Spatial configuration of urban informality

A morphological and syntactic analysis of informal settlements in Baghdad

Bibliographic Data

ID22433018
AuthorsDhirgham Alobaydi (0000-0001-9980-8306, University of Baghdad), Sally Fakhri Khalaf Abdullah (0000-0002-5115-9017, University of Baghdad, corresponding author), Haider Naji Attia (0009-0009-9508-2566), Aisha Saad Obead (0009-0006-0500-6091, University of Baghdad)
Year2026
Volume15
Issue2
Pages822-836
Publication date2026-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Urban Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2226-5856 • E-ISSN: 2589-0360
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jum.2025.12.001
OpenAlexW7115889886
LanguageEN
References cited30

Informal settlements within cities around the world - often termed slums - are characterized by insanitary housing conditions, over-occupation and a lack of accessibility to basic amenities. Due to the displacement of its population, an urgent need for housing and political unrest, the number and size of such settlements in Baghdad, Iraq has increased rapidly over two decades and become part of its socio-economy. This work aims to explore the spatial structure of Baghdad's informal settlements by studying how their morphology and integration within the city impact their development, distribution and longevity. Their configuration was investigated by conflating space form mapping between 2004 and 2024 with space syntax analysis. Non-participant observations and geospatial space analyses were conducted across four areas of Baghdad representing four spatial patterns - infill, strips, scattered and hybrid. These patterns are defined by high correlations between the expansion of informal settlements and increased integration and accessibility via commerce nodes and transport routes. The study found that scattered and mixed patterns achieve greater space synergy, i.e., greater social and physical integration within the metropolitan system. Thus, urban planning policy should target context-reasoned, in-situ upgrading measures which are space-aware and inclusive, especially in highly integrated spaces. In doing so, it will support city resilience and sustainability by integrating informal settlements within the urban fabric. This work contributes to knowledge on how informality is informed by urban logic and integrated in the network of Baghdad. It also contributes to international literature on spatial growth patterns and research methods, and the morphological analysis of spontaneous settlements. • The slum patterns and their distribution in the city. • The relations between the slums and the city. • The space syntax methodology to measure the slum structure and their relations with the city.

Geospatial analysis · Human settlement · Informal settlements · Metropolitan area · Psychological resilience · Space syntax · Urban planning · Urbanization · Place Attachment and Urban Studies · Urban Design and Spatial Analysis · Urban Planning and Governance