Erasmus Mundus, 2013 – 2016
Yaman Hebbo

Trans-sectoral Urban Planning and the Possible Role of Transportation and Urban Mobility

The developing countries are projected to host most of the urban population. This will expand the gap between the municipal planning procedures and actual urban development. On another level, the gap will also increase between the desired quality of services needed and sustainability. Rapid planning, in this context, is a funded research project aiming at developing a scientific methodology to provide the developing cities with the capacity needed to stand up to the challenges addressed. It takes a strategic approach of integrating the interests and concerns of the stakeholders into the planning procedures to endure commitment, consistency and coherence in the municipal processes. It is bound, however, to the five sectors of energy supply, water, waste-water, waste management and urban agriculture.

Here, a chance for further research to expand the model, in order to cover transportation and urban mobility, is seen as very interesting. This could reflect a more responsive and achievable urban planning model in a timely manner. In the case cities of Assiut, Kigali and Da Nang, mobility patterns are going to be explored, analysed, compared and then integrated to the overall model of project. Finding synergies between mobility and other sectors regarding their spatial allocations and stakeholders is a goal. This is to help draw a model for urban transformation that addresses well the challenges of rapid urban growth.

The doctoral thesis is funded by EPIC Scholarships and Academic Cooperation Project under the Erasmus Mundus Program