From cultural codes to spatial measures
A methodological framework for informal settlement analysis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21247188 |
|---|---|
| Authors | A Yair Grinberger (0000-0002-7393-9903, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, corresponding author), Yaara Rosner-Manor (0009-0003-6451-8036, Hebrew University of Jerusalem) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-07 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Environment and Planning B Urban Analytics and City Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2399-8083 • E-ISSN: 2399-8091 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/23998083261447984 |
| OpenAlex | W7160497430 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 25 |
Informal settlements may appear chaotic, yet often follow internal orders shaped by cultural principles. However, systematic approaches to analyzing and understanding cultural-spatial codes remain lacking. This paper discusses a methodological framework for quantitatively investigating socio-spatial patterns within informal settlements and presents its implementation for Bedouin informal settlements in the Israeli Negev. The framework draws on qualitative data and morphological analysis to examine these settlements’ spatio-cultural order. It generates individual and unified measures of adherence to cultural codes, thereby revealing cultural variation across communities. Our implementation demonstrates how Bedouin communities adhere to the Bedouin Spatial Code, revealing structured spatial patterns that persist despite forced relocation and other external pressures. Distinguishing code components by their relationship to the landscape shows that those less tied to physical geography exhibit greater variation, making them more adaptable for planning interventions. This demonstrates how the framework advances the study of cultural-spatial codes, opening avenues for comparative and longitudinal analyses of socio-spatial order in informal settlements
Human settlement · Informal settlements · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Relocation · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Place Attachment and Urban Studies
Forms of Informality
Determining objective weights in multiple criteria problems
Hdbscan
Shaping Public Space in Informal Settlements
Bedouin Communities in the Negev
Policy, design, and way of life in resettlement projects
On the origin of spaces
Theoretical Notes On `Gray Cities
From abstract principles to specific urban order
Formalization Matters
The Production of Space
The Tribe as a Unit of Subsistence
The poetics of village space when villages are new
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |