From cultural codes to spatial measures: A methodological framework for informal settlement analysis

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Abstract
Informal settlements may appear chaotic, yet often follow internal orders shaped by cultural principles. However, systematic approaches to analyzing and understanding cultural-spatial codes remain lacking. This paper discusses a methodological framework for quantitatively investigating socio-spatial patterns within informal settlements and presents its implementation for Bedouin informal settlements in the Israeli Negev. The framework draws on qualitative data and morphological analysis to examine these settlements’ spatio-cultural order. It generates individual and unified measures of adherence to cultural codes, thereby revealing cultural variation across communities. Our implementation demonstrates how Bedouin communities adhere to the Bedouin Spatial Code, revealing structured spatial patterns that persist despite forced relocation and other external pressures. Distinguishing code components by their relationship to the landscape shows that those less tied to physical geography exhibit greater variation, making them more adaptable for planning interventions. This demonstrates how the framework advances the study of cultural-spatial codes, opening avenues for comparative and longitudinal analyses of socio-spatial order in informal settlements.
Funding Information
  • University of Toronto - Hebrew University of Jerusalem Research and Training Alliance

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