ISoCaRP 2002 Congress

The Pulsar Effect:
Coping with peaks, troughs
and repeats in the demand cycle

38^thINTERNATIONAL PLANNING CONGRESS of the
International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISoCaRP)

ISoCaRP 2002 Congress will examine one of the most formidable and demanding challenges facing contemporary urban planners and managers: how to cope with the ‘pulsar effect’ as it relates to the provision of urban services, facilities and infrastructure. In exploring this theme, the Congress offers a focussed opportunity for the exchange of professional experiences, lessons and knowledge amongst planners and researchers who have dealt with "pulses" - these being the peaks, troughs and recurrent or repeat events which have a distorting effect on the day-to-day operations of the modern city. These events may be shaped by a formal planning process or by haphazard and unpredictable forces, which put them beyond normal control mechanisms. They often demand new operational arrangements, new forms of governance, and new approaches to participation and partnership. The context for urban professionals is one within which traditional and well-tested rationales may have to be discarded in favour of expedient procedures, inadequate research and analysis, and superficial assessments of supply and demand. Importantly, it is a context in which it is easy to make mistakes whose consequences for society may be far-reaching and costly. Within this thematic context, Congress 2002 will address key questions including the following:

How should we deal with the post-event situation "the ‘hand-over’ syndrome" when the city has to recover and revert to normality?

Three parallel sessions will be organised with a careful selection of contributions and discussions on different sub-aspects of the central theme. Case studies will illustrate real-world professional experience in dealing with the pulsar effect, providing knowledge and skills of value in the professional development field.

Early Registration: until 15 July 2002. The Congress is open to any interested professional or party. ISoCaRP members and Greek Residents can profit from special reduced rates.


	The Pulsar Effect: Coping with peaks, troughs and repeats in the demand cycle 38^thINTERNATIONAL PLANNING CONGRESS of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISoCaRP) ATHENS, GREECE, 21-26 SEPTEMBER 2002 supported by UNESCO's MOST Programme ISoCaRP 2002 Congress will examine one of the most formidable and demanding challenges facing contemporary urban planners and managers: how to cope with the ‘pulsar effect’ as it relates to the provision of urban services, facilities and infrastructure. In exploring this theme, the Congress offers a focussed opportunity for the exchange of professional experiences, lessons and knowledge amongst planners and researchers who have dealt with "pulses" - these being the peaks, troughs and recurrent or repeat events which have a distorting effect on the day-to-day operations of the modern city. These events may be shaped by a formal planning process or by haphazard and unpredictable forces, which put them beyond normal control mechanisms. They often demand new operational arrangements, new forms of governance, and new approaches to participation and partnership. The context for urban professionals is one within which traditional and well-tested rationales may have to be discarded in favour of expedient procedures, inadequate research and analysis, and superficial assessments of supply and demand. Importantly, it is a context in which it is easy to make mistakes whose consequences for society may be far-reaching and costly. Within this thematic context, Congress 2002 will address key questions including the following: How should planners cope with "pulse" events? Does our traditional focus on spatial planning adequately equip us to respond successfully to peak and recurrent demands in a context where the time dimension is uncertain, unexpected and unpredictable? How should we deal with the post-event situation "the ‘hand-over’ syndrome" when the city has to recover and revert to normality? Three parallel sessions will be organised with a careful selection of contributions and discussions on different sub-aspects of the central theme. Case studies will illustrate real-world professional experience in dealing with the pulsar effect, providing knowledge and skills of value in the professional development field. Early Registration: until 15 July 2002. The Congress is open to any interested professional or party. ISoCaRP members and Greek Residents can profit from special reduced rates. More information on the Congress can be found on the website of the ISoCaRP 2002 Congress.

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