Urban Planning Professor Warns Against Neglecting Crisis Management in City Construction

According to SAMA, Tahereh Nasr, a full professor of urban planning at the university and author of the book “The Urban Sustainability Puzzle,” highlighted the necessity of city preparedness in facing various crises, stating: “City managers and those active in the construction sector must not forget crisis management; it should never be consigned to oblivion.”

She noted that cities are vulnerable to both natural and man-made crises, adding: “Facing any of these crises can inflict countless damages on the urban fabric and society. Therefore, cities must be adequately prepared to deal with crises, and a focus on urban sustainability is inevitable.”

The Urban Sustainability Puzzle: A Strategic Approach

Referring to the concept of the “Urban Sustainability Puzzle,” which she explores in her book, Nasr proposed assembling its pieces together as a strategic approach, saying: “These pieces must adopt a forward-looking perspective and a resilience-oriented approach to the city.”

Crisis Management and Passive Defense Alongside Sustainability

According to this urban planning professor, alongside the two components of foresight and resilience, crisis management and passive defense can also be proposed as a strategy.

She concluded by emphasizing: “If we take crisis management into account, we can adopt a more intelligent approach to making cities sustainable.”