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Perspectives on the Role of Geo-Technologies for Addressing Contemporary Urban Issues: Implications for IDS

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Abstract

Contemporary patterns of urbanization come with many challenges regarding the quality of urban life, especially with respect to the provision of urban infrastructures and housing, exposure to environmental risks and urban inequalities. In International Development Studies (IDS) it is understood that addressing these issues (both in terms of research and in practice) requires disaggregated and local spatial knowledge on the dynamics of urban populations, conditions, resources and flows. Geo-technologies such as remote sensing imagery or spatial simulation models have the capacity to provide this knowledge, but are endowed with certain risks and limitations. Using three illustrative examples this article discusses the potential and limitations of geo-technologies for addressing contemporary urban issues and how such technologies influence future development research. It shows that geo-technologies can produce disaggregated spatial and temporal knowledge, but should also include place and space specificities and cross-disciplinary boundaries in order to be useful. As IDS researchers have built-up considerable knowledge, expertise and networks on the ground, they can and should contribute to spatially contextualizing data- and technology-driven research.

Abstract

Les modèles de urbanisation contemporains comportement plusieurs défis concernant la qualité de la vie urbaine, en particulier dans la provision d’infrastructures urbaines et de logement ; dans l’exposition aux risques environnementales ; et dans les inégalités urbaines. C’est bien compris dans le milieu des études en développement international que pour régler ces problèmes (soit en théorie que en pratique) on a besoin de connaissances désassemblés et spécifiques pour chaque localité sur les dynamiques des populations urbaines, et sur leurs conditions, ressources et flux. Les géo-technologies, tels que les images en télédétection, ou la simulation de modelés spatiales, peuvent fournir ces informations, mais comportent des risques et des limitations. Cet article utilise trois exemples pour illustrer le potentiel et les limitations des géo-technologies dans la résolution des problèmes contemporains urbains, et comment ces technologies influencent les études en matière de développement. Les géo-technologies peuvent fournir des informations désassemblés spatiales et temporelles, mais pour être vraiment utiles on doit aussi considérer les spécificités de chaque endroit et de chaque espace, aussi que de considérer d’autres disciplines. Les chercheurs en matière de développement ont des connaissances, de l’expertise, et des réseaux sur le terrain formidables, et ils peuvent et doivent contribuer à contextualiser spatialement les recherches impulsées par les données et la technologie.

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Notes

  1. Geo-technologies encompass an array of technologies and computer tools to capture, analyse, monitor, predict and present geographic features, patterns and relationships in space and time. The most common technologies and tools are GIS, RS technologies and analysis tools, location-based technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS) or mobile phone signals, spatial modelling and simulation models, network-based geo-technologies and entirely integrated smart city systems (Table 1).

  2. The global human settlement layer maps the spatial extent of urbanization of different cities across the world since 1975 using satellite Imagery; for a more detailed description visit ghslsys.jrc.ec.europa.eu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Karin Pfeffer & Hebe Verrest

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  1. Karin Pfeffer
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  2. Hebe Verrest
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Correspondence to Karin Pfeffer.

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Pfeffer, K., Verrest, H. Perspectives on the Role of Geo-Technologies for Addressing Contemporary Urban Issues: Implications for IDS. Eur J Dev Res 28, 154–166 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1057/ejdr.2016.4

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