Spatial Analysis of the Reality of Informal Housing in Abu Al-Khasib City

Abstract

The problem of informal housing has increased and become more widespread after the absence of laws and penalties preventing such random settlements, especially after the American occupation in 2003. The existence of such settlements within the city was also encouraged by the presence of unused spaces between neighborhoods designated by the state for service use. This issue is not limited to Abu Al-Khasib city but extends to most cities in Iraq, becoming a burden on the urban fabric and negatively affecting the city’s infrastructure. Abu Al-Khasib city includes 36 residential neighborhoods, most of which are characterized by the spread of informal housing. There are 692 informal housing units, some of which are spread on the outskirts of the city, while others have penetrated the middle of residential neighborhoods.

The research aims to identify informal settlements, their classifications, patterns, and the spatial distribution variation of informal housing and their concentration locations in the master plan of Abu Al-Khasib city. The study also addresses the variation in levels of informal housing from year to year.