PUBLIC DEFENCE – Ahmad Adeel
“Insights into the impact of mega transport infrastructure projects on the transformation of the urban fabric of Lahore”

 

  • Date: 7 March 2022
  • Location: online via Zoom (registration required)
  • Time: 5 p.m. CET
  • Registration is mandatory: Click here
  • Official invitation: Click here

 

The KU Leuven Faculty of Architecture kindly invites you to attend the public PhD defence of Ahmad Adeel

 

Abstract:

The goal of this Ph.D. research is to gain insights into the impacts of mass transit systems on the transformation of surrounding urban fabric in relation to transit-oriented development (TOD) in Lahore. It emphasizes the fact that diversified arrangements of TOD can be taken into account conferring the varying characters of different urban areas instead of one-size-fits-all approach of TOD.  It also focuses on the urban streetscape transformation processes that resulted from the construction of mass transit corridors, taking into account the aspects of proximity, accessibility benefits, and characteristics of collective spaces. Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan with more than 11 million inhabitants, is characterized by a mix of high and low-density developments. To effectively meet the transport demand and to provide the city with a high-quality transit facilities system an integrated mass transit system has been developed in the form of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). These mass transit corridors balance mobility and amenity, providing more optimal economic outcomes to metropolitan conglomerations in general: residential and commercial activities increase in value due to the proximity to transport corridors. The primary aim of this research is to provide in-depth insights into the spatial transformations processes that took place around BRT corridor stations. This research concentrates on the intermediate scale to investigate phenomena of land use transformation, streetscape activity shifts, reconfiguration of properties, densification and land use revitalization within a 500-meter buffer around BRT transit stations.  It uses both quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to detect changes in the urban fabric around BRT stations. Qualitative analysis helps to analyze stakeholders’ perspectives and issues  and  provided in-depth knowledge about the gentrification and displacement pressure induced after the implementation of the BRT project. Quantitative analysis allows to estimate the changes in the urban fabric and to identify certain factors that contributed to land use transformations, such as dynamic socio-economic conditions, varying population densities, road widths and plot sizes. Lastly, to understand the multiplicity of sustainable TOD patterns around BRT stations of varying character, an understanding of preferences of the users of roads and adjacent buildings  is critically assessed through the technique of visual stated preference surveys. Based on the detailed insights gained during this research, diversified arrangements of sustainable TOD is proposed for old urban tissues and newly developed prosperous urban areas. This research concludes that, instead of applying a uniform smart growth strategy, the local urban planners and designers of Lahore must translate their visions of TOD through area sensitive master plans which are socially inclusive, market sensitive, and rooted in fiscal realities and thoroughly consulted with stakeholders.

Examination committee

Supervisors:

Prof. dr. Bruno Notteboom (promotor, KU Leuven)

Prof. dr. ir. Ansar Yasar (promotor, UHasselt)

Assessors:

Prof. dr. Viviana d’Auria (KU Leuven)

Dr. Jeroen Stevens (KU Leuven)

Members:

Prof. dr. Gustavo de Siquiera (GU Tech)

Prof. dr. Greet De Block (UAntwerp)

Prof. dr. ir. Tom Bellemans (UHasselt)

Chair:

Prof. dr. Burak Pak (KU Leuven)