Policy and research frame of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic:reflections on urban informality

How has the informality of urban slums exposed a gap in policy formulation and research questions in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic?This paper seeks to identify the appropriate questions and policy frame that would assist future researchers and policymakers on the subject of pandemics in densely populated urban settlements.The authors argue that the nexus between asking the appropriate questions and developing appropriate policy response measures during a pandemic can significantly impact the outcome of the response.The paper examines how the government of Kenya's response to the COVID-19 pandemic reveals a deep-rooted socio-economic and cultural inequality when"blanket"policies are adopted without taking into consideration the tnique dynamics characterizing the society.The findings show that the effectiveness of implementing COVID-19 containment policies such as lockdowns,the cession of movement,working from home,distance learning,and social distancing are affected by other factors such as the nature of jobs,one's income levels,where someone lives,cultural beliefs,access to water,sanitation,intemet,and medical facilities.This means that a significant number of people within the society experience a double tragedy from the pandemic and impact of government response measures.Yet most of the existing literature has focused on the causes,spread,and impact of the pandemic on health institutions,economies,and public health with little emphasis on the impact on policy measures especially on the vulnerable segments of the society.This paper,therefore,looks at the question of how the various public health intervention strategies disrupt or construct the livelihood of the already complex informal settlement.It provides policymakers and researchers with a number of questions that can frame policy and research during a pandemic with important consideration to urban informality.

Trend of <i>Cryptosporidium</i>Infection among Children below 24 Months in an Informal Urban Settlement, Kenya

Cryptosporidium infection is estimated to cause 2.9 million diarrheal cases yearly among children aged under 24 months in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies have shown long-term climatic variations can affect infectious diseases. The burden of cryptosporidiosis in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa is well characterized. However, the trend of Cryptosporidium infection is not known, especially in informal urban settings. This study therefore sought to determine cryptosporidiosis trends, and further explore the association between year and Cryptosporidium infection among children below 24 months in Kibera urban informal settlement in Kenya. Data collected by the Kenya Medical Research Institute longitudinal study in Tabitha clinic in Kibera from 2009 to 2015 were used. At least 3000 children aged < 24 months receive free health care at the clinic. In the longitudinal study, children presenting with diarrhea were eligible for stool sample collection (n = 477), out of which 421 stool samples were tested using TaqMan™ Array Card (TAC) polymerase chain reaction panel that included a target for Cryptosporidium genus. Data for the 421 children were included in the analysis. Logistic regression was used to explore the difference between the seven years and cryptosporidiosis. Overall, the pooled data indicated that 23.5% of the children who were tested had Cryptosporidium infection, with the highest proportions of Cryptosporidium-positive cases observed in 2015 (45.2%). The logistic regression results also indicated that children who were tested in the year 2015 were more likely to have Cryptosporidium infection (OR = 3.39;95% CI: 1.44 - 7.96;p = 0.005) than those in 2009. Watery stool was also found to be an important symptom of cryptosporidiosis. There was a high prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection among young children, especially in the most recent year. Routine testing of Cryptosporidium infection using molecular methods, constant monitoring and identification of the infection sources is therefore necessary towards reducing the disease burden in the low resource settings.

城市轨道交通票务管理系统设计与实现

针对城市轨道交通票务管理工作存在的低效率、流程繁琐等问题,在分析日常票务管理业务需求的基础上,结合轨道交通数字化、信息化、智能化的发展趋势,提出一种票务管理系统化解决方案,并从业务功能、系统架构等角度对该系统方案进行分析。最后,将该系统方案应用到苏州轨道交通的票务管理工作中,减轻车站票务人员工作量,降低人员成本,提高苏州轨道交通票务管理水平。轨道票务管理系统的设计与实现为城市轨道交通票务管理的信息化发展提供思路,为行业票务管理工作提供经验。

城市信息化水平的测评研究

本文在已有信息化测评研究的基础上 ,根据城市信息化的特点和趋势 ,构建了城市信息化水平的测评指标体系 ,并运用层次分析法确定了各因素的权重 。

城市交通信息化发展状况评估研究

城市交通的信息化是解决城市交通问题的有效途径,也是必然趋势.介绍了交通信息化的内涵和要素,重点讨论了城市交通信息化的实现平台——城市交通信息系统,构建了评价城市交通信息化发展状况的指标体系,最后基于系统可靠性理论中的序贯思想,以某城市为例讨论了城市交通信息状况的评估算法.

城市管理信息化绩效评价研究

随着数字化时代的到来,信息化城市管理模式逐渐成为我国现代城市管理的新模式,如何通过信息化管理提高城市管理水平逐渐成为社会关注的焦点。文章以城市管理信息化为研究对象,运用层次分析法,探讨如何对城市管理信息化进行绩效评价,为建立科学合理的城市管理信息化评价提供参考。

规划管理信息化规划的决策程序研究

从国内规划管理部门信息化建设需要出发,结合国外最新研究进展,以“城市规划理论”和“IT治理理论”为基础,针对信息化规划的制订提出一套决策程序框架。将信息化规划决策程序划分为七个环节,并就每个环节的决策内容、决策要求、决策方式和决策主体进行了深入分析与阐述。

On the Edge of Malfeasance： Informal African Immigrant Traders in the/ohannesburg Inner City, South Africa

Admittedly, the stratospheric rise of Informal African Immigrant Traders （IAIT） in the Johannesburg inner city within a climate of discrimination, harassment, hostility, and xenophobia has engendered survival strategies which border on the illegal and underground. Based on an in-depth interview study of 40 IAIT, operating in the Johannesburg inner city and specialising in clothes, cellphone and accessories, household goods, fruits and vegetables, and a courier company, this paper posits that the registered and unregistered IAIT operate side by side with the latter operating from undesignated sites, either bribing or deceitful evading the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police （JMP）. Is this the characteristic of IAIT in the Johannesburg inner city？ Ostensibly, the success of challenging the institutional regulatory regime points to the possibility of African immigrant traders existing on the edge of impropriety or lawlessness. To this end, there is a need for comprehensive policy initiatives starting from the national and cascading to the provincial and municipality levels that will effectively address and manage urban informality, including the activities of the IAIT, failing which these will fuel operations outside the regulatory regimes and the mushrooming of the underground economic activities.

Summary of the Seminar Held by the China Urban Planning Information Network and the China Urban Planning Society

The China Urban Planning Informa-tion Network and the China Urban Plan-ning Society held a joint seminar in Fushun,Liaoning Province,on July 12—16,1988.The major topics of the seminar includedthe paid use of urban land and the im-provement and reform of city planning.The seminar discussed the

公共服务跨界合作:碎片化服务的整合

现代社会日益动态化、多元化和异质化的公共需求迫切要求政府部门不断创新公共服务供给机制以提高服务品质和回应性。公共服务的跨界合作通过部门间协同构建多样化服务供给框架,将碎片化的服务整合到连续统一体之中;通过权力共享构建竞争性公共服务供给网络,优化社会资源配置效率;通过动态的公共服务传输机制寻求和扩大公共服务供给的公平性和可及性。北京市信息化城市管理系统的成功案例佐证了这种以完备的框架结构、共享的组织关系和弹性的传输机制为核心的公共服务跨界合作是公共服务供给的有效备选机制之一。

基于互联网的规划信息交流平台和公众参与平台建设

本文探讨了在"信息化"、"网络社会"和"后现代合作式规划"背景下基于互联网的规划支持系统发展方向,研究了利用新的网络通信技术提高城市规划工作中信息交流能力和公众参与水平的技术问题。本研究给出了一个合作式的规划技术支持框架,利用多样的信息处理技术融汇城市规划中需要的各种知识类型,通过网络媒体沟通规划中的多元个体或机构。并通过对一个示例系统的介绍,讨论了基于网络技术建设信息交流平台和公众参与平台的技术实现路线,及其在当前规划实践中的应用价值。

Does Tenure Security Reduce Disaster Risk? A Comparative Study of the Nairobi Settlements of Kibera and Kawangware

While scholarship suggests that improving tenure security and housing significantly reduces disaster risk at the household level within urban settings,this assertion has not been adequately tested.Tenure security can be conceived as being composed of three interrelated and overlapping forms:tenure security as determined by legal systems;de facto tenure security;and tenure security as perceived by residents.This article traces the relationship between tenure security,the quality of housing,and disaster risk on the basis of a mixed methods comparative case study of the settlements of Kawangware and Kibera in Nairobi.Although the findings suggest that owner-occupancy is associated with the structural integrity of dwellings to a greater extent than tenantship,no association was found between the length of occupancy by households and the structural integrity of the dwelling.Moreover,tenantship is not found to be closely associated with fires and flooding affecting the dwelling as extant scholarship would suggest.Formal ownership is linked with greater investment and upgrading of property with significant implications for disaster risk.Our findings highlight the complex relationship between tenure security and disaster risk in urban informal settlements and provide impetus for further investigation.

Discussion of Random and Informal Settlements in Damascus

Toadies cities are accumulating the global population in their territories, occurring formally and informally. The increase of urban informality is the most significant trend shaping the 21st century world. Furthermore, the urban informality ＂theory＂ should be considered in urbanization courses and development studies. With the rapid economic market development, changes mapped the major Syrian cities. Damascus is in the midst of a profound transformation of architectural and planning changes. Damascus urbanization is crowded simultaneously with informal settlements. In consequence, a detonation of urban sprawl placing random districts and informal settlements around the city （elmokhalafat ＆ elmanatiq elashwaiya） Damascus urban informality is a way of supplying shelters and houses as a fundamental human need. The study hereby high-lights the informal phenomenon and its effects on the city at present through analytical study showing solutions and asking questions, and, finally, deals with informality in an urbanized way with self-help constructs and upgrades to aid the low income and urban poor.