Surveys for Town Planning

1               Town planning Surveys

           

1.1            General

The surveys establish ultimately the present state of the town and indicate the measures for its improvements. It may be mentioned that the surveys do not necessarily mean the work carried out usually by a land surveyor. The chief objects of surveys for the town planning are as follows:

                               I.            The people, their interests and occupations and how they follow them,

                            II.            The land and buildings and how they serve their interests.

The data collected in surveys are properly analysed in relation to the area under consideration and they are recorded on maps, charts, schedules and models. The planning survey does not start just of its own, it has to be organized with meticulous care from beginning to end and various processes concerned with such survey are suitably collected, processed, arranged and interpreted. Thus, the essential ingredient of a purposeful town planning survey is to arrange the facts of investigation in the best possible scientific manner.

1.2            Necessity

The two main advantages of fully documented and vividly illustrated survey are as follows:

1.      The survey draws attention to the inter-relation between various complicated activities of a town life.

2.      The survey stresses the local requirements and appropriate treatment to be given socially, conveniently and artistically.

Thus, the role played by survey in the town planning is as follows:

1.      To evaluate the effects of development,

2.      To present detailed reasoned reports,

3.      To provide the necessary understanding before decisions for development are made,

4.      To study the situation objective and factually.

1.3            Collection of Data

Following four surveys are carried out to collect data and other relevant information, required in the process of town planning:

1.      Functional survey: The functional aspects of a town life are studied under this survey. The type of information collected in the functional survey can be enlisted as follows:

·         Roads including history of roads, traffic survey, details of width of roads and tree planting,

·         Railways with positions of level-crossings, passenger stations and goods sheds,

·         Airports and seaports,

·         Waterways and canals,

·         Routes of bus, tram, ferry, suburban railways,

·         Local industries, their classification and location,

·         Availability of raw materials and type of labour employed,

·         Mines and their location,

·         Conditions of commercial activity,

·         Probable cost of planning scheme and sources of raising funds.

2.      Social survey: The social aspects of a town life are studied under this survey. This type of information collected in the social survey can be enlisted as given below:

·         Ancient ruins,

·         Architectural character of the locality,

·         History of growth from the study of old maps,

·         Conditions favourable for preservation of wild life,

·         Preservation of natural beauty,

·         Birth rates, death rates and charts of diseases,

·         Residential areas, types of buildings, slums and suburban development,

·         Historical buildings and public buildings, their location and classification,

·         Parks and playgrounds, their size,

·         Public services comprising of water supply, sewerage, drainage, electricity, telephone, street lighting, cemeteries and fire protection.

3.      Territorial survey: The physical aspects of territory are studied under this survey. The type of information collected in the territorial survey can be enlisted as follows:

·         Geological features showing rocks and method responsible for formation of topography,

·         Contours of the land surface showing actual heights and variations of surface,

·         Rivers, oceans, streams and lakes,

·         Climatic conditions including temperature range, rainfall and direction and intensity of winds,

·         Types of soil including areas of first class agricultural soil,

·         Forests and other natural vegetation.

       

4.      Vital survey: The population aspects of the town under consideration are studied under this survey. This type of information collected in the vital survey can be enlisted as follows:

·         History of past growth of population,

·         Characteristics of present population,

·         Density of population,

·         Factors which may influence the future rate of growth of the town such as migration, development of local industries, etc.

       

1.4            Types of Surveys

The various surveys conducted for town planning schemes can broadly be divided into the following four types:

1.      Preliminary survey: The data collected in the preliminary survey are of fairly general nature and it is the usual practice to conduct preliminary survey before conducting national, regional or civic surveys. The main objective of the preliminary survey is to decide approximate boundary of area to be planned. The topics which are usually covered in the preliminary survey are as follows,

·         Electric power: Source and distribution of power and location of supply units.

·         Water supply and sewerage: The existing facilities as well as the future requirements.

·         General amenities: Study of civic arts, parks and playgrounds, etc.

·         Highways: Conditions of existing roads with respect to their construction and maintenance problem.

·         Railway: The existing routes and volume of goods traffic.

·         Waterways: Highest water level, yearly, seasonal variations, etc.

·         Housing: Study of existing housing conditions with respect to lighting, ventilation, sanitation, etc.

·         Industries: Arrangement and classification of various industries, location and distribution of the manufacturing units, etc.

·         Land use: The density and character of structures, divisions and uses of land, etc. are studied.

2.      National survey: The study of national resource gives a broad vision for the requirements of town planning schemes. The policy and procedure adopted by nation as a whole affect considerably the proposals of town planning schemes. The topics that are usually covered are as follows:

·         Administration: The aspects of land ownership and general administration of the country are considered.

·         Agriculture: It includes the study of types of agricultural soil, crops, and number of crops per year.

·         Communication facilities: The existing modes of transport such as roads, railways, waterways and air routes are studied.

·         Economic development: The overall situation of economic conditions of the nation including availability, etc. are considered.

·         Geography: The geological conditions, the extent of sea coast, etc. are considered.

·         Natural resources: The availability of natural resources in the form of oil, minerals, gas, water, etc. are studied.

·         Urban settlement: It includes the study of distribution and density of population.

3.      Civic survey: The civic or town survey is conducted with special reference to the conditions prevailing in and around the town to be planned the topics covered in civic survey are as follows:

·         Communication amenities: The means of communication such as roads, railways, airways, and waterways are studied together with their inter-relationship.

·         Contour: The study of contour of the area helps in deciding the gradients of roads, location of waterworks and sewage plants, etc.

·         Land uses and land values: It includes the study of agricultural lands, residential and commercial areas, parks, open spaces, location of airports, etc. The study of land values is useful to get an idea of the compensation required to be paid to private owners for the acquisition of land for public purposes.

·         Historical background: It includes the study of general historical development of town, present policy of administration, physical and social aspects of the area, etc.

·         Housing: The characteristics of houses, distribution and relation of people to houses, etc. are studied.

·         Industries: The character, distribution, types, and special requirement of the local industries are studied.

·         Population: It includes the study of present and future population to be served by the town planning scheme, family structure, density of population, migration tendencies, etc.

·         Natural features: The building, open spaces and spots of natural beauty, which are to be preserved, are considered.

·         Public health: A study is made of general health of inhabitants, death rates, causes of special diseases, etc.

·         Topography: The topography of the area is studied with reference to climatic conditions, locations of rivers and streams, etc.

4.      Regional survey: It is conducted on a slightly bigger scale as compared to the civic survey. The purpose of regional survey and civic survey is the same, namely, to investigate the economical, physical, and social conditions of the area to be covered under the town planning schemes. The investigations made under regional survey are of general nature and as same as those of civic survey.

1.5            Uses of Surveys

The data and information collected during the survey work are useful in the following respects:

·         To give the town planner some basis for his thinking and working.

·         To provide the relevant information regarding the community to be served by the town planning scheme.

·         To suggest the means of developing public opinion and appreciation.

1.6            Methods Adopted to Collect Data

The methods adopted to collect data for the surveys can be summarized as follows:

1.      A questionnaire form may be prepared and information may be collected by house to house investigation.

2.      The interview may be arranged with individuals or organizations having special knowledge in specific fields.

3.      The specialist maybe employed in some cases to supply the information on topics related to their work.

4.      The records and reports maintained by the government offices, police department, municipal offices, revenue department, etc. can be studied and analysed.

5.      The town planner himself carries out the surveys and collect the necessary information on spot examination with the help of the staff.

1.7            Preparation of Maps and Drawings

After the collection of data, maps and drawings are prepared in standard scales and represented in different colours and symbols. The following drawings are generally prepared:  

·         Contours map

·         Land use map showing broad features of the town such as open space and built-up areas, etc.

·         Population density map

·         Town map showing proposals of different zones

·         Programme map of town showing development in first five years.

Based on the maps and drawings, a detailed report is prepared, sometimes models are also prepared to convey the ideas. The representation of drawing helps in following two ways:

1.      The task of town planner becomes easy.

2.      The representation of town planning proposals on drawings assists in easy understanding of the ideas by general public and authorities in particular.

1.8            Different Types of Plans

1.      Structural plan:

·         It shows the certain aspects of the environment, land-use, location of critical facilities and buildings.

·         It aims to influence key decisions in the development of the town.

2.      Comprehensive plan:

·         It encompasses all the geographical parts of the community and all the functional elements which bear on physical development.

·         It includes technical elements like the private uses of land, community facilities, and circulation.

·         It includes an analysis of the city’s economy, demography, history of spatial development.

3.      Development plan:

·         It means plan for the development or re-development or improvement of the area within the planning authority.

·         It includes regional plan, master plan, detailed development plan and a new development plan.

Reference:

·         Town Planning by Rangwala. Published by Charotar, 24^th edition; 2011.

·         An Introduction to Town and Country Planning by A.J. Brown, H.M. Sherrard and J.H. Shaw. Published by Angus and Robertson Ltd., Sydney, Australia: 1969.

·         Town Planning text book by H.S. Vishwanath, Published by Sapna book house, 2^nd revised and enlarged edition; 2014.