipalities and to each district as a unit.
A Research Agenda for Sustainable Cities and Communities
Author: Kes McCormick
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 1800372035
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 267
Book Description
Global in its outlook, this Research Agenda systematically reviews and critiques existing research on sustainable cities, calling for greater engagement with a diversity of perspectives. It interrogates foundational assumptions in the field and offers reframed perspectives on sustainability. Chapters also explore diverse approaches, actors and domains, locating emerging dynamics and new directions for practitioners.
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 1800372035
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 267
Book Description
Global in its outlook, this Research Agenda systematically reviews and critiques existing research on sustainable cities, calling for greater engagement with a diversity of perspectives. It interrogates foundational assumptions in the field and offers reframed perspectives on sustainability. Chapters also explore diverse approaches, actors and domains, locating emerging dynamics and new directions for practitioners.
Sustainable Neighbourhoods for Ageing in Place
Author: Nestor Asiamah
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031415949
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 246
Book Description
This timely book provides an understanding of how an ageing population can maintain health in the ageing process in their preferred homes and neighbourhoods while coping with global crises of climate change events, infectious diseases, systemic violence, and radical or extreme industrialisation. It is the first-known volume to consider the four crises as health and social threats to healthy longevity from a sustainability perspective. The book is a collection of commentaries, theoretical frameworks, case studies, and empirical evidence that: (1) provides an analysis of how the crises affect neighbourhood attributes and the ability of residents to use them to maintain health while living in their preferred neighbourhoods, and (2) suggests potential interventions for enabling residents to utilise these attributes for health while living at home in contexts experiencing the crises. Contributions are authored by scholars and practitioners from various disciplines including public health, health care, architecture, engineering, human resources development, information technology, and finance. Among the topics covered: The Impact of Crises on Older Adults’ Health and Function: An Intergenerational Perspective A Behavioural Approach to Sustainable Neighbourhoods: A Philosophical Construction of a Friendly Neighbourhood Assistive Technologies for Ageing in Place: A Theoretical Proposition of Human Development Postulates “Sustainable Ageing” in a World of Crises Sustainable Neighbourhoods for Ageing in Place: An Interdisciplinary Voice Against Global Crises serves as both a primary and secondary text particularly suited for post-graduate level study (e.g., MSc, PhD). Each chapter richly describes events, phenomena and models in a way that fits contemporary curricula for students and instructors in sociology, gerontology, architecture, environmental science studies, sustainability, ageing studies, and public health. Researchers in a broad range of disciplines can use the book as a research guide to design their studies based on models and insights described in its contents. With theoretical frameworks and recommendations from this book, stakeholders can understand what a sustainable neighbourhood is in the context of crises by presenting problems and solutions from different countries and disciplines.
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031415949
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 246
Book Description
This timely book provides an understanding of how an ageing population can maintain health in the ageing process in their preferred homes and neighbourhoods while coping with global crises of climate change events, infectious diseases, systemic violence, and radical or extreme industrialisation. It is the first-known volume to consider the four crises as health and social threats to healthy longevity from a sustainability perspective. The book is a collection of commentaries, theoretical frameworks, case studies, and empirical evidence that: (1) provides an analysis of how the crises affect neighbourhood attributes and the ability of residents to use them to maintain health while living in their preferred neighbourhoods, and (2) suggests potential interventions for enabling residents to utilise these attributes for health while living at home in contexts experiencing the crises. Contributions are authored by scholars and practitioners from various disciplines including public health, health care, architecture, engineering, human resources development, information technology, and finance. Among the topics covered: The Impact of Crises on Older Adults’ Health and Function: An Intergenerational Perspective A Behavioural Approach to Sustainable Neighbourhoods: A Philosophical Construction of a Friendly Neighbourhood Assistive Technologies for Ageing in Place: A Theoretical Proposition of Human Development Postulates “Sustainable Ageing” in a World of Crises Sustainable Neighbourhoods for Ageing in Place: An Interdisciplinary Voice Against Global Crises serves as both a primary and secondary text particularly suited for post-graduate level study (e.g., MSc, PhD). Each chapter richly describes events, phenomena and models in a way that fits contemporary curricula for students and instructors in sociology, gerontology, architecture, environmental science studies, sustainability, ageing studies, and public health. Researchers in a broad range of disciplines can use the book as a research guide to design their studies based on models and insights described in its contents. With theoretical frameworks and recommendations from this book, stakeholders can understand what a sustainable neighbourhood is in the context of crises by presenting problems and solutions from different countries and disciplines.
Experiencing Climate Change in Bangladesh
Author: Salim Momtaz
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 012803422X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 178
Book Description
Experiencing Climate Change in Bangladesh: Vulnerability and Adaptation in Coastal Regions provides a conceptual and empirical framework for understanding the vulnerability of coastal communities in Bangladesh to multiple stressors and presents the process by which rural households adapt their livelihoods. The livelihoods of the poor people in many developing countries are disproportionately vulnerable to multiple shocks and stresses. The effects of climate change interacting with these livelihood disturbances further amplify human vulnerability. Future climate change is likely to aggravate this precarious situation. This book offers a solid framework for analyzing the process and components of adaptation of rural livelihoods to a changing hydro-climatic environment and presents empirical evidence of livelihood adaptation at the local level. The book creates a knowledge-base for the small island developing states (SIDS) experiencing similar socio-economic and climatic conditions. Also fills a market need by providing a conceptual framework, case studies, and reflections on lessons learned from policy responses for vulnerability reduction and adaptation to climate variability, extremes, and change. - Presents an analyses-based adaptation to climate change in a holistic way that takes into account social, economic, and environmental stressors and their interrelationships - Examines synergy between disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and social protection in the context of Bangladesh - Provides examples of successes and failures in climate change adaptation invaluable for developing countries in similar situations - Fills a market need by providing a conceptual framework, case studies, and reflections on lessons learned from policy responses
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 012803422X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 178
Book Description
Experiencing Climate Change in Bangladesh: Vulnerability and Adaptation in Coastal Regions provides a conceptual and empirical framework for understanding the vulnerability of coastal communities in Bangladesh to multiple stressors and presents the process by which rural households adapt their livelihoods. The livelihoods of the poor people in many developing countries are disproportionately vulnerable to multiple shocks and stresses. The effects of climate change interacting with these livelihood disturbances further amplify human vulnerability. Future climate change is likely to aggravate this precarious situation. This book offers a solid framework for analyzing the process and components of adaptation of rural livelihoods to a changing hydro-climatic environment and presents empirical evidence of livelihood adaptation at the local level. The book creates a knowledge-base for the small island developing states (SIDS) experiencing similar socio-economic and climatic conditions. Also fills a market need by providing a conceptual framework, case studies, and reflections on lessons learned from policy responses for vulnerability reduction and adaptation to climate variability, extremes, and change. - Presents an analyses-based adaptation to climate change in a holistic way that takes into account social, economic, and environmental stressors and their interrelationships - Examines synergy between disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and social protection in the context of Bangladesh - Provides examples of successes and failures in climate change adaptation invaluable for developing countries in similar situations - Fills a market need by providing a conceptual framework, case studies, and reflections on lessons learned from policy responses
Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies
Author: Martin Abraham
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0128047925
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2276
Book Description
Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies, Eight Volume Set provides an authoritative assessment of the sustainable technologies that are currently available or in development. Sustainable technology includes the scientific understanding, development and application of a wide range of technologies and processes and their environmental implications. Systems and lifecycle analyses of energy systems, environmental management, agriculture, manufacturing and digital technologies provide a comprehensive method for understanding the full sustainability of processes. In addition, the development of clean processes through green chemistry and engineering techniques are also described. The book is the first multi-volume reference work to employ both Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approaches to assessing the wide range of technologies available and their impact upon the world. Both approaches are long established and widely recognized, playing a key role in the organizing principles of this valuable work. Provides readers with a one-stop guide to the most current research in the field Presents a grounding of the fundamentals of the field of sustainable technologies Written by international leaders in the field, offering comprehensive coverage of the field and a consistent, high-quality scientific standard Includes the Life Cycle Analysis and Triple Bottom Line approaches to help users understand and assess sustainable technologies
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0128047925
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2276
Book Description
Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies, Eight Volume Set provides an authoritative assessment of the sustainable technologies that are currently available or in development. Sustainable technology includes the scientific understanding, development and application of a wide range of technologies and processes and their environmental implications. Systems and lifecycle analyses of energy systems, environmental management, agriculture, manufacturing and digital technologies provide a comprehensive method for understanding the full sustainability of processes. In addition, the development of clean processes through green chemistry and engineering techniques are also described. The book is the first multi-volume reference work to employ both Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approaches to assessing the wide range of technologies available and their impact upon the world. Both approaches are long established and widely recognized, playing a key role in the organizing principles of this valuable work. Provides readers with a one-stop guide to the most current research in the field Presents a grounding of the fundamentals of the field of sustainable technologies Written by international leaders in the field, offering comprehensive coverage of the field and a consistent, high-quality scientific standard Includes the Life Cycle Analysis and Triple Bottom Line approaches to help users understand and assess sustainable technologies
Instruments of Planning
Author: Rebecca Leshinsky
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317607872
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 268
Book Description
Instruments of Planning: Tensions and Challenges for more Equitable and Sustainable Cities critically explores planning’s instrumentality to deliver important social and environmental outcomes in neoliberal planning landscapes. Because each instrument is unique and may be tailored to its own jurisdictional needs, Instruments of Planning is a compendium of case studies from urban regions in Australia, Canada, the United States and Europe, providing readers with a collection that critically challenges the role and potential of planning instruments and instrumentality across a range of contexts. Instruments of Planning captures the political, institutional, and economic challenges that confront planning. It examines planning instruments designed to assist with strategic planning and implementation, and considers the role that technology plays in unpacking and understanding complexity in planning. Written by Rebecca Leshinsky and Crystal Legacy of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, this book fills the gap in planning theory about the instrumentality of planning in the neoliberal urban context. It is essential reading for students, urban researchers, policy analysts and planning practitioners.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317607872
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 268
Book Description
Instruments of Planning: Tensions and Challenges for more Equitable and Sustainable Cities critically explores planning’s instrumentality to deliver important social and environmental outcomes in neoliberal planning landscapes. Because each instrument is unique and may be tailored to its own jurisdictional needs, Instruments of Planning is a compendium of case studies from urban regions in Australia, Canada, the United States and Europe, providing readers with a collection that critically challenges the role and potential of planning instruments and instrumentality across a range of contexts. Instruments of Planning captures the political, institutional, and economic challenges that confront planning. It examines planning instruments designed to assist with strategic planning and implementation, and considers the role that technology plays in unpacking and understanding complexity in planning. Written by Rebecca Leshinsky and Crystal Legacy of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, this book fills the gap in planning theory about the instrumentality of planning in the neoliberal urban context. It is essential reading for students, urban researchers, policy analysts and planning practitioners.