Theories And Methods Of Urban Forest Planning

With the transformation of economic and social structure, rural-urban continuum greening is turning into the focus in many Chinese cities. As an important component of urban greening, urban forest development is flourishing in China, and urgently need the guidance of corresponding planning. When other relating planning is incompetent, urban forest planning comes forth.Based on urban forest planning practice, this dissertation studies the theories and methods of urban forest planning.Firstly, planning paradigms of urban green open space are generalized, era characters of urban forest development are analyzed, current status of planning and construction of urban forest and relating planning practice are identified, and research progress of relating disciplines and theories is reviewed. From the points of discipline, social development, practice and research, the rationality and necessity of urban forest planning are explained, research direction, contents and problems to be resolved are defined.Secondly, the dissertation confines core research contents to three parts: theories in urban forest planning, theories of urban forest planning, planning methods. Theories in urban forest planning include urban forest planning ontology, urban forest niche and ecological circumstances theory, and urban forest planning dimensions. Urban forest planning ontology studies the concepts of urban forest and urban forest planning, proposes the dichotomy for urban forest classification, identifies objects, range, types and contents of urban forest planning, and designates cognition and practice objects for urban forest planning from two aspects of connotation and extension. Urban forest niche and ecological circumstances theory studies inherent dynamical mechanism of urban forest development, and makes sure that planning conforms to objective rules of urban forest development. Urban forest planning dimensions studies four factors which impenetrate all contents of urban forest planning, including environmental and ecological dimension, visual landscape dimension, recreation dimension and economic dimension. With these researches, urban forest planning ontology will be further cognized, the relationships between phenomena and prototype, among different elements will be discovered. Under the function of four dimensions, different expression of urban forest lands and space use will be explored. The dissertation emphasizes the integrated balance of four dimensions in the planning process, and it will promote the establishment of unified rules and logical criterions for urban forest planning cognition and practice.From the points of positive character and normative character, theories of urban forest planning study the organizing process of urban forest planning. Through analysis of planning-determined forces and planning stages, the dissertation proposes double-cycle process of urban forest planning. Planning methods studies approaches of planning theories application to practice, including seven aspects: application of remote sensing and GIS technologies to urban forest planning, multiple suitability evaluation of urban forest planning, layout methods of urban forest, vegetation planning methods in urban forest planning, public involvement in urban forest planning, index system of urban forest planning, and evaluation of urban forest planning.Thirdly, four planning cases with research characters are selected to verify part of research results of the dissertation. Through comparison of greening-related plans, the study of planning analysis and optimization strategies of Shanghai green space system verifies the effectiveness of urban forest planning theories and methods in the planning system of human inhabitation and settlement environment. Multiple suitability evaluation of Wuxi urban forest planning illustrates the application of modern planning technologies to urban forest planning. Akesu urban forest master planning in Sinkiang province reveals whole process and contents of urban forest master planning. Vegetation planning of Hutuo river in Shijiazhuang urban district provides a good example for developing urban forest through other related planning.Through theories of urban forest planning, theories in urban forest planning and planning methods are ultimately applied to urban forest planning and design practice, which constitutes an integrated research framework of theories, methods and practice of urban forest planning. Finally, core research contents, conclusions and innovation points are concluded, and issues to be further studied are proposed.