https://youtu.be/8S4SZ_9uSYU
Dana R. Thomson from the IDEAMAPS Network spoke about how an Integrated Deprived Area Mapping System leverages the strengths of four existing "slum" mapping approaches, whilst involving multiple stakeholders in the process of producing routine, accurate maps of slums across cities.
1__Dana_Thomson_slidesDownload
Federico Bayle from Dymaxion Labs described their open API for training deep learning models from Earth Observation data, and highlighted example applications of the API to model "slum" areas in several Latin American cities.
2__Federico_Bayle_slidesDownload
Monika Kuffer from University of Twente - ITC described the SLUMAP Project and research they are doing to compare modelling approaches and data sources in terms of accuracy and cost. She also presented results from a "slum" map user needs assessment which indicated that most current "slum" mapping relies on field-based methods, though users need "slum" maps to be updated every 1 to 2 years. Monika suggested that computer modelling approaches might help to fill the gap to produce routine maps of deprived urban areas.
3__Monika_Kuffer_slidesDownload
A productive conversation followed to answer questions about the latest computer modelling approaches, and listeners underscored the importance of modellers meaningfully engaging (and learning from) government and community users of "slum" maps in technical processes. Ultimately, the conversation focused on how people living in deprived areas benefit from producing maps of slums, informal settlements, and other deprived areas.
https://youtu.be/AeNHn8EQOuw
Joshua Maviti from UN-Habitat and SiSNet offered a key question to frame the purpose of collaborations among "slum" mappers: When does data become an asset to communities? Fundamentally, he said, having an address and therefore being findable becomes a "departure point" for discrimination and marginalisation. Therefore, data about deprived areas becomes an asset to residents in deprived communities only when it leads to being findable - and thus to "existing" within, and "belonging" to, a city. Joshua went on to explain UN-Habitat's consensus-based process involving community members and local authorities to re-plan and upgrade "slums" with tangible improvements to infrastructure and community-government relationships. SiSNet, championed by the Government of South Africa, is a network to gather these best practices.
4__Joshua_Maviti_slidesDownload
Nicera Wanjiru Kamani, founder of Community Mappers and trainer with Slum Dwellers International in Nairobi Kenya, spoke about the realities of life in a "slum" - inadequate space and quality of shelter, forced eviction to make way for unfinished "slum upgrading" projects, exposure to seasonal flooding and solid waste, and paying for all basic services including use of a toilet and taking a bath. "To me, as a person living in a slum, housing means I have adqieuate space and infrastructure that is collectively taken care of, but this is not happening." Nicera explained that she founded Community Mappers, a community-based organisation that provides for-hire and pro-bono mapping and survey services, to address problems with many existing data collection initiatives that "rob" communities of data by not sharing the raw or summarised results back. Community Mappers, instead, collects data that they see to be in the best interest of hte community, for example, a food insecurity survey in the early days of COVID, and they promote open and community-owned data.
5__Nicera_Wanjiru_Kamani_slidesDownload
Abdur Rahman Aleemi from the Institute of Business Management in Karachi Pakistan spoke about the gap in supply and demand of healthcare services in Slums of Karachi, which is likely host to the world’s largest slum. He highlighted the lack of trust by “slum” communities who have been “tricked” by political authorities and the private sector. Political authorities who view “slums” as reservoirs of cheap labour and dense vote counts seek to maintain the status-quo, he said, and many in the private sector view “slums” as a large potential market to be exploited. Abdur sees sustainable social enterprises as the answer to “slum” upgrading, for example, Indus Hospital and SIUT, both of which offer free, quality health services. In terms of large-scale community mobilizations, Financial and technical assistance of slum dwellers, some interesting indigenous enterprises such as AKHUWAT Foundation, RSPN, AMAN Foundation, The Citizens Foundation, and others are enabling a potentially conducive environment for slum upgrading.
6__Abdur_Rahman_Aleemi_slidesDownload
In the limited time remaining for discussion, speakers responded to questions about risks to residents based on different approaches to deprived area mapping, and how data collected in/by deprived communities might be shared and incorporated into wider policy and planning processes.
