The article examines household perceptions of flooding as part of climate change in two low eleva... more The article examines household perceptions of flooding as part of climate change in two low elevation coastal zone cities in the Caribbean. The research examines differences in vulnerability of households as the combined results of socio-economic inequalities in entitlements and exposure to natural hazards e flooding and extreme rainfall. Case studies of Paramaribo and Georgetown show that household exposure to floods is increasing, with lower-income groups suffering longer from exposure and with more damaging effects. Such effects are time lost in work and education, damages to assets, and stress. Households in lower-income areas take more measures to prevent flooding than higher-income households. During floods social capital leads to mutual help among neighbors, but this is not carried through to collective organization in preventive strategies. Links with local government are also found to be lacking. Results show a lack of city-wide organization and participative measures for t...
Uncertainty, unpredictability and change have become key characteristics of today's interdepe... more Uncertainty, unpredictability and change have become key characteristics of today's interdependent world. Although risks, disasters and crises are inherent to human existence, the speed, frequency and scale at which they occur today are unprecedented. Natural ...
... Boek/bron titel, When foreign workers are a majority, Employment and Employability of Nationa... more ... Boek/bron titel, When foreign workers are a majority, Employment and Employability of Nationals in an Oil Economy-UAE. Auteur/Editor, A. Abdelkarim. Uitgever, Shaker. Plaats, Maastricht. Jaar, 2001. Faculteit, Faculteit der Maatschappij-en Gedragswetenschappen. Instituut/afd ...
... Cecilia Ng Choon Sim is a Lecturer at the Center for Extension and Continuing Education, Univ... more ... Cecilia Ng Choon Sim is a Lecturer at the Center for Extension and Continuing Education, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia ... Gemma Tang Nain is Project Coordinator of the Caribbean Associa-tion for Feminist Research and Action, which was the NGO Focal Point for the Caribbean ...
This report concerns the extent to which participatory spatialized knowledge construction1 and le... more This report concerns the extent to which participatory spatialized knowledge construction1 and learning are conducive to dealing with challenges of strategic domains of urban development; such as economic growth, reducing social inequalities and vulnerabilities, increasing environmental sustainability, and making use of decentralized and participatory fiscal flows. Our main idea is that spatial knowledge construction and use is a strategic instrument in urban development, making explicit the various types of knowledge existing in cities, and reflecting the priorities of different actors in the city (government, private sector and citizens). We focus on urban development processes in which various kinds of knowledge are produced, exchanged, contested and used, and the extent to which joint learning and collective local formulation of principles of change is generated by such processes.
Local Governance, Economic Development and Institutions, 2016
In India, the importance of urbanisation is increasingly being recognised, not only in terms of t... more In India, the importance of urbanisation is increasingly being recognised, not only in terms of the size of the urban population, but also the importance of large cities in driving economic growth (Kennedy et al. 2014). The latest census, from 2011, indicates that 31 per cent of the population lives in cities, of which almost half live in cities with a population greater than one million. The number of metropolitan cities (more than one million inhabitants) has increased from twenty-three in 1991 to fifty-three in 2011 (Tripathi 2013). India is one of several regions (including South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa) expected to urbanise strongly in the coming thirty years, and therefore, it is strategic for analysing the role of local governance processes. Throughout his work, Bert Helmsing recognised that local government is an important actor in local and regional development processes. His perspective on the socioeconomic institutional embedding of government in regional networks has been inspiring for my approach in analysing how digitisation, informatisation and participation have changed the way governments function and their interaction with citizens within their mandates.
Abstract This article investigates how varieties of knowledge about flooding contribute to a more... more Abstract This article investigates how varieties of knowledge about flooding contribute to a more effective flood management (FM) governance configuration in Chennai, India. Drawing on the assemblage perspective and using the configurations approach for socio-spatial analyses of the city, we trace the knowledge construction processes around two networked FM infrastructures, drawing out the different discourses, actor coalitions and processes of practice. We see how technical knowledge on storm water drains is embedded and transformed within the primary government network, and how complementary knowledges about the ery system are expressed through counter mappings by academic activists. Identifying potential intersections between these knowledge processes indicates a strong potential to link long-term water management strategies that would mutually contribute to addressing the city's issues of flood risks and drinking water scarcity. However, we find that the varieties of knowledge around Chennai's FM run in parallel networks with few intersections, presenting distinct institutional boundaries to cross-boundary knowledge sharing. Lastly, using integrated FM as a heuristic framework, we analyse the contributions of the different streams of knowledge and the remaining gaps in order to assess the potential of building up the interconnections in Chennai's FM configuration.
Abstract Lima's environmental sustainability is threatened by increasing water scarcity, heav... more Abstract Lima's environmental sustainability is threatened by increasing water scarcity, heavy rain events and limited attention for water vulnerability and climate change scenarios. In this paper we examine how knowledge construction and risk perception on water-related disaster risks and vulnerabilities affects decision-making and implementation in urban governance networks, specifically looking at some of the reasons behind high levels of risk tolerance and the lack of decision-making initiatives in putting adaptation and/or preventive measures in place. New forms of metropolitan governance have constructed spatial knowledge about water-related vulnerabilities using inclusive scenario-building processes. These unpack complexities, uncertainties and spatial inequalities in water governance, making them visible by mapping and spatial representations as strategic instrument for social and policy learning. This article analyzes two case studies, which either already are or can become disasters (scenario-building). The first, concerns the long-term plausible scenario of water scarcity and droughts analyzing population growth rates, water distribution and consumption through the Chance2Sustain research project and presenting spatial representations. The maps were used to define possible spatial intervention priorities to deal with future water vulnerabilities in Lima. The second, refers to short term extreme weather events that already manifest as mudslides and floods and El Nino in Chosica, eastern Lima. We investigate the first at the metropolitan city scale level and the second at the scale of vulnerable communities. The cases illustrate iterative spatial knowledge construction, in which processes of risk prioritization, normalization and tolerance occur, and the resulting [in-]action by a variety of actors so far. The methodology used collective and iterative mapping processes, using technical, organizational and geographical knowledge from a variety of governance, experts and practitioner networks in Lima. The main outcome is the social learning derived from bringing together different kinds of knowledge and integrating several dimensions through spatial representations. This has raised awareness, increased capacities for dealing with uncertainty and contributed to the approved metropolitan Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, but not implemented by the Lima Municipality yet. The main conclusions are two: 1) spatial planning is a quite political process (c.f. Flyvbjerg 1998), in which knowledge is contested or even when acknowledged, does not necessarily steer decision-making processes, either by local communities, authorities and private institutions. And 2) existing models linking knowledge construction to risk framing, risk tolerance and how these influence decision-making processes and actions to prevent disaster may ignore the issues of risk tolerance, through normalization and prioritization at their peril.
This paper analyses factors shaping cartographic representation of inequalities and discusses new... more This paper analyses factors shaping cartographic representation of inequalities and discusses new forms of deprivation mapping. A heuristic framework with three dimensions shaping representations of inequalities is built, using examples from cities in the global South and North. Dimensions include the framing of inequalities, sources from which knowledge is produced, and geographic scales to which information and analysis refers. This framework is combined with a discussion on the genealogy of map production and use, in order to assess the extent to which maps can be catalysts for equitable social change. Results show that an approach recognizing the multi-dimensionality of spatial inequalities, combining different knowledge sources and including critical awareness of existing geographic boundaries at different scales and their limitations, is necessary to interpret maps well. We suggest that a hybrid approach integrating the three dimensions which reflect how major choices are made, provide a more holistic understanding of how urban poverty maps are produced. The potential transformative power of maps lies in being catalysts for discussions and stimulating debates.
The article examines household perceptions of flooding as part of climate change in two low eleva... more The article examines household perceptions of flooding as part of climate change in two low elevation coastal zone cities in the Caribbean. The research examines differences in vulnerability of households as the combined results of socio-economic inequalities in entitlements and exposure to natural hazards e flooding and extreme rainfall. Case studies of Paramaribo and Georgetown show that household exposure to floods is increasing, with lower-income groups suffering longer from exposure and with more damaging effects. Such effects are time lost in work and education, damages to assets, and stress. Households in lower-income areas take more measures to prevent flooding than higher-income households. During floods social capital leads to mutual help among neighbors, but this is not carried through to collective organization in preventive strategies. Links with local government are also found to be lacking. Results show a lack of city-wide organization and participative measures for t...
Uncertainty, unpredictability and change have become key characteristics of today's interdepe... more Uncertainty, unpredictability and change have become key characteristics of today's interdependent world. Although risks, disasters and crises are inherent to human existence, the speed, frequency and scale at which they occur today are unprecedented. Natural ...
... Boek/bron titel, When foreign workers are a majority, Employment and Employability of Nationa... more ... Boek/bron titel, When foreign workers are a majority, Employment and Employability of Nationals in an Oil Economy-UAE. Auteur/Editor, A. Abdelkarim. Uitgever, Shaker. Plaats, Maastricht. Jaar, 2001. Faculteit, Faculteit der Maatschappij-en Gedragswetenschappen. Instituut/afd ...
... Cecilia Ng Choon Sim is a Lecturer at the Center for Extension and Continuing Education, Univ... more ... Cecilia Ng Choon Sim is a Lecturer at the Center for Extension and Continuing Education, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia ... Gemma Tang Nain is Project Coordinator of the Caribbean Associa-tion for Feminist Research and Action, which was the NGO Focal Point for the Caribbean ...
This report concerns the extent to which participatory spatialized knowledge construction1 and le... more This report concerns the extent to which participatory spatialized knowledge construction1 and learning are conducive to dealing with challenges of strategic domains of urban development; such as economic growth, reducing social inequalities and vulnerabilities, increasing environmental sustainability, and making use of decentralized and participatory fiscal flows. Our main idea is that spatial knowledge construction and use is a strategic instrument in urban development, making explicit the various types of knowledge existing in cities, and reflecting the priorities of different actors in the city (government, private sector and citizens). We focus on urban development processes in which various kinds of knowledge are produced, exchanged, contested and used, and the extent to which joint learning and collective local formulation of principles of change is generated by such processes.
Local Governance, Economic Development and Institutions, 2016
In India, the importance of urbanisation is increasingly being recognised, not only in terms of t... more In India, the importance of urbanisation is increasingly being recognised, not only in terms of the size of the urban population, but also the importance of large cities in driving economic growth (Kennedy et al. 2014). The latest census, from 2011, indicates that 31 per cent of the population lives in cities, of which almost half live in cities with a population greater than one million. The number of metropolitan cities (more than one million inhabitants) has increased from twenty-three in 1991 to fifty-three in 2011 (Tripathi 2013). India is one of several regions (including South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa) expected to urbanise strongly in the coming thirty years, and therefore, it is strategic for analysing the role of local governance processes. Throughout his work, Bert Helmsing recognised that local government is an important actor in local and regional development processes. His perspective on the socioeconomic institutional embedding of government in regional networks has been inspiring for my approach in analysing how digitisation, informatisation and participation have changed the way governments function and their interaction with citizens within their mandates.
Abstract This article investigates how varieties of knowledge about flooding contribute to a more... more Abstract This article investigates how varieties of knowledge about flooding contribute to a more effective flood management (FM) governance configuration in Chennai, India. Drawing on the assemblage perspective and using the configurations approach for socio-spatial analyses of the city, we trace the knowledge construction processes around two networked FM infrastructures, drawing out the different discourses, actor coalitions and processes of practice. We see how technical knowledge on storm water drains is embedded and transformed within the primary government network, and how complementary knowledges about the ery system are expressed through counter mappings by academic activists. Identifying potential intersections between these knowledge processes indicates a strong potential to link long-term water management strategies that would mutually contribute to addressing the city's issues of flood risks and drinking water scarcity. However, we find that the varieties of knowledge around Chennai's FM run in parallel networks with few intersections, presenting distinct institutional boundaries to cross-boundary knowledge sharing. Lastly, using integrated FM as a heuristic framework, we analyse the contributions of the different streams of knowledge and the remaining gaps in order to assess the potential of building up the interconnections in Chennai's FM configuration.
Abstract Lima's environmental sustainability is threatened by increasing water scarcity, heav... more Abstract Lima's environmental sustainability is threatened by increasing water scarcity, heavy rain events and limited attention for water vulnerability and climate change scenarios. In this paper we examine how knowledge construction and risk perception on water-related disaster risks and vulnerabilities affects decision-making and implementation in urban governance networks, specifically looking at some of the reasons behind high levels of risk tolerance and the lack of decision-making initiatives in putting adaptation and/or preventive measures in place. New forms of metropolitan governance have constructed spatial knowledge about water-related vulnerabilities using inclusive scenario-building processes. These unpack complexities, uncertainties and spatial inequalities in water governance, making them visible by mapping and spatial representations as strategic instrument for social and policy learning. This article analyzes two case studies, which either already are or can become disasters (scenario-building). The first, concerns the long-term plausible scenario of water scarcity and droughts analyzing population growth rates, water distribution and consumption through the Chance2Sustain research project and presenting spatial representations. The maps were used to define possible spatial intervention priorities to deal with future water vulnerabilities in Lima. The second, refers to short term extreme weather events that already manifest as mudslides and floods and El Nino in Chosica, eastern Lima. We investigate the first at the metropolitan city scale level and the second at the scale of vulnerable communities. The cases illustrate iterative spatial knowledge construction, in which processes of risk prioritization, normalization and tolerance occur, and the resulting [in-]action by a variety of actors so far. The methodology used collective and iterative mapping processes, using technical, organizational and geographical knowledge from a variety of governance, experts and practitioner networks in Lima. The main outcome is the social learning derived from bringing together different kinds of knowledge and integrating several dimensions through spatial representations. This has raised awareness, increased capacities for dealing with uncertainty and contributed to the approved metropolitan Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, but not implemented by the Lima Municipality yet. The main conclusions are two: 1) spatial planning is a quite political process (c.f. Flyvbjerg 1998), in which knowledge is contested or even when acknowledged, does not necessarily steer decision-making processes, either by local communities, authorities and private institutions. And 2) existing models linking knowledge construction to risk framing, risk tolerance and how these influence decision-making processes and actions to prevent disaster may ignore the issues of risk tolerance, through normalization and prioritization at their peril.
This paper analyses factors shaping cartographic representation of inequalities and discusses new... more This paper analyses factors shaping cartographic representation of inequalities and discusses new forms of deprivation mapping. A heuristic framework with three dimensions shaping representations of inequalities is built, using examples from cities in the global South and North. Dimensions include the framing of inequalities, sources from which knowledge is produced, and geographic scales to which information and analysis refers. This framework is combined with a discussion on the genealogy of map production and use, in order to assess the extent to which maps can be catalysts for equitable social change. Results show that an approach recognizing the multi-dimensionality of spatial inequalities, combining different knowledge sources and including critical awareness of existing geographic boundaries at different scales and their limitations, is necessary to interpret maps well. We suggest that a hybrid approach integrating the three dimensions which reflect how major choices are made, provide a more holistic understanding of how urban poverty maps are produced. The potential transformative power of maps lies in being catalysts for discussions and stimulating debates.
This report concerns the extent to which participatory spatialized knowledge construction1 and le... more This report concerns the extent to which participatory spatialized knowledge construction1 and learning are conducive to dealing with challenges of strategic domains of urban development; such as economic growth, reducing social inequalities and vulnerabilities, increasing environmental sustainability, and making use of decentralized and participatory fiscal flows. Our main idea is that spatial knowledge construction and use is a strategic instrument in urban development, making explicit the various types of knowledge existing in cities, and reflecting the priorities of different actors in the city (government, private sector and citizens). We focus on urban development processes in which various kinds of knowledge are produced, exchanged, contested and used, and the extent to which joint learning and collective local formulation of principles of change is generated by such processes.
Chennai is the largest metropolitan city in South India (8.7 million in 2011) and the provincial ... more Chennai is the largest metropolitan city in South India (8.7 million in 2011) and the provincial capital of the large state of Tamil Nadu (population 72 million in 2011). Before that, under British rule, the city was the capital of the Madras Presidency, and was known as Madras until 1996, when the name was officially changed to Chennai. Located on the east coast of India, on the Bay of Bengal, sea trade has been an important aspect of the regional economy since at least the colonial period. Still today, the city combines political functions with economic command functions for both manufacturing and services, reflecting the region's diversified economy. The Chennai metropolitan area has witnessed strong growth over the last 20 years in automobile manufacturing, software services, hardware manufacturing, healthcare and financial services (CDP 2009). However, it should be noted that only 30% of total employment in the city takes place in the formal sector i.e., is covered by contracts and labour laws, the remaining 70% falls in the informal sector. This underscores the importance of small and micro enterprises and self-employment for providing goods, services and livelihoods in the local economy.
Different forms of spatial knowledge (expert, tacit, sector and community knowledge) are a strate... more Different forms of spatial knowledge (expert, tacit, sector and community knowledge) are a strategic resource in urban development. Research methods concerning participatory data collection and analysis that elicit and integrate the various forms of knowledge or co-produce knowledge through collaboration between scholars and practitioners have the potential to inform local action and public policy. Recent developments in the (geo)information technology and data collection tools have extended the opportunities for spatial knowledge production, use and exchange. Such technical advances have the potential to both enhance wider access and understanding as well as to result in more exclusive processes. Although such tools have generally been the preserve of professionals there are increasing examples which suggest they might offer some inclusionary benefits like the case of the collaborative Map Kibera project (http://www.mapkiberaproject.org/) in which a digital geo-referenced database of physical and socio-demographic database of an informal settlement is created and shared, or the provision of and access to user-generated data on Google Earth and Google Maps. While technology opens up new avenues for knowledge management, data reliability and the type of knowledge transmitted will become a pressing issue due to the open access to internet platforms and lack of control concerning user-generated information and reference data. We start the paper with a theoretical discussion on knowledge management models, followed by a review of available tools for the production, use and exchange of various forms of knowledge. Building on the review and examples of our own work in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, we highlight key challenges, added value and its limitations in urban development. We argue that although much progress has happened, development of technology and new tools alone is not able to fully address key issues regarding greater accountability, empowerment, production, control and use of information. These developments may also foster social exclusion, which could hinder greater benefits of participatory spatial knowledge management in the context of urban sustainability.
International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 2012
“Resilience thinking” is an increasingly popular approach among scholars and policymakers, with a... more “Resilience thinking” is an increasingly popular approach among scholars and policymakers, with advocates heralding it as the successor to the dominant sustainable development paradigm. Resilience refers to the ability to handle unforeseen changes and the capacity for adaption and self-improvement as a result. This article examines two programs for renewable, distributed power generation in Thailand from a resilience perspective. The research contributes to the existing literature by applying the resilience concept to electricity generation and governance in the Thai power sector. The case is interesting because of the vulnerability of Thailand's current electricity system and the fact that the programs are prototypical among developing nations. A conceptual model is constructed from the literature and used to analyze the programs based on information from expert interviews and other sources. Results suggest that the programs are increasing the resilience of the system, but their contribution is limited by barriers related to governance.
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Papers by Isa Baud