SPATIAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC

FACTORS:
Mutual Implications in Informal
Areas
By
Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed
Supervised By
Prof. Mohamed A. Salheen
A. Prof. Marwa A. Khalifa
Prof. Johannes Hamhaber
Prof. Christine Kohlert

Introduction

PROBLEM DEFINITION

Cairos Deprivation index (according to

UNDP, 2008).

Although located in strategic

and key economic locations,
many informal areas show signs
of social pathologies and slum
like conditions. The people
living in these informal areas
have poor socio-economic
conditions and did not get a
significant benefit from their
vital locations on the long run.

This indicator was built as follows (UNDP Egypt, 2005;

2008; UNDP, 2010):
DI = [1/5 (P13 + P23 + P33 + P43 + P53) ]1/3
Where:
P1 = Probability at birth of no surviving to age 60
P2 = Adults lacking functional literacy skills
P3 = Rate of long-term unemployment
P4 = Population below income poverty line
P5 = Gap in living standards

Questions
One key question that has no simple answer is examined:
What is the relationship between the socio-economic segregation of a settlement and
its overall spatial Configuration?
And sub questions are:
What are the forces that influenced the spatial development of Cairo through history?
And to what extent such forces contribute to Cairos spatial division?
To what extent are deprived areas spatially integrated at a neighborhood as well as city
level?
Is the distribution and rates of commercial activities within informal settlements
mainly driven by the spatial composition of the area itself? Or is it more related to the
overall structure of the city?
To what extent do the locals assimilate into their neighborhood and the city as a
whole?

The Approach
One day, Churchill said: First we shape our
buildings; thereafter they shape us.

- Urban form
- Land use
- Density
- Legibility

- Informal approaches
and strategies

State

- Urban approaches
and architectural
movements
- Development
strategies

- Directions of urban
growth

- Politics
- Housing policies

Profession

- Building regulations

Spatial
configuration

Behavioral and
Social
Interaction
Patterns

- Compactness
- Urban quality
- Social solidarity
- Safety

- Social structure
- Social network
- Economy
- Religion

- Pedestrian
movement

- Ethnicity

- Activities

Society

Major Planning
Transformations
Historical Background of Planning
Practices in Cairo

The First Muslim Settlements

Ayubbids

Fatimid Cairo

Mamluk

Khedivial Cairo

1999-2013 (according to NASA Landsat)

On desert land
On Agricultural land

Informal areas formation in Cairo

the main socio-economic forces (i.e. poverty,
migration,
changing
economies,
rapid
urbanization, etc.) are the main causes for
informal areas formation.
Most migrants were young men with simple
needs which helped them to share rented flats
or rooms in the historic districts. Migrants
resided also in the less attracting areas (e.g.
steep slopes, behind Egypts railway station, and
villages absorbed in the cities' fabrics through
rapid urban expansion).
. After saving some money, some migrants
living in historic parts were able to buy and build
upon lands located in the outskirts of the city
where land prices were cheaper than the central
districts.
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Mini: 0.3352
Maxi: 1.0679
Mean: 0.6945

1517
A Mohamed, A.

Angular global Integration of Cairo

Mini: 0.3558
Maxi: 1.1964
Mean: 0.7341

1744
Ain Shams University

Mini: 0.2505
Maxi: 0.9144
Mean: 0.5414

1809

1888
Angular global Integration of Cairo

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Khedivial Cairo

Old city 1900-1920

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

1920
A Mohamed, A.

Angular global Integration of Cairo

Ain Shams University

1958

Angular global Integration of Cairo

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Morphological Analyses
The Formal City versus Informal Settlements

The model highlights

the significance of the

west-east corridor.
The green and blue
Mohandseen
Nasr City

patches of segregated
settlements correspond

Manshiet Nasser

with the location of

informal and deteriorated
areas.
These patches show
large fragmentations of

Angular global Integration of Cairo 2012

A Mohamed, A.

the city.
Ain Shams University

4
3
5

6
1

2
1 Mohamed Ali St.
2 El-Sikka El-Gedida St.
3 Al-Muiz St.
4 Oraby St.
5 Abdel-Khaliq Tharwat St.
6 Sherif Pasha St.
Mini: 0.2875
Maxi: 1.2602
Mean: 0.7975

3
4
5

Cemeteries

A Mohamed, A.

1 Ramsis St.
2 Shubra
3 Zamalek
4 Garden City
5 Rawdah
6 Heliopolis
Mini: 0.3887
Maxi: 1.4303
Mean: 0.8786

Ain Shams University

Mini: 0.4035
Maxi: 1.6773
Mean: 1.0023

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

2
3

1
Mohandseen

1 Ramsis
2 Ahmed Helmy St.
3 26th of July
4 Al-Tahrir
5 Abdin

4
5
Cemeteries

A Mohamed, A.

Mini: 0.3185
Maxi: 1.4212
Mean: 0.8616

Ain Shams University

Angular global Integration of Cairo

2012

Morphological Analyses

Integration R1200

Integration R800

Informal areas have dense internal spatial structure, which tends to form a

polarized pattern that stands alone in isolation from the surrounding areas.

Integration at radius 400 meters

Mini: 2.0645
Maxi: 2304
Mean: 126.821

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Angular choice Rn

Mini: 0.0
Maxi: 1.5649
Mean: 0.5186

Mini: 0.0
Maxi: 1.6066
Mean: 0.5313

1744
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Angular choice Rn

Mini: 0.0
Maxi: 1.5621
Mean: 0.8441

Mini: 0.0
Maxi: 1.5731
Mean: 0.4304

1809
A Mohamed, A.

1888
Ain Shams University

Angular choice Rn

Mini: 0.0
Maxi: 1.5816
Mean: 0.8472

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Mini: 0.0
Maxi: 1.6446
Mean: 0.8958

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Angular choice Rn

Mini: 0.0
Maxi: 1.6018
Mean: 0.8752

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Mini: 0.0
Maxi: 1.5576
Mean: 0.6384

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

The Formal City versus Informal Settlements

Cairo-Ismailia Agricultural Rd.

Al-Marg
Shubra
Al-Kheima

Cairo-Ismailia Rd.
Cairo-Suez Rd.

Ezbet Bekhit
Abu Qatada

Boulaq
Al-Dakrour

No morphological

difference can be
detected between formal

Imbaba

Ring road

Manshiet
Nasser

and informal settlements

Ezbet
Al-Haggana

Al-Nasr St.

Ring road

Many informal areas

are located along one or

Al-Omrania

more definable edges,

Al-Bsateen
Ezbet Al-Nasr

Mini: 0.3010
Maxi: 10.3561
Mean: 4.4513

which tend to be
highways.

Angular global Choice Rn (Log(Ch+2))

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Angular Choice R1200m

A Mohamed, A.

Mini: 0.3010
Maxi: 6.7229
Mean: 2.9232

Ain Shams University

Mini: 0.3010
Maxi: 6.2942
Mean: 2.6806
Angular Choice R800m
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Angular Choice R400m

A Mohamed, A.

Mini: 0.3010
Maxi: 6.2942
Mean: 2.6806

Ain Shams University

Mini: 4.9762
Maxi: 2461.41
Mean: 530.432
Angular integration R1200
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Mini: 4.4308
Maxi: 1364.91
Mean: 310.234
Angular integration R800
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Mini: 2.0645
Maxi: 2304
Mean: 126.821
Angular integration R500
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Top 10% shortest paths in Cairo metropolitan area overlapped

with the location of informal and deteriorated areas (black
zones).
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Mini: 0.3010
Maxi: 6.2942
Mean: 2.6806

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Morphological Analyses
The Most Integrated Areas

1517
A Mohamed, A.

1744

1809
Ain Shams University

Morphological Analyses
The Most Integrated Areas

1888
A Mohamed, A.

1920
Ain Shams University

Morphological Analyses
The Most Integrated Areas

1958

A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Morphological Analyses

Angular Segment Analysis

showing the 10% most
integrated lines of the
study area.
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

The relationship of socio-economic and

spatial variables

Deprivation Index (DI) per

neighbourhood
This indicator was built as follows (UNDP Egypt, 2005; 2008; UNDP, 2010):
DI = [1/5 (P13 + P23 + P33 + P43 + P53) ]1/3
Where:
P1 = Probability at birth of no surviving to age 60
P2 = Adults lacking functional literacy skills
P3 = Rate of long-term unemployment
P4 = Population below income poverty line
P5 = Gap in living standards
A Mohamed, A.

Angular Global Integration Rn per

neighbourhood

Ain Shams University

Correlating social and spatial factors

R = -0.3356 p<.0001**
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Excluding neighbourhoods comprising districts of Boulaq (blue),

Maadi (green) and Al-Nozha (red)

R = -0.4822 p<.0001**
A Mohamed, A.

Ain Shams University

Description of The Case Study Areas

Ezbet Bekhit

Abu Qatada

Ezbet Al-Nasr

Activity

Configuration

Movement

Movement Observation

Pedestrian movement observed on a weekday overlapped with angular integration

Rn

Movement Pattern Analyses

Space-People Analysis Ezbet Bekhit
Movement pattern

Integration

R2

p-value

0.7984**

0.6375

0.0056

0.7952**

0.6324

0.0060

Movement pattern
R

R2

p-value

Choice Rn

0.6618*

0.4379

0.0371

Choice

0.7513*

0.5645

0.0122

0.6508*

0.4233

0.0416

Rn
Integration
R2000m
Integration

R2000m
0.8389**

0.7037

0.0024

R1200m
Integration

Choice
R1200m

0.8044**

0.6470

0.0050

Choice R800m 0.5551

0.3082

0.0957

0.6944*

0.4822

0.0259

Choice R400m 0.5551

0.3082

0.0957

R800m
Integration
R400m
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).

Pedestrian movement observed on a weekday overlapped with angular integration R800 m.

Space-People Analysis Ezbet Al-Nasr

To-Movement

Movement pattern

Through-

R2

p-value

Integration Rn

0.2457

0.0604

0.4938

Integration

0.4739

0.2246

0.5698

Movement pattern
R

R2

p-value

Choice Rn

0.4790

0.2294

0.1613

0.1664

Choice R2000m

0.6063

0.3676

0.0631

0.3247

0.0855

Choice R1200m

0.6421*

0.4122

0.0453

0.6514*

0.4243

0.0413

Choice R800m

0.6679*

0.4461

0.0348

0.6743*

0.4547

0.0325

Choice R400m

0.6679*

.4461

0.0348

Movement

R2000m
Integration
R1200m
Integration
R800m
Integration
R400m
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).

Pedestrian movement observed on a weekday overlapped with angular integration Rn

Space-People Analysis Abu Qatada

Movement pattern

Movement pattern

R2

p-value

R2

p-value

Integration Rn

0.6454*

0.4165

0.0439

Choice Rn

0.5219

0.2724

0.1218

Integration

0.7009*

0.4912

0.0240

Choice R2000m

0.5135

0.2637

0.1290

0.6646*

0.4417

0.0360

Choice R1200m

0.4766

0.2271

0.1638

0.2570

0.0660

0.4736

Choice R800m

0.4364

0.1905

0.2073

0.1583

0.0251

0.6623

Choice R400m

0.4364

0.1905

0.2073

R2000m
Integration
R1200m
Integration
R800m
Integration

R400m
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).

The Correlation Between Commercial Rate and Spatial Parameters

Angular Choice R2000 m

The Correlation Between Commercial Rate and Spatial Parameters

Angular Choice R2000 m

The Correlation Between

Commercial Rate and
Spatial Parameters

Angular Choice R2000 m

The Correlation Between Commercial Rate and Spatial Parameters

True commercial ratio

Ezbet Al-Nasr

Abu Qatada

Ezbet Bekhit

R Square

Correlation

P-value

Choice Rn

0.2385

0.4884*

0.0397

Choice R2000

0.2453

0.4953*

0.0366

Choice R1200

0.3050

0.5523*

0.0175

Choice R800

0.2348

0.4846*

0.0415

Choice Rn

0.5251

0.7246**

0.0002

Choice R2000

0.5329

0.7300**

0.0002

Choice R1200

0.3847

0.6202**

0.0027

Choice R800

0.2964

0.5444*

0.0107

Choice Rn

0.0069

0.08311

0.7872

Choice R2000

0.007995

0.089413

0.7714

Choice R1200

0.00067

-0.02588

0.9331

Choice R800

0.000675

-0.02599

0.9328

The relationship between the true commercial ratios and the local
and global choices in the case study areas

The Correlation Between Commercial Rate and Spatial Parameters

Overlay Plot

Overlay Plot
100

100

90

90

90

80
70
60
50
40
30
20

80
70
60
50
40
30
20

10

10

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90 100

% of lowest accessibility buildings

% of commercial buildings

100
% of commercial buildings

% of commercial buildings

Overlay Plot

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90 100

% of lowest accessibility buildings

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90 100

% of lowest accessibility buildings

The Lorenz curve of commercial activity distribution amongst all the plots in Ezbet Bekhit (left), Ezbet Al-Nasr
(middle) and Abu Qatada (right) based on the rank of spatial accessibility rank

Ezbet Bekhit
Top 10% (Choice 2000m) 31.768

Ezbet Al-Nasr
13.6824

Abu Qatada
15.1515

38.5135

37.1901

56.0811

61.5702

Com.
Top 20% (Choice 2000m) 56.630
Com.
Top 30% (Choice 2000m) 73.204
Com.

Survey Form
Basic information /socio-economic characteristics
( gender, age, origin, marital status, education, occupation, workplace,
length of residence)
House Data ( tenure, no. of rooms, unit size)
External social network (friends outside the area, distance, frequency
of visit)
Sense of Community

Social connections (acquaintances within the neighborhood and

within urban block, frequency of visit)

Mutual Concerns (caring about the neighborhood, the nature of the

relationship between neighbors, co-dependence, degree of support)
Reasons of Clustering
Problems and advantages of living in informal areas.

Socio-economic Profile

Ezbet Bekhit

Socio-economic Profile

Ezbet Al-Nasr

Socio-economic Profile

Abu Qatada

The greatest proportion of respondents is immigrants from

Upper Egypt and Delta governorates. However, most of
them were born in Cairo.
Illiteracy and unemployment rate s are relatively high.
The majority of inhabitants are self-employed in informal
sector of economy.
Their workplaces either in the ground floors of their
dwellings or at a walkable distance from there.

Social Ties and sense of community

When asked about the social class of their external close friends, the majority of
respondents indicated that they belong to the same social class. On the other
hand, new residents and educated people showed less assimilation with the
hosting communities and stated that they have more external relations than
internal.

The spatially segregated disadvantaged areas were also socially excluded in

terms of social network and socio-economic profile.

Social Ties and sense of community

Variables of gender, origin, length of residency and ownership are noticed to

influence number of acquaintances, feeling of safety and sense of community.

Males are more likely to know more people and to have higher feeling of safety
than females.

Owners and long duration residents have stronger internal social ties and more
numbers of acquaintances than new law tenants and new dwellers.

Education correlated positively with the inhabitants'' wish to leave. This means
that there will be a lack in more skilled people upon the time.

07.1 Review of Principal Findings

Forces of Change:
Poverty, migration,
rapid urbanisation

Spatial Conditions:
physical segregation,
insufficient movement
network, degradation,
densification

Socio-economic
conditions: social
exclusion,
deprivation

The Vicious circle of urban decline

Forces of Change:
regeneration,
intervention,
investment

Spatial Conditions:
integration,
development

Socio-economic
conditions:
consolidation,
improvement,
viability

The Hypothetic virtuous circle of

urban regeneration

Review of Principal Findings

Random urban development has disrupted the overall continuity of the urban form. It
has absorbed core villages and suburbs and treated different parts of the city as
isolated objects.
Pushing poor people to the periphery has brought about a mushrooming of vacant
and underused lands in the urban core.
Analyzing the spatial accessibility of Cairo shows that many informal areas are wholly
divorced from their wider urban context.
Physical segregation denies people their basic right to the city, but it also starves the
city of its lifeblood and tears apart its social fabric.

Review of Principal Findings

Urban areas, as they grow, develop two types of structure: an internal or

local structure, which facilitates the local functioning of the area; and an
external or global structure, which enables them to interact productively
and efficiently with the rest of the city (Hillier, 1996, pp. 3434).
The findings of this thesis contribute to support the theory of the natural
movement economic process.

Realms of Contribution
Methodological Aspects
The building of an approach to study the relationship between space and socioeconomic processes in informal areas in Cairo is important contribution. At city scale,
it unifies various insights and methodologies from sociological, economic, geographic
and urban planning theories and approach into a holistic approach for better
understanding of mutual relations between space and society.
At a settlement scale, the research endeavored to link insights from urban and
economic perspectives.
Normalizing the commercial rate in the settlements, through using banding method, as
well as employing the Gini Coecient provide reliable tools for investigating the
relationship between spatial parameters and land use distribution.

Realms of Contribution
Policy Aspects
Location of informal settlements should be connected to movement thoroughfares.
Sub-centers of informal areas should be linked with each other within the wider urban
context in order to not only transport income from formal areas but also to restore
urban livability of the metropolitan.
Urban land use should generally be planned on the basis of spatial accessibility that
minimizes time consuming travels and maximizes economic gain and social
interactions.
Identifying physical barriers and gaps should be seen as a first step in the process of
urban restructuring. Those not local to an area will surely be encouraged to use it more
were these barriers to be removed. Improving connectivity in this way is likely to
generate new movement patterns that will draw in new economies, stimulate
investment and so stimulate the virtuous cycle of regeneration.
Integrating configurative approach and, social and economic thinking into master
planning and design decisions will facilitate creating the right balance between
physical and social systems and this in turn will enhance a better wellbeing and
quality of life.

THANK YOU

Normalised angular Integration Rn

Mini: 0.3720
Maxi: 0.9225
Mean: 1.3666