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“Arusha City Resilience Index Pilot Program” for the Tanzanian Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Arusha, Tanzania, 2015

Abstract

The “Arusha City Resilience Index Pilot Program” established an accessible, evidence-based definition of urban resilience in Arusha, Tanzania, culminating in the publication of the City Resilience Framework in July 2015.

The City Resilience Index (CRI) from 2015 aimed to measure and assess to what extent a city is achieving its resilience goals. The CRI was developed by International Development non-project branch of Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd with support from the Rockefeller Foundation. The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development in Arusha, Tanzania was one of five municipalities to participate in the CRI pilot program to test the feasibility and utility of the Index in different contexts around the world.

As part of the Program, I2UD staff performed an initial review of the Index to develop a work plan for the pilot program and to contextualize urban planning in Arusha. The team managed a task force of local authorities to collect qualitative and quantitative data related to the four dimensions of resilience: (Health and well-being, Economy and society, Infrastructure and environment, and Leadership and strategy). Finally, I2UD experts analyzed data collection outputs to produce an internal report assessing the indicators and data collection process and provided recommendations for improving the Index. I2UD also interviewed key community stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines, and facilitated a stakeholder workshop to perform a qualitative assessment of urban resilience in Arusha.

Documents include a CRI Introduction, an I2UD Schedule, and a Master Plan Stage II “Socio-Economic Report” and “Preliminary Visioning and Programming Report”. Supporting documents include a Technical Working Group Meeting Agenda.


[Excerpt: CRI Introduction, July 2015]

“Urban populations are facing increasing challenges from numerous natural and manmade pressures such as rapid urbanization, climate change, terrorism and increased risks from natural hazards. Cities must learn to adapt and thrive in the face of these diverse challenges – they must learn how to build resilience in an uncertain world. Armed with this knowledge and understanding, governments, donors, investors, policy makers, and the private sector will be able to develop effective strategies to foster more resilient cities.”

Project Year:2015
Project Type:Workshop
Geographic Regions:Arusha, Tanzania
Reports:
Authors:Andrew Charles (Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd); Alejandra Mortarini; Barbara Summers
Sponsors:Rockefeller Foundation
Categories:Climate Change and Resilience Building
  
ID:2015_08_001
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“City of Szczecin Capital Improvement Program,” Case Studies for Technical Assistance Program, Szczecin, Poland, 1996

Abstract

In 1996, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design collaborated with the Local Economic Professionals Association (Szczecin, Poland) to prepare capital improvement program for the city of Szczecin, Poland.

The program emphasized linking land management strategies to the provision and financing of infrastructure. The development of public/private partnership identified in the strategy documents included methods of packaging projects in order to build rehabilitation and neighborhood improvements.

This technical assistance project was later used to prepare a teaching case for an Executive Seminar on Urban Planning and Local Economic Development taught in Iasi, Romania on March 20-23, 2001, organized by the Unit in association with the Research Triangle Institute, and as part of the USAID Local Government Assistance Program. Documents include case studies and 5 tables containing detailed outlines of strategic goals.


[Excerpt: The Capital Improvement Program, City of Szczecin: (Case Study), page 7]

“Supportive Policies and Strategies: A series of strategy documents within key development sectors were produced and used as a guide for the development of the capital investment plan. These include:

  • A renovation strategy for commercial and residential buildings in city center;
  • A housing policy for the entire city.
  • Master Plan for central heating;
  • Master Plan for waste management;
  • Master Plan for water supply and sewage management.

“Other reports and studies pertaining to the Capital Investment Program (CIP) included transport studies for Szczecin and an analysis of the city’s regional and macro-regional functions and responsibilities. The reports have generated a valuable database outlining the range of investment requirements in individual sectors. These reports also formed the basis for a more extensive review of the Conditions and Directions Of Urban Planning for The City of Szczecin and a City Development Strategy.

“These reports identified investment priorities that would promote balanced development for the city. The most important of them will be the specifications of investment projects graded according to their priority. Together, these Strategies and Master Plans provide analysis of effective sectoral management methods for the city.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1996
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:Szczecin, Poland
Reports:
Authors:John Driscoll; Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:Local Economic Professionals Association (Szczecin, Poland); Center for Urban Development Studies, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:1996_06_002

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“Geographic Information Systems: The Spatial Dimension of Urban Information Management,” Early GIS Research Paper by François Vigier, Jonathan Corson-Rikert, and Joy Hecht, 1989

Abstract

The paper “Geographic Information Systems: The Spatial Dimension of Urban Information Management” was written in July 1989 by François Vigier, Jonathan Corson-Rikert, and Joy Hecht under the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

The report reviews the emerging field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in 1989, and summarizes its administrative and technical applications. It discusses the use of information systems in urban management, the development of computer mapping and geographic information systems, the management of streets and utilities, and potential system expansions for the technology.

A history of using GIS systems in urban development is related to I2UD’s latest focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) geographic imaging systems. Early concepts from 1989 can be compared to—or demonstrate the origins of—modern GIS mapping technologies.


[Excerpt: “Geographic Information Systems: The Spatial Dimension of Urban Information Management,” July 1989, p. 2]

“The evolution of computer technology over the past ten years offers new opportunities in this field to Third World cities. Software that integrates management systems with geographic data offers municipal officials new ways to approach technical problems, by addressing directly the spatial dimensions of the issues.

Conventional tools allow the development of quantitative estimates of future trends; only the ability to visualize their probable impacts in space allows a realistic conceptualization of growth or of changes in the quality of urban life. Planning strategies that are responsive to the pressures of rapid growth, effective in the management of the physical plant, and sensitive to the need to allocate scarce public resources depend on the merging of analytical techniques and spatial decisions.”

[Excerpt cont’, p. 8]

“Geographic information systems, linking maps and data base management systems make the storage and management of a wide range of spatial information possible. No longer an isolated component used to display results or store geographic data, computer mapping has become an affordable integral part of urban management.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1989
Project Type:Research Paper
Geographic Regions:Global / None Specified
Reports:Geographic Information Systems: The Spatial Dimension of Urban Information Management (July 1989)
Authors:François Vigier; Jonathan Corson-Rikert; Joy Hecht
Sponsors:Unit for Housing and Urbanization, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:Reconciliation and Development
  
ID:1989_07_002

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“Computerized Urban Management Methods: PROJECT, AFFORD and PALMS,” Early GIS Computer Software Documentation for Urban Management, 1987-1993

Abstract

Starting in 1987, team members at the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design developed a pilot suite of three computer software programs for urban management: PROJECT, AFFORD, and PALMS (Parcel-Based Land Management System). These programs were data simulation models designed to assist international public officials in assessing physical factors and financial resources for housing development and land planning.

Documents below include an AFFORD user manual, a PROJECT user manual and description, and a PALMS progress report, with maps and slides. Supporting documents include three student reports from the 1988 Design Studio, addressing the use of computerized systems: “Information Systems in the Developing World,” “Feasibility of Housing Surveys,” and “Long Term Human Activities and Ecosystem Responses.”



— 1989 — Mona Serageldin created “AFFORD,” a computer simulation model designed for public planning agencies, for making data assessments on physical standards and financing terms for the production and delivery of housing for limited income groups.

— 1987-1988 — François Vigier created “PROJECT,” a computer simulation model for programming and phasing large-scale public projects (housing developments, roadways or service corridors, regional rehabilitation). The model allowed the user to easily explore data interactions — among physical, economic and financial variables — to determine the feasibility of projects.

— 1991 — Jonathan Corson-Rikert created “PALMS” (Parcel-Based Land Management System) as a geographic information system database — and an applications library consisting of commonly encountered urban management decisions for planners.


More context on the Unit’s work with GIS can be found in: “Geographic Information Systems: The Spatial Dimension of Urban Information Management,” by François Vigier, Jonathan Corson-Rikert, and Joy Hecht, 1989 (Project ID: 1989_07_002). This essay reviewed the emerging field of GIS as of 1989 and the potential applications for urban planning.

Although not included below, Mona Serageldin and Sherif Lotfi also created a fourth program, “COMPUTE,” in 1993. This analytical model assessed the economic impact of urban land development projects in terms of four key indicators: employment generation, leverage ratio, NPV, and IRR, with a sensitivity analysis.

Project Year:1987-1993
Project Type:GIS Computer Software Program Documentation
Geographic Regions:Global / None Specified
Reports:
—
—
—
Student Reports:
Authors:François Vigier; Mona Serageldin; Peter Rowe; Daniel L. Schodek; Mara Graham; Joy Hecht; Michael W. Binford; Kristina Hill
Sponsors:Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture; Unit for Housing and Urbanization, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:Education; Climate Change
  
ID:1988_12_001

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