How big data might induce learning with interactive visualization tools

The essay presents some results of a initial collaboration carried out between Polytechnic of Turin and CSI Piemonte (In-house ICT company of Piemonte Region). Different data visualization tools were selected and studied (Gapminder, ManyEyes, Open eXplorer and Fineo) in order to aid inductive learning about BD. The intelligent use of public sector information (PSI) becomes an important player for researches, urban studies and the governance but also for business. The doubling of digital information each two years made Data Visualization discipline crucial for accesses and understand complex info especially for business analysts. “We discover the world through our eyes says” wrote Few, one of the most important manager of visual communication. Accordingly, forms of communication such as Graph and tables boosted the visual dimension for creating relation between values, colors, shapes and most of all analyst and customers are exploring new dimension of learning (“storytelling” dimension). As planners and citizen, we rely greatly on eyes which are managing most of human sensors (nearly 70%) giving a crucial role to perception and cognitive maps, bias and new thoughts. Among the different tools and approaches, this paper highlights and applies a visualization and analytic technique for a specific case study (Unione dei Comuni NordEst Torino) where it is newly important to try synergies in decision making, planning and inductive learning processes

How big data might induce learning with interactive visualization tools

The essay presents some results of a initial collaboration carried out between Polytechnic of Turin and CSI Piemonte (In-house ICT company of Piemonte Region). Different data visualization tools were selected and studied (Gapminder, ManyEyes, Open eXplorer and Fineo) in order to aid inductive learning about BD. The intelligent use of public sector information (PSI) becomes an important player for researches, urban studies and the governance but also for business. The doubling of digital information each two years made Data Visualization discipline crucial for accesses and understand complex info especially for business analysts. “We discover the world through our eyes says” wrote Few, one of the most important manager of visual communication. Accordingly, forms of communication such as Graph and tables boosted the visual dimension for creating relation between values, colors, shapes and most of all analyst and customers are exploring new dimension of learning (“storytelling” dimension). As planners and citizen, we rely greatly on eyes which are managing most of human sensors (nearly 70%) giving a crucial role to perception and cognitive maps, bias and new thoughts. Among the different tools and approaches, this paper highlights and applies a visualization and analytic technique for a specific case study (Unione dei Comuni NordEst Torino) where it is newly important to try synergies in decision making, planning and inductive learning processes

Future Cities and Regions. Simulation, Scenario and Visioning, Governance and Scales

This guide for tomorrow's urban practitioner systematically explains fourteen best practices across three continents; it explores questions of broad interest for designing and planning the future of cities and regions. Key questions addressed are: Is simulation useful to explore the effects of different design, policy and planning strategies? Which approach will help manage the uncertainties of metropolitan areas both today and tomorrow ? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the different simulation practices for city leadership, public and private partnership, and citizen involvement? The book reviews computer models and media, socio-political initiatives, professional practices which help communicating the future effects of different design, political and planning strategies with a wide range of aims: from information, through consultation, towards active participation. These world best practices are considered according to four leading issues for urban and regional development, respectively Simulation, Scenario and Visioning, Government and Governance, and Scale. The book examines the approaches adopted technically and procedurally. The selected knowledge and the innovative tools used in each case study are among the most advanced and up-to-date in the professional and research fields. This volume successfully illustrates these innovative practices and methodologies in a straightforward and accessible wa

Constants in Future Cities and Regions

The paper resumes some of the conversations the authors had in three years of research, based on the review of best participatory planning practices worldwide. The case projects are selected and discussed with the protagonists across four leading issues: Simulation, Scenario and Visioning, Government and Governance, and Scale. The case-oriented discussion is a peculiarity of the book , contributing to give shape to future cities or regions. The aim is to build a critical thinking on how urban planning, policy and design issues are faced differently or similarly throughout every cases studied. The book include the description of computer models and media, socio-political experiments and professional practices which help communicating the future effects of different design, policy and planning strategies and schemes with a wide range of aims: from information, through consultation, towards active participation. The cases have confirmed that simulation tools can impact on local government and can drive new forms of "glocal" governance, shaping and implementing future plans and projects at different scale and time span. The following paragraphs will point at some of the constant thoughts the authors had around the selection and editing of the book's case studied and related issue

Space Syntax: un metodo di lettura degli spazi urbani

La progettazione dello spazio urbano richiede approcci di analisi complessi, con più parametri e fattori. Questa esperienza di ricerca indaga un sistema di supporto alle scelte progettuali, denominato Space Syntax, che descrive in modo non arbitrario le caratteristiche di uno spazio sulla base dell’articolazione della forma degli spazi urbani. La convinzione è che lo spazio urbano di una città abbia una logica (sintassi) fatta di quantità e qualità che può essere misurata e interpretata. L’esplorazione comparativa di approcci di lettura simili a quello Space Syntax mostra come il processo di lettura dello spazio urbano influisce sul come coglierne i possibili significati e potenzialità. Il dibattito, i nuovi metodi e le “nuove misure” sintattiche sono discusse al fine di esplorare la validità e i limiti del metodo. Infine, la tesi descrive i principali esperimenti che sono stati svolti, proponendo per il futuro anche una applicazione per la raccolta dei dati sintattici

Valutazione multicriteriale dello spazio pubblico: un metodo per le pubbliche amministrazioni

La gestione, manutenzione e riqualificazione degli spazi pubblici richiede strumenti di valutazione multicriteriali, sensibili a condizioni socio-ambientali spesso trascurate nel processo decisionale di una Pubblica Amministrazione. La ricerca ha elaborato un sistema di valutazione transcalare composto di otto indicatori. Gli indicatori concorrono, attraverso la visualizzazione su base GIS e la computazione tabellare a definire un percorso progressivo di valutazione che partendo dalla scala della città giunge all'analisi di uno spazio verde e della sua dotazione di arredi. Il metodo sperimentale tiene conto del ciclo di vita delle dotazioni degli spazi pubblici, dei vincoli normativi, delle opportunità morfologiche del territorio, del fabbisogno sociale di spazi

The Clustering Effect of Industrial Sites: Turning Morphology into Guidelines for Future Developments within the Turin Metropolitan Area

As urban societies seek to redefine themselves following the decline of manufacturing, they are left with physical and social transformations supported by successive stages of industrial growth and shrinking. At the same time, new paradigms are developed in urban planning to address the challenge of cities that are declining and cities whose population is rapidly rising. These attempts raise the need to understand the impact of the road network on how cities thrive or shrink, additionally to social, cultural and economic changes. This paper uses space syntax methodology and a comprehensive mapping of industrial distribution to analyse the evolution of the road networks of Turin (capitals of car manufacturing in Italy) and its relationship to industry from 1920 to the present. The focus is the morphological cluster of industrial sites and how to generate alternative concepts for planning development. The analysis showed that industry began within the urban core along the primary routes of global-scale movement. However, as a new era of economic production took place at the end of the 20th century, the road network and industry followed a different logic. Industrial activities spread along the periphery in island clusters in close proximity to global arteries of movement. Turin has retained a backbone of integrated streets that enabled its reinforcement when industry relocated. The analysis of their historic development shows that new concepts should be informed by quantitative analysis of the evolution of the road network and its effects on economic activity, so that future planning can turn into a basic guide the configurational logic of urban roads from the past

Le monetizzazioni degli standard urbanistici: esperimenti tra limiti e prospettive

Dopo il D.M 1444 del 1968 che ha introdotto gli standard urbanistici, ci si è interrogati periodicamente sulla necessità di aggiornare l'insieme delle regole che determinano la costruzione degli spazi della città pubblica. Già 41 anni fa, le leggi urbanistiche regionali hanno cominciato a introdurre alcune specifiche al D.M 1444. In particolare, dovendo decidere come rinunciare alla cessione di aree per standard urbanistici, le Regioni hanno introdotto l'istituto delle monetizzazioni. Questo tema, seppur parte limitata di un più ampio e complesso dibattito sul rinnovamento e il coordinamento della normativa urbanistica nazionale, presenta una serie di criticità e opportunità teorico-operative su cui vale la pena soffermarsi. A partire da una analisi comparativa delle normative regionali italiane e da numerosi esempi applicativi dei comuni, il saggio si concentra soprattutto sul metodo di calcolo delle monetizzazioni e discute un caso studio innovativo che ha incluso nella computazione anche un principio di perequazione territoriale dei servizi che si basa sulla quantificazione degli standard presenti nelle aree omogenee di Piano Regolatore. Sono stati utilizzati strumenti informativi territoriali con l'obbiettivo di comprendere più efficacemente la distribuzione dei dati relativi agli standard nei luoghi in cui questi sono stati o saranno generati. Il metodo di calcolo proposto potrebbe permettere al decisore pubblico di utilizzare le monetizzazioni senza troppe discrezionalità e in modo più consapevole del semplice calcolo del valore immobiliare del terreno che oggi è largamente utilizzato in Italia

Territorial Ecosystem for circular economies: Eco3R research project

Among the transitional processes that could lead to building consistent sustainable solutions, circular economies practices (CE) are complex processes which must take into account diff erent topics such as stakeholder engagement, material fl ows opportunities, end of life expectations and EU limit perspectives or targets. This paper introduces briefl y the concept of circular territorial ecosystems with respect to the Eco3r research project, carried on by the Politecnico of Turin (DAD) from 2020, in collaboration with CCS, the in-house providing company of 19 municipalities in the area of Turin. Some crucial data on waste management and the main project’s targets are presented. Some Eco3r projects’ outputs are outlined in order to show this local experiment can become a model to scale or replicate in other communities in Europe. The paper is structured as follows: Section 1 describes the background problem with main data and critical issues regarding the case study; Section 2 is describing the target of the research project Eco3R and the scientifi c approach adopted; Section 3 is dedicated on the main output of Eco3R project and the discussion on the further research developments