Determinants of Urban Expansion in Cities - Khabat City as A Model A Study of Urban Environmental Problems

Abstract

Cities are not exempt from the urbanization challenges, whether they are habitation, demographic, environmental, economic, or social problems, these are regarded as obstacles impeding the development of this habitation. The issues with the obstacles to the expansion is considered one of the most significant problems of habitation so that geographers, designers, and architects pay attention to it, especially those who are responsible for preparing urban masterplans. The emergence of this problem in the Khabat city is mainly due to the nature of its position and geographical location. So, this study aims to investigate the obstacles of increasing habitation and its classification in the Khabat city as well as demarcating the effect degrees on creating obstacles of habitation. In addition to their formation factors, then identifying the most important planned alternatives for area expansion and the way of choosing the best alternative for the study problem, reliant on the inductive method and the utilization of qualitative research tools. This study comprises five sections. The first and second of which include the introduction and theoretical framework. The third and fourth sections are dedicated to the analysis of natural and human barriers and their degree of influence on expanding habitation as well as the factors affecting the formation of study problems and its increase. However, the fifth section discusses the identification of alternatives and current and future scenarios of area expansion using Delphi method. Then the study ends with some conclusions and recommendations.