Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
implemented; (b) urban sprawl is minimised, and more compact towns and
cities served by public transport are developed; (c) non-renewable resources
are sensibly used and conserved; (d) renewable resources are not depleted;
(e) the energy used and the waste produced per unit of output or consump-
tion is reduced; (f) the waste produced is recycled or disposed of in ways
that do not damage the wider environment; and (g) the ecological footprint
of towns and cities is reduced [3].
Although cities in the developed world grow in a planned pattern, fol-
lowing one code or the other, compact or dispersed, those in the developing
world mostly grow informally. This informal growth poses an additional
challenge to the urbanisation process itself. The UN-Habitat agenda stresses
that cities, in their quest for development, should consider social aspects.
These aspects are (a) equal access to and fair and equitable provision of
services; (b) social integration by prohibiting discrimination and offer-
ing opportunities and physical space to encourage positive interaction;
(c) gender and disability sensitive planning and management; and (d) the
prevention, reduction and elimination of violence and crime [3].
This chapter addresses the issue of informal urbanisation in the develop-
ing world and compares it to sustainability criteria as specified by the new
trends of sustainable urbanism. The chapter highlights the green aspects of
this form of urbanisation in the developing world, with a special reference
to Egypt, as opposed to the dominant idea of unsafe, informal and illegal
areas. These sustainability potentials can be the groundwork for upgrad-
ing programmes in addition to the provision of shelter, water, sanitation and
services.
4.2 Western Urbanisation and the Call for
Sustainable Urban Development
Urban settlements in the developed world are expanding mainly by subur-
banisation and the creation of new settlements. There is much debate about
how to urbanise sustainably—how to combat the disadvantages of current
planning theories ruling urban expansion. There are mainly two trends or
poles driving urban planning and growth—compact and dispersed devel-
opment. Currently there are several theories and practices that are leading
urban design and planning in the Western hemisphere; these are new urban-
ism, smart growth, transit-oriented development and sustainable urbanism.
They all share common aspects and principles (as discussed in Chapter 3).
They all aspire to achieve better energy efficiency and to provide improved
quality of life for city dwellers. This chapter will discuss the relationship
between these aspects of sustainable urban design and planning and infor-
mal areas in the developing countries.
