Socio-spatial differentiation and residential segregation in Delhi: a question of scale?

This paper focuses on the pattern of social-spatial differentiation and segmentation of the metropolitan area of Delhi. The main objective is to analyse the mechanisms of residential segregation and the factors that explain it both at the micro- and macro-level. In the context of the Indian society and its caste system traditionally associated with strong social and spatial segregation, we try to appraise the extent to which the metropolitanization process in Delhi engenders original forms of spatial segmentation or perpetuates and strengthens the traditional forms of socio-spatial divisions. At the level of the global spatial organization of the urban agglomeration, our objective is twofold: to analyse the factors that shaped the urban landscape and introduced spatial discontinuity, from physical barriers to the different historic periods and the impact of town planning; to analyse the residential pattern of different segments of the urban population, in order to detect whether certain economic and socio-cultural attributes generate a pattern of segregation. We then pursue a more detailed investigation at the level of a zone, based on the case study of Mayur Vihar-Trilokpuri in east Delhi. We analyse the residential practices developed by different socio-economic groups, their strategies as regards the occupation of the geographical and economic space, their tendency to residential clustering that leads to a pattern of social segregation at the level of the neighbourhood. In this perspective, the links between the urban policies at the macro-level and the individuals’ residential practices at the micro-level are also examined.     

Income segregation,income inequality and mortality in North American metropolitan areas

There is a large sociological literature on racial- class-, and economically- based segregation in the United States and there is some evidence that residential segregation by income may have deleterious health consequences for residents of large U.S. cities. The health consequences of segregation in Canadian metropolitan areas, however, remain unknown and the comparison with the U.S. is always compelling. In this paper, we investigate the hypothesis that residential segregation by income may be associated with mortality in Canadian and U.S. metropolitan areas. Given the strong relationship between individual level socioeconomic status and health, it follows that metropolitan areas which isolate individuals economically could produce conditions that severely limit the life chances and therefore the health chances of the most vulnerable. To investigate the association between residential segregation by income and population health, we examined the relationship between working-age mortality and Jargowsky's (1996) neighbourhood sorting index (NSI) for a large group of North American metropolitan areas. We found a relationship between increased segregation and increased mortality for U.S. metropolitan areas but no such relationship for Canadian metropolitan areas. We also determined that income segregation could not be considered in isolation from income inequality – that, in effect, income inequality provides the propensity for meaningful segregation to occur. We further demonstrated the importance of considering both income inequality and income segregation together, especially when the analysis is intended to compare metropolitan areas. We conclude with a discussion of the need for an improved measure of segregation to better reflect the theoretical arguments for the relationship between concentration of poverty and affluence and population health.     

Applied social area analysis: Defining and evaluating areas for urban neighbourhood councils

Urban neighbourhood councils, neither statutorily established nor widely initiated in England, are seen to possess a number of advantages over existing forms of representative participation in relation to the equitable distribution of resources. In Portsmouth a community area perception survey and principal components analysis of census data were undertaken to produce synthesised ‘best fit’ social sub-areas upon which to base neighbourhood councils. These areas were then analysed in terms of their relevance and appropriateness, terms specifically defined, along four scale dimensions. An original contention that for maximum effectiveness neighbourhood councils should be established to cover all urban residential areas was confounded by the manifest irrelevance of the neighbourhood council concept in certain socio-spatial contexts.     

Population density pattern and change in the City of Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

This paper examines and assesses changes in the population density pattern in the city of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia where the city has undergone dramatic changes in its physical as well as its social structure. Analysis of data revealed a decline in population density at an exponential rate from the city center with variation between city sectors and zones. The city's rapid horizontal expansion and dispersal of population is the result of factors such as increases in city population and in size and number of single family dwellings, widing of streets, rise in income and residential mobility rates, mass use of automobile, change in family size, zoning regulations, leapfrogging, and huge governmental city development projects. The resulting low population density pattern made it difficult for city officials to provide necessary services and facilities for the dispersed residential development. This paper recommends that city officials make real efforts and workable programs to stop or slow this uneconomical growth by improving quality of life in the central areas to make them residentially desirable by some city residents and reduce the high residential turnover the central area has experienced in last years, and to centralize peripheral growth by planning for self-sufficient satellite communities in outer areas.     

Social geography,spatial structure and social structure

This paper adopts a positivist approach to social geography, which is viewed as a study of the two-way relationship between spatial structure and social structure. This relationship is examined in cities in contemporary Britain and the United States. The concept of social structure is discussed in the first section. It is suggested, after Blau, that social structure may be delineated by parameters which demarcate the lines of differentiation among people, created in their social interaction. Area of residence may be considered such a parameter. Social structure comprises a complex configuration of these parameters. In general, coinciding parameters limit social mobility and lead to an atomised society. The processes by which social structure takes on spatial expression are discussed in the second section. The salience of various parameters of social structure in a spatial setting is assessed first. Behaviouralist, managerialist and structuralist approaches to residential differentiation are reviewed. It is argued that most insight will come from studies of the interaction between groups of households and the major institutions of the housing market in the context of characteristics of the housing supply. The impact of neighbourhood on social structure is examined in the third section. The role of propinquity in social interaction is discussed along with the role of neighbourhood as a status symbol. Individuals may change their position along structural parameters as a consequence of their residential location. Residential segregation is also a means, through its role in circumscribing contacts, by which the continuation of the stratification system is ensured in the next generation. In conclusion, it is noted that the isolation of racial minorities in the disadvantaged parts of the city poses a danger to social stability.     

Multiple disadvantage of older migrants and native Dutch older adults in deprived neighbourhoods in Amsterdam,the Netherlands: a life course perspective

It is commonly suggested that older non-Western migrants have a higher risk of experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage than native older adults. However, few researchers have studied the life situation and urban conditions of older migrants in relation to each other and in comparison to native older adults with a similar socioeconomic status. This paper investigates whether different groups of older non-Western migrants (of Surinamese, Moroccan and Turkish origin) in deprived neighbourhoods in Amsterdam experience similar or different levels of multiple disadvantage compared to socioeconomically similar native Dutch older residents living in the same neighbourhoods, and explores how multiple disadvantage can be explained in relation to life and residential histories and neighbourhood changes. Analysis of 85 in-depth interviews indicates that all categories of low-income older adults experienced certain levels of disadvantage, although they evaluated their circumstances using different frames of reference. Regarding health, both native-born and migrant older people experienced chronic illness. However, the results of this study suggest that those in the latter group (especially Moroccans and Turks) experienced health problems and related functional limitations at a younger age. Native Dutch older adults were somewhat better off with respect to the availability of household resources, but compared to older non-Western migrants were more likely to experience the negative effects of neighbourhood deprivation. In summary, this study refines common assertions that older migrants are more disadvantaged than native older adults. Differences in experiences of advantage and disadvantage have their origin in differences in life and residential histories and neighbourhood change.     

Louvain-la-Neuve,Belgium, from campus to new town

Summary Louvain-la-Neuve, the sole Belgian New Town in three centuries, is located about thirty kilometers southwards of Brussels. In its first stage it had been established for welcoming most of the faculties of the Catholic University of Louvain (C. U. L.), which transferred from the original location in Louvain. The estate acquired by the C. U. L. mainly covers an agricultural area of 900 hectares, partly divided into 338 hectares for the future urbanized perimeter, 180 hectares for a public forest, and 163 hectares for a scientific park, designed for private research and development activities in connection with academic laboratories.The first part of the city center is almost completed and is located in the dale of the Malaise, on a substructure with underground parking and a railway station. Four neighbourhood units have been planned on the top of the slopes; the first two are already nearly finished and a third is under way. The principle of segregation of automobile and pedestrian traffic and its advanced architectural style constitute the main features.The active population of Louvain-la-Neuve now reaches about 12,000 (two-thirds are the students of the C. U. L.), and the residential population numbers more than 6,000 inhabitants (three-quarters are students and their families). The age structure is very young, due to the high proportion of students.Commuting to Louvain-la-Neuve is facilitated by excellent road and public transportation connections. As time goes by, it is anticipated that commuting will diminish. Moreover, a phenomenon of external commuting is developing. The attractive sphere and environment, the pedestrian areas and the emphyteotic system are the key features of the future residential development for persons neither professionally linked to the C. U. L. nor to the New Town.When the student transference is completed in 1979, the stage of real diversification of activities and functions will begin. About 20,000 inhabitants are scheduled for location by 1985 and a maximum of 50,000 by the end of the century. At that time, Louvain-la-Neuve together with its neighbours, Wavre and Ottignies, will form an urban tripole on a regional level, thereby strengthening the urban framework of the Walloon Brabant.     

Geodemographic biases in crowdsourced knowledge websites: Do neighbours fill in the blanks?

Crowdsourced knowledge websites such as Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap are increasingly attracting a critical literature which has highlighted the fact that the contributor bases of these sites are often geodemographically biased: drawn from more affluent and better educated segments of the population. However, while bias in contributors is well known, we know less about whether this also results in a bias in outcomes on these websites: or whether the partial portion of the population which does make contributions also works to “fill in the blanks”, by adding knowledge about other less well-off neighbouring areas which have not attracted a contributor base. This article addresses the question of whether such “neighbourhood effects” exist in practice. It makes use of a novel dataset of alcohol license data in the UK to assess variation in the completeness of the volunteer geographic information site OpenStreetMap. The results support existing literature in showing that completeness is related to demographics: areas with higher levels of wealth and education typically exhibit higher levels of completeness. The article then makes a novel contribution by showing evidence of the existence of neighbourhood effects: poorer regions with more affluent neighbours typically having higher levels of completeness than poorer regions which are also surrounded by poorer neighbours. The results suggest that crowdsourced knowledge websites can aspire to a kind of completeness even whilst user bases remain partial and biased.     

水资源需求驱动因素分析

根据我国1980-2000年国民经济实际用水状况,简要分析了水资源需求的驱动因素,建立了水资源需求驱动因素综合分析模型,并根据模型进行了实例计算和分析.结果表明:(1)1980-2000年全国总用水增加了1 220亿m3,其中工业和生活用水增长是国民经济用水增长的直接原因;(2)全国而言,排在前四位的正向驱动因素分别是工业增加值、农田灌溉面积、人口以及林牧渔需(补)水面积.负向驱动因素分别是农田灌溉定额的下降,其次是工业用水定额的下降;(3)对生活用水而言,北方省份人口增长对生活需水增长的贡献较突出,南方省份则是生活用水定额的提高对生活需水增长的贡献较突出;(4)对工业用水而言,工业规模的扩大是驱动工业需水增长的主要因素;北方省份工业用水定额下降对抑制工业需水增长的贡献率明显;(5)农田灌溉面积变化对农田灌溉需水变化影响较大.分析结果为把握我国未来水资源需求变化态势,合理配置水资源提供依据.     

The neighbourhood effect won't go away: Observations on the electoral geography of England in the light of Dunleavy's critique

Many studies of British electoral geography suggest that class is the major influence on voting patterns, with the neighbourhood effect presented as an ‘explanation’ for variations around the class cleavage. Recently Dunleavy has criticised this model. Analyses undertaken in the light of his critique find clear patterns of inter-constituency variation in voting that are consistent with the neighbourhood effect.     

Population density pattern and change in the city of Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

"This paper examines and assesses the changes in the population density pattern in the city of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia where the city has undergone dramatic changes in its physical as well as its social structure. Analysis of data revealed a decline in population density at an exponential rate from the city center with variation between city sectors and zones. The city's rapid horizontal expansion and dispersal of population is the result of factors such as increases in city population and in size and number of single family dwellings, widening of streets, rise in income and residential mobility rates, mass use of automobiles, change in family size, zoning regulations, leapfrogging, and huge governmental city development projects."     

Publication bias in the neighbourhood effects literature

There is a strong belief amongst policy makers regarding the existence of neighbourhood effects, i.e., that above and beyond other influence, the neighbourhood in which they live influences individuals’ life chances. The evidence from scientific reviews leans towards the idea that it is likely that neighbourhoods indeed affect life chances of their residents. Yet, amongst scientists there is no consensus about the neighbourhood effects hypothesis because of differences in methodological and theoretical approaches. I ask why, when there is no consensus, the evidence leans towards supporting the neighbourhood effects hypothesis within policy circles. To test whether the scientific evidence for the neighbourhood effects hypothesis is driven by publication bias, I employ a meta-analysis over all studies that test for a relation between neighbourhood characteristics and educational outcomes. The results show that around the arbitrary boundary for statistical significance (p-value is less than 0.05), there is an unlikely large share of studies that are significant compared to the share of studies that are insignificant. This finding strongly suggests that there is publication bias in the neighbourhood effects literature.     

Public policy and residential provision for the elderly

In recent years there has been a growing concern about the best type of residential care for the increasing elderly population in Britain. This paper examines the response of the public, private and voluntary sectors to the provision of residential care. It looks at the relative levels, spatial variations in the levels and changes in the proportions of provision by each of these sectors for the years 1981 and 1984. The levels of provision are related to indices of need, available resources and the political disposition of each local authority area. This paper then focuses on the variations in the growth of the private-sector provision of residential homes. It was found that the metropolitan districts had the greatest proportion of voluntary-sector provision; and the traditional seaside retirement counties such as Devon and Lancashire had the highest levels of and experienced the greatest growth in private residential care. The key variables in explaining variations in the mix of provision between areas were indices of need and resources. This study has established that there are great regional variations in the mix of the different sectors of residential care, although it is not possible to offer a total explanation of these differentials. In Britain, there are substantial inequalities in terms of the choice of types of provision for the elderly population which have significant implications for local authority policy.     

The trade-off between density and other objectives: A re-examination of planning norms

Residential density (dwelling units per area) affects the quality of life in urban environments in many direct and indirect ways. Determining the optimal level of density requires in each case, balancing all the relevant factors and influences, and should depend on the preferences of the potential residents and their financial resources.A residential neighborhood has many characteristics. Usually people trade off one characteristic against another. For instance: people can trade off density against cost or accessibility against space. The aim of good planning is to find the combination of characteristics that will give maximum level of satisfaction to the residents of a neighbourhood subject to the limitations of their budgets. Density standards should, therefore, be adapted to the preferences of the potential residents and their preferred compromise between the various attributes of their environment.To make things more complicated, the concept of density has many definitions, and different definitions are relevant when analysing the various effects of density. It seems that people do not perceive the gross residential density as it is measured, but are influenced by variables such as set-back distances, the percentage of building coverage and the like.Evidence is cited from an investigation in Kiryat-Gat which suggests that the perception of density is affected by other factors except the density itself.If people do not perceive the density as such but are affected by other factors, then modification of these factors is very important. If planners are to design neighborhoods according to the residents' preferences, they should have quantitative estimates of the residents' relative evaluation of these characteristics, including possible savings in the price of housing. The problems of investigating residential preferences are discussed, and examples of studies addressed to these questions are described.     

Scaling ethnic segregation: causal processes and contingent outcomes in Chinese residential patterns

This paper advances a contingent perspective of residential segregation that recognizes it as a universal phenomenon of residential differentiation, yet one that results from different causal processes and which results in different spatial outcomes. The analytical separation of groups, contexts and scale is key to understanding the nature of segregation, i.e., what it signifies to the group and to the host society. We argue that segregation is created and maintained by different choices and constraints occurring across dimensions of production, reproduction and consumption. Spatial outcomes vary considerably, and may be arrayed in regard to the permanence of segregation, whether it facilitates identity maintenance, and whether segregation itself empowers or marginalizes the ethnic population. To demonstrate our approach, we analyze the segregation experiences of Chinese ethnics. Our argument is organized around the global, national and local scales at which causal processes shape the Chinese experience of segregation.     

The trade-off between density and other objectives: A re-examination of planning norms

Residential density (dwelling units per area) affects the quality of life in urban environments in many direct and indirect ways. Determining the optimal level of density requires in each case, balancing all the relevant factors and influences, and should depend on the preferences of the potential residents and their financial resources. A residential neighborhood has many characteristics. Usually people trade off one characteristic against another. For instance: people can trade off density against cost or accessibility against space. The aim of good planning is to find the combination of characteristics that will give maximum level of satisfaction to the residents of a neighbourhood subject to the limitations of their budgets. Density standards should, therefore, be adapted to the preferences of the potential residents and their preferred compromise between the various attributes of their environment. To make things more complicated, the concept of density has many definitions, and different definitions are relevant when analysing the various effects of density. It seems that people do not perceive the gross residential density as it is measured, but are influenced by variables such as set-back distances, the percentage of building coverage and the like. Evidence is cited from an investigation in Kiryat-Gat which suggests that the perception of density is affected by other factors except the density itself. If people do not perceive the density as such but are affected by other factors, then modification of these factors is very important. If planners are to design neighborhoods according to the residents' preferences, they should have quantitative estimates of the residents' relative evaluation of these characteristics, including possible savings in the price of housing. The problems of investigating residential preferences are discussed, and examples of studies addressed to these questions are described.     

Dealing with change in old age: Negotiating working-class belonging in a neighbourhood in the process of urban renewal in the Netherlands

‘Ageing in place’ policies presuppose that growing old in one’s own home and neighbourhood is in the best interests of older adults, as a familiar and predictable environment fosters autonomy and well-being in old age. However, discontinuities of place can challenge the relationship between older adults and their neighbourhood. This paper addresses the impact of neighbourhood transitions on older adults’ sense of belonging in the Netherlands by exploring how they deal with changes in the neighbourhood in their everyday life. The context of this qualitative research is a former working-class neighbourhood in the process of urban renewal. Our findings show how a sense of belonging is negotiated in relation to everyday places and interactions within the neighbourhood, providing a sense of continuity despite neighbourhood change.     

中国建设用地省际分布的统计分析

建设用地的扩张是中国耕地减少的最重要因素，通过建立建设用地分布的定量关系，揭示建设用地增长的动力学基础。通过居民点和工矿用地、交通用地、建设用地总量（前二者之和）的省际分布与人口、人均耕地的省际分布的单因素和双因素统计分析发现：这三者的分布与这两个因素存在很强的二元线性相关；人口分布对居民点和工矿用地总量分布的影响要比对交通用地总量分布的影响大，人均耕地分布对这二者的人均值分布的影响，则恰恰相反。     

砂土中吸力式沉箱基础的最佳荷载作用点位置模型试验研究

通过一系列模型试验研究了倾斜荷载作用下吸力式沉箱基础的最佳作用点位置,试验中考虑了荷载作用点、荷载作用角度和长径比3个重要因素。基于模型试验得到的荷载-位移曲线,采用合适的破坏标准确定了各工况下吸力式沉箱基础的抗拔承载力,根据承载力的变化规律分析确定了吸力式沉箱基础的最佳作用点位置。结果表明,荷载作用角度对吸力式沉箱基础承载力的影响显著,当荷载水平作用于基础时,其承载力最大。荷载作用点位置对吸力式沉箱基础承载力的影响取决于荷载作用角度的大小,当荷载作用角度较小时,荷载作用点位置的影响显著,且最佳作用点位置位于沉箱高度的2/3～3/4处;当荷载作用角度较大时,荷载作用点位置的影响很小,可以忽略。结合荷载与吸力式沉箱基础的转角关系,分析了荷载水平作用于最佳作用点下吸力式沉箱基础的破坏模式。     

Variations in emission rates from solvent use in the residential sector: the case of Greece

Solvent use is the second most significant source of anthropogenic non-methane volatile organic compound emissions in Europe, as well as in Greece, the residential solvent use being the second most important source of solvent emissions. The methodology used so far in Greece and other countries for estimating residential solvent emissions adopts literature-proposed average per person emission factors and population data. The methodology developed in this work involves the determination of solvent-containing product groups and the solvent content of products, along with the collection, evaluation and elaboration of a large amount of statistical data concerning the domestic supply of products consumed in the residential sector. The emission calculations are performed on the basis of the amount of the solvent-containing products consumed. Two hundred and sixty-six solvent-containing products used in the residential sector are classified into five groups and 24 sub-categories of similar products and an extensive field survey is carried out in order to determine the solvent content of the products. Time series of total emissions for the period 1995?C2007 indicate that there is an increasing trend of total residential solvent emissions in Greece. Cosmetics, do it yourself and car care products are the most important emitting categories of residential solvent use. The resulted emission rates (expressed per capita and per year) are greater than those proposed in the literature and they approach in better way local characteristics, as well as their evolution. The methodology developed and the updated emissions rates could be useful in other counties of similar consumption behaviours, economic situation or climate conditions.