Why conduct an urban diagnostic?
Systems thinking to achieve thriving, green and resilient urban places
Our urban places are key to humanity's future. Some function well, many need to be improved. Resources cannot cover everything, and priorities change over time. The aim of carrying out an urban diagnostic is to establish a baseline of today and targets for the future for an urban area to work towards, with insights into action to take to achieve an urban Vision.
The word "diagnostic" sounds dry and uninspiring, but when a diagnostic is done well it can be the very opposite - it can be a lively and engaging review involving everyone. It can be carried out with a broad range of people who bring different perspectives, using effective techniques to discuss matters and effective tools to gain insights and turn all forms of data into a valuable source of information to assess and act upon.
A range of diagnostic tools exist - from overall urban diagnostics to specific tools that allow us to focus on certain parts of urbanisation. Data collection and management is an important part of a good diagnostic. Research and work is taking place to look at how to use AI to help make data collation for urban diagnostics as efficient as possible.
Everyone who lives in cities and towns deserves a good life. Wonderful things can take shape when we put our minds to it. Think what we can achieve if we all play a part to using a diagnostics to make the urban places where we live, work and visit the very best they can be.
Approaching an urban diagnostic
Aspects to help you decide how to implement a diagnostic
The following points may be useful to consider:
1. What do we want to achieve with it?
2. What budget & timeframe is feasible?
3. How much of the urban system can we cover?
4. What data is available / can be efficiently collected, and how (e.g. AI)?
5. How many people should we involve, and how?
6. How do we develop a long-term in-house capability to manage it over time?
7. What types of targets and indicators should we focus on?
8. What can be achieved with existing & new funds and investment?
9. What outputs can be meaningfully achieved and shared?
10. Should we link to a global cause: SDGs (e.g. maybe through a Voluntary Local Review)?
Some points to think about...
It is important to think about what you want to do achieve, and what is feasible to undertake.
Are you seeking to work towards all or some of the following points (which relate and link to the Urban 2.0 principles)?
PLAN
1. Discuss what is required with a range of city / municipal people, including the mayor - you might think you need to focus on one area - they may want something else to be reviewed first
2. Create a baseline of data for where you are today - for an agreed scope of coverage
3. Use a systems approach to consider it all - you might focus on one part of the system; consider all of it
4. How will you link to the SDGs / other standards (e.g. ISO)?
DO
5. Involve everyone + be transparent = gain valuable views
6. Agree priorities for where you want to be for the agreed scope of coverage
7. Ensure the “to be” is based on good data monitoring, meaningful targets + action to review it
8. Agree action for moving forward, including key indicators and perhaps the full set of urban indicators to monitor and review
9. Check that funds & investment + other resources can be assigned to agreed actions - adapt actions to suit funding if required
CHECK
10. Transparently monitor progress of agreed investments and actions with everyone (Urban Future Centres might help with this)
11. Check for change - things happen, priorities might shift
ACT
12. Learn lessons together and keep improving
Urban diagnostic considerations
"Think Big, Start Small and Scale" might work for you...
There are different ways to undertake an urban diagnostic. Given the challenges we all face with resource constraints, capacity to engage everyone and a multitude of other factors, it might make sense to start in a small, measured way. This approach can work well - as long as it is connected to a larger picture, and a well-thought-through Vision of what you want to achieve.
There are many different solutions that can be used to undertake an urban diagnostic. Some are holistic, some focus on specific aspects. It is worth reviewing a range of options to then assess what can work best for your context. Examples of urban frameworks which can be used for diagnostics are available in the Framework section of this website.
AI may provide potential to make urban diagnostics more efficient. If data can be collected from different sources and structured into an initial presentation of data, it may provide a useful starting point that saves people time and money.
