FIG Commission 8
- Spatial planning and development
Term 2007-2010
Highlights
Commission Chair 2007-2010
2009 has been an active and collaborative year for
Commission 8. During this report period the Commission has made
significant strides to address land development and spatial
planning issues confronting our profession both at the strategic
level but also supporting the individual surveyor at the local
level. We have achieved this by having a parallel emphasis on
delivering technical platforms for our commission delegates in the member countries that we have visited and by
championing poverty alleviation at the strategic global level.
The big global challenges have each been addressed by the Commission over
the last year. Reflecting thoughts that the economic and spatial surveyors
role contributes towards social justice, economic growth and environmental
sustainability, demonstrated by our activities covering the themes:
Partnerships between People
Facilitating social partnerships at strategic level, i.e. the global
commons is likely to be an increasing emphasis for the coming generations as
new ways to organise society are found. Over the past 12 months, the
commission’s debates regularly highlights that Land Professionals do have
the technical capacity to manage the emerging problems of the day, with
solutions likely to be based through partnership.
Commission 8 activities demonstrably highlights that it is the surveyor
responsibility to overcome the politics of resources; but also the politics
of people. Surveyors as change agents can inform governance decision makers
of the technical merits of a proposed way forward, but we also understand
and communicate the balance of people’s agendas.
Environmental Resilience
Given the increasing pressure of protecting our environment the
contribution and focus arising from people and planning for environmental
adaptations, as a multi-stage process, has enabled us to deliver strong
technical sessions, underscored by the technical session here in Sydney. The
message is clear that with so many instances of inefficient use of land and
other resources, there is a need for action to change policy. Commission 8
emerging work in planning for energy resource and land gives an opportunity
to take this forward into the next FIG term.
Societal balance
Land governance problems are clearly located at the intersection of the
century’s greatest development challenges, Urbanisation and Climate change.
These issues and how they relate to People and Places are central issues for
Commission 8. The discussions have often centred around economic development
and spatial planning in a range of forums covering infrastructure, climate
and disaster risk associated with urbanisation and informal settlements. In
particular, a key component of the special session on SIDS to be held during
the congress in Sydney, was coordinated by Commission 8 with significant
help from delegates and member association in Fiji, New Zealand and
Australia.
Finally, it is a great pleasure that Mr. Wafula Nabutola (Kenya) is
appointed Chair Elect. He will be taking up the Chairman’s role wef January
2011. A debate will progress the formation of new working groups in the
Commission meeting at the Sydney Congress on Sunday 11th April 2010.
Work Plan
Terms of reference
Regional and local structure planning
Urban and rural land use planning
Planning policies and environmental improvement
Land use planning and implementation
Public-private partnerships
Informal settlement issues in spatial development, planning and
governance
Re-engineering mega cities
Strategy for Environmental Sustainable Development
Inter-relationship with commission 9.
Mission statement
The activities of Commission 8 in the years 2007-2010 will involve all
levels of physical planning, which enable environmentally sustainable
development to occur.
Physical planning establishes the ‘ground rules’ for environmentally
sustainable development at all planning levels and including all actors (government,
private sector and public/private partnership). Traditionally the surveyors’
role is most visible in implementation of plans and therefore Commission 8
will have more focus on issues that are closely related to the core
disciplines of the profession.
The Commission 8 will assist in building the capacity of knowledge via
case studies, workshops, collaboration and consultation thus contributing in
a positive way to environmentally sustainable development and living
conditions of humans in a changing globalised world.
Working Group 8.1 - Planning Strategy for Urban Development and
Regeneration
Policy Issues
Planning urban development and regeneration and economic impacts
The role of Partnerships and Urbanization process is a role for
surveyors in moving towards sustainability in urban development/community
living for people and places.
Chair
Dr. Lillian S.C. PUN, Associate Professor
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
HONG KONG SAR, CHINA
E-mail: lspun[at]polyu.edu.hk
Working Group 8.2 - Informal Settlements Issues in Spatial
Development, Planning and Governance
Policy Issues
Commission’s contribution to the Millennium Development Goals
to investigate initiatives that deliver land for housing and associated
financial mechanisms that enable upgrading through participatory approaches
to planning and development.
Provisional Terms of Reference
Build negotiation mechanisms with Traditional Leaders to enable the
expansion of urban areas onto customary owned land by identify ways in which
Customary ownership could be modernized to release land for formalised
housing, (In collaboration with Commission 7).
Explore rapid, new approaches to forward plan and upgrading initiatives
that provide places for the poor by partnering with Sister organisations.
Deliver environmental sustainable house plots by working with
partnership forums to find ways to upgrade infrastructure achieving this by
addressing both physical and financial mechanisms.
Chair
Dr. Diane Dumashie
United Kingdom
E-mail: atfchair_p[at]ymail.com
Working Group 8.3 - Re-engineering of Mega Cities
Policy Issues
To provide opportunities for surveyors to play a key role in solving
problems and implementing infrastructure in environmentally sustainable
projects/ developments in mega cities (large sprawling habitats with two
distinct types being economically wealthy and dramatically poor).
Chair
Dr. Ioana Manaolache
Romania
E-mail: ioanam[at]theotop.ro
Working Group 8.4 - Urban Planning in Coastal Regions
Policy
Urban planning in coastal regions has emerged as a major issue connected
to rising sea levels as a result of climate change due to global warming.
Urban habitat issues within coastal regions are a matter for Commission 8
and its contribution to environmentally sustainable development.
On matters relating to marine space, Commission 8 will work in close
co-operation with the Commission 4 Working Group 4.3 (Administering Marine
Spaces). The ‘shifting sands’ will provide opportunities for Working Group
8.4 to find key roles for surveyors.
Chair
Mr. Isaac Boateng
University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom
e-mail: boatengis[at]yahoo.co.uk
