Category Descriptions

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  About

  PlanIran.com is a space for brainstorming and collaborating on planning issues in Iran. It was set up by Rezwan Razani. It follows certain principles and a certain approach to planning.
  
  The main purpose of this website is to generate an empowering conversation about the future of Iran.
  
  We plan to make this website fully bi-lingual, and need a lot of help translating things into Persian!
  
  Contact Us | با ما تماس بگيريد

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  Vision

  In answer to the question "What do Planners Do?", the American Planning Association says,

  Professional planners help create a broad vision for the community. They also research, design, and develop programs; lead public processes; effect social change; perform technical analyses; manage; and educate.

  The key point here is that the primary activity of a planner is creating a broad vision for the community.
  
  If you can't create a vision, you are not a planner.
  
  So...what is a vision? How do we create one? And what visions of Iran can we co-create here?

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  Participants

  Collaboration, cooperation, who we are, how we organize ourselves into groups to get things done. Distribution of rights and responsibility. Social marketing. Roles we adopt: individuals, firms, families, households, government, joint ventures. Free riders, rent-seekers. Public Choice. Prisoner's Dilemma. The human footprint.
  If you know who the players are, and what their motivation is, you get a better sense of the dynamics of the planning game.

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    Citizens

    Everyone is a citizen, including those who work in firms or for government. This category, however, focuses on the individual, who is usually organized into households or families. Family, neighborhood and community needs are the priority here. This is also the pool from which all the other categories emerge.

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    Government

    A major participant in planning projects. What is the role of government? What are its responsibilities? Iran is a theocracy, which makes it a utopia. How does this work?

  • NGO's

    Non Governmental Organizations, "NGO's" Entities that are chartered to address certain collective needs issue.

  • Firms

    Private companies, corporations, businesses. Another category of player with big impact in planning decisions. The firm is also a handy unit of organization, pursued by people with profit in mind.

  • Third Parties

    Those affected by a transaction who do not directly benefit from the transaction.

  • Rent seekers

    This phrase denotes those ("special interests") who take unfair advantage of their position and access to information to direct favors and dominate the political process.
    
    As a rule, "well-informed and articulate interest groups will dominate the political process and receive political favours." (Webster, Lai, pp. 65)
    
    How does this happen, how does it affect the political process, and what can we do about it?

  • Free Riders

    A person who benefits from a transaction, but does not pay the costs. You have been one on many occasions, and others have been a free rider at your expense. The dynamics of the free rider are an important aspect of planning.

  • Migrants

    Immigrants, emigres. Wanderers. This is a class of participant in the human scene. Diaspora experience. Where am I going with this? You'll see.

  • Market Dominant Minorities

    A concept that requires its own category as it has a big impact on planning in Iran, and Iranian identity politics.

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  Context

  The context of Iran. The unique elements of planning practice and structure in Iran. History, institutions, organizations. An attempt to look inside the "Black Box". Assets and liabilities.

  • How We Got Here

    A variety of answers to this question. Why ask this question? Aren't the answers filled with narrative fallacies and political mythology? Environmental determinism and liberal ideology? Well, let's explore.

  • Environment

    Notice that we have another section on Sustainability. This section is about the context of Iran, and thus is a specific examination and cataloging of the environment of Iran. This is what we have to work with.

  • Economy of Iran

    A look at Iran's Economy. I wonder if I should combine this with the "Economic Development" Category under "Planning Elements"? How to distinguish this?

  • Institutions

    Institutions are the established laws, practices and customs of a people. For example, "the institution of marriage". This section looks at the legal and financial systems of Iran and prevailing customs and norms that are the framework in which planning occurs.

    • Legal

      Legal institutions of Iran. The laws. The procedures.

    • Financial

      How business is conducted in Iran. Banking, lending, support for small businesses, business practice, etc.

    • Customs

      Here we are referring to the informal institutions that guide behavior in Iran. We are not referring to the guys at the border who keep track of imports and exports.

  • Planning Process

    How does the government actually function? More important than specific plans, planning process refers to the steps that have to be taken to create a plan, and turn that plan into law. It also refers to the administrative steps that people have to go through to comply with said plans. Iran's planning process is not well integrated with the population. It's not user friendly. Here we explore the reasons why, and seek areas for improvement.

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  Theory

  "Much of what planners do today reflects their understanding of practice and their aspirations as molded by the planning theories they have read or heard about, or by the ideas of others which, in turn, were molded by theories " - Bruce Stiftel

  • Coordinating Collaboration

    This theory holds that the main function of planning is to coordinate collaboration. Incorporates theories of institutional economics. Measures success by reduction of transaction costs and by better linking costs and benefits to the parties that create the costs and benefits...

  • Institutional Economics

    The emerging study of institutional economics.

  • َUncertainty

  • Human Nature

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  Sustainability

  Develops a framework that addresses issues of sustainability, including the conservation, development, use and restoration of natural resources. Formerly known as "Conservation (CO)" element, but intended to be more comprehensive. Motto: "Gardeners of Eden".

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    Water

    Establishes policies to encourage and guide water resource use, distribution, conservation and recharge. We've given it a separate category because it is a crucial factor in the Middle East and deserves emphasis.

  • Energy

    Energy production and consumption are inextricably linked with the physical development of land. Should Iran go nuclear? Solar? And why do we import gas?

  • Nomads

    A comprehensive assessment of nomadic needs, opportunities and policies.

  • Recycling

    Establishes policies to obtain a "cradle-to-cradle" world.

  • Garden of Eden

    A higher goal of environmentalism - restoring eden in the Middle East. What is the most productive, vibrant natural environment possible given Iran's climate? What management practices could bring this about? Our mythology is filled with references to human failure and punishment by poor land quality. How can we become true environmentalists in this environment? How do we become gardeners that coax out and nurture the best environment here. How do we measure it? Modern environmentalism suffers from the idea that we’re aliens and must keep off the land in order for it to be healthy. In a way, we have expelled ourselves from Eden, feeling we are too sinful/flawed/evil to be there. But in fact, we’re animals, an integral part of this planet, and have to learn how to be with it, in it, gardening it. Perhaps separating ourselves from it is not natural.

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  Planning Elements

  This website is organized around "elements," or subject categories and the issues embodied by them. In this, it is inspired by the California General Plan guidelines, which present the general plan as a collection of seven required elements with additional optional elements as desired. The seven required elements are: Land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open space, safety, noise.

• Land Use

  The land use element designates the type, intensity, and general distribution of uses of land for housing, business, industry, open space, education, public buildings and grounds, waste disposal facilities, and other categories of public and private uses.

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  Circulation and Infrastructure

  "Circulation" means traffic. This element identifies the general location and extent of proposed transportation and infrastructure facilities and utilities. It includes “scenic highway” policies. Trenchless technologies. Capital Improvements. Public Facilities.

• Housing

  A comprehensive assessment of current and future housing needs for all segments of the population, as well as a program for meeting those needs.

  • Real Estateً

    Establishes policies and programs to protect the public in real estate transactions and provide related services to the real estate industry, thereby creating a predictable, transparent investment environment and stimulating economic growth.

• Open Space

  Describes measures for the preservation of open space for the protection of natural resources, public health and safety. Also, open space for recreation. In Iran, this is a true luxury, as we can see from the way picknickers dot the medians of major roads, creating the unique phenomenon of the "mixed-use-freeway."

• Safety

  Establishes policies to protect the community from risks associated with natural and manmade hazards such as seismic, geologic, flooding, wildfire hazards, and air quality.

• Noise

  Identifies major noise sources and contains policies intended to protect the community from exposure to excessive noise levels. May be expanded to include other nuisances.

• Community Design

  Provides additional direction, beyond that of the land use element, to the planning area’s development pattern, form, structure, and sense of place.

  • Architecture

    What is Architecture? Here's a space for focusing on the emerging architectural styles in Iran (the "Vernacular" especially) and how they can be better integrated into a whole urban fabric.

  • Urban Design

    What is urban design, and why make it distinct, or a subcategory of "Community Design".

  • Built Environment

    The phrase "built environment" refers to the man-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, ranging from large-scale civic surroundings to personal places. (Wikipedia)

• Economic Development

  Establishes policies to encourage and guide economic development.

• Fiscal Development

  Establishes policies to encourage and guide fiscal development within the various bodies of government and relates the mechanisms of the general economy to the fiscal health of government.

• Regional Innovation

  Establishes policies to encourage and develop innovation in a region and combat “brain drain” (resting on the theory that innovation has a regional, locational dimension).

• Historic Preservation

  Issues, policies and plans regarding the preservation of a community's historic resources - buildings, sites and objects.

• Culture

  Establishes policies to encourage the expression and manifestation of cultural, religious and national identity. Wow, that sounds fascist. OK, instead: Cultural and Arts planning.

• Tourism

  Establishes an integrated tourism policy.

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  Fun

  Fun with planning. Kids corner. Jokes. Anecdotes. Games. World Mayor Contest. Misc.

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  Tools

  The right tool for the job. Aside from theory, what do planners actually use to get their jobs done? The three most important tools are language, social skills and problem-solving skills. After this, we can add on computer skills (including typing, the internet, databases, search engines, websites), planning software, GIS, boilerplates, templates, plans, codes, zoning, taxation, jargon, process, permits, public relations, laws, human resources, fiscal impact analysis, and so much more.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical thinking' and 'critical analysis' are terms which are required by academics in their university work but often lacking in student assignments. What is critical thinking/critical analysis? It can be thought of as better, more rigorous thinking.

  • Social Skills

    There are two key social skills that some people have not mastered and that we all could improve in ourselves. These are assertiveness and negotiation.
    
    A main feature of Iranian culture is "t'Arof", which tends to conflict with assertiveness. However, once the dynamics are understood, there are many ways to work with this.
    
    The Iranian negotiation style is rumored to be: making impossible demands, not backing down so that the deal falls apart, and feeling like you lost no matter what. Skills in the area of negotiation need to be improved.

  • Problem Solving

    Problem Solving skills are one of life's most important tools. This section looks at ways to develop these skills.

  • Language

    Language skills are another very useful planning tool. As a native English speaker, I am handicapped in my work in Iran. It's hard to be understood and to understand.
    
    Likewise, native Persian speakers who have difficulty with English are unable to access the wealth of information available to them and are working with a poverty of material.
    
    Other language skills are also needed. (Dialects, other languages in use in the country, business negotiations with people from Asia, etc.)
    
    Improving your language skills is such a complex job that we have outsourced this category to coolzaban.org: A site dedicated to helping people become fully bi-lingual in Persian and English, as well as gaining some skills in other languages.

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    Data & Databases

    Planers need access to accurate data for proper analysis. Here we look at data collection methods, database design, and access to databases. In addition, we look at graphical presentation of data via various software programs.

• Education

  Resources for those pursuing an education in planning and architecture. Higher degrees, evaluation of educational programs, application procedures, foreign student issues. In addition, resources for community educational outreach.

  • Community Education

    Incorporating planning and urban design education into public outreach efforts. Turning cities into living educational spaces.

  • Architecture Students

    Topics relating to education in Architecture. Experimental: Assignments and topics for students in "Professional English for Architects" class at University of Shiraz, Fall 2008

  • Planning Students

    Topics related to urban planning education. Experimental: Fall 2008 semester assignments and topics for students of "professional English language for Planners" at the University of Shiraz.

  • University Plan

    I teach part time at the University of Shiraz. What can we do to make this the best university it can be? Let's start with the basics. How do we get our Persian students to master Academic English? This, and other higher education issues explored in this section.