Spatial Analysis of Housing Indicators for Informal Settlements: the case study of Informal Settlements in Tabriz Metropolis, 1996 and 2016

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Urban Planning, University of Gilan, Rasht, Iran

2 Department of Geography and Rural Planning, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

3 Department of Islamic Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran

10.22098/gsd.2025.15220.1062

Abstract

A B S T R A C T
Informal settlement is the prominently dominating factor which contributes urbanization and provides the city's poor people with housing. In fact, these settlements are unreasonable and disorganized agglomeration places for low income people who live in deprived areas of the cities. Given the importance of housing, especially in informal settlements, the current research intends to outline the changes in housing indicators from margin to context and vice versa, especially in informal settlements of Tabriz metropolis. A descriptive-evaluative methodology was used together with a field- documentary method applied for data collection. Here, in order to analyze the data and weighting of housing indicators (data layers), ANP model was used with Super Decision software. Also, GIS software was applied for generating maps. Additionally, the statistical community of the research included informal settlements of Tabriz metropolis. The findings together with consideration of changes in housing conditions for the statistical blocks of the informal settlements indicated that, of 1318 blocks, 43/17% didn't change, 14/19% changed from deprived category to wealthy, 7/36% changed from medium to wealthy level, 15/85% changed from deprived to medium level, 5/16% changed from wealthy to medium level, 7/21% changed from medium to deprived level, and 7/06% changed from wealthy to deprived category. Generally speaking, the results showed that, of all blocks, 37/4% promoted, 19/43% plummeted while 43/17% remained unchanged. Therefore, it could be contended that the housing indicators for informal settlements promoted, especially with a shift toward urban contexts.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
One of the most important symbols of recognizing the informal settlement is the structural features and indicators of housing. Given that housing, and poverty emerged as informal settling, the deficiencies in housing plans contribute to low income and their tendency toward informal settlement. This reflects dissatisfaction with the housing needs of low-income individuals which hasn't been regarded within the formal and unplanned urban setting while also paving the way for establishing disorganized settlements across the margins and distant locations to ignore the legal limits.
Given the importance of housing and informal settlements, the current research intends to better understand housing conditions in informal settlements in the Tabriz metropolis. As the national development started with industrialization in the early 1960s, the formation of informal settling in Iran and Tabrizco occurred. This form of settling speeded up overwhelmingly in Tabriz. The most important textures included the northeastern, southern, and southwestern parts of the metropolis which have yet to be extended with their unique mechanism. The areas covered by such settlements involved 400 acres with a population of more than 450000 individuals.  Physically, the settlements have been built using personalized and unconventional methods which gave the city an unpleasant appearance. Currently, the settlements involve 70000 housing units which attracted newcomers.  They account for 30% of the city population. These settlements now face many problems related to housing and this demands spatial analysis of housing indicators for them. Concerning the necessity of the current research and its objectives, it seeks to answer the following question:
Have the developments on physical indicators (housing indicators) in Tabriz's informal settlements from margin to context improved by urban policies (in 1996 and 2016)?
 
Methodology
The informal settlements in the Tabriz metropolis mostly extend four zones including north (neighbourhoods like Yousefabad, Seilab, Seilab Ghoshghaneh, Ahmadabad, Idehlo, Ismaeil Baghal, Louti Ebrahim, big and little Manba (reservoir), Chehel Metri (40 meters), (Ghorbani), south (Maralan, Taleghani), northwestern ( Tabriz's big park), southwestern (Laleh and Akhmaghieh).
 
Results and discussion
Investigation of the changes in conditions in statistical blocks of informal settlements based on housing indicators indicated that, of 1318 statistical blocks, 43.17% didn't change, 14.19% changed from deprived to privileged category, 7.36% changed from medium to privileged category, 15.85% changed from deprived to medium category, 5.16% changed from privileged to medium category, 7.21% changed from medium to deprived category and 7.06% changed from privileged to deprived category. Generally speaking, the results indicated that of all the blocks, 37.4% improved, 19. % plummeted and 43.17% remained unchanged.
 Also, the results from statistical data and findings of the research on housing indicators in 1996 and 2016 showed that the density households in residentunitsunit changed from individualsidual toindividualsvidual: the densindividualsividual for resiunitsial unit changed individualsndividual to 5.2 individual: density of rooms for residential units changed from 1.9 rooms to 2.1 rooms: density of individuals for rooms changed from 2.76 individuals to 2.43 indAn averages. Average number of rooms for each household changed from 1.63 to 1.80: average area changed from 93 meters to 81 meters. For the quality of residential units, increased demolished and modified residential units were served together with reduced rebuilt units: the age of the buildings changed from 40 to 43 years: unlawful acquisition of lands changed from 53.47% to 68.32%: being privileged of facilities and urban infrastructures changed partially: the size of households changed from 5.2 individuals to 4.3 individuals. The area of the land for residential units changed from 127 to 110 meters.
Therefore, it should be noted that the housing indicators for household density in terms of the residential unit, the density of individuals for a residential unit, the density of rooms for residential units, the density of individuals in rooms, the average number of rooms for each household, unlawful acquisition of land and size of households improved since 1996 to 2016. The privilege for the average area, quality of the residential units, age of buildings and area of residential land reduced while the privilege of facilities and urban structures didn't change.
 
Conclusion
In relation to the special logic of spatial distribution of housing poverty, the cheapness of the accessible lands and houses for newcomers to the cities who seek well-being in Tabriz metropolis could be regarded as.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.

Keywords

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Journal of Geography and Spatial Development
Volume 1, Issue 2
June 2024
Pages 63-77

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