ROS Theses Repository

View Item 
  •   ROS Home
  • Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
  • Doctoral Theses (Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society)
  • View Item
  •   ROS Home
  • Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
  • Doctoral Theses (Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society)
  • View Item
  •   ROS Home
  • Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
  • Doctoral Theses (Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society)
  • View Item
  • Admin
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Equity in access to local services : exploring the impact of urban form and the role of preferences

View/Open
McKenzieC_0212_sbe.pdf (428.3Kb)
McKenzieC_0212_sbe(1).pdf (4.898Mb)
Date
2012-02
Author
McKenzie, Carol
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
Debates within the sustainable development agenda increasingly highlight the principle of intra-generational equity in promoting social sustainability. This research draws upon this principle to explore the role of urban forms in promoting social equity in access to local services. In the context of urban form and social sustainability, there has been relatively little research on the social dimension whilst precise meanings and agreement of what social equity is, in terms of how this may relate to urban forms, is unclear. However, whilst some claims support the view that mixed-use, high density compact urban forms provide better access to services and facilities, empirical evidence is lacking. A key objective of this research aims to test these claims by examining the relationship between different types of urban forms and service access issues. Through exploring the frequency of use of local services, the research uses this as an empirical method to confirm whether urban form factors or other factors, such as the role of individual choice and values, which can act to modify this relationship, influence equity in access. Geographical accessibility as well as local neighbourhood aspects is also examined. The research adopts a multi-methods approach, including secondary analysis of survey data and primary fieldwork involving case studies at the neighbourhood level. Findings reveal that aspects of urban form influence frequency of use, although other explanatory factors such as local social conditions, urban design factors, and individual choice can also have a large influence. Thus the role of urban forms in promoting social equity in access is not as simple as is sometimes portrayed, and depends a good deal on the social context.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10399/2582
Collections
  • Doctoral Theses (Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society)

Browse

All of ROSCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitles

ROS Administrator

LoginRegister
©Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK EH14 4AS.

Maintained by the Library
Tel: +44 (0)131 451 3577
Library Email: libhelp@hw.ac.uk
ROS Email: open.access@hw.ac.uk

Scottish registered charity number: SC000278

  • About
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility
  • Policies
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • Feedback
AboutCopyright
AccessibilityPolicies
Privacy & Cookies
Feedback
 
©Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK EH14 4AS.

Maintained by the Library
Tel: +44 (0)131 451 3577
Library Email: libhelp@hw.ac.uk
ROS Email: open.access@hw.ac.uk

Scottish registered charity number: SC000278

  • About
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility
  • Policies
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • Feedback
AboutCopyright
AccessibilityPolicies
Privacy & Cookies
Feedback