Spatial Monitor Flanders paving the way for interactive policy making support with spatial indicators SADL Thérèse Steenberghen Bjorn Debecker Paul Jacxsens

… spatial indicators Policy Support Centre Space & Housing Support centre for the Flemish Government ( ) for policy relevant research on spacial processes Versatile research: Focus on spatial processes in different domains: urbanisation, economy,… Research groups from different Flemish universities & private partners Research methods: future scenarios, prospective design, review of policy instruments,… "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders

… spatial indicators Versatile research: Focus on spatial processes in different domains: urbanisation, economy,… Research groups from different Flemish universities & private partners Research methods: future scenarios, prospective design, review of policy instruments,… "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders Identified spatial transformations and relevant processes Indicators identified

… interactive policy making support with spatial indicators Identified spatial transformations and relevant processes Indicators Research Policy Flemish spatial planning department Quality (*) needed for efficient use  geographic coverage  timeliness  comparability and coherence  frequency  relevance  accuracy and reliability * As in code_practice.pdf

Paving the way for interactive policy making support with spatial indicators "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders Indicators identified  geographic coverage  timeliness  comparability and coherence  frequency  relevance  accuracy and reliability the indicators have to be conveniently maintained, shared and published The Spatial Monitor Flanders

Paving the way for interactive policy making support with spatial indicators "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders The Spatial Monitor Flanders (Ruimtemonitor Vlaanderen) technical means to:  ensure qualitative indicators  promote an interactive user community  gain and maintain the necessary momentum.

User community: different parties involved in spatial planning: Flemish department of town & country planning, housing policy & immovable heritage (RWO) Researchers of the support centre Research centre of the flemish governement (DAR) Spatial planners of the different Flemish provinces "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders

An interactive user community Philosophy: Gradual extension of user group, after consultation with spatial planning department Reciprocity (data-exchange, forum,…) Free & open Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) ! restriction : terms of use of (confidential) data "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders

Instrument for interaction Different types of use: Web portal (online version) Open-source software (GeoNetwork, GeoServer, PostGIS) Mainly viewing of maps & attributes Forum (support for both versions) Desktop version Desktop-version, coupled to a database with basic data & indicators ArcGIS Extended functionalities User community similar to Web GIS, but experienced GIS-users Forum Exchange ideas Collective problem solving Collective memory "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders

Web portal October 6, 2011Spatial Monitor Flanders Acces via internet browser (in dutch, registration required) Content = indicators generated by researchers support centre

More than an inventory: reflect the research logic Example: Environmental Indicators Two types: 1. Direct measurements of environmental features (Author: Kirsten Bomans, KULeuven, Data source: AGIV) e.g. Forest fragmentation in Flanders Other examples: Concentration of gardens Number of horses per municipality Renewable energy installations "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders

Two types: 2. Indicators with an (in)direct impact on the environment e.g. Daily energy consumption per capita for travel between home and workplace Author: Kobe Boussauw, UGent, Data source: Social Economical Survey 2001; MIRA Other examples: Degree of built area Concentration/dispersal of housing "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders

D esktop application "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders Tools for: Spatial analyses Time series analyses + Standardization! + Updates! + Synchronization! + Data checks!

D esktop application Developed for ArcGIS 9.3 / 10  For users familiar with ArcGIS Access via Ruimtemonitor-Toolbox (extension in ArcGIS) Viewing, editing, analysing, developing Application of Modelbuilder tools "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders

D esktop application Modelbuilder Tools in the Spatial Monitor  Tools for automising and archiving of indicator calculations The calculation process is entirely reconstructed, with a clear description of each GIS operation Benefits: Archiving & documenting indicator calculations New calculations of indicators with updated data Easy to examine the influence of given parameters within the calculation process (sensitivity analysis) Can be applied in closed form for inexperienced users, with limited degrees of freedom (Black Box) "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders

To be continued… flexible self-learning system: the more users, the more … new spatial transformations and relevant processes can be included indicators can be calculated possible calculations can be developed and shared data sources can be identified and developed. "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders Management of system + Coaching user community is crucial

To be continued… The Support centre will be continued (2012 – 2016), but in altered form Evolutions in software will be closely followed and assimilated in the Spatial Monitor Currently most indicators are developed on relatively large scale (km-cel to municipality) for the entire Flemish territory  also more local studies & indicators can be included Add qualitative data, images, …  multimedia Utilisation of other data collection and data processing techniques: e.g. Mobile Mapping Focus will extend from monitoring change towards policy evaluation "Spatial Planning in Flanders/Belgium: challenges for policy, opportunities for society" Leuven, Dec 15-16, 2011 Spatial Monitor Flanders