Urban planning, city management, and central land planning are no longer stand-alone scientific disciplines. The concentration of population, social safety, public health, well-being, and overall satisfaction are no longer solely dependent on urban planning.
Management Process
The field of urban management policy includes urban design, human and social behavior, and traffic management (pathways). Additionally, public health, aging, and mortality trends are key components.
Support Factors
These aspects are supported by socio-economic policies, genetics, and fundamental policies on nutrition and implementation.
Core Processes
From the perspectives of urban development, city planning, and urban management, each policy element is developed and managed according to the following components:
Urban Design
- Population density
- Mixed land use and spaces for biodiversity
- Spatial management and design (architecture, urban aesthetics)
- Accessibility and connectivity (routes, entry/exit points)
- Neighborhoods, streets, and road networks
- Transportation infrastructure (public transit, delivery systems, etc.)
- Pedestrian-friendly spaces and walkways
- Bicycle accessibility and the distribution of bike lanes
- Availability and distribution of green parks and landscaped areas
Human and Social Behavior
- How urban residents, classified by age, gender, education, and interests, spend their time indoors and outdoors
- Opportunities for meaningful leisure activities
- Factors influencing mobility choices (walking, cycling, driving, or using public transport)
- Availability of services, recreational areas, educational institutions, libraries, restaurants, and other facilities tailored to residents’ behavioral patterns
Traffic Management (Pathways)
- Managing traffic flow and congestion at entry/exit points
- Ensuring safe access to and from busy main roads
- Separating residential roads from business-use roads
- Street networks between houses, highways, railways, and metro systems
- Integrating and separating roadways for cars, bicycles, and pedestrians
- Managing air pollution and traffic flow to minimize environmental impact
- Protecting residential areas from noise pollution
- Ensuring road safety against UV exposure and weather conditions
- Preventing traffic congestion and stress
- Ensuring accessibility to public service points
- Parking and time management
- Infrastructure designed to encourage physical activity (walking, cycling)
- Designated areas for exercise, pet-walking, children’s playgrounds, and elderly-friendly walking paths
- Accessible routes for people with disabilities
- Security measures such as street lighting and surveillance to prevent crime
Public Health (Morbidity)
- Prevalence of chronic and severe illnesses
- Mapping vulnerable health groups based on residence
- Availability of neurological facilities and mental health support
- Infrastructure for cognitive and developmental growth of children
- Impact of radiation, hazardous emissions, noise pollution, and environmental contamination (air, water, and soil) on health
- Mental health conditions and social support infrastructures
- Accessibility of care and community engagement centers
- Availability of hospitals and treatment facilities
- Distribution of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
- Accessibility of service centers, commercial hubs, and cultural spaces
Mortality
- Breakdown of mortality rates by district, neighborhood, street, and section
- Analysis of high-risk areas such as residential buildings, roads, pedestrian crossings, bridges, and public structures
- Socio-economic and cultural influences on mortality rates
- Implementation and monitoring of preventive measures to reduce mortality
Integrated Approach to Urban Management
Urban planning, architecture, transportation planning, environmental sciences, climate change impact assessment, public health (epidemiology and health impact assessment), citizen science (human-centered management), and social sciences (crowd regulation, public behavior, and social phenomena) must collaborate to achieve a unified urban goal. Urban planning and governance are no longer exclusive to engineers—safety experts, health professionals, technology specialists, economists, and service industry leaders must also contribute.
This interdisciplinary approach allows for identifying root causes through multi-faceted analysis and addressing issues with holistic solutions.
Global Urban Management Trends
Leading organizations such as C40, Healthy Polis, and ICLEI are driving these developments. Paradigms such as sustainable cities, livable cities, resilient cities, smart cities, and healthy cities emphasize the need for systemic urban solutions. Additionally, emerging concepts like car-free cities, compact cities, low-emission cities, and nature-based solutions are shaping new demands for electric vehicles, green buildings, and automated services.
Above all, urban safety and health have become top priorities.
Evaluating Urban Planning in Ulaanbaatar and Other Cities
To assess how well these indicators are met in Ulaanbaatar and other cities, consider using a checklist for evaluation.
Upcoming International Conferences
Following the “Urban Management Transition” conference in November 2024, a new international academic journal on urban management will be launched in January 2025.
Additionally,
- The “Walkable City” conference was held in Spain in November 2024
- The Transportation Research Symposium is scheduled for May 2025 in the Netherlands
Source: Elsevier Urban Transitions Conference
