Analysis of Urban Master Plan Effectiveness

Urban masterplans or development plans seek to delineate the location and type of land uses and building typologies permissible within a local authority’s jurisdiction for the duration of the plan. The intention is for private investors, the public and other government entities to jointly follow a development vision agreed by consensus which tries to balance the diverging interests of urban stakeholders while preserving land and other natural resources. Not only in developing countries does the aspiration and objective of the plan often deviate substantially from the reality on the ground. This can be due to lacking capacity in enforcing the plan through the planning process or due to interference from powerful interest groups.

Earth Observation can provide both local authorities and other urban stakeholders with an objective reference point for visualising deviations between the plan and actual development. While areas covered by detailed or local area plans tend to exhibit greater conformity to prescribed land uses, masterplans, due to their greater area coverage and longer implementation periods, have been shown to be much less effective in guiding development in some contexts. Using High-Resolution and Very High Resolution satellite imagery, datasets building on EO Capabilities like Built-Up Extent, Land Use Land Cover, Transport Network, or 2D/3D Building Footprints should be compared with plan provisions, with differences quantified for each land use/land cover or infrastructure class. This can point to necessary improvements in the institutional framework, public financial management, policy design and implementation as well as investment planning.