PLAN 9063 Strategic Planning and Design

Assignment 1

Annotated Bibliography

3 May 2019

SID: 4802227861

Unit Coordinator: Dr Adrienne F Keane

School of Architecture, design and planning

University of Sydney
Mees P (2009). How Dense are We? Another Look at Urban Density and Transport
Patterns in Australia, Canada and the USA. Road and Transport Research, 18(4), pp
58–67.

In this paper, Mees studies the the relationship between urban densities and transport
modes in Canada, Australia and the USA, and recommendations for transport policies
are provided according to the findings. The author uses the data of main cities of each
country collected from each country’s Census to find out whether the structure of
methods of travel to work is highly connected to urban density and then if it is practical
to increase urban density to achieve a more sustainable form of urban area. The paper
is comparing the usage rate of main transport methods of travel to work adopted in
major cities in the three countries including private cars and public transport. The paper
is useful in terms of revealing the fact that there is no necessary connection between
the density of urban area and the transport patterns. The major limitation of the paper
is the data of three countries is not calculated on a same basis, which make the
outcome not consistent with reality. Thus as the author claims that during the process
of strategic urban planning, whether to increase urban density is what decision makers
need to rethink.
Kenworthy, J.R., (2006) The eco-city: ten key transport and planning dimensions for
sustainable city development. Environment and Urbanization. Vol 18(10), pp67-85.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0956247806063947

In this article, Kenworthy describes the ten core planning, design and transport-
oriented dimensions that might help realise a more ecological and sustainable urban
development model. These key factors mainly aim to address the environmental
problems caused by the effects of urban development and the according transport
growth, which are concluded from the author’s observations and the comparison
studies of world major cities done by the author. The findings of this paper are highly
applicable and relevant to cities of wealthier countries or developed cities in the fast-
developing countries. This article forms a useful framework with each factor closely
related with each other could provide urban planner and relevant stakeholders such
as communities and authorities a framework to follow when making strategic
planning decisions. As the author claims that the ten dimensions could not address
each issue occurs in the high density urban context. This paper emphasises the
importance of the ten critical aspects that without coping with these factors,
ecological, sustainable developing model could not realised.
Transport for NSW , 2008, ‘Future Transport Strategy 2056’. Retrieved May 3, 2019
from https://future.transport.nsw.gov.au/

This document of Future Transport 2057 is an overarching strategy and macro

planning of development of transport system in New South Wales during the period
of year 2008 to 2056. The document aims to guide the following transport relevant
planning in a changing context and helps to react and address issues when they
occur. It provides a series of strategic directions and visions that covers various
aspects and engages with customers of each department ranging from communities
to industries. It is a macro scale planning which might be overgeneralised to adapt
some extreme situation. It is overall a necessary planning in terms of cope with the
transport system in a regional scale of the state of New South Wales, which could
improve the overall connection and quality of the system.
In general, these three articles study the urban traffic system from a macro scale.
The first paper studies the relationship between the proportion of vehicles used and
the density of the corresponding transport infrastructure and the population density in
urban areas. The conclusion is that high density cities do not mean sustainable
development in terms of higher rate of usage of public transportation. The second
paper looks at the key factors related to sustainable development in the
transportation system from a relatively broader perspective. Compared with the
former, it involves more factors affecting the sustainable development of urban
transportation, including decision-making, urban design, technology and innovation,
and natural environment. The third government document from a higher level of
government management to propose a framework to improve the overall
environment of the regional transport system. In terms of Future Transport Strategy
2056, it is more general and covers the strategic planning of non-physical space, that
is, economic improvement.

These three articles are obviously studies on different spatial scales from small to
large with appropriate research strategies. To be specific, the relevant strategic
planning means are also different. The first article studies the relationship between
commuter traffic and urban density based on the study of definition of urban built-up
area, which expresses the strategic idea of how to define urban space. The second
one proposes a systematic strategic planning method, that is, each element effects
each other and should be coped as a whole, otherwise the sustainability
development cannot be achieved. The final article combines spatial planning with
non-physical spatial development planning on a larger political, economic and social
level.