University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 5-2015 Comparative Geomatic Analysis of Historic Development, Trends, and Functions of Green Space in Kuwait City From 1982-2014 Yousif Abdullah University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons, Physical and Environmental Geography Commons, and the Urban Studies and Planning Commons Recommended Citation Abdullah, Yousif, "Comparative Geomatic Analysis of Historic Development, Trends, and Functions of Green Space in Kuwait City From 1982-2014" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 1116. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1116 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Comparative Geomatic Analysis of Historic Development, Trends, and Functions Of Green Space in Kuwait City From 1982-2014. Comparative Geomatic Analysis of Historic Development, Trends, and Functions Of Green Space in Kuwait City From 1982-2014. A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Art in Geography By Yousif Abdullah Kuwait University Bachelor of art in GIS/Geography, 2011 Kuwait University Master of art in Geography May 2015 University of Arkansas This thesis is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. ____________________________ Dr. Ralph K. Davis Chair ____________________________ ___________________________ Dr. Thomas R. Paradise Dr. Fiona M. Davidson Thesis Advisor Committee Member ____________________________ ___________________________ Dr. Mohamed Aly Dr. Carl Smith Committee Member Committee Member ABSTRACT This research assessed green space morphology in Kuwait City, explaining its evolution from 1982 to 2014, through the use of geo-informatics, including remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and cartography. This research examined archival and contemporary satellite images that show the distribution, size, amount, and type of green spaces in Kuwait City, within the framework of its surrounding urban, exurban, and suburban expansion, and landuse change. Through this integrated analysis, it was found that green space growth passed through three main stages: Early Stage, Growth Stage, and Stable Stage. This study also examined the effective use of public parks and their distribution, finding that the distribution of parks is effective in some areas served the adjacent districts, yet not in others. Spatial analysis was conducted to assess ideal buffer distances and their relationships to the greatest number of residents in adjacent districts. Buffer distances were tested at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 miles and roadway buffers were applied to define zones where parks were accessible by walking. It was also found that boulevards and cross-streets hampered green space accessibility and use, more so than distances to the parks, and the urban zones that they accommodated. Study findings help to better understand the reasons behind green space growth and urban area where the more green space is needed and why. These findings will help us in future planning and green space creation and integration in Kuwait City, and for similar new urban spaces in other new cities across Kuwait. Keywords: Kuwait, urban morphology, green space, Green Belt, Stage TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………1 GOALS, QUESTIONS, AND JUSTIFICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH………………………1 BACKGROUND……………………………………………………………………………….…3 Greenery agencies…………………………………………………………………………3 The Third Master Plan of Kuwait…………...…………………………………………….7 Public Park………………………………………………………………………………...9 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………………………………………..…14 THE VALUE OF GREEN SPACES …………………………….……………………………...16 GREEN BELT …………………………………………………………………………………..20 URBAN ISLAND HEAT ……………………………………………………………………….22 EVALUATION OF URBAN GREEN SPACES …………………………..…………………...24 VARIOUS TECHNIQUES & METHODS IN CREATING KUWAIT’S GREEN SPACES…..26 Greening outside the urban area………………………………………………………….26 Greening inside the urban area…………………………………………………………...28 Soil remediation………………………………………………………………….29 Water availability and irrigation…………………………………………………30 Planting native species within the urban fabric…………………………………..33 Studies focused on specific species………………………………………………34 HOUSE GARDENS……………………………………………………………………………..38 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES…………………...……………………………………………...42 CHAPTER 3: STUDY SITE …..………………………………………………………………..48 LOCATION……………………………………………………………………………………...49 CLIMATE & WEATHER……………………………………………………………………….52 CITY ESTABLISHMENT………………………………………………………………………54 KUWAIT MASTER PLANS……………………………………………………………………55 URBAN EXPANSION………………..…………………………………………………………56 DEMOGRAPHY…….…………………………………………………………………………..58 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY……...………………………………………………………..60 SOFTWARE IMPLEMENTED……...………………………………………………………….61 PROCEDURES & STEPS……………………………………………………………………….63 Examination of green space (1982-2014)…………….…….……………………………63 What determined public parks’ buffers? ………………………………………………...68 The Green Belt zone……………………………………………………………………..69 CHAPTER 5: RESULTS & ANALYSIS…..……………………………………………………71 CHAPTER 6: DISCUSSION……………………………………...……………………………125 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS……..………………………..…131 Recommendations………………………………………………………………………134 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Urban Heat Island phenomenon in a graph bars……………………………………..24 Figure 2.2 The project area where native species planted within the urban fabric………………34 Figure 2.3 One of the house gardens that have a modern style………………………………….38 Figure 2.4 Some house gardens cover a vast area……………………………………………….39 Figure 2.5 House garden and colored floor……………………………………………………...39 Figure 2.6 Small size of house gardens along the street…………………………………………40 Figure 2.7 Householders use the empty plots for implanting trees to beautify facades…………41 Figure 2.8 Another place where householders eager to beatify facades by implantation………..42 Figure 3.1 The old Greek City in Filaka Island in the Hellenistic period. Ikaros (the city of happiness)………………………………………………………………………………48 Figure 3.2 Kuwait location in a world map……………………………………………………...50 Figure 3.3 Kuwait map. The blue line show the political boundary on Kuwait, while the green box determine the urban area. The old city which now is the down town is in the red box….…………………………………………………………………………………..51 Figure 3.4 Climograph Kuwait that show the average precipitation and temperature…………..53 Figure 3.5 Kuwait city growth between the years 1930–1980…………………………………..56 Figure 3.6 Kuwait city growth between the years 1957–1995…………………………………..57 Figure 4.1 Delta NDVI equation was applied by using model builder in ArcGIS software…….67 Figure 5.1 Satellite image of Kuwait city in 2013 from Landsat 8………………………………73 Figure 5.2 Satellite image of Kuwait city in 2001 from landsat 7 Enhance Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+)…………………………………………………………………………………74 Figure 5.3 Satellite image of Kuwait city in 1990 from landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM)……..75 Figure 5.4 Satellite image of Kuwait city in 1986 from landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM)……..76 Figure 5.5 Comparing between 1990 and 2001 with different ways in ArcGIS………………...77 Figure 5.6 Delta NDVI of the year 1990 and 2001………………………………………………79 Figure 5.7 Images of the years (1986, 1990, 2001, 2013) respectively of Kuwait city down town………………………………………………………………………………………………80 Figure 5.8 A map shows the distribution of public parks in Hawalli Governorate map. The buffers are based on the parks size……………………………………………………..86 Figure 5.9 A map shows the distribution of public parks in Al Ahmedi Governorate map. The buffers are based on the parks size……………………………………………………..87 Figure 5.10 A map shows the distribution of public parks in Mubarak Al Kabeer Governorate map. The buffers are based on the parks size…………………………………………..88 Figure 5.11 A map shows the distribution of public parks in Al Farwanyia Governorate map. The buffers are based on the parks size……………………………………………………..89 Figure 5.12 A map shows the distribution of public parks in Al Jahra Governorate map. The buffers are based on the parks size……………………………………………………..90 Figure 5.13 A map shows the distribution of public parks in the Capital Governorate map. The buffers are based on the parks size…………………………………………………..…91 Figure 5.14 A map shows the highest districts land properties prices, and there relation to the number of public parks…………………………………………………………………92 Figure 5.15 Al Farwanyia Governorate public parks with two types of buffer………………….93 Figure 5.16 Al Ahmedi Governorate public parks with two types of buffer…………………….94 Figure 5.17 Mubarak Al Kabeer Governorate public parks with two types of buffer…………...95 Figure 5.18 Hawalli Governorate public parks with two types of buffer………………………..96 Figure 5.19 Al Jahra Governorate public parks with two types of buffer……………………….97 Figure 5.20 The Capital Governorate public parks with two types of buffer……………............98 Figure 5.21 Public parks with a half mile buffers (10 minutes walking distance) at Al Ahmedi Governorate………………………………………………………………………………………99 Figure 5.22 Public parks with one mile radius buffers (20 minutes walking distance) at Al Ahmedi Governorate. ………………………………………………………………………..…100 Figure 5.23 Public parks with one mile radius buffers (30 minutes walking distance) at Al Ahmedi Governorate. …...……………………………………………………………………...101