The Tartu Planning Conference, initiated by our lab back in 2015, occurred for the ninth time this March. The conference has grown into a major spatial planning event, which gathers Estonian planning practitioners, researchers, and stakeholder groups. The conference accommodated around 400 participants who were quick enough to register as the VSpa venue has its physical limits.
Planning and executing several sessions on both conference days was a great honour for our lab members. Some highlights are below.
📍 The conference started on March 14 with the session “A City of How Many Minutes? Contemporary Neighbourhood-Based Planning Concepts”, organised by Age Poom from our lab and Helen Sooväli-Sepping from TalTech. In the session, Prof. Tiit Tammaru provided insights into the history of neighbourhood-based planning concepts, while our PhD candidate Martin Haamer elaborated on spatial analysis methods that help understand spatial accessibility and support planning a 15-minute city (see his paper later published in a weekly newspaper SIRP). Additionally, Kristjan Kostabi, an official from the Tartu City Government, discussed the locational choices for population sheltering and protection in case of emergencies. Kristi Grišakov from the Tallinn City Planning Department joined the panel discussion, which Helen Sooväli-Sepping moderated. The session concluded that the concept of the 15-minute city helps improve the accessibility of services for various population groups, considering different needs or seasons, and reducing dependence on cars. However, it should not be simplified and blindly followed to avoid societal challenges. A potential issue may arise from spatial segregation and increasing inequality if people mainly remain within their neighbourhoods and do not interact with each other in the urban space within various activities. Nonetheless, when planning sheltering possibilities in public spaces, the 15-minute principle is a good starting point to provide better protection in emergencies.
Photo courtesy: Age Poom
📍 Later that day, the session “Brave Decisions in Planning” organised by Liisi Ventsel from Hendrikson DGE, involved planning practitioners from local municipalities and consultancy firms – Indrek Ranniku, Lenna Hingla, Liisi Ventsel, Merje Muiso, Pille Metspalu, and Mart Hiob. Age Poom moderated the lively panel discussion on the perspectives on the courage of planners and bold decisions in planning, such as internal struggles, self-learning, re-evaluating past decisions, taking responsibility for the future, value conflicts, accepting and working with others’ opinions, accountability, and good planning practices. The session concluded that the large community of planners encourages us to make responsible and value-driven decisions that aim to create favourable conditions for good spatial development in the future.
Photo courtesy: Age Poom
Photo courtesy: Andres Tennus
📍 The second day started with a session on “Human Location, Mobility, and Vulnerability in Emergencies: New Analytical Tools for Enhancing Crisis Management”, organised by Siiri Silm. It featured as presenters Merilyn Viin from the Võrumaa Development Center, Evelin Uibokand from the Tartu City Government, Kati Orru from the University of Tartu, and Ago Tominga, a PhD candidate from our laboratory as well as representing the Rescue Board. While a wealth of data and methodologies is available for assessing human location and mobility, validating these tools, cross-utilizing datasets, and creating precise and rapid use cases in emergencies require further collaborative efforts. The use of dynamic spatial data in the context of municipal crisis coordination is still a relatively new domain.
Photo courtesy: Age Poom
📍 The last session of the conference entitled “Artificial Intelligence in the Service of Spatial Planning”, was organized by Age Poom and included participants Lea Pauts from the Estonian Land Board, Kaja Pae from the Ministry of Climate, Raul Kalvo from Inphysicast, Anto Aasa from our laboratory, and Jarno Laur from the Tartu Rural Municipality Government. There is a significant need to organise and validate foundational data for the rational use of artificial intelligence in planning contexts. The Estonian Land Board aims to become a centre of competence for spatial data in Estonia, while the Ministry of Climate is thoroughly restructuring the building register. However, artificial intelligence is also utilized for visualisation, often remaining at the level of aesthetic representations and communication, offering a wide range of applications. Yet, using artificial intelligence wisely, impartially, and without neglecting vulnerable population groups for the benefit of planning requires a knowledgeable procurer and user.
Photo courtesy: Age Poom
The Mobility Lab of the University of Tartu is an interdisciplinary research group that studies human mobility and its associations with society and the environment using mobile (big) data.