Necessity for paradigm shift in the approach of urban security's interpretation

Abstract

City is a unit well-definable legally, economically and with architectural terms. Its cultural, sociological and (public) safety impact is indisputable and unavoidable. City is almost of the same age as humanity itself. In our imagination it is a concept associated with security. City – as an idealised image – has generated philosophical approaches acting even today. The thought of creating an ideal city went hand in hand with the theory of defining and creating the perfect human society. Holistic approaches existing and acting even today help to capture the essence of the city's operation. In the course of safety's reinterpretation is a similar holistic and interdisciplinary approach necessary. Throughout history cities have turned from small power centres into mega- or even gigapolises. And this process is not flagging but – contrarily - it is gradually accelerating: according to some forecasts by 2050 the bigger half of mankind will have been living in cities. The primary reason for it is the climate change due to global warming. Significant areas will have become unliveable due to lack of water, unbearable heat or sea-level rise. All these problems appear acutely in the overload of urban infrastructure causing security problems. The system of urban safety concepts needs revaluation and supplementation instead of new challenges.