Data processing tools for urban development

 

Processing information on the benefits and follow-up costs of urban development (“cost calculator”)

Background:

For a number of different initiatives (e.g. the BMBF funding priority “Research for the reduction of land consumption and sustainable land management” (REFINA)), several follow-up cost calculators were developed to support municipalities and regions in estimating the follow-up costs of their urban development. In many cases, the calculators were developed in cooperation with practice partners and example municipalities, which is why the cost calculators existing so far differ in how widely they have been circulated and are not known in all municipalities and regions.

Aims of the project:

This project aimed to strengthen the information and PR work on true-cost pricing in urban planning and to increase awareness of the different IT tools and their scope in the municipalities.

Project contents and structure:

To help municipalities get informed about the uses, complexity, and required data of the tools as well as required additional consulting offers, guides that were easy to understand and access were provided online. The municipalities were thus enabled to easily choose a fitting cost-benefit calculator.

In order to do so, an online platform was developed allowing municipalities easy access to the cost calculators. The website included target-group specific instructions and ways to access the tools as well as recommendations for individual consultations in difficult cases.

In addition, we developed a brochure in which similar information – adapted to the requirements of print media – was provided for the municipalities.

As a basis for both the brochure and the online platform, the content was first structured.

Sponsors:

North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry for Climate Protection, the Environment, Agriculture, Nature and Consumer Protection (MUNLV) (Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen)

Project duration:

December 2010 – November 2011

Project partners:

BDO Technik- und Umweltconsulting GmbH (BDO)
Gertz Gutsche Rümenapp Stadtentwicklung und Mobilität – Planung Beratung Forschung GbR (GGR Planung)
Planersocietät – Stadtplanung Verkehrsplanung Kommunikation (Planersocietät)

Contact at the ISB:

Claudia Maximini, M. A.