In post-soviet countries, particularly, the rapid increase in tourism, speculative real estate investments, and gentrification are adding increasing pressures to manage and control development while still creating a quality environment of housing, economic opportunities and infrastructure for residents and visitors alike. New planning and research methods such as simulation modeling and improved mapping bring new opportunities to understand and project responses to change. As planners we must recognize problems, but also seek solutions so that change works in our favor rather than against us. It is our hope that this conference will allow us to share and learn from international professionals on issues facing our profession in the next decades and share noteworthy practices on how we can plan and manage changes affecting our built and social environment.
