Analysis of the compatibility of the urban network with the distribution of public facilities and trade in the city of Batna (Algeria)

Abstract

This study explores incompatibility in the distribution of facilities and trade in the city of Batna, Algeria, using two examples (the city center and the periphery) and a spatial analysis incorporating betweenness centrality. The analysis revealed that the city is far from effectively implementing the concepts of strategic planning. With an area of 83 ha, the city center is marked by low accessibility, further hampered by a concentration of 105 facilities occupying 60% of the space. Based on an examination of four outer areas, the periphery presents a different situation: It is characterized by high accessibility and low betweenness, placing trade and attractiveness out of concern. This arrangement has generated disarticulated spaces with huge flows to the city center, mostly for purchasing goods and securing administrative services. Recent planning proposals have also demonstrated how new access routes can significantly improve accessibility to the currently constricted city center. These results constitute a valuable tool for local authorities to understand how disarticulated the system is.