The Development of Urban Neighbourhoods and the Benefit of Indication Systems

The last few years much use is being made ofso-called indication systems to map the development ofneighbourhoods. It is hoped that these systems quicklybring possible livability problems to light, so thatpeople can intervene in accordance with policy.In this article the advantages and pitfalls of such anindication system are gone into. Such a system has totake into account the fact that the development ofneighbourhoods does not have a fixed pattern.Furthermore the much-used objective indicators oftendo not mesh with the subjective perception ofresidents and the appraisal processes ofprofessionals. Also much more consideration will haveto be given to social characteristics, which in ourday have become increasingly more determining for thelivability of neighbourhoods. It is also importantthat the action of managers be part of acharacterization of neighbourhoods. It is being arguedthat an indication system cannot be confined toregistering indicators and other data, for it has todirectly contribute to policy interventions. That iswhy a good indication system takes both facts and creation of an image into account, as well aslivability characteristics and theconsiderations of residents and managers. In a fewbrief concluding observations, the different functionsan indication system can have as a policy instrumentare gone into.