Sustainable Development and Planning 2016

8th International Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning

6 - 8 December 2016

Penang, Malaysia

Introduction

The 8th International Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning, to be held in Penang, Malaysia, follows the success of previous meetings which started in Skiathos, Greece (2003), and continued in Bologna, Italy (2005); the Algarve, Portugal (2007); Cyprus (2009); the New Forest, UK, home of the Wessex Institute (2011); Kos, Greece (2013) and the Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture in 2015.

It has become apparent that planners, environmentalists, architects, engineers, policy makers and economists have to work together in order to ensure that planning and development can meet our present needs without comprising the ability of future generations.

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 mitigating environmental pollution and non-sustainable use of available resources. 

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.

Sustainable Development and Planning 2016 aims to bring together scientists and other stakeholders from across the globe to discuss the latest scientific advances in the field.

Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at Sustainable Development and Planning 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• City planning
• Regional planning
• Rural developments
• Sustainability and the built environment
• Sustainability indicators
• Policies and planning
• Environmental planning and management
• Energy resources
• Cultural heritage
• Quality of life
• Community planning and resilience
• Sustainable solutions in emerging countries
• Sustainable tourism
• Learning from nature
• Transportation
• Social and political issues
• Community planning

Find out more on the conference webpage.

MARAS 2016

5th International Conference on Mobile, Adaptable and Rapidly Assembled Structures

21 - 23 September 2016

Siena, Italy

Introduction

Structures that move in the course of normal use, or which have to be assembled or erected rapidly on a relatively unprepared site, offer a particular challenge to the designer. The interaction between the structure and the mechanism by which it moves is essential in these cases. The speed of assembly, and what this means in terms of logistics, materials and cost, is a major factor in many such structures.
Mobile and rapidly assembled structures play a major role in disaster mitigation and temporary accommodation. They are of primary importance in many military as well as civilian applications and are widely used for rescue and maintenance services. Their importance continues to grow in contemporary society where speed of response is of primary importance. Also, in many cases, their reversible deployment and potential reuse can lead to a lower economical and ecological impact, providing a more sustainable solution. There are common problems such as the efficient design of assembly joints, the resistance to damage of the membrane and metal cladding, crashworthiness and the limits of serviceability. Some areas of the subject are already well documented, but knowledge is fragmented and there is little design guidance available in the form of textbooks, data sheets or codes of practice.
The interaction between morphology, kinematic behaviour and structural performance – typical of these structures – poses real challenges in terms of design and successful realisation. The interaction of ideas and experience during the conference may lead to new mobile structural forms and an increased awareness of the problems of rapid assembly and mobility of structures. This multi-disciplinary meeting will bring together engineers, architects and researchers concerned with the design, analysis, manufacturing and erection of rapidly assembled structures. This fifth edition follows the success of the previous conferences in this series, first organised in Southampton, followed by Seville, Madrid and Ostend.

 Conference Topics

The following list covers some of the topics to be presented at MARAS 2016. Papers on other subjects related to the objectives of the conference are also welcome.

• Rapidly assembled and mobile bridges
• Disaster mitigation structures
• Temporary structures and dwellings
• Deployable systems and structural mechanisms
• Tensegrity and reciprocal frames
• Origami-based folding structures
• Inflated and air-supported structures and membrane shelters
• Rapidly assembled kit-of-parts systems
• Leisure structures, demountable grandstands and scaffolding systems
• Mobile inspection platforms
• Folding and telescopic masts and gangways
• Rapid repairs of structures
• Tower cranes and mobile lifting apparatus
• Trackways and prefabricated paving for roads and airfields
• Protective structures
• Zero gravity structures
• Construction and repair
• Optimisation of transformable structures
• Kinetic structures
• Design for re-use
• Adaptive building envelopes
• Parametric analysis and design
• Innovative approaches
• Engineering transformation

Find out more on the conference webpage.