Expansion Of Settlements Research Articles

Levels of Radon in Soils of Dodoma City, Central Tanzania

Purpose: Humans receive radiation doses exceeding fifty percent (50%) of the total dose from natural sources as a result of inhaling radon and thoron gases and their daughters. Radon occurs naturally in soils and can diffuse into indoor environments leading to adverse health effects for inhabitants. In this study, measurement of levels of radon gas in soils was performed with the purpose of categorizing areas and highlighting the likelihood of high levels of radon in indoor environments.
 Design/Methodology/ Approach: The study targeted the environs of Dodoma where the rapid expansion of human settlements is ongoing or anticipated. For easy access and convenience, the study was conducted in areas located along main roads leading to the nearby towns/cities. Sampling was done by inserting the drilling rod to a depth of approximately one meter (1 m) below ground level with the aid of a heavy hammer. The alpha pump was used to suck the soil gas from the ground through a metallic tube (the capillary probe) and pressed it into the ionization chamber of the measuring instrument (AlphaGUARD). Radon concentration was read directly from the instrument’s display.
 Findings: It was found that radon concentrations in soil vary from 18.8 to 233.5 kBq.m-3. Based on the radon risk criterion, surveyed areas range from normal to high radon risk categories.
 Research Limitation/Implication: The study only covered a limited area in Dodoma City, and therefore the results may not be representative of the entire city or even the surrounding regions.
 Practical Implications: This study is useful in categorizing building areas based on radon risk criterion with the purpose of reducing possibilities of radon-related health risks; mainly lung cancer to the population.
 Social Implications: Radon is a proven cause of lung cancer in humans. Therefore, knowledge of radon levels in the study area will help in setting the mitigation measures necessary for public health protection.
 Originality / Value/ Novelty: The study demonstrates an approach for estimating radon levels in soils which is beneficial to current and future researchers, environmentalists and regulators, among others.

Kondisi Lahan Dusung Sagu Dalam Pelestarian Sempadan Sungai-Pantai di Kawasan Wai Poka Kota Ambon

The research aims was to know land condition of dusung sago around the river riparian area or at least 10 meters from the right and/or left of the riverbank. The method used was a survey with free survey observation distance approach. The observation was conducted intensively on sample area of dusung sago located around 10 meters from the riverbank. The result showed that the soils found in the research area are alluvial and regosol soils according to the National Soil Classification (2014), and their formation are influenced by very poor to poor hydrological condition as indicated by very shallow average groundwater at < 20 cm below ground level. The existence of sago plants in the Wai Poka riparian area is endangered by the expansion of settlements in the Poka area.

Influence of Pastoral Settlements Gradient on Vegetation Dynamics and Nutritional Characteristics in Arid Rangelands

An expansion of pastoral settlements in arid rangelands can increase pressure on fragile ecosystems. High stocking rates and inappropriate rangeland management can cause large, difficult-to-reverse changes in the composition and structure of rangeland ecosystems. This study aims to understand changes in vegetation composition (cover, density, biomass, richness, diversity) and nutritional characteristics of range vegetation along a gradient of increasing pastoral population in arid rangelands of Pakistan. Three sites were selected for sampling within three areas classified by their distance from settlement: Near, Away, Far (9 sites in total) belt transects (10 × 150 m). A total of 90 transects (30 each in classified sites) of size 10 × 150 m were placed at a distance of 100 m apart from each distance group. Results identified 28 species from nine plant families. We found a significant difference in vegetation characteristics along the gradient. Vegetation diversity increased along the settlement gradient, highest being in the far sites. Density, plant cover and biomass were greatest at the sites near pastoral communities and decreased as the distance from the settlements increased. Palatable species were characterized by low density and diversity near herder’s villages, but values increased as the distance from the villages increased. An increase in shrubs was observed near pastoral settlements, resulting in higher plant cover, biomass and density in these sites. This study identified anthropogenic impacts on rangeland structure and composition and found large shifts near communities. The frequent monitoring of vegetation resources is important, and the development of sustainable conservative strategies are recommended to ensure harmonious coexistence of pastoral populations in arid rangelands.

Have rural settlement changes harmed ecosystem carbon in China?

The rural landscape is undergoing rapid changes. In China, the expansion of rural settlements is widespread, causing problems to the environment. Previous studies have focused on the effects of built-up land expansion on ecosystem carbon, and this paper further explores the effects of rural settlement changes on ecosystem carbon and investigates the spatial heterogeneity of the relationship. The result shows: rural settlement expansion has led to a significant loss in carbon sinks and vegetation carbon stock, respectively. The main pathway of ecosystem carbon loss is the occupation of cropland. A total of 31% of the regions have a negative coupling relationship between the area of per capita rural settlement and the growth of carbon sinks. The regions where both rural settlements and carbon sink function have declined are mainly concentrated in the northwest, and ecological and rural development in these regions requires additional attention. 63% of the regions show great resilience in terms of carbon sink function in the face of rural settlement expansion.

Administrative failures contributing to the proliferation and growth of informal settlements in Ethiopia: The case of Woldia Township

Informal settlements continue to grow steadily in the urban and peri-urban areas of Ethiopia. So, studying the main triggering factors for the emergence of such settlements is timely and could support decision-makers in making an informed decision. Indeed, this study aims to identify the main administrative deficiencies that contribute to the growth of informal settlements. This informal settlement is reflected in the illegal land use, small-scale constructions, and individual housing in the rural interface areas of Woldia (in Ethiopia) where there is an authority vacuum and planning policies are unclear. The paper is based mainly on the original research, including findings from interviews, FGDS, and observations. Diagrams, tables, and photos added extra information to the discussion. The findings of the study revealed that there is laxity from the local administration in controlling the emergence and expansion of informal settlements. To this end, the findings of the work suggest that despite the public authorities being responsible for enforcing laws in controlling the development of informal settlements, for the most part, they do it incompetently due to inadequate management capacity, lack of urban land information systems, and authority vacuum among land administration institutions. Other reasons include widespread corruption, backdoor deals, and a lack of accountability. The paper concludes that the growth of such settlements is unlikely to be reversed in the future unless a viable and appropriate policy measure is in place.

Urban-rural disparities of carbon storage dynamics in China's human settlements driven by population and economic growth

China has experienced a rapid expansion of human settlement in both urban and rural areas over the past three decades. Regarding the impacts on carbon storage, previous studies that only focus on certain ecosystems cannot reflect urban-rural disparities, resulting in the carbon storage changes in human settlement remaining unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore China's urban-rural disparities in human settlement expansion and direct impacts on carbon storage by using the big Earth data technology. The results showed that from 1990 to 2018, the total amount of China's human settlement expansion reached 175,703.80 km2, and the inner-city, peri-urban, and rural components accounted for 21.00 %, 20.18 %, and 58.82 %, respectively. Along with the general tendency of impervious surface area (ISA) growth, there was more soil organic carbon (SOC) (1254.33 TgC) being sealed beneath ISA (0–100 cm depth), compared to a huge reduction in vegetation biomass carbon (VBC) (91.44 TgC) during the study period. The results further indicated that the change density of either VBC or SOC presented a slightly rising trend along the urban-rural gradient, due to the increasingly common encroachment on vegetation and soil types with higher carbon content. We also found that socioeconomic drivers had a greater influence in urban areas than rural areas, and the related correlation exhibited a descending trajectory in both urban and rural areas. There is thus an urgent need to preserve lands with abundant carbon storage and contain the waste of land resources in rural areas. All stakeholders should pay more attention to concerted and targeted regulation policies for well-planned and eco-friendly human settlement expansion such as enhancing rural land use efficiency and promoting large-scale afforestation and continuous urban greening, which will be critical not only for guiding sustainable urbanization all over China but also for mitigating climate change for the entire world.

Studying the association between noise exposure, stress and characteristics of green spaces: protocol and pilot study

Urban areas are constantly growing, and densification is a common strategy to limit settlement expansion. However, this leads to loss of green spaces (GSs) and increasing noise pollution, which is detrimental to public health. Within a research project that aims at elucidating the stress-easing potential of green spaces in noise-polluted environments and the mediating and/or moderating role of annoyance, an extended cross-sectional field study will be performed in the city of Zurich, Switzerland. In total, 5000 participants will be contacted in three waves, during which an online survey will be carried out followed by a visit to a subsample at home to collect hair cortisol probes. Participants of this study were selected according to the characteristics of their residences (stratified by accessibility to GSs and noise exposure). Further, traits of individuals in addition to acoustic and non-acoustic attributes of GSs are accounted. Thus, the association of noise annoyance, perceived stress and long-term physiological stress responses among residents exposed to different road traffic noise levels and with different grades of access to GSs are studied. In this contribution, the study protocol and first results of a pilot study with 256 participants will be shown.

Holocene vertebrate fauna in Fergana Valley, Kyrgyzstan, based on fossils from the Obishir-5 rock shelter

Central Asia is a region that, owing to its geographical position, has always been at the intersection of cultures. In the Fergana Valley, located in the very heart of Central Asia, the Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene is characterized by the expansion and intensification of human settlements. This cultural event has previously been linked to global climate changes that took place during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. In order to reconstruct local climatic conditions in the area during this period, it is worth studying the fossil vertebrate faunas from late Quaternary sites in the Fergana Valley. The Obishir-5 rock shelter, dating to the Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene period, discovered in the middle of the 20th century, is a key archeological site in the valley. To date no thorough zooarcheological research has been done on the excavated faunal remains. Here we present the results of the first faunal analysis of the small vertebrates found at this site. We studied the taxonomic composition of remains, which was then used to make paleoenvironmental reconstructions. In total, we identified 13 small mammal species and three bird species. In addition, the assemblage contained one amphibian and two reptile taxa. The faunal composition suggests that during the final Pleistocene and Early Holocene the study area enjoyed a stable climate with vegetation dominated by open biotopes (alpine meadows, steppes, semi-deserts). Its location makes the Fergana Valley an example of a geographically isolated area for a terrestrial fauna which can exist for a long time without being influenced by biotic factors from neighbouring territories.

Assessment of remote sensing-based indices for drought monitoring in the north-western region of Bangladesh

Drought is a widespread hazard that can tremendously affect the biodiversity, habitat of wild species, and ecosystem functioning and stability, especially in the dry region. Due to its geographic location, the north-western region of Bangladesh has a comparatively arid climate which is very much susceptible to drought occurrence and is marked as a red zone. Despite the growing evidence of the impact of drought on food security and ecosystem functioning, little effort has been paid to mitigate the drought in this region. The present study aimed to assess the drought condition of the north-western region of Bangladesh using earth observation techniques. For this purpose, Landsat data from 1990 to 2020 was used to determine various vegetation indices such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Water Index (NDWI), Moisture Index (NDMI) and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), along with Land Surface Temperature (LST). Results show that the depletion of forests (2832 km2) and water bodies (6773 km2) resulted from the expansion of settlement (6563 km2) and agricultural land (1802 km2) for the period 1990–2020. Examination of the temporal changes of vegetation indices and LST showed that the values of all indices decreased while the LST increased. The negative correlation between NDVI value and LST indicates that the vegetation in our study was subject to drought-induced shocks. This study reveals the current situation of the vegetation health in the north-western region of Bangladesh in relation to the drought conditions. The findings of this study have practical implications for the policymakers in implementing necessary measures for agriculture, forests, water development, and economic zone planning.

Modelling Impact of Urban Expansion on Ecosystem Services: A Scenario-Based Approach in a Mixed Natural/Urbanised Landscape

The present study aims at predicting future land use/land cover (LULC) and quantifying and mapping the ecosystem services (ESs) of water yield, outdoor recreation opportunity and food production in current (here, 2017) and future landscapes in Northern Iran, using the InVEST, Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) and yield models. To that end, two LULC scenarios known as business as usual (BAU) and protection-based (PB) plan were applied for 2028, using the Markov Artificial Neural Network and Multi-objective land allocation (MOLA) models. The results show that rapid urbanisation, caused by the expansion of human settlements and industrial areas, has led to a decline in the ESs in the region. Compared to the ESs in 2017, the service of water yield increases as urban expansion increases, whereas food production and recreation services decrease as urban expansion increases, under the BAU scenario. On the other hand, in the PB scenario, relatively better conditions can be observed for all three ESs. Considering that the ecological structures of this region have been severely affected by rapid urban expansion, the results of this research will be useful for maintaining the existing ESs and can greatly affect planning and decision-making regarding future development towards urban sustainability.

Crime Mitigation Strategies Utilised in Slum Areas of Nairobi, Kenya

The increase in urban population, occasioned by the rural-urban migration of young people has resulted in the expansion of informal settlements to accommodate the large numbers of low-income earners and the unemployed. This trend is replicated all across developing economies and in Kenya, it has resulted in the establishment of informal settlements such as Kangemi, Kawangware, Mathare, Mukuru, Korogocho, and Kibera, which is the largest in the whole continent. One of the negative implications of the growth of the informal settlement is the increase in criminal trends as most residents, particularly the youth resort to criminality as a way of making a living. In response, various strategies have been adopted to mitigate or rather prevent criminal activities in these informal settlements. This study focused on such strategies as used in four slums, which include Kibera, Mukuru, Mathare, and Korogocho. The study adopted the descriptive research design, which involved the collection and analysis of quantitative data using questionnaires. The data was collected from a sample of 659 residents of the four informal settlements who were randomly sampled. The data was input in the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) and then analysed using the descriptive method whereby the data was presented on tables based on percentages. The study concluded that crime was a big problem for informal settlement residents. However, one of the most prevalent crimes included illicit brew, general robbery, muggings, and burglary. The residents claimed that the government was less concerned about resolving crime. The residents, however, acknowledged the significant role that they can play in solving crime in the slums and that community participation was critical in bringing on board all stakeholders. They have, therefore, organised themselves as communities to tackle crime and insecurity in their neighbourhood. Some of the crime prevention programs adopted include community policing, police patrols, vigilante groups, erecting gates and fences, village security committees, and the employment of night guards. The study recommended increased collaboration between state and non-state actors to combat crime in informal settlements and the enhancement of the existing community policing initiatives.

Investigating metropolitan change through mathematical morphology and a dynamic factor analysis of structural and functional land-use indicators

We presented an operational rationale grounded on complex system thinking to quantify structural and functional landscape transformations along three stages representative of post-war metropolitan development in Rome, Italy (urbanisation with population/settlement densification, 1949–1974; suburbanisation with medium-density settlement expansion, 1974–1999; counter-urbanisation with settlement sprawl, 1999–2016). A mathematical morphology approach assessing the geometric form of land patches and a multi-way factor analysis (MFA) of landscape metrics were used to investigate the joint evolution of urban form and land-use functions over time. The empirical results of the MFA delineated the multivariate relationship between nine land-use classes (with distinctive socioeconomic functions) and seven morphological types (reflecting different landscape structures) according to four observation times (1949, 1974, 1999, 2016). Taken as an intrinsic attribute of complex landscape systems experiencing intense transformations, an estimation of the ‘rapidity-of-change’ in the form-functions relationship at a given development stage was derived from MFA outcomes separately for urbanisation, suburbanisation, and counter-urbanisation. A simplified form-functions relationship, reflecting the spatial polarisation in compact settlements and rural (low-density) landscapes, was observed with compact urbanisation. By stimulating urban sprawl into fringe farmland, suburbanisation resulted in patchy and heterogeneous rural landscapes. Counter-urbanization was associated with the fragmentation of built-up settlements leading to a chaotic mosaic of land structures that mixes urban and rural traits. Rapidity-of-change in form-function relationships was greater during suburbanisation than urbanisation and counter-urbanisation. It reflects the intrinsic pressure of economic growth in contemporary cities.

Spatiotemporal change detection of land use land cover (LULC) in Fashiakhali wildlife sanctuary (FKWS) impact area, Bangladesh, employing multispectral images and GIS

Land cover change has posed significant concerns to biodiversity and climate change in Bangladesh and globally. Despite the country’s designation of forest regions as protected areas to conserve their valuable resources, deforestation and forest conversion remained unabated. Fashiakhali Wildlife Sanctuary (FKWS), a protected area in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and its surrounding forested impact area have experienced considerable changes over the years, yet are deficient in extensive assessment. This study evaluated the land use land cover (LULC) changes in the FKWS impact area over almost 3 decades (1994–2021) using multispectral remotely sensed data. The Landsat images of 1994, 2001, 2010, and 2021 were classified using a maximum likelihood algorithm and analyzed for change detection. The comparative potential of vegetation indices, including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), in forest cover assessment, and the relationship between Land Surface Temperature (LST) and NDVI was also assessed. A significant forest cover loss of around 1117.17 ha (16%) was recorded in the FKWS impact area between 1994 and 2021, with the hugest proportion of 867.78 ha (12.24%) deforested in the first period (1994–2001). Agricultural land also declined by 593.73 ha (8.37%) within the entire period, despite its initial increase of 392.04 ha (5.53%) between 2001 and 2010, being the primary driver of earlier deforestation. However, in the recent decade (2010–2021), settlement expansion of 963.90 ha (13.59%) due to massive human migration in the area contributed to the most remarkable overall land cover change of 1731.51 ha (24.42%). Furthermore, NDVI provided a better and more accurate forest cover assessment than SAVI and was recommended to aid in the quick evaluation and monitoring of the future impacts of agriculture, settlement, and other sorts of land use on the forest cover. In tandem with the widely acknowledged issue of increased temperature due to climate change, an absolute negative correlation was found between the NDVI and LST, confirming the negative impact of climate change on forest loss in the FKWS impact area.

Growing population of the critically endangered white-thighed colobus monkey (Colobus vellerosus) from forest fragments in Ghana

Abstract The population of critically endangered white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus) at Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (BFMS) is possibly the only growing population of this species in West Africa. We assessed the current population status of C. vellerosus in BFMS and the surrounding fragments in Ghana. We undertook a complete count of the population in 2020, and this data was combined with previously conducted complete counts from 1990 to 2014. Results show that the total population growth rate of colobus monkeys at BFMS and the surrounding forest fragments was 353.9% between the 1990 and 2020 censuses (at a rate of 11.8% annually). In the BFMS alone, the total population growth rate was 252.3% between 1990 and 2020 (i.e., at a rate of 8.4% annually). The total population growth rate in the surrounding forest fragments was 97.0% between the first census year of 1997 and the 2020 census (i.e., at a rate of 4.2% annually). The mean group size in the BFMS was 16.7 individuals (SD = 4.0; range = 9–25), while that of the surrounding forest fragments was 14.4 individuals (SD = 4.6; range = 9–23). The overall mean group size was 16.1 individuals (SD = 4.3; range = 9–25). An approximate ratio of one adult male to three adult females (1:3.4) and one adult female to one immature (1:1.2) is an indication that the population of C. vellerosus still has the potential to increase further when new suitable forest fragments are explored in the future. C. vellerosus has the potential to increase further in population in small, suitable fragments if habitat destruction and settlement expansion are managed with primate conservation intentions.

Human-environment interaction systems between regional and continental scales in mid-latitude Eurasia during 6000�C3000 years ago

<p>The Late Neolithic and Bronze Ages witnessed the extensive expansion of human settlements, along with the dispersal of crops and livestock originating from West and East Asia. These events profoundly reshaped the human-environment relationship in mid-latitude Eurasia and the underlying trans-Eurasian exchange. While the processes and factors that underpin the interaction between human societies and ever-changing environments have been a heated debate in various regions of Eurasia, there is still a lack of synergistic discussion regarding human-environment interactions at regional and continental scales. To this end, we provide a comprehensive review and synthesis of updated radiocarbon dates and archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological data from sites dated between 6000 and 3000 cal. yr BP in mid-latitude Eurasia, coupled with associated archaeological and palaeoclimatic records. The results reveal the emergence and expansion of a number of regional settlement centers along the prehistoric Silk Roads and Eurasian Steppes during the 6<sup>th</sup>�C4<sup>th</sup> millennium cal. yr BP. The prime drivers include the spread of new technologies, human migration, and climate change. As a result of successful food production and increasing social complexity, many areas have experienced rapid population growth, creating a foundation for subsequent widespread expansion of farming and herding communities across Eurasia. Under this overarching picture, many regional patterns arose due to specific natural and social conditions, weaving into broad spatiotemporal variations across Eurasia. A new conceptual model is proposed to depict this feedback loop of the interaction between human-environment systems at and between regional and continental scales.</p>

Qualitative Analysis of Onsite Sanitation Challenges in an Urban Setting: The Case of Jimma Town, Ethiopia.

On-site sanitation is the most popular sanitation option for households in many African countries, including Ethiopia. Despite the option being common, there are challenges attributed to the sustainability of those facilities. This community-based exploratory study aimed to explore the challenges in the provision of safe urban on-site sanitation in Jimma town, Ethiopia. Data were collected through key informant semi-structured interviews, transit walks through the village, and focus group discussion (FGD). The FGD was audio recorded and notes were taken by experts. Records and notes were transcribed separately and thematically analyzed. Three major themes or challenges were discovered. Accordingly, the first theme was the community's perception and taboos surrounding human waste. The second theme was urban land use and informal settlements. Ensuring standards separately for sanitation facilities is difficult because of the expansion of illegal settlements. The third theme was poor sanitation planning, operation and maintenance, and institutional setting. Urbanization without infrastructure generally has a complex nature that leads to a fragile sanitation situation in the future. The results suggest the need for multi-dimensional system development and a collaborative sanitation master plan. Furthermore, interventions aimed at breaking the taboo on human waste as a sanitation platform may turn challenges into opportunities.

Old Canaan in a New World: Native Americans and the Lost Tribes of Israel

Old Canaan in a New World: Native Americans and the Lost Tribes of Israel

The complexities of urban informality: A multi-dimensional analysis of residents' perceptions of life, inequality, and access in an Iranian informal settlement

Informal settlements constitute a prominent form of urbanization across the world. The rapid growth of Yazd presents an example of informal urbanization in Iran at the nexus of development, poverty, and inequality. While scholarship on urban informality is abundant, a lacuna exists in the literature on systematic quantitative research on informality among urban residents. The present study investigates residents' perceptions regarding informality and captures their responses before and after the expansion of an informal settlement in Yazd. Through this quantitative research, we aim to articulate and highlight specific domains of informality, offering a framework assessing the complexities of informality that extend beyond only Iranian informal settlements. This paper analyzes the status of urban informality and migration in terms of their social, economic, physical, environmental, and urban management characteristics in “Airport Neighborhood”, a prominent Yazd neighborhood. This paper seeks to add theoretical and empirical depth to the categorization of distinct yet overlapping domains of informality. Our quantitative approach to migration and informality informs our central research question: How does the complexity of informality affect different groups of people living in one informal settlement? We find that recent migrants to the settlement are less involved in urban governance, women experience improved work opportunities after moving to the informal settlement but remain marginalized, and insufficient and poorly maintained infrastructure operates as a significant barrier to socio-economic stability and mobility. We also find that urban settlement results in increased debt among residents in Airport Neighborhood, and that youth unemployment is a significant issue that did not improve for recent migrants to the neighborhood despite young people citing employment as a key motivating factor for migration. Our empirical work highlights the theoretical complexity of informality, as subgroups of people face varying challenges that correlate with their age, gender, and time spent in a particular informal settlement.

Architectural design response to population issue in sub-Saharan cities

Overpopulation is a serious global problem, and it is predicted to get worse in future if unchecked; accompanied with threat of dwindling resources. The increase in population and its effect on the housing sector is surfacing as clog in the wheel of efforts at reducing Africa’s housing deficits. How then can urban life continue to thrive in the existing housing issues in colonial, sub-Saharan city of Enugu, exploiting architectural design strategies is what the study investigates. It utilized a qualitative research approach of survey and participant observation in which data were collected and analysed based on thematic content analysis. Gross housing deficit, increased housing rent, emergence and expansion of squatter settlement, Land use conversion and slum conditions are some observable effects of population growth due to urbanization and rural-urban drift in the city; Statistics of public housing provision between 1999-2020, showed an over focus on high-income earners, neglecting the majority low-income population. Therefore, architect’s intervention in the housing sector should be strategic, holistic and proactive and encourage use of local materials, vertical development, dry construction and stakeholder’s participation in delivery process. The study concludes that futuristic architecture holds the key to humanity’s continued stewardship on earth and a sustainable housing delivery.

PERKEMBANGAN KANAL OUD BATAVIA ABAD XVII–XX: TINJAUAN SEJARAH PERKOTAAN

Urban environmental problems such as flooding and water pollution have actually occurred in Jakarta (formerly Batavia) since the Dutch colonial era. Batavia was one of the cities with a myriad of urban planning problems, such as canal flooding which continues to this day. This article was written to find the root of the water problem in Jakarta by reviewing the development of canal construction from the Oud Batavia to the Nieuwe Batavia era. This study was conducted to identify the colonial government’s methods for dealing with flooding and repairing problematic canals. Thus, this research is expected to provide an insight for the current government on ways to deal with flood problems in Jakarta in the contemporary era. Results show that the expansion of settlements from Kota Tua to Weltevreden was also influenced by the dirty canal environment in Oud Batavia. Dirty, sedimentary, and problematic canals were restored, but the old problems persist. Then, Weltevreden was chosen as Ommelanden (expansion area) of Oud Batavia.