The Pune Slum Census: creating a socio-economic and spatial information base on a GIS for integrated and inclusive city development

Urban planning systems rarely include the poor. Cities are growing and so is the urban population. Pune is a large city in Western Maharashtra. According to the National Census, 2001, the population of the Pune urban agglomeration is 3.5 million and it is (in some estimates) to reach nearly 6 million by 2021.¹ Out of this, the city of Pune has a 2.5 million people living in it. Forty percent and above of the population live in slums. One of the biggest shortfalls of Pune's urban planning is that it still fails to include the poor in mainstream policies. The reason is that the poor are hardly known about, in fact, even government authorities are unaware about how many poor people there are in Pune. This attitude, and the fact that Shelter Associates (SA) work is closely connected with the poor regarding basic services and housing, started the development of a slum database by SA. Finally, the Pune Municipal Corporation asked us to make a complete census of the slum dwellers in the year 2000. That gave rise to a detailed survey of Pune's slum dwellers, to become, amongst other things, the first ever spatial and socio-economic census processed and analysed on a geographical information system (GIS). The Pune Slum Census has built upon this experience and expanded the communities’ information base, and has created a methodology which the city can use to work on detailed urban planning using a GIS and with the slum database as the base. This article focuses on the Pune Slum Census in progress.     

城市景观设计与城市生态平衡关系研究

城市规划是城市发展的战略、纲领和管理城市的依据。按照深入贯彻落实科学发展观的要求,现代城市规划更加注重城市生态的内涵,包括生态城市规划、生态城市设计和生态城市建设。生态城市设计是以真实地实现城市生态化目标,较好地体现不同城市拥有的城市生态环境、城市文化、城市形象和城市风格为基本出发点和归结点。城市景观设计与城市产业设计、城市住区设计一起,构成生态城市设计的三大基本设计方面。本文主要是从城市景观设计方面来探究与城市生态平衡的关系,发挥和提升城市景观设计在规划、设计、建设和管理生态城市中的功能性作用。     

From nightlife conventions to daytime hidden agendas: dynamics of urban sexual territories in the South of France

This article focuses on the space-time dynamics of sexual encounters in city neighborhoods associated with sex work and cruising. The data were collected as part of a multisite, longitudinal ethnographic study conducted in major cities of southern France. The results suggest that there is a continuous interaction between these sexualized public spaces and urban planning. Urban planners, however, are not the only actors shaping the location and the use of the space. Participants create a dialectical movement from night normative worlds to occult practices interwoven with daytime activities. They also create subtle social rules governing actors and their practices.     

基于分权视角的城市规划管理体制模式及改革建议

关于我国的城市规划管理权限一直存在＂集中＂与＂放权＂的讨论,并且城市规划管理体制也存在差异。通过对全国部分城市的规划管理体制进行梳理,从市、区（县、市）两级分权视角总结出我国城市规划管理体制中的＂垂直型＂、＂半垂直型＂和＂非垂直型＂三种典型模式,分别以南京、北京和上海为案例分析三种规划管理体制典型模式的主要特点和事权划分,并对其各自的优缺点进行比较,最后提出我国城市规划管理体制改革的若干建议,包括将规划决策权＂上收＂与实施管理重心＂下移＂、建立＂市—区—镇（街）＂三级规划管理机构体系、整合市区两级规划部门内部机构设置形成＂大处室＂和＂大科室＂以及完善城市规划委员会制度等。     

上海城市发展的内生基因研究

城市基因深刻地影响着城市的特质与未来发展潜力,在制定城市战略、城市规划及相应的公共政策过程中,必须顺应城市基因的特质,才能在推动城市发展过程中塑造与众不同的城市品牌.同时,城市战略的制定、实施与调整,也反过来不断优化城市的基因.上海是一个典型的江南城市,一个沿江靠海的港口城市,一个全球性的移民城市,一个世界级的商业城市,是新中国的工业重镇,也是迄今最为现代化的城市.正因如此,所以才形成了上海人、上海城市与众不同的特点,如全球交汇、多元融合、创新争先、理性明达.     

欧洲智慧城市

如今,一座城市的表现不仅取决于它的先天硬件(即有形资本),还更多地取决于知识流动的顺利与否、水平的高低以及社会的架构(人力资本与社会资本)。社会资本决定着城市的竞争力。在这一背景下,"智慧城市"的概念作为一种战略手段被提出,它将城市生产要素囊括于一个普遍的框架之中,更重要的是,它凸显出过去20年信息通讯技术对提升一座城市的竞争实力至关重要。本文旨在厘清"智慧城市"这个往往难以捉摸的概念。笔者针对这一构想提出一个浓缩且具可操作性的定义,并就欧盟27国中智慧城市的地理因素罗列出一系列证据。据笔者了解,本文的数据和图表分析首次深入运用最新版本的城市审计数据集,这些数据集设计的初衷就是为了分析影响智慧城市表现的决定性因素。我们发现:创意阶层的有无、城市环境的质量以及人们对城市环境的关注度、受教育水平、信息通讯技术(ICT)的通达性及其在公共管理领域中的应用,都与城市的财富正相关。这一结果促使欧洲城市形成新的战略,让它们实现城市可持续发展,创造更良好的城市景观。     

PARTICIPATORY SPATIAL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT TOOLS

Different types of spatial knowledge (expert, sectoral, tacit and community) are strategic resources in urban planning and management. Participatory spatial knowledge management is a major method for eliciting various types of knowledge, providing a platform for knowledge integration and informing local action and public policy. Knowledge types linked to a specific geographical locality can be integrated through geographical information systems. Recent developments in geographical information and communication technology (geoICT) have extended the opportunities for participatory spatial knowledge production, use and exchange. However, data reliability of user-generated content, social exclusion due to dependence on technology and the interpretation and implications of digital maps are major concerns. The challenge is how to integrate and utilize multiple knowledge sources for improving urban management and governance. This paper integrates the literature on knowledge types and knowledge production processes with available geoICT tools for the production, use and exchange of knowledge sources and applies it to examples from Asia, Africa and Latin America. From this review, we provide a heuristic framework for assessing the extent to which participatory spatial knowledge management tools can be instrumental on several fronts. We argue that technological developments of knowledge production have not fully addressed important issues related to accountability, empowerment, control and use of knowledge. Moreover, these developments may foster social exclusion, which could detract from the benefits of participatory spatial knowledge management in the context of urban sustainability.     

Participation in ‘big style’: first observations at the German citizens’ dialogue on future technologies

In 2010, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research started a series of citizens?? dialogues on future technologies. In the context of the German history of public participation in technology-oriented policy making, these dialogues are unique for at least two reasons: The Federal Ministry retains the responsibility for the entire process and is heavily involved in its planning, organization and communication, and the number of participants and process elements is significantly higher than in most other participative events. The paper presents insights into the political background of the citizens?? dialogues, its general concept as well as first observations from the dialogue rounds on energy and high-tech medicine. In addition, it discusses reactions of other political actors and expectations regarding legitimacy and representativeness of the dialogue results.     

Novel woodland patches in a small historical Mediterranean city: Padova,Northern Italy

Urban Ecosystems - Woodland fragments, in small historical cities, are commonly regarded as temporary voids in an urban matrix, yet to be allocated a land-use, under city planning regulations....     

上海推进“城中村”改造研究

改造"城中村",有利于改善居民居住生活质量,促进城乡统筹发展;有利于盘活存量用地,推进土地的节约、集约利用;有利于改善城乡形象、推进宜居城市建设。上海进一步推进"城中村"改造,须加强领导,推进"城中村"改造的体制机制建设;要均衡各方利益,调动政府、开发商和农民三方的积极性;要摸清底数,对纳入全市统一改造计划内的"城中村"实行目录管理;要因地制宜,针对各个"城中村"不同的情况进行分类指导;要突破创新,建立、健全支持"城中村"改造的政策体系;要营造氛围,形成有利于推进"城中村"改造的良好外部环境。     

Age-Friendly Portland: A University-City-Community Partnership

This article addresses the question of how creating an age-friendly city has come to be an important policy and planning issue in Portland, Oregon. In 2006, researchers from Portland State University's Institute on Aging examined the meanings of age friendliness among a broad range of participants in Portland, Oregon. The research was conducted in conjunction with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Age-Friendly Cities project and followed the completion of two earlier non–WHO-related projects. The city of Portland, through the Institute on Aging, was one of nine original members to apply for and be accepted into the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. An Age-Friendly Portland Advisory Council was formed to guide the development of an action plan, monitor progress over time, and suggest additional research. To understand how Portland's age-friendly policy effort has developed over time, we use Kingdon's (1984) agenda-setting framework to explain how the policy problem was formulated, how solutions were developed, and the influence of local politics. The policy actors, including individuals and organizations working within and outside of government, are described. The Portland experience provides a case study that other cities, especially those with a strong commitment to community-engaged urban planning, may find useful as they develop age-friendly initiatives.     

Usability and decision support systems in emergency management

The actors in charge of an emergency response are confronted with severe difficulties in coordination and decision making, especially in major accidents. To facilitate coordination, various decision support systems (DSS) integrated in communication systems have been developed. However, many DSS in the rescue service organizations are afflicted with under-use and other usability problems. Drawing on both a literature review and an analysis of recently obtained survey data from rescue personnel concerning usability of common communication system in Swedish emergency organizations, this paper addresses the issue of usability of DSS. It is concluded that the impetus for developing DSS in many cases has been the technological possibilities per se, not taking the decision makers task structure and contextual factors into account. It is argued that priority should be given to functions that provide a visual overview of the event and facilitate storing of the series of decisions made during the response.     

Urban bird community composition influenced by size of urban green spaces,presence of native forest,and urbanization

Urban Ecosystems - Understanding what determines wildlife species richness and community composition in urban green spaces is important for wildlife management and urban planning. Numerous studies...     

“面向未来30年的上海城市空间规划理念创新”研讨会评述

随着城市化进程的不断推进,城市有机疏散理论越来越引起人们的反思。弹性城市理论认为,高密度的城市其实更为集约、更具弹性。面向未来30年,人们对环境的适应能力以及生产技术水平、科学技术水平、生态修复水平和城市管理水平等都将不断提高,从而推动空间承载能力不断提高,城市空间规划理念应着眼于高密度发展和限制性发展相结合。为配合集约型城市空间规划战略,上海应以生态为出发点和落脚点进行空间规划,弱化小城镇的集聚发展,高起点定位未来新城发展。     

城区创新过程中的人口难题及应对——以上海杨浦区为例

特大型城市面临着城区创新和人口发展的双重挑战。城区创新发展与原有人口基础、产业结构和劳动力资源之间存在着巨大的反差和矛盾。而人口因素是人口基础、产业结构和劳动力资源等3个因素中的主导因素。只有将人口与经济、社会有机地结合起来,科学地梳理城区创新与人口发展的关系,将人口发展寓于城区产业升级、旧城改造当中,才能有效地推动城区创新发展。     

“Right to the City” and the Structure of Civic Organizational Fields: Evidence from Cape Town

This article proposes a network analytic approach to the role of frames in shaping the structure of civic organizational fields. Adopting a perspective from the global South, it looks at the impact of the expression “Right to the city” (RTC) over alliance building among civil society actors, exploring patterns of collaborative ties among 129 civil society organizations active in Cape Town from 2012 to 2014. The article addresses two broad questions: What is the relation between RTC and other frames that are also frequently invoked to describe urban struggles and issues? Does the RTC frame affect the structure of urban civic organizational fields in significant ways? Data suggest that while RTC plays a significant role in local civil society, it is neither the only interpretative frame that Capetonian civic organizations draw upon to characterize their activity, nor the more salient. “Urban conservation,” especially tied to nature conservation and environmental issues, actually shapes the structure of local organizational fields in a sharper manner. This is, however, a potentially more divisive frame, rooted as it is in the apartheid legacy that still shapes urban dynamics in the city.     

Managing our urban future: the role of remote sensing and geographic information systems

Urban growth is inevitable over the next two decades. The bulk of this growth will take place in less developed countries. This presents a formidable challenge for urban planners and managers. With this in mind, this paper considers some of the ways urban planners can make use of recent developments in remote sensing and geographic information systems technology to respond to this challenge. The discussion is divided into four sections. The first of these considers the nature of the tasks involved. The second examines the potential of remote sensing and geographic information systems to assist in these tasks in general terms. The third section presents some of the findings of three case studies of contrasting application areas in the urban planning field which give some insights as to how these tools can be used to respond to this challenge. The final section rounds off the discussion with a vision of sustainable urban development and its implementation at the local level.     

Life pattern of urban trees: A growth-modelling approach

Urban afforestation improves life quality in urban centers providing social and environmental benefits. Understanding growth of urban trees exposed to air pollution will support planning, managing and expanding urban areas. This approach intends to determine growth patterns of urban trees to support future urban planning. Non-destructive samples were collected from trees of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze in Araucaria city, Parana State, Brazil. Growth rings were related to pollutant concentrations and meteorological series. Growth reduction was observed except in the border areas of the city. Trees established during or after the period of industrialization incentives were most affected by air pollution, indicating that immature plants are more vulnerable. Sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide significantly affected growth of smaller trees. Those greater than 60 cm dbh did not demonstrate significant correlation with any identified pollutant. As the trees established before accentuated urbanization were less affected by air pollution, it is reinforced the importance of preserving remaining urban trees. We suggest that planning urban afforestation should precede industries placing. When urban planning is impossible, new planted trees should not be expected to grow as in free pollution areas, but they will still present satisfactory diameter increment, contributing to improve local urban environment.     

广州城市创新职能的若干建议

全球化与知识经济的迅速发展，使城市的职能正在发生革命性的变化，城市的职能已由工业城市的生产制造功能、服务城市的管理与协调职能向创意城市的创新、创意职能转化。本文在阐述广州城市职能演变基础上，提出了广州创新城市建设的建议。     

Information technology, networks and community voices

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have altered the form and structure of urban centres across the globe. Scholars suggest that hybrid spaces of electronic networks and urban sites herald the future of city planning, representing a fluidity of material place and cyberspace that transforms patterns of city life. This project examines the regenerative capabilities of ICTs in decaying urban neighbourhoods that link virtual networks of community participation and expression with the physical presence of community media centres. Using symbolic interactionism and qualitative interviews, this research suggests that inner-city residents find ICTs to be a key element in neighbourhood and community revitalization. Overall, this research considers the notion that ICTs are integral components of contemporary urban planning.