Sustainable Urban Evolution The 15-Minute City as a Future Paradigm

This book, Sustainable Urban Evolution, delves into the transformative potential of the 15-minute city concept, an innovative urban planning model crafted to address pressing issues like urban sprawl, environmental sustainability, resilience, and the demand for livable cities. In a world where urban areas are striving to harmonize growth with environmental and social well-being, this book provides timely and strategic insights.

Bridging the divide between urban planning theory and practical implementation, Sustainable Urban Evolution equips readers with a deep understanding of how the 15-minute city model can be applied to create dynamic, efficient, and sustainable urban environments. It explores the concept’s origins, key principles such as compactness and multimodality, and highlights its diverse benefits, including enhanced environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic resilience.

By showcasing global case studies and real-world examples, the book demonstrates how the 15-minute city model can be tailored to various urban settings. It offers practical strategies and frameworks to guide successful implementation, making it an indispensable resource for urban planners, policymakers, academics, and community leaders dedicated to advancing sustainable urban development.

Preface.- Chapter 1: Introduction to Sustainable Urban Ecolution.- Chapter 2: The 15-Minute City Concept: Principles, Benefits, and Global Inspirations.- Chapter 3: Urban Design for a 15-Minute City.- Chapter 4: Mobility Trends and the 15-Minute City.- Chapter 5: Community Participation in Building 15-Minute Cities.- Chapter 6: Overcoming Challenges in 15-Minute Cities.- Chapter 7: Smart Technologies for 15-Minute Cities.- Chapter 8: Conclusion and Future Prospects.- Appendix.

Dr. Madiha Bencekri is a Research Professor at the University of Seoul, Department of Transportation Engineering, with dual master’s degrees in Regional and Urban Development and Telecom Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering and Smart Cities from the University of Seoul, focusing on urban mobility and AI-driven solutions. Previously, she was a Transport Service Manager in Casablanca, leading policy development and public transit optimization. At the University of Seoul, she developed GIS models and deep learning algorithms for mobility hub optimization and pandemic-resilient urban planning. Her research is published in leading journals, including the International Journal of Urban Sciences and Journal of Transport Geography, bridging theory and practice to drive sustainable urban development. Fluent in three languages—Arabic, French, and English—Dr. Bencekri brings a global perspective to urban planning and transportation engineering.

Professor Seungjae Lee is a Professor of Transportation Planning at the University of Seoul, specializing in urban mobility, transportation systems analysis, and smart city planning. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from University College London in 1994, with a focus on statistical modeling and transport demand forecasting. He has held roles as a Research Fellow at UCL’s Department of Statistical Science and at the Korea Transport Institute, contributing to national transport policy and urban mobility solutions. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Transportation (ESCI) and serves on the editorial boards of leading SCI journals, including Transportmetrica and International Journal of Sustainable Transportation. Currently, he leads the Integrated Cooperation Center at the Big Data AI Research Institute, pioneering research in smart mobility, urban big data analytics, and intelligent transport systems, focusing on AI-driven mobility solutions and autonomous vehicles.