Integrating Assessment, Planning, and Design in the Urban Regeneration. The case study of Bologna's Prati-Ravone District

The research examines the potential of employing integrated assessment techniques in urban regeneration projects. The pilot case is the Prati di Caprara-Ravone district in Bologna, situated approximately 3 km from the historical centre and shaped by 20th-century industrial and military development. The goal is to facilitate the regeneration of an area deficient in infrastructure and social capital, but which offers opportunities related to its strategic location and green spaces. The methodology adopted to reach this goal reflects a holistic approach, combining urban analysis techniques, with tools such as spatial SWOT and GIS technology, with community and social analysis. Moreover, the participatory process involves the local population through focus groups and interactive walks, as well as experts from a range of sectors, including social and transport, who were consulted through questionnaires and interviews. The methodology enabled the definition of specific objectives, strategies and actions, subsequent to the identification of fragilities and diagnosis of problems. Furthermore, behavioural data, which is often overlooked due to its inherent difficulty in acquisition, is also included. The resulting data set is then subjected to analysis using the Analytic Network Process system, which reveals the manner in which factors of disparate natures and scales exert influence on the regeneration process as a whole. One of the principal outcomes is the incorporation of the identified preferences into a final draft of the plan, thereby ensuring transparent communication with the population, site personnel and stakeholders. This research on the integrated assessment aspires to become a pilot case for the future systematic adoption of similar practices within administrative bodies and large-scale regeneration projects. Furthermore, the integration of current tools would facilitate more effective monitoring of the economic, environmental, social, technical and cultural sustainability of regeneration works, thereby contributing to the enhancement of urban resilience and circularity.