Suitable criteria for the location of gated community housing

Abstract

Gated Communities set up without proper planning in housing developments could have a negative impact on urban planning and management. Issues arising from Gated Communities include matters relating to congestion, town management and the role of the local authorities. Looking at the current scenario, the planning that goes into determining suitable locations for housing development projects has not made the best use of technological tools. Consequently, decisions that are made are often unsuitable due to the lack of data or information that reflects the true spatial orientation and conditions of the selected location. This paper discusses the criteria that have been adopted in approving the development of existing Gated Communities. As a basis for developing analytical models for residential space usage and occupancy, such criteria would serve to identify areas suitable for the development of Gated Communities through the application of the Geographic Information System (GIS). The system of 'location information' being developed is very important to the Government, especially to urban planners in obtaining information related to location, area, and address displayed in the form of maps. Such mapping information is very useful, especially when presented in a simplified format and shared by many users. The housing industry in Malaysia would greatly benefit by the application of such a system in the planning of gated communities.