Implementing GIS to tackle local government issue- Part 1

Last year, when I was still studying my course, all of students of GIS course was required to write a proposal how to set-up a GIS to tackle a selected issue. This is A HYPOTHETICAL PROPOSAL and no WAY reflect Council GIS policy and matters. I have segmented in my report in couple of parts for the ease of reading:

Implementing GIS in Social & Affordable Housing Strategy in City of Yarra

The strategic issue

City of Yarra includes Abbotsford, Burnley, Clifton Hill, Collingwood, Cremorne, Fitzroy, North Carlton, Princes Hill, Richmond, sections of Alphington and Fairfield suburbs (City of Yarra, 2012). Home to 79 500 people, only 1% of the population whose incomes below AU$37 000 year can afford housing (City of Yarra, 2012).

In November 2011, City Council adopted the Social & Affordable Housing Strategy. The strategy is in line with Council Plan 2009-2013 in which the council strides to make Yarra liveable and sustainable. There are 4 objectives in this housing strategy of which GIS system can assist to fulfil one of them (Accessible & Appropriate Service) (City of Yarra, 2011). Yarra is home to largest population in Victoria residing in public housing and most of disadvantaged populace reside there (City of Yarra, 2009).

Social and affordable housing involves accessibility to various community services. Accessibility is related to spatial positioning of housing and services available. GIS planning would assist in the council in:
a) identifying the correlation between poor living standards and accessibility to services
b) identify the areas needed to have more resources allocated in services
c) Monitor changes in the planning execution and implementation

The issues that will be dealt in the strategy are the accessibility of community services (child care centres) and health services (health centres). The council strategy has made clear that barriers to these services needs to be identified (City of Yarra, 2011).

Information Products required

I have identified 6 possible information products which can be divided into 3 categories. The first category (NEEDS) includes Current and Projected Needs in City of Yarra products. The Current Needs of City of Yarra Product detail the population characteristics (e.g. age, ethnicity, income) in spatial format. The Projected Needs of City of Yarra Product projects the population characteristics in the next 5 to10 years. The second category (CONTEXT) includes Current and Projected Contexts of the City Products.

The Current Accessibility of City Product identifies the transportation network (public and private), residential areas and community services. The Projected Accessibility of City Product details the aforementioned characteristics of the city in the next 5 to 10 years. The final category (SITE SUITABILITY) includes the Current and Projected Suitable Sites of the City Products. This category is the outcome from the relationship deduced from the earlier two categories (Needs and Context). The Current Suitable Sites Product identifies the suitable location of community service facilities. The Projected Suitable Sites Product takes consideration the changing population characteristics and context of facilities. This Product will display the suitable location for community service facilities in the coming 5 to 10 years.

I shall be discussing Current Context of City of Yarra Product. I chose this product because data is readily available in terms of datasets and facilities. It would be easier to understand the current situation in comparison to the projected scenarios. Finally, this product is underpinning the connection between the needs of the city and facility site selection. Below here is the Information Product Description (IPD) for the nominated product:

Part 2: http://daneshatlas.blogspot.com/2013/11/implementing-gis-to-tackle-local_13.html