Dynamics of urbanization and habitat transformation in outer metropolitan areas : a case study of Ladkrabang District in Bangkok Metropolis | |
| Author | Pastraporn Meesiri |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.UE-11-02 |
| Subject(s) | Urbanization--Thailand--Bangkok Land use--Thailand--Bangkok |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Environmental Management, School of Environment Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | When a City is growing with many urban activities and accommodating a new migrant population it expands to surrounding areas forming many new communities. Usually, urban communities consist of different kinds of people from various social strata who engage in different activities. The overall objective of the dissertation is to analyze the dynamics of urbanization and habitat transformation in an outer metropolitan area of Bangkok. Ladkrabang District, an emerging sub-center of Bangkok in the Eastern pa1t of Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA) was selected for this research. In 2008, there were 32,695 households in this area comprising both local people and migrants. For the study purpose, a random sample of 602 households was drawn from this sub-population. They were identified from the list of registered households at the respective sub-district offices of Ladkrabang District. The study placed emphasis on (!)economic growth, (2)land use change, (3)demographic change, ( 4 )spatial and physical transformation during the 1st to 7'h development plans of BMA (1975-2010). The survey of 602 respondents revealed that industrial, educational, commercial and service activities have emerged among agricultural activities and people engaged in those activities have led to create a mixed-community in general in Ladkrabang. The survey also revealed that there is not a single dominant group of people engaged in a particular economic activity although nearly 50% of the land in the district still remains as agricultural. Moreover, the places of living of original settlers, old migrants and new migrants did not show a clear pattern of segregation. There seems to be symbiotic relationship between traditional agricultural activities and contemporary urban activities and also traditional homogenous habitats and contemporary heterogeneous habitats. This co-existence is seen as a result of the change of focus in successive development plans of BMA and it is seen as a positive outcome in terms of creating socially, functionally and physically mixed multihabitats in Ladkrabang sub-center. However, in terms of achieving sustainable urban development the study finds lapses in social cohesion and good governance. Since the emerging trend of developing gated communities may segregate the society into new social classes based on economic status and undermine the endogenous development of a plural and inclusive society in Ladkrabang, the study recommend to adapt a participatory and collaborative approach to urban planning, plan implementation and environmental management. The study also recommend to continue with planning interventions for long-term sustainability of the Ladkrabang sub-center. At the theoretical level, the study recognized the change of focus of successive plans as a desirable planning strategy to gradually transform an area from a unitary habitat to a multi-habitat. Specific planning strategies as demonstrated by the 1st to 7'11 plans of Bangkok are needed to trigger the development of more mixed use areas instead of strict land use zones. It is argued that the progressive change of focus in successive development plans is an effective way to form socially and functionally mixed multihabitats and thereby a plural society. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Perera, Ranjith |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko ;Sajor, Edsel E. ;Amin, A.T.M. Nural ;Fujii, Toshinobu |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Austria (ADA) |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |