Theory, practice, and research
GIS and planning
- GIS as public discourse and ADR tool.
- GIS as alternatives generator and visualizer.
- GIS models of equity, efficiency, access, environmental quality, and sustainability.
- GIS as tool: develop models and data (e.g., networks, image processing, 3D, programming).
Land use and environment
- Landscape ecology as language for landscape understanding and design.
- Watersheds; corridors (spatial basis for planning).
- Open space analysis, evaluation and planning; studies using GIS and allied technology.
- Water quality; impervious surfaces (ID and model).
Sustainability
Showing the way
Holdren, J. P. 1991. "Population and the Energy Problem." Population and the Environment 12(3):234–255.
"It is quite plausible that, using known technologies that would be cost-effective at today's energy prices, the current U.S. standard of living could be provided with about half the current US energy use per capita. Indeed, such a living standard probably can be managed with even less energy – perhaps a quarter to a third of the current U.S. figure – given a modicum of further technical innovation and the sort of increase in energy prices that seems inevitable over the next few decades in any case, accompanied by some structural and lifestyle changes that the combination of these price increases and environmental concerns could bring about (for example, increased durability of goods, shorter commutes, more attractive public transportation systems reduced materials use in packaging). (237)
"Let me offer . . . a scenario that I regard as close to the most optimistic that is currently defensible in respect to improvements in energy efficiency and progress in redirecting economic growth toward narrowing the rich-poor gap. The scenario, which is summarized in Table 9, is based on the premise that a standard of living somewhat higher than that of the United States today – presumed high enough to satisfy expectations for the long term global average – can be delivered by the middle of the next century with a rate of energy use averaging 3 kilowatts per person, just over a quarter of the current U.S. rate. A second premise is a global compact to reduce the rich-poor gap as rapidly as practical. A third is a trajectory of world population growth that corresponds to achieving replacement fertility worldwide by the year 2020 . . . (250)."
Holdren's scenario provides us an optimistic vision requiring concerted effort to achieve. To not achieve something like it is unthinkable, with the alternative ranging from global ecological meltdown to massive, raging starvation and inequity.
It also provides us guidance for thinking, acting and planning at the local level. I have highlighted key phrases in his text which relate planning activities at the local and region scales. In particular the notion of (sustainable) shorter commutes resonates with many planning agendas: Neo-traditional development, alternative transportation, accessibility, land conservation, and so on. We must assess plans for progress in these directions, and form coalitions to progress us globally on all fronts of his scenario.
