The characteristics of riverbank slum settlement in Indonesia. Case study: Depok, Palembang, Surabaya, and Surakarta

Abstract

Slum settlement is one of the problems faced by various big cities in developing countries, including Indonesia. Cities in Indonesia that are developing and functioning as a centre of activity have invited the surrounding population to migrate to cities in the hope of finding a better job and life. This is not in line with the limited housing and settlement facilities in urban areas, thus encouraging low-income people to live in slum settlements, including riverbank areas. Settlement in riverbank areas that grows uncontrollably has formed a slum area and degraded the riverbank’s main function. This research aims to find the characteristics of riverbank slum settlements in Indonesia with observational case study in Depok City, Palembang City, Surabaya City, and Surakarta City. The research method used is descriptive qualitative by describing the characteristics of the slum settlement at the location of the study. Data collection was carried out by direct observation, literature study, and interviews. The result shows that the characteristics of riverbank slum settlement in the observed locations are formed by several aspects: (1) physical aspects including land availability, infrastructure, and house building, (2) socio-economic aspects including people’s livelihoods, the local community awareness, ethnic, and kinship factor.