Adaptative Planning

The city of Carpolis had long been reliant on cars, but times were changing, and the Mayor of Carpolis, a kind-hearted leader known simply as the Mayor, and Pepet his trusty assistant, had a burning desire to propel their beloved city into the 21st century.

Welcome back to "Urban Tales" your gateway to the captivating stories of Carpolis. In this edition, we have an invitation for you—to embark on an extraordinary journey alongside the Mayor and Pepet, two urban heroes whose quest for knowledge knows no bounds. Together, they delve into the depths of Adaptative Planning, a puzzle that resonates with cities far and wide.

?

Chapter #27: Adaptative Planning

In the heart of Carpolis, the Mayor and Pepet pondered the city's journey into the 21st century. As the duo delved deeper into their exploration, the Mayor discovered a trove of information about a concept called adaptive planning. Intrigued, he gathered his thoughts and summoned Pepet for an enlightening discussion.

"Adaptive planning comes from adaptative management," the Mayor began, "which is a concept developed to navigate uncertainties in complex systems. Unlike traditional management decisions based on empirical studies, adaptive management treats decisions as experiments. It's a 'learning by doing' process, a proactive approach to tackling the unknowns."

Pepet nodded in agreement, his enthusiasm bubbling. "That's right, Mayor. It's about embracing uncertainties and turning decisions into experiments, learning and adapting along the way."

The Mayor, eager to absorb more knowledge, continued, "The adaptive management approach goes beyond the conventional. It introduces feedback loops, constantly monitoring the effectiveness of planning decisions and measures taken. This generates new data, shaping alternative or future decisions. It's a dynamic cycle of improvement."

Pepet chimed in, "And designed experiments play a crucial role. These experiments, conducted in a small spatial extent, test innovative approaches in a 'safe to fail' environment. Involving scientists, planners, and other stakeholders who recognize the risk of failure, fostering a collaborative and resilient approach to problem-solving."

The Mayor, now captivated by the possibilities, inquired, "What about scenarios? How can they guide our journey into the future?"

"Scenarios," Pepet explained, "are like glimpses into possible futures, it's like telling stories about the future based on current and past conditions. They allow us to explore how different policies can shape the landscape. There are predictive scenarios that focus on 'what will happen,' explorative scenarios that address potential impacts that can significantly alter future states, and normative scenarios that start with a desired future state and explore pathways with conditions to achieve this future state”.

The duo's conversation flowed seamlessly into the concept of participatory processes. Pepet shared, "To enhance understanding and raise acceptance, scenarios and management options can be developed through a participatory process. Involving local stakeholders in the decision-making fosters consensus, strengthens communication, and ensures decisions align with public values."

Armed with this newfound knowledge, the Mayor and Pepet set their sights on implementing adaptive planning in Carpolis. Little did they know that this journey into uncertainty would unlock a path to resilience, innovation, and a brighter future for their beloved city. The mysteries of the 21st century were unfolding, and Carpolis was ready to embrace them. And all this was happening in Carpolis, a city that wanted to change its name.

?

References

Neuendorf, F., von Haaren, C., & Albert, C. (2018). Assessing and coping with uncertainties in landscape planning: An overview. Landscape Ecology, 33(6), 861–878. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-018-0643-y