2017 Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon 11-14th July

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Open Access
A closer look into how land-use, social networks and ict influence location choice of social activities
(AESOP, 2017) Baburajan, Vishnu; de Abreu e Silva, João António
Technology now enables individuals to travel more flexibly, thanks to ICT and the numerous social networks. The choice of location for social activities has become very flexible, sometimes allowing changes to a previous decision on the move. In addition to this, the characteristics of the residential and university location also play a vital role in the choice of location for social activities. It would be quite exciting to uncover the behavioral patterns associated with these decisions. Hence, this study pursues the following objectives: 1. to analyze the influence of ICT, social networks and land-use characteristics of the residence and university in choice of location for social travel. 2. To analyze the similarities and dissimilarities in the choice of activities pursued during weekdays and weekends. Students from the two different campuses of Instituto Superior Técnico were presented with an online questionnaire, intended to collect information about the use of ICT and social networks, in addition to the travel characteristics and socio-demographics. Emphasis was made in capturing the characteristics of social networks and ICT usage. Information on the land-use characteristics was later obtained from secondary sources. Factor analysis was initially carried out to extract factors related to use of ICT and social networks, which were to be later used in the model for choice of location. The alternatives considered for location choice include: location within 800 m from the residence, location within 800 m from the university, locations away from home and university and evenly spread locations. The analysis was performed separately for travel during weekdays and weekends, to understand the differences and similarities in behavior during these different time periods. A multinomial logit model was estimated to model this choice. This adds to the literature, the understanding of influence of use of ICT, social networks and land-use characteristics, in the context of social travel.
Open Access
A contrastive study on strategic value of public space plan in urban development from the perspective of space production
(AESOP, 2017) Geng, Jia; Chen, Bowen; Wang, Meijie
Public space is one of the most important elements to realize the concept of resilient city. Not only could it provide emergency shelters when disasters, it also could provide a flexible and sustainable development for industries as a macroscopic spatial strategy. The value of public space has been rising gradually with calls for human-centered environment, after its concession for economic development in decades. Because it could beautify environment and promote social communication. What’s more, it has a tendency from its own ecological, social and aesthetic value to strategic one as a catalyst in urban development. Urban catalyst, means that a particular element has a positive influence on the external or internal conditions of the existing ones and causes a “chain reaction”, promoting continuous urban development as arrangement (Atton W.& Logan D., 1994). There is no doubts that public space has a great potential to be a catalyst in urban development.
Open Access
A heuristic framework for exploring uncertainties in transport planning
(AESOP, 2017) Navarro-Ligero, Miguel L.; Soria-Lara, Julio A.; Valenzuela-Montes, Luis Miguel
In recent decades, the effectiveness of positivistic approaches in transport planning has been growly contested by academics and practitioners (Innes and Booher, 2010). The idea of planning for a single model of reality is becoming obsolete when considering the fast and radical changes that society is experiencing at present and in the near future (e.g. ICT advances, environmental concerns, social inequalities, changes in mobility behaviour, etc.) (Batty et al., 2012; Lyons and Davidson, 2016; Marsden et al., 2014). The discussed crisis of the rational-planning model has generated a great deal of interest in those rationalities pursuing “alternative realities” of planning, rooted in critical realism, constructivism and pragmatism (Khisty and Arslan, 2005). However, practitioners and policy-makers are still comfortable with the idea of planning as “enlightening the future”, also reinforced by traditional planning cultures, legal frameworks, and political institutions (Lyons and Davidson, 2016). Placed in a crossroad of approaches, motivations and perspectives, the issue of unveiling uncertainty has been gaining relevance among transport-planning researchers (Martens and van Weelden, 2014). Attempts at understanding uncertainty have mostly been made from a decision-making perspective, especially from the transport-modelling field (van der Pas et al., 2010; Walker et al., 2003). However, those approaches face what is known as the “uncertainty paradox”: the recognition of higher levels of uncertainty goes hand in hand with the expectations of positivistic science and knowledge to tackle them (van Asselt and Vos, 2006). Moreover, despite multiple dimensions of uncertainty having been explored in literature (Brown, 2004), they seldom encompass the plurality of perspectives (and also languages) involved in transport planning. At this point, previous systematization and conceptualization efforts need to converge into common overarching frames, which are flexible enough to embrace this plurality of uncertainty dimensions.
Open Access
A land capacity analysis method using GIS tools, as exemplified by the city of Warsaw, Poland
(AESOP, 2017) Jachimowicz, Anna; Małgorzata Solarek, Krystyna
The generation of forecasts regarding the further physical development of urbanised areas is a key part of spatial planning, and indeed integrated planning as conceived more broadly. A key role in the process is played by land capacity analysis, which permits both an assessment of the current state of utilisation and management of an area and the possibilities for development – by transformation or augmentation or else the de novo designation of land for building; along with indications as to how that land may be used. Further upgrading of methods by which to analyse land capacity can thus be seen as a priority where the improvement of planning methodology is concerned. According to Kotarbiński [1973], a method is a planner’s way of pursuing a complex task that entails a defined selection and juxtaposition or configuration of component activities that seek to bring about a single, identified objective, while at the same time being suitable for multiple (repeat) use. However, the methodological issues actually representing such a key aspect in effective urban planning (here conceived of as an inherent feature of the process by which development is managed) are only taken up very rarely in Poland, and if they are – this is mostly as some kind of side issue. It is now evermore typical to see authors [like Markowski 2010] espousing the idea that post-1990 Poland has experienced regress (“gone backwards”) when it comes to urban-planning methodology. In this, it is also worth recalling how the output from Polish urban-planning thought is seen to include many examples of applied methods that have now passed into history. To be included among these is the threshold analysis method after Stanisław Malisz1, as well as the ”Warsaw Optimisation” method2 after Kolipiński [2016].
Open Access
A model for the pursuit of robust urban form
(AESOP, 2017) Hall, Tony
The starting point of the argument to be presented here is that the physical structure of urban areas lasts from many decades to several centuries. Without rebuilding, it can constrain, or even prohibit, specific urban activities that are thought desirable and being planned for. In contrast, economic and social forces will change markedly over the same time period and it is desirable that the physical structure should be designed to cope with these changes. Growth of settlements is the norm rather than the exception and, at the very least, there is no basis for assuming that a city will never expand beyond its existing limits. As urban areas expand, it becomes necessary to retrofit them by inserting new, and adapting existing, buildings and by renewing and extending the infrastructure. Increases in residential density will result and will require similar retrofitting. If, therefore, a city is to be planned it must be robust: it should be designed to accommodate change, particularly the expansion of infrastructure, on a continual basis. Although, at first sight, very long-term physical planning of robust form may seem like a tall order, it will be argued that it is feasible. A theoretical and normative model of robust urban form can be derived, or deduced, from two sets of planning goals - pursuit of quality of life and pursuit of sustainability (Hall, 2015) - and it will be shown that it has some remarkable properties.
Open Access
A socio-juridical criticism to urbanistic law for a new urban strategy in natal/rn/Brazil
(AESOP, 2017) Medeiros Ferreira, Ana Mônica
The principle of the dignity of the human person is a moral, social and juridical value inherent in the person, that is, every human being is endowed with this precept, and this is the highest principle of the democratic state of law. While it is a right the idea of dignity in a collective dimension concerns tolerability per temporal, spatial and cultural circumstances. Thus, the city must be the place of the exercise of the dignity of the human person. Based on this idea and based on a dialectical perspective, the research proposes to discuss the effectiveness - notably ineffectiveness - of the norms of urban law, through the confrontation between the Federal Constitution, the City Statute, the Metropolis Statute, and the Municipal Master Plan in the State of Rio Grande do Norte located in Brazil. For purposes of this work, effectiveness is understood as the conformity of the actual situation to the legal situation granted or determined by the standard. In this sense, the first stage of the work consists in the revision of the literature focused on the legislation and legal instruments of urban law that regulate the urban space in the municipality of Natal. Next, we intend to criticize the illusion of urban law and the predominantly positivist conception that predominates both in the elaboration of legislation in Natal-RN and in the application of such norms. In addition, to investigate the causes of noncompliance with norms of urban law, it is necessary to study the city and society in which we live, the relation of identification and belonging of the individual with the city in which he lives, what mechanisms of participation Effectiveness of such individuals. In other words, we must understand in depth the ideas of democracy and justice, from the precepts of freedom and equality to the understanding of our reality. In this sense, the objective is to evaluate if the usual means and procedures used in the city of Natal-RN in the legitimization of public decisions in the sphere of urban policies, are backed by social legitimacy, once we experience the daily practice of civil disobedience in relation to the laws in the coexistence of the legal city and the illegal city.
Open Access
A theory of technological cities
(AESOP, 2017) Martinović, Milan
When two forces unite, their efficiency double. Sir Isaac Newton, 1687- Approximately Spatial planners must adapt to the modern way of planning cities. In today's modern world planners play a key role in the development of cities, but on the other hand have equal opponents in the form of policy, regulation, technology, where each individual has a certain role in development. The planner is the one who needs to adapt all the obstacles, to rise above all and successfully directed the planning of the city. Cities in Europe are the main driving force of the economy and any change of the urban environment can leave severe consequences, both good and bad. It is very important that the planner should be careful and wise with the withdrawal of drastic moves to improve the city. Cities were created with a great goal to provide the best possible life for the population. The modern city for its population should provide good health care, good jobs, education, fast and reliable transportation, a healthy environment, a variety of cultural events, a place for rest and relaxation. Humanity over the next 100 years are expected the era of technology and energy, and we, as planners we have to be ready to prepare our cities through technological and energy development. Late implementation of modern technology can leave major implications on the functioning of cities, such as non-use of renewable energy, which directly leads to uncontrolled consume non-renewable natural resources. The current and future reality of space must be understood as a system in an uncertain environment, the development of which influence tendencies and "breaks" their subsystems and the interactions between them (Dabović, 2008).
Open Access
Achieving spatial quality in integrated planning: an evaluation of the Dutch ‘room for the river’ program using qualitative comparative analysis
(AESOP, 2017) Verweij, Stefan; van den Broek, Jelte; Busscher, Tim; van den Brink, Margo
In line with recent trends towards area-oriented planning, flood risk management has seen a shift from a water control strategy towards a water accommodation strategy. In the Netherlands, this resulted in the policy program Room for the River. The projects in this policy program are expected to achieve two key objectives: first, the accommodation of higher flood levels, i.e., water safety, and second, improving the spatial quality of the riverine areas. Whilst research has shown that the program is successful with respect to increasing water safety, less is known about its second objective. This paper thus has two aims: (1) assessing the extent to which the program has been able to achieve spatial quality and (2) identifying the conditions that explain this. To these aims, archival and survey data were collected, and analyzed using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). The analysis shows that there are various combinations of conditions for achieving spatial quality. We conclude that these different combinations entail different strategies, and that by means of those, the program management has been successful in achieving spatial quality in the Room for the River program.
Open Access
Adapting to adaptation: flexible planning, policy making, and the transition from reaction to (pro)action
(AESOP, 2017) Pinto, Pedro Janela; Reis, João Pedro
Traditional planning relies on a cycle of plan formulation/implementation/revision to keep planning instruments up-to-date and more or less effective in face of evolving planning contexts. The inability of static physical plans to respond to changes in the planning context (such as shifts in demographic trends, varying demands for certain land-uses, requests for new facilities or infrastructures, or the obsolescence of others) has been the subject of a long line of inquiry in planning theory. The frequent revision of a plan may help in increasing the plan’s adherence to the changing reality, but in essence, a plan becomes increasingly obsolete from the moment it is crystalized in a fixed regulation and maps. As a response, several innovations have been introduced to the planning practice so as to allow the plan to remain as suited as possible to the evolving planning context, such as scenario planning or flexible planning (Friedman 2007).
Open Access
An ecosystem services based environmental sustainability assessment tool for land use plans
(AESOP, 2017) Mentese, Emin Yahya; Tezer, Azime
The mostly used and agreed sustainability definition is maybe the first one made by United Nations World Conference on Environmental Development (1987) in the Brundtland Report stating that sustainability is a development approach that enables progress today without compromising from the abilities of future generations to develop themselves. There is a consensus that human activities must be sustainable and meanwhile there has to be fixed level of disruption of resources based on human activities that reduces the ability of this capital to sustain for the humanity in the future (Arrow et.al, 1995). In this aspect, land use planning is one of the most critical tool that shapes our living environment by setting the limits of development and urbanization. Hence planning process itself is an important factor in sustainable development. After a detailed literature review including several researches in the fields of landscape planning, landscape ecology, environmental impact assessment, ecosystem management Leitao and Ahern remark that sustainable land use planning is an inevitable conclusion of the evolution of the planning discipline into the 21st century where new social values such as the key concepts of sustainability (solidarity between present and future generations and the need to balance development with nature) are increasingly being seized upon into planning process and regulations (2002). In addition, there are various scientists claiming that sustainability is one of the integral parts of the landscape planning process (Forman, 1995; Grossman and Bellot, 1999). However it has been observed that planning discipline wasn’t rapid enough to fit into the principles of ecology and therefore sustainability must be adopted more efficiently in planning process and administrating lands for which new tools are required (Leitao and Ahern, 2002) since its spatial component is strongly related to inter-dependence of land uses and to spatial processes such as fragmentation (van Lier, 1998).
Open Access
An evaluation of the access to neighbourhood parks based on the “need-based equity”: a case study in Izmir (Turkey)
(AESOP, 2017) Şenol, Fatma; Ozkan, Pelin; Atay Kaya, İlgi
This study aims at contributing to the studies about how spatial distribution of neighbourhood parks in existing cities shape the opportunities for equitable access to “healthy environments” of the “needgroups” – here, low income groups, women, children, and elderly. Based on the “need-based equity,” it evaluates such need-groups’ “access” to neighbourhood parks in the central districts of Izmir, the third biggest metropolitan city in Turkey. It deploys “equity mapping” with the help of geographic information system to analyse and interrelate the basic data about the characteristics of neighbourhood parks and the population that is available in Turkey’s context but relatively limited compared to European context. It comparatively identifies and evaluates the objective characteristics of the built and social environment at the city scale and relates the findings to the discussions of the relations between built environment, health and urban justice.
Open Access
An infrastructure-based planning as a model for addressing complexity and uncertainty
(AESOP, 2017) Sánchez-Rivas, Gael
The conception of the Territory, or in other case of the city or the urban as a part of the previous one, as a Complex Evolutionary System, full of diversity and uncertainty due to its continuous transformation, it is clear that it has important implications for Planning. So, if Planning is considered as a way of thinking and future-oriented action based on decisions of a spatial nature taken in the present on a complex and constantly changing system. The main consequence is the impossibility of formulating an allencompassing and finalist Planning, since it is not possible to intervene on all the elements of the system, which are also in continuous evolution and transformation. Then, in a spatial context of strong uncertainty, due to the non-linear combination of different coevolutionary changes, it is not feasible to formulate a finalist image of the territory, or city, for a future time horizon. Therefore, Planning has to change its traditional budgets and accept that in a complex, diverse, evolutionary and uncertain environment its role will be very different. For that reason, Planning must accept that its fundamental objective will be the formulation of alternative solutions for each spatial problem posed, evaluating different evolutionary trajectories of the territory, in order to facilitate and improve collective decision making.
Open Access
An output of paradigm-shift in urban planning: “resilient transportation” and examination on city of Istanbul
(AESOP, 2017) Ciris, Seckin
Throughout the history, urban planning experienced several changes and developments with the light of economic, politic, demographic, social and environmental characteristics of existing time period and effects of these features on society. An example of these developments is the emergence of the idea of seeking a comprehensive and multi-faceted solution to the negative situations of cities in the early 1990s in the context of "sustainable planning". The question of how our cities will react in the face of adverse conditions has become a matter of debate. The focus of this debate lies in the fact that cities and the inhabitants of the city struggle with sudden changes and threats. Aim of this study is determination of necessities for integrating urban transportation with urban resilience concept and examination of basic approaches for this integration method. One of the most important subject is identification of policies and scenarios in so that resilient transportation concept works with urban transportation system in harmony and reflection of this harmony to city as a whole. In addition to this, the determination of working principles integrated with different disciplines (social sciences, economic sciences, etc.) and the inclusion of macro and micro scales into urban planning are among the topics to be elaborated. Finally, on the Istanbul city, analysing existing potentials and possibilities in the context of urban transportation and making of policies, scenarios and solution alternatives are discussed on the city of Istanbul.
Open Access
Analysing retail location and urban dynamics in Lisboa
(AESOP, 2017) Colaco, Rui; de Abreu e Silva, João
What drives people into a city? Some cities seem able to attract workers and residents, sometimes tourists, eventually all of these. Some are commuter towns. And some are, to some extent, in between those. Christaller (1933) considered the city to be the centre of a market area, and Lösch (1954) further elaborated on that theory. Location theories date back to von Thünen (1826), but close to the 21st century, Krugman (1991) posed a relevant question: why is it that in such a large, fertile country like the U.S.A. “the bulk of the population resides in a few clusters of metropolitan areas?”. The question was later emphasized, with Clarke (2003) and Jayne (2006) assuming postmodern cities as places of consumption. Jacobs (1961) had long hinted at why people live in cities: “Not only do public characters spread the news and learn the news at retail, so to speak. They connect with each other and thus spread word wholesale, in effect.”. The city was presented as more than just a market centre – it was an organic system, whose complexity couldn’t be modelled at the time. But modelling complex systems has evolved significantly, with the focus, in some cases, having shifted from “how to” to “how well”, as more data becomes available and models become more sophisticated. “What scientists really need to know is exactly how well (or how poorly) their models perform over a broad range of conditions and criteria” (Costanza, 1989). Even though results still can’t provide absolute certainties, they can prove to be relevant for research. Therefore, this paper aims at contributing to research on modelling a complex system, by identifying factors that might explain retail spatial distribution, and analysing its effects on a city, with Lisboa being used as a case study.
Open Access
Analysis of dynamic public transit accessibility in Warsaw
(AESOP, 2017) Goch, Katarzyna; Ochota, Szymon; Piotrkowska, Monika; Kunert, Zuzanna
Public transport plays an important role in functioning of every large city. It facilitates the flow of people and goods, and connects strategic areas of housing, labour, commerce or entertainment. Cities cannot develop properly when relation between those areas is not satisfactory. Public transport accessibility is a key factor to a stable operation of the whole system that city creates. It is generally understood as the ease of access to the means of transport and the ease of travelling to desired destinations. Concepts of the transport availability are used in the research on the settlement network, transportation systems and spatial development at every level (Olszewski, Dybicz, Śleszyński, 2013). Public transport accessibility evaluation may significantly support management of city components of the city and whole transit network. The analysis should precede every major construction investment. It may also help local authorities intervene when current condition of public transport services is deficient in certain areas, especially housing developments poorly connected with public service areas and workplaces. Therefore, th following paper presents an attempt to asses a public transit time accessibility on the example of a medium-sized European city - Warsaw.
Open Access
Analysis of the air flow performance in Warsaw in years 2002-2016
(AESOP, 2017) Goch, Katarzyna; Cholewinski, Jan; Jedut, Aleksandra; Kunert, Zuzanna; Rodak, Piotr; Osinska-Skotak, Katarzyna
Nowadays, more than s half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. By 2045 this number is expected to surpass six billion, reaching 66 percent by 2050 (United Nations, 2014). People decide to choose cities as their living place for various reasons, such as developed labour market or wide range of services. Unfortunately, highly urbanised areas, despite their understandable economic and living- standard advantages, suffer from serious environmental and development problems caused by erroneous planning decisions. City climate is clearly related to general climatic conditions occurring in a selected geographic region, however, it is also dependent on factors such as land use, building geometry or street canyon design. Luke Howard in his renowned work “Climate of London” 200 years ago proved that urban climate differs from the rural one and noticed the urban heat island (UHI) occurrence. Indeed, the city of Warsaw, an object of this study, is distinguished by a lower access of solar power, higher air temperature and shorter period of frost incidence as well as lower relative humidity, bigger cloud cover, higher rates of rainfall and lower wind speed (Stopa-Boryczka, Kopacz-Lembowicz, Wawer, 2001). Rapid changes of temperature, wind and humidity also affect comfort and health of the people as well as energy consumption and air quality (Elliason, 1999). Thus it is important to enable achieving conditions of thermal comfort especially in a hot and humid climate, through increasing wind velocity (Kato & Hiyama, 2012). Ensuring proper airflow in urban areas should be one of the key environmental issues tackled by governments and city mayors. However, T. R. Oke points out that it implies a critical choice between four goals: to maximize shelter for pedestrians by not exposing them to strong winds, to maximize dispersion of pollutants and minimize their impact on inhabitants and vegetation, to maximize urban warmth and to take full advantage of solar energy. We have to take into consideration that large amount of harmful compounds detected in the air of urban areas where human activity is intensified is not only a result of increased emission but also an effect of the strong surface drag in rough structures and limited effectiveness of dispersion of pollutants (Suder & Szymanowski, 2014). Therefore this study was set to analyse changes in morphology and terrain roughness in Warsaw in years 2002-2016 and related changes in city’s aerodynamic properties, including ventilation corridors.
Open Access
Analyze of south Georgian healthcare tourism cluster comparing with german and hungarian examples of the regional planning of resort cities
(AESOP, 2017) Khoshtaria, Tamar; Chachava, Nino; Nahrendorf, Gudrun; Csizmadiáné, Czuppon; Viktória Malerba, Andrea
The article discusses importance issues of medical tourism and resort medicine for the case of Southern Georgian resorts, especially resorts in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region Akhaltsikhe, Borjomi and Abastumani. Cluster analysis principle is applied and the central role of health-care tourism and resort medicine in Tourism and Recreation Cluster of Samtskhe-Javakheti is defined. Historical experience of Georgia in health-care tourism and resort medicine is highlighted. Renewed development of health-care tourism and resort medicine should be related to the Sustainable Urban Development of these settlements, therefore, future policy should be determined. In this regard, complex activities in following issues were offered: education improvement in the field of resort medicine, considering appropriate resort treatment in insurance packages, urban planning solutions and Smart city management, environmental and protective planting issues, rehabilitation of resort infrastructure. We offer to create health-care tourism cluster for Georgia considering contemporary trends, and for this were defined successful examples of developed countries, in particular, German and Hungarian cases. The direct contribution of Travel and Tourism to GDP was 6.5% in 2015 in Hungary. The raising part of tourism is medical tourism in Hungary and the most popular area situated near to the Austrian border. All over the country there are many type of baths and the therapeutic use of them is common. The good examples of them could be helpful to create a brand new touristic destination in Georgia. Also a good example for Georgian healthcare Tourism Cluster development is a managed system of German resots named Deutscher Heilbäderverband. Resorts of Germany have united functional system, with interactive map and comprehensive information, resorts profile and category classification, affordable health-care activities, etc. In tourism and recreation cluster of Samtskhe-Javakheti are considered Akhaltsikhe, Borjomi and Abastumani, like resorts, determining main profile of the region. Also potential thermal resorts of South Georgia should be considered for future development. In this regard climatic and geographic characteristics, also balneology resources potential of above mentioned resort cities were shown. Sustainable urban development recommendations for the rehabilitation and further development of the health-care tourism and resort medicine field were worked out.
Open Access
Analyzing a global sense of place by using cognitive maps: a study of Afghan immigrant women in Auckland
(AESOP, 2017) Tafaroji, Roja
Sense of place, according to the literature (Hummon, 1986; Lewicka, 2008; Proshansky et al., 1976; Raymond et al., 2010; Relph, 1976; 1997; Tuan, 1980; 1975), is the characteristic and meaning of a place derived from the experiences that people as individuals or within a group have in the place. Places are, therefore, spatial settings which gain specific characters from people’s experiences in a particular time. Places are conceived and sensed “in a chiaroscuro of setting, landscape, ritual, routine, other people, personal experiences, care and concern for home, and in the context of other places” (Relph, 1976, p.29). Globalization is widely argued as the process of economic, political and socio-cultural change since it has been associated with worldwide flows of migration and mobility (Berner, 1997; Castells, 1991; Massey & Jess, 2003 [1995]; Pile et al., 1999; Pries, 1999; Steger, 2003). Cities are not excluded from this global change. Their meanings and identities constantly change according to the different experiences of different people over time. This paper explores the meanings of places in the global city of Auckland according to everyday life experiences of Afghan immigrant women who live in Auckland. In order to discuss the meanings of different places for Afghan immigrant women in Auckland, firstly, I provide an overview of the meaning of everyday life experience in relation to the developing sense of place in the era of globalization. Then, along with offering a critique of the essentialist approach to the place and its meaning in the globalization era, this paper suggests cognitive mapping as a method to explore the meanings of the place in the global city. This paper discusses the findings of the fieldwork study that I undertook for my PhD research project in Auckland from 2014 and 2015. This fieldwork study was on eight Afghan immigrant women from two generations of immigration (1st and 1.5 generation) who live in Auckland. By focussing on cognitive maps which were drawn by these women, this paper, finally shows how these Afghan women conceive, perceive, use, and present different places in the global city of Auckland. As a concluding mark, I suggest that cognitive mapping can be applied as a method compatible with the fluidity of everyday life experiences of different groups of people, especially groups of minority, in the place of majority of global cities like Auckland.
Open Access
Anthropophagy in planning: building a theory from the south through : An association of actor- network theory and historical materialism
(AESOP, 2017) Melgaço, Lorena; Baltazar, Ana Paula
The tacit understanding of a singular path to development still permeates the practice of urban planning in both Global South and North, ignoring “the world epistemological diversity [and] the conflictual plurality of the knowledges that inform social practices” (Santos et al., 2004, p. 19). Even when the interest to situate the local within a globalised world is identified, there is little research that investigates local networks, reflecting what Souza (2011) describes as ‘knocking on the doors, but not entering the houses’, as researchers do not delve into the everyday. Even still, when research does investigate the everyday, the natural step is to appropriate EuroAmerican (that is, central) theoretical frameworks to deal with peripheries, disregarding particular socio-spatial features of local practices. So, the tooling is usually inadequate and out of context reflecting a hegemonic ‘central’ process that packs places full of singularities in the category ‘the periphery’.
Open Access
Articulating nature, culture and urbanization: an experience of metropolitan planning in Belo Horizonte
(AESOP, 2017) Palhares, Rogério; Soares de Moura Costa, Heloisa
The Trama Verde e Azul, blue and green network, or simply TVA, is one of the main territorial structuring dimensions of regional/metropolitan planning adopted for the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region - RMBH, Southeast Brazil. Developed as a result of a bottom up participatory planning process and inspired by international as well as local green infrastructure and river restoration programs, the TVA proposal seeks to articulate nature, culture and urbanization, through the combination of a series conservation units, open spaces, community facilities and other environmental and cultural assets, all connected by a water system of rivers, streams and lakes, and focusing on planning strategies for land use control, organic and family agriculture, ecologic tourism and ecosystem service delivery programs, among others. This paper discusses the extent to which these metropolitan planning strategies may lead to social and environment transformation towards justice, focusing on TVA implementation, highlighting zoning categories, design criteria and other planning and community involvement programs being collectively built through a rich but very contentious combination of statutory instruments and negotiation strategies involving stakeholders, public officials, planners and policy makers.