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The Challenge of Social Vulnerability Assessment in the Context of Land Use Changes for Sustainable Urban Planning—Case Studies: Developing Cities in Romania

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  • Camelia Sabina Botezan

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, 30 Fântânele St., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Andrei Radovici

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, 30 Fântânele St., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Iulia Ajtai

    (Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, 30 Fântânele St., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

Urban growth triggers massive changes in land use cover, exacerbating extreme natural and technological events. In order for land use planning to be efficient, it requires the integration of comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessment. This paper aims to create a bridge between the existing vulnerability theories and their implementation in land use planning policies and proposes an innovative approach to determine whether the changes in the territorial dynamics of cities draw considerable changes in communities’ social vulnerability. The methodology identifies and selects three case studies from the Urban Atlas inventory, representative of the dynamics of large Romanian cities, taking into consideration the following hazards: earthquakes, floods, and technological hazards. Vulnerability was then assessed by assigning each land use class a specific vulnerability level. The methodology involved assessing the level of vulnerability specific to the situation in 2018 compared to 2006. The results showed that major changes in land use are related to the transition of areas with a low level of vulnerability to areas with a higher level of vulnerability as a result of the urban areas expansion to the detriment of natural and agricultural areas. This is generally translated into a higher degree of vulnerability due to an increased density of artificial elements and of population in the residential areas. The findings of the study of territorial dynamics in the proximity of large industrial operators did not reveal a tendency that differed from the general trend. Although many territorial changes have been observed in the period 2006–2018, it is necessary to extend the analysis, with the issue of the new versions of the Urban Atlas, to confirm the identified trends and to express the up-to-date situation.

Suggested Citation

  • Camelia Sabina Botezan & Andrei Radovici & Iulia Ajtai, 2021. "The Challenge of Social Vulnerability Assessment in the Context of Land Use Changes for Sustainable Urban Planning—Case Studies: Developing Cities in Romania," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-26, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2021:i:1:p:17-:d:708972
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajtai, Nicolae & Stefanie, Horatiu & Botezan, Camelia & Ozunu, Alexandru & Radovici, Andrei & Dumitrache, Rodica & Iriza-Burcă, Amalia & Diamandi, Andrei & Hirtl, Marcus, 2020. "Support tools for land use policies based on high resolution regional air quality modelling," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    2. José Manuel Naranjo Gómez & Sérgio Lousada & Jacinto Garrido Velarde & Rui Alexandre Castanho & Luís Loures, 2020. "Land-Use Changes in the Canary Archipelago Using the CORINE Data: A Retrospective Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-15, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Felipe Teixeira Dias & Gisele Mazon & Priscila Cembranel & Robert Birch & José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra, 2022. "Land Use and Global Environmental Change: An Analytical Proposal Based on A Systematic Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Xue Tian & Xinyu Ma & Maowei Huang & Yiting Guo & Hongfei Yang & Liusheng Yang & Hui Chen & Ruoyun Gao & Jian Li & Yongming Lin, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Dynamic Characteristics of Land Use in the Typical Watershed of Wenchuan Earthquake-Affected Areas—A Case Study in the Longxi River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Spyridoula Kakia & Georgia Pozoukidou & Dimitra G. Vagiona, 2023. "Providing an Integrated Vulnerability Assessment Indicator System (VAIS) to Measure the Spatial Vulnerability of Areas near Seveso Establishments in Thessaloniki (Greece)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.

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