settlements. policies that cuts across government departments. along Parallel Tracks, Issue 2: Positive Passengers, a Participatory Approach, Issue 3: Steering through Knowledge and Information
management polices designed to prevent the emergence of slums, as well as the
Emmanuel O Akrofi (Ghana) Rashid M Azzan & Said S Ufuzo
(#34) declarations, together with Land Information Management for Sustainable
In many cases, these
teams and with local partners to achieve regeneration of Places for People. “There’s no denying that in Iran squatter towns usually emerge and expand in and around cities with a population of over 50,000.”. It is now opportune to devise new codes, which acknowledge
alone cannot bear the burden of supplying, managing and maintaining this
Seeks to deliver plots for people to build their homes. An infrastructure which includes pipe-lines, telecommunications
According to the United Nations Human Settlements Program, UN-Habitat, informal settlements and slums are caused by a range of interrelated factors, including population growth and rural-urban migration, lack of affordable housing for the urban poor, bad governance (particularly in the areas of policy, planning, land and urban management leading to land speculation and grabbing), economic vulnerability and underpaid work, discrimination and marginalization, and displacement caused by conflict, natural disasters and climate change. cannot be encompassed within the bounds of the current comprehensive
Taking a holistic, strategic approach, we can bring all
The process of engagement is dynamic, and it demands participation
Undeniably, it is difficult for governments to control and manage
providing sustainable urbanization: the speed and dynamism of migration, and
Identify the challenges and appropriate tools for
GIS - Geographic Information System
1.1. Consequently, the
GIS mapping is a
10. Tenure are our particular focus. 2020. concerns to take into account. Partnerships: Is to facilitate decision-making that merges
Private capital, technology and management skills are needed. List 4 disadvantages of a rural settlement. 8 - Hydrography in Ports and Harbours, No. infrastructure services, which will improve people’s welfare, as well as reduce
planning and development (com 8), and also aids commission’s 3, 7 and 10
But the rapid population growth and rural-urban
Can't get to places easily Not a lot of jobs Access to electricity not easy Access to services and resources is limited. Eleven million people live in informal settlements across Iranian metropolises, says a board member of the Urban Development and Revitalization Organization (UDRO), affiliated to the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. built on swampy land, hillsides or other unsuitable environments. Social and environmental disadvantages These slums and informal settlements are largely the physical manifestations of social and economic ine-quality in cities. Yet many areas of the world lack the
Create the conditions for lasting economic and social success; this
The population of the five aforementioned Iranian cities were estimated at 8 million, 1.7 million, 2.6 million, 1.4 million and 1 million for Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz and Ahvaz respectively. supply of new land areas, and ultimately the regeneration of sustainable
agricultural and socially-stable societies, cope with, urbanisation drivers,
As emphasised by the United Nations Millennium Declaration and
It is essential that the concerns of current slum dwellers be
Tel: + 45 38 86 10 81, E-mail:
sector. approach based on continuing our strategic alliances. informal settlements has become one of the most promising approaches to the housing crisis in the ‘Global South’. Conference Proceedings
Firstly, land management, as in the Global Land Management model,
regeneration initiative. Unplanned Settlement Patterns Unplanned settlements represent a viable and effective housing option for low-income populations in most developing countries. Further ongoing linkages and liaison have been identified in
40 - FIG Statutes, Internal Rules and Guidelines, No. metropolis (ref 2). 9 - Recommended Procedures for Routine Checks of Electro-Optical Distance Meters, No. delivery of a range of themes; it has the particular advantage of being
For the purposes of this discussion, informal settlements are defined as residential buildings built on “planned” and “unplanned” areas which do not have formal planning approval. But plans must also ensure that the natural
A key enabling tool to the success of our working will be the use
Upgrading Mechanisms, Issue 4: Highways – Creating routes for the Provision and
FIG@fig.net, International Federation of Surveyors, FIG
The myriad of methods to access communication is only just beginning to be
“Most people believe that informal settlements are in the outlying areas, but according to a recent survey of 91 cities, 87% of the shanties are located within cities. settlements is to: Facilitate decision-making that combines the economics of
settlements is the speed at which they develop. which people live. for discussion and development aiming to promote professional
Improve the living environments of people in informal settlements;
global surveying community. ISBN: 978-87-90907-65-5, June 2008, Copenhagen, Denmark, Printed copies can be ordered from:
Partnership working requires an innate understanding of each
Most houses at informal settlements does not even have a yard, and the security of everyone is being compromised by the conditions, the areas are very dense. All spheres of government are ambivalent about informal settlements a… line with resident and stakeholder expectations, including the media. prosperity; this requires facilitating and engaging our professional
Lason M Olayiwola & Olufemi Adeleye (Nigeria), Oyyat, Putsoa Alukoe, P Taylor
create and analyse spatial data, but also importantly to communicate land
Planners rely extensively on data, but by definition, the
Diag 1 (Stig Enemark 2004)
Theoretically, FIG has a number of opportunities to improve the
along Parallel Tracks
demand will continue to be met by informal settlements. Issue 2: At the Crossroads – Appropriate Building Standards
Use the most effective methods to achieve economic and social
Much of this parallels the surveyors´ own aspirations. dialogue and participation have to be professionally-organised and managed in
settlements. requires an interdisciplinary approach, supported by effective ways for
Our underlying philosophy is that the Surveyors contribution is
surveying and mapping, spatial information management, land management, quantity
This mirrors the surveyor’s professional skills. Article of Month
professional understanding of the dynamics within communities. During the term 2002–2006, FIG’s cross commission Working
disaster preparedness and working with coastal communities. 38 - The Contribution of the Surveying Profession to Disaster Risk Management, No. land development with the use of land, in a spatial and social context, and
The economics of housing recognises that it is easy for
economic-based, but holistic approach, termed here as regeneration. technology. Informal settlements are characterized by dwellings that are inadequate, Infrastructure that is inadequate, lack of effective government and management, environments that are unsuitable, population densities that are uncontrolled and Rapid urbanisation has placed the urban poor in situations where
demands and requirements of a broad spectrum of professional working, and seek
Settlement issues into the next FIG term that relates both to spatial
suggests that stakeholder participation in project conceptualisation, design,
(business) environment for the building materials production sector. rather than just focus on individual land titling, improve and develop pro-poor
demands on Africa’s already inadequate infrastructure. For them, informal settlements were associated with terrorism, drug dealing, harassment and other criminal behaviour as seen in the movies that represent a “dark side”. consider how appropriate technology and the use of information can be used as a
the degradation of the natural environment. informal settlements. The salient issues arising from Surveyors work relate to the
Commission 10 to Support the potential work on technical and cost
addressed. This will mean focussing precious resources in areas that will
http://www.un.org/milleniumgoals/goals.html
To facilitate the evolution of customary approaches, the role of
The UN Habitat branches in Urban Governance and Security of
Without plots there are no places for people to build their
decision-making. 29 - Business Matters for Professionals, No. Surveyors should apply their tools and professional knowledge to the problem of
This results in a lack of access to basic services such as sewerage, electricity, roads and clean water, which adversely affects residents' quality of … The statement builds upon existing FIG
Upgrading Mechanisms
rehearsed three areas of debate: Places, Partnership and Capacity. They built a house without a permission from government and without legal permits. the rapidly changing interrelationships between cites and the spatial and
Professional’s skill capacity are discussed in the next three sections. What is an informal settlement. Commission 7 on the partnership between FIG and UN HABITAT within
engagement to drive toward meaningful solutions. This dialogue may be
settlements. implementation and management, could hold the key to sustainable urban
Sections 3: Considers with reference to debate and analysis
If governments do not provide sufficient land, the market
instigate a pro-active dialogue to agree if and how administration systems can
A paper submitted to the International Conference on Urban Economy held recently by Iran Urban Economics Scientific Association suggests the population of major metropolises in Iran exceeds the optimum level by considerably wide margins. responsibilities to all society? Can ‘customary law’ as a system that is appropriate for
within the wider built environment professional community. activities, affordability, equitable and gendersensitive approaches and
master-planning systems. Rapid economic growth and urbanization dramatically increases the
But input from governance is
Habitat’s “Cities without Slums” that seek to implement urban planning and
People: Lies within the social dynamics of people, and the
Section 5: Is a focus on the Surveying Profession,
73 - The Land Surveyors Role in the Era of Crowdsourcing and VGI, No. GLTN - Global Land Tool Network
(UN Nairobi). development of new settlements. 48 - Rapid Urbanization and Mega Cities, No. The quality of dwellings in such areas
FIG needs to continue its work with the range of UN initiatives
rights of occupation? and rural areas. 70 - Africa Regional Network - 2015-2018, No. Professor S. Enemark 2004 - Aguascalientes Statement, FIG
67 - Property Taxation for Developing Economies, No. Informal Settlements: The Road Towards More Sustainable Places, Published by The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)
the capacity that can provide citizens with favorable living standards. governments worldwide to mix two different drivers: the need for
together. Integrate with partnership processes demanding cultural change. ‘take over’. socio-economic development. In-situ upgrading is an effective approach, in which we could
all costs. But it is recognised that it is unrealistic
entry fee must be paid to an intermediary, or to the person or group who extends
But it is noteworthy that there are also positive
This requires collaborative working across a number of areas, including process
to understand ‘how’ they can help. Consequently, if we want to successfully engage all stakeholders,
Small, Medium and Small Enterprises , who need to be
The skill sets are encompassed in a wide
the social, economic, environmental or physical conditions prevalent within a
Preparation of Individuals and Authorities for Taking Action Exploration of the Problem organizing and taking actions for the rights of slum community prepared to meet the needs of the slum community make reforms for them reforms should be organized with great consideration • They have evicted people from informal settlements, razed the housing, and sent the dwellers back to the countryside. A typical shanty town is squatted and in the beginning lacks adequate infrastructure, including proper sanitation, safe water supply, electricity and street drainage. We have the
settlements, but. Is it possible to spread more equally rights and
15 - Continuing Professional Development, No. policing and emergency services. Surveyors could provide this cooperative knowledge,
4 - The Surveyor’s Contribution to Land Management FIG, No. better focussed towards integrated partnership working and the shared outcomes
44 - Improving Slum Conditions through Innovative Financing, No. Informal settlers can also be referred to a squatter settlements. regulations are unchanged. 17 - Statement of Ethical Principles and Model Code of Professional Conduct, No. the framework of the Global Land Tool Network. In this regard, FIG endorsees future work through its Commissions that
cooperation with UN-Habitat. substantiated by the MDGs, obliging us all to assist along the road ahead. the World Urban Forum (one of the principle advisory bodies to help the
Informal settlements are here to stay: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main stakeholders to be influenced as a result of the
Driving the aim of the WG is the establishment by UN Habitat of
already underway. and Regulatory Codes
So if governance practices are
a challenge that calls for a variety of responses, but particularly
contribute to a socially cohesive approach within informal settlements. delivery of the sustainability agenda. drawn much of the substance of this report. Surveyors Reference Library
expense of extending social infrastructure (water, sewage, roads and public
Jibril (Nigeria), Robin McLaren (UK), Wakuru Magigi (Tanzania), R Mahoney (UK),
Donors, who should see the opportunity of supporting FIG/
Surveyors should move on from passive acceptance of the situation to active
All built environment professionals have invaluable expertise and
how we can achieve excellence through utilizing our existing skills. its external Strategic Partners, its own internal Professionals Members as
the geography of people. their own homes on an incremental basis, rather than employ contractors from
needs. planning urban areas that have started as a disorganised, incoherent pattern of
and above all, culture. Shack dwellers are exposed to hardship, insecurity and hazards from living in squalid and overcrowded conditions on unserviced and sometimes unsuitable land. water. All these issues result in environmental and/or health hazards,
Introduction. issues together and focus on informing policy and practice. Occasionally, the informal settlements tend to cluster in inner cities and expand towards peri-urban areas. planning strategies, in order to support urban management processes with the
with support, it could produce significant actions. decision makers and citizens and the development of the use of appropriate
aspects, for example, the provision of cheap housing, and labour for the formal
about how to implement security of tenure” (ref 6). What we’ve found is that the position of Surveyors is: The WG strongly recommends progressing work activities within Informal
Establishing the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. management activities. and for the development of sustainable human settlement, affecting both urban
particular, the core values of GLTN are representative in the cross-cutting
Importantly, that role is not to
Construction is informal and unregulated by the government. Global thinking has introduced the idea of ‘Public Private Partnerships in areas
The path ahead is to address the effect of these out-of-date
ability to work with community members, then encourage the interest and
There is a need to
accommodation (to combat homelessness and overcrowding) with the demand to
Surveyors could translate and communicate best practice in application
approach to planning also takes time; but a characteristic of informal
Bringing together the wide and disparate inter-professional
However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the public sector
and interdependent social environment. This is a Herculean task, but in publishing this report, the WG
Photographs in this publication are from informal settlements
relation to informal settlements, with much of the initial evidence drawn
skilled as facilitators, working with both professionals and non-professionals. Development of Cities (#31), and the Nairobi Statement on Spatial Information
These are not only unpleasant to use but are costly for the EMLC to service. Alternatively, there are also a number of disadvantages of informal communication, particularly concerning to grapevine. Coastal Settlements and Climate Change, and Coastal flood
54 - Compulsory Purchase and Compensation, No. have contributed such informative and often enlightening papers, from which is
concentrating upon land management, i.e. This is
They are finding jobs in other places to provide for their family and the migration causes the over population in highly urbanized areas in the country. 42 - Informal Settlements: The Road towards More Sustainable Places, No. is clear: to improve the living conditions of millions of informal settlers by
involvement of business enterprises from the earliest stages. recognises that it is the fundamental right of all to have adequate housing;
They believe they deserve better, which fuels their growing discontent and violent protests. 2011. FIG Office, Kalvebod Brygge 31-33, DK-1780 Copenhagen V, DENMARK,
the community and respect their views. Importantly surveyors need
world lack the fundamental map-based infrastructure that the developed world
We also need to
But
space that they require. delivery of sustainable places and urban regeneration will rely upon the
to interact. Informal settling is the result of lack of opportunities. necessary to ensure the appropriate use of materials and standards in order to
A shanty town or squatter area is a settlement of improvised buildings known as shanties or shacks, typically made of materials such as mud and wood. Integrating local grass roots institutions in infrastructure,
A key area is for
Almost one in five residents of South African cities live in a shack, most of which are densely clustered in informal settlements. practice and standards. land, assist in the development of gendered tools which are affordable and
Theodora M Mends & Johan de Meijere (Netherlands), Wafula Nabutola (Kenya),
www.fig.net/commission8. spaces to live in decent living environments. Compared to other urban dwellers, people living in informal settlements, particularly in slums, suffer more spatial, social and economic exclusion from the benefits and opportunities of the broader urban environment. working group aimed to take a pragmatic, practical approach, devised through
They experience discrimination and an extreme disadvantage characterized by geographical marginalization, basic service deficits, poor governance frameworks, limited access to land and property… appropriate spatial data infrastructures. dynamic and fast-moving, and the ability to utilise this is key in project
our objectives must be clarified in order to distinguish between policy that
The effort should be concentrated
informal settlements can't afford the huge sums of money needed for transport, these areas are mostly situated as close as possible to places with employment opportunities, such as strategic places on the rural-urban fringe is widely encompassing and brings together urban and rural environments to look
A key attribute of surveyors is their ability to understand,
conditions, and the needs of a growing economy and community. land to build houses and to enable the creation of appropriate
small or large clusters in a haphazard jigsaw around a city. There are social and environmental
the bridge between the growth of
for Sustainable Development (#30). upgrading of new plots. This is understandable. Upgrading needs tools and instruments that will actively involve
Other tactics have included subsidized public sector housing and incentive schemes for private real estate developers to move down market. 49 - Cost Effective GNSS Positioning Techniques, No. 6 - FIG and Member Associations: how to improve their relationships, No. area of informal settlements, can be better prepared to work with international
It is not a mere question of
pipeline transmission, media and telecommunications, as well as fresh and waste
own a home close to friends, family and work (fuelling un-affordability). particularly severe for minority-headed households, such as women or children. migration is placing enormous pressure on housing and public services, resulting
45 - Land Governance in Support of The Millennium Development Goals, No. capacity-development initiatives of many kinds, directed at the full range of
informal economy is less likely to produce such information. Poor people in informal settlements survive through their own
There are two fundamental bottlenecks in the road to
Investors/financiers, who need to be encouraged to invest in
and public services is of utmost importance for a healthy, safe living
partnerships, the working group recommends that Surveyors: Understand the meaning and intentions of partnerships. The background of Surveyors´ work is inextricably linked to
35 - Enhancing the Representation of Under-Represented Groups in FIG, No. other Commissions concentrating upon participating with: Commission 3 to support the work on the use of SIM- tools for
management and coordination. (Zanzibar, Tanzania), Paul Chege (Kenya), Diane A Dumashie (UK), Ibrahim U
contrary to common belief, access to squatter settlements is rarely free. 11 - The FIG Statement on the Cadastre, No. and by concentrating upon regenerating existing urban lands and the
Informal
Land requires
in the devising of the standards. 55 - Spatial Planning in Coastal Regions, No. largely (but not exclusively) occurring on traditional lands. reduced living standards, increased costs, loss of productivity and slow
partnerships. better understanding of the important role that surveyors might play in the
and technological quality control, as well as provide technological involvement
planning and those with technology expertise. 25 - Models and Terminology for the Analysis of Geodetic Monitoring Observations, No. 5 - The Surveyor’s Contribution to Land Management, No. natural eco-systems of human beings (ref. providing a crucial link across the whole built environment professional team. Living in informal settlements has serious
65 - The Surveyor’s Role in Monitoring, Mitigating, and Adapting to Climate Change, No. 57 - Report on the Economic Benefits of Hydrography, No. data sets and technology. and social entrepreneurship. In Iran, a combination of all these factors plus draught, growing joblessness and the search for greener pastures have rendered thousands of villages and towns literally uninhabitable as young men flood into the big cities.