Experts and their interventions: a model of the field of urban improvement

A wide range of professional activities within the built environment share the common goal of urban improvement, yet they differ quite significantly in working detail. The author presents a theoretical description of the field of urban improvement as an aid to examining the variety of such work. Two variables distinguish the different forms of improvement activity. The first is the nature and scope of the work undertaken and Rapoport's discussion of the various features that convey nonverbal meaning in the built environment provides general headings to describe this variable. An adaptation of Amstein's theory of participation describes characteristics of working relationships, the second variable. The author brings these two variables together in a matrix format, creating a model of urban improvement activity. Improvement approaches are then explained with reference to the model, which allows comparative analysis and description of the work. When a variety of methods are related in a theoretical model, general patterns and new perceptions as to the effectiveness of urban improvements may be revealed.