PROBLEMS OF EFFECTIVE LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING IN CITIES: THE CASE-STUDY OF BAKU

Abstract

Urban environment is a dynamic system of interrelated elements which is adabtable to the evolution of human needs and aspirations. It includes natural and man-made factors, which should provide ecological balance and determine the living conditions. Urban development implies the use of significant areas and thereby it affects the transformation of the environment. This paper focuses on research of methods of effective land use control through urban planning to increase longetivety and life quality in cities and suburbs. Understanding environmental problems is key to effective planning of land use. Urban growth leads to increasing of technogeneous loading on areas and land degradation. As a result, the quality and longetivity of life falls down. On the other hand, the increase in number of people in cities and the reduction of lands require a more intensive land use. Where is the red line? This paper will highlight some of key findings in recent researches, which show how economic and social aspects are connected to effective land use control through urban planning to increase life quality in cities and suburbs. The paper will then suggest how urban development of Baku and its suburbs can be adapted to adress the research findings. The method allows determining an optimal strategy of effective land-use and environmental planning in cities. These findings can be applied in design process of Baku development, as well as other cities of Azerbaijan.