Perspectives on the Role of Geo-Technologies for Addressing Contemporary Urban Issues: Implications for IDS

Contemporary patterns of urbanization come with many challenges regarding the quality of urban life, especially with respect to the provision of urban infrastructures and housing, exposure to environmental risks and urban inequalities. In International Development Studies (IDS) it is understood that addressing these issues (both in terms of research and in practice) requires disaggregated and local spatial knowledge on the dynamics of urban populations, conditions, resources and flows. Geo-technologies such as remote sensing imagery or spatial simulation models have the capacity to provide this knowledge, but are endowed with certain risks and limitations. Using three illustrative examples this article discusses the potential and limitations of geo-technologies for addressing contemporary urban issues and how such technologies influence future development research. It shows that geo-technologies can produce disaggregated spatial and temporal knowledge, but should also include place and space specificities and cross-disciplinary boundaries in order to be useful. As IDS researchers have built-up considerable knowledge, expertise and networks on the ground, they can and should contribute to spatially contextualizing data- and technology-driven research