A Short Presentation of INRS Urbanisation, Culture et Société and SAREL [Spatial Analysis and Regional Economics Laboratory]
Mario Polèse Senior Canada Research Chair in Urban and Regional Studies
mario.polese@ucs.inrs.ca
Looking Forward: Urban and Regional Research in Canada, City-Region Studies Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, June 21-22, 2007.
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Short History of INRS Urbanisation, Culture et Société
Founded in 1970 as CRUR [Centre for Regional & Urban Research] within the newly created INRS, an Institute of the University of Quebec system. Re-baptized INRS-Urbanisation in 1971 to highlight its bond with INRS. Merged in 2001 with INRS Culture et Société. Today INRS-UCS is Quebec’s – perhaps Canada’s – largest social science research centre focused on urban and regional issues.
INRS Urbanisation, Culture et Société
Some 35 full time senior social scientists (faculty), plus invited scholars. Own building in Montreal plus offices in Quebec City. Three graduate degree-granting programmes: Urban Studies; Population Studies; Public Policy. Specialized services: library; computer centre. Some 15 research teams on subjects ranging from urban security, aboriginal issues, local economic development, immigration, social policy to family structures and urban policy in developing nations.
SAREL: Spatial Analysis and Regional Economics Laboratory
Principal researchers: Philippe Apparicio, William J. Coffey, Mario Polèse, Richard Shearmur, and (since 2005) Christophe Ribichesi. Backgrounds in economic geography, urban & regional economics, spatial statistics, and geographic information systems (GIS). Complete GIS laboratory, 12 terminals, server, technical and secretarial staff. Some 15 graduate students, plus 3 post docs. Supported by 2 Canada Research Chairs, CFI, and FQRSC.
SAREL Data Banks
A unique set of geo-referenced data banks – continually updated - at different spatial scales for Canada, the US, and Mexico.
o Metropolitan areas, often at the street block
level.
o Regions: counties, census divisions,
municipios, and other sub-national units.
o Standardized time series with constant
geographies and variable definitions.
Metropolitan Areas
Calgary Edmonton
Vancouver Winnipeg Ottawa
Toronto Montréal
Each colour represents a composite employment structure, based on a cluster analysis of 35 industry classes.
Québec
North America- Spatial Units
Data: 1990, 2000
Employment: for comparable industrial classes -Population: by age group and selected socio-economic indicators -Some 5000 geo-referenced units
Research Tools and Applications
SAREL produces research tools and applications that are freely available on its website. Interactive atlases are among the most popular tools. An example is the Atlas of Immigration for the Montreal Metro Area:
http://atlasim2001.inrs-ucs.uquebec.ca/
SAREL Research Themes
Three Main Themes:
1. The Internal Spatial Dynamics of
Metropolitan Areas.
2. The Spatial Dynamics of the North
American Economy.
3. Methodological Development & Innovation:
Spatial Statistics & GIS.
Recent Research Projects
Changing employment patterns within metropolitan areas: which jobs are moving where? Commuting patterns and the changing relationship between workplace and home. Neighbourhood attributes, environmental factors, and community (and personal) health. The future of peripheral communities in the knowledge economy. Regional impacts of IT. Ranking Canadian cities in the knowledge economy. The impact of transport infrastructures and continental market access on local economic development.
Examples
In ending, some additional visual examples of the type of analysis carried out by the SAREL team at INRS Urbanisation, Culture et Société in Montréal. In this case, two maps that plot regional – North American – trends, followed by six figures illustrating location patterns for various industries.
Population Change (%) 1990-2000
Relative Concentration of Employment in Manufacturing [Location Quotient] 2000
Relative Concentration of Employment in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services. By Size of Urban Area. North America 2000. Continental Average = 1.00
1.40 1.20 1.00 Index 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 over 4.5 million 2.5 to 4.5 million 1 to 2.5 milion 500k to 1 milliom 100k to 500k 10k to 100k less than 10.000
Size of Urban Area
Relative Concentration of Employment in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services. By Size of Urban Area. Canada 2001. Canadian Average = 1.00
1.60
1.40
1.20
Index
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20 over 1 million 500k to 1 million 100 to 500k 50 to 100k 25 to 50k 10 to 25k Less an 10.000
Population Size
Relative Concentration of Manufacturing Employment. Places Grouped by Size and Location. North America 2000. Continental Average = 1.00
1.60
Within a 90 minute drive of a Big City
1.40
Beyond a 90 minute drive
Location Quutient
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60 Big Cit y: Half M illion + 100 000 t o 500 000 10 000 t o 100 000 under 10 000
Population
2000 f or US; 2001f or Canada
Relative Concentration of Employment : Motor Vehicle Manufacturing. Places grouped by size and location. Canada 1971-2001. Canada = 1.00
4.00
3.50
3.00
1971
2001
2.50
Index
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
Large Urban Area 500k+ 10 to 500k CLOSE below 10k CLOSE 10 to 500k FAR below 10k FAR
CLOSE places fall within a 1 hour drive of a large urban area, FAR places lie beyond
Relative Concentration of Employment: Electronic Equipment & Appliances. Places grouped by size and location. Canada 1971-2001. Canada = 1.00
2.50
1971 2.00
2001
1.50
Index
1.00
0.50
Large Urban Area 10 to 500k below 10k 10 to 500k below 10k 500k+ CLOSE CLOSE FAR FAR CLOSE places fall within a 1 hour drive of a large urban area, FAR places lie beyond
Relative Concentration of Employment : Computers & Peripherals. Places grouped by size and location. Canada 1971-2001. Canada = 1.00
1.80 1.60 1.40 1.20
Index
1971
2001
1.00 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 Large Urban Area 500k+ 10 to 500k CLOSE below 10k CLOSE 10 to 500k FAR below 10k FAR
CLOSE places fall within a 1 hour drive of a large urban area, FAR places lie beyond
Avenues for Future Research and Collaboration
The future of Canadian communities in the knowledge economy and globalizing world.
What will the economic geography of Canada look like tomorrow? Winners and loser? Challenges? Policy options?
The evolution of Canada’s big cities.
Comparative research focusing on issues such as: immigration; aboriginal populations; modal split; CBD-suburb split; aging; the environment. Why or why not are the trends the same everywhere? What works, where and why?
For more information
o INRS Urbanisation, Culture et Société:
http://www.ucs.inrs.ca.
o SAREL – Spatial Analysis and Regional
Economics Laboratory : http://www.laser.ucs.inrs.ca.