Regina Muchai, Kenyan trained and experienced physical planner, recently completed her masters of Science in the field of Urban Planning and Management at the International Institute for Geo-information
Science and Earth Observation (ITC) in the Netherlands (March 2009).
Here she presents her study into how informal areas can adapt
to current urban realities utilizing Geographic Information Systems as a way to enhance infrastructure affordability.
[Text by Regina Muchai]
The importance of appropriate planning standards has been emphasized
by various authors and planning professionals. It is truly not a novel idea.
However, a key justification to the use of appropriate planning standards
is to enhance infrastructure affordability by both the municipalities and
the community as well as to minimize the use of buildable urban land
thereby improving shelter provision strategies for the urban poor. In Kenya, there have been efforts to reformulate the planning standards in the
past years. Despite these efforts, these new lower standards have not
been widely embraced by most of the local authorities while others have
implemented them only on an ad-hoc and a project by project basis.
I am a trained and experienced physical planner and recently completed
my masters of Science in the field of Urban Planning and Management
(March 2009). I undertook a degree in Urban and Regional Planning. I
have ample experience in the preparation of Integrated Development
Plans of the upcoming towns in Kenya. This ranges from the development
of tools for data collection, data entry, modeling and analysis using
state-of-the art GIS and statistical packages to report writing. Typical
data collected focuses on broad thematic areas that include the economic
sector, human settlement, infrastructure, institutions, social and
cultural sector, population as well as environmental data.
This study focussed on using participatory GIS as a method of working
with the community in determining the current situation within their
settlements and comparing the proposed planning standards with what
has been proposed within the national planning standards. How can the
community be involved in planning and in particular in the setting of appropriate local standards?
The study findings indicate that the official planning process is a relatively
cheaper but less collaborative process of achieving plans. The
community participation approach on the other hand presents a rather
expensive planning approach where the planning standards achieved
are a result of deliberations of the community and the planning officials.
This approach therefore gives the community and the officials
an opportunity to partake in the planning process and
thereby derive standards that are responsive to the socioeconomic
and spatial realities.
The study observes a difference in planning standards proposed
from a community participation perspective and those
stipulated within the official circles. While the standards applied
within the official approaches are still remarkably high,
community participation indicates that it is possible to lower
the planning standards as a collaborative process to meet
the needs of the local community by whom the standards
are negotiated, agreed and adopted.
Given the strengths and the weaknesses inherent in both
processes and the standards proposed, the study concludes
that the responsibility of determining the planning standards
cannot be assigned to a single actor for effective urban development.
Further to this, adopting Participatory GIS will enhance these planning processes as well as the determined standards. The study therefore recommends a platform where all actors; state, municipalities and community can negotiate planning standards that are commensurate with settlement characteristics.
The Obunga informal settlement case study was undertaken
through the use of 0.6 m Quickbird imagery and the Government
plans. The gist here is to observe and compare the planning standards
observed by the government and those within the community
approach in the low income area. For instance, access roads of 5-8
meters were proposed within a community approach as opposed
to those within the official circles measuring 9-12 meters. This was
achieved through a rationalization with the community members
on the need for the standards and how they need and are willing to
observe the standards. This was also undertaken for other services
such as schools and health facilities.
This study briefly described above was carried out in partial fulfillment
of an MSc course at the International Institute for Geo-information
Science and Earth Observation (ITC) in the Netherlands.
My master topic choice was motivated through my experience
gained in planning the upcoming towns and towns that reflect different
characteristics as has been the hoped and anticipated trend.
The study therefore sheds light onto how informal areas can adapt
to the current urban realities.
My strength lies in the ability to combine planning skills with current
technology in the use of mapping tools. I have developed a keen
interest in Geographic Information Systems that have been used to
map and analyze information collected on the ground. Softwares
include ArcGIS, ArcView, AutoCAD, Ilwis, community viz, What-if
and Adobe Photoshop. This knowledge has thus facilitated production
of high quality work that is visually represented in tables and
maps.
IMAGES
Figure 1//Regina_project4.JPG: Discussions with reference to Quickbird satellite image
Figure 2//Regina_project6.JPG: A community developed scale map showing major infrastructure & facilities
Figure 3//Regina_project3.JPG: Community members record GPS points
Figure 4// Regina_project.JPG: Transect walk with local consultation using
Figure 5//Regina_project5.JPG: An offocial plan used to compare the official plans with those of community participation
Further information on this work and other aspects concerning ITC
can be obtained at: www.itc.nl or via info@archiafrika.org
