INDUSTRIAL ZONING AND URBANIZATION A CONTRIBUTION TO EGYPT'S URBAN PLANNING

Abstract

Although one of the major problems facing Egypt relates to the concentration of population, occupying at present 5.3 % of the total area (1), spatial redistribution studies have not received enough attention. Realizing the importance of industrial development as the most effective approach for economic development and as a way of improving the quality of life, this thesis addresses the urban planning of industrial cities and zones, with particular reference to spatial redistribution of population. • Different urbanization schools are briefly reviewed, and the paradigms of rural development are summarized. The concepts of globalization and sustainability are discussed, together with the environmental problems of industrial urban. The classifications of global, sub-global, world and mega cities are used to illustrate the dynamics of the current urban systems. The physical expansion of Cairo as a mega size city has resulted in the formation of regional conglomeration of new cities, and therefore the trend of deconcentration by moving out of the congested area appears to be the mostlogical approach. The industrial activities are reviewed together with their contribution to the Gross Domestic and the Grand National Products. An overview of the local industrial urban covering cities, zones and clusters is made before reviewing an international case study of the china's city of Shanghi. The need for attracting foreign direct investments is also highlighted. Environmental, Social, and economic factors are linked to the relevant technical aspects of industrial planning. An industrial perspective for the planning process, covering existing as well as potential industrial activities, is also outlined. The geographical perspective for the urban planning process covers the geographical location, surface topography, slopes, geotechnical aspects, and climatic factors such as temperature, wind, rain, and humidity. Transportation means including rail, road, marine ports as well as airports are considered for both the transportations of raw material and final products. The natural resources of each particular location are considered within the relative value approach. An analytical technique, utilizing the geographical information science, is developed and proposed for comparing different available sites and locations. This is based on a figure of merit concluded from the characteristics of each location using a relative weight assessment. Potential locations in Sinai were selected as beads on a string to meet the spatial dispersion and the deconcentration requirements. The analytical approach, utilizing a developed GIS system; is used in an integral planning process for ranking these locations with respect to the selected promising industries.