The Role of Data in Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Development in Indonesia

Environment, social, economic, and geospatial data should be treated as assets rather than as business-as-usual. The era of physical-oriented data should be navigated to accommodate end-user data needs. Data governance is a catalyst in formulating science-based policies for inclusive and sustainable development in Indonesian local governments.

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability Indonesia, supported by Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), Lokahita and Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners (IAP), led the second webinar of the development data governance webinar series on 6^th January 2021. The webinar was attended by policymakers, decision-makers at national and local levels, academics, development practitioners and NGOs, and the private sector in the field of urban development and geospatial information. The goal of the webinar is to capture data and information required by end-users for the development of inclusive and sustainable Indonesian urban areas.

Unpacking End-user Data Needs

Panelists for the second webinar include Ari Mochamad, Country Manager of ICLEI Indonesia, was joined by Hendricus Andy Simarmata, IAP Chairman, and Dian Afriyanie, Co-founder and Senior Researcher of Lokahita. Three of the panelists enumerated the data needed by end-user to formulate and develop urban low emissions development strategies, detailed spatial planning and zoning regulation (DSP-ZR), and strategies environment assessment (SEA) of DSP-ZR as well to support the inclusive and sustainable Indonesian urban development.

Urban low emission development strategies: In line with the implementation of Urban-LEDS II project in Indonesia, Mr. Mochamad highlighted the urgency to embed climate actions into the city development planning. An example of this is the completion of the city’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory that provides opportunities for generating robust city-level climate data. Additionally, climate hazard components that are processed to develop climate risk and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) that are in line with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 7 of 2018. This will determine the level of data to be gathered vis-a-vis data availability and accessibility along with the capacity of the cities to undertake data collection activities for both internal and external data sources. Deliverables of GHG inventory and CRVA will then be used as reference to identify the proposed climate actions plan by using a climate change co-benefit approach.

Detailed spatial planning and zoning regulation (DSP-ZR): As an urban planner, Mr. Simarmata expressed that 3D Interactive Zoning Map (visuals) and the availability of geospatial data Y-1, detailed subsurface geological surveys, disaster and environmental studies, of potential economic feasibility are mandatory parameters for formulating DSP-ZR. This is in line with the Amended Omnibus Law on Job Creation No. 11 year 2020 where “Microscale (urban) space shall be limited to at least 2,500 Ha (5 km x 5 km) in order to display data detail, analysis depth, and planning costs,” he added.

Strategies environment assessment (SEA) of DSP-ZR: SEA is embedded into DSP-ZR. Detailed maps such as (a) base maps for SEA; (b) thematic maps for basic and analysis; and (c) synthesis thematic maps should be created together with other physical data points. Mrs. Afriyanie also commented that 3D maps are a minimum requirement to compile SEA of DSP-ZR providing minimum accuracy and level of detail (LoD-1) needed for a complete assessment.

End-User Expectations

As data drives city development, local governments should encourage urban development data governance. The experiences and lessons learned from data and information collection have been shared by the cities of Balikpapan and Bogor, local government representative and Urban-LEDS II model cities, during the panel session. Both cities agreed that scarcity of data is there, and gaps between data availability and needs are wide. To this end, dialogues and multi-stakeholder consultations should be carried continuously.  Data governance should be tackled through a combined effort from any government level, external partners, and end-users alike.

Recommended links:

• https://urban-leds.org/identifying-challenges-and-opportunities-in-urban-development-data-governance/
• https://urban-leds.org/its-time-for-indonesia-to-redefine-how-geospatial-data-is-governed/