Spatial analysis of urban land use violations in the city of Hit

Abstract

The study aims to analyze the spatial distribution of urban land use encroachments in the city of Hit. The municipal boundaries of Hit Municipality amounted to 1,287.66 hectares, while the master plan area was 973.24 hectares. The utilized area amounted to 658.82 hectares. The master plan for Hit City constitutes approximately 65% ​​of the municipal boundaries, while the utilized area amounted to approximately 40.7% of the master plan, excluding agricultural land, orchards, and green and open areas. The peak of encroachments occurred between 2005 and 2007, when 275 encroachments were recorded. These encroachments varied between residential and state-owned encroachments.  The number of encroachments in the study area reached 1,124, while the number of population encroachments reached 1,106. The percentage of population encroachments varied between neighborhoods, with the highest percentage being in Al-Khader neighborhood at 17.2%, and the lowest in Al-Askari neighborhood at 0.1%. Meanwhile, state-owned works violations were fewer in number, amounting to 18 encroachments distributed among the neighborhoods. The highest percentage was in Al-Bakr neighborhood at 33.3%, and the lowest was in Al-Khader and Al-Askari neighborhoods at 5.6%. The study showed that most of the encroachments were residential, with 984 residential units encroaching. The highest encroachment of units was in Al-Bakr neighborhood at 33.8%, and the lowest was in Al-Askari neighborhood at 0.3%. These encroachments were on high lands, green orchards, residential buildings, the Euphrates River bank, vacant lands, and valleys.