Construction Engineering and Architecture / 2. Urban design and Landscape architecture 

Amirà S.R. Ahmad
dr.arch.amira@hotmail.com

Izhevsk State Technical University named after Mikhail Kalashnikov,

Izhevsk, Russia

SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION GRID

          Research presents  an innovative urbanization model to achieve balanced dispersal of population, urban and economic activities concentrated in congested urban areas. The study discusses strategic plan for Sustainable Urbanization Grid construction. Hierarchy of analysis is used, on urban, regional and national scales. Goal is to highlight the model’s elements and principles.  Research methodology: Historical and urban planning analysis. Resources: scientific publications, archival materials and photographic documentation. The Result is sustainable controlled urbanization model to approach   critical  urban and regional cases in developing countries.

Keywords . Growth poles , Sustainable development , urbanization , New Urban Settlements, Slum.

I.                     Introduction. According to UN report (World urbanization trends 2014), in 2014 , 54 % of the world’s population live in urban areas. By 2050 this number will grow to 66% [1]. UN-Habitat report states that the number of slum dwellers grows to 863 million[2]. Many of the larger cities in the world such as Bombay, Calcutta and Bangkok houses more than 10 million people. Between two-thirds to half of those people is living in slums or squatter areas[3]. This number will continue to grow because of the rapid tempo of Urbanization[2].  Studies deal with urbanization process from a demographic  point of view (e.g. [1] , [2]  , [4] ).

II.                   Objectives of research. This research presents Sustainable urbanization grid  as solution for monocentric urbanization mechanism in developing countries. In this paper urbanization is presented as a form of national and regional development. This study first aims to outline the  problem of current urbanization mechanism in developing countries,  Then to define and explain Sustainable urbanization grid elements and their spatial interrelationships, Then presents Discussion and analysis of the  Effects of this innovative urbanization form.  Recommendations for future implementation of Sustainable Urbanization Grid are presented.

III.                Urbanization mechanism. In developing countries rural areas represent (Repulsion poles), where Major cities are (Attraction poles). Slums represent a transitional form of urban settlements[3.p:8].
Rural®Urban Slum® Urban center (Major cities). Through the process of urbanization emigrants from rural areas move to live in major urban centers. Faced by expensive prices of housing and land inside the city, they have to find a solution to achieve their goals of working and living. Slums offer  unplanned uncontrolled but affordable  solution for immigrants. As for  urban poor and middle-class unaffordable living conditions inside Major cities drives them to slums ,where they can find affordable but bad housing and living conditions[5.p:65]. Slums emerge on vacant public lands in the city [3.p:1,5,6].In many situations these lands are hazardous areas[3.p:4-8].

Scheme.1. “   City –Slum-Rural area, relationship  ”. Reference:  researcher.

Slums or squatter areas  also grow on city fringes in a form of fast rapid sprawl. As a result these cities grew without any plan or order. They become huge and over populated. They suffer the bad conditions of working and life. Their Urban environment is unhealthy and crowded. Their endless urban sprawl is destroying natural and rural landscape. These major cities became characterized by congestions which block streets and roads, housing crisis, inefficiency and degradation of housing capital, the spread of slums, the lack of open green spaces. A strategy is used  To solve these problem by building new urban settlements around and near congested major cities[5].These new settlements can take many forms ,new satellite towns ,new self-sufficient towns[5]. Many of them especially in developing countries end up as city extensions , others  become ghost towns.

IV.               Theoretical fundament. The research  considers a different strategy and form of planned urbanization ; Sustainable urbanization grid:

A.    Elements.

a)    Major urban center (City).Over populated congested urban  settlement. Its urban and population growth cannot be controlled. It offers work opportunities, Faced by lack of affordable land and housing. In some cases absolute lack of land and housing.

less social solidarity and interaction. In a continuing rapid process of cultural ,environmental and urban degradation. It’s Infrastructure services amenities and utilities are over loaded. The upgrading pace is slower than its uncontrolled growth. Any urban development and construction in it should be strictly Prohibited. City’s  Slums  should be dealt with through slum clearance from it and relocation  to middle and economic class housing in  Relieving poles(see (b)) . These programs should be given priority over any other intervention plan in the city. Cleared locations should be planned to be green areas and public open spaces.

b)    Relieving poles. It’s location 25-50 km far from major urban center.  For city dwellers represents a town which provides affordable housing ,urban life , culture, environment , open spaces and more social solidarity. Its economical base depends mainly on services and trade rather than industry. This town will work as market for products from industrial new growth pole and major urban center. Through these economic activities will be generated working opportunities enough for town residents. Population up to 50 thousand  residents. Recommended that 50% housing units be dedicated for  relocation of slum dwellers from slums inside the major city.

Scheme.2. “   Regional system of  Sustainable urbanization grid  ”. Reference: Researcher.

c)    Growth pole (city).25-50 km far from emigration points  and relieving pole. Function: To attract emigration from rural areas. It represents Industrial urban center. Its Industrial base depends on raw material provided from rural and natural areas in its region. Residents up to 500 thousand. Offer  employment for rural areas residents ,and a percent of the relieving pole residents and resident of its surrounding region. Provides land for construction and housing for emigrants from rural areas.

d)    Rural area (emigration Source):In many  countries especially in developing world, Rural areas have the last priority of fund and development after urban settlements [3.p:2,33-35]. Characterized by natural environment ,rich of green spaces and stronger social solidarity and relationships. It experiences lack of employment opportunities and in some cases lack of land for construction. Agricultural lands which represents the main economic and life  resource, are rapidly lost because of Razing Agricultural Land to prepare it for construction.  

e)    Rail road’s network . Is a must  for the success of this urbanization form. Road network could also be provided ,but the main connection between the grid main points (Rural area –Growth pole- Relieving pole - Major urban center ) shall depend on rail road. Rail road’s are an affordable way of transportation for people and products. It should be designed to be sustainable and affordable. Rail ways is an essential element for achieving sustainable development[6]. 

f)      Containment belt: A 25-50 km wide belt of  either -A nature reserve (a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest)  , - Solar cells farm , - Wind farm (For sustainable energy production) or - Green belt. It ‘s function is to 1-Form  clear defined boundaries of each point of the grid (Growth pole –Relieving pole –rural area-Current major city),2-The urban growth will be contained inside it. 3- It will protect rural areas from urban sprawl,4- It will be either used for agricultural production or as recreational area and environmental preservation ,5- Or for sustainable clean Energy Production.

B.   Sustainable urbanization grid mechanism.

Sustainable urbanization grid will lead to :

·        Redirecting migration flows from

      Rural areas ® Major urban centers  to

      Rural areas ® Growth pole.

Scheme.3. “   Expected directions of emigration flows  ”. Reference: Researcher.

·        Slums as transitional  form of urban settlements will be replaced by planned contained compact new urban settlements represented by Growth pole and Relieving pole.

·         Industrial base in Growth pole will greatly upgrade and affect the development of rural areas as source for raw material and Relieving pole as  a market.

·        The inevitable degradation of major urban centers, will lead to the refuge of their residents to relieving poles. It is important to be noted that provision of infrastructure and services to slum areas along with the legalization of their existence have always encouraged the emergence of  tens of new slums [3.p25,30-43]. The study argues that such policies and urban upgrading programs in Megapolises will not stop degradation but only delay it, as a result suffering of more generations and environmental crises. Sustainable urbanization grid will lead to hugely decrease in population of big cities and megapolises. As a result stopping their degradation and preventing collapse.  

·        Sustainable urbanization grid extension mechanism :As growth and relieving poles reaches  their full capacity , their urban extension takes the form of new growth and relieving poles , connected and integrated into the  sustainable urbanization grid.

·        Sustainable urbanization grid will achieve balanced decentralization and dispersal of urban and cultural activities and economic development.

V.                 Conclusion. The awareness of current urbanization mechanism consequences,  which is  resulting from traditional planning, obligates governments and planners to lead strategic sustainable urbanization programs.

Urbanization must be planned and controlled through strategic decisions and plans. In these plans the role of every element (Growth pole –Relieving pole –rural area-Current major city) must be clearly defined and interrelationships between them have to be thoroughly studied and analyzed.

Priority for Investments ,funds , infrastructure and services provision and upgrading programs should be in first place provided to New growth poles , New relieving poles ,rural areas.

Construction on Agricultural Land should be strictly Prohibited.

Strategic planning should prioritize connecting urban and rural settlements ,current and new settlements through rail road networks and  high ways.

Sustainable urbanization grid consists of a hierarchy of urban settlements (Current city – Growth poles (500 thousand residents)- relieving poles (50 thousand residents)). This hierarchy provides diversity of urbanization pattern.

Sustainable urbanization grid depends on transit-oriented development. Rail road connects all the points of the grid (Growth pole –Relieving pole –rural area-Current major city).

          Urban settlements form suggested by Sustainable urbanization grid have clear defined boundaries by  belts of green or natural areas, or sustainable energy production  farms surrounding them. This will achieve the containment of their future urban growth.

Sustainable urbanization grid represents a sustainable spatial development represented by the economic and regional  interrelationships between the different points of the grid (Growth pole –Relieving pole –rural area-Current major city).

References:

1.                World urbanization prospects 2014.[Electronic resource] - URL: http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/Highlights/WUP2014-Highlights.pdf

2.                UN HABITAT: NUMBER OF SLUM DWELLERS GROWS TO 863 MILLION.[Electronic resource] - URL: https://www.cordaid.org/en/news/un-habitat-number-slum-dwellers-grows-863-million/

3.                Ahmad, Amira S.R.  Informal Urban Settlements and Intervention Strategies to Approach them “An applied study on Amrawy Informal Settlement, Alexandria” .//A thesis Presented to Graduate School ,Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Of Master of Science In Architecture. Alexandria :Publishing house of Faculty of Engineering Alexandria University, Egypt, October 2010. [Electronic resource] - URL:  http://srv4.eulc.edu.eg/eulc_v5/Libraries/Thesis/BrowseThesisPages.aspx?fn=PublicDrawThesis&BibID=11021032

4.                UN system task team on the POST-2015 UN development agenda :Sustainable urbanization thematic think piece ,UN Habitat.[Electronic resource] - URL: file:///F:/phd/1industerial%20cities/newtwons/18_urbanization.pdf

5.                Ahmad, Amira S.R., Dimitieva N.N. New towns in UK and New towns in Egypt ,experiences and lessons.//Materials of XI international research and practice conference: Modern European science: Modern information technologies construction and architecture, Science and education Ltd : Sheffield, UK ,June 30-July 7 ,2014.P-p.62-68. [Electronic resource] - URL: http://www.rusnauka.com/21_SEN_2014/Stroitelstvo/2_174854.doc.htm

6.                Sustainable mobility //International union of rail ways, October 2014. [Electronic resource] - URL: http://www.uic-sustainability.org/spip.php?rubrique9