Solution

Upgrading Slums via Optimal Reblocking Strategies

This solution addresses poorly configured slums in Mumbai and Cape Town for slum-dwellers and cities

Problem Description

Slums are often the product of organic development-- they are built up over time without the oversight of urban planners or the resources of more economically advantaged communities. This means that the configuration of the slums (with respect to dwellings and infrastructure) is often not optimized. When a individual's home is disconnected from arterial roads, they are also shut out from critical life services such as sanitation and emergency response access. This was confirmed by research carried out by Arizona State University and the Santa Fe Institute when they completed surveys in slum federations in Cape Town, South Africa. The solution that is put forward in response to this is called Reblocking, and the specific tool this solution uses is called OpenReblock. Reblocking optimizes the configuration of slums to allow the maximum flow of services. OpenReblock is a open-sourced computer algorithm that generates the most efficient Reblocking solution for a given slum.

Building Blocks

Story

OpenReblock is currently available for urban planners to download and use via an open-source GitHub page. Currently the tool has been applied to two case studies in Mumbai and Cape Town, but its recommendations have not been entirely carried out. For the moment, the tool is still in development as its creators attempt to determine the best methodology of translating algorithm into reality. OpenReblock was recently chosen as one of the winers of IDEO's Amplify Challenge addressing urban resiliency. It will receive funding from the Global Resilience Partnership to continue to improve the toolkit.

Photos

Resources

"Rethinking urban slums, block by block"
Article from ASU detailing the project's aims and how the recent IDEO competition will affect its future.
GutHub Page
OpenReblock's open-source Github page where one can access the tool
Topology of Cities
A working paper

Organisations Involved

Contributed By

Luis Bettencourt, Santa Fe Institute
Christa Brelsford, Santa Fe Institute
Joe Hand, Santa Fe Institute
Nicholas De Monchaux, UC Berkely CED

Solution Stage

One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more

STAGE	SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED	EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES	RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING	FINANCE REQUIRED	KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED	GOAL
Developing and testing3	Mix of design and implementation skills	Rapid prototyping Service, product and process design Co-design User-design Light-touch evaluation Cost-benefit modelling Randomised control trials	High failure rate should be an explicit expectation Visible senior leadership essential HIGH	Grants, convertible grants/loans MEDIUM	A stronger case with cost and benefit projections developed through practical trials and experiments, involving potential users	Demonstration that the idea works, or evidence to support a reworking of the idea

Submitted By

Bryan Lehrer