Coordinator(s)

Morten Gjerde, Norwegian University of Science & Technology

Objectives and Scopes

The objective of the Commission is to find common methodologies and effective solutions on issues related to spatial planning and infrastructure development through information exchange and discussions between planning experts worldwide.

Within its overall scope the Commission focuses on the following main themes:

  • Cities and the Built Environment for Social inclusion. Cities in the 21st century should be post-automobile dependent. It is required not only for warming gas reduction but also not to exclude mobility and accessibility of residents of all ages or without car. This issue involves transport oriented development, multi-means of transport, compact city, universal design of planning, town centre revitalization and new urbanism.
  • Informal Cities. Urban area often includes formal parts such as informal settlement. Rapid urban growth tends to generate informal developments. Problems are hard to solve because they are not legal. How to integrate the informal city into a formal one? Or how does it need to address informal areas to improve the situation? This issue may involve slum issues, illegal small developments, spatial and social management in unregulated areas etc.
  • Theoretical Approach for Planning and Development. Urban environment is formed and transformed by activities of a lot of players and stakeholders. This is the unique characteristic of urban planning which is different from machines and buildings. That is why planning needs legal, social and economical systems based on practical theories. This issue may include application of optimization theory, dynamic programming theory, game theory and incentive compatible theory for planning.
  • Spatial Survey and Assessment for Sustainable Development. GIS technology has been rapidly progressed and much more applied to planning practice in many cities in the world. Also, planning decisions will be required on much more scientific grounds. There must be a possibility to develop international technical standards in some part of the land survey, analysis and assessment. This issue may include a land use transportation model, land suitability assessment, categorizing land uses etc.

Current Work Programme

The Commission operates through annual meetings, at which its Members and other attendees are stimulated to exchange information and most recent insights through the presentation of scientific papers and best practice information and through discussion.

Planned Output

2020: Publication of a Research Roadmap on Spatial Planning and Infrastructure Development

Membership

Members of this Working Commission have to be either a Representative of a CIB Member Organization or an Individual CIB Member.