Roadmap of the City and Settlement Laboratory
The City and Settlement Laboratory aims to develop urban planning and design studies with a sustainable approach. This roadmap directs research, education, and community service in six main areas of study: City and Regional Development Studies, Smart Green City Studies, Housing and Settlement Studies, Heritage City Conservation, Urban Greening, and Urban Design. Each area contributes through the development of education, research, community service, and scientific and digital publications.
This roadmap supports the laboratory’s vision as a leading national and international institution by 2035. Its strategies include academic development, research based on local wisdom and global orientation, quality governance, and international partnerships.
Vision 2035
A leading centre for urban and settlement studies
Recognised nationally and internationally through locally grounded, globally oriented research, quality governance, and international partnerships.
Milestones by area and phase
| Study area | Consolidation2025–2027 | Expansion2028–2031 | Excellence2032–2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban & Regional DevelopmentAdaptive, innovative city management and sustainable metropolitan growth. | Integrated with the architecture curriculum and SDG issues | Adaptive spatial-based city management models and sustainable metropolitan growth | Adaptive and innovative city management policies and strategies |
| Smart Green CityIntelligent technology and sustainability in city governance. | Curriculum on smart cities and urban technologySmart Urbanism | Research in IoT, energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation | Intelligent technology and sustainability integrated into city governance |
| Housing & SettlementInclusive housing and sustainable settlement, grounded in local wisdom with a global approach. | An approach based on local wisdom and a global outlook | Subsidised housing programmes, eco-friendly material technology, and decent housing for marginal communities | Inclusive housing policies and sustainable settlement |
| Heritage City ConservationPreserving historic areas and heritage buildings, and revitalising old cities. | Conservation and heritage management courses | Research on restoring heritage buildings and revitalising old cities | Community-based preservation of historic areas |
| Urban GreeningCity environmental quality through greening, urban forests, and parks. | Integrated with the Urban Landscape and Urban Ecology curriculum | Urban forest research for climate change mitigation and community-based urban park management | Better city environmental quality through greening |
| Strengthening Local WisdomCentre for Local Wisdom Studies: exploring and strengthening local wisdom in cities and settlements. | Research studies on local wisdom | National and international journal articles | Textbooks and reference booksIntellectual property rights (IPR) |
Outputs
Every study area delivers outputs through these five streams.
- EducationCurriculum integration with global issues and stronger student competencies.
- ResearchPublication in reputable journals, policy models, and cross-disciplinary research.
- Community ServicesApplying research results in real rural and regional projects.
- Publication & DisseminationBooks, journals, and digital platforms to share study results.
- International PartnershipsCollaboration with global universities and institutions for knowledge and technology exchange.
City and Regional Development Studies
This field produces adaptive and innovative city management strategies. The architecture curriculum supports this study through an SDGs-based approach. Research includes adaptive spatial planning and sustainable metropolitan area growth strategies. The results are integrated into regional policies and global scientific publications.
Smart Green City Studies
This field focuses on integrating innovative technology and sustainability in city management. This laboratory supports implementing the bright city concept and national and international academic publications by strengthening the curriculum and research related to IoT, energy efficiency, and sustainable transportation.
Housing and Settlement Studies
The focus of this study is inclusive housing and sustainable settlements. With a local wisdom-based approach, the research includes the effectiveness of subsidized housing programs, sustainable settlement patterns, and environmentally friendly material technology. Community service activities include providing decent housing for marginalized communities.
Heritage City Conservation
This field is oriented towards community-based preservation of historic areas. Educational programs include building conservation and heritage management. Research focuses on restoring cultural heritage buildings and revitalization strategies for old city areas, with results published globally.
Urban Greening
This study aims to improve the quality of the urban environment through greening. The curriculum supports studies of Urban Landscapes and Urban Ecology, while research includes the role of urban forests in mitigating climate change. This laboratory actively uses community-based greening and prepares international standard urban greening guidelines.
Urban Design
This field is oriented towards humanistic and sustainable urban design. Design studio-based studies include adaptive urban design, public space design, and inclusive design approaches. The laboratory provides design consultations for local governments and scientific publications that serve as references for urban design policies. International partnerships are a key strategy in this roadmap, strengthening the laboratory’s position as a world-class institution. Collaboration with national and global institutions supports cross-disciplinary research and accelerates knowledge and technology exchange. With this approach, the roadmap becomes the main foothold in achieving the vision and mission of the City and Settlement Laboratory.