The urban monitoring model involves the use of an effective, efficient, transparent, accountable and businesslike approach to urban development policies. It deals with the development and day-to-day running of cities and includes topics such as planning, education, health, water supply and waste collection. Millions of words have been written on the topic and, until recently, they have focused overwhelmingly on public health concerns, the social conditions of the poor,   and   proposals  to  ameliorate   these  through  planning   and

redevelopment. Over the last thirty years these traditional issues have been supplemented by a veritable explosion of new studies exploring broader environmental perspectives, including urban nature, the impacts of cities and towns on the wider environment and the sustainability of modern urban life.

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 While much of this work raises concern about the ‘environmental footprint’ of towns and cities, other studies point out that high human population densities can provide citizens with access to a wide range of services with low personal transport requirements. Urban areas also have the potential to release land for nature and there is widespread appreciation of the social, economic and cultural benefits that life there can offer. The urban environment has thus become a compelling subject for researchers as well as a significant political issue. Urban areas have been recast as key arenas in which the concept of sustainable development should be interpreted and applied.

     Looking more widely, cities only encompass 2% of the world’s land surface, yet they are responsible for consuming over 75% of the planet’s resources and produce 75% of the world’s waste. Many of the cities of tomorrow are more likely to be mega or super cities, with single mega-cities sprawling urban regions representing “the largest, most complex manmade structures ever created”. For all of these reasons, we view the urban environment as a pressing issue requiring prompt attention.

    Urban monitoring is about all activities in the area: both public and private, and the activities of individuals. Although urban monitoring is concerned with efficiency, effectiveness and transparency, it is not only the process that matters, but also how to achieve substantial results. For instance: where do we want to go? What are the major challenges in terms of employment, service delivery, etc.? Being based upon models of private sector business, the emphasis in urban monitoring is placed on corporate monitoring with clearly defined organizational goals, strategies and a monitoring team to ensure coordination. It requires a monitoring team that feels responsible for setting objectives for the urban system, choosing appropriate actions and subsequently carrying these out within the limits  of  available  resources.  The major  thrust of such a monitoring

perspective is to break with the existing segregation of urban policy.

Summarizing the above, urban monitoring is about:

1. The adoption of a business-like approach to urban development, albeit with a consistent view on the impact of policies and actions on the welfare of people and the state of the environment.

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2. The need to look at the city in its entirety and to a holistic/integrative approach that seeks to amalgamate economic planning, physical planning, public works and public service delivery into one system.

3. The concern for the urban development process, recognizing the dynamics and uncertainties of development and the need to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances.

4. Building a shared view on the future development of the city among decision makers‚ and adapting rules, regulations and working attitudes accordingly.

5. Calling upon non-public actors whenever and wherever possible in order to benefit from their resources and comparative advantages in initiating, executing and running activities that foster urban development process.

Exercises