We learned how we can work in GIS with our GPS output collected during the field trip. With the GIS we’re able to generate data by ourselves and analyze this to explore spatial patterns and relationships.

We've got an introduction to GIS. GIS is a powerful tool for spatial research, design and planning. It is an important platform for visual representation, analysis and modeling of complex spatial environments. Also we learned how to use the GPS which we take with us on our field research.

On wednesday the 18th of February lectures followed by a workshop were given by Jock Baker and Martin Bjerregaard. Baker talked about CARE International and explained the Humanitarian Accountability Framework. Martin Bjerregaard gave us insight information about disaster waste management. One key result of the workshop was the model of Objective: Outputs > Outcomes > Impact.

Output: desired results
Outcome: what in reality happened, which is our area of focus during this case study
Impacts: either positive or negative results, tested on a far greater scale

This week Akkelies gave a lecture for Space Syntax use in configurations and urban sustainability. It was insightful because we learned about the basis of the tool: the (architectural) theory which we could link to earlier workshops with J. Kennedy (week 0). Aspects as livelihood of suburban areas and accessibilities to economic prosperity through infrastructure.

This week we learn how Space Syntax can contribute to social safe experiences of urban space. Point of focus are intervisibility, unconstituded and isovist analysis. For example "Living in areas segregated from a main street, people tend to hide their entrance to their homes"

This week van Nes shows how to use Space Syntax to study global and local connectivity. With examples of UK case studies, we analyze the ring roads and the consequences on long-term urban development.

We arrived already in week three of the preliminary research and defined a bit more our research aims and frame we work in. We want to analyze the effect of informal en formal disaster response to the earthquake of 2001 on the urban transformations.

Today we had a workshop of NFRC and Jock Baker, about disasters preparedness and pointed out interesting aspects like the garbage problem due to the disaster.

Yesterday we finally booked our tickets, we're arriving the sixth of march!

Seminair 1/Week 1

Akkelies van Nes introduces Space Syntax , a tool we're using for analysing. Point of focus topological (the direction change), geometric (angular choice) and metric distance.

Workshop James Kennedy

Here is the process documented on a weekly basis

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Urban Emergencies

The Faculty of Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences from the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands is carrying out a research on post disaster urban responses. This pilot project has been initiated in order to find ways in which urban tools and understandings concerning urbanization processes and urban vitality can contribute to the ongoing development efforts regarding the reconstruction and redevelopment phase. The project has been setup with a three month on field mapping and analyses period to take place between March and May 2009, followed up by a 6-week postproduction phase culminating in a symposium and publication. A total of 18 students will work in groups of 3, in 6 different countries; El Salvador, Venezuela, Indonesia, Philippines, Ghana and Bangladesh, focusing on various aspects (e.g. material, architectural, spatial, organizational, socio-economical, cultural, etc). This is in order to gather more information about cultural influences on architecture and urbanism, especially in the natural disaster responses. For more information about Urban Emergencies and to download the Project Outline of the pilot, please visit the website at www.urbanemergencies.org.

Case study group El Salvador

Our group consists out of three members: B.B Olde Bijvank, D. Duif and W. Pocornie. We all followed the Bachelor course at the University of Delft. We are motivated to make this pilot a success, learn and exchange information with the established network and most of all contribute as much as possible to the ongoing practice of post disaster urban responses.

Contents of Project Plan

This document contains passages out of the Project Plan and is meant to introduce ourselves and to inform possible network contacts about our research. Currently we are in the field research phase, we aim to update our work and network as much as possible. We keep a blog up to date: www.elsalvador-urbanemergencies.blogspot.com

Problem field definition

In the development of the case study, a better understanding of the cultural background is needed. We use ‘The Evolutionary Map’. It consist generic data gathered about the country El Salvador. This information serves as a graphic illustration of the body of knowledge and is flexible which means that it keeps being updated when more data is gathered along the investigation.

It functions as a tool that maps facts and indicates growth, decrease and impacts in different fields of disciplines while simultaneously gives insight about the relations between these disciplines. This way we are able to investigate cultural events while looking for direct links with disasters and urban response processes.

Disciplines, conditions & starting points

In theory the Evolutionary Map could give insight on the entire urbanism context, any event in a period of time, milestones and process. We choose to start of with mapping five main disciplines which could be sub vided in more specific disciplines or areas:
- Natural disasters
- Spatial area
- Economy
- Population
- Political events

First of all the theme is natural disasters, this is our primary discipline for the Evolutionary Map; earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, landslides, hurricanes etc. Certain disasters are repetitive, such as floods and mudslides cause by heavy rain. The consequences of one disaster can also be the immediate cause for the next disaster. The other disciplines are spatial area, economy, population and political events. Economy shows us the (financial) development of the nation and cities. Within the population we focus on the population growth and migration. Political events such as wars, demonstrations and the ruling parties are graphically represented in time periods and milestones.

All the general and specific information we gather we will translate to spatial conditions, sub vided in these disciplines. The earthquake of 1986 and the two earthquakes of 2001 are the primary targets in the field of natural disasters, respectively for the case study in Downtown and in Santa Tecla. For the case study in Mejicanos the main focus will be on the vulnerability of the settlements and the repetitiveness of floods and mudslides during the rainy season.

Group Haiti changed their destination for the Urban Emergencies project. Due to some insights of different aid workers in Haiti we came to understand that the situation in Haiti is a little tensed. With the upcoming elections in April in the back of our minds we choose to think it over and made the decision, with a little pain in the heart, to change our field study to El Salvador.
So group Haiti is now group El Salvador.
To start of with a little irony, the El Salvadorians will choose their next president next month. Polls show that most likely there will be a shift of power from right to left. In the coming weeks will keep you informed about our progress of the preliminary research into El Salvador.