- Urban Planning and Monitoring -

 

 

 

MIT Courses/OpenCourseWare Pages

 

 

Urban Planning Home

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Urban-Studies-and-Planning/index.htm

 

 

Courses of interest: (*links come from Open Course Ware, and description comes from the course catalog)

                                  (**articles with titles in green are of special interest)

 

11.122 Society and Environment
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Urban-Studies-and-Planning/11-122Environment-and-SocietyFall2002/CourseHome/index.htm
Examines environmental policy and planning from a societal perspective, with a focus on the sociopolitical contexts through which individuals and organizations influence environmental decision making. Topics include environmental values, environmental movements and mobilization, environmental justice, risk perception and communication, and collaborative environmental planning.
J. Carmin

 

11.123 Big Plans
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Urban-Studies-and-Planning/11-123Big-PlansSpring2003/CourseHome/index.htm
Explores social, technological, political, economic, and cultural implications of "Big Plans" in the urban context. Local and international case studies (such as
Boston's Central Artery and Curitiba, Brazil's bus transit system) are used to understand the process of making major changes to the city fabric. The efficacy of top-down and bottom-up planning and the applicability of planning strategies across cultural boundaries are considered.
Staff

 

11.132 Understanding Social Policy as Public Policy
Subject focuses on three major institutions that constitute society: state, markets, and civil society. Highlights public policy's approach to these institutions and how these issues play out in the field of social policy. Using two perspectives, social policy is examined across functional domains such as welfare, other transfers, and social services; and across countries where welfare states exist in industrial economies.
M. Rein

 

11.201 Gateway: Planning Action
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Urban-Studies-and-Planning/11-201Gateway--Planning-ActionFall2002/CourseHome/index.htm
Introduces persistent themes and challenges facing planners. Emphasizes historical roots of contemporary problems and comparative study of practice in the
US and other countries. Eight week module intended for first semester MCP students.
L. Susskind

 

11.202 Gateway: Planning Economics
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Urban-Studies-and-Planning/11-202Gateway--Planning-EconomicsFall2002/CourseHome/index.htm
Introduces applications of microeconomic theory to planning problems including urban form and structure, government's role in urban settings and problems of housing finance.
F. Levy

 

11.220 Quantitative Reasoning and Statistical Methods for Planning I
Develops logical, empirically based arguments using statistical techniques and analytic methods. Covers elementary statistics, probability, and other types of quantitative reasoning useful for description, estimation, comparison, and explanation. Emphasis on the use and limitations of analytical techniques in planning practice. Restricted to first-year M.C.P. students.
J. Davis, J. Ferreira

 

11.221 Quantitative Reasoning and Statistical Methods for Planning II
Using the analytical skills developed in 11.220, this subject extends the statistical techniques to address topics in modeling and forecasting. Emphasizes the use and limitation of modeling in planning practice. Covers techniques of multiple regression and time series analysis. Uses data sets from actual planning applications for examples and problem sets.
Staff

 

11.234 Making Sense: Qualitative Methods for Designers and Planners
Surveys uses of qualitative methods in environmental design practice and research. Topics include: observing environments and physical traces, observing environmental behavior, asking questions, focused interviews, standardized questionnaires, use of written archival materials, use of visual materials including photographs and maps, case studies, and comparative methods. Emphasizes use of each of these skills to collect and make sense of qualitative data.
L. Vale

 

11.235 Analyzing Projects and Organizations
Seminar builds analytic skills for evaluating programs and projects, organizations, and environments. Subject covers: using proxy indicators with poor data and limited time; preparing for, conducting, and interpreting interviews; conducting cross-project and cross-organization comparisons; and finding rationality in seemingly chaotic organizational and project environments.
J. Tendler

 

11.255 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution in the Public Sector
Investigates social conflict and distributional disputes in the public sector. While theoretical aspects of conflict are considered, focus is on the practice of dispute resolution. Comparisons between unassisted and assisted negotiation are reviewed along with the techniques of facilitation and mediation.
L. Susskind

 

11.256 Comparative Studies of Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
Advanced research seminar open only to qualified graduate students. Focus on cross-cultural and cross-group analysis of institutional barriers to effective dispute resolution. Students are expected to prepare detailed comparative case studies.
L. Susskind

 

11.257 Seminar on Theory-Building in Multi-Party Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
Advanced seminar on multi-party negotiation open only to qualified graduate students. Focus on cross-disciplinary contributions to the theory of negotiation and dispute resolution. Taught in conjunction with
Harvard Law School.
L. Susskind

 

 

Other Sources

 

Urban Solid Waste Management in Low-Income Countries of Asia

http://www.sandec.ch/SolidWaste/Documents/04-SW-Management/USWM-Asia.pdf

 

A method used in California to quantize solid waste

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WasteChar/YourData.htm#Step%201

 

Dorst, Jean, Ph.D. "Charles Darwin Research Station, Galapagos, Ecuador."Noticias de Galápagos No.1 July 1963"
http://www.darwinfoundation.org/articles/n0100076301.html


The Environmental Literacy Council.
"Cement." October 18, 2004.
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/1257.php


The Canadian Institute of Treated Wood. "The Facts about Pressure-Treated Wood." September 7, 2004.
http://www.citw.org/using_specifying/residential/ptwfacts.htm

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The Inter-American Development Bank. Environmental and Social Impact Report - The Bahamas: Solid Waste Management Program (BH-0008).Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,
Department of Environment Health Services. July 9, 1998.
This outlines a $32.5 million plan to fix the solid waste situation in the Bahamas. This problem is remarkably parallel to the garbage disposal issues in the Galapagos.
Available online at: http://www.iadb.org/exr/doc98/pro/esir-bh0008.htm