On February 2010, in a conference on the future of cities in London, United Nation‟s head of housing agency Anna Tibaijuka proclaimed that "After HIV and Aids, the biggest threat to sustainable development in Africa is rapid and chaotic urbanisation, because it is a recipe for disaster for increased tensions and pressure" (MacLellan, 2010). It is truly unfortunate that a word like urbanization that for centuries has represented better living standards and growth is now viewed as a threat to sustainable growth and likened to an incurable disease. When people move to urban cities in search of a better life, they deserve to find something better than what they left behind and that is what justifies this research. The purpose of this paper is to find ways on how best to direct rapid urbanization in Ethiopia towards becoming a resource rather than a source of chaos. A comprehensive literature review complemented by a questionnaire survey distributed to real estate developers in Ethiopia was conducted as part of the qualitative research method adapted. The finding of the research show that Ethiopia has one of the highest proportions of urban population living in slums and housing deficit is at an all-time high. The government has introduced a number of policies and is trying to provide housing for low-income people while the private sector in the real estate industry is mainly meeting the needs of high-income people. The study found that this division in task will eventually lead to the segregation of the city into rich and poor neighborhoods that will ultimately make matters worse. The study also showed that with the adaption of policies that allow for the integration and collaboration of the government, the private sector and the people; opportunities of creating a conducive living environment for all income groups exist.

Globally, urbanization and urban growth have reached unprecedented rates in cities. Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is no exception to the rapid urbanization and growth that has occurred in a sprawling and low-density pattern. Riyadh has set a controversial target of doubling its current population of 7.1 million to reach 10-15 million by 2030, emphasizing the importance of making this growth sustainable. Currently, the literature on the applications of smart growth gives little attention to public participation in decision-making regarding the future growth of cities. Specifically, there is a lack of research focused on integrating the public into the decision-making process for managing population increases over a short time frame (e.g., ten years). In Riyadh, the planning process does not provide precise mechanisms for public engagement or preferences in shaping future growth. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to manage this rapid urbanization and growth smartly by shaping future growth from the perspective of residents' preferences and how to draw that into urban policies. This study aims to shed light on residents' satisfaction with the current neighborhoods. In addition, the study aims to investigate residents' preference for the smart growth strategy as a new urban pattern in the city. The study uses the survey method to measure residents' satisfaction with the existing neighborhoods of Riyadh through an online questionnaire. Furthermore, another online questionnaire that combines both a discrete choice experiment and visual preference for the principles of smart growth is used to examine preferences for smart growth. This study adopted a number of statistical models, and the questionnaire was conducted with 3,111 respondents for the first questionnaire and 1,710 respondents for the second questionnaire as completed answers. The results of the first questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics and by examining the correlations between neighborhood elements, including the physical environment and demographic data. This study also employed the multinomial logit model to analyze the results of residents' preferences, and the latent class analysis to reveal the homogeneity and heterogeneity of preferences among respondents. The results of the neighborhood satisfaction questionnaire indicated a divergence in opinions across the three sections identified in the first questionnaire. The results indicated dissatisfaction, particularly with neighborhood characteristics, transportation and accessibility elements, and urban landscape components. Satisfaction levels leaned more toward neutrality to dissatisfaction, reflecting the possibility that rapid growth may have affected the quality of services and facilities in neighborhoods. The results of the second questionnaire showed strong and explicit preferences for neighborhoods characterized by walkability and bikeability lanes, transportation availability, and parks across both 30-meter and 60-meter streets. There was also a preference, though to a lesser extent, for diverse housing options and densities represented by seven-story buildings, as well as a slight preference for mixed-use buildings. The latent class analysis further revealed six distinct groups of urban preferences in the neighborhoods. These findings highlighted the need for improvements in some urban dimensions discussed in this study, which showed low satisfaction results. Moreover, the findings enabled the creation of a set of recommended urban development policies to ensure that future growth aligns with the preferences of Riyadh residents. The results reflected the need to create vibrant, integrated, and comprehensive urban communities that enhance quality of life while providing diverse transportation options, green spaces, appropriate densities, mixed-use developments, and diverse housing options. / Doctor of Philosophy / Rapid urbanization and expansion are among the most significant urban challenges facing many major cities worldwide. Riyadh is one such city that has experienced rapid growth due to the economic boom of past decades, which led to the establishment of numerous ministries and company headquarters within the city. This growth resulted in the migration of many Saudi residents to Riyadh, prompting the rapid construction of neighborhoods and residential complexes to accommodate the increased population. However, this urban expansion occurred without community participation in shaping urban decisions, leading to scattered urban development. Today, Riyadh has set an ambitious target of accommodating about 10-15 million residents (about 7.1 million currently) by 2030. Such a decision may introduce new urban challenges for Riyadh. Accordingly, this study aims to first measure residents' satisfaction with residential neighborhoods resulting from previous growth and assess whether these neighborhoods provide all necessary services across various dimensions. Additionally, the study seeks to test one strategy for managing growth by adopting the principles of smart growth and understanding residents' preferences for this approach through proactive community involvement in urban decision-making for the upcoming growth. This study used two electronically distributed questionnaires to measure satisfaction with current neighborhoods and residents' preferences. The results indicated dissatisfaction in most dimensions of the neighborhoods. They also revealed residents' preference for many smart growth principles, with variations across the different principles.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Huston Gibson / The issues infested in urban slum communities are many, of which I had no problem indentifying a dilemma specific to my interests in landscape architecture and socially equitable places. However, sustainable solutions specific to these dynamic urban forms and communities are unfamiliar academic territory. Extreme levels of poverty fostered in these communities cause deficiencies in a child’s development, who are often without access to a formal, structured education system (UNDP, 1999). Public spaces are particularly stimulating environments for youth learning and development, but most urban environments in shanty towns host a milieu of violence and crime, making most public streets and vacant lots unsafe. These conditions are ripe for visionary designers to intervene, improving the physical aspects of urban public spaces and specifically bettering the quality of life for children living in these communities. Answering this question required literature research and precedent studies, which was important for developing a thorough understanding of developmental theory as it relates to socio-economically disadvantaged children. By focusing my studies on public spaces in the neighborhood Vistas del Cerro Grande in Chihuahua, México, I began to understand the cultural idiosyncrasies specific to people living in urban shantytowns. Data collected from the neighborhood via surveys, interviews, community meetings, and an auto-ethnographic video study with fifth and sixth grade students provided an introduction to the community and the larger themes and objectives for future public space design. Visiting comparable communities in México City, México deepened my understanding as I was able to observe the daily lives of México City residents with diverse socio-economic statuses, hear their individual perspectives on the history and cultures, and relate to their frustrations with current political, economic, and societal systems. The methodologies described above culminated in a design typology specific to Vistas del Cerro Grande, consisting of public streets, pedestrian access ways, plazas, and vacant lots. These types form the backbone of my research report, which represents an evidence-based design palette of purpose-oriented amenities for positive childhood development in shanty town public spaces. The typology caters to the specific needs of the Vistas del Cerro Grande community, as identified in the research.

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第16790号 / 工博第3511号 / 新制||工||1531(附属図書館) / 29465 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 松岡 譲, 教授 米田 稔, 准教授 倉田 学児 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当