An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages. Any portion of earth’s surface where physical conditions are homogeneous can be considered as a Region in geographic sense, ranging from a single feature region to compage, depending on the criteria used for delineation. In practice, a prefix is added to highlight the attributes on which the region has been defined, for example, agriculture region, resource region, city region, planning region. All the daily activities of human beings are carried out on land. Proper organization of these activities i.e. planning will help the human being in leading a richer and fuller life in livable surroundings or environment. "Planning" means the scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities.

1. Fundamentals of
Urban Development and Planning
Rajendra P Sharma
rpsharma@mailcity.com
An Academic Presentation to BdevS, Center for Development Studies, Kathmamndu University, 2014

2. Urban
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and
vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it.
Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the termUrban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term
is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages
and hamlets.
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3. Region
On the basis of the elemental factor of space, a region is a geographic
or areal unit with certain limits and bounds. The unit may consist of a
few villages or a number of countries. A region may, therefore, be
thought of as an areal or spatial organization of varying dimensions.
Any portion of earth’s surface where physical conditions areAny portion of earth’s surface where physical conditions are
homogeneous can be considered as a Region in geographic sense,
ranging from a single feature region to compage, depending on the
criteria used for delineation.
In practice, a prefix is added to highlight the attributes on which the
region has been defined, for example, agriculture region, resource
region, city region, planning region,
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4. Introduction to Planning
AllAll thethe dailydaily activitiesactivities ofof humanhuman beingsbeings areare carriedcarried outout onon landland.. ProperProper
organizationorganization ofof thesethese activitiesactivities ii..ee.. planningplanning willwill helphelp thethe humanhuman beingbeing
inin leadingleading aa richerricher andand fullerfuller lifelife inin livablelivable surroundingssurroundings oror
environmentenvironment..
"Planning" means the scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of
land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the
physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of
urban and rural communities.
Planning – a continuous, time-oriented and cyclic process of
identification and achievement of goals 44

5. Cyclic Process of Planning:Cyclic Process of Planning:
a process that includes
a) Identification of goals and objectives,
b) Assessment of problems, potential and priorities,
c) Preparation of alternative conceptual plans and their evaluation to
select most appropriate concept,select most appropriate concept,
d) Preparation of plan based on related concept and its approval,
e) Implementation,
f) Feedback, and
g) Review of the Plan
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6. Fields of Planning:
i)) Urban
ii) Regional
iii) Environmental
iv) Transport, and
v) Infrastructure
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7. Urban Planning
…… is a technique and method of development that contributes to
the organization, development and evolution of urban areas and
their urbanizing environs, based ontheir urbanizing environs, based on
economic, social, legal, aesthetic concepts and conditions
in order to
promote the welfare of public and quality of environment.
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8. Regional Planning
ItIt isis aa specificspecific typetype ofof planning,planning, basedbased onon aa specificspecific planningplanning
structurestructure (regional(regional system),system), forfor inducinginducing publicpublic actionaction aimedaimed atat
societalsocietal wellwell beingbeing.. ItIt impliesimplies thatthat regionalregional planningplanning isis concernedconcernedsocietalsocietal wellwell beingbeing.. ItIt impliesimplies thatthat regionalregional planningplanning isis concernedconcerned
fundamentallyfundamentally withwith thethe societysociety inin thethe contextcontext ofof spacespace..
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9. Environmental Planning
EnvironmentalEnvironmental planningplanning isis aa tooltool forfor environmentalenvironmental protectionprotection
andand sustainablesustainable developmentdevelopment ofof anyany areaarea fromfrom environmentalenvironmental
pointpoint ofof viewview..pointpoint ofof viewview..
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10. Transport Planning
TheThe processprocess ofof analysisanalysis ofof traveltravel demanddemand inin aa citycity oror regionregion havinghaving
regardregard toto sociosocio--economic,economic, landland--use,use, andand otherother factorsfactors andand formulationformulation
ofof policies,policies, programmesprogrammes,, plansplans andand projectsprojects forfor itsits efficientefficientofof policies,policies, programmesprogrammes,, plansplans andand projectsprojects forfor itsits efficientefficient
managementmanagement..
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11. Infrastructure
The basic components of a human settlement that make it functional
and improve its quality of life and include network of water supply,
sewerage, drainage, electricity, communication, transportation and
facilities and services.
FacilityFacility –– in urban planning a premises where health-care, educational,FacilityFacility –– in urban planning a premises where health-care, educational,
socio-cultural and recreational activities take place.
ServicesServices -- includeinclude transportationtransportation byby rail,rail, road,road, air,air, waterways,waterways,
telecommunication,telecommunication, policepolice protection,protection, firefire fighting,fighting, postalpostal etcetc..
UtilitiesUtilities –– basicbasic publicpublic servicesservices likelike waterwater supply,supply, sewerage,sewerage, drainagedrainage andand
electricityelectricity supplysupply..
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12. Definitions and Bases of Planning
TownTown andand CountryCountry PlanningPlanning
toto channelizechannelize variousvarious typestypes ofof forcesforces suchsuch asas physical,physical, social,social,
economiceconomic andand administrativeadministrative inin aa plannedplanned mannermanner toto createcreate thethe totaltotal
environment,environment, whichwhich isis healthy,healthy, efficientefficient andand satisfyingsatisfying forfor working,working,environment,environment, whichwhich isis healthy,healthy, efficientefficient andand satisfyingsatisfying forfor working,working,
living,living, recreationrecreation andand otherother activitiesactivities ofof humanhuman beingbeing..
ObjectiveObjective
toto provideprovide healthyhealthy environmentenvironment andand conveniencesconveniences toto thethe peoplepeople ofof
thethe areaarea byby physicalphysical arrangementarrangement ofof landland--useuse patternpattern andand structurestructure..
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13. Definitions and Bases of Planning
Social and economic aims town planning
Socially successful planning tends to make people’s life happier,
because it results in physical environment which is conducive to
health; facilitates social interaction and gives visualhealth; facilitates social interaction and gives visual
attractiveness
It increases wealth, by efficiently arranging communication
routes to carry out human activities in a more efficient and less
wasteful manner through proper spatial arrangement
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14. Characteristics of successful Town Planning:
Promotion of accessibility
Employment of resources as economically as possible
Separation of incompatible land uses from each other and
association of compatible or mutually helpful uses.association of compatible or mutually helpful uses.
Carrying out of all developments in a visually pleasant and
practical manner
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15. Urban Planning Basics
Goal of Planning
to guide the development of a city or town so that it furthers the
welfare of its current and future residents by creating convenient,
equitable, healthful, efficient and attractive environments.equitable, healthful, efficient and attractive environments.
Three key aspects of Urban/City Planning:
a) physical environment
b) social environment
c) economic environment 1515

16. Urban Planning Basics
Physical environment
AA city'scity's physicalphysical environmentenvironment includesincludes itsits location,location, itsits climateclimate andand itsits proximityproximity toto
sourcessources ofof foodfood andand waterwater..
Social environment
TheThe socialsocial environmentenvironment includesincludes thethe groupsgroups toto whichwhich aa city'scity's residentsresidents belong,belong, thethe
neighbourhoodsneighbourhoods inin whichwhich theythey live,live, thethe organizationorganization ofof itsits workplacesworkplaces.. OneOne ofof thethe biggestbiggestneighbourhoodsneighbourhoods inin whichwhich theythey live,live, thethe organizationorganization ofof itsits workplacesworkplaces.. OneOne ofof thethe biggestbiggest
issuesissues inin mostmost citiescities isis thethe inequitableinequitable distributiondistribution ofof resourcesresources..
Economic environment
PrimaryPrimary employers,employers, suchsuch asas manufacturingmanufacturing asas wellwell asas researchresearch andand developmentdevelopment
companies,companies, retailretail businesses,businesses, universities,universities, federalfederal labs,labs, locallocal government,government, culturalcultural
institutions,institutions, andand departmentsdepartments ofof tourismtourism allall playplay strongstrong rolesroles inin aa city'scity's economyeconomy..
Planners work with local authorities to make sure residents are not excluded from the benefits of
urbanization as a result of physical, social or economic barriers. 1616

17. Urban Planning Basics
All the daily activities of human beings are carried out on land.All the daily activities of human beings are carried out on land.
Land is the basic platform of all human activitiesLand is the basic platform of all human activities
Proper organization of these activities i.e. planning will help the human being inProper organization of these activities i.e. planning will help the human being in
leading a richer and fuller life inleading a richer and fuller life in liveableliveable surroundings or environment.surroundings or environment.leading a richer and fuller life inleading a richer and fuller life in liveableliveable surroundings or environment.surroundings or environment.
Land is scare resource. Developed urban land is more scarce. With the increasingLand is scare resource. Developed urban land is more scarce. With the increasing
urban population the use of land should be very judicious and optimum; hence, it isurban population the use of land should be very judicious and optimum; hence, it is
important to use the land in sound principles of urban planning.important to use the land in sound principles of urban planning.
A comprehensive understanding of the process through which land uses getA comprehensive understanding of the process through which land uses get
allocated in a city at a particular point of time and change over a period of time (notallocated in a city at a particular point of time and change over a period of time (not
rigid but flexible) is necessaryrigid but flexible) is necessary
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18. Land Use Planning
Land-use - an activity performed on a parcel of land, expressed by
category, through colour or black/white hatch pattern.
Land-use planning is basically concerned with location and amount
of various land use areas such as residential, commercial,of various land use areas such as residential, commercial,
religious, cultural and other activities engaged in by the residents
of a city in conduct of their life.
It takes into consideration the economic, social and environmental
conditions while selecting and adopting best option for future land
use and structure to built upon land.
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19. Land Use Planning
Land-use planning aims to make the best use of land
resources by:
assessing present and future needs and matching it with
supply;supply;
identifying and resolving conflicts between competing uses,
between the needs of individuals and those of the
community, and between the needs of the present
generation and those of future generations;
seeking sustainable options that best meet identified needs
and bring about desired changes; 1919

20. Land Use Planning
General Principles
Location Requirements - Indentify three major functional
areas in the urban complex –
ii)) the work areas,
ii)ii) the living areas and
iii) the leisure-time areas; and
iv)iv) distributing them in space as per their locational
attributes..
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21. Land Use Planning
General Principles
Space Requirements – is a basis for assessing land
requirement to accommodate growth in urban areas in the next
20 years.20 years.
It consists of three major steps:
study of existing land use pattern;
derivation of space standards e.g. density standards population
in residential areas and works in industrial and business areas;
space requirement for facilities such as school, hospital , parks
and play grounds and others .
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22. Urban Land Use PlanningUrban Land Use Planning
Land use planning should aim at integrated and comprehensive
planning
Integrated development of residence, work and recreation areas
Geddesian Triangle
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Work (Function) Place (Environment)
Folk (organism)
Geddesian Triangle

23. Urban Land Use PlanningUrban Land Use Planning
Comprehensive PlanningComprehensive Planning
It is not merely a physical activity but of multidisciplinary nature
covering economic and social aspects
Integration of old with the new
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PetricPetric GeddesGeddes –– the founder of modern town and regional planning.the founder of modern town and regional planning.
The theoretical ideas ofThe theoretical ideas of PetricPetric Geddes have influenced much subsequent planning practice,Geddes have influenced much subsequent planning practice,
regional economic development and environmental management .regional economic development and environmental management .
In particular his focus on the triad ‘PlaceIn particular his focus on the triad ‘Place--WorkWork--Folk’ is fundamental to land use planningFolk’ is fundamental to land use planning 2323

24. Definitions
Accessibility – Available means of communication i.e. roads, rail etc.
Base map – map serving as the foundation for subsequent planning
showing all physical features and existing land-use/built-up area of the
area/city .
Density of Population –Density of Population – population divided by the areas occupied by
houses
Gross density – population divided by the area layout including roads
and open spaces.
Net density – population divided by the plots, excluding roads and open
spaces.
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25. Definitions
Recreation areas – an area designated for recreational activities –
open spaces, play grounds, parks, botanical gardens, golf course etc.
Water bodies – River, lakes, ponds, nallah (open drain)
Ring road – a circular road on all side of the proposed
development/settlementdevelopment/settlement
Bye pass – a road designed to carry heavy vehicular traffic to
operate without entering the built up area of the city.
O D Survey – Origin and Destination survey conducted to count
vehicles coming from and going to another area/city.
Public land – the land vested with the government 2525

26. Residential land-use – the land category in a development or layout plan
devoted to residential activity which may be further sub-divided into
zones/clusters by nature (e.g. Primary residential, mixed residential, informal
residential), intensity (e.g. high, medium or law density), type (plotted or flatted),
ownership (individual or group housing).
Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Public-semi-public (utilities/services),Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Public-semi-public (utilities/services),
Transportation
Topo-sheet – map prepared by Survey of India for entire country, indicating
every details, e.g. road, rail, forest, river, canal, built-up area etc.
Catchment area or drainage basin -- area drained by a stream /river orarea drained by a stream /river or
other body of water (the area and population from which a facility or regionother body of water (the area and population from which a facility or region
attracts visitors or customers)attracts visitors or customers)
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27. Urban Agglomeration (UA)
– the out growths of urban areas have also been incorporated in
larger urban areas and are designated as ‘urban agglomeration’
which comprise:
a) An urban area with continuous urban outgrowth which is
outside the statutory urban limits but falling within theoutside the statutory urban limits but falling within the
boundaries of the adjoining village or villages;
b) Two or more adjoining urban areas with their outgrowths, so as
to form a continuous urban spread;
c) Two or more adjoining areas without outgrowths, but which
form a continuous urban spread.
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28. Thank YouThank You