Journal of Regional and City Planning
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Regional Planning Framework for Addressing Flood Vulnerability of a Metropolitan Region: The Case of Malappuram, Kerala, India
Full text linkFlood susceptibility is becoming increasingly important among the various natural disasters in terms of environmental, economic, and social consequences. The eco-regional planning approach, which incorporates the ecological boundary as a layer in the spatial planning process of settlements, is one of the most innovative concepts in recent research to address these problems. Hence, this research interrogated flood susceptibility mapping tools using an appropriate model for better settlement planning and management. A frequency ratio model was applied to a case region, Malappuram (in the State of Kerala, India), one of the world’s fastest urbanizing metropolitan regions, using a three-tier assessment framework. A frequency ratio database for flood susceptibility mapping was created by combining historic flood locations with independent factors. The study region was divided into five flood-risk zones based on the computed flood susceptibility index, which varied from 0 to 18.38, i.e., very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The results showed that the high and very high susceptibility classes accounted for 8.82% and 17.17% of the land, respectively. This paper highlights the requirement for a multi-level assessment of an ecologically oriented regional planning regime in India and estimates the success rate of flood prediction at 79.33%. The proposed regional planning framework is therefore essential for local government planners, researchers, and administrators when creating flood mitigation measures, and has the potential to become a substantial and essential instrument
Planning With 'Three-World Structures': A Comparative Study of Settlements in Mountain Villages
Full text linkMountain peoples’ basic understanding of the world is based on binary space concepts such as top-down, left-right, east-west, sacred-profane, and others, which form a threefold division structure that places people in the middle of their environment. Mountain settlements in several places in Indonesia that still emphasize this primitive understanding or classification are interesting to study in terms of their similarities and differences. This study aimed to compare three cases of settlements, namely Singengu Mandailing village in North Sumatra, Tenganan village in Bali, and Kampung Naga in West Java in terms of their understanding of binary space concepts that constitute this threefold division structure and their application in the planning of the community’s living environment. This study is a theoretical dialogue between the concept of binary space (bincar-bonom) in Singengu Mandailing village and two other local concepts that are similar, namely kangin-kauh (sunrise-sunset) in Tenganan village and timur-barat (east-west) in Kampung Naga. This qualitative study used data from the literature and the analysis was carried out following a qualitative descriptive research procedure. Based on previous research, each case has its own data, which the authors used to uncover differences and similarities in the binary space concepts from the three study cases. The authors employed a spatial matrix image to depict the position of each settlement element in the three cases, allowing the similarities and differences to be seen. The findings of the study show that Tenganan, Kampung Naga, and Singengu Mandailing have striking similarities in terms of addressing the middle point, namely as an axis or axis point. The difference lies in the filler elements and their value. The mountain village of Bali interprets the sacred-profane binary concept similarly to the mountain village of Mandailing, except in terms of the direction of sunrise-sunset. The settlement arrangement of Tenganan Pageringsingan village at the macro, meso, and micro scales defines the direction of the sunrise and sunset as a profane direction, whereas in Singengu village, the direction of the sunrise is a sacred direction and the direction of the sunset is a profane direction. As for the Singengu and the Naga communities, they understand the middle point to be related to the direction of the sunrise and sunset in opposite directions, so there are differences in treating certain artifacts, especially cemeteries. The binary space that influences the process of forming rural settlements in the mountains can be: (1) the physical setting due to natural/geographical conditions, (2) the cosmology and belief systems adhered to, and (3) the people’s socio-cultural life. Rural settlements in the mountains can also be said to emphasize the natural aspect of the mountains with all of their spatial shaping potential. The study’s findings further show that the local people’s understanding of their living space patterns has been carried over from previous generations to the present day. This suggests that settlement planning for local communities, particularly in mountainous areas where hereditary beliefs still exist, must be approached in a specific way. In future planning projects, different locations require different planning approaches
The Effects of Homeownership on Social Capital
Full text linkAccess to homeownership is becoming increasingly limited due to various factors related to a decline in social capital, including sense of stability, security, and community attachment. This study examined the relationship between homeownership and social capital in Indonesia at the household level while addressing endogeneity and heterogeneity issues. This research used panel data from the IFLS-4 and IFLS-5 surveys, employing a fixed-effect regression model with robust standard error and instrumental variables. The study found that homeownership significantly impacts social capital in Indonesia. Furthermore, the effect of homeownership differs between Java and non-Java households and between urban and rural households. The study also identified other significant influencing factors of social capital, such as household size and monthly income. It is concluded that policies aimed at increasing homeownership may positively impact social capital in Indonesia. This research has provided evidence of the heterogeneity of the effect of homeownership on social capital based on geographical location and household characteristics, suggesting that policymakers should develop policies to meet the specific needs of each group to maximize the positive impact of homeownership on social capital
Urban Planning Approach and Production of Counter Architecture: A Case Study of New Market, Khulna
Full text linkInformal spatial practices in cities of the Global South are often regarded as activities taking place outside the realm of regulatory oversight. The prevailing urban governance and planning paradigms, which are largely derived from developed countries, struggle to adapt to the dynamic nature of these practices and the inherent conflicts they entail. Furthermore, the influence of disorderly political systems further complicates matters at the local level. In response to planned development, informal spatial practices persist as a critical yet overlooked/integral aspect of ever-evolving urban realities. This paper provides new insights into the current dynamics surrounding the creation of informal urban spaces in Global South cities and their interaction with the formal planning framework. Our study focused on the city of Khulna in Bangladesh, a compelling case study with a history of failed industrial planning dating back to the 1960s, when it was designed by a group of British consultants. Following its initial failure and the city’s subsequent decline in population, Khulna has witnessed an unforeseen surge in ‘counter spatial’ development driven by the imperative to meet socio-economic and cultural needs. This paper underscores the significance of such type of informal spatial production and introduces/highlights the concept of ‘counter architecture’ as a pivotal element of society that demands recognition and inclusion in the broader urban development framework. It suggests that the ‘counter architecture’ lens provides a foundation for challenging the rigidity of master planning and understanding the interconnectedness between formal and informal urban spaces. This perspective emphasizes the need to consider the lived experiences and tactical attributes of spatial formation, ultimately highlighting the resistance of ‘inhabitants’ and ‘users’ against the static codes of modern master planning in cities of Global South like Khulna
Urbanization, Land Scarcity and Urban Farmers' Mobility: Evidence from Ghana
Full text linkThis study assessed how urban farmers survive land scarcity challenges in the midst of rapid urbanization in a developing country such as Ghana. As land scarcity becomes more pronounced in urban areas, farmers struggle to find a place to farm within the urban space but the numerous opportunities that come with farming within the city still inspires them to find spare lands and open spaces in the city to farm. Therefore, the study examined the factors that influence urban farmers’ mobility with respect to farmland in the midst of intense land scarcity. Reponses from 251 farmers were analyzed with both Tobit and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). Land situation factors such as land ownership type, land scarcity challenges, and size of land were found to be associated with farmers’ mobility. Farm characteristics such as level of market benefits, intensity of vegetable production, and level of technology were also associated with farmers’ mobility within the city. Personal characteristics such as age, level of education, level of farmer engagement, and marital status also played a role. This implies urban farming sustainability requires conscious government efforts to include urban agriculture in its spatial planning decisions since there are numerous opportunities for farming within the city
Factors Affecting Illegal Land-use Changes in Residential Areas: (Case Study: District 6 of Tehran)
Full text linkToday, understanding the trend of land-use changes and its contributing factors is one of the important issues in urban land-use planning and urban management policies. Not all land-use changes comply with urban development plan regulations. Illegal land-use changes, especially in residential areas, are often implemented to reduce the municipality tax for small businesses in large cities in Iran. This trend has become a source of income for municipalities through fine acquisition. The objective of this study was to identify the factors contributing to incompatible and illegal land-use changes in the case study of District 6 in Tehran. The research method used in this study was descriptive-analytical. The data was collected using a questionnaire and a field study. The data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation test and confirmatory factor analysis using the equation modeling technique in the LISREL software. According to the research findings, escape from the traffic scheme zone, with a coefficient load factor of 0.86, and economic profitability, with a coefficient load factor of 0.84, were the most important factors motivating illegal land-use changes in the residential areas in this case study (District 6, Tehran). The main conclusion of this research is the need for change in Tehran urban policies for mitigation of urban planning violations. Specially in this case, the impact of the traffic scheme zone in Tehran should be considered. Another suggestion is the adoption of new urban policies related to taxes on unauthorized activities in residential areas that can counteract the market response to possible changes
Evolutionary Trends in the Landscape of Hausa Open Spaces: Key Enablers of Habe City Planning Mythology
Full text linkThis study took the ‘origin-pattern-function’ of landscape progression as the central theoretical framework and conducted a systematic study on the evolution of open-space landscape patterns in Habe cities, situated between the river Niger and the river Benue in northern Nigeria. This study aimed to explore the embedded landscape cosmology in Hausaland and the origins of its historic mythology. A descriptive research and review approach was adopted, to explain and interpret prevailing practices, existing circumstances, attitudes, reasons, and on-going processes. It unveils the planning of open spaces and houses according to an ancient cosmology that organized towns during the Habe Hausa Dynasty. The open spaces appear to be a sphere of convergent and divergent forces that maintain a delicate balance, whereas the outcrop hills of central Hausaland are domicile places with religious appeal and better defensibility. Further, the physical effects of Islamic influence are visible in the landscape of Hausa cities, such as locating a mosque in the heart of the city as well spatial expressions of the practice of the seclusion of women. The study also revealed that the concept of triple outdoor space in the landscape of Habe cities is identical with that of the traditional Hausa family dwellings enclosed by a compound wall with a gate. This paper presents the key enablers of the Hausa cities’ transformation into commercial, administrative, religious, and agricultural centers. It recommends that in the event of landscape development without certain public guidelines or natural practices, complicated mediation measures should be invoked if disorder is not to prevail. It finally seeks a comprehensive application of local practices and innovative methods with the aim of averting vulnerability of urbanization
Déjà Vu: The Untenable Reality of the Pavement Dwellers of Dhaka - Evidence from Three Decades
Full text linkPavement dwellers migrate to the city in search of better opportunities. Their commitment to this way of life is based on an expectation of benefits in the destination area. This study examined five aspects of pavement dwellers’ reality: demographics, socioeconomics, migration outcomes, living conditions, and fulfillment of expectations. A mixed-method data collection exercise resulted in 64 pavement dwellers’ accounts of their current situation in Dhaka city, which were compared to similar studies from 1991 and 1993. The results show that their conditions have remained unchanged. Though half of the migration occurred for economic reasons, the real income level has remained the same as in 1991. Shelter and employment remain elusive, and moving to slums is financially infeasible. More than half of those interviewed lived on the pavement for access to a livelihood. Most declared that they could not access social safety nets. The persistence of pavement dwelling in the face of remarkable economic growth demands the refocusing of policies on urban poverty eradication
Influence of Centrality Indices of Urban Railway Stations: Social Network Analysis of Transit Ridership and Travel Distance
Full text linkThis empirical study calculated the network centralities of urban railway stations in Seoul using Social Network Analysis (SNA) and analyzed the effect of this value on the number of passengers and average travel distance at each station. Network centrality can be calculated using various methodologies. In this study, reach, betweenness, and closeness were used as network centrality indicators. A regression model was used with the characteristics of building use in the station catchment areas as control variables. This methodology was compared to previous studies’ methods for obtaining stations’ topology values. The adjusted R2 values increased by 0.272 and 0.220 for the respective models, explaining the number of passengers and the average travel distance, respectively; the number of significant variables also increased in both models. These results indicate that defining the network centrality obtained through SNA as the station’s topology could improve explanations of the number of passengers and the average travel distance by 27.2% and 22.0%, respectively, compared to previous studies. While this methodology is not new, this study demonstrated the advantages of using SNA to determine the centrality indices of urban railway stations