Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses

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    An investigation into an urban community value systems model
    Abidin, Ismeth Samsurizal ( 1992)
    A standard practice of using factor scores to optimally classify communities into similar groups using one factor at a time would have been innefficient. A multivariate approach was then chosen to classify communities and iterative discriminant analysis followed to complete the classification. The algorithm used provided a measure of the probability of misclassifying initially grouped members into their most probable group. This statistical approach provided an efficient means for classifying members into their respective groups. The algorithm also yielded groups with interesting and stable supply or trade off surfaces. The qualities and characteristics of the supply surfaces were then able to be summarized using a two group discriminant analysis method. The actual nature of each one of their component slopes was analyzed by a dichotomous dummy dependent variable regression analysis. In the process of relating community values to attributes, the prices of land plus houses and the demand for them was found to indicate willingness to pay perceived net benefit or utility associated with each property. This provided a means of evaluating other related factors. Although the aggregated factor of accessibility was found to be conflicting and self compensatory it was found to be extremely important in their contribution to utility of a location, house or land. The other aggregated factors such as the environment, social and cost related factors however did contribute substantially to urban utility. The utility of a particular product needed for consumption by the community was then described in terms of the attributes or characteristics. A consumer demand approach was then used to relate communities trade-off surfaces to a single measure of residential land and property price. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that characteristics of land or building were separable and their individual contributions to demand can be evaluated at the transaction level of a particular property. The demand for each supply surface factor was also evaluated. The different levels of demand for characteristics reflected community values on substitution, trade off and indifference between characteristics. The supply and demand surfaces were seen to possess certain mathematical properties such as homogeniety and comparative statics. Such properties were therefore used to compare each of the different surfaces of communityvalue and to also provide insight into the behavioural mechanisms of each surface. The analysis of surfaces representing strategies for improving performance or the supply of desired characteristics in areas should carefully consider the nature of the areas's supply and demand surface structure. For example, the inner areas of Melbourne are relatively deprived in the supply of social characteristics but high in potential accessibility characteristics. This suggests that planning strategies should introduce or improve the social attributes of the area. Planners in inner areas should then integrate the positive element of accessibility into the overall community value structure. Other structures studied will also highlight and illustrate the usefulness of detailed analysis of community values. The studies attempt to relate the demand surface of a community to the supply surface of the area. The degree of fulfillment of demand is then a measure of the relative performance of a given area in relation to community needs and their values.