Dr Cecília Silva explains what are the goals of the COST Action she chairs - TU1002 'Accessibility instruments
for planning practice in Europe'.
COST TU1002 Accessibility Instruments for Planning Practice
Advancing Theory
Accessibility is a concept with a longstanding academic history. Recently, it has become an interesting conceptual
framework for urban planners in a range of urgent problems; mobility, compact land use, liveability, social,
economic and environmental sustainability. This Cost Action aims to advance ideas about how accessibility can be a
useful framework to provide support in these issues.
Advancing Planning Practice
We know for already more than 40 years that computer models and their output have a bad match with the
characteristics of planning practice, especially so in strategy-making phases. Here, the planning issue is
“wicked”, the number of participants in large, their interests are wide ranging and options are therefore still
open. This Cost Action creates short links between local planning practices and our academic members. Through
interactive workshops we attempt to close the gap between our models and planning practice.
Advancing Comercial Value
Integrating the first two aims (improving academic insights and planning practice) leads to an interesting package
for consultants. For that reason we work closely together with consultant in all 22 member countries. Through
this, we encourage the upscaling of ideas and concepts that will be developed in this Cost Action.
