URBAN COASTAL AREA CONFLICTS ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY

Book excerpt: This volume is the completed section of the process of analytical research and methodological comparisons undertaken by SECOA, a 48-month research project selected and funded by the EU under the FP7 program. Hence, while scientifically autonomous, the volume is a natural link between the different phases of analysis within SECOA, i.e. Work Packages (WPs) 1-5, and the interpretive and predictive values that are being drawn up by WPs 7 and 8. Within the overall scope of SECOA's research activity, this volume's task was to supply answers to questions that will undergo further study by research groups. These groups will subsequently have to create methods and tools to identify the most suitable policies to effectively manage environmental conflicts, use fragile and rare resources more efficiently, and develop administrative structures capable of dealing with the needs of a continuously evolving society (the wisdom stage). It was also deemed necessary to construct possible alternative scenarios in order to contribute to an enhanced vision of sustainable urban development in coastal areas (the understanding stage). The findings of the research discussed in this volume are to be used to understand the relationships between the variables collected in the previous phases (WPs 1, 2, 3 and 4) of SECOA.