Where cities and towns can best be built with due consideration for soil, water, the landscape, nature and accessibility is a current question being asked by policy makers. A tool to answer this question is the arsenal of maps available at the MNP, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Both the report and the ‘Site Seeker’ tool included here provide insight into the use of these maps. The layer approach of the tool and report show how maps can be combined in urban planning situations.
Download publication (PDF, 14.4 Mb)
Download ‘Site seeker’ software (ZIP, 6.3 Mb)
Values and political choices determine outcome
The report avoids offering only one map showing where or where not urban development should take place. The choice made for criteria and weights will depend on value orientation and political choices. Ultimately, one of the policy maker’s tasks is to actually apply the layer approach to their own situation, and choose the best option from the relevant indicators and weights.
Site Seeker software
MNP makes use of Internet to offer the most essential maps through a GIS application called ‘site seeker’ (‘Locatiezoeker’ in Dutch). By applying this tool users can determine their own criteria and weights when putting the layer approach into practice.
The Site Seeker on the website is a demo-version. Presenting the Randstad, as opposed to the whole of the Netherlands, as a visualised area shortens calculation times. If user experience warrants it, we intend to build a web-based version of the Site Seeker with more possibilities and validity for the Netherlands as a whole. We welcome users’ suggestions on the Sight Seeker software. Please submit comments to Rienk Kuiper.
Download Site Seeker software (ZIP, 6.3 Mb)
The zip-file contains an installation file (.msi), which you can use to install the Sight Seeker software.
