PLAN QUALITY EVALUATION FOR HEAT RESILIENCE GUIDEBOOK: A METHODOLOGICAL GUIDE FOR PRACTITIONERS AND RESEARCHERS

Abstract

In the face of the record-breaking extreme heat that is threatening lives, economies, and habitats across the world, communities are starting to prepare new plans, develop roadmaps and refine strategies to address extreme heat. This guidebook outlines a systematic method to evaluate the content of plans to advance urban heat resilience. This method, called Plan Quality Evaluation, is an established and widely used content analysis process that is argued to improve knowledge of plans, further implementation of plans, and foster collaboration among plan-making bodies. Plan Quality Evaluation for Heat Resilience draws from a large literature on plan quality evaluation and adapts it specifically to address urban heat issues. The goal of this guidebook is to help practitioners and researchers refine different aspects of plans so that they can effectively foster heat resilience. The Plan Quality Evaluation for Heat Resilience method is comprised of a two-step process. The first step- Quality Principles Evaluation, involves comparing plan content against established criteria related to seven principles of high-quality plans: goals, fact base, strategies, implementation and monitoring, public participation, coordination, and uncertainty recognition. The second step- Heat Strategies Evaluation, involves analyzing the inclusion of strategies that can mitigate and manage heat risks. This guidebook helps planning practitioners and researchers conduct both steps of the Plan Quality Evaluation for Heat Resilience using their own community plans as they are prepared, refined, updated, or monitored during implementation. This guidebook is divided into three chapters. The first chapter introduces the concept of heat resilience planning and the rationale for using plan quality evaluation methodology. The second chapter outlines the two-step process. Finally, the third chapter discusses the interpretation of results. This document is a companion piece to the American Planning Associations’ PAS Report 600: Planning for Urban Heat Resilience and the Plan Integration for Resilience ScorecardTM for Heat guidebook.