Zhenjiang Shen

An online visualization tool for Internet-based local townscape design

In recent years, designers have used various types of spatial multimedia, including text, video, photographs, virtual reality (VR) and WebGIS, to allow for Internet-based participation in planning. For planning in Japan, we developed a visualization tool to attain consensus on townscape design within local planning committees. Participants can select design elements to visualize different alternatives in real time, and experience dynamic scenes of generated virtual townscapes in the VRML world. In our case study, this visualization tool were successful in sharing a common image, and participants were motivated to become involved in deliberation on various aspects of planning and design during committee meetings. However, we found that it is difficult for stakeholders to reach consensus on privately owned properties: they feel apprehensive in local open planning committees. Otherwise, participants had to check the discussion results by reviewing the chat history; audio devices and web cameras are better for online deliberation. A knowledge-based database system, combining similar design experiences from other regions, will be beneficial.

An urban containment planning support system for Beijing

Abstract Urban containment policies, including urban growth boundaries, urban service boundaries and greenbelts, have been extensively discussed worldwide for managing urban growth. This paper focuses on the issues associated with supporting an urban containment plan and its application in China using a planning support system. The background is that the urban containment plan has been enacted as a new component of the urban plan under the City Planning Law of the People’s Republic of China. In China, the accommodating or restrictive features are integrated as control factors (CFs), which include control indicators for land-use type control, urban activity control, building height control, as well as underground development control. This paper proposes an urban containment planning support system (UC-PSS) based on ArcGIS for automatically compiling the Beijing urban containment plan considering 60 control factors with various control indicators. The compiled plan was also applied for reviewing urban master and district detail plans in Beijing supported by the UC-PSS. The effectiveness of UC-PSS was comprehensively evaluated from the perspectives of planning compilation and planning review via interviewing urban containment planners (main users of the UC-PSS) in Beijing.

Geosimulation Model Using Geographic Automata for Simulating Land-Use Patterns in Urban Partitions

Cellular automata (CA) are an effective means of urban-growth simulation. Moreover, the development of a planning support system associated with the theory of artificial intelligence has recently become a new global challenge. In this paper we investigate a geosimulation model using CA based on the geographic information system (GIS) for visualising land-use patterns in urban partitions. Most recent simulation models using CA have been developed in regular grid nets or networks, where adjacent grids or networks in urban space are easily addressed. Our project explores how to utilise an irregular polygon dataset in a GIS database in order to deal with spatial microsimulation. A new concept used in this project takes into account the effects of urban planning, such as land-use zoning and street networks, at the level of parcels and blocks in urban space. Adjacent irregular parcels on both sides of a street are intended targets in the simulation. In this paper, a method of simulating land-use patterns in urban space after the implementation of land-readjustment projects is discussed.

Retrieving Spatial Policy Parameters from an Alternative Plan Using Constrained Cellular Automata and Regionalized Sensitivity Analysis

In this paper we propose an approach to identify the spatial policy parameters (termed the implementation intensity reflecting planning controls on corresponding spatial constraint) associated with a predefined alternative plan, namely, a predefined-binary urban form. During plan implementation, the alternative plan cannot be fully realized in some cases due to practical urban growth driven by both institutional forces and market incentives, which are comprehensive and complex. Few researchers have investigated spatial policies appropriate for an alternative plan. We aim to propose a novel approach incorporating constrained cellular automata and regionalized sensitivity analysis, a method for global sensitivity analysis to calculate the realization possibility and identify the spatial policy parameters for an alternative plan. This approach is first tested in a virtual space with four predefined urban forms and various point, line, and polygon spatial constraints, with both positive and negative impacts on urban growth. Finally, the approach is also tested in the Beijing Metropolitan Area to identify the required spatial policy parameters for four alternative plans with seven spatial constraints.

BUDEM: An urban growth simulation model using CA for Beijing metropolitan area

It is in great need of identifying the future urban form of Beijing, which faces challenges of rapid growth in urban development projects implemented in Beijing. We develop Beijing Urban Developing Model (BUDEM in short) to support urban planning and corresponding policies evaluation. BUDEM is the spatio-temporal dynamic model for simulating urban growth in Beijing metropolitan area, using cellular automata (CA) and Multi-agent system (MAS) approaches. In this phase, the computer simulation using CA in Beijing metropolitan area is conducted, which attempts to provide a premise of urban activities including different kinds of urban development projects for industrial plants, shopping facilities, houses. In the paper, concept model of BUDEM is introduced, which is established basing on prevalent urban growth theories. The method integrating logistic regression and MonoLoop is used to retrieve weights in the transition rule by MCE. After model sensibility analysis, we apply BUDEM into three aspects of urban planning practices: (1) Identifying urban growth mechanism in various historical phases since 1986; (2) Identifying urban growth policies needed to implement desired urban form (BEIJING2020), namely planned urban form; (3) Simulating urban growth scenarios of 2049 (BEIJING2049) basing on the urban form and parameter set of BEIJING2020.

Study on Visualization of Townscape Rules Using VRML for Public Involvement

Abstract The importance of a visualization tool to improve public participation is becoming increasingly recognized within the urban planning and design community. The effective application of such a visualization tool in this context, however, remains relatively under explored. Based on a case study in which townscape rules were drawn up as a result of consensus through the landscape improvement committee of Nanao city, Japan, this paper discusses the potential and limitations of a visualization tool in improving public involvement for the purpose of reaching consensus on townscape rules at a district level. In addition, this paper reveals the need for a knowledge–based database system linking with VRML objects for powering a visualization tool to provide necessary information to assist in decision–making.

A Planning Support System for Retrieving Planning Alternatives of Historical Conservation Areas from Spatial Data Using GIS

Urban conservation has drastically changed in theory, in practice, and even its basic definition, over the past 50 years. The definition of urban conservation is not limited to the scope of human society, which has continued to evolve since the 1931 Athens Charter. Historical towns and urban areas, as well as their natural landscapes and residential environments, are also included as subjects of urban conservation. In China, urban conservation is currently of interest to urban designers and city administrators, who are concerned with providing a historical urban identity as well as an authentic urban identity. The historical conservation areas in Beijing have become the most congested areas due to the lack of effective planning control and management, and these areas have gradually became warrens, which have been settled by numerous migrant laborers.

Geospatial Techniques in Urban Planning

Part 1: Geosimulation and land use plan.- Part 2: Geo Visualization and urban design.- Part 3: Geography information system and planning support.

Simulating Spatial Market Share Patterns for Impacts Analysis of Large-Scale Shopping Centers on Downtown Revitalization

The decline of the downtown has been observed in many cities across the world. In response, many small cities in Japan, for example, have been making regeneration efforts including development controls on large-scale shopping centers. It is extremely useful to analyze the potential effects of relevant planning policies before implementation. We developed an urban planning support tool, a multiagent simulation (MAS) model called Shopsim-MAS, to investigate the impacts of some downtown revitalization policies through consequent spatial dynamics of shop market shares. We discuss methods to model household behavior and to understand the market area dynamics of shops. The Shopsim-MAS model developed in this project has proven to be a useful means to analyze the impact of downtown revitalization policies in Japan. It is also expected to be further expanded for impact analysis of similar or more sophisticated urban policies in other parts of the world.

Urban growth simulation for Spatial Strategic Plan of Chuangdong area, China

The new contribution of this paper is that we proposed a Spatial Strategic Plan Support System (SSP-SS). This SSP-SS can integrate the planning works conducted by different planning departments into a same platform and hereby support decision-making of local government on urban development from the viewpoint of sustainable development.