- Ubiquity as a Tool of Urban Development: Leveraging common knowledge for more humane cities    click here to open paper content89 kb
by    Kamweru, Kigara | kkamweru@uonbi.ac.ke   click here to send an email to the auther(s) of this paper
Short Outline
The development of humane city environments relies on the actions of a wide cross section of people. It is necessary to develop common values among all actors. Institutions need to focus on raising the quality of common understanding.
Abstract
The larger goals of urban development will be realized when there exists a broadly held set of
values within the city population. This will create an environment where actions are predicable
and where public opinion can support the best practice in urban development. The knowledge
base however continues to grow at a much faster pace than can seep to the public through the
channels that traditionally transmit this knowledge. This situation calls for a system that
accelerates the process and aims to develop a higher quality of common held knowledge. Such a
system must be developed by the professional bodies, the educational institutions and the mass
media.
This paper calls for such a system as an answer to the unsatisfactory situation most African cities
find themselves in. It however requires a change of attitude among all involved institutions. A set
of values to guide the process is outlined as a proposal. By using examples from recent events
involving city planning issues in Kenya, the paper proposes that a more effective way of relating
to the public is possible and that it would unlock the energies of broad sections of the public
toward the improvement of the city conditions leading to more friendlier and humane urban
environments.
Keywords
Common knowledge, humane cities, urban development, public involvement,
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