A framework for supporting spatial resource allocation in slums areas

• Grant number: 22/02338-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: October 03, 2022
• End date: June 02, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering
• Principal Investigator: José Geraldo Vidal Vieira
• Grantee: José Geraldo Vidal Vieira
• Host Investigator: Gilberto Montibeller Neto
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências em Gestão e Tecnologia (CCGT). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Campus de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Loughborough University, England

Abstract

A challenging decision that must be addressed by policymakers (municipalities, State government, NGOs) is how to allocate limited resources among various sectors (health, security, sports, transport, etc.) to slums/communities. These communities are spatially located in urban spaces, and policy makers must consider their population, risk areas, accessibility and other aspects regarding health and social vulnerabilities. Indeed, methods based on multicriteria spatial analysis have enabled the prioritisation of these areas by policymakers. This problem has been discussed over decades (since the 1960s) in an economic and geographic context as an urbanisation policy, often applying mathematical modelling and geographic information systems. However, the literature shows a lack of theoretical tools or a methodology that consider: (i) the preferences of local population in decision models (most of the research is based on experts' opinions or past data); (ii) the multidimensional nature of these vulnerable areas (e.g., social, economic, environmental concerns) normally present in such decision problems, and (iii) the adequate population´s overall conditions, including liveability, equity, and affordability. This knowledge gap motivated us to focus on the development of a framework to support decision-makers when making decisions on spatial resource allocation to poor communities (in the settlement stage), taking into account local community preferences. The methodology consists of a case study and survey conducted in a community located in Osasco (a satellite city near São Paulo, Brazil) that will provide the data for the statistical analysis and framework modelling for spatial resource allocation based on a multicriteria and spatial analysis. This proposal intends to contribute to the state-of-the-art of spatial resource allocation for slum settlement policies by providing a generic framework, based on a set of criteria according to the residents' preferences, as well as using a well-established protocol that may support policymakers in their risk analysis for such communities.