In its 11th edition the International Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning continues to attract academics, policy makers, practitioners and other stakeholders from across the globe who discuss the latest advances in the field. This volume presents selected papers that contribute to further advances in the field. Energy saving and eco-friendly building approaches have become an important part of modern development, which places special emphasis on resource optimisation. Planning has a key role to play in ensuring that these solutions as well as new materials and processes are incorporated in the most efficient manner. Problems related to development and planning, which affect rural and urban areas, are present in all regions of the world. Accelerated urbanisation has resulted in deterioration of the environment and loss of quality of life. Urban development can also aggravate problems faced by rural areas such as forests, mountain regions and coastal areas, amongst many others. Taking into consideration the interaction between different regions and developing new methodologies for monitoring, planning and implementation of novel strategies can offer solutions for mitigating environmental pollution and non-sustainable use of available resources.

Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture XVII The importance of retaining the built cultural heritage cannot be overstated. Rapid development and inappropriate conservation techniques are threatening many heritage unique sites in different parts of the world. Selected papers presented at the 17th International Conference on Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture are included in this volume. They address a series of topics related to the historical aspects and the reuse of heritage buildings, as well as technical issues on the structural integrity of different types of buildings, such as those constructed with materials as varied as iron and steel, concrete, masonry, wood or earth. Restoration processes require the appropriate characterisation of those materials, the modes of construction and the structural behaviour of the building. This knowledge can be gained through a series of material characterisation techniques, preferably via non-destructive tests. Modern computer simulation can provide accurate results demonstrating the stress state of the building and possible failure mechanisms affecting its stability. Of particular importance are studies related to their dynamic and earthquake behaviour aiming to provide an assessment of the seismic vulnerability of heritage buildings. Contributions originate from scientists, architects, engineers and restoration experts from all over the world and deal with different aspects of heritage buildings, including how to formulate regulatory policies, to ensure effective ways of preserving the architectural heritage. Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures XIII Papers presented at the 13th International Conference on Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures form this volume and cover basic and applied research in the various fields of earthquake engineering relevant to the design of structures. Major earthquakes and associated effects such as tsunamis continue to stress the need to carry out more research on those topics. The problems will intensify as population pressure results in buildings in regions of high seismic vulnerability. A better understanding of these phenomena is required to design earthquake resistant structures and to carry out risk assessments and vulnerability studies. The problem of protecting the built environment in earthquake-prone regions involves not only the optimal design and construction of new facilities but also the upgrading and rehabilitation of existing structures including heritage buildings. The type of highly specialized retrofitting employed to protect the built heritage is an important area of research. The included papers cover such topics as Seismic hazard and tsunamis; Building performance during earthquakes; Structural vulnerability; Seismic isolation and energy dissipation; Passive earthquake protection systems.

Cultural economics has become well established as a subject of interest for students and instructors of courses ranging from economics to arts administration as well as for policy-makers and practitioners in the creative industries. Digitization has had a tremendous impact on many areas of the creative economy and the third edition of this popular book fully reflects it. The Handbook of Cultural Economics is an acknowledged leading source for students, teachers and others interested in finding out about the subject. Cultural economics covers a wide range of topics and they are reflected in the many short and accessibly written chapters. Each chapter is written by a specialist in the subject and offers both suggestions for further reading and cross-references to other related chapters in the book. It therefore combines accessibility with depth of knowledge. The intention of the book is to introduce the reader to the various topics and to testify to the strength of economics in explaining the economic aspects of the world of the arts and creative industries. The third edition demonstrates the huge impact that digitization has had on production and consumption in the sector. While being accessible to any reader with a basic knowledge of economics, it presents a comprehensive study at the forefront of the field for students and teachers of economics, business economics, creative industries, and media and arts administration as well as for policy-makers. Contributors include: O. Ashenfelter, V. Ateca Amestoy, M. Bacache-Beauvallet, W. Baumol, P. Belleflamme, P.J. Benghozi, F. Benhamou, T. Bille, M. Blaug, K. Borowiecki, M. Bourreau, S. Cameron, D.C. Chisholm, F. Colbert, T. Cuccia, C. Dalla Chiesa, J. Denis, P. Di Caro, G. Doyle, J. Farchy, V. Fernandez-Blanco, B. Frey, O. Gergaud, V. Ginsburgh, M. Gomez-Vega, K. Graddy, A. Haddida, C. Handke, L.C. Herrero-Prieto, M. Hutter, W.M. Landes, M. Lavanga, Y.-H. Liu, I. Mazza, C. McAndrew, J. McKenzie, T. Navarrete, D. Netzer, J.W. O Hagan, T. Orme, M. Peitz, J. Prieto-Rodriguez, H. Ranaivoson, M. Rushton, G. Schulze, B. Seaman, S. Shin, J. Snowball, D. Throsby, R. Towse, O. Velthuis, R. Watt, J. Waldfogel, G. Withers, M. Zieba

Research and industrial developments in the theoretical and practical aspects of safety and security engineering are the focus of this volume. This field, due to its special nature, is an interdisciplinary area of research and application that brings together, in a systematic way, many disciplines of engineering from the traditional to the most technologically advanced. The included papers, which were originally presented at the 13th Conference on Risk Analysis, Hazard Mitigation and Safety and Security Engineering, cover areas such as crisis management, security engineering, natural disasters and emergencies, terrorism, IT security, man-made hazards, pandemics, transportation security, protection and mitigation issues, among others. Also covered are various aspects of risk management and hazard mitigation, associated with both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Current events help to emphasise the importance of the analysis and management of risk to planners and researchers around the world. Natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, fires, epidemics, transportation, climate change, fake news and others have always affected human societies. The more recent emergence of the importance of man-made hazards is a consequence of the rapid technological advances made in the last few centuries. The interaction of natural and anthropogenic risks adds to the complexity of the problems.

Various aspects of the urban environment, with an emphasis on solutions leading towards sustainability, are the focus of the research contained in this volume. The included papers were presented at the 15th International Conference on Urban Regeneration and Sustainability. The task of researchers is to improve the capacity to manage human activities, pursuing welfare and prosperity in the urban environment. Any investigation or planning in a city ought to consider the relationships between the parts and their connections with the living world. The dynamics of its networks (flows of energy-matter, people, goods, information and other resources) are fundamental for an understanding of the evolving nature of today’s cities. Coastal areas and coastal cities are an important area covered by this book, as they have some specific features. Their strategic location facilitates transportation and the development of related activities, but this requires the existence of large ports, with the corresponding increase in maritime and road traffic and all of the inherent negative effects, and can be directly affected by the rise in sea level. This requires the development of well-planned and managed urban environments, not only for reasons of efficiency and economics but also to avoid inflicting environmental degradation that causes the deterioration of natural resources, quality of life and human health. Urban agriculture and food sovereignty are crucial issues that are included due to their impact on city life. The scale of modern food production has created and exacerbated many vulnerabilities and the feeding of cities is now infinitely more complex. In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion in initiatives and projects exploring innovative methods and processes for sustainable food production. These projects are mainly focused on providing alternative models that shift the power back from the global food system to communities and farmers improving social cohesion, health and wellbeing. These initiatives have demonstrated that urban agriculture has the potential to transform our living environment towards ecologically sustainable and healthy cities.

Based on extensive research, this authoritative study places Bukowski's poetry in its American cultural context, and explores the key poems and collections in his development. It traces magazines, literary contacts and influences from the mid-1940s to The Last Night of the Earth Poems (1992). and Walt Whitman? About how and why Bukowski formed his unique reading style and public image? And about where he fits into West Coast and post war American verse? Although the book takes into account the best of the American and European commentary that currently exists, it also offers an original and intriguingly British point of view, giving special attention to Bukowski's readings during the 1970s and his influence upon the current generation of West Coast Poets.

Islamic architecture has enriched design with a wide variety of structural shapes, including among others, unique arches, a wide variety of vaults and domes which allow for new forms to be developed. This volume deals with the design of many types of buildings in Islamic countries, including not only the better known public buildings like mosques, mausolea, citadels and forts, but also houses and gardens, engineering works such as bridges and dams, irrigation systems and many others which have also had a profound impact on society. There is much to learn from past experiences to arrive at solutions that are environmentally sound and sustainable in the long term. As conventional energy resources become scarce, the Islamic design heritage can offer invaluable lessons on how to deal in an efficient manner with cases of hard and extreme environments. Traditional architecture and urban environments in most Islamic countries are now being eroded by overemphasis on a global type of architecture and city planning. As a consequence, many regions are losing their identity. The included research reviews these developments in the light of what the classical Islamic urban designs and architectures have to offer modern society. Equally as important is the analysis of the materials employed and the types of structural elements, particularly those unique to Islamic architecture. Associated topics considered are music, textiles and ceramics, which are essential parts of the architectural fabric. Also included are papers on construction materials, not only stone and brick but also more perishable materials like adobe, wood and reeds. Preserving this heritage also requires the development of appropriate conservation techniques in response to the different materials used and the ways structural forms work, including under extreme conditions, such as earthquakes. The influence of Islamic architecture on the development of new structural form, shape and design in Western countries is also a focus of the included studies.

Architecture is very multi-disciplinary, attracting many different professions. This is reflected in the contributions contained in this volume and that were originally presented at the 9th International Conference on Harmonisation between Architecture and Nature. The included works review the challenges and new opportunities of contemporary architecture as a result of advances in design and new building technologies, as well as the development of new materials. Many of the changes are motivated by a drive towards eco-architecture, trying to harmonise architectural products with nature. Another important issue is the adaptation of the architectural design to the natural environment, learning from nature and traditional construction techniques. Contemporary architecture is at the threshold of a new stage of evolution, deeply influenced by the advances in information and computer systems and the development of new materials and products, as well as construction processes that will drastically change the industry. Emphasis is placed on the minimum use of energy at each stage of the building process, the design by passive systems, life cycle assessment, resources optimisation and rehabilitation. Never before in history have architects and engineers had such a range of new processes and products open to them. In spite of that, the construction industry lags behind all others in taking advantage of a wide variety of new technologies. This is understandable, due to the inherent complexity and uniqueness of each architectural project. Advances in computer and information systems, including robotics, offers the possibility of developing new architectural forms, construction products and building technologies that are just now starting to emerge. Changes have also taken place in the way modern society works and lives, due to the impact of modern technologies. Patterns of work have been disrupted and changed, affecting transportation and the home environment. The demand is for a new type of habitat that can respond to the changes and the consequent requirements in terms of the urban environment. Such topics are dealt with as building technologies, design by passive systems, design with nature, cultural sensitivity, life cycle assessment, resources and rehabilitation and many others including case studies from many different places around the world.

The use of novel materials and new structural concepts nowadays is not restricted to highly technical areas like aerospace, aeronautical applications or the automotive industry, but affects all engineering fields including those such as civil engineering and architecture. The included contributions highlight the latest developments in design and manufacturing. Most high-performance structures require the development of a generation of new materials, which can more easily resist a range of external stimuli or react in a non-conventional manner. Particular emphasis is placed on intelligent structures and materials as well as the application of computational methods for their modelling, control and management. The book also addresses the topic of design optimisation. Contributions cover numerical methods, different optimisation techniques and new software. Optimisation problems include those related to the size, shape and topology of structures and materials. Optimisation techniques have much to offer to those involved in the design of new industrial products, as the appearance of powerful commercial computer codes has created a fertile field for the incorporation of optimisation in the design process of all engineering disciplines. The performance of structures under shock and impact loads is another area covered. The increasing need to protect civilian infrastructure and industrial facilities against unintentional loads arising from accidental impact and explosion events as well as terrorist attacks is reflected in the sustained interest worldwide. While advances have been made in recent decades, many challenges remain, such as developing more effective and efficient blast and impact mitigation approaches or assessing the uncertainties associated with large and small scale testing and validation of numerical and analytical models. The overall aim is to move towards a better understanding of the critical issues relating to the testing behaviour, modelling and analyses of protective structures against blast and impact loading. The studies contained in this volume were presented at the International Conference on High Performance and Optimum Structures and Materials Encompassing Shock and Impact Loading and address issues involving advanced types of structures, particularly those based on new concepts, and shock and impact resistance.