Resilient citylands - green-blue-built transport systems in Baltic Sea Region cities

The organization of transport systems for energy, food, material and people, is fundamental for upholding sustainable human habitats. Globalization and specialization has catalyzed economic growth and human development, but simultaneously has cut off geographic links between urban and rural areas and weakened interactions between urban green-blue and built up areas. Urban land-use has - during the past half-a-century been dictated by the built-up structure and car traffic planning, whereas green-blue infrastructures' ecosystems regulatory services, health-promoting properties and economic values have been attributed a lower priority. The main objective of our research is to explore ways the re-integration of urban and rural areas and functions - as well as to investigate the potential of green-blue structure values in cities in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). We tentatively term a modern integration of urban and rural areas and functions - and of combined green-blue-built infrasystems - "Resilient Citylands". Citylands formation is strongly linked to a transport modal shift, a new transport structure and mobility functions. In our Resilient Citylands program we work with a long-term partnership between selected cities, universities and relevant planning companies to produce effective tools, methods and a portfolio of real Cityland cases - serving as models in the entire Baltic Sea Region. Target groups are researchers, planners, companies, NGO's, authorities and citizens.