5 ECTS credits
137 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4014942FNR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
Course subject: spatial analysis
Course description:
Urban Analysis 2 (UA2) is designed as a follow-up of UA1, like two elements in a chain. In UA2, new ingredients about planning regulations and existing projects are added to the initial neighbourhood diagnosis realised for UA1.
The expected final product of UA2 is a revised version of the development proposal designed at the end of UA1, based on students' initial neighbourhood diagnosis. The course is articulated around four workshops and a final presentation which takes place at the end of January and involves ULB and VUB colleagues.
In this second part, new ingredients about planning regulations and existing projects will be added to your neighbourhood diagnosis. The specific aim of UA2 is to bring you to think about and be confronted to planning documents and the broad range of institutional conditions and constraints framing existing neighbourhood (re)development projects in a city like Brussels.
Regarding methodological skills, a specific focus will be put here on semi-structured interview techniques.
PROGRAMME
WORKSHOP 1
• presentation of the research design and process
• introduction to the Brussels’ planning system: Historical background and impacts of the regionalization / Regulatory and strategic planning / Overview of existing planning documents, regulations and procedures
• introduction to the diversity of current projects being developed in Brussels : Who is developing what kind of projects? A typology of actors driving urban projects
• introduction to qualitative research strategies : semi-structured interviews/ preparation and use of a thematic guide/ practical details about interview techniques
WORKSHOP 2
• first group presentation (20 min. max / group) : survey of existing planning regulations in the neighbourhood / survey of existing projects / project selection / interviews preparation:
WORKSHOP 3
• second group presentation (20 min. max / group) : synthesis of the interviews’ results/ feedback and tutoring: how to analyse and synthesize interviews results ?
WORKSHOP 4
• final group presentation – contents: brief reminder on the initial neighbourhood diagnosis and development proposal / concise presentation planning background, other projects and the position of students' initial project vis-à-vis the one analysed in more details via interviews / arguments about possible changes to the initial proposal / presentation of the revised version of the development proposal for the case-study neighbourhood
REPORTING – due by mid-Febr. (max. 30 pages + annex)
Methods:
Literature consulted:
Bryman A. (2001). Social Research Methods, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press
Aims and objectives:
The logic behind this course is that students have to adopt practical and analytical skills allowing them to ‘analyse the urban’. There are six fields of attention for both UA 1 and UA2:
(1) analysing and using statistics: being able to collect and analyse statistics in combination with the use of some basic statistical analyses
(2) conducting qualitative research: being able to apply scientific interview techniques, text analyses, reading landscapes, historical analyses
(3) applying cartography: developing basic skills of mapping (land use mapping + transmitting it into simple GIS programmes)
(4) applying special methods: social area analyses, SWOT, scenario techniques
(5) developing project management: being able to set up a research agenda, reporting and presentation skills, ....
(6) communicating and presenting results in an academic and clear manner to peer , orally and in a written report.
The additional objectives of UA 2 will allow students to
- understand of contemporary urban dynamics in a city like Brussels as seen from their respective case-study neighbourhood
- gather additional material enabling them to have a critical reflection on their own initial neighbourhood development proposal.
- students think about and are confronted with planning documents and the broad range of institutional conditions and constraints framing existing neighbourhood (re)development projects in a city like Brussels.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The evaluation of the work in UA2 is based on an appreciation of the two intermediary group presentations and the final presentation, as well as on the final written report. The report is evaluated on its structure, style, format, and content.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Urban Studies: 4CITIES Classical track
Master of Urban Studies: Standard track
Master of Urban Studies: 4CITIES ResearchPractice track