- The use of GIS to measure equity and spatial segregation within the City   38 kb by    Martinez, Javier Alberto & null, null & null, null | jmtz@arnet.com.ar, jmtznet@netscape.net    Short Outline Young Planners contributor candidate: Javier Alberto Martínez, MSc. ABSTRACT The use of GIS to measure equity and spatial segregation within the City What is your contribution / case study about? (1.sentence) The contribution is about how new urban planning tools like GIS -that has been widely spread during the information age- and urban indicators can help to monitor spatial inequality. What makes it interesting for participants? (3. sentences) The use of GIS is constantly referred to as one of the most appropriate tool to describe, analyse and monitor urban poverty and spatial segregation problems. Different international and regional agencies promote and support the introduction of monitoring systems and new technologies (UNCHS, 1995 - 1999; European Commission, 1995). In this case study the combined use of geoinformation coming from indicators, GIS analysis and geocoded point data of expressed demand has been applied. Could you please sketch in what way how you would like to present the content of your contribution (10 - 20 sentences) I would like to present my contribution in two parts: A first part dealing with a theoretical discussion about how new tools like GIS can help the urban planner in understanding and monitoring spatial segregation and spatial inequities within the City. Descriptive and comparative studies among different areas of the city using GIS and equity indicators can raise awareness of the low quality of life of the urban poor and the existence of dual/divided cities. A second part will show a case study in Rosario (Argentina) where GIS, small area information, and the mapping of indicators have been used to measure / evaluate different levels of housing needs and provision of basic services. Spatial inequity related to the access to social infrastructure was calculated for the most disadvantaged groups. One of the objectives of the research was to evaluate the existence of disparities inside the districts and the phenomena of dual or divided cities. A clear methodology for evaluating the conditions and needs of existing housing areas within a district will be explained with the use of maps, graphs and tables. The content of the contribution will present a clear example of how simple GIS applications could aid decision-making and improve resource allocation in developing countries. While many studies have been proposed to monitor urban growth and formulation of indicators have been generated at global level, little has been done to monitor the effects of spatial inequality. With this case study I will try to show how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools can describe and analyse spatial equity and spatial segregation issues at local level. How are you involved into it personally? (1. sentence). The case study and the topics I will address are the result of the research I did between 1996 and 1998 at ITC (Enschede - The Netherlands) and the experience in the use of urban indicators gained at the Strategic Planning Office of Rosario (Argentina). Which one of the 4 sessions would you propose for it? (1. sentence) I would propose it for: Parallel Session 1, ''Cultural Identity and Spatial Segregation'' Abstract Globalisation, privatisation and deregulation are usually seen as responsible for an increase in spatial segregation, social polarization and spatial inequalities. These problems can be described, analysed and monitored with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The use of indicators and GIS has been applied in a case study in Rosario, Argentina. Keywords GIS, urban indicators, spatial inequality Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2001: Honey, I Shrunk the Space   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper