Residential Housing Development Research Articles

Development of a decision support system using data warehousing to assist builders/developers in site selection

Site selection process depends on a number of spatial and business-related factors, making it a complex decision-making task. It is common for the decision makers to use their subjective judgment and gut feelings based on their experience in selecting the most appropriate site for development. The reason is that data for site selection originate from varied sources and are not organized in a format that decision makers can readily use to derive any meaningful information. One possible solution of this problem is to develop a decision support system (DSS) to help retrieve data from different databases and information sources and analyze them in order to provide useful and explicit information. Based on this concept, a DSS is presented in this paper as an aid to builders/developers in site selection for residential housing development. The prototype DSS is developed using data warehousing technology, which is a fairly recent database management technique. It is an improved approach for integrating data from multiple, often very large, distributed, heterogeneous databases and other information sources. Data warehousing is based on online analytical processing (OLAP) concept. The OLAP analyzes data using special data warehousing schemas and enables users to view data using any combination of variables. The users can also generate data trends over a period of time to make any forecasts. First reviewed in this paper are the concepts of data warehousing, OLAP and advantages of the data warehouse over traditional databases in the context of decision making. Next, a step-by-step methodology is presented to illustrate the different stages of the prototype DSS development. The DSS design is illustrated with particular emphasis on the development of data warehousing schemas and analytical processing techniques. The prototype DSS has been developed with input and refined with feedback obtained from selected local builder/developer companies. Finally, the application of the prototype DSS for selecting the most appropriate residential site for development from among a list of several available sites is presented.

Development of a decision support system using data warehousing to assist builders/developers in site selection

Site selection process depends on a number of spatial and business-related factors, making it a complex decision-making task. It is common for the decision makers to use their subjective judgment and gut feelings based on their experience in selecting the most appropriate site for development. The reason is that data for site selection originate from varied sources and are not organized in a format that decision makers can readily use to derive any meaningful information. One possible solution of this problem is to develop a decision support system (DSS) to help retrieve data from different databases and information sources and analyze them in order to provide useful and explicit information. Based on this concept, a DSS is presented in this paper as an aid to builders/developers in site selection for residential housing development. The prototype DSS is developed using data warehousing technology, which is a fairly recent database management technique. It is an improved approach for integrating data from multiple, often very large, distributed, heterogeneous databases and other information sources. Data warehousing is based on online analytical processing (OLAP) concept. The OLAP analyzes data using special data warehousing schemas and enables users to view data using any combination of variables. The users can also generate data trends over a period of time to make any forecasts. First reviewed in this paper are the concepts of data warehousing, OLAP and advantages of the data warehouse over traditional databases in the context of decision making. Next, a step-by-step methodology is presented to illustrate the different stages of the prototype DSS development. The DSS design is illustrated with particular emphasis on the development of data warehousing schemas and analytical processing techniques. The prototype DSS has been developed with input and refined with feedback obtained from selected local builder/developer companies. Finally, the application of the prototype DSS for selecting the most appropriate residential site for development from among a list of several available sites is presented.

THE EMERGENCE OF AFFLUENCE IN BEIJING: RESIDENTIAL SOCIAL STRATIFICATION IN CHINA'S CAPITAL CITY

Since 1987, the Chinese government has begun to liberalize its approach to land markets, allowing for the development of commercial residential housing and sparking greater distinctions in housing quality. At the same time, there have been growing income differentials among Beijing's residents. This paper discusses how Beijing's new urban affluent have begun to take advantage of greater housing choices. It reports on a survey conducted in 1997 that uncovers the occupational characteristics, consumption patterns, housing characteristics, and residential locations of affluent residents. The results indicate that Beijing's new urban affluent are beginning to share some of the consumption features of middle-class Westerners. At the same time, social segregation is still nascent in Beijing. There is now only a sprinkling of affluent neighborhoods in the city, and a slight majority of wealthier respondents continue to live in public housing. Moreover, few are able to afford detached single-family housing or a private automobile. The continuation of current trends could both deepen and broaden social segregation in Beijing, as class divisions come to be manifested in separate neighborhoods. [Key words: socialist cities, affluence, Beijing, housing, social stratification.]

Symptoms of Nitrogen Saturation in a Riparian Wetland

Riparian forests are in a unique position in the landscape since they form a transition between uplands and aquatic systems. These ecosystems may be highly susceptible to nitrogen (N) saturation since they may be subject to high inputs of N from upland areas. We measured potential net N mineralization and nitrification, soil inorganic N levels, microbial biomass carbon (C) and N content, and the N content of litter as indicators of N saturation in two riparian zones on the eastern and western sides of a stream. The sites had similar soils, vegetation, and hydrology, but differing upland land use. The eastern or "enriched" site was downgradient of a dense residential housing development (built in the 1950s) that produced high groundwater nitrate (NO3—) concentrations. The western or "control"site had an undeveloped upland. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate if groundwater NO3— loading had induced changes in surface soil N—cycle processes that are symptoms of N saturation in the enriched site and (2) to evaluate these changes in relation to inputs and outputs of N to the site. Soil inorganic—N levels, litter N content, and potential net N mineralization and nitrification were significantly higher on the enriched site relative to the control site, suggesting that the enriched site and N saturated. However, input—output analysis indicated that the enriched site was still a sink for upland derived NO3—. High rates of denitrification and storage of N in soil organic matter appear to moderate N saturation on the enriched site.

The Political Economy of Growth Management

In this article, the economic impact of local growth management policy is examined based upon a market model of local demand for growth. This model provides the foundation for this inquiry and also a general theoretical framework to integrate previous analysis of residential growth and growth management with studies of economic development. The core assumption of this model is that local growth management actions have adverse consequences for economic growth, particularly for local housing markets. After reviewing the evidence regarding the economic consequences of growth management, a pooled time series regression technique was used to test this assumption by examining the effects of the implementation of Florida's Growth Management Act (GMA) on residential housing development from 1986 to 1991. The results suggest a negative relationship between growth management and development.

Residential land use policy and condominium housing development: The Singapore experience

The success of Singapore's public housing land use policy has been well documented, but little is known of Singapore's land use policy regarding private housing. In the 1970s government concern over urban sprawl and the shortage of private housing led to the adoption of the condominium concept as a planning device for private housing development. This article assesses the extent to which the objectives of this policy have been fulfilled by an analysis of the development of condominiums and their effect on the property market.

Design Considerations and Operating Tips for Small Residential Systems

In New Hampshire, many residential housing developments fall outside the service areas of the state's acknowledged private or municipal water utilities. In many cases, developers have installed small residential community water systems to meet the drinking water needs of a rapidly growing population. Proper design and installation are crucial to providing long‐term quality service to this customer group.

Housing Construction in Areas of Mine Subsidence

Many areas in the United States are underlain by abandoned mines and many more areas will be undermined in the future. As mine cavities collapse they cause settlement and ground distortions on the surface which may damage or destroy buildings and utilities. Many of these subsidence-prone areas are presently used or will be used in the future for residential housing development. Three problems associated with the development of mine subsidence areas are addressed: Site exploration and evaluation; site development; and housing construction in mine subsidence areas. This paper is derived from a study sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.