Object TUSEC-IP

Urban areas in the Alps and in its foothills are among the fastest growing regions in Europe. Up to now consumption of land and soil still increases even though utilisable space is very limited there by natural conditions. Soil and its natural functions play an important part in the ecosystem. They have to be more considered in planning procedures to ensure a balanced and sustainable spatial and economical development in these sensitive regions (see also: ESDP, Alpine Convention).
The decision-making on how land and soil are to be used, is one of the most important tasks and responsabilities of cities and municipalities and agglomeration areas. But up to now they are not yet prepared enough in spite of existing legal requirements (e.g. for Environmental Impact Assessment). Often there is a lack on basic datas or existing data are not prepared to be used by planners and local authorities. TUSEC-IP will develop a technique for soil evalution as a tool which can be used in all planning procedures...
by all municipalities in the Alpine Region whether they are big cities or smaller market towns. Therefore the technique has to be simple, user-orientated, plausible but nevertheless scientifically founded. In order to make the technique applicable to all the significant municipal and regional planning procedures it has to be tested in various current planning procedures in all participating countries and adapted to the respective demands for optimal future implementation.

Activities:

Compilation of legal and technical standards, administrative competences and planning procedures in participating countries.
Definition of the requirements on an efficient technique of soil evaluation from the viewpoints of the future users in municipalities.
Development of a technique for soil evaluation as a planning tool particularly for spatial planning (e.g. regional planning, urban land use plans and development schemes, traffic engineering plans and projects, environmental impact assessment, other technical plans and schemes).
Testing of the technique on various actual planning procedures in all participating countries as pilot projects, regional aspects will be considered.
Development and testing of strategies for the implementation of the technique into daily practice.
Comparison and evaluation of the procedures and results of the pilot projects in view of the respective basic conditions and special requirements by the partners. Extensive public relations work and dissemination of information about contents, courses and issues of the project and its results including strategies for general public awareness for soil issues.
Development and testing of an information network via internet.
Development of a procedure for controlling the efficiency of the technique of soil evaluation and of the implementation strategies.