Integrating Emerging Variables into Residential Neighborhood Planning Standards: A Case Study of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Amid rapid urban transformations, reviewing the literature related to planning standards for residential neighborhoods is essential to understand the extent to which these standards can respond to emerging variables. Some reports [4] have emphasized the importance of sustainable and inclusive planning that addresses environmental, social, and economic challenges. Other studies [5-8] have classified planning standards into qualitative, quantitative, and developmental categories and discussed concepts such as smart cities and resilient cities, which represent direct responses to contemporary technological and social changes. Some studies [9] have highlighted the importance of technological advancement and digital transformation in shaping new models for neighborhood planning. In contrast, other studies [10-12] have examined the impact of social variables, including internal migration and women's empowerment, on the distribution of services and the form of urban development.

2.1 Emerging variables

Emerging variables refer to newly introduced factors that directly and indirectly influence urbanization and they must be taken into account. These include positive variables, such as technological advancements and the rise of artificial intelligence, which can enhance urban life and make daily living easier for residents. On the other hand, negative variables include environmental disasters that threaten urban areas such as rockslides, earthquakes, and floods. Each of these risks requires specific mitigation strategies that aim to minimize their impact on both residents and residential zones. These emerging variables can be classified into four categories.

a) Environmental variables

These variables are among the most prominent factors that negatively impact urbanization and represent some of the most urgent challenges of our time. They directly affect the basic political and social needs of individuals. These environmental variables include epidemics, famines, earthquakes, volcanoes, problematic soils, tsunamis, landslides and rockslides, sand dune movement, floods, torrents, storms and hurricanes, droughts, forest fires, climate change, and the unfair use of environmental resources [13].

The impact of environmental variables on urbanization is as follows:

•Loss of drinking water stocks.

•Decline in the productivity of agricultural land.

•Destruction of coastal environments.

•Economic degradation of societies.

•Depletion of non-renewable sources.

•High temperatures at the surface level of the Earth.

•Depletion and perforation of the protective layer that shields the Earth.

•The disappearance of forests due to climatic and environmental changes.

•Ecological imbalance and loss of biodiversity.

b) Developed urban variables

Urban planning in Egyptian cities faces numerous environmental challenges and variables. One modern trend is the increasing use of advanced technologies in planning, particularly through various software applications in the fields of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing. These technologies contribute to building sustainable urban communities that are adaptable to environmental risks, making urban areas more resilient and capable of enduring over long periods.

This approach ensures that all generations can benefit from urban resources while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were launched in 2015 as a global action plan for people and the planet toward prosperity, as stated in the charter. The actual implementation of these goals began in January 2016, as illustrated in Figure 1.

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Figure 1. United Nations SDGs [14]

As a result, many urban planning trends have emerged in an effort to address the depletion of environmental resources, which threatens the stability and continuity of both the environmental and economic systems. Modern global trends in city planning can be summarized as follows (Figure 2):

•Sustainable cities

•Green cities

•Smart cities

•Eco-cities

•Resilient cities

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c) New social variables

Countries and societies are accelerating their efforts to achieve higher rates and levels of development, improve quality of life, and enhance human development. However, development cannot occur without relying on people, as they are the ones who create, direct, and ultimately benefit from it. With the rapid changes taking place around the world, individuals are not isolated from these developments. There have been significant shifts in the socioeconomic structure of societies, resulting in both positive and negative outcomes.

The new social variables include the following:

•Women's empowerment: Women now play an increasingly vital role in society. The manifestations of women’s empowerment vary from one society to another. For example, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, notable progress includes the decision to allow women to drive cars — a significant step toward gender equality.

•Rapid population growth: Some neighborhoods have struggled with the problem of urban sprawl, especially those that have developed as small, scattered communities. This makes it difficult to provide services equally to all residents, particularly in low-income countries.

•Internal migration: According to a 2014 World Bank report, internal migration has been found to contribute positively to both origin and destination areas—contrary to earlier economic theories, which often view it as a socially, economically, and politically destabilizing process [15-17].

These emerging social variables have both positive and negative effects on urbanization. For instance, they may contribute to the formation of slums and the failure to achieve social justice. In many developing countries, the unequal provision of services across urban areas has led to the spread of informal settlements. Migration areas often emerge on the outskirts of cities, where residents build small and simple housing structures using available natural resources, frequently without adherence to formal urban planning or architectural standards.

d) New technological variables

Technology has evolved gradually throughout the ages and has been closely linked to the emergence of agriculture and early agricultural civilizations, which were concentrated in regions such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China.

The significant development of technology can be traced back to the mid-eighteenth century, with the rise of artisans, technicians, and skilled workers. This technological advancement was closely associated with the Industrial Revolution, which marked a major turning point in human history. Table 1 shows service in its traditional and modern forms and future expectations.

Table 1. The traditional and modern forms of service and the expectation of its future reflection

As a result of the rapid and significant process of technological and scientific development—which cannot be resisted by the non-human and moral components of humanity—this development has impacted several manifestations of scientific and technological progress in any society, concentrated in three main areas as follows:

•Means of transportation and movement (transportation systems of various types).

•Non-structural technology and construction (development of various non-structural methods alongside technological advancements through the ages).

•Non-product technology and manufacturing (use of the latest non-product methods and modern tools and equipment in the development and manufacturing processes of all non-structural and technologically advanced components).

The effects of new technological changes can be summarized as follows:

•Self-sufficiency of cities, as technological development in agriculture, energy (particularly clean energy), and industrialization has led to an increased ability of residents to produce their own needs in a decentralized manner.

•Digital transformation of government institutions and public services using closed record chains.

•City information modeling, based on principles very similar to the Building Information Modeling (BIM) system.

•Reduced need for certain physical spaces, due to the rise of remote work and distance learning.

•Changes in urban spaces and land use.

•Changes in spatial relationships and the pattern of service distribution.

•Impact on traffic networks, including the emergence of digital routes, a decrease in the number of trips to various urban spaces, changes in activity requirements for communication, and variations in walking distances.

Figure 3 shows the relationships created by the impact of technology on urbanism.

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Figure 3. Relationships created by the impact of technology on urbanism

2.2 Planning standards for residential neighborhoods

Planning standards are among the concepts closely linked to the current global population increase. Their role lies in guiding housing development plans to meet housing needs and promote the transition toward sustainable housing communities. Accordingly, there has been a growing need to review existing planning standards as one of the potential solutions to housing problems. A standard is typically defined as a criterion or reference used as a tool for testing, measuring weight, length, or other attributes to determine the required level or degree. It represents a constant reference value or model upon which other variable elements are assessed or calibrated, serving as a validated guide for what an object or process should be [18]. Planning standards are divided into three types as follows:

•Qualitative standards: concerned with mixed-use development and the quality of outdoor spaces.

•Quantitative standards: these include densities, building heights, coverage ratios, setbacks, areas, and access, as well as service and route parameters.

•Development control standards: these standards must be applied in relation to various forms of development, including residential development standards in conservation areas and all types of development.

A sustainable residential community is a group of housing units of various styles based on sustainable planning standards that enhance the quality of life for residents. It provides opportunities for a variety of options that consider the quality of essential services, shopping and commercial activities, entertainment events, and access to workplaces. Such communities are characterized by diversity, flexibility, solidarity, mixed uses, and a strong emphasis on walkability. The United Nations [4] has developed four basic principles for sustainable residential neighborhoods as follows:

•Vibrant streets: Support and enhance street life through a variety of activities and events, with an emphasis on pedestrian and bicycle traffic, as well as public transportation. Streets should be organized hierarchically, with both arterial and local roads within neighborhoods, and should include adequate street space and a street network covering at least 30% of residential neighborhoods.

•Pedestrian traffic: Enhance pedestrian movement by encouraging walking and creating high-density public spaces with mixed-use developments. This promotes proximity between homes, workplaces, and services, reduces reliance on cars, and helps alleviate traffic congestion.

•Facilitation: Provide housing with varied and flexible prices and sizes to accommodate different income levels. Between 20% and 50% of the residential area should be allocated to low-cost and mixed-use housing. This helps reduce the waste of time and resources by promoting accessibility and inclusivity.

These sustainable planning standards are classified into social, environmental, and economic categories, which are interconnected and mutually supportive. They serve as key influences in achieving urban sustainability standards, taking into account that some of these standards are digital, while others are non-digital. Figure 4 shows the essential elements of a sustainable residential community.

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Figure 4. Essential elements of a sustainable residential community

Urban planning is considered one of the important civilized aspects in the life of peoples and nations. Since this type of planning has not yet taken its share of research and application in many countries of the developing world in general and the Arab countries in particular, it is necessary to dive into the merits of this important topic. Therefore, this study aims to focus on these planning standards. Talking about urban planning is talking about planning standards and vice versa, since the concept of standards is relative and varies across environments, regions, and time periods. Figure 5 shows the schematic of criteria classification.

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Figure 5. Classification of schematic criteria

4.1 Elements of the residential environment in Saudi Arabia

A residential group is a cluster of residential buildings that accommodates family communities totaling between 900 and 1,200 inhabitants, although the number may be slightly more or less depending on specific conditions. The concept of a residential neighborhood was originally based on walkability, particularly the walking distance for elementary school students. A maximum distance of 500 meters is commonly used to define the neighborhood’s geographical extent, ensuring easy access to schools and essential services.

However, this concept may no longer be entirely applicable, as cars are now frequently used for both commuting and school transport. Modern residential neighborhoods typically house between 3,000 and 6,000 people and cover an area of approximately 25 to 100 hectares. The required land area decreases as population density increases, and the neighborhood model is not rigid—it is flexible and adaptable to the existing urban context.

4.2 Criteria for locating the neighborhood center

The siting of the neighborhood center is based on two primary sets of standards: environmental and urban.

The environmental standards are as follows:

•Avoid areas with steep slopes; the slope should not exceed 12%.

•The center of the neighborhood should not be located in floodplain areas. If necessary, the floodplain should not pass through built-up areas and may instead pass through open spaces, as illustrated in Figure 6.

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Figure 6. Schematic representation of city elevation levels

•If the site terrain includes elevated areas and slopes, it is preferable to locate the neighborhood center on a peak area, as this provides visual prominence and easy access from all directions.

•The center must be situated at an elevation that allows water supply networks to reach it efficiently.

•The terrain should support easy access by both pedestrians and vehicles. It is recommended that pedestrian path slopes do not exceed 4%, and vehicular road slopes do not exceed 7%.

Figure 7 shows the relationship between the stream outlet and the adjacent center.

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Figure 7. Relationship between the stream outlet and the adjacent center

As shown in Figure 8, the urban standards are as follows:

•The neighborhood center should be located in a central location in the neighborhood that provides easy access to the center (for pedestrians and cars) from all sides of the neighborhood.

•The center should be served by a road network from all sides and not be penetrated by any transit traffic and be connected to the neighborhood and city services.

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Figure 8. Location of an adjacent center in an intermediate position

4.3 Service distribution standards

Service distribution within residential neighborhoods can be organized in several ways, as shown in Figure 9. As for the central distribution of services, the service center is located in the inner center of the residential neighborhood and provides a great opportunity to serve all residents with the shortest walking distance. It is also often limited to the residents of the neighborhood, which provides a great opportunity to develop social relations among the residents. As for the decentralized distribution of services, services are placed on the edges of the residential neighbourhood in the form of scattered commercial centers that include some subsidiary services such as the local mosque and the park. Placing the center on the edges results in no disturbance to the residents in addition to providing a great opportunity for investment. The disadvantage of this type is the increased walking distance. As for the stripe distribution of services, the service center takes the form of a strip parallel to the main pedestrian path and is characterized by homogeneous service to all residents of the neighborhood, without disturbing the residents, providing a great opportunity for pedestrian movement and confirming the idea of the Kasbah found in traditional Arab cities. This style can be applied in neighborhoods with high residential density.

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Figure 9. Centralized, decentralized, and stripe distributions of residential neighborhood centers

4.4 Standards for roads and pedestrian paths

Roads, pedestrian paths, and the spaces between the services within the neighborhood center are essential elements that contribute to the center’s efficiency and ease of use. There are two alternatives for organizing the road network and pedestrian paths. The first is the separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. A dedicated network of pedestrian walkways is created to connect the center’s services without any intersections with vehicular traffic. This approach is notable for enhancing safety and security, as it eliminates conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles. However, its main disadvantage lies in the weaker connectivity among land use elements, as illustrated in Figure 10. The second is the integration of pedestrian and vehicular movement. This approach is the opposite of the previous one. Each road includes a lane for vehicular traffic and sidewalks for pedestrian use. The main disadvantages of this method are the reduced level of safety and security, as well as the challenges in achieving the desired visual aesthetics, as shown in Figure 11. Table 2 shows the components of the neighborhood service center.

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Figure 10. Separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic

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Figure 11. Integration of pedestrian and vehicle movement

Table 2. Neighborhood service center components

4.5 Criteria for determining the residential district center

The residential area should be centrally located and easily accessible from all parts of the neighborhood. The center must be served by a good road network from all sides and not be crossed by any road for transit traffic. In addition, it must be linked to the city services and the services of the neighborhoods via the road network, as shown in Figure 12. Table 3 shows the components of the residential district center.

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Figure 12. The occurrence of an adjacent center in an intermediate location

Table 3. Components of the residential district center [19]

Planning standards play a vital role in the planning, design, and development of residential settlements in the context of urban and housing development and the implementation of national policy. However, the current planning standards for residential neighborhoods require periodic updating due to the increasing speed and intensity of global changes, along with the continuous population growth that places pressure on limited resources. It is therefore essential to achieve planning objectives with minimal depletion of these resources.

The comparative analysis between the 2005 and 2016 standards revealed that earlier standards lacked the flexibility needed to accommodate emerging variables. Some standards have not been updated to include concepts such as digital transformation or spatial equity. Through the analysis of the attached tables and matrices, it became evident that standards related to educational and health services showed relative improvement, while public transportation and open space standards remained notably weak. The results also showed that the integration of concepts such as women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and digital transformation is still partial and has not been comprehensively addressed in the current standards.