Aurobindo Ogra

An approach of Geographic Information System (GIS) for Good Urban Governance

The Good Urban Governance theme is closely viewed as associated with concepts like service delivery, citizens satisfaction, access to basic quality services, managing and delivery of infrastructure services to citizens. Urban governance deals with complex issues demanding interventions at various levels for issues like urbanization and growth, management of local economy, increasing infrastructure and service delivery pressure on cities, etc. Under these complex circumstances, the municipalities or urban agencies find it extremely difficult / challenging to cope with efficient delivery and management of essential basic and infrastructure services to its citizens. Such issues have largely impacted municipalities in performing their services efficiently and are trapped under a vicious cycle of low service delivery performance, thereby leading to low revenue generation for achieving sustainable governance. However, municipalities have taken a number of initiatives by introducing the implementation of e-Governance programmes or application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for managing effective governance. Often, such initiatives are seen working at isolated levels without any integration with other applications. The traditional application of a Geographic Information System (GIS) focused on select areas at local level like mapping, utility management, urban planning, etc. The real potential of GIS has seldom been used in most of the decision making processes. The GIS applications are largely seen in selected departments within a municipal or urban management entities dealing with services to citizens. The potential of GIS as a decision making process or achieving sustainable good urban governance across cross-cutting areas at municipal level is still been largely untapped. The municipal applications of GIS across various countries showcases the potential of GIS in municipal management like in the areas of property management, traffic and transportation, urban planning, solid waste management, slum improvement, urban design and renewal, financial resource mobilization etc. The initiatives are largely introduced for implementing specific project needs to address limited issues. Often the areas of overall governance whether its strategic planning, integration, governance, management and delivery of services have not been fully achieved under such an isolated approach. This paper is setout to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches of achieving good urban governance at municipal levels. Based on the selected isolated / integrated approach of existing applications of GIS at municipal level, the paper discusses key issues and success parameters for local governance. The key strengths of selected case studies from various parts of the world provide a basis for an approach of GIS for achieving a sustainable governance system. The paper concludes in the conceptualization of achieving a sustainable good urban governance system through an approach of GIS across cross-cutting municipal themes.

Next generation citizen centric e-services

The emergence of new technology calls for fundamental rethinking and transformational shifts in the way we look at government functions and its service provisioning to the public. Governments are increasingly being solicited to take on the roles of a facilitator and enabler - to collaborate with the public, private and community sectors in creating new digital channels and solutions to be closer to citizens and businesses. This paper deliberates on the role of the Mauritian Government for creating a society of the future for citizens. To build a one stop shop model for public services, Government is required to view itself through different lenses: citizen-centricity, internal-external balance and sustainable outcomes. Servicing citizens digitally has been a successful model across developed countries. This model has to be embraced and adapted locally under Public and Private Partnerships.

Energy efficiency improvement strategy in mixed income housing development: A case of Cosmo City Johannesburg

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the social, environmental and financial benefits (including the impact thereof) of implementing energy and thermal efficiency technologies Solar Water Heating (SWH) and passive thermal intervention in low income housing development project. Problem of investigation: South African housing backlog is estimated at 2.1 million households that do not have access to adequate housing. The housing subsidy which is government assistance to household to access housing does not include the provision of ceilings or geysers and it is noted that 54% of household in South Africa do not have geysers. Cosmo City located north of Johannesburg K553 emerged out of an urgent need to provide accommodation for the informal settlers of Zevenfontein and Riverbend who had been illegally occupying privately owned land 25km to the North West of the Johannesburg Central Business District CBD. These informal settlements were characterized by substandard living conditions, low level of income, high unemployment, low level of education and limited access to basic services. The development of Cosmo City as a mixed income housing project in South Africa is aimed at addressing complex and peculiar circumstances as compared to other international experiences. The units which range between, 36 m2 and 40 m2 were fitted with energy efficiency interventions which included Solar Water Heating (SWH) system by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Hence, this investigation tends to review this project and question the extent to which this intervention has assisted in reducing electricity cost for the households and enhance comfort and quality of life of the residents with associated behavioural change as well as promotion of sustainable environmental practices. Design/Methodology: This investigation will be based on primary data, sample interview of 30 residents of the low income housing as well as secondary data. Both published and unpublished literatures will equally be used in this study, as well as focus group discussions and interviews with the beneficiaries, the principal developers and City of Johannesburg representatives. Conclusion: Result of the findings indicates that the occupants of the units with SWH were able to save R250 per month as compared to residents in normal electricity grid. There is also reduction in carbon emission resulting from the use of paraffin for heating and improved environmental education programme.