In developing countries, squatter developments that house more than one-third of the urban population are without infrastructure and built from materials at hand. Analyzing Urban Poverty: GIS in the Developing World demonstrates how geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to improve quality of life in poor urban areas. With 30 years of experience using GIS technology to manage urban problems in Venezuelan barrios, Rosario Giusti de Pérez and Ramón Pérez describe how they developed sustainable solutions that go beyond conventional planning programs. Chapters cover site analyses of the natural and built environments, visualization of poverty maps, development of appropriate improvement proposals, management of projects, and organization of communities, and encouragement of their participation.

The authors were presented with the Making a Difference Award at the 2008 ESRI International User Conference by ESRI President, Jack Dangermond. Award recipients are honored for using GIS innovatively to significantly change an organization, society, or the environment. Read more.

Rosario Giusti de Pérez received her degree in architecture from Zulia University in Venezuela and her masters in urban design at the University of Pennsylvania. She was a professor of architecture at Zulia University for twenty-three years. All of her urban designs have won national competitions. Currently, she is the director of ESRI Venezuela and lives in Maracaibo.

Ramón Pérez received his degree in architecture from the University of Los Andes in Mérida, Venezuela, and his masters in urban design from the University of Pennsylvania. He was the Director of the Instituto de Investigaciones de Arquitectura y Sistemas Ambientales (ISA) at Zulia University for five years. He has consulted on GIS projects throughout Central and South America. Currently, he is the president of ESRI Venezuela and lives in Maracaibo.

ISBN: 9781589481510    2008   125 pages   $29.95

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