TRANSFORMATION OF ECOLOGICAL CONDITION IN URBAN

NEIGHBOURHOODS DUE TO DENSITY VARIATION

ARCH- 6106
Ecosystem And Built Environment Design
STD No : 0412012010

TRANSFORMATION OF ECOLOGICAL CONDITION IN URBAN

NEIGHBOURHOODS DUE TO DENSITY VARIATION

Abstract
The paper will focus on the comparative analysis on the ecological states of low to high density
neighborhoods of the urban context and the maximum satisfactory level of the users for the each type
of ecological state. The presence of different types of ecological elements and their relationship to the
built elements will be studied to understand the effects over user satisfaction. The amount of
vegetation present in a certain urban neighborhood and their positions will be listed to identify the
changes of ecological condition and level of satisfaction. Gross land use and land cover of different
neighborhoods will be another prior research to understand the ecological state. Finally, the paper
will focus on taking into account of the inherent values of environmental stability for urban
neighborhoods and design techniques and will facilitate creation of communities which are more
sustainable socially.

Keywords
Urban neighborhoods, ecological condition, user satisfaction, vegetation

Introduction
For sustainable living the urban environment needs to be in a balanced state. The density of an urban
neighbourhood should be such as so the residents of that neighbourhood may live a healthy life. To
identify the balanced state of healthy living it is necessary to know the transformation of urban
ecological conditions along with the variations of different elements of the neighbourhood. In Dhaka
city it is observed that, rapid urbanization has drastically changed the ecological conditions and so
that the urban neighbouhoods have also transformed in a state that the environment can not sustain
the biodiversity in a balanced way.
The paper focus on the transformations that occurs due to density variations in urban
neighbouhoods. To identify the transformations, the study of the urban neighbouhood is to be done
and so that the density of different areas is to be measured. The proportion of built area and green
area change according to the density variation of the urban neighbourhoods. The conversion of
infrastructures is being done to facilitate the increased population in urban neighbourhood. But the
conversion hampers the natural state of ecological balance if it is not done under appropriate
supervision to maintain the balanced state.

Definitions
Urban Area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison
to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not
commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets. Urban areas are created and
further developed by the process of urbanization. Measuring the extent of an urban area helps in
analyzing population density and urban sprawl, and in determining urban and rural populations.
Neigbourhood
A neighbourhoodis a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb.
Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among
members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition. Neighbourhood is generally defined
spatially as a specific geographic area and functionally as a set of social networks. Neighbourhoods,
then, are the spatial units in which face-to-face social interactions occur the personal settings and
situations where residents seek to realize common values, socialize youth, and maintain effective
social control.
Urban Environment
The urban environment refers to environments dominated by high-density residential and
commercial buildings, paved surfaces, and other intense human influences, which create a unique
landscape dissimilar to many previously studied environments in the field of ecology.
Urban Ecology
The scientific study of the relation of living organisms with each other and their surroundings in the
context of the proposed urban environment. Firstly, It describes urban design program or design that
incorporates political, infrastructure (roads, sewer etc.) and economic considerations in a balanced
manner. Secondly, it refers to the area of biology that is concerned with urban areas in terms of
relationships, interactions, types and number of species found within urban habitats.
Urban ecology posits that the urban realm is made up of four interrelated variables: a functionally
integrated population, a self-sustaining system of relationships, an urban environment, and the
technology and tools which sustain the community. A change in one will bring about a change in
the other three.

Objective Of The Paper

The basic objective of the paper is to figure out the relationship between the transformation of urban
ecology and the population density. In Dhaka city, the rapid urban growth has influenced the density
of the neighbouhoods. In recent years the density has increased in an enormous proportion. To
facilitate this increased population the infrastructure of urban neighbouhoods has been changed and
so that the urban ecological condition has been transformed.
In developed countries, it is seen that about 75% of urban area is retained for urban open space. So
that, the biodiversity can sustain. But in our Dhaka city the open spaces contain less than 15% where
the marginal recommendation is 25% of the total land area. The increase of density results in the
increase of built area occupying the urban open spaces and soaking surfaces. Moreover, the need of
transportation facilities of the increased population is satisfied by occupying green areas. This
transformation causes the biodiversity degradation. In unplanned neighbouhoods this degradation is
a serious problem because the infrastructure is not designed here. It is hoped that in planned
neighbourhoods of Dhaka city, the ecological state will remain balanced in spite rapid population
growth. Bu the degradation of biodiversity is also present here. To understand this causes the
elements urban ecology should be studied.
The understanding of this transformations needs the recognition of the elements that are responsible
for the transformations. The elements of biodiversity and sustainable urban environment is to be
identified and their changing patterns should be studied. This study will help to design the urban area
by organizing the elements to keep the urban environment in a balanced state. The effects of the
transformation can be assumed by this study so that the appropriate measures can be taken while
making any changes in the urban environment.

Methodology
The transformation of ecological state is a huge area of study because the transformation can
occur in a number of ways and in different time zones. Moreover the transformation is not same in
all types of neighbourhoods. The proportion of changes is not parallel in different part of a
certain neighbourhood. So, the end result of the study will differ from one urban neighbouhood to
another. Initially the basic concept of study may remain same but the detail surveying methods
and analysis may vary from one neighbourhood to another.
The procedure of the study can be described in three stages. The initial stage is the selection of
study area and identify the pattern of the area, its urban design features, infrastructure, built
environment and vegetation proportion, water drainage system, soaking areas etc.

Secondly, the density variation of different zones within the same infrastructure will be measured.
Along with that the changes of infrastructure that is done to facilitate the increased population will
be studied. The changes of proportion of built area and vegetated area, transformation of
drainage system and proportion of soaking area will be monitored to understand the
transformation of urban ecology.
Finally, The overall area of transformation and pattern of the changes will be identified and the ratio of
urban ecological elements present in the neighbouhood will be examined.

Initial Stage
Study Area Selection

Built Area

Green Area
Identification Of
Infrastructure

Open Space
Drainage
System
Road
Network

Analytical Stage
Identification Of
Density Variation in
Same Infrastructure

Identification Of
Transformation Of
Infrastructure

Final Stage
Overall Assumptions
Of Density Variation

Overall Assumption
Of Ecological
Transformation

Selection Of Study Area

The area is selected for the study considering some basic criteria.
?
the neighbourhood must be a planned urban area
?
the area should have planned infrastructure such as planned road network, storm water

drainage, proper planning for maximum built area, green area and open spaces, urban park,
adequate setbacks etc.
According to this criteria two sectors of Uttara (Sector-4 and 6) is selected. In the last few years
the urban neighbouhoods of Uttara is developed rapidly and density of population has increased
tremendously. Though the neighbourhood is planned as such that the area could sustain the
biodiversity but it has been experiencing some transformation of urban ecological state. In some
part of this two sectors the ecological conditions remain stable though density change has been
occurred but in some other areas the condition is getting worse.
Dhaka-Mymensingh Highways
Main Artery Roads
Secondary Roads (with footpaths on bothsides)
Tertiary Roads (without fottpaths)

Figure 1 : Uttara Sector -4(left) Sector-6(right)

Basic Informations Of The Selected Sites

The density of urban neighbourhood changes according to residential units in divided plots. the area
is planned with an organized infrastructe of plots, road networks, green belts, open spaces like parks
waklways and so on. The basic information of the area is given below
Plot Distribution
The plot size of Uttara sector-4 and sector -6 is generally 5 kathas(3600 sft). these are basically
residential plot size. while the plots of more than 10 kathas are situated along the tertiary roads.
Moreover there are some reserved plots of large size for the community services like school college
and hospital. The large plots are also developed for commercial use along the Dhaka-Mymensingh
Highways.
Road Networks
The road width of these two sectors is roughly three types. The Main artery Roads, the secondary
roads with footpaths on both sides and the tertiary roads without any footpaths. The main roads are
60 ft wide in average. The secondary roads are 30-40 ft wide and the tertiary roads are 20-30ft wide.
The main roads have 30 ft wide green belts on both side which acts as a green boundary between
roads and residential plots.
Open Space
There are some reserved plots which is developed as urban parks and playfields in sector-4 and
sector-6. The parks become the biodiversity hotspots for the species that are found in urban
neighbouhood. The footpaths of the secondary roads have large trees and soft paves in some parts.

Ecological Transformation And Density Variation Analysis

The density of the population depends on the number of family units live in a single plot. According to
RAJUK authority it is allowed to build up to six storied residential building on the plots of five kathas
which have 20-40 ft road width that are reserved for residential developments. At the initial stage the
plots are owned by a single person and the residence that were built was a single family dwelling. But
in recent years The buildings are constructed by developers and they used to build six storied
residential building with units on each floor leaving the ground floor for car parking space. If there is 5
persons in average in a family then the population increases from 5 to 50 in a single plot. this practice
is widely seen at the adjacent plots of main artery roads where commercial developments like
shopping centers, supermarkets and banks are in a walking distance and near the urban community
facilities like school college, hospitals and urban parks.

soakable surface

soakable surface

vegetation
vegetation
single family residence

6 storey
family residence

20 ft wide road

20 ft wide road

water drain

water drain

Figure 2 : Proportion of Built area and Green area due to density variation
The soakable surface that exists in single family residence is reduced to almost zero and the
egetation is made artificially which is not adequate in prrportion. It is seen that, in a single family
residence there are 40% built area and 60% open area is present where in a six storied building there
are 75% built area and only 25% open area is present. The 25 % open area is not always kept as
soakable green and the vegetation is not maintained by the dwellers. The plantation of potted plant is
practiced by the apartment dwellers.

soakable
surface

soakable
surface

single family residence

6 storey
family residence

vegetation

40 ft wide road

30 ft wide road

vegetation

water drain

covered
water drain

Figure 3 : Changes of Built area and Green area and drainage system due to density variation
The population growth has increased the number of vehicles running on the internal roads of the
neighbourhoods. The single family residence own only one car where in a six storied building there
may be 6-8 cars. Thus the number of vehicles increased to eight times for a single plot

soakable
non soakable area

non soakable area

covered area (set back)

6 storied residential building

5 x 2 x 5 = 50 occupancy (appx.)

non soakable area

green area (building vegetation)

uncovered drainage

soakable surface

higher frequency vehicular movement

uncovered drainage

non soakable area

green area (building landscape)

6 storied residential building

5 x 2 x 5 = 50 occupancy (appx.)

green area (back yard)

1-2 storied residential building

5 -6 occupancy (appx.)

green area (lawn)

low frequency
vehicular movement

uncovered drainage

green area (buffer area)

green area

4 storied residential building

4 x 5 = 20 occupancy (appx.)

Figure 4 : Proportion of Built area and Green area in same plot size

soakablenon soakable area

soakable surface

soakable non soakable area

Figure 5 : Proportion of Built area and Green area due to density variation

The increase of population density has caused increase of number of traffics and so that the widening
of roads become a necessity. For doing that the existing 30 ft wide road is widened to 40 ft and 10 ft
wide footpaths are reduced to 5 ft and in some places the water drains are covered and the footpaths
are made over the drains. The large trees that existed on the roadside are cut down in some places

soakable

4 storied residential building

4 x 5= 20 occupancy (appx.)

6 storied residential building

5 x 3 x 4= 60 occupancy (appx.)

building lanscape

non soakable area

pedestrian path

rainwater drainage

pedestrian path

building lanscape

set back

soakable

non soakable area

non soakable area

6 storied residential building

5 x 2 x 5= 50 occupancy (appx.)

green area (buffer area)

uncovered drainage

pedestrian path

rainwater drainage

green area (buffer area)

pedestrian path

uncovered drainage

set back

2 storied residential building

2 x 5= 10 occupancy (appx.)

and hence the proportion of vegetation is reduced

soakable

non soakable area

non soakable area

non soakable area

Figure 6 : Widening of Secondary roads by reducing width of footpaths and green area

Figure 7 : Widening of Secondary roads by reducing width of footpaths and green area
The main artery roads are seperater from the plots with green belts of 30 ft width on both sides and
there area footpaths and water drainage systems along with the plots. The plot size is larger than the
residential ones and they were developed as mixed use or commercial in most cases. So the building
needed exposer and service area in front of the plot facing the main road. To provide this facility the
green belt is reduced in some parts along with the plots. Therefor as supportive facility car parking
area is created. Now this situation is that the vendors occupied some parts of the green belt also.
Therefore the total green belt is reduced to 50% from the actual area.
main artery road
green belt
footpath
water drain

soakable surface
commercial
buildings

main artery road

extension of
commercial buildings
footpath
covered water drain
temporary structures
(vendors, teastall)
soakable surface
car parking and storage
commercial
buildings

outlet of water drain

Figure 8 : Transformation of infrastructure

The drainage system that are present along the main artery road is being covered at the access point
of the buildings. The footpath is widened also by covering the drain with slabs so the outlet is
minimized. Some extensions are built in recent years to facilitate the main buildings which reduced
the soakable surface of the plots. The green belt is also helpful to soak the rainwater but reduction of

soakable

15 storied commercial building

30 x 15= 450 occupancy (appx.)

set back converted into shops

6 storied residential building

5 x 2 x 5= 50 occupancy (appx.)

set back

uncovered drainage

pedestrian path

non soakable area

green area (buffer area)

rainwater drainage

soakable
non soakable area

covered drainage

soakable

non soakable area

green area (buffer area)

pedestrian path

uncovered drainage

set back

6 storied residential building

5 x 2 x 5= 50 occupancy (appx.)

non soakable area

pedestrian path

green area converted into

supportive commercial functions

rainwater drainage

green area converted into

supportive commercial functions

pedestrian path

covered drainage

set back

6 storied residential building

5 x 2 x 5= 50 occupancy (appx.)

that area has created an extra pressure over the water drainage system.

soakable
non soakable area

Figure 9 : Transformation of infrastructure along the main artery roads

non soakable area

Figure 10 : Destruction of green belt and water drainage system

The survey shows that the reduction of green area is very high along the connecting roads of the
Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway. The road widening and reduction of footpath width is seen where there
are residential plots on both sides of the roads. The roads that have parks on one side are changed at
all. The roads that have school and colleges have widened much and the drainage system is taken
completely underground. But the school fields are protected by the authority so those can be possible
opportunity for maintaining biodiversity. The fields also provide the necessary surface for rain water
soaking and the trees along the boundary of the school compound can play an important role to keep
the balance of green urban area.
School Compound

Dhaka-Mymensingh Highways

Urban Parks

Transformation occurred on the roads

Figure 11 : Degradation of ecological condition due to increase of population density

Conclusions
The overall survey indicates that, the increase of population density will hamper the urban
ecological balance. The increase of density also encourage the increase of number of traffic
which create a bad impact on natural state. the present infrastructure is suitable for present
density but it will be alarming if the density rise without any control. So it is necessary to think
about the density control and to restore the environment of urban neighbourhood to its actual
designed state. To do so some actions should be taken by the concerned authority.
The allowable building size and apartment number should be reduced considering the location so
that it will not create pressure on the existing road width. The vegetation area and green belt
should be protected by laws and the large trees should be maintained. The roadside trees should
be protected and nurtured. The internal soakable areas of the plots should be designed as such
so that it can get enough open space to get rain water. The drainage system should be protected
as it was designed and there should be a layer of vegetation between footpaths and drain if
possible so that the drains will no tbe encroached or covered by the adjacent dwellers. The
commercial settlements should be monitored so that they will not occupy the green belt and the
drain area for their service purpose. The allowable commercial use facing the green belt should
be prohibited to protect the zone from encroaching. There should be a thorough survey and study
to find the detail information of each and every corner of the total zone, so that the specific
problems of each individual plot and road can be identified and appropriate measures can be
taken. This study will help to design future extension of the neighbourhood or a new urban
neighbourhood in a way so that it will sustain the biodiversity in a ecologically balanced state.

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Qazi Azizul Mowla
Professor and Head of Department of Architecture
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology(BUET)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Eco-design and planning for sustainability in urban Dhaka
Qazi Azizul Mowla
Professor and Head of Department of Architecture
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology(BUET)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Changes in the traditional urban form and the social sustainability
of contemporary cities: A case study of Iranian cities
Ayyoob Sharifi, Akito Murayama
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Studies, Nagoya University, D2-1(510) Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya,
Aichi Prefecture 464-8601, Japan
Social ecology, sustainability, and economics
Raul P. Lejano(a), Daniel Stokols (b)
a Department of Planning, Policy, and Design, School of Social Ecology, SE-I, Room 218G,
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-7075, United States
b Department of Planning, Policy, and Design, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior,
School of Social Ecology, SE-I, Room 206C, University of California, Irvine,
Irvine, CA 92697-7075, United States