With more than half of the world’s 7 billion people already living in cities – and another 3 billion expected to join them over the next 40 years – ensuring a good quality of life has become one of the most pressing concerns of civil engineers working in the urban design and planning sector.
‘Quality of urban life has become a central issue for those who plan and study cities,’ says Professor Derya Oktay in a special issue (165 DP3) of the ICE Urban Design and Planning journal on the subject.
Sustainable developments
According to Oktay, growing pressures on urban communities, concerns about the impacts of urbanisation and the effects of this on the wellbeing of residents mean that the concept of quality of life is now a key element of responsible urban design and planning.
‘The concept of quality of life has also been linked to sustainable development, such that unless we engage with more sustainable practices, the quality of urban life will deteriorate,' she adds.
Topics of papers in the issue include 21st century suburbs, the effects of privatised development, a review of good cities and healthy communities in the USA, the rejuvenation of Liverpool, open space provision in Israel, and an analysis of happiness levels in Berlin, London, New York, Paris and Toronto.
For more information, please contact the ICE Proceedings editor Simon Fullalove on +44 20 7665 2448 or at editor@ice.org.uk.