The role of economic clusters in improving urban planning support
Abstract of dissertation to obtain the degree of doctor at Utrecht University, on the authority of the rector magnificus, prof. dr. Hans Stoof on account of the decision of the graduation committee, to be publicly defended on Tuesday 13 April 2010 at 10.30 hrs at Utrecht University in the Academiegebouw, Domplein 29, The Netherlands by Zhenshan Yang.
Source: www.nipic.com
Realising an integrated approach of economic and spatial developments is an important issue in urban policy analysis and design. As Eccconomic Clusters (ECs) become an important issue in contemporary urban development in both economic and spatial practices, the research addresses the potential role of ECs in improving urban planning support. Specifically, the aim of this PhD research is to explore the roles of ECs in strengthening the analytical and monitoring the ability of urban planning through better accommodating urban economic dynamics.
The aim is examined by three research questions, respectively on conceptual, practical and instrumental aspects. The research includes an empirical study of Beijing analysing the evolution of ECs in both economic and geographical spaces and the relationship between cluster developments and urban growth.
Theoretical explorations conceptually show the value of incorporating ECs into models of urban planning processes by providing fine tuning between economic and spatial developments. Theoretical analysis also indicates the need for an empirical approach to address the nature of EC development in economic space (functional clusters) and in geographical space (spatial clusters).
With the case study of Beijing, elements of a practical implementation of ECs in urban planning practice are developed and assessed, which includes identifying functional and spatial clusters and examining their developments in relation to urban growth and change. Based on input-output tables, statistical analysis derives functional clusters, answering the question of ‘what are clusters?’ Correspondingly, spatial statistics techniques addresses the issue of ‘where are clusters?’ by detecting spatial clusters of functionally related economic activities and their patterns in the city. Further, planning analysis is implemented with concerns of urban spatial growth, transportation and housing. The major empirical findings are: ECs are a key driver and closely related to current urban economic-spatial dynamics; the cluster pattern changes indicate that Beijing’s urban structure is physically evolving towards polycentrism, functionally the city region is still predominantly mono-centric, which challenges the current urban plans. Accordingly, cluster-based recommendations stress strengthening manufacturing-services relationships, balancing diversification and specialisation in spatial development, and integrating clusters into the functioning of places for healthy and sustainable urban spatial-economic development.
Based on the conceptual and empirical work in this thesis, a framework is proposed to integrate ECs as an instrument in urban planning support systems. It considers three aspects: conceptual and explanatory considerations, methods and contextual (institutional, organisational) considerations. In order to realise such a system, suggestions are also given on building data capacity and on additional case-based qualitative-oriented research.
The prime value added by the research is linking the physical and economic aspects of urban development and addressing the issue of ECs as an organising principle and driver for the current and future urban growth. The research presents the theoretical rationale, an implementation approach and an institutional framework.
Keywords: Urban Planning Support; Economic Clusters; Urban Economic-Spatial Dynamics; Urban Growth; Development Strategy; Input-Output Analysis; Spatial Analysis; Beijing
| Curriculum Vitae Zhenshan YANG | |
|---|---|
|
Yang, Zhenshan, born in the March of 1979, is an Urban Planner and Urban Geographer. He obtained his Master from the Institute of Geographical Sciences and Nature Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS) in June 2005 and commenced his PhD research in International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), and Utrecht University (UU), the Netherlands in the end of March 2006. He is specialized in urban and regional planning, economic and spatial strategic analysis, integrated urban and rural planning, application of GIS/RS in urban studies and sustainable planning. He has been actively serving the World Bank, IDRC, RURF (funded by IDRC & DGIS), China National Governments, local governments and private companies. His publications can be found in international journals, top Chinese academic journals, NGOs / governments / enterprises’ reports as well as book chapters, widely in city development strategy, land use efficiency, real estate development, industrial plan, enterprise development, demographic studies, GIS spatial analysis, application of remote sensing in urban studies and urban agriculture. |
 |