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Invention Journal of Research Technology in Engineering & Management (IJRTEM) ISSN: 2455-3689

www.ijrtem.com ǁ Volume 1 ǁ Issue 7 ǁ

Evaluate deficiencies and shortages for the Libyan Residential Urban


Planning. Case Study, Surman City, Libya using Arc (GIS) as technical tools
Farhat M Emhemed1, Manal Mohsen Abood2
1, 2
(Faculty of Engineering and Technology Infrastructure, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur, (IUKL), Malaysia, 43000, Kuala
Lumpur)

ABSTRACT: The change in human society and the population increase in Surman citypopulation has led to an increase in
environmental problems and the increasing depletion of resources and natural resources and non-optimal use of land. This has led to
the disparity in the distribution of services, functions, lack of recreational areas, green areas, playgrounds, and other services.
Surman City scheme suffers from many problems, particularly the spread of housing projects. This has to be reconsidered in the ways
of development and the urban environment of the city planning. Sustainable urban planning is one of the most important ways and
strategies that can be followed for a diaper on Surman city scheme and preserves the rights of future generations to live in urban and
convenient style. The purpose of this research evaluation of residential areas Surman city scheme to know shortages and deficiencies
of the scheme of the city and their suitability for the planning of an urban sustainability using Arc (GIS) technology. It isimportant
means in the fields of life, especially the areas of sustainable urban planning where they can be utilized in the analysis and
conclusions, as well as future studies accurately and fast. The study found out that appropriate measurable indicators can be relied
upon to develop design criteria for residential that will help to achieve a sustainable urban plan during the preparation of urban
schemes or develop existing schemes.
Keywords: Evaluate residential urban planning,GIS, Sustainable urban planning, Residential urban planning.

Introduction
Increase and the rapid growth of population in the world is concentrated in urban cities, it is expected that by 2030 more than 60% of
the world's population will reside in urban areas(Nations, 2004). This requires the development of rapid urbanization and the
expansion of residential areas to the cities schemes and infrastructure development in the presence of population crawl and depletion
of natural resources and an optimal use of land (Hammer, Stewart, Winkler, Radeloff, & Voss, 2004). This has led to the development
of residential areas in many cases to have impact on open spaces and inequality in the distribution ratios for functions services which
impact on the style and dynamics and functions of urban areas and ecosystems for the development of residential areas(Irwin &
Bockstael, 2004). Sustainable urban planning has become an important element to achieve the principles of sustainability and the
ideal solution for residential and urban areas facing restriction by social-economic level, environmental pressure, population pressure
and traffic pressure, etc.(Xu & Coors, 2012) . Data and results on residential area development can thus be significantlyused to
understand the ways to raise the urban landscape change and help guide government agencies and planners in the optimal use of land
and ways of preserving the environment and natural resources and protection (Yin, Kong, & Zhang, 2011) .
The planning stage started first in Libya during the advent of Economic Development when it was preparing plans for the
development of important cities and villages in between (1968 - 1988). It focused on urban growth without addressing the regional
studies. There were two schemes established then, the first which was integrated detailed plans for major cities named overall
schemes. While the second type of schemes for cities and villages was named general schemes used to separate residential areas for
service activities. During the second year of the economic development (1969), it has prepared the first stage of it schemes because of
the improved economic situation of the country and the significant increase in the population growth and the development of
communities (Sheibani & Havard, 2005). By the end of the seventies, it has initiated planning in the second stage (1980 - 2000). The
stage included the preparation of a national plan, a long-term plan stage that included the preparation of four(4) regional schemes,
eighteen(18) regional scheme subcategories, and the preparation and development of 240 schemes for other cities. This stage was
based on a comprehensive and detailed foundations of the planning system adopted by all the regions. At the end of the second stage
of planning, Urban Planning Department began the preparation of the third planning stage, which was named third generation
schemes and the set time period for this stage was (2000-2025) (Libya, 2010).
Urban planning criteria are one the most important means of the preparation and implementation of urban plans and considered to be
the guidance or directory to help in the preparation of programs and development of schemes and the development of communities
through housing development and facilities and infrastructure. It also helps in the NEEDs assessment of land for the purpose of
providing services with acceptable criteria in the long term and to maintain the land (studies, 2000).
It is important to note that the failure to achieve the principles of sustainability in the built environment in Surman city scheme will
lead to the wasting of natural resources and making it difficult to create an eco-friendly environment. The result of the research was
presented to a converted access to set measurable indicators for Surman city special scheme for sustainable Urban Planning and to
measure their suitability with the aid of an Arc (GIS) technology to serve as a criterion. It measures the appropriateness of any future
project sustainability concept to be implemented within the planned city. It also recognizes the reality of Surman city scheme and the

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Evaluate deficiencies and shortages for the Libyan Residential Urban Planning. Case Study, Surman City, Libya using.....
problems associated with planning in the city, and then apply the scheme and compared. The research built on finding out how to
apply sustainability criteria using geographic information systems (Alahamm, 2011) .
The purpose of this paper is to develop a sustainability analysis of urban residential development mainly considering andevaluatingthe
deficiencies and shortages of Surman city in Libya and to improve the scheme of the city in a residential domain of the traditional
scheme of an urban sustainable scheme. This research adopted the methodology of scientific research, gathering information, and
guides that have to do with Surman city plan and sustainable urban planning. It also adopted description and analysis using
geographic information systems (GIS). This research pointed out indicators that can be relied upon to develop the design of the
residential plan, and assist on sustainability in the preparation of development plans of existing criteria. The existing plans were done
with the aid of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, which has the ability to analyze areas and schemes cities an d give
accurate results at high speed. It is as a result of this that the researcher evaluated Surman city plan and ways to achieve sustainable
urban planning strategies. Furthermore, the research results obtained in empirical models were applied to provide important
sustainable insights into the urban residential development in recent years.

Method
2.1. Background of Surman City and city scheme (study area)
The area of study was located within Surman city scheme limits, which is located in the northwest in Libya, and about 60 km away
west of the capital Tripoli, and Coordinates. N 32° 45′ 24″, E 12°34'18''. The city has boundary from the north with the Mediterranean
Sea, to the east is Zawia city, to the south is Yafran city, and to the west of the city is Sabratha city shown in Figure. 1.The scheme is
located within the master plan for Surman city limits with an estimated total area of about 12,797,118 m2(Office of Housing and
Utilities for Surman city, 2013). The total number of housing units is (2690), these are for two generations of the city for the schemes
which have been accredited in 1983. It accommodates a city planfor about (40,000) number of people, and the city relies on two types
of housing, the private housing and the public housing.The public housing in the form of different types of housing complexes
dispersed within the scheme (HUSCO,2012).

Figure. 1 Location of the study area


Source: HUSCO, 2012

2.2. The components of a city scheme


First: residential areas.
Residential areas consist of two types of buildings which are:
1- Separate Residential Buildings
It includes residential units located within the city scheme different floors and spaces spread sites.
- Residential buildings that consist of 4 floors, and contains two apartments on the floor, with a total of 1000 housing units, and a
housing unit area of 150.00 m2.
- Residential Buildings that consists of 4 floors, and contains two apartments on the floor, with a total of 320 housing units, and a
housing unit area of 145.00 m2.

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Evaluate deficiencies and shortages for the Libyan Residential Urban Planning. Case Study, Surman City, Libya using.....
- Residential Buildings that consist of 4 floors, and contains two apartments on the floor, with a total of 920 housing units, and a
housing unit area of 145.00 m2.
- Residential Buildings that consist of 5 floors, and contains two apartments on the floor, with a total of 100 housing units, and a
housing unit area of 140.00 m2.
- Residential Buildings that consist of 3 floors, and contains two apartments on the floor, with a total of 150 housing units, and a
housing unit area of 138.00 m2.

2- Buildings, Residential towers.


This includes three residential buildings next to some of the housing units that consists of 4 floors, in each of the floor there are 10
residential units, with a total of 200 housing units, and a housing unit area of 125.00 m2(HUSCO,2012).

Second: public utilities and service facilities


- Services and Facilities:this includes urban complex, shopping mall, commercial buildings, police station, post office, cultural center,
shopping buildings of different types and three bank branches.
- Educational services includes: the 11 schools which are distributed within and around residential areas, and also includes a high-
Institute for Comprehensive professions.
- Health services: There are three health centers distributed Within the Plan.
- Religious services: There are four mosques distributed Within the Planed city, and two centers for the memorization of the Koran.
- Infrastructure: this includes roads, sidewalks, water systems, sewage, electricity, telephone network.
- The green areas: Contains a city planner on main public park brokered a city planner and small gardens within and around the
residential area.
The following table shows the components of residential areas and facilities located within the city plan and completion percentages
as shown in table (1)(Planning council management, 2012).

Table 1: The components of the residential areas of Surman city scheme.


The items Number Completed Not completed Implementation rate
Residential areas
Separate Residential 315 240 75 76%
Building
Contiguous Residential 3 3 0 100%
Building
Services and Facilities
Urban complex 1 0 1 20%
Shopping mall 1 1 0 100%
Commercial buildings 21 21 0 100%
Police station 1 1 0 100%
Post office 1 1 0 100%
Cultural center 1 1 0 100%
Shopping buildings 6 4 2 67%
Bank branches 3 3 0 100%
Educational services
Schools 11 7 4 64%
Health services
Health centers 3 1 2 33%
Religious services
Mosques 4 3 1 75%
Teaching the Koran 2 1 1 50%
centers
Infrastructure
Roads, Sidewalks 45%
Water systems 55%
Sewage 40%
Electricity 70%
Telephone network 50%
The green area
Main public park 40%
Small gardens within and 30%

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Evaluate deficiencies and shortages for the Libyan Residential Urban Planning. Case Study, Surman City, Libya using.....
around the residential area

Results and Discussion


3.1 Surman city scheme and measurement indicators
In calculating the measurable indicators, dealing with city planners for what has been completed and implemented, and in the future
what are to be considered to evaluate the use of geographic information systems Arc(GIS).

3.1.1 Measuring diversity index of residential units


To measure the diversity of the housing unit index, one must know the number of housing units existing for residential in the city, and
then compared with other similar projects which have either of these projects locally or internationally.
Therefore, the establishment of these types of housing units within the city should be planned to fit the needs of a certain segment of
the population which are the low-income category. When comparing patterns and other types of housing units in other projects, it
should be taken into account the proportionality and diversity of the population category mentioned above.
Table 2 shows the type of housing units that is expected to be available in similar projects for Surman city, compared with what
remains of the housing units within the city plan (Farhat & Manal 2016).

Table 2: Types of housing units within Surman city scheme and the proportion achieve measurement index. Source: (Farhat& Manal,
2016).
Tape of housing units Available Not Number Achieved
available available
80 m2 / No found No
100-120 m2 / No found No
Tape of 120-150 m2 / 2690 Yes
area m2

An apartment in a / 2490 Yes


residential building
Apartment in the tower / 200 Yes
Separate villa - a / No found No
Apartment separate house
tape Any other kinds of / No found No
apartments. Studios…..
etc.
The total percentage to achieve diversity of the housing units index 42.86%

3.1.2 Measuring the achievement of land use and environmental diversity index
This indicator can be measured by examining the private spaces for each activity within the residential areas, and also through the
study of land use in areas within the city plan. It then analyzes and draws conclusions in the percentage of each activity, after which
the rates of land use is compared to global case studies that have been mentioned to determine the proportion of similarity and
compatibility between them.

Tables 3: shows the area ratios and all land uses and functions in residential areas of the scheme city. Source: (Farhat & Manal, 2016
Land used type Area (m2) Percentage (%)

Residential Buildings 128149.8462 8.6865

Residential towers 3020.0171 0.2047

The urban center 25560.1120 1.7326

Main streets 337458.7708 22.8743

Street services 159502.9610 10.8118

Corridors 199911.2506 13.5508

Car parks 158646.9086 10.7537

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Evaluate deficiencies and shortages for the Libyan Residential Urban Planning. Case Study, Surman City, Libya using.....

Public gardens 54868.7308 3.7192

Green areas 197841.0908 13.4105

Paved areas 145992.0761 9.8959

Commercial center 9151.2826 0.6203

Administrative buildings 3888.0770 0.2635

Playgrounds 2422.0000 0.1642

Schools 38648.5866 2.6195

Health services 7378.0733 0.5001

Banks

Cultural services 1041.1516 0.0705

Civil defense 560.8700 0.0380

Police station 1230.2687 0.0833

The total 1475272.0738 100.0000

The table below shows the percentage use of land in Surman city scheme and comparable percentages of use of land per Masdar City
in United Arab Emirates and Dongtan city in China.

Table 4: Shows the comparison of each of the UAE Masdar City, Dongtan city in China with Surman city planner proportion of use of
land and residential areas.
Source: (Frenchman & Zegras, 2012),(Raza, Janajreh, & Ghenai, 2014), (HUSCO,2012).
Average
The percentage of
percentage Masdar City Percentage achieves
Land use and Dongtan rapprochement
Masdar Dongtan, China Surman
City, city
UAE planned
Housing &
Residency, 96.21%
open 38.00% 45.00% 39.93% 41.50%
spaces, and
services
Roads and
Corridors 184.09%
32.00% 31.00% 57.99% 31.50%
Education
and 9.96%
Scientific 30.00% 24.00% 2.69% 27.00%
Research
The total percentage to achieve land use index 96.75%

3.1.3 Measurement of movement by private vehicles and pedestrians index


The possibility of measuring the mobility index should be focused on known residential areas which have a link with activities and
services such as daily movement (i.e. Schools, public parks, health clinics, mosques, commercial buildings, administrative buildings,

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Evaluate deficiencies and shortages for the Libyan Residential Urban Planning. Case Study, Surman City, Libya using.....
banks, Cultural centers and Playgrounds). These services are to be located near residential areas, where the city population movement
relies on private vehicles or walking.
To achieve sustainability, the distance should not exceed 250m. The location of services near residential areas, circles within a radius
of 250 m, from which to determine the distance that has been covered and consistent with sustainable urban plan. After that is
determined, the number of residential buildings and places of covered services and daily activities that are meant to calculate the
percentage check on its own index. The percentage of the entire residential buildings is then determined to the extent of movement
and then measures the percentage index of the distribution. Table 5 shows the percentage of covered services and everyday activities
of residential buildings, to know the total proportion of residential buildings plan for the city.

Table 5 shows the percentage covered basic services for residential buildings in residential areas and measure the extent to which the
movement index.
Source: (Farhat & Manal, 2016).
Total Total Number of Number Percentag Percentag Total
number number Separate of e of e of housin
of of Residentia Buildings Separate Buildings g units
Services Separate Building l Buildings , Residenti , covere
Residenti s covered by Residenti al Residenti d from
al Resident the area of al towers Buildings al towers 2690
Buildings ial the service covered units
(2490 towers by the (%)
unit) (200 area of (%)
unit) the
service
Schools 141 3 44.67 100 1300
Public parks 199 3 63.17 100 1792
Health 0 3 0 100 200
clinics
Mosques 0 0 0 0 0
Commercial 315 3 77 3 24.44 100 816
buildings
Administrati 25 0 7.93 0 150
ve buildings
Banks 0 0 0 0 0
Cultural 32 3 10.15 100 456
centers
Playgrounds 48 0 15.23 0 384
The average number of the housing units covered by the service basis 566 units
Percentage for each type of building 18.39% 55.55%
Percentage of each building and residential covered services 36.97%
basic

3.1.4 Measuring the achievement of mixed land use index (Mixed Land use Factor)
The measurement using this indicator is to know and identify the green space percentage of the entire space used in the scheme, and
to see areas that give the possibility of bio-diversity emergence and continuity. It also focused on knowing places percentage for
linking rainwater into the soil and also taking into account the planned waste by the presence of methods or mechanisms for recycling
of waste. The network for collection of rainwater was also considered, and the network separated from the sewage network if it
exists.Table 6 shows the percentage of verification measuring biodiversity and green infrastructure of residential areas in the scheme.

Table 6: Shows the extent to which the biodiversity index measuring green infrastructure and residential areas in Surman city scheme.
Source: (Farhat & Manal, 2016).
Types of biodiversity
and green Available not Percentage ideal if Percentage
infrastructure available available verification
(%)
Available as a Percentage
Green spaces percentage 13.41% accounted for 30% 44.70
of the land area of the land used

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Evaluate deficiencies and shortages for the Libyan Residential Urban Planning. Case Study, Surman City, Libya using.....

used
Yes by about 45% Fair distribution
Trees percentage spread over the entire areas 45.00
in some locations used
Rainwater drainage / 0
network (separate)
Processing and / 0
recycling of waste
Rainwater leak of Available as a Full executrix areas 34.00
surfaces percentage 34.00%
Percentage full achieved biodiversity and green infrastructure index 24.74%

It was recorded that the extent to which the quality of the design housing criteria within the city scheme and their suitability to achieve
the principles of sustainability are met, depends on the use of measurable indicators. This was calculated and analyzed by using
geographic information systems Arc (GIS) which calculated the percentages of factor existing in the study area and compared it to the
rates of global idealism analysis.
It is observed that spacing in residential neighborhoods within the city near the scheme do not take into account the basic service
functions. This includes the lack of full coverage of basic services in residential areas for basic services and the movement index
achieved 36.97%. The percentage can be justified by trying to reconcile the requirements of the population in the surrounding areas
and the planned scheme. More also, it lacks a city plan and residential areas of biodiversity and green infrastructure. According to
green infrastructure and biodiversity index, a measure of the proportion of 24.74% is achieved. The city scheme also lacks the
diversity of the housing units where there are only two models of separate residential buildings and residential compounds, as well as
the convergence of housing units. This is achieved by the diversity of the housing units by 43% index. Whereas with regard to land
use, it was different percentages between functions since there are high percentages and other law, this is what has been achieved as a
measure of the land use index.

Conclusion
Surman city is a big city in land mass and has a population of about 70,000 people inside and outside of the planned city, of which
only 40,000 people are living Within the Planned Area. The planned area of the city is about 12,797,118 m2. Surman city has
witnessed a major urban expansion and an increase in population growth in the last thirty years. This has led to the housing projects
inside and outside the scheme. But the lack of housing projects carried out within the planed area to the design criteria to keep up with
the basics sustainable urban plan is sophisticated and flexible.
The change in human society and the population increase in Surman city population has led to an increase in environmental problems
and the increasing depletion of resources and natural resources and non-optimal use of land. This has led to the disparity in the
distribution of services and functions and a lack of recreational areas, green areas, playgrounds, and other services. It is imperative to
rationalize the optimal use of land and how to use urban ways and ways to improve the environment and to serve the people.
Surman City scheme suffers from many problems, particularly the spread of housing projects, and that there are some of the design
criteria such as determining the site has not taken into account in accordance with the urban expansion, or development of old
neighborhood sites. More also, the non-application of the concepts of sustainability deviation to achieverebalance in the scheme of the
city. This has to be reconsidered in the ways of development and the urban environment of the city planning.
Sustainable urban planning is one of the most important ways and strategies that can be followed for a better Surman city scheme
which will preserves the rights of future generations to live in urban and convenient manner. Modern technology has become an
important means in the fields of life, especially the areas of sustainable urban planning, where they can be utilized in the analysis
and conclusions, as well as future studies accurately and faster.
Several residential areas have achieved global concepts of sustainable development through advanced urban communities and
preserve the ecological balance. An example of such places are the Lloyd Crossing countries- Portland district, Masdar City-the
United Arab Emirates and Dongtan city- China. Where these cities achieved the concepts and principles of urban planning and
sustainable through the application of several criteria and measurable indicators, the study focused on four of these indicators.These
are the diversity of the housing unit index, the index measuring the achievement of land use, the index measuring the achievement of
green infrastructure and bio-diversity and mobility by private vehicles, and pedestrian measurement index.
The analysis of Surman city scheme for housing which is the case study used for this research, shows that the city scheme can
applythese measurement indicators through the use of geographic information systems Arc (GIS) technology. This research has raise
and contributed to the knowledge of the city to help of researchers and developers in their studies. The study contribute to help
organizations and government institutions through the use of indicators used in this research.

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Evaluate deficiencies and shortages for the Libyan Residential Urban Planning. Case Study, Surman City, Libya using.....

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