Prof. Anne Beer - UK

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I - PERSONAL 

- education: BA (Geography), M.Civic Design (Town Planning), Dip.LA (Landscape Arch.)

- professional back ground:

Academic:
Professor Emeritus, University of Sheffield - Town and Environmental Planner
Head of Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield 1982-1993

Professional:
Director - MAP21 Ltd- IT for research (1998- present)
Environmental Consultancy University of Sheffield (a founder and Director - 1984 - 1998)
Weddle Landscape Research - Associate, 1973 - 1980 (Research into children's play in housing areas)
Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall, Consultant Architects and Planners, 1972-1974. (New Town Landscape Planning).
Craigavon New Town Development Corporation, 1969-1972 (Landscape Planning).
Redditch New Town Corporation, 1965-1969 (District Planning).

 - fields of specialisation:

Environmental planning and design as a means of ensuring effective environmental protection and sustainability in urban areas (1986-present)
Greenspace planning as a means of improving environmental quality of urban areas (1981-1986)
Planning external environments for children within residential environments (1972- 1992)
Design quality in residential areas (1976-1982)

- present work

Working with local community groups ( and the voluntary sector) to develop techniques appropriate to the encouragement of Local Agenda 21 initiatives and the development of strategies to manage greenspaces at the local level - using Stocksbridge as a case study (ongoing) but also including developing plans for the redevelopment of an under-utilised city park - Parson Cross - with ECUS and staff from the Department of Landscape University of Sheffield.

Developing a GIS of greenspaces in Sheffield and researching appropriate techniques for recording land-cover, landscape, land-use, user needs and nature.

Use of IT to facilitate user participation in community level regeneration initiatives in the voluntary sector (1998 - present)

 

- possible contribution to the network

The link between landscape planning and greenstructure planning for urban areas - the literature and experience of New Town Planning

Developing regenerative design solutions as a means of implementing ideas about the role of greenstructure in urban planning

Identifying "user needs" in relation to greenspaces in urban areas - the literature

Role of suburbia in Greenstructure Planning - some thoughts

II - INSTITUTION

Map21 Ltd, 6 Woodvale Road, Sheffield, S10 3EX (a small IT Research Consultancy specialising in Community level work)

Although retired from the University of Sheffield I retain research links with the Environmental Consultancy of the University of Sheffield(ECUS) and the Department of Landscape. I am involved in research projects with staff from those organisations in the area of Greenspace Planning and Design.

- present work in connection with the action subject

Sustainable Urban Landscapes - ongoing long term research has involved us developing and testing a methodology which uses Urban Structure Zones as the local level GIS units and records social, economic as well as environmental data for each zone - this allows an analysis of the wide range of environmental attributes involved in forming and supporting our urban areas. At present a GIS is being prepared for the greenspaces of Sheffield

- support, facilities offered to the action

Second management committee meeting organised in Sheffield (2-5 Dec)

Presentation of Sheffield as a Case Study of the problems and opportunities presented by the existing greenstructure in an area with a declining population and industrial base. Examining how an old industrial city which has had a long period of severe economic and associated social problems is coping with a surfeit of greenspace. Considering the role of local communities in managing and maintaining the city's greenspaces. Based on studies presently underway and using GIS to aid in the analysis of the situation in Sheffield a detailed report will be prepared as part of this COST Action.

Design and management of the group's website.

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