BMET 27A65 - Data in Space and Space in Datas: Where do we Stand?

The general objective is to master the following concepts: spatial data, space, territory, spatial turn, cartography, mental map, urban project.

The following skills will be acquired: reading, analysis and production of different cartographic supports. Discerning and actively analyzing the spatial stakes of different contemporary issues.

CONCEPTUAL ASPECTS

Session 1

The renewed place of spatial issues in society: the spatial turn

• icebreaker activity on students' knowledge
• presentation of a cartographic file.

Lectures

FR : Anne Volvey, Mathis Stock, Yann Calbérac. Spatial Turn, tournant spatial, tournant géographique. Mouvements de géographie. Une science sociale aux tournants, 2021. ⟨halshs-03269483⟩

SOIT

EN : SOJA E., 2009, « Taking space personnally », in B. WARF et S. ARIAS (dir.), The Spatial Turn : Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Londres, Routledge, p. 11-35.

EN : Lévy, Jacques. A Cartographic Turn? Bridging the Gap between Sciences and Technologies of the Inhabited Space. No. ARTICLE. 2012. https://www.espacestemps.net/en/articles/a-cartographic-turn/

• We will provide an update during this session on the evaluation process.

Session 2

Maps, are they primarily used to wage war?

• Historical maps and reflections on inherited and/or imposed territorial divisions.

Lectures

FR : Lacoste Yves, « La géographie, la géopolitique et le raisonnement géographique », Hérodote, 2008/3 (n° 130), p. 17-42. DOI : 10.3917/her.130.0017. URL : https://www.cairn.info/revue-herodote-2008-3-page-17.htm

SOIT

EN : Oslender, U. (2021). Decolonizing cartography and ontological conflict: Counter-mapping in Colombia and “cartographies otherwise”. Political Geography, 89, 102444.

• Case study: The Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands conflict (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NluXCPYjBn0)

Session 3

Space in architecture and design, a socio-material approach to housing

Lectures

FR : Schaut Christine, « Ce qu’il se passe entre des choses et des groupes : la Cité modèle à Bruxelles », dans : Emmanuelle Lenel éd., L'espace des sociologues. Recherches contemporaines en compagnie de Jean Remy. Toulouse, Érès, « Sociétés urbaines et rurales - Poche », 2018, p. 63-88. DOI : 10.3917/eres.lenel.2018.01.0063. URL : https://www.cairn.info/---page-63.htm

SOIT :

EN : Christoph Lueder (2021) Corbusian space and urban corpus: the Unité d’habitation in Marseille and the Bastide town of Monpazier, The Journal of Architecture, 26:7, 1031-1053, DOI: 10.1080/13602365.2021.1976813

• Case studies: La Cité Modèle in Brussels and La Cité Radieuse du Corbusier.

Session 4 (25 % of the grade)

Assessment #1: Presentation on an article related to the course

→ on a topic of your choice, supported by bibliographic references

Methodological aspects

Session 5

GIS and dataviz: the quantitative aspect of spatial data. Getting started.

Presentation of tools and examples: QGIS, RawGraphs, VisualTools, Khartis...

I will provide you in due time with a dataset needed to produce a simple map.

Session 6

An approach to space via mental maps

Case study: spatial representations of circular textile consumption in the Brussels Capital Region.

We will also make one in class.

Lectures

FR : Olmedo, E., & Roux, J. M. (2014). Conceptualité et sensibilité dans la carte sensible. Concepts au prisme de l’épistémologie de la géographie. Implications philosophiques, Implications philosophiques. Actes de la journée organisée par Raphaël Ehrsam le 4 juillet 2013, 36-57.

SOIT

EN :Jiří Pánek (2016) From Mental Maps to GeoParticipation, The Cartographic Journal, 53:4, 300-307, DOI: 10.1080/00087041.2016.1243862

Case study: You will make your own mind map and we will analyze them together.

Session 7

Walking and surveying as a tool to grasp space

Lecture

FR : Le Maire Judith, « Arpenter, guider, jalonner. La marche, outil des processus participatifs en architecture et urbanisme du XXe siècle », CLARA, 2013/1 (N° 1), p. 133-148. DOI : 10.3917/clara.001.0133. URL : https://www.cairn.info/revue-clara-2013-1-page-133.htm

SOIT :

EN : Husar, Milan, Vladimir Ondrejicka, and Micaela Scacchi. "Involving Citizens through Walking: Urban Walks as a Tool for Awareness Raising in Historic Built Areas." IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. Vol. 960. No. 2. IOP Publishing, 2020.

Activity: If conditions permit, we will conduct a survey of the city. You will need a notebook and your phone to take pictures.

THEMATIC ASPECTS

Session 8 : Circular Economy

The spatial dimension of waste management

Lectures :

Designing Brussels Ecosystems - Metrolab Brussels MasterClass II :

Circularity - On scales and agency – territorialising circularity : http://www.metrolab.brussels/medias/1600073730-designing-brussels-ecosystems-metrolab-brussels-masterclassii-28-32.pdf

Case study : Design Explorations: Circularity - Territorializing Circular Economy in the construction sector : http://www.metrolab.brussels/medias/1600078916-designing-brussels-ecosystems-metrolab-brussels-masterclassii-79-92.pdf

Session 9

The urban project as a spatial and urbanistic issue

Lectures

FR : Roux, J.-M., & Tixier, N. (2011). Paroles données, paroles rendues La fabrique de la ville à l’épreuve des usages. BazarUrbain.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281502825

Ingallina Patrizia, « Le projet urbain, une notion floue », dans : Patrizia Ingallina éd., Le projet urbain. Paris cedex 14, Presses Universitaires de France, « Que sais-je ? », 2008, p. 7-13. URL : https://www.cairn.info/---page-7.htm

SOIT

EN : Cuthbert, Alexander R. "Urban design: requiem for an era–review and critique of the last 50 years." Urban Design International 12.4 (2007): 177-223.

Case study: Mapping the social environment of an urban project, Metrolab Logbook : https://www.metrolab.brussels/publications/cartographier-lenvironnement-social-dun-projet-urbain-2

Session 10 Cities and Sustanability

Lectures

EN : Heike Mayer & Paul L. Knox (2006) Slow Cities: Sustainable Places in a Fast World, Journal of Urban Affairs, 28:4, 321-334, DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9906.2006.00298.x

SOIT

Tocci, Giovanni. "Slow and intelligent cities: when slow is also smart." Slow Tourism, Food and Cities. Routledge, 2017. 110-128.

Case study: Slow Cities vs Smart Cities? A critical perspective on city data.

FINAL ASSESSMENTS

Session 11 - Final Evaluation 1 (25 % of the grade)

Presentation of the project carried out by the students and the thematic spatial and cartographic notebook.

Session 12 - Final evaluation 2 (50 % of the grade)

Presentation of the project carried out by the students and the notebook.

Academic expectations

Question: How do you create information about space with maps? What kind of information is created and with what effects on the material reality?

Grading criteria + grading rubrics

The first assessment (session 4, 25 % of the grade) will consist of a book report on one of the course readings or one related to the course.

Sessions 11 and 12 will consist of two separate assessments: you will be asked to create a thematic spatial and cartographic notebook on a topic of your choice (25 % of the grade). The objective is to show your understanding of different spatial tools on a topic. It will be due at the end of session 10 and presented during session 11.

The project (50 % of the grade) can take the following forms: essay on a project, map(s), film, podcast, photo set... The student will be evaluated orally during the 11th or 12th session. The evaluation will be done in groups of 2 or 3 people and must include the production of a map.

Late work policy

None.

Late arrival policy

10 minutes max.

“Screen-free” learning environment? (use of cell phones, computers, tablets in class?)

No.

Vidéos

Yu, J. (2001, février 28). Somebody’s Going to Emergency, Somebody’s Going to Jail (Nᵒ 38). In The West Wing. NBC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVX-PrBRtTY

Fresno : A City Reborn - rare 1968 documentary by Victor Gruen Associates. (2011, septembre 24). https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=55&v=bdTS_LLJvcw