IP Sustainable management of relationship between peri-urban and rural-urban economic, social and environmental processes

SUMPEA initial research phase will lead to the development of a baseline understanding of U-PU-R dynamics. This will largely be delivered through WP1 and will be based upon the identification of key U-PU-R processes and the analysis of key areas of intera ction. This approach will enable a conceptual understanding of functional impacts and synergies. Whilst significant emphasis will be placed upon environmental and economic processes, the approach also recognises that understanding of social processes with in U-PU-R relationships are currently limited, as such, the early phases of research will pay particular attention to issues such as employment, migration, demographic structure, quality of life, health, social capital, cultural identity and accessibility . The creation of a dynamic understanding of U-PU-R processes will enable the development of methodologies and tools for understanding, planning and forecasting sustainable U-PU-R relationships. In WP2 emphasis is placed upon creating tools for assessing the impact of U-PU-R processes upon sustainability. This will create a number of technical and scientific outputs including the selection of sustainability indicators and the establishment of assessment approaches. As part of the development of suitable r esponses, a comprehensive review of existing strategies, methodologies and tools will be undertaken. This will enable the creation of a multi-instrument approach utilising ?state of the art? planning and GIS based methods. Both research phases will be dev eloped in accordance with the standards being established by the GEO, GEOSS, GMES and through the EU initiative INSPIRE. WP6 will establish a training programme for stakeholders which will include both a training plan and training courses. This will be a ccompanied in WP7 by the dissemination of project results. Finally, WP8 will develop an appropriate management structure for the implementation of project recommendations.