URBAN ART BIO

Rethinking Urban Public Green Spaces in Arid Areas : A Resilient Park Design Proposal in Southern Tunisia (Kébili)

2026-01-23T12:38:08+01:00

In southern Tunisia’s arid regions, access to public green spaces is limited, deepening social inequalities. This study proposes the design of a resilient urban park in Souk Lahad (Kébili), a city with little provision of accessible green areas. Based on a detailed analysis of physical, social and landscape features, the project promotes an ecological and functional design adapted to local climatic constraints. It relies on native drought-resistant vegetation, durable materials and a spatial organisation meeting recreational and social needs for all ages. This initiative aims to enhance urban quality of life, and support climate adaptation, reaffirming the essential role of public green spaces in sustainable development for arid areas.

The Sustainable City: Between Discourse and Representation

2026-01-23T12:38:11+01:00

Urban development over the coming decades will be decisive and will play a crucial role in how cities are produced, given that demographic concentration is increasing in urban areas, particularly in medium‑sized cities. The city’s appeal lies in its ability to offer economic and social opportunities to its inhabitants. However, the risk of urban disruption cannot be dismissed in the face of tensions generated by massive urbanization, the emergence of precarious neighborhoods, illegal land occupations, and unchecked urban sprawl. What consequences might this have for policymakers involved in territorial governance? Is it not often said that the twenty‑first century will be the century of cities? But what kind of cities are we talking about? Sustainable cities? And will they be cities made for people? The way cities have been approached is now obsolete and overtaken by the actual dynamics of urban production. Planning timelines have been linear, whereas growth has occurred and continues to occur in an exponential manner, and it is in this mismatch that the problem lies. Moreover, these approaches have been quantitative rather than qualitative, which has led to dehumanized urban spaces. From 1972 to 2023, across various world capitals, what has been the real contribution of Agenda 21, and what will that of 2030 be in terms of sustainable development? Has adding the adjective “sustainable” to “city” and “development” truly addressed the ills of the city, or is it merely a matter of words that mask the underlying problems facing the very concept of sustainability?

Organization of Care and Perceptions of Gestational Diabetes Management in Assandrè, Côte d’Ivoire

2025-12-25T15:43:50+01:00

Gestational diabetes is an increasing maternal health challenge in sub‑Saharan Africa, particularly in rural areas where health facilities are often structurally fragile and highly vulnerable. This study was conducted at the Assandrè dispensary, a rural setting in Côte d’Ivoire. It mobilized Donabedian’s framework as a conceptual lens to analyze the organization of care and to assess both the actual and perceived quality of gestational diabetes management. Using a methodological approach structured around the three dimensions of structure, process, and outcomes, and combining direct observations, interviews, and documentary analysis, the findings highlight dysfunctions across all these dimensions. The dispensary exhibits governance weaknesses, a minimal technical platform, and dilapidated infrastructure. These constraints generate non‑standardized care processes that result in dissatisfaction both in technical terms and as perceived by users. The study concludes with a call for systemic intervention targeting the three components of the Donabedian (1988) framework to improve the quality of care in first‑level peripheral health facilities in Côte d’Ivoire.

DESIGN OF AN APPLIED REFERENCE FRAMEWORK FOR GROUNDWATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AUDITING

2026-01-23T12:38:10+01:00

As part of a research project on groundwater resources in the Bouira province of Algeria, we developed a framework for conducting an audit of groundwater resource management in the province. The audit results showed that the management issues are technical and managerial. Technical and material shortcomings appear to be the cause of a lack of groundwater information in the province.
Traditional techniques for exploiting and managing resources (production and distribution) have had a profound impact on the aquifer system, leading to the cessation of exploitation at certain sites. In this context, it is necessary to adopt modernized management approaches that comply with the requirements of sustainable development in terms of water sector governance, equitable access to resources, and the preservation of water resources for future generations. The framework designed and applied in this study has proven useful in evaluating groundwater resource management performance.

Kerkennah, an example of rainwater reuse to meet water challenges in Tunisia

2026-01-23T12:38:13+01:00

Between July 10 and 14, 2023, a team of Algerian researchers visited the Kerkennah archipelago (Tunisia) as part of a bilateral research project on green infrastructure for sustainable rainwater management in arid and semi-arid environments (2021-2024). This visit provided an opportunity to explore local rainwater harvesting techniques, combining ancestral farming know-how with conventional municipal methods. The study focused on mechanical processes (meadow ponds, cisterns) and biological/cultural practices (multistage, intercropping, hydroponics).The results demonstrate the effectiveness of these approaches to stormwater management and soil conservation, vital to face climate change. Domestic and agricultural cisterns (Majels) are essential for water storage and supply. Hydroponics, tested locally, offers the potential for water-efficient agricultural production. In addition, solutions based on adapted plant species are considered to manage flooding, and the geolocalization of green infrastructures aims to preserve biodiversity. The integration of solar water drilling for irrigation illustrates a promising energy transition.The Kerkennah experience exemplifies resilience, highlighting the necessity of rehabilitating traditional water management practices while embracing technological innovation. Securing water resources, combating rural exodus, and providing a sustainable development model for similar Maghreb regions requires robust public policy, including widespread cistern implementation and mandatory rainwater harvesting for new construction.