Determining different spatial layouts in urban heritage areas by using a multiple-criteria decision making method

Digitally defining the boundaries of different spatial layouts may be a crucial tool in the planning process of heritage areas, as it is necessary to develop different conservation and planning strategies in order to preserve their different and unique characteristics. The spatial layouts analysed in this study consist of urban elements such as streets, buildings, plots and blocks in the district of Bornova, within the city of Izmir, Turkey. The study has three main components. First, the urban elements are classified with qualitative research according to their characteristics and the periods in which they emerged. Secondly, the multi-layered form complexes are digitally classified using the Multiple Criteria Decision Making Method (MCDM) in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). For quantitative analysis, different vector formats are uniformly applied to the resulting cells and converted into a binary overlay. Finally, the current land use and spatial layouts are statistically compared using chi-squared tests to determine any relationships. This study suggests that the use of digital methods for the analysis, design or planning of multi-layered form complexes could provide insight into the resolution of any conflict during the implementation phases between different stakeholders such as landowners and planning authorities, and could help in the process of developing strategies for heritage areas with different characteristics that have lost some of their significant buildings through the renewal processes, but on the other hand the existing heritage still helps to represent the social, cultural and economic historical past of the city

Cultural heritage · Geographic information system · Land use · Land-use planning · Process (computing · Spatial analysis · Spatial planning · Urban planning · 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Urban Design and Spatial Analysis