الفهرس 
Literature Review on Space and Social LifeOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This thesis seeks to prove how socio-economic factors are very dependent on spatial variables. Cairo, a fragmented city where rich and poor people live side by side, is chosen as a case study to test out various interdisciplinary approaches and theories.
Guided by literature on relationships of societal and spatial factors the research develops a ‘comprehensive approach’ derived from Space Syntax theory, to investigate the mutual relations of the spatial layout of built environment and socio-economic aspects at both a city and a settlement levels. Four methodological procedures (space syntax, observation, questionnaire, document analysis) are employed to fill in the items of the developed framework. After reviewing different insights on physical and social issues, a methodology chapter is introduced to elaborate the elected research methods.
The empirical part of this thesis consists of three chapters, first of which investigates the implications of the spatial configuration of the street network on the socio-economic profile in various neighborhoods in Cairo metropolitan area. Second of which extends the findings of the previous chapter through investigating the correlation between spatial factors and the distribution of internal and edge commercial land use. Furthermore, the relationship between spatial parameters and pedestrian movement pattern is examined in this chapter. Third of which incorporates the results of the previous chapters in the interpretation phase, questionnaire. That is to understand issues related to demographic profile, belongingness, places of interaction and safety, as well as revealing the correspondence between physical and social segregation. The cases used here are three informal areas in Cairo: Ezbet Bekhit, Ezbet Al-Nasr and Abu Qatada. The first two areas are located on State owned desert land close to the city center, while the third area is located on private agricultural land illegally built on the fringe of the city. Informal settlements are chosen because they are self-grown and not influenced by plans or land use regulations.
The findings at a city level showed that social factors are significantly correlated with the spatial structure of the street network on city-wide scales. Zooming in, disadvantaged areas display a strong internal spatial structure, while at the same time lacking external links to the surrounding areas and the whole city. On the other hand, the findings at a settlement level showed that the distribution of commercial activities takes place on plots that are located along the spatially most integrated parts of the neighborhoods in relation to the whole city. Furthermore, syntactic variables were related significantly to pedestrian movement flow. Besides, the results of questionnaires demonstrated that informal settlements have territorial preference, and are generally socially excluded. Seemingly, this complements the results of previous chapters.
Taken all together, urban and social segregation are closely related. Seemingly, spatial segregation makes the framework for aggravating social segregation. Therefore, improving the spatial integration should also stimulate social as well as economic integration.
The current planning practice in Cairo, however, contributes to create the spatial conditions for aggravating the social segregation processes between various social groups. Studying the forces which produce these poor spatial conditions would invariably help reverse the vicious cycle of urban decline apparent in the city. There is also a challenge to implement the use of space syntax analyses in strategic urban planning in Cairo. Nonetheless, improving connectivity is likely to generate new movement patterns that will draw in new economies, stimulate investment and so stimulate the “virtuous cycle” of regeneration.