Conference on Supporting Evidence-Informed Spatial Planning and Analysis—Towards the Development of Spatial Databases on the Island of Ireland

On November 15, 2007 in Dundalk, the ICLRD together with the Regional Studies Association, the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis, the National Centre for Geocomputation and the All-Island Research Observatory held a conference on Supporting Evidence-Informed Spatial Planning and Analysis—Towards the Development of Spatial Databases on the Island of Ireland.

Attended by over a 100 delegates, the conference presented the findings of two earlier seminars on the kind of spatial indicators needed to assist in high quality analysis for evidence-based planning and policy. The seminars were held in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth and the University of Ulster.

Presentations by leading academics and researchers were made on all-island indicators, data applications, maps and key issues around the type, scale and form of potential all-island datasets. Senior policy-makers offered comments on how these initiatives can support both policies and specific projects to foster cross-border co-operation in the areas of spatial planning, service delivery, economic competitiveness and investment strategies.

The conference and the workshops were undertaken in cooperation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Development in Dublin and the Department for Regional Development in Belfast. ICLRD and its partners will continue to develop inter-jurisdictional spatial indicators and thematic maps that can assist policy makers and practitioners involved in spatial planning and local development.

The presentations, including a list of proposed indicators that the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) will begin tracking can be accessed below.

If you have any comments or suggestions on the indicators, the AIRO group would look forward to hearing from you. Please email Justin Gleeson, Project manager of the All-Island Research Observatory based in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth: justin.gleeson@nuim.ie.

Conference Presentations and Documents

Conference Programme
Priority Indicators for All-Island Mapping - Dr. Chris van Egeraat and Professor Rob Kitchen
Suggested Spatial Indicators
Data Sources
The All-Island Urban Clusters Study - Dr. Chris van Egeraat and Professor Des McCafferty
Modelling Health Services on the Island of Ireland - Dr. Ronan Foley, Martin Charlton and Dr. Patricia Clarke
Exploring a Co-operative Approach to Health Services - Dr. Patricia Clarke
Small Areas for the Republic of Ireland: Implications for All-Island Datasets - Martin Charlton
Informing Planning Policy and Practice: All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) - Justin Gleeson
Regional Studies Association Newsletter, Autumn 2007, Towards the Development of All-Island Spatial Indicators



View Images from Novermber 15, 2007 Conference



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