- Technology and the interests of the historically disadvantaged: help or hindrance? Case Study: the Cato Manor Development Project Land Claims Settlement Process   36 kb by    Odendaal, Nancy & null, null & null, null | odendaaln1@nu.ac.za    Short Outline The paper will focus on the use of Information Technology on the Cato Manor Development Project in Durban, an endeavour committed to the reconstruction of South Africa=s second largest city. The focus will be on an instant where the legitimacy of the project was challenged by former residents, removed from the area during the Apartheid era, and the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Technology in resolving that conflict. The paper will seek to explore the relationship between technology and marginalisation and will argue that technology is not necessarily a value-free tool. It will show that the incorporation of Information Technology in the planning process can be instrumental in influencing a development decision that is often contrary to the interests of those directly affected by it. The paper will be presented in three parts: it will initially seek to place the case study in its historical and policy context. In order to understand the impact of this event in the Cato Manor development process, it is necessary to comprehend the scale of the project as well as its planning goals and objectives. For the paper to engage with the themes of marginalisation and exclusion, it is necessary to be exposed to Cato Manor=s legacy, and particularly the historically troubled relationship between planners, their methods, and residents in this area. The second part of the paper will focus on the actual case study: the conflict between the Cato Manor Development Association and former residents from the area that felt themselves to be excluded from the development process. It is important to focus on the actual mechanics of the chain of events for therein lies the exploration of the use of technology in the planning process and its impact on those involved in it. This will be done visually in order to illustrate that the use of GIS was a key deciding factor in the resolution of this conflict. It played a major role in the Court Case that was initially called, as well as in the Settlement that was reached between the various role players thereafter. The latter included mediation and arbitration procedures, and centered around resolving issues of a spatial nature. The documentation and mapping that informed each of these procedures was supplied through the Cato Manor Development Association (CMDA) GIS. This technology was instrumental in the management of a very intricate and delicate process, but also impacted profoundly on its outcome. The third part of the paper will derive conclusions that seek to guide the use of Technology in future planning situations in a way that addresses concerns of segregation and exclusion. Its overall goal is to explore ways in which Information Technology can be of benefit to the marginalised in a developing country such as South Africa. It will also reflect on the role of Technology in the planning process and its value in affecting desirable outcomes that relate to the overall theme of integration and reconstruction. The paper is based on research done towards a Masters Degree in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Natal, Durban, whilst the author was employed by the CMDA as Urban Planner/GIS Operations Manager. Given the paper=s engagement with themes that evolve around the notion of integration, marginalisation and reconstruction, it is suggested that it be included in session 1: Cultural Identity and Spatial Segregation. Abstract The paper will focus on the use of Information Technology on the Cato Manor Development Project in Durban, an endeavour committed to the reconstruction of South Africa's second largest city. The focus will be on an instant where the legitimacy of the project was challenged by former residents, removed from the area during the Apartheid era, and the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Technology in resolving that conflict. Keywords GIS, Power, Knowledge Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2001: Honey, I Shrunk the Space   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper