Sharon Biermann

Planning Support Systems in a Multi-Dualistic Spatial Planning Context

While rapid advances in hardware, software, the Internet, and data availability have facilitated the construction of planning support systems (PSS), the actual increase in use of PSS cannot be ensured without its close alignment with the specific planning process and context (Geertman and Stillwell, 2003). This paper argues that a significant success factor in the design of a quality PSS, particularly Spatial PSS, is the ability to respond to and accommodate a range of context specific dualisms. The term “dualism” is used pervasively in describing and explaining current worldwide spatial planning contexts but ranges in meaning to include economic dualism between growing and lagging regions, demographic dualisms between areas of population loss and gain, nature and society dualisms, labor market dualisms, and urban and rural dualisms. In South Africa, the spatial planning context is dominated by socioeconomic bifurcations, characterized by dualisms such as the co-existence of a globally integrated “first economy” and a marginalized “second economy.” In addition, dualisms relating to differential levels of access to information technology, user skills, and capacity levels also influence the access to and use of PSS. The Toolkit for Integrated Planning (TIP) has been developed to provide enhanced information and evidence in Integrated Development Plans. A demonstrator TIP was developed in the first iteration of the full TIP PSS development process. This paper describes the application of a revised conceptual model for achieving a quality PSS and the design of the demonstrator TIP within the current South African policy and socioeconomic planning context. In the application process, further lessons for enhancing PSS quality have emerged, which, in turn, can be employed to enhance the quality of future PSS.

An Infrastructure Potential Cost Model for Integrated Land Use and Infrastructure Planning

A strategic bulk infrastructure potential cost model has been developed as a decision support tool for planners and development decision-makers to ensure the proactive incorporation of bulk infrastructure cost considerations in the early land suitability assessment phase of the integrated planning process, to enhance the integration of land use and infrastructure planning. Not only does the model inform the early stages of the planning process prior to any proposals being made, but can also be adapted and applied in the plan evaluation stage, at a strategic level in situations where time, technical capacity, optimisation models andfunds are limited or even lacking. Bulk engineering services infrastructure relating to water, sanitation and electricity have been included in the model. Potential costs are calculated on the basis of capacity in the existing system and include additional cost factors such as geotechnical, land use and environmental conditions to further enhance cost accuracy. The output of the model is in the form of potential cost contours which facilitates the relative comparison of infrastructure costs for different density scenarios.

Strategic Planning for Employment Self-Containment in Metropolitan Sub-Regions

Abstract Metropolitan strategic plans often focus on strengthening local employment opportunities to address the congestion and commuting issues threatening city sustainability. The success of such strategies relies on a more equitable distribution of jobs between sub-regions and can be comparatively benchmarked through one of the three related measures of employment self-sufficiency, self-containment or jobs-housing balance. However, in practice, planning policy implementation to meet these targets seldom reduces automobile commuting. This paper investigates self-containment across a range of occupation and industry types to highlight large differences in commuting and employment patterns through a case study of Perth’s Northwest sub-region, Western Australia. Its findings suggest the application of current sub-regional policy and targets within Perth may reinforce the wage and skill disadvantage of outer metropolitan sub-regions over the inner core. It recommends a more nuanced understanding of these measures taking into account the complex dynamics of both employment opportunities and commuting patterns across sub-regions of a city.

Pragmatic Incremental or Courageous Leapfrog [Re]Development of a Land-use and Transport Modelling System for Perth, Australia

Responding to land-use and transport modelling requirements, identified through a rigorous stakeholder engagement process, current land-use and transport modelling practices in Perth, Western Australia were examined and benchmarked against world-wide best practice. Three alternative model systems were proposed and evaluated. The preferred option, PLATINUM (Perth LAnd and Transport INtegrated Urban Model), is the more radical option, avoiding duplication and other resource inefficiencies, yet not discarding specialised and advanced work already undertaken. The unique contextual design challenges relate to the current modelling situation in Perth. It is concluded that designing model systems should explicitly acknowledge the current system in use and solutions should specify the pathway from the existing situation to the new model system. In addition, the two-edged sword of experience should be recognised as both a positive influence in terms of innovation awareness but carefully handled in relation to potential negative influences of path-dependent, ‘incrementality’ at the expense of embracing more radical innovations.

The implications of the sharing economy for transport

ABSTRACT The sharing economy has gained a lot of attention in recent years. Despite the substantial growth in shared services, its impact overall on transport is unclear. This paper analyses the literature on sharing in transport and includes government and consultant reports, websites and academic journals. The drivers of ride-sharing, car-sharing, car-pooling and freight-sharing are largely economic and convenience related for participants. Trust, technology platforms and the trend to avoid ownership of assets are facilitating factors in its growth. Over-regulation, inconsistent quality of service and the need for recommendation are potential barriers. The transport journals in particular are relatively slow to research this topic with more focusing on bike-sharing than other modes of vehicle sharing. The paper discusses the impact of sharing on transport suggesting it is likely to be part of a solution to transport problems and congestion perhaps in combination with other developments such as driverless vehicles. It also warns of the dangers of over-regulation and under-regulation. The future will require holistic transport strategies that consider sharing options and will require government departments to work cooperatively.

Assessing the accessibility of activity centres and their prioritisation: a case study for Perth Metropolitan Area

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to ascertain, through analysis of accessibility and development potential, which activity centres should be prioritised to support decentralisation of jobs, encourage better integration of transport and land use and ultimately aid the evaluation of a more compact, consolidation and connected city. In doing so, this study evaluated and compared the existing accessibility of different geographic units across the city, including the 34 activity centres identified by the Government of Australia, by the two most frequently use transport modes, namely – public transport and car. The analysis of this study has two parts. Firstly, an isochrone-based measure of accessibility was used for an accessibility modelling across the Perth Metropolitan Area in Western Australia. Secondly, using six node-place based indicators, this paper also endeavoured to prioritise the geographic units that are already better served by public transport, as indicated by the accessibility analysis. Multi-criteria weighed scoring method was applied to calculate a score out of 100 for each of the geographic units. The results of this analysis could help to identify activity centre(s) and other areas in Perth, if any, with higher potentials of being a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) supportive activity centre.