This study examines the influence of Arab-Islamic cultural memory on the spatial planning and design of streets within Palestinian refugee camps, with a particular focus on Nablus City. The research aims to ascertain how cultural elements, emblematic of collective memories among the camp residents, are incorporated into the urban redevelopment of these areas. A historical analysis of street design methodologies forms the basis of this inquiry, facilitating a comparative understanding of contemporary and traditional street layouts. Two case studies were selected to perform architectural surveys and field observations, illuminating commonalities between traditional and modern street designs. It was observed that the street configurations within the refugee camps not only mirror the collective memory of the Palestinian populace but also align harmoniously with the historic urban fabric of Nablus City. Contemporary street designs in these camps exhibit a plethora of architectural, visual, and cultural parallels with their traditional counterparts. These similarities include an organically developed street network, characterized by spontaneous growth and a privacy-oriented hierarchy of street types. Additionally, the serpentine nature of these streets, bending to adapt to the environment, further underscores their organic character. Privacy is a key design consideration, evident in features such as elevated windows, shaded balconies, and minimal openings in narrow passageways. The principal conclusion drawn from this study is the pivotal role historic urban models should play in guiding the development of refugee camps, particularly in the formation of street networks and patterns. It is posited that, with appropriate visual enhancements, the existing structure of many streets within these camps is well-suited to meet both social and aesthetic needs. In terms of expansion, an in-depth exploration of the socio-cultural implications of street design on community interaction and identity in these refugee camps could enrich the study. Investigating how residents perceive and interact with these spaces, and how these interactions shape community bonds and cultural identity, would provide a holistic understanding of the impact of urban design on refugee communities. Additionally, analyzing the role of contemporary urban planning policies in facilitating or hindering the preservation of cultural memory within these settings would be valuable. This could involve examining policy frameworks and their effectiveness in integrating traditional urban elements into modern planning practices.
Informal settlements, home to a significant segment of the global population, are often overlooked by policymakers and urban planners, resulting in inadequate infrastructure, limited access to essential services, and precarious living conditions. This research explores the capacity of urban governance to enhance the resilience of such settlements, with a focus on Jafarabad in Kermanshah. Data was collected through questionnaires and observations, and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The latter included multivariate regression analysis, one-sample t-tests, and Spearman’s rank correlation tests. The analysis revealed a positive and statistically significant correlation between effective urban governance and the resilience of informal settlements, as evidenced in Jafarabad. All governance-related variables showed significant correlations with resilience, except for those pertaining to the rule of law, justice, and fairness. The predictive accuracy of the selected governance variables was 83%, highlighting the critical role of effective governance in fostering resilience. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating robust urban governance frameworks to bolster resilience in informal settlements, providing essential insights for policymakers, urban planners, and communities committed to enhancing sustainability and living conditions in these areas.
Waste management poses a significant challenge in large urban areas, demanding meticulous logistical planning and scientific insight to balance environmental impact and cost-effectiveness. Ali Mendjeli, a newly established city in Constantine, Algeria, exemplifies this challenge without a mapped and documented inventory. This study employs a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to develop a management application aimed at identifying key factors in solid waste management. Traditional waste management practices typically rely on manual methods prone to incomplete or inaccurate outcomes. In contrast, GIS tools facilitate the creation, organization, and modeling of comprehensive spatially referenced databases, integrating data on waste collection operators and disposal points hosted in cloud computing environments. This approach enhances precision and efficiency in waste management decision-making processes.
A bibliometric analysis has been conducted to contextualize the research on economic development in urban areas and clarify its scholarly purpose. Data were retrieved from the Scopus database, covering publications from 1973 to May 2024, using the keywords "Economic Development" and "City," resulting in the identification of 475 documents for analysis. The findings reveal longitudinal trends in the literature on economic development in cities, demonstrating a significant upward trend since 2000, interspersed with fluctuations. The study examines various aspects, including publication types, subject areas, leading publishing platforms, global perspectives, organizational contributions, prominent authors, and thematic regions, providing a comprehensive overview of the scholarly engagement with this domain. The dynamic interplay between academic inquiry and contextual factors is underscored, advocating for continued scholarly vigilance and adaptive methodologies to effectively navigate the evolving discourse on urban economic development. The insights gained contribute to a nuanced understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of urban economic development research, highlighting the importance of diverse publication formats, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international knowledge exchange in addressing complex urban challenges and fostering sustainable urban futures.
Despite its historical significance as a landmark and heritage scenic spot, Dala Hill faces significant threats from both natural factors and human activities. The hill is increasingly subjected to erosion, while the surrounding community encroaches upon it in various ways. These issues are primarily attributed to the absence of proper management and inadequate conservation planning. This study explores the challenges encountered in the management and planning of urban cultural landscapes, identifying the typology of constraints and proposing viable tools to inform decision-making on natural landscape heritage in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. A value-based planning and management scheme is established, aiming to preserve the natural and cultural heritage, which positively impacts the well-being of local communities and bolsters the economic prospects of Kano and Nigeria as a whole. These efforts align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly targets 11.3 and 11.4, which emphasize the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage. A qualitative research methodology, incorporating a review and explanatory approach, is employed, alongside field observations that examine the challenges experienced by the host community and researchers. The study reveals that the hill sustains minimal flora and fauna due to its intense land-cover and deserted character, with scant vegetation confined to higher elevations within the Kano region. The presence of such vegetation indicates ongoing erosion towards the lower hill levels. Physical and environmental aspects, alongside cultural and environmental management, are identified as key challenges. Poor conservation efficacy, inadequate policies and legislation for heritage and protected areas, and a shortage of funding are highlighted as principal problems. Strategies suggested for conserving and restoring heritage sites include increased investment in Historic Urban Landscape (HUL), research implementation, and legal interventions, among others.
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