Paul Jenkins | Heriot Watt University - Escócia

• Grant number: 07/04626-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: November 03, 2007
• End date: November 24, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Construction Industry
• Principal Investigator: Alex Kenya Abiko
• Grantee: Alex Kenya Abiko
• Visiting researcher: Paul Jenkins
• Visiting researcher institution: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Management of densification in Brazilian cities. At present the population in urban areas across the world exceeds that of non-urban areas and this situation will continue for various decades, and as such the process of urbanization is increasingly seen as irreversible. Since 1965 Brazil’s urban population has exceeded the rural and the urbanization rate is currently higher than 82%. This proportion will increase further in future although various studies indicate that it will eventually stabilize. The urbanization process is complex and the visible result in terms of population growth in cities has direct implications for urban and environmental management. The nature of urban growth is of vital importance for countries such as Brazil as, with economic growth, incomes and credit tend to expand and cities become more developed physically and potentially more socially and economically integrated. A key question which this raises is what type of city and urban morphology results from urbanization processes and the consequent physical development? In addition, will previous urbanization trends, generally studied and analyzed in literature produced in developed countries, be those which become also prevalent in developing countries such as Brazil? To respond to these questions a study is being initiated which focuses on the management of densification of Brazilian cities, in the light of urban growth and the morphological changes which are the consequences of such transformation, with a focus on appropriate mechanisms for urban management. In particular the study will examine the parts of cities usually considered ‘informal’ and the processes of their urban integration. This study will be developed by a joint research project between the Urban Engineering and Physical Planning Research Group of the Civil Construction Engineering Department in the Escola Politécnica of the University of São Paulo and the Centre for Environment & Human Settlements at the School of the Built Environment in Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. An International Academic Protocol is being finalized between these two institutions. This funding request is to permit that Professor Dr. Paul Jenkins comes to Brazil and continue to develop the research activities, basically divided in four areas: a)Discussion on the development of the research and its methodological aspects; b)Preliminary survey of data, including, amongst other issues, the actual practices of density management in so-called formal and informal urban areas; c)Contact with researchers and professionals in partner institutions for the research, as well as visits to study areas; d)Participation in two working seminars, one internal to the Escola Politécnica and the other involving the wider community outside the university. (AU)