Figure 5 - uploaded by Juan de Dios Ortúzar
Content may be subject to copyright.
Source publication
The harmonious development of cities is a key problem of our times. Is it possible to have sustainable urban areas that enhance rather than diminish the standard of living of their inhabitants? To better understand the issues behind this question, we begin by defining sustainability and the factors that should be associated with a sustainable urban...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... these values we may conclude that a bus is about 12 times more efficient than a car in terms of congestion (that is, as regards the use of scarce road space) in a city like Santiago. This is illustrated by the photo in Figure 5. Note also, that the capacity of an urban street is determined by its signalized intersections. ...
Similar publications
Highlights
What are the main findings? Effective Reduction of Bus Travel Times: The study’s proposed transit signal priority (TSP) control system that incorporates a priority factor (PF) significantly reduces average travel times for buses—17% in the arterial network and 25% in the grid network.
Mitigation of Conflicting Requests: The RL-based TSP...
Population growth and urban expansion in the Veracruz Metropolitan Area, which now has nearly one million inhabitants and continues to grow steadily, have led to deficiencies in the design of collective transportation routes. These routes have developed reactively and without adequate planning to meet current mobility needs, a challenge commonly fa...
Traffic signal control plays a pivotal role in intelligent transportation systems, directly affecting urban mobility, congestion mitigation, and environmental sustainability. As traffic networks become more dynamic and complex, traditional strategies such as fixed-time and actuated control increasingly fall short in addressing real-time variability...
Urban planning and development will continue to challenge many developed and developing cities in the world. Future urban development should be viewed as a creation of a critical ecosystem which relies heavily on the social , economic and environmental interaction. The aim of this paper is to propose the development of an urban planning tool with t...
Wrocław is the most congestion-challenged city in Poland. Improving the appeal of public transport over private car use could be an effective remedy for the city’s notorious congestion problems. This article evaluates public transport service quality in Wrocław from the passengers’ perspective. The quality assessment focused on two key areas: the q...
Citations
... Additionally, new mobility requirements emerged, where active modes of transport, strengthened public transport, accessibility, territorial planning, citizen participation, and governance work together to guarantee inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable mobility. The recurrence of sustainable and smart mobility evaluation models in developed countries and the concern for proper evaluation in developing countries were evident [67,68]. ...
... The four main dimensions are based on conventional sustainability pillars [42]. A governance dimension is added since it is essential to advance and sustain development over time [67], and it is usually relevant under the concept of "smart cities" [1]. ...
Dealing with the challenge of urban sustainability, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, requires a holistic approach to urban mobility planning. While numerous mobility assessment frameworks exist for developed regions, there remains a significant gap in methodologies adapted to Global South contexts because they do not incorporate governance dimensions and citizen perspectives. This research addresses this gap by developing and validating a comprehensive assessment framework that extends beyond the traditional sustainability triad to include governance aspects. Our research question explores how a hybrid evaluation approach combining objective measurements with subjective citizen perceptions can enhance mobility assessments in resource-constrained environments. The proposed model comprises four dimensions (environmental, social, economic, and governance), eight sub-dimensions, and thirty-six indicators, with weights assigned through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) by diverse mobility experts. The methodology was validated in two intermediate Colombian cities, demonstrating its applicability in contexts with limited availability of data. The results highlight gaps in mobility policies due to discrepancies between official measurements and citizen perceptions. This assessment framework offers a practical instrument for urban mobility decision-makers in Global South cities, enabling evidence-based prioritization while ensuring that citizen needs remain central to sustainable transportation planning.
... Sustainable urban mobility refers to the idea that cities should provide environmentally-friendly transportation options to their citizens that do not harm the environment or cause poor social impacts, such as poor air quality (Ortúzar, 2019). Hence, making cities sustainable involves "investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management in participatory and inclusive ways" (United Nations, 2015). ...
... 2. Theoretical background: Conceptualising sustainable urban mobility Sustainable urban mobility "refers to the use of means of transport that do not affect the environment and an approach to the planning of the development of urban areas with sustainability goals in mind" (Kovačić et al., 2022, p. 3). It is a complex, multi-dimensional phenomenon that does not appear to have satisfactory solutions (Ortúzar, 2019). Nevertheless, sustainable urban mobility is an important tool for city leaders to achieve sustainable development as it "helps to formulate medium-and longterm objectives that reconcile a collective vision with the rational organisation of the resources to achieve it" (Nikulina et al., 2019, p. 3). ...
... While hard initiatives refer to the physical environment (e.g., pedestrian infrastructure, rail network, road connectivity, air transport facilities, etc.), soft initiatives call for a modification of intangible components such as social networks, information and culture (Esposito et al., 2021). Indeed, viewed as a multifaceted problem, sustainable urban mobility is a hard-to-solve problem, with multiple, interdependent causes (Ortúzar, 2019), where disentangling "the dynamics of the visible city (material and tangible components like roads, buildings, etc.) ...
Drawing on configurational theorising, this paper explores the complex interdependencies between and among the drivers of sustainable urban mobility in the context of large cities. By using high social impact as a proxy for successful sustainable urban mobility initiatives, we reveal that multiple configurations of infrastructure, market attractiveness, systems efficiency, and innovation can lead to successful initiatives, and these configurations are markedly different from those that result in unsuccessful initiatives. Subsequently, we show that these configurations do not apply to the cities under investigation regardless of their income, thus augmenting the configurational approach with a contingency perspective. Theoretical, methodological and policy implications are discussed by developing propositions that map large cities along the tangible/intangible continuum of successful sustainable urban mobility initiatives, thus highlighting the interdependent nature of physical infrastructure, innovation ecosystems and social impact.
... At the international level, it is recognized that excessive dependence on individual vehicles, over-occupation of territories, and a large ecological footprint significantly impact sustainable urban mobility (Ortúzar, 2019). Consequently, Lam and Head (2012) discuss several strategies, including integrated urban planning and design, the expansion of ecological vehicles, the promotion of changes in habits, and the implementation of low CO₂ emission policies. ...
... According to Ortúzar (2019), the rise in congestion is a consequence of the increasing use of individual vehicles, which adversely affects public transportation. This situation is further exacerbated by population growth in segregated urban peripheral areas. ...
The significance of sustainable urban mobility has become increasingly apparent, emerging as a priority in addressing contemporary environmental challenges. Frequent congestion in major urban centers, coupled with pollution from combustion-based transportation, exacerbates global warming. These challenges necessitate a reevaluation of urban transport systems and the implementation of measures that foster more sustainable and equitable mobility. Such measures include the development of dedicated cycling infrastructure and the enhancement of public transportation to increase its appeal and efficacy. This study examines sustainable urban mobility solutions in Curitiba and Amsterdam through bibliographic and descriptive research. The findings indicate that a well-planned road system can significantly reduce travel time, enhance quality of life, and alleviate the stress associated with daily transportation. Moreover, public policies that promote the use of bicycles and electric vehicles are essential in advancing sustainable mobility. The study concludes that planning measures aligned with sustainability have positive impacts on traffic flow, population well-being, and the environment
... Bahía Blanca is a mid-sized Argentinian city, which has suffered an unplanned urban growth, generating higher levels of traffic in the city's downtown area due to the increased private car use, a situation known as induced traffic theory associated with urban sprawl (Ferrelli et al., 2016;Gayda & Lautso, 2007;Ortúzar, 2019). Regarding the city's economy, it is home to one of the most important Argentine ports, as well as a large industrial petrochemical complex. ...
The transport sector is considered the largest contributor of air pollutants in urban areas, mainly on-road vehicles, affecting the environment and human health. Bahía Blanca is a medium-sized Latin American city, with high levels of traffic in the downtown area during peak hours. In this regard, it is necessary to analyze air pollution using an air quality model considering that there are no air pollutant measurements in the central area. Furthermore, this type of study has not been carried out in the region and since the city is expected to grow, it is necessary to evaluate the current situation in order to make effective future decisions. In this sense, the AERMOD model (US-EPA version) and the RLINE source type were used in this work. This study analyzes the variations of pollutant concentrations coming from mobile sources in Bahía Blanca’s downtown area, particularly carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) during the period Jul-2020 to Jun-2022. It is interesting to note the results show the maximum concentration values detected are not directly associated with maximum levels of vehicle flow or emission rates, which highlights the importance of meteorological parameters in the modeling. In addition, alternative scenarios are proposed and analyzed from a sustainable approach. Regarding the scenario analysis, it can be concluded that diesel vehicles have a large influence on NOx emissions. Moreover, restrictions as strict as those proposed for a Low Emission Zone would be less applicable in the city than alternative temporary measures that modify traffic at peak hours.
... Las conclusiones se dividen en aspectos metodológicos y basados en casos de estudio. Desde el punto de vista metodológico, la institucionalidad es esencial para el enfoque de sostenibilidad social en el TNC, según Ortuzar [22]. La institucionalidad no solo permite aspirar a la sostenibilidad, sino que también impulsa dicha sostenibilidad al comprender cómo diversos actores ejercen su poder en la transformación urbana. ...
Son múltiples los ámbitos de innovación para transformar la movilidad urbana sostenible, pero esas transformaciones solo surgen de un complejo arreglo que resulta del ejercicio de poder, entre agentes y participantes en el marco del quehacer institucional. Este artículo tiene como objetivo identificar con un enfoque de Movilidad Urbana Socialmente Sostenible (MUSS) qué características deben procurar las instituciones durante ese arreglo, de tal forma
que los proyectos y políticas de movilidad urbana contribuyan a transformar los
sistemas urbanos en sistemas más sostenibles. El diseño metodológico se basa
en un análisis comparativo de los casos de las rectoras del transporte en dos países
del Triángulo Norte Centroamericano (TNC) durante el período de
implementación de sus proyectos, como el Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), utilizando
la técnica cualitativa de análisis de narrativa institucional. Dicho análisis se centra
en dos competencias vinculadas a la dimensión social de la sostenibilidad, a
saber, participación ciudadana e integración de la planificación del transporte y
los usos del suelo. El resultado es una propuesta metodológica de análisis
institucional desde el enfoque de la MUSS y la identificación de cuatro
características clave que actúan de manera interrelacionadas en las instituciones
para impulsar la movilidad socialmente sostenible.
... Additionally, this article supports the ideas of several authors [25][26][27][28], who argue that in the context of Global South countries, it is essential to incorporate a third category in the SSUM related to the inclusion of the political and institutional dimensions in order to achieve equitable mobility and build sustainable communities. ...
This article aims to address the lack of research on the social dimension of sustainability, also known as social sustainability, in urban mobility projects, primarily in cities of the Global South. It proposes a strategy to partially assess social sustainability, focusing on accessibility, which is one of the key dimensions for conducting such an evaluation. To this end, a comparative analysis of three study cases is conducted in the capital cities of the Northern Central American Triangle (NCAT) before and after the construction of bus rapid transit (BRT) projects between 2000 and 2020. Accessibility is evaluated through equity and spatial efficiency indicators obtained through geographical information system (GIS) modeling, including layers representing transportation networks, populated areas, and locations of basic urban facilities. The result is an unprecedented assessment of accessibility in the NCAT capitals, which shows how the Guatemala City BRT project has improved the city’s social sustainability by reducing access times to basic urban facilities, mainly public health clinics and educational facilities, and narrowing the inequality gap as compared to projects in San Salvador and Tegucigalpa, the other capital cities in the NCAT. Additionally, it is emphasized that this methodology can be replicated in the Global South while considering the scarcity of information and the use of open-source software in the process.
... The term human sustainability is also used in the literature to complement the classical sustainability dimensions. In this approach, social sustainability is split into human and social sustainability, with cultural sustainability sometimes being understood as part of the latter (Ortúzar, 2019). Thus, sustainability is divided into four distinct areas: human, social, economic and environmental. ...
... In a broader sense, social sustainability encompasses the world we live in, including communities and cultures. In other words, culture is seen as part of social sustainability (Ortúzar, 2019). The social pillar of sustainable development supports the creation and development of thriving communities with prosperous social relations and increased economic opportunities, while respecting the environment. ...
... While some research treats politics and local governance separately in the interpretation of sustainability (Zen et al., 2012), others (Burford et al., 2013;Ortúzar, 2019) include good governance in the fourth pillar, the political-institutional dimension. Burford et al. (2013) not only consider politics and governance as pillars of sustainability, but also identify culture as a separate dimension, as mentioned earlier, to create a five-dimensional model of sustainability. ...
In addition to the three dimensions of sustainability, environmental, social and economic, other aspects that have emerged in recent years in both literature and practice as requiring particular attention in achieving sustainability are culture, human capital, technology, industry and business, politics and good governance, and peace. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present these factors as well as multidimensional models of sustainability and ultimately to synthesize and integrate them into an eight-factor model of sustainability. Finally, it sets out a further line of research, focusing on how these dimensions affect the understanding and implementation of corporate sustainability.
... The term human sustainability is also used in the literature to complement the classical sustainability dimensions. In this approach, social sustainability is split into human and social sustainability, with cultural sustainability sometimes being understood as part of the latter (Ortúzar, 2019). Thus, sustainability is divided into four distinct areas: human, social, economic and environmental. ...
... In a broader sense, social sustainability encompasses the world we live in, including communities and cultures. In other words, culture is seen as part of social sustainability (Ortúzar, 2019). The social pillar of sustainable development supports the creation and development of thriving communities with prosperous social relations and increased economic opportunities, while respecting the environment. ...
... While some research treats politics and local governance separately in the interpretation of sustainability (Zen et al., 2012), others (Burford et al., 2013;Ortúzar, 2019) include good governance in the fourth pillar, the political-institutional dimension. Burford et al. (2013) not only consider politics and governance as pillars of sustainability, but also identify culture as a separate dimension, as mentioned earlier, to create a five-dimensional model of sustainability. ...
In addition to the three classical dimensions of sustainability, environmental, social and economic other aspects have emerged in recent years in both literature and practice such as culture, human capital, technology, industry and business, politics and good governance, and peace. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present these factors as well as multidimensional models of sustainability, which fit perfectly with the classical model of sustainability, they merely complement and fine-tune it. Ultimately, this study synthesises and integrates these into an eight-factor model of sustainability. Finally, it sets out a further line of research, focusing on how these dimensions affect the understanding and implementation of corporate sustainability.
... Sometimes, a city-wide approach will demand the creation of new institutions in charge of dealing with essential services such as transport. In those circumstances, a combination of technical knowledge with political wisdom capable of defining short, medium and long term goals will be necessary (Ortúzar 2019). Good examples exist in the region of this perspective (the Colombian case is noteworthy), while bad ones might shed light on what not to do. ...
Building on the previous chapter by WP1 on EEG
conceptualizations and taking these perspectives as our
departure for research, WP2 will draw points of action
related to the interlinkage mechanisms for policy and research
interfaces in the urban planning domain, focussing on
research-policy interlinkage practices and challenges from the
research side. In particular, the study explores the structures
for the interactions between researchers and policymakers
in urban decision-making processes. It revises the actors’
constellations involved in global development institutional
mechanisms and the researchers’ role through urban policy/
programme interventions.
... To achieve more sustainable urban mobility, transport operators and decision-makers need to be careful when implementing travel services [32]. Further research is necessary to examine the response to demand for sustainable travel development [33], which will help to reduce the gap between the current service levels and levels required to encourage users toward sustainable modes [34]. ...
Transport service provision in many urban areas is dominated by car users, resulting in several traffic externality issues (e.g., noise, pollution, accidents). This paper investigates the perception and satisfaction of private vehicle (PV) users, including micro-mobility users, during their commute by car in an Eastern European country context. The study used empirical data from a sample of 500 commuters in Budapest, Hungary, between October and November 2020. To achieve a deeper understanding of the motivation and explore the perception of PV users towards using sustainable transport services. For analysis in this study, descriptive statistics and segmentation techniques were applied. The key findings indicate that PV users can be attracted to using sustainable transport by designing the travel service quality to provide the level of service desired by customers. Moreover, the majority (73%) of PV commuters were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality attributes of the car service, assessed on a scale of 1 to 5; at the same time, PV users agreed that using public transport helps towards improving the environment and serves to reduce problems derived from traffic. In addition, various elements influence transport choice; for example, results from ordered logit models (OLMs) indicate that security, relaxation, flexibility and comfort are the main significant attributes influencing PV users’ overall satisfaction with cars. The results suggest the necessity for a segmentation technique in the analysis of travel attitudes and satisfaction aimed at reducing the frequency of existing car use to enhance sustainable transportation.
