Evolution of subcenter structure in Bangkok metropolitan development from 1988 to 2018

Abstract

Bangkok has been continuously struggling with unplanned urban expansion. It has been striving to transform itself from a mono-centric to a multi-centric urban structure through subcenter planning, and land use and transportation planning. To determine the effectiveness of its attempts, we conducted field surveys in Bangkok in 1988, 1998, 2008, and 2018 to collect agglomeration data on business and commercial activities in more than 60 subcenters designated in Bangkok's three comprehensive plans. We found that while the structures over the three decades have unique characteristics in terms of agglomeration size and kinds of business and commercial activities, each structure obtained from four time survey holds unique hierarchical order and functions correspondingly. This evolutional phenomenon we revealed from three decades survey data is unprecedented result and lure additional research toward deep thoughts on urban growth in rapidly growing metropolis. Another finding is that railway and highway network expansion together have influenced urban expansion and growth of subcenters. The extension of railway services to suburban areas, and the corresponding establishment of railway stations there, likely led to residential development in the areas, and the residents use private cars in their daily life to shop near subcenters while they commuted to the CBD by train. Therefore, urban growth will continue with the combination of railway and highway network expansion. We seriously doubt this would lead Bangkok metropolis to sustainable urban growth since it may produce low density urban area and consume green areas. In order to achieve compact urban growth in smarter way, it may need strict land use control around railway stations and along major road. Applied geographers can gain deep relevant implication of not just the superficial results, but the facts behind the phenomenon of the evolutional change of urban structure.