The document outlines the importance of surveys in urban planning, emphasizing how they aid in collecting data for developing sustainable urban layouts. It details various types of surveys, their methodologies, and essential data points necessary for effective town planning. The report also highlights a case study of Headcorn, which illustrates practical applications of neighborhood surveys for future development.

1. CE 631: Urban Planning Fundamentals
Graduate Report 2017-18
Submitted By:
Yajush G. Sonar (P17UP010)
Guided by:
Dr. J.E.M. Macwan
P.G Section (Urban Planning),
Department of Civil Engineering,
सरदार वल्लभभाई राष्ट्रीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान, सूरत
Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology
Surat, Gujarat
(2017-2018)
19-07-2018
1

2. CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Theory
 Town Survey
 Civic or Socio-Economic Survey
 Other Important Fundamentals
 Case Study
 References
19-07-2018
2

3. INTRODUCTION
• There is a quite good relation between Surveying and Urban
Planning in development of layouts as the development of
sustainable society.
• The Urban Planner is centrally concerned with the design of
layout, allocation of resources between regions to achieve central
regional and National objectives. It includes physical, social and
economic planning of development within regions and sub-
regions.
• Urban Planner must be aware of the various works that the
specialists do and also the scopes of their works.
• He specifies the data to be collected by them and he also must
keep an idea how to analyse them to get the relevant information.
To collect the relevant data each specialist is required to undergo
survey works and one must know the various type of surveys and
the processes involved therein.
19-07-2018
3

4. NEED:
• To collect the data and information based on spot observation.
• To draw mental picture of the region, the town and its various elements like
residential and working areas, the survey serves broad canvas picturing the
present state of the town and to proper means for its development, in
future.
• Town planning/ urban planning Survey is also essential in following ways,
i. Planning work becomes easy by analysing the data of existing town
gathered from surveys.
ii. It helps to know that what is lacking and what is to be needed for the
development of Town.
iii. A survey focuses on the inter-relation of different inter-mingled activities
of an urban life.
iv. It helps to understand the parasites from which an urban space suffers
and provides a proper treatment to be given, i.e. it diagnoses the disease.
v. It involves the public opinion and views in favour of the town planning
scheme, etc.
19-07-2018
4

5. ADVANTAGES:
• ‘Survey before Plan’ the principle advocated by Sir Patrick Geddes, is
emphasized by many town planners.
• It is the ‘Diagnosis before treatment’ or ‘Diagnostic approach’ without
which no adequate planning scheme can be prepared for a town.
• The survey data so collected can be analysed and will be represented in
the form of maps, charts, tables and models. Such a fully illustrated and
clearly documented survey is helpful and advantageous.
OBJECTIVES:
• To provide the data of the existing town and corroborative evidence for the
concerned authority. Thus the planning work becomes easy.
• To know exactly what is lacking and what is needed for the development of
the town.
• To throw light on the inter-relationship of activities of the town-life, i.e.
whether a particular development has provided a favourable or adverse
effect on its surroundings.
• To know the evils from which the town suffers and provides a proper
treatment be given, i.e. it helps to diagnose before treatment, as pioneered
by Sir Patrick Geddes, etc.19-07-2018
5

6. THEORY
COLLECTION OF DATA:
The basic data to be collected
include,
• The present land use.
• Population growth.
• Traffic System.
• Industrial position.
• Economic base.
• Origin, history and growth of
the town.
CLASSIFICATION OF PLANNING
SURVEYS:
Planning surveys are broadly seen in
two perspectives,
i. Pre-planning Surveys
ii. Post-planning Surveys
Pre-planning Surveys:
The goals and objectives of planning
surveys had cleared that the survey is
essential prior to a development.
Post-planning Surveys
19-07-2018
6

7. TYPES OF SURVEYS:
National
Survey
Regional
Survey
Town Survey
Civic or Socio-
Economic
Survey
• Collect information of natural
resources and potentialities and
to locate the industries in
different regions .
• Survey for fixing railway
alignments, Irrigation, Hydro-
electric works, Heavy industries
come under national survey.
• They are those surveys which
are done over a region dealing
with,
i. Physical factors
ii. Physical economic factors
iii. Social economic factors
• consist of number of townships
and villages.
• Surveys for regional highways,
regional transport, regional
water supply come under
regional survey.
• It helps to develop the whole
region in a co-ordinated
manner.
• They are done at much small
scale and apart from the above
data collected from the regional
surveys it also includes,
i. Physical Survey
ii. Social Survey
iii. Economic Survey
• survey conducted at local
level for re-development
scheme, slum improvement
scheme and Master plan is
different from town survey.
• house to house survey is the
socio-economic survey which
is the foundation stone of the
planning structure.
• from this survey the town
planner/ urban planner can
make a correct diagnosis of
various ills from which the
town is suffering and prescribe
the correct remedies for their
cure.
19-07-2018
7

8. TOWN SURVEY
PHYSICAL SURVEY:
The data can be collected either by
Land Survey or Aerial Survey.
A. Natural features:
• Location in relation to other major
towns in the region.
• Topography
• Climatology
Very Good Future life 50 years and
above
Good Future life 30 to 49 years
Moderate Future life 15 to 29 years
Bad Future life 5 to 14 years
Poor Unfit for habitation,
hence to be pulled
down
B. Conditions of the Buildings:
C. Land use:
• Residential
• Commercial
• Public and Semi-public
• Open Spaces
• Transportation
• Agriculture
• Water-sheets
• Vacant
• Other uses: Refuse disposal
areas, cemeteries, grave-yards,
area under defence, etc.
D. Communication:
• Highways connecting the town.
• Traffic on roads and railways
and at junctions.
• Parking survey.
• Origin and Destination surveys
(O&D surveys).
19-07-2018
8

9. SOCIAL SURVEY:
A. Population:
• Trends in population growth for
last 40 to 50 years
• Characteristics of present
population
• Future growth of population
considering rural migration,
development of new industries
• Demographic survey
• Distribution and density of
population in the town.
B. Housing:
• Housing condition.
• Density of accommodation.
• Height of the buildings.
• Materials used for construction.
• Tenancy status; Rented and owned.
C. Community facilities:
• Education
• Health
• Recreational
• Others: Museums,
historical and religious
buildings.
19-07-2018
9

10. ECONOMIC SURVEY:
A. Occupational condition: Workers
classified according to the nature of
employment. Workers employed in,
• Household industry
• Cultivation
• Agriculture
• Trade and commerce
• Construction work
• Manufacturing industry
• Transport and communication
• Quarrying
• Other services
B. Financial position of local authority:
• Income and expenditure
• Taxation
C. Survey of Industries:
• Classification of industries
• Location of industries
• Availability of raw material
• Workers employed
• Quantity of goods produced
• Type of nuisance created
19-07-2018
10

11. D. Survey of commerce:
• Types of commodities handled
• Wholesale or retail
• Quantity of commodities , its
import and export
• Its transportation by road, railway,
airway, waterway, etc.
• Employment facilities.
E. Utility Services:
• Water supply: Industrial
purpose, domestic purpose,
source of supply, capacity per
capita consumption.
• Drainage and Sewerage
System: Disposal system.
• Electricity: Source, supply.
• Telephone
• Fire protection
• Street-lighting.
19-07-2018
11

12. CIVIC OR SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY
It covers a vast field hence a mere
list would be sufficient to know its
wide scope.
PHYSICAL FEATURES:
• Geological structure: showing the
arrangement of the underlying
rocks and their formation.
• Contours showing variations of
ground surface.
• Rainfall and wind charts.
• Rivers, flood ranges, tides.
COMMUNICATIONS:
• Roads with traffic details, widths
and tree planting.
• Railways.
• Waterways, canals, rivers.
• Airways, indicating aerodrome
sites.
• Accessibility by different ways
and time and distances.
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS:
• Type of road
• Traffic congestion, its causes
• Remedies for traffic congestion
• Traffic control
19-07-2018
12

13. OPEN SPACES:
• Parks, gardens
• Playgrounds, playfields
• Common and other special types of
areas
INDUSTRIAL SURVEY:
• Local industries, classification; their
position and labour employed
• Commerce: Including shops, business
areas, docks
HOUSING:
• Types of buildings
• Insanitary areas- conditions of building
POPULATION:
• Population: Existing, increase and
decrease
• Occupations and diurnal movements
• Density
HEALTH CONDITIONS:
• Birth rates
• Death rates
• Disease diagrams
LANDSCAPE SURVEY:
• Types of country
• Landscape features
• Soils and vegetation
• Disfigurement
LAND CULTIVATION:
• Agriculture
• Afforestation
PUBLIC SERVICES:
• Water supply
• Electricity
• Gas
• Drainage19-07-2018
13

14. Before carrying out the survey, it is necessary to divide the town in wards or
blocks and each block is further sub-divided into street units. The houses to
be surveyed are given members both on the street unit plan and survey
Proforma.
Surveyor’s Name: Interviewee’s Name:
Other details: (a) Ward No.
(b) Street unit No.
(c) Block No.
(d) Date of survey:
1. Housing Characteristics:
i. House No.
i. Address
i. House condition
i. No. of floors
i. Age of the house
i. Area of the plot
i. Rented or own
i. Rent paid per month
2. Family Structure:
i. Total no. of family members
i. No. of males
i. No. of females
i. Literacies- Male and female
i. Marital status
i. No. of school going children
i. No. of college going students
i. Age group of members
5, 5-10, 10-25, 25-50, above 5019-07-2018
14

15. 3. Economic Characteristics:
i. Total no. of earning members
i. Occupation
i. Monthly income
i. Mode of transport
4. Community facilities: Distance from Residence
i. Nurseries, Primary and Middle schools
i. Shopping centres
i. Parks, open spaces
i. Clubs, theatres
i. Dispensaries, clinics, hospitals
5. Utility services: Available/Not available/Well/Private/Public
i. Water supply
i. Electric supply
i. Water closet
i. Separate Bath
1) Remarks:
19-07-2018
15

16. OTHER IMPORTANT FUNDAMENTALS
METHODOLOGY/ TECHNIQUES OF
PERFORMING PLANNING
SURVEYS:
Of the various techniques of surveys
that are followed, some are listed,
A. Self surveys:
Mailing questionnaires to the persons to
be surveyed or collection through postal
communications with Govt. department,
public institutions and interested
bodies.
B. Interviews:
By asking questions to the people to be
surveyed, i.e. personal interviews with
individuals or organisations interested
in the field of planning.
C. Direct inspection:
When the surveyor himself
inspects the situation
concerned, i.e.
Reconnaissance and spot
inspection by the town
planner/ urban planner himself
and his staff.
D. Observer’s participation:
When the observer himself
participate in acquiring the
data required, i.e. direct
collection from office records,
reports from Govt. municipal
offices and other bodies.
E. Field work
19-07-2018
16

17. SELECTION OF SAMPLES (SPECIFICALLY FOR CIVIC SURVEY):
It is not possible to ask each and every person about his or her opinion.
Hence, certain number of persons are selected for conducting the surveys and
these selected persons are known as ‘Samples’ of surveying.
The selection of the number of samples is of utmost importance. The basic
rules for selection of sample size are as follows,
A. More disastrous the results of poor information, larger sample size is
required:
B. The more varied the expected responses, larger sample size is required.
C. Larger the total population, smaller the percentage of the population is
required to be surveyed.
The various types of selection of samples are,
i. Simple Random sampling
ii. Systematic Sampling
iii. Stratified sampling
iv. Clustered sampling
19-07-2018
17

18. CASE STUDY
HEADCORN: GATHERING EVIDENCE FOR YOUR
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN USING SURVEYS:
BACKGROUND:
• Headcorn is rural village in the Low Weald of Kent, eight miles from
Maidstone (Kent is the south-easternmost county in England). It consists
of 1,600 households (3,700 people).
• It is situated at seven miles from M20, Headcorn connects London via
trains with a station located at Headcorn.
• The LPA has assigned Headcorn “rural service centre” status and is
looking to allocate housing over the next 15-20 years.
• It is to meets the evolving needs of residents and businesses in the
parish, and are therefore working to introduce a neighbourhood plan.
• It is to sought volunteers to work on the neighbourhood plan and
particularly to work on the evidence gathering that would need to be
done before policies are to be drafted.
19-07-2018
18

19. THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
BEFORE STARTING OUT:
Here’s some advice from Rebecca and
Michael to think about before carrying
out a survey:
• Decide who to survey
• Think about how much personal
data you need
• Data protection
• Make it anonymous
• Keep your data secure
• Make the survey relevant using
question logic
• Promote your survey(s)
• Use online tools as much as
possible
• …but offer an alternative
• Test your survey
RESIDENTS/CIVIC SURVEY:
797 people completed Headcorn’s
residents’ survey (204 by paper and
the rest online). This is a response
rate of over 27%.
• Put the important questions first
• Use questions that can be
repeated over time to measure
change
• Get people to make tough
choices
• Provide reference point
• Feedback
BUSINESS SURVEY
ESTATE AGENT SURVEY
TRAFFIC SURVEY
19-07-2018
19

20. TOP TIPS WHILE CARRYING OUT SURVEYS:
• Always start with positive questions.
• Questions need to be neutral, i.e. never starting with the answer within the
question.
• Consider forcing people to choose between two competing options to
give clearer priorities (e.g. large gardens versus affordable homes).
• Ask questions to allow you to understand where you are, as well as
questions about the future.
• Consider asking questions even when you think you know the answer –
that will give you the evidence to back your choices (or force you to
rethink).
• Encourage online responses, but always offer another option so that you
reach as many people as possible.
• Always test out your questions and question logic with other people
before launching the survey.
19-07-2018
20

21. REFERENCES
JOURNAL TYPE:
[1] Abdul Rheman Malik, ‘Town planning surveys’, CASP data analysis
report.
[2] J. S. Chapman, ‘Surveys in Town planning’, Department of planning
and transportation, Greater London council, Vol. 21, No. 1 (1972), pp. 42-
45.
[3] Didigwu Augustis U.S., ‘Issues in surveying and urban planning for
sustainable development’, Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics,
ENUGU state university of science and technology, ENUGU, Nigeria.
[4] Praveen Kumar Rai and V. K. Kumra, ‘Role of Geoinformatics in Urban
planning’, Department of Geography, B.H.U., Varanasi, Vol.55, 2011: 11-24.
BOOK TYPE:
[1] G. K. Hiraskar and K. G. Hiraskar, Fundamentals of Town Planning,
Dhanpat Rai Publications, 2016.
[2] Abir Bandopadhyay, Textbook on Town Planning, Books and Allied (P)
Ltd, 2010.
19-07-2018
21

22. THANK YOU
19-07-2018
22