Decision-Making Tool for Participatory Urban Planning and Development: Residents’ Preferences of Their Built Environment

Abstract

AbstractUsually, people pursue settlements that fulfill their needs and realize their aspirations. Since the 1970s, the Egyptian government has established new urban communities to fulfill the increasing demand for housing. At the national level, the population of Egypt’s 20 new cities did not exceed 766,000 persons in 2006, or only 1.06% of Egypt’s total population. The population of these new cities reached only approximately 30% of the targeted population of 2006. On the other hand, the environmental and urban conditions in existing urban areas are deteriorating, which caused them to become expellant areas. This indicates a gap between housing supply and demand, or in other words, between what government provides and people need; in addition, there is a misallocation of resources. The present study suggests a participatory planning tool where residents elaborate on the planning/replanning process by defining their priorities. The tool, based on the analytical hierarchy process, helps professionals and ...