IT-Gatineau 2011, The Question of interdisciplinarity in Territorial Intelligence

Nature and context of the event

Territories management is an art which implements a set of knowledge and diverse skills: economics, social, political and legal affairs, culture, symbolic referents, etc.. At the international level, research in the field of territories management, grouped under the designation of "territorial intelligence, " are now advocating the emergence of "a science having for object the sustainable development of territories and having for subject the territorial community" (Girardot).

Territorial intelligence is therefore an object of research which aim to inquire and understand the logic of territorial change. This new object of research is an opportunity to bring together the disciplinary skills which interact traditionally little with each others and thereby create a true interdisciplinary discussion on a common purpose. To move the frontiers of contemporary research and public action, it must pass the stage of a real project of scientific cooperation implemented.

Gatineau 2011 is part of the concerns of contemporary epistemology and question the manner of interaction disciplinary skills, and the scales of research relevant to understanding the dynamics of change for action in the territories. In this perspective, and around a common object (the territorial intelligence), Gatineau 2011 will aim to question the methodologies of analysis and intervention in America and Europe. It will reflect on the formalization of a common theoretical model of understanding and intervention enriched disciplines and methodologies outlined during the event. To do this, we discuss three complementary themes, ie:

• territorial intelligence (October 12),
• territorial communication (October 13) and
• territorial planning (14 October).

Ultimately, the activities of the symposium will provide a basis for a sharing of methodologies in order to achieve an innovative international model for territorial intelligence analysis of spatial dynamics.

translated from: http://www.labmit.org/itgatineau