Toolbox
Field Research
Toolbox Themes
- Climate Action
- Urban Nature
- Participation
- Socio-spatial Inclusion
- Sustainable Urban Mobility
Objectives
Collect and/or produce additional data needed to develop an analysis of the studied area.
Results
New data produced through multiple activities (surveys, participatory mapping, field visit, etc.)
Maps, diagrams and data visualisations
Description
If there is limited information available, additional participatory or on-the-ground activities can be carried out to complement it. Field research is also a useful practice to validate data that has been previously collected or to gather more detailed information of a specific component or location. Data collection, especially on the field, should be aligned with the plan’s objective and focused on the specific area, scale and topics of interest.
There are different ways of conducting field research. In a reconnaissance survey or through observations, the technical team identifies on-the-ground features or elements that are relevant for the analysis and notes them down on a base map using appropriate software, such as GPS tracking. If working at a smaller scale (neighbourhood scale), consider conducting these exploratory walks with the community to experience the neighbourhood through the eyes of daily users. Use geotagging to identify local facilities.
Moreover, participatory activities with a group or specific stakeholders, such as community mapping workshops, focus group discussions, interviews, and household surveys (digital or in person), provide high-quality information based on empirical experience (e.g., the identification of climate risk hotspots by the community, or the definition of daily unhealthy habits) and the technical knowledge of the residents and experts. At a smaller scale, these activities are even more relevant to gather statistical information from and by the community about their perceptions and opinions of the neighbourhood.
Lastly, high-resolution satellite imagery can be used, or drone imagery can be taken to increase the level of detail of the existing information.
If working at a neighbourhood scale, the field research can focus on specific localized issues, such as infrastructure gaps (e.g., public space, service provision), safety concerns (e.g., crime hotspots, environmental hazards), and local stakeholders' perspectives and knowledge about key neighbourhood challenges.
Steps
- Review the available data gathered during the desk research activity, identify key topics and/or areas to prioritise during the field research, and consolidate the list of data to be gathered in this activity.
- Select the methods that will be used to conduct the field research.
- Identify knowledge gaps at the local level and prepare training and capacity building activities to perform before the data collection.
- If needed, identify a representative sample of the population or invite any relevant stakeholder from the advisory committee to conduct the activities.
- Prepare all the materials required to carry out the T16 Participatory Incremental Mapping (PIM).
- Organise bilateral meetings with relevant stakeholders to collect official data and additional information.
- Plan field visits in key areas and important locations in the city to gather more specific information.
- During the field research, observe, listen, take notes, save locations, and do not jump to conclusions.
- Compile the newly gathered data and combine it with the existing data into a series of base maps (T14 Desk and Field Research - Maps and Data Checklist).
Resources
- GIS Methodology
- GIS Handbook for municipalities
- KoBoToolbox Collect
- City-wide public space assessment guidelines
- Catalogue of Graphic References
- Rapid Planning studio
- Assessing the impact of Eviction Handbook
- Settlement Profiling Tool
- Public Space Site-Specific Assessment
- Citywide Public Space Assessment Toolkit
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action
To assess the vulnerability to hazards in a specific settlement or community, one of the first activities to prepare is anImpact Chain Diagram, which will be done through a participatory approach. The Impact Chain Diagram will help visualise how hazard events and their impacts are interrelated. This tool helps to shift from local impact observation (eg. “There are more power outages during the hot season”) to understand which hazard is at the root of the impact (eg. longer periods of drought).
Additional resources:
Planning for Climate Change
Climate Proofing Toolkit
CityRAP Tool City Resilience Action Planning Tool
Sustainable Urban Mobility
Field research is essential following desk research to refine and validate initial findings with on-the-ground data. This phase includes engaging directly with transport users and stakeholders through interviews and surveys to capture key insights on travel behaviours, needs, and challenges.
Additionally, fieldwork involves vehicle counts, mapping street use, and assessing mobility mode partition (e.g., public transport, private vehicles, cycling, walking) to analyse traffic flows across various urban areas. Documenting existing traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps, pedestrian crossings, and bike lanes, also allows for an evaluation of their effectiveness in managing traffic and improving safety. Field research grounds the sustainable urban mobility plan in real-world conditions, ensuring its accuracy and responsiveness. Use T33 Mobility Assessment to gather quantitative and qualitative data linked to urban mobility.
Tool:
T33 Mobility Assessment
Additional resources:
Guidelines for Developing and Implementing a SUMP in Kosovo's cities (Chapter 2)
The Tool for the Rapid Assessment of Urban Mobility in Cities with Data Scarcity (TRAM) (Chapters 4 and 5)
Urban Nature
Building on the initial step of mapping ecologically significant areas through GIS analysis and participatory workshops in desk research, the next step involves engaging stakeholders through citizen science to gather more detailed information on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Citizen science, which enlists local communities in data collection efforts, helps to address data gaps and generate insights that enhance understanding of ecological systems.
As part of this step, the T74 Urban Nature Survey can be implemented to collect targeted data from various stakeholders. It focuses on obtaining insights into ecosystem services, such as air quality regulation, temperature moderation, water retention, pollination and health benefits, as well as the biodiversity features (e.g., native species, rare or endangered species, habitat types) that may have been insufficiently documented during the initial mapping phase. By using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, this survey can identify areas where ecological data is lacking or needs further clarification.
Tool:
T74 Urban Nature Survey
Additional Resources:
Citizen Science Navigator
Guide to Citizen Science
iNaturalist
Citywide Public Space Assessment Toolkit