From scientific methods of territory analysis to tools of territorial information and territories competitiveness (Serge ORMAUX, Université de Franche-Comté, France)

WP4 aims at improving the dissemination of the spatial analysis and territorial information processing methods and tools within the HSS, and at increasing the territorial information use. These objectives are divided into five scientific coordination activities that correspond to the five WP4 coordination groups. The WP4M [Methods] coordination group worked about generic methods of wide applicability. The WP4P [Project] is linked to the evaluation of the projects that were supported by the European Commission (EC) and belong to the territorial intelligence field. The WP4T [Territory] compared the different disciplinary approaches of territory and studied the territory specification process (“territorialisation” in French). The WP4I [Information] identified the main sources of territorial information that are available for the researchers in Europe, at the European, national, regional and local levels. The WP4C [Competitiveness] aims at identifying the factors of the territories competitiveness and the most relevant indicators of the terrtories competitiveness.

WP4M - Methods

The objective was to make an inventory of the methods used by the researchers to work on territory and that can be used to design tools for territorial actors.

We focused on four kinds of methods, that are strongly linked the ones with the other ones.

• Within the methods for analyse, territories are mostly analysed by using spatial frameworks where space is divided into discreet spatial units. Social, demographic, economic or environmental data are aggregated into these units. Statistical methods are then used to analyse the territorial content which is defined by the variables. Two main families of statistical methods are usually distinguished: exploratory methods and inferential methods, but both kind of methods are not strictly separated and can be jointly used
• For thirty years, the research in social sciences has been interested in the elaboration of tools which allow simulating the territories spatial dynamics. These simulation tools were developed thanks to the progress of the computer sciences. The conception of spatial simulation tools involves the modelling of the phenomena which are analysed.
  Indeed, the interest of the spatial simulation is not genuinely its prediction ability, but its ability to test many factors combinations, many interactions types which are too complex to be analysed without any simulation tool. So, a simulation model can be used to develop the knowledge, but also to help the decision-making in the field of territorial management.
• A geographic information system (GIS) is a system for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to the earth. These tools are used more and more by sciences of territory, and more particulary within the framework of territorial intelligence and participative governance.
• During the last step of our research action, we worked on a meta-method: the observation of territories, which integrates the previous approaches, but which also implies specific constructions. This approach is located in the heart of the thinking about territorial intelligence and governance.

WP4T - Territory

For us, the territory is a system, it endorses the set of properties attached to complex systems [Monk, 2006], referring to structure and dynamics, putting forward the question of time irreversibility and its necessary to be taken into account. This system is composed of two absolutely indissociable subsystems, which on the one hand are the actors, joined together by their mutual plays leading to the use, the installation and the management of a second subsystem i.e. the geographical space, composed of places and objects, which interact according to their localization and especially to amenities means and constraints offered to actors by them.

Moreover, each scientific domain, indeed each laboratory, has its own conception of theses questions and has a partial view on the problem. For the researchers in social and human sciences, the abilities about quantitative methods are very diverse, the levels of practice are also very different. Consequently, it is difficult to know what are the kinds of use. This is one of the reasons that prompted us to conduct a reconnaissance on the ground of European research teams that, in Europe, were interested in the concept of territory and the bibliography produced.

This research work can be summarized in five phases, which are aimed to analyze: 1) how the concept of territory has been studied over the years, from the first to research 2) the main theoretical perspectives have studied the territory 2) the methodology used in these studies; 3) the concept of territory that those searches have produced 4) the bibliography produced.

The analysis of data shows that the concept of territory is designed mainly at universities and research centres and the methodology used is the type of exploratory and GIS. Theoretical approaches that address problems related to the territory seem to be those economic, sociological and geographical. The research laboratories focus on the dynamics of the territory analyzing this concept in its entirety: social actors (cultural identity) politics, economy (sustainable development) and geographic territory (space and territory). For each of these aspects are used different approaches and different methods. The territory, it would seem, from an analysis of the data still be seen in terms of local development "such a development" may have a social or economic connotations. Present in the data is the concept of territory in terms of space, not only geographically but social space to grasp and develop respecting the cultural identities and needs of actors who are part. With regard to cooperation as shown by the data of the study area is never a single institution but only one carried out in cooperation. An analysis of data shows that the collaborations are among the first centres of the nation centres and among different European nations.

We will present the results of the analysis performed on cartographic data relating to the key methodologies used in the study of the territory.

This section will be divided in turn into eight shares in the inside which will be described, followed by mapping, methodologies identified.

Inferential method

The first of the methodologies identified in the project is the inference method used in 31% of studies on territory. This method, as mentioned, is reflected in a approach leads to compute estimated values of the variable of interest and to extract residual values by comparing reality and the model. These residues are extremely important because they show the local specificities of each spatial unit.

As you can see from the charts n. 1 which shows the distribution of graphics data on a European scale, this approach is used in most European countries more frequently in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and England.

Geographic Information System (GIS) method

The GIS method is par excellence the most used in all the projects identified because it has a rate of 17.1%. This method is used alone or supplemented with other methods in analysis of the territory.

It is a system for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to the earth.

The cartography analysis shows very clearly how this method is used in most of Europe and particularly in France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, England, Austria and Bulgaria.

Explorative method

The explorative method is approach can be applied from raw data or can be considered as a step following a factor analysis. This approach is, according to our data, the third most widely used approach in studies on territory use (12.4%). As indicated by the cartography this approach is, to a greater extent, used in Italy, France, Switzerland and Spain. Followed by Portugal from Germany, from England and Denmark and Hungary.

Statistical Method of Quantitative and Qualitative analysis

Although smaller in percentage than the other methods, the statistical method would appear to be evenly distributed in most of Europe. This methodology is the systematic scientific investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships. The statistical method is present in 11.7% of the cases examined and is shown in the chart but with smaller percentages it is distributed in most of Europe, this would indicate that at least in every country there is an institute of research using this methodology.

Socio Economic Analysis

The socio economic analysis used in particular by sociological and economic approaches is present in 7.9% of the data examined. A participatory process to integrate economic, sectoral, spatial, social, institutional, environmental and fiscal strategies in order to support the optimal allocation of scarce resources between sectors and geographical areas and across the population, in a manner that provides sustainable growth, equity and the empowerment of the poor and marginalized. As we can see from the charts n. 5 this approach is present mainly in Germany, France, Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary.

Dynamic and Systemic Approaches

Dynamic and Systemic Approaches: the value of dynamical systems principles for solving the enduring puzzles of development, including the ultimate source of change, the problems of continuity and discontinuities, and nonlinear outcomes and individual differences. This approach is present in 3.1% of the data, as shown the mapping in countries such as Italy, England, France, Portugal and Bulgaria.

Conclusion

As we mentioned at the beginning on 420 projects found have been identified only 365 methodologies to 15.7% (Chart 7) of the projects was impossible to trace the methodology used. Furthermore, in mapping in missing data on the Regional Information System used especially for the preparation of strategic documents in regional development funded from national resources and the EU funds, this is because the percentage (1.2%) was not high enough for the mapping analysis.
In conclusion, the analysis shows how mapping methods identified are distributed evenly on the most of Europe.

WP4C - Competitiveness

The WP4C Competitiveness aims at identifying the factors of the territories competitiveness and the most relevant indicators of the territories competitiveness. It defined and studied the competitiveness factors that influence the regions development: economic structure, innovation, accessibility (physical-infrastructural accessibility and accessibility to ICT), qualified human resources, social factors and cultural and natural environment.

The development of territory in frame of sustainable it needs territorial information. The traditional measure of competitiveness is generally calculated by the GDP per head, despite the fact that some other indicators should be defined in order to integrate the social, environmental, health and well-being dimensions. GDP per head can be broken into two main components: employment rate (proportion of working age population in work) and productivity (GDP per person employed). Productivity is considered to be a good indicator of competitiveness. The challenge for territories is to increase productivity by a mix policy without having adverse effect on employment. The policy of the EU regarding competitiveness is to practice a non-price competitiveness in order to keep and improve the leaving standards, the social and the moral values/models of its societies as a whole. So, it is necessary to analyse the indicators of competitiveness factors, as:

Income level, labour productivity, employment, infrastructure and human capital, research and technological development, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME-s), institutions and social capital, economic structure, innovative activity, regional accessibility, skills of work force, social structure, decision centres, environment, regional identity, Foreign Direct Investment

In context of territorial intelligence and territorial competitiveness we aim to measure the social and human environments in additional it have to settle to natural environment. The human potential affects to all factors of territorial competitiveness.

Sustainable development policies encompass three general policy areas: economic, environmental and social. It is very difficult to pass from an economic concept and a broad concept. But we need to narrow this to concept of territorial intelligence because it follow from definition that we have to examine the social and human environments.

We identified the need to gather the approaches and the need for passing to a demand of global sustainable development. In addition to being extended with social and the environmental aspects, it is to manage to put a place a truly integrated vision. Indeed, the evaluation of an economic development action must be able to take into account the whole of the generated real costs. For that, a catch of retreat bringing to a total reflexion makes it possible to take into account not only the aspect of the competitiveness of a territory but also the aspect of its vulnerability. In this field, the vulnerability refers to the most elementary needs for the populations (of the individuals) of this territory.

It is then a question of literally changing speech only based either on one paradigm of competition but also on that of co-operation.

The speech on competitiveness is before very economic and very competing, but the idea to which the reflexions lead relates to more integrated vision of the territory where one finds, certainly a competing economy but also, a co-operative economy. The latter is all in all another way of perceiving the economy, rather based on the food together.

New indicators are then to set up. And beyond the indicators, it is especially a question of building a collective knowledge of the territory which will make it possible to include/understand the stakes then to evaluate the consequences of the choices in durable dimensions of the development.

To pass from the concept of competitiveness to that of vulnerability, it is to make evolve/move a purely capitalist vision of the economy which is too often evaluated at the national level, a complete, transverse vision and on the good scale, that of the territory.

Indeed, the solution is in balances of the partnership actions installation on a territory scale in which regulations of the competition settle.