Toolbox

In the Analysis and Diagnosis Block, key evidence and information is collected to guide the stakeholders’ decisions throughout the urban planning process. The diagnostic aims to understand the project's context, challenges, and opportunities. The urban and territorial diagnosis focuses on developing a ‘spatial profile' at different geographic scales. This profile depicts a shared understanding of the territorial challenges and opportunities found in the defined planning area.

The analysis can be carried out using different tools. These include the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges analysis (SWOT), surveys, and spatial analysis and mapping (using existing or new data) — often aggregated in a Geographic Information System (GIS). 

This Block also focuses on the participatory process, proposing various activities to engage with the local population and diverse stakeholders, such as academia, along the planning process. As communities have great knowledge of their surroundings, their participation is crucial to collecting data and identifying the city's main issues and opportunities for future development. 

While some activities in this block primarily focus on the city scale, they can be adapted for neighbourhood-scale planning. At a smaller, more localized scale, specific data may be required. Activities within this block should be approached with the flexibility to address the challenges and opportunities relevant to the chosen scale.