The study focused on the issue of urban growth in the municipality of Gharyan, and the area of Tghasat, being the administrative and service center. The date of the study was drawn from reports issued by the General Authority for Information and Documentation (population and building census), the Civil Status Authority (Civil Registry) in the municipality of Gharyan, the Libyan National Center Meteorology (climate data), and the Urban Planning Authority. The Researcher also relied on topographic maps, the Gharyan geological map in 1992 AD, space visuals, statistical methods, and field study. The chapters of the thesis were as follows:
The First Chapter is concerned with studying the natural geographical factors affecting urban growth in the study area, and the impact of climate on urban growth, and it was clear that the prevailing climate contributed to the development of the characteristics of the place.
The Second Chapter tackled the population in Tghasat area in terms of size, geographical growth and distribution, population density and their (age, gender and economic) composition, along with the impact of demographic variables on urban growth during the period (1980 -2017), through the application of a number of laws that explain the real urban growth in Tghasat.
The Third Chapter approached the urban growth in Tghasat. The Researcher initiated with a synopsis about the origin of the population and the naming thereof, then addressed the urban upbringing and development of Tghasat and pointed to the stages, scale, trends and themes of urban growth, with an analysis of the mass of urban during the period (1550–2018).
The Fourth Chapter, the Researcher studied the uses of land in Tghasat according to the urban plan of (1980-2000), and presented a map of the use of land (2018), depending on the space visuals of 2018.
The Fifth Chapter approached the influence of educational, health, administrative and commercial services in Tghasat and emphasized the methods of spatial analysis of the distribution of these services depending on the method of territorial centralization tendency and measures of territorial dispersion and spread approach as well as the analysis of geographical proximity approach “Buffering”.
The Sixth Chapter however, tackled the urban structure in Tghassat. It began with the urban morphology, and discussed the housing patterns; including the number of floors; the structural composition; the ownership and characteristics; and the internal structure of the residential buildings. The Researcher was interested in studying the plan, shape and patterns of urban growth.
Finally, the Seventh Chapter, dealt with the urban problems resulting from urban growth while proposing solutions therefor. Also, the chapter discussed the future of population and urban growth in Tghasat, accompanied with prediction of the future urban space until the year 2032 AD, and future trends of the urban mass, providing of alternatives to urban expansion in Tghasat, all within and beyond the limits of its basic scheme.
Findings of the Study: The key finding of the Study is that the urban growth in the territory under study was not balanced, according to the statistical results of the equation of concentration manual, which led to the population getting centralized in particular areas. The overall percentage of centralization in the municipality amounted at (24.5%) on the area of (1846 km2). Tghasat however had the highest population concentration rate of (8.4%) over an area of (3.7%). This indicates the centralization of a population in Tghasat comparing to the rest of the urban areas; leading to imbalance in the urban form of the city. The findings also showed that the lack of residential schemes and delays in its implementation led, largely, to the urban sprawl towards agricultural land, which is expected to increase urban mass in 2032 to (23.90 km2) i.e., an increase of (8.106 km2) comparing to 2018, when the increase in the amount of 2032 will reach (14.65 km2) comparing to 2000.
The Researcher recommends encourage reverse migration of urban extension in Tghasat adjacent localities through the provision of different services, and the establishment of residential projects by the state to become favorite places for accommodation.
The study also recommends not to lose agricultural land and to prioritize the public interest over the private one, so that it does not become a constraint that directs planning towards the south, however planning should rather be based on priorities, while finding better solutions for the population. Moreover, this could be maintained through compensation thereof or replacing their lands with other government lands. This is based on a comprehensive future vision for the uses of the land in Tghasat that is in line with all its residential, commercial and educational functions and adapts to the size of the future population. |
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