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SUSTAINABILITY OF URBAN FORM - Application of Salat’s Model

Case Study: Odivelas

Carla Patrícia Oliveira Andrade Pereira

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Tutor: Professor Doutor António Salvador de Matos Ricardo da Costa

October 2014

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0. INTRODUCTION

This dissertation pretends to analyze the Salat’s matrix to determine a method to

evaluate the sustainability of the urban form. From this result it will be possible to perceive the

work fields that need more attention in order to reduce our ecological footprint.

The objective is to stablish a methodology of intervention and conservation of urban

areas throgh the evaluation of the urban form sustainability.

The specific goals are:

1) Methodology definition to the urban form evaluation that gives us guidelines to an

intervention on consolidated cores.

2) Verify the feasibility of the proposed method through its application on a case study

3) Determine guidelines of intervention and conservation on consolidated urban areas

The application to the case study will focus on the Odivelas parish and will be based on

the theoretical fundaments developed by Conzen, Cannigia, Kropf, Osmond and Salat.

METHODOLOGY

To accomplish the proposed objectives, this thesis is divided in three parts:

1) First, a theoretical base will be stablished. The concepts and methodologies developed

by the authors will be explained. By establishing the base evaluation method proposed.

2) On the second part, the urban form sustainability will be presented and applied to a case

study in order to verify its feasibility.

3) Finally, general conclusions based on the previous points will be drown.

1. URBAN FORM

M. P. Conzen defines urban morphology as the study of the built form of cities [which]

seeks to explain the layout and spatial composition of urban structures and open spaces, their

material character and symbolic meaning, in light of the forces that have created, expanded,

diversified, and transform them [Conzen 2013:2].

Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the city, since its formation till nowadays.

Throughout, each morphological element and their mutations. To this, the schools of thought

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emerged to analyze the city as an object and study their problems through time and its social,

spatial, political and economic implications.

This knowledge is widespread through publications and conferences of the International

Seminar of Urban Form (ISUF), where the theories and methodologies are debated enlightening

the urban morphology as an international and interdisciplinary field of study. For this work, the

two lines of thought selected were the following:

ENGLISH SCHOOL – Historic and Geographic Analysis: It is known as The Conzenian

Tradition. The Conzenian tradition aims to develop cities construction theory through history

analyze. The city development is analyzed based on concepts as morphological region and

period, burgage cycle and fringebelt. Conzen’s work is described in three phases: town plan,

building fabric and land utilization.

ITALIAN SCHOOL – Morphological-Type Analysis: This school was developed by Saverio

Muratori [1910-1973] and the study focus on typologies. The analysis is based on new typologies

created through the adaptation of earlier construction typologies. In this school an object is

selected and its transformation through time are studied.

M.R.G. CONZEN’S MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

The Conzenian tradition studies the urban areas historical evolution, analyzing how the

social and economic events mark the built form. Conzen developed a historical approach based

on the concepts of morphological region and period, burgage cycle and fringe belt.

MORPHOLOGICAL REGION – Morphological regions are known in Portugal as

Morphological-Type Units (MTU). They are homogeneous in terms of plan-type, construction and

land use and at the graphic level [Conzen 1960:5].

MORPHOLOGICAL PERIOD – Conzen [1960] describes it as a historical period that

created distinctive forms by technologies and materials used in construction. Whitehand and

Larkham argue that the historicity of the landscape is its most important feature.

BURGAGE CYCLE – Burgage cycle was developed in the medieval batch. Buildings,

through the Burgage installment, fill the lot progressively. The Burgage climax is followed by a

decay period in the cycle’s final stage [Conzen 1960].

FRINGEBELT – Fringebelts are areas created by social and economic impulses. In times

of crisis, the city’s growth slows and these areas are filled with uses seeking peripheral locations [Conzen 1960].

Conzen also recognized the tripartire division of the townscape, or landscape, into first,

the town plan, or ground plan, secondly, the built fabric and thirdly, land and building utilization

[Whitehand 2001:104].

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LAND UTILIZATION – Conzen argue that this aspect is related to the spatial distribution

of land uses in urban cores. The elements described are units and batch limit them [Kropf

1993:44].

BUILDING FABRIC – Conzen distinguishes building types and groupings based on five

different criteria: position relative to a street, intensity of use, use type, period of origin and

internal and external form, assuming a conventional definition of ‘building’ [Kropf 1993:48].

TOWNPLAN – Conzen defines the town plan as the urban core’s representation. The

town plan consists of site, street system, plot pattern and building pattern [Conzen 1960].

Site: Characterizes the city’s location and its natural resources.

Street System: Set of intercommunicating surrounding street blocks.

Plot Pattern: A plot pattern is a continuous lot series, in a built-up area. Street blocks

and lot series compose it [Conzen 1960].

Building Pattern: It consists on the area that each building occupies in the lot [Kropf

1993:56].

GIANFRANCO CANIGGIA’S MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Caniggia specified a methodology that allowed the city’s interpretation. He focuses the

typology, i.e., urban elements’ group with common characteristics.

In order do understand the built environment’s history, Caniggia distinguishes between

spatial relations, copresence, and temporal derivation, and the relation between them. This

document will only analyze the spatial relations related to copresence.

COPRESENCE – Canigia

argues the relation’s existence

between objects that determines a

structure [Caniggia 1979:60]. That

relation can be from part to part or

part to whole. Analyzing the

copresence is to study the parts

and their relation. In order to

understand the relation between

parts they are classified into four

hierarchy levels: elements,

element structure, structure

system and organisms, they are

applied to buildings and cities [Caniggia 1979:73-4].

In order to identify the division’s nature and its characteristics, copresence divides itself

in seven levels:

Fig. 1 – Caniggia’s hierarchy From: Crespo 2013.

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Materials: Are the hierarchy’s most elementary level. Materials are divided into two sub-

layers according to their nature and characteristics: natural and artificial materials, and to elastic

materials and plastics [Kropf 1993:84].

Structure: A structure is an association of elements [Caniggia 1979:73]. The structure is in

the second level of the hierarchy. Its definition is based on four characteristics: the entity’s

constituent parts, parts organization, Entity’s Relative position and entity’s future use.

Cells: Cells are at the hierarchy third level. Cells are structures combinations that have

relatively autonomy: rooms, stairs [Caniggia 1979:73].

Buildings: aggregations of structures recognizable as relatively autonomous: rooms,

stairs, etc… come together to form the organism of systems, specifically, the entire building [Caniggia 1979:73].

Tissue: For Caniggia tissue is an association of elements, in this case the element is the

building. To characterize this level he divides: pertinent area, lot, built route, route, block and

base and infill tissue.

Urban Organism: Caniggia notes ‘the city as a whole [is] the “organism” of systems’.

Caniggia uses a number of terms to identify specific organisms. To begin, he defines three terms:

settlement, proto-urban nucleus and urban nucleus [Kropf 1993:112].

KARL KROPF’S MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Kropf’s establishes a consistent basis for the definition and subdivision of built form in order to support urban morphological analysis [Kropf 1993:1].

His method was to synthesize the definitions and subdivisions used by the foremost representatives of two urban morphological traditions, Conzen and Caniggia […].Kropf begins from the premise that the fundamental basis for defining form is relative position, or part-to-part and part-to-whole relations; the basic characteristics defining form are type, number and arrangement of parts. His research also acknowledges that to fully describe the built environment it is necessary to see it in its human and natural context as well as built context, including production, maintenance, transformation and use [Osmond 2008:57].

Kropf also distinguishes between space, time and energy. Which are taken as co-

dependent concepts used to describe the world. Space refers to spatial relationships, time to

time relations and energy refers to energy relations. Since the morphological analysis focus on

the form’s study, Kropf emphasizes spatial relationships and the remaining only as a reference.

HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE

The relations of part-to-whole characterize subdivisions of urban areas. Complexity

assumes the distinction of two kinds of relation: the relation of part-to-whole and the relation of

part-to-part. In the block, there is a relation between the plots and a set of relations between the

individual plots of part-to-part [Kropf 1993:225].

Kropf claims that an object occupies a certain level and they are composed by parts of a

lower level. Thus emerging a hierarchy

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Kropf defines three concepts:

Level of specificity (adapted from Caniggia): Represents the degree of detail used in defining a type – the lowest level of specificity is the generic type itself (e.g.“ buildings”), the highest level is a specific type of only one example (e.g. “Sydney Opera House”) [Osmond

2008:59]. Levels of Resolution: It is the analytical view of the urban form. The different levels of

resolution thus correspond to the levels in the hierarchy and are designated by the name of the generic type of the corresponding level [Kropf 1993:242].

Outline: The outline of a form is the combination of its external dimensions […]. The

measurements alone are not sufficient to fully describe the outline of the form. The

measurements and the relations between them, that is, the proportions of the form, constitute

the outline of a form [Kropf 1993:243]

Thus, Kropf establishes a nine level hierarchy. This hierarchy identifies urban form’s

elements through its complexity. For the hierarchy’s consistency, Kropf established two

assumptions: the term ‘parts’ should be restricted to refer only to the component object which

occupy the next level down the hierarchy of levels of complexity [Kropf 1993:228]. The

arrangement seen as a whole, including the object, is seen as an object or part of the next step

up in level of complexity relative to the parts [Kropf 1993:229].

In order to make the clear divisions, it was elaborated, in the table a comparison of the

terms used by Conzen, Caniggia and Kropf.

Resolution Level

Definition Conzen Caniggia

Materia Building Materials - Materials

Statio Structural Elements - Structures

Tectum Buildings Divisions - Cells

Aedes Buildings Building Pattern Buildings

Fines Plots Plot -

Sertum Plot Series / Block / Street Plot Pattern Plot Series

Textus Urban Fabric / Plan Units Morphological Unit Tissue

Sedes Plan Units Combinations Morphological

Region Organism

Complures Sedes Combinations - -

APPLICATION METHOD

Hierarchical classes defined by Kropf correspond to sets of common characteristics easy

to find in urban areas. Thus, emerged the need to identify the differences between generic types

defined in classes and specific types of urban areas.

Selection of the Study Area: The definition of the study area allows a comparative

analysis between the areas and the identification of elements that considered typical of a study

area [Kropf 1993:240].

Tab. 1 – Kropf, Conzen e Caniggia hierarchy’s. Fonte: Crespo,2013.

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Analytical Scope: Given the nine generic types within the generic structure, the

identification of specific types demands or assumes the establishment of a scope of analysis.

Some or all of the generic types must be chosen as the object of analysis [Kropf 1993:240].

Chronological Comparative Analyses: The next procedure is to examine and compare the

state of the study area at different points in time, in a sequence from earliest to most recent,

that is, in a chronological comparative analysis.[…] The sequence does not define the parts but

provides a set of limits which make the structure of individual forms and the whole town

understandable. Chronological comparative analysis, also allows one to identify internal changes

or transformations of individual forms [Kropf 1993:241].

PAUL OSMOND’S MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

In his studies, Osmond

focused the sustainable

development. Based on Krop’s

model, Osmond developed a

definition of urban structural unit

(USU), integrating the Krop’s

hierarchy and a new one regarding

open spaces.

URBAN STRUCTURAL UNIT (USU)

USUs are identified as areas of relative homogeneity with respect to the type, density and arrangement of urban form and open spaces, which delineate distinct configurations of the built environment [Osmond

2008:76].

Morphologically, USUs are equivalent to textus elements in Kropf’s hierarchy. Osmond,

considered both built and unbuilt form in urban area’s definitions.

URBAN FORM’S CLASSIFICATION

Osmond argues that in order to support morphological analysis, the urban form

classification must be consistent, coherent and transportable. USUs differentiation is based in

five principles:

1 Open space extent, organization and its subdivisions on paved and unpaved

surfaces and bodies of water if necessary;

2 Block’s parts type, number, organization and relationship to streets,

intersections and squares;

3 Vegetable structure;

4 Dimensional limit of the building

5 Topography

In the figure 2 is showed Osmond’s description of space and urban form.

Fig. 2 – Osmond USU. Fonte: Osmond, 2008.

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It is noticeable that the hierarchy follows Krop’s[1993] model, but it is currently listed

infrastructure such as water supply, electricity transport, etc.

OPEN SPACE’S HIERARCHY

Kropf make a clear distinction between the built form and the form not built, not

providing any guidance with respect to spaces not built. However, unbuilt space consists of parts

distinguishable by their features of unbuilt areas, making Kropf’s method applicable in the open

spaces’ hierarchy.

Osmond [2008] proposes a hierarchy of open space as an additional device to support the subdivision of urban form for analysis, with particular reference to the identification of urban structural units. This hierarchy contains both built and unbuilt elements, thus sharing elements with Kropf’s hierarchy. It is also scale independent, which means it can be applied from the scale of the USU as a whole down to the scale of the plot [Osmond 2008:80].

SERGE SALAT

Salat discribes the urban landscape a living organism, constantly changing, being this the

only way to ensure its sustainability. The design of the urban landscape must:

• Have an awareness of man's participation in training and life cycle process.

• Understand the natural systems that interact with human activities.

• Understand how the nonlinear processes work and develop.

[cit. Salat in 2011: 399]

Based on these three premises, Salat describes the sustainable core.

ECO-DISTRICT

Salat establishes five points to the design of a sustainable core.

The core is a sustainable model of urban planning that should be structured around a

defined center with its own internal logic:

1 The core has a center and borders. [cit. in Salat 2011: 402] contributing to the social

identity of the community.

2 The optimal dimensions of a nucleus are 400m from the center to the border. [cit. in

Salat 2011: 402] - This corresponds to about 5 minutes walk, putting residents at a distance of 5

minutes of their daily needs.

3 The core offers a mix of housing, shopping, offices, schools, workplaces and leisure

activities [cit. in Salat 2011: 402] - The mix of activities reduces the need to travel long distances.

4 The core has buildings and they are distributed over a fine grid interconnecting roads

[cit. in Salat 2011: 402] - The organization of buildings and circulations along a fine grid of streets

offers multiple paths to reach the same destination.

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5 Priority is given to public space and the proper placement of institutional structures

[cit. in Salat 2011: 402] - Public spaces and buildings are the elements that provide identity to the

core.

ASSESSING URBAN FORM

The urban morphology can contribute to reducing the city’s ecological footprint, since

urban form is a primary parameter to meet the challenges of the future. Thus, in order to obtain

a correct analysis of urban landscape it becomes necessary to focus on morphological aspects

[Salat 2011: 483]. Based on this assumption, Salat proposes a Matrix.

2. METHOD PROPOSAL

Assuming as primordia the need for sustainable development on cities to meet people's

needs without compromising the futures generations’ needs, it is proposed a quantitative

method of assessment of urban form sustainability.

This document is based on Krop’s urban hierarchy [1993], and Salat’s evaluation method

of sustainable urban forms [2011], in order to assess the areas of planning that need more

attention by legal authorities.

3. CASE STUDY

The proposed method was applied to the city of Odivelas, and it comprehends five

phases.

PHASE 1: CASE STUDY’S SELECTION

Urban core’s sustainability

implicate factors such as location,

building’s orientation and used materials

[Kropf 2001: 3]. Thus, to be able to apply an

evaluation model for urban form

sustainability it is necessary to select a

case study. The selected area is the city of

Odivelas. The choice lies on the

evolutionary process of the city and its

history. In order to satisfy human needs

and seek a better quality of life, people

provoked profound environmental

changes. This evolutionary process has

intensified itself since 1950, subjecting the

former to a core set of rapid urbanization

without much planning, and creating

disqualified public spaces. More recently,

efforts, to retrain themselves, have been

made, promoting sustainability and development.

Fig. 3 – Stydt area Fonte: Autora, adaptado de Google Maps.

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Thus the need for monitoring the raised results, evaluating the sustainability of the core.

To understand which areas need more attention from those responsible for urban planning.

PHASE 2: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

To understand the city, it is necessary to analyze its historical development. Thus,

through the study of different stages of core’s development, it is possible a better understanding

of its form and its constructive characteristics and the different constituents of the hierarchy

classes.

PHASE 3: HIERARCHICAL MODEL’S APPLICATION

The hierarchical model revels

itself essential to classify urban form

elements. The hierarchical model used

will be the one developed by Kropf

[1993], using this model the units

correspondent to Textus and Sedes will

be identified.

All the studied area is

considered, as Sedes, because it possess

functional autonomy and a territorial

unit for the purposes of municipal

management. Based on the analysis of

the site and its plan, it is possible to

identify the USU constituents, which

define the textus class. These are defined

according to their homogeneity /

heterogeneity, relationship between full

and empty, batch size, periods of

construction, materials used and

building typologies.

PHASE 4: IDENTIFIED CLASSES’ CHARACTERIZATION – APPLYING SALAT’S MATRIX

To assess the sustainability of urban form, we selected the indicators presented in the

table. This choice was related to the fact that the remaining indicators explore issues connected

to socio-economic and environmental context.

Fig. 4 – USU’s. Fonte: Autora, adaptado de Google Maps.

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LAND USE

INTENSITY

Human Density: it is the measure expressed by the ratio between the population and

area of soil. It is expressed in population \ ha.

Building Density:it Is the measure expressed by the ratio between the sum of the areas

of private buildings and the core area.

Housing Density: it Is the measure expressed by the ratio between the number of fires

and the area of land. Expressed in dwellings \ ha.

Coefficient of Land Occupation: A measure expressed as the ratio between the area of

land covered and the core area.

DIVERSITY

Subdivisions Intensity: A measure expressed as the ratio between the number of lots

and the core area. Expressed batch \ ha.

THEME CONCEPT INDICATOR

TYPE NAME SCALE FORMULA

Lan

d u

se

Urb

an F

orm

Intensity

Human Density Sedes / Textus

𝑁𝑏 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒

𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (ℎ𝑎)

Building Density Sedes / Textus

𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

Housing Density Sedes / Textus

𝑁𝑏 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

Coefficient of Land Utilization

Sedes / Textus

𝐶𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 (ℎ𝑎)

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

Diversity Subdivisions Intensity Sedes / Textus

𝑁𝑏 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

Mo

bili

ty

Urb

an F

orm

Intensity

Surface Occupied by Pedestrian and Bicycle

path

Sedes / Textus

𝑅𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (𝑏𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛) (ℎ𝑎)

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)× 100

Surface Occupied by Road Network

Sedes 𝑅𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)× 100

Proximity

Proportion of the Population more than 300 meters away from

a Public Transport Stop

Sedes 𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 300𝑚

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛× 100

Diversity

Number of Public Transport modes

accessible within 300 meters

Sedes

Wat

er

Envi

ro

nm

ent

Intensity Impermeability of

Land Sedes

𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

Bio

div

ers

ity

Envi

ron

men

t /

Urb

an

Form

Intensity

Proportion of Agricultural Surfaces

Sedes 𝐴𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 (ℎ𝑎)

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)× 100

Proportion of Green Fabric

Sedes 𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝐹𝑎𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)

𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)× 100

Tab. 2 – Salat’s Matrix. Fonte: Salat 2011.

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MOBILITY

INTENSITY

Surface Occupied by Pedestrian and Bicycle Path: is the percentage of land area

occupied by bike paths and rides.

Surface Occupied by Road Network: is the percentage of land area occupied by the road

network.

PROXIMITY

Proportion of the Population more than 300 meters away from a Public Transport Stop:

Percentage of population living more than 300m of a public transport stop.

DIVERSITY

Number of Transport modes accessible within 300 meters

WATER

INTENSITY

Impermeability of Land: A measure expressed by the ratio between the area of

impermeable ground and the total land area.

BIODIVERSITY

INTENSITY

Proportion of Agricultural/Green Fabric Surfaces: The percentage of agricultural area to

the total area of the territory.

Each indicator is considered clarifying the needs of each USU filling the following table:

From the hierarchical classification presented in the figure, is performed a quantitative

classification applying the Salat’s matrix. Some indicators only apply to Sedes and other to

Textus.

Proportion of Green Fabric: It is the percentage of green tissue in relation to the total

land area.

D Pop

(Hab/ha) I

F

(fogos/ha) C Ocupação

I Uso

(lote/ha) A C/P (%)

A via

(%) P 300

(%) Nº TP Imp s

A Ag

(%) A v

(%)

D Pop – Human Density

I - Built Density

F – Housing Density

C ocupação – Coefficient of Land Utilization

I Uso – Subdivisions Intensity

A C/P – Surface Occupied by Pedestrian and

Bicycle Path

A Via - Surface Occupied by Road Network P 300– Proportion of the Population more than 300 meters away from a Public Transport Stop N tp – Number of Transport modes accessible within 300 meters Imp S – Impermeability of Land A Ag – Proportion of Agricultural Surfaces A V – Proportion of Green Fabric

Tab. 3 – Salat’s Matriz Application. Fonte: Autora.

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PHASE 5: RATING

In order to assess the unit sustainability, it is presented a classification of the obtained

results. Thus the results are classified. The indicators should result from the built form, yet its

definition is useful for analytical and regulatory purposes.

The use of these parameters allows the classification of occupation and land use without

prejudice to other indicators [Costa 1995: 240].

To provide an indicative value for each parameter, both the values suggested by Salat

as the ones resultant to current practice in Portugal are considered.

Human Density: Identifies de density of occupancy by humans and it is the base for

calculus of the other parameters.

Housing Density: Given the human density of the area and the medium size of families

(2,4 people).

Building Density: Salat [2011] argues building density of an eco-district being 1,4

corresponding to all the building facilities: 67% to habitations, 13,5% to market and services,

10% to offices, 2% to health cares and 7,5% to schools.

Coefficient of Land Occupation: This parameter have the intention to limit the building’s

high.

The table shows the values practiced in Portugal:

Subdivisions Intensity: The subdivisions are historical elements that define private

property [...]. The shape and dimensions of a nucleus are directly influenced by existing

subdivisions [cit. Salat in 2011: 500]. A grid composed of small lots is an obstacle to the

Density Levels Dpop

(Hab/ha) F

(Fogos/ha) I

Ht

(nº máx) AC

(m2/hab) Hoses medium size

Countryside <= 2,5 <= 1,0 <= 0,025 1 to 2 90 Smalls <= 100 m2

Medium 100 e 200 m2 Big 200 e 400 m2

Low Density Pre-Urban Area

2,5 to 5 1,0 to 1,7 0,025 to

0,06 2 to 3 60 to 90 Between 150 to 400 m2

High Density Pre-Urban Area

5 to 10 1,7 to 3,5

Very High Density Pre-Urban Area and

Very Low Density Urban Area

10 to 20 3,5 to 7 0,045 to

0,2 2 to 3 40 to 60 Between 120 to 180 m2

Low Density Urban Area

20 to 40 7 to 14

Low/Medium Density Urban Area

40 to 80 14 to 27 0,18 to

0,52

3 to 4 30 to 45 To 120 m2

Medium Density Urban Area

80 to 120 27 to 40 ≈ 5

Medium/High Density Area

120 to 160 40 to 53 0,5 to 0,65 5 to 6 30 to 45 To 120 m2

Hight Density Area 160 to 195 53 to 65 >= 0,6 6 to 8 <= 35 To 120 m2

Tab. 4 – Urban data Values. Fonte: Lobo 1995.

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construction of large buildings, and a grid made up of large lots is not conducive to the

construction of small projects.

Surface Occupied by Pedestrian and Bicycle Path: The pedestrian and bike path

circulation should be preferred. Therefore, the bike paths and sidewalks should be linked to

public transport stations, limiting automobile use [Salat 2011: 400].

Surface Occupied by Road Network: According Salat [2011]: The road network should

occupy 15% of the total area, which is the standard proportion of European cities run by various

means of transport [Salat 2011: 421].

Proportion of the Population more than 300 meters away from a Public Transport Stop:

Salat [2011] considers that there should not exist population living more than 300m of a public

transportation so that it is encouraged over private transport.

Number of Transport modes accessible within 300 meters: It should be as many as

possible.

Impermeability of Land: Salat [2011] argues that 60% of the core area should be allocated

to buildings constructed and that 15% of the same area should be earmarked for roads [Salat

2011: 421] thus, this indicator should be 0,75.

Proportion of Agricultural Surfaces: The presence of agricultural areas in urban areas,

promotes social cohesion of certain sections of the population such as the elderly or low

financial resources people, creating additional sources of income to ensure their food security.

Proportion of Green Fabric: For Salat [2011], the urban space must contain adapted sized

local scale green spaces, occupying 15% of its area [Salat 2011: 421].

4. CONCLUSIONS

This document explored an evaluation process to assess the sustainability of the urban

environment based on the morphological analysis of urban form, and integrating it into the

urban planning.

First, a study of the theoretical approach to morphological analysis was prepared.

Therefore, were the main authors of the theoretical analysis selected and were clustered their

goals, concepts and methodologies. Therefore, it was possible to meet one of the goals of this

thesis: understanding the methodologies developed through the morphological approach to

urban areas, the relationship between the historical evolution and growth phases of the core.

Secondly, the knowledge acquired is applied to a selected evaluation process. This will

verify the feasibility of the proposed method by applying it to a case study the sustainability

parameters are determined capable, aiming the sustainable development of guiding the

intervention in urban areas.

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This evaluation method allows to verify the sustainability indicators that need more

attention from those responsible to the urban planning. The methodology proved to be quite

intuitive and effective, despite its limitations:

- due to being a quantitative method. It has no essential qualitative concerns for

sustainable development.

This reductionist practice of implementing plans based on simple control from urban

indices [Lobo 1995: 223] presents certain drawbacks. Therefore, management should have a

professional’s quality support that insight and using these ratios as global references and

supplementary function [Lobo 1995: 223]. Thus, their isolated use does not guarantee adequate

monitoring of interventions. Other urban parameters that are not included in the model

developed by Salat should still be used.

The presentation of quantitative data on urban sustainability makes it easy to

understand by the responsible to the urban planning. The observation data obtained from

analysis of Odivelas parish reveals the areas needing more attention in order to proceed in a

sustainable manner.

This dissertation articulated discourse from different urban morphologists, integrating

a quantitative analysis of urban sustainability policies and current practices of urban

management. Sustainable development must be understood as a set of environmental, social

and economic aspects common to all urban communities but, given the cultural differences that

present, sustainable development also has aspects that are specific to each community [Ferreira

2005: 6 ].

15

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