Addressing urban expansion using feature-oriented spatial data in a peripheral area of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Abstract

a b s t r a c tBecause of the lack of time-series spatial data on urban components, urban expansion in developing countries has usually been studied using a pixel-based approach, despite the coarse spatial resolution associated with this technique. To understand the residential-scale processes involved in urban expansion, we developed feature-oriented GIS data extracted from very high spatial resolution satellite images (IKONOS for 2000 and Quickbird for 2006 and 2008). We selected a fringe area of Ulaanbaatar, the capital municipality of Mongolia, as a case study. Residential plots in this area have developed in an unplanned manner owing to the poor execution of land reform policy. This study facilitated the residential-scale delineation of the significantly expanding area occupied by private land plots in time series. It also permitted the identification of geographical factors driving the expansion. Using a logistic regression model, we found that such expansion is related to social infrastructure rather than to natural landforms. In particular, new plots of private land tended to be built near pre-existing plots and in proximity to roads and water kiosks (which provide essential drinking water for residents). These findings and the probability map predicted by the model have implications for urban planners and decision makers.

Understanding urbanization and its impact on the livelihood levels of urban residents in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

“…However, in paralleling the economic and urbanization transformations, the “ ger ” has changed in structure and meaning. Many rural migrants relocate to the city and reassemble their ger in peri‐urban areas (Tsutsumida et al, ). Because these settlements are informal, ger areas often lack basic infrastructure and services (Diener & Hagen, ), and have become gathering areas for low‐income rural migrants.…”

“…One of the most pressing issues is the inequality in livelihoods between urban residents and rural migrants who live in peri‐urban areas (Tsutsumida, Saizen, Matsuoka, & Ishii, ), although these rural migrants are classified as urban residents . Due to the largely unplanned nature of Mongolian urban expansion and the de facto informality of the settlements (Battsetseg, ; Bolchover, ), the urban fringes in Mongolia often lack basic infrastructure and services, such as electricity, sewerage and garbage disposal, drinking water supply (Diener & Hagen, ), and roads (Tsutsumida et al, ). Most migrants who live in such areas thus have difficulties meeting basic living standards (Sigel, Altantuul, & Basandorj, ).…”

“…However, to date, the relationship between urbanization and the livelihood levels of urban residents has received relatively limited scholarly attention, especially in the context of Mongolia. The literature on Mongolia's urbanization has mainly focused on three aspects, namely, (a) urban land use (Amarsaikhan, Blotevogel, & Chinbat, ; Amarsaikhan et al, ; Purevtseren, Tsegmid, Indra, & Sugar, ), (b) environmental change (Fan, Chen, & John, ; Park, Fan, Ranjeet, & Chen, ; Sukhnaran, ), and (c) migration patterns (Diener & Hagen, ; Guttikunda, Lodoysamba, Bulgansaikhan, & Dashdondog, ; Miller, ; Tsutsumida et al, ). The few studies that analyze the livelihood levels of rural migrants, in turn, are devoted to describing rather than explaining.…”

Quantifying Urban Fragmentation under Economic Transition in Shanghai City, China

“…A number of megacities, which denote a metropolitan area with a population over 10 million, emerged in Asia [2,3]. However, Asian megacities develop in an uncontrolled manner, posing great threats to urban sustainability [4]. Megacity development typically involves two processes, namely expansion and fragmentation [5,6].…”

“…The specific geographical, political and socioeconomic context should be considered in the investigation of urban fragmentation, given that urban development is not uniform in its occurrence [4]. The dramatic economic transition in China provides a unique example to study urban fragmentation [15].…”