Background
Adequate visualization of current and future urban infrastructure interventions constitutes a crucial decision making requirement for policy makers. However, very little decisions are based on evidence, since choices are made on a very quick day to day basis to prevent even longer governmental processes. This research is investigating onto the use of technology to visualize current urban phenomenon and future urban infrastructure interventions of informal urbanism.
Research questions
What level of detail (LOD) needs to be achieved in virtual environments for an adequate visual perception and communication to policymakers in the context of informal settlements?
Policy relevance
Improved visualization capacities shall overcome “laws administered by municipalities that date from the colonial era” which “continued to serve as template for urban planning, land use regulation and public housing provision”. In many developing countries, there is a lack of data and/or fragmented provision of data, a lack of tools and methods to understand the available data and “only by identifying more comprehensive ways to map (visualize), understand and engage urban real economies can the momentum for infrastructure-led and environmentally sustainable economic growth be maintained”.