Oman National Spatial Strategy (PAG)

04.05.2011 - 01.05.2015
Assigned research project
The Government of Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Supreme Committee of Town Planning (SCTP), has commissioned a team of international and national experts to prepare the OMAN National Spatial Strategy (ONSS). Subject of the ONSS is to analyse the current situation, to assess alternative development strategies und to draw-up the national vision of spatial development, followed by proposals concepts, measures and instruments for implementation. The ONSS shall have a time perspective for the next 30 years, but also a mid-term horizon for 2020 and shall include near-term objectives and high-priority measures for the next years. The main activities and results to be expected by the ONSS process are: (1) To design the Spatial Planning Strategy on the national as well as on the regional level (Regions / Governates): mission statement, spatial development concepts and plans (in particular for issues of national and regional importance), e.g. settlement structure, hierarchy and functions of settlements, potentials of economic areas and development sites, provision of social and technical infrastructure, preservation of natural resources and cultural heritage, prevention against natural hazards and environmental pollution, urban and rural development. (2) To prepare and develop further a National Planning Geo Information System, i.e. a geodatabase to assess and monitor environmental, socio-economical and infrastructural and spatial relevant regulations (e.g. for land use) (3) To assess the current institutional and legal planning framework and to propose procedures, regulations and instruments for spatial development and regulation (models of spatial governance) (4) To build capacity in geodata management and strategic spatial planning within administrative units and university programs. To design ONSS implements integrative and holistic planning approaches as well as specialised knowledge in different thematic fields which influence or are influenced by spatial development. These fields are: - GIS, Data Management, eGovernment - Environment, natural resources cultural heritage - Population, Human Resources, Social Infrastructure - Economic Sectors (e.g. agriculture, industries, services and tourism, etc.) - Transport an Mobility, Technical Infrastructure - Physical Planning and Land Use - Institutional and Legal Affairs - Capacity Building The ONSS process is scheduled for 38 months and is structured by four phases: (1) Analysis & assessment of current condition & identification of development planning issues including first visions and models for the future (2) Tendering of Regional Spatial Strategies (3) Preparation of Regional Spatial Strategies (4) Assessment of alternative Strategies and formulation of Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS) The ONSS process is communication and process oriented, which means to involve spatial actors and stakeholders on-site and to create knowledge networks in political-administrative, economic and academic fields. It includes capacity-building from the start, based on platforms like conferences and workshops and trainings on the job. The capacity building is conducted by an international team of planning professionals and university professors, who are practitioners at the same time. To discuss and support the interim-results and proceeding of the ONSS project four national conferences / workshops with international contributions are scheduled. In addition regional workshops and stage workshops shall be held according to the progress of the project.

People

Project leader

Sub project leader

Institute

Contract/collaboration

  • Sultanate Of Oman, Supreme Committee for Town Planning

Research focus

  • Energy Active Buildings, Settlements and Spatial Infrastructures: 50%
  • Efficient Utilisation of Material Resources: 50%

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Nationale EntwicklungsplanungNational Development Planning
Raumplanungland use planning

External partner

  • Consatt LTD. Oman
  • IBV-FALLAST Ingenieurbüro für Verkehrswesen
  • CEIT - Central European Institute of Technology
  • freiland Umweltconsulting Wien - Graz, ZT - Gesellschaft für Landschaftsplanung und Landschaftspflege
  • Prisma Solutions EDV Dienstleistungen GmbH

Publications