Urban Insight Glossary

Airborne components that have negative effects on human health

A vehicle that is capable of sensing its environment and moving safely with little or no human input

A service in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a short term basis

A service system in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a short term basis

A term used to describe the variety of species in a given region or ecosystem

Plant or animal material used as fuel to produce electricity or heat

A network providing the “ingredients” for solving urban and climatic challenges by building with nature

The dependency on car to commute to jobs, services, stores etc

The urban development of a city district

Dedicated bicycle infrastructure along main routes with fewer car lanes, and quiet parallel routes with mixed traffic

The removal of trees to make room for other land use functions; this can include renewed forests or clearing the land for agriculture or grazing, using the timber for fuel, construction or manufacturing

Land degradation in drylands in which biological productivity is lost due to natural processes or induced by human activities whereby fertile areas become increasingly arid

The process of converting information into a digital (tex computer-readable) format

Commercial transactions conducted electronically on the internet

The rise of commercial transactions conducted through the internet rather than in stores

E-commerce logistics refers to processes involved in storing and shipping inventory for an online store or marketplace, including inventory management and the picking, packing, and shipping of online orders

A case study that illustrates the development of e-mobility infrastructure in different parts of Europe. The journey is fictional, but the data and descriptions have been compiled from several actual European journeys and studies

The electrification of road transports, but e-mobility covers many different types of electric motor vehicles

Effective stormwater management reduces the amount of runoff and runoff pollution by slowing runoff and allow- ing it to soak in

More efficient infrastructure has a greater performance than existing infrastructural systems (f.e. in the light of sustainability assessment)

A vehicle that uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion

The process of converting a machine, process, system or sector to use electricity where it did not do so before

The electrification of road transports, but e-mobility covers many different types of electric motor vehicles

Technologies that enable mass-storage of energy

The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates

People who are forced to leave their home region due to sudden or long-term changes to their local environment

The European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching aim of making Europe climate neutral in 2050

Electrical vehicle

Electrical vehicles

There are two basic types of geothermal energy: one is deep geothermal, coming from the Earth’s core, and the other is shallow geothermal, the solar energy stored in the ground. Deep geothermal energy utilisation usually involves drilling very deep boreholes near natural cracks, while shallow geothermal energy (typically around 0–300 metres below the surface) is available everywhere

A policy and land use zone designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighboring urban areas

Cities which operates a green development plan, building circular, renewable energy sources, walkable streets, sufficient public green spaces

Green Infrastructure is based on the principle that ‘protecting and enhancing nature and natural processes […] are consciously integrated into spatial planning and territorial development

A green roof is a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system that is installed on top of a flat or slightly–sloped roof. Green roofs and walls are good examples of mimicking ecosystems in the urban landscape

A healthy city is one that is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential. This includes: future energy storage, reduce & reuse, urban densification, climate resilience and biodiversity

Creating more safe, healthy, social moblity. Starting from our community, street, neighbourhood and region

The urgency to reduce the exploitation of our scarce resources, the challenges are in water resource management, healthy water systems, restoring water landscapes, urban water circularity and water quality for our health and our ecosystem’s health

A well-functioning bike sharing system, e.g. “Baanas” in Helsinki

Planning the city by viewing it as a whole, not just as a collection of parts put together

Power derived from the energy of falling or fast-running water

Compressed hydrogen gas is used as fuel to generate the electric power via a fuel cell for the vehicle

The ranging impact e-commerce has on both society, business and urban areas

The improvement in which the way excess storm water is stored and utilized

Inclusive design emphasizes the contribution that understanding user diversity makes to informing these decisions, and thus to including as many people as possible

Integrated water design solutions, involving a set of measures suited to specific local conditions. The concept of integrated storm water management is used to describe a comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach to stormwater management

A liveable city is a great place to live. It is more resilient as well, with competitive social, economic and environmental advantages. Using our definition, a liveable city is also a healthy city, promoting health, wellbeing and equity

The management of storm water, how to handle it, how to use it etc

Reative, alive, safe, urban nature…The more healthy people are, the more fun and creative lives they will live and thereby contribute to making the city a vibrant attractive place both to visit and to live in. While some cities can overstimulate our senses and make it challenging to focus and pay attention, others provide peaceful and contemplative places to retreat to, whether it’s the silence and sanctuary of libraries, museums and churches or green spaces and waterways

The New European Bauhaus is an initiative that explores future ways of designing our built environment at the crossing of art, culture, social inclusion, science and technology. It will be a driving force to bring the European Green Deal to life in an attractive, and innovative and human-centered way

An efficient solution to reduce indoor noise exposure from all noise sources, both day and night

Unplesant noise with ranging impacts on the health of human or animal life

Placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. The collaborative and evolutionary process by which urban environments can be shaped to maximise shared value. Placemaking capitalizes on a local community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and well-being

Energy that is collected from renewable resources, tex wind, wave and solar energy

Sources from which renewable energy can be harvested, tex wind, wave and solar energy

The system in which a network of sustainable energy sources are harvested

The ability of communities to rebound, positively adapt to, or thrive amidst changing conditions or challenges – including disasters and climate change – and maintain quality of life, healthy growth, durable systems, and conservation of resources for present and future generations

Building resilience (the ability to adapt) into infrastructure systems

The streamlining of a supply chain

Infrastructure that is safe for it’s users and people in it’s vicinity

Sustainable development goals

Sustainable development goals, 2030

Can be defined as transportation services and resources that are shared among users, either concurrently or one after another

Energy harvested from the sun, can be solar heating, photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis

A tool for managing the runoff from rainfall. An integrated storm water system is completed of “natural” measures like green roofs, planters, green belts, swales, wetlands, grassed dry retention ponds or raingardens combined usually with other, more “artificial” measures, for example underground infiltration or/and detention and retention tanks etc

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

The design of the system in which the product is supplied from manufacturer to consumer

Strategies to streamline supply chains

Sustainable city is a city designed with consideration for social, economic, environmental impact, and resilient habitat for existing populations, without compromising the ability of future generations to experience the same

A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice

Are drainage systems that are considered to be environmentally beneficial, causing minimal or no long-term detrimental damage. Sustainable drainage systems may consist of “natural” measures, such as green roofs, planters or green belts – combined with “artificial” measures, such as underground infiltration, retention tanks and many other solutions

Are drainage systems that are considered to be environmentally beneficial, causing minimal or no long-term detrimental damage. Sustainable drainage systems may consist of “natural” measures, such as green roofs, planters or green belts – combined with “artificial” measures, such as underground infiltration, retention tanks and many other solutions

Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. Energy harvested from sources such as wind power, solar power and hydropower

Transportation mode options which are powered by muscle-power or renewable energy

Decarbonized mobility. Moving in a sustainable way refers to the choice of preferring active travel (e.g., walking or biking), e-mobility or public transportation to reduce CO 2 emissions

Infrastructure that enables sustainable mobility, e.g. electrical car charging stations, dock for shared bike systems, …

Renewable resources which can be used again and again

A sustainable solution is a solution that has been developed to be a. long –lasting, environmentally responsible solution for the provider (the business), the society

A water management system consisting of “natural” measures like swales, wetlands, buffer basins and retention ponds or raingardens combined usually with other, more “artificial” measures, for example underground infiltration or/and detention and retention tanks etc

Technologies that either use renewable energy or produce such

Examples of sustainable transport modes include walking, cycling, transit, carpooling, car sharing, and green vehicles

Travel which is powered by renewable energy or no external energy at all

The range of options you can choose between that are powered by renewable energy or no external energy at all

Sustainable urban development is the way forward for cities to mitigate climate change

Approaches to manage surface water that take account of water quantity (flooding), water quality (pollution) biodiversity (wildlife and plants) and amenity

In geography it means; Improving the quality of life in a city, including ecological, cultural, political, institutional, social and economic components without leaving a burden on the future generations

Urban planning striving for a climate-neutral cities and resilient communities

Using material resources efficiently to cut down on the amount of waste produced, and where waste is generated, dealing with it in a way that actively contributes to the economic, social, and environmental goals of sustainable development

Originally “Swedish Consultants”, is a European engineering consultancy company, active in the fields of consulting engineering, environmental technology and architecture

A holistic and inclusive approach to sustainable urban development that transforms urban challenges into opportunities

Incorporating or introducing modern technology into something, typically by using or installing electronic or digital equipment

Organized following a specific theme

Three key words in sustainable development: Economic viability, environmental protection and social equity

A renewable energy powered by the natural rise and fall of ocean tides and currents. Some of these technologies include turbines and paddles

The planning and design of all the new buildings, roads, and parks in a place in order to make them attractive and convenient for the people who live there

Solutions for slowing down and calming the flow and speed of mainly vehicular traffic

Performance of traffic flows, resulting in more fluid flows

Significant changes in a distressed community that would be clearly measurable in terms of income, employment, educational attainment, human health, environmental quality etc

Reduced cost of road improvements by reducing congestion on roads, resulting in less time in traffic

Different infrastructures for different types of mobility, e.g. walking, cycling, driving

The act of planning the transport of a given area, e.g. to make it as efficient as possible

The system in which transports holistically moves people around the city

The application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any modes of transportation

Special case of LPP(Linear Programming Problem) in which the main objective is to transport a product from various sources to various destinations at total minimum cost

The process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste, or the processing of waste into a fuel source

The time it takes for one person to travel to a set destination

The amount of time one person spends travelling per day

Urbanized area. As opposed to rural, non-inhabited area

The future challenges that urbanization are dealing with; can be related to high population density, inadequate infrastructure, lack of affordable housing, flooding, pollution, slum creation, crime, congestion and poverty

A city, the centre of an urbanized area

Is presented in relation to urban challenges, scopes of urban sustainability and the governance of the urban

The design of public space, urban planning or city-making process can be seen as

 The development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas

The living environment of an urban citizen, an urbanized environment

The physical urban environment (elements, materials, form, scales, density and networks)

All movements of goods in to, out from, through or within the urban area made by light or heavy vehicles

Where they take the excess space of an extra and turn it into a dark picking store so that all the vans turn up

During the day hard surfaces such as concrete warm up and slowly release heat during the night, keeping the temperature higher than in surrounding rural areas. This phenomenon restrain urban areas to cool down at night

The combination of new practices, solutions, and services that enables adapting and anticipating processes of change that cities undergo

The totality of urban tissue with all its components forms an urban landscape

A location in an urban area

Tackling the demands of cities and towns which are expanding and rebuilding with policies for land use, structures, and service networks

The way in which the inhabitants of a city can move around, and the methods and conditions associated with such trips (modes of transport selected, length of trip, time spent in transport, etc)

A hub in which urban networks (f.e. mobility networks) come together and give options to switch modes and combine different possibilities

Urban area

A design and decision-making process that is focused on the development of land use and the built environment

A design and decision-making process that is focused on the development of land use and the built environment

The population inhabiting urban areas

The change in population

Urban area

Urban area

Urban areas

The process in which a region develops following a spread urbanization pattern

The structuring elements of the city that steer the form of the city

Traffic management in cities

Urban redevelopment. Transformation of an urban area

Supporting transport demands generated by the diversity of urban activities in a diversity of urban contexts

The act of developing and building a city district or expansion

Optimal use of waste to produce energy needed by humans

Is a term in economics that refers to the total satisfaction received from consuming a good or service

Car-sharing or bike-sharing systems in which you don’t own the vehicle but you pay for using it

Provide adequate infrastructure with a focus on walking and pedestrians

The process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste, or the processing of waste into a fuel source

The activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal

Solutions for sustainable waste disposal 

A system for sustainable waste disposal

The process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste, or the processing of waste into a fuel source

A process to remove contaminants from wastewater or sewage and convert it into an effluent that can be returned to the water cycle

A system by which water is drained on or in the soil to enhance production

The control of water system  to minimize damage to life and property and to maximize efficient beneficial use

The contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities

Effective and holistic management of water resources

Land planning and engineering design approach which integrates the urban water cycle

The capture of energy of wind waves to do useful work

The study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms

The branch of biology that studies the biota (living things), the environment, and their interactions

Any types of energy that is generated from renewable resources, such as sunlight, wind or water, geothermic, ….

The way forward for cities to mitigate climate change and become climate-neutral

Residential expansion system that builds the city. Residential areas are the main focus of urban development

The process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity

Pros of wind energy: Renewable & clean source of energy, Low operating costs, Efficient use of land space. Cons of wind energy: Intermittent, Noise and visual pollution, Some adverse environmental impact