Spatial pattern, transportation, and air quality nexus in Iskandar Malaysia

Abstract

Spatial pattern, transportation, and air quality are three development entities which affect one another thus forming a nexus. Deep understanding on the nexus between the entities provides possibility to create positive impacts on the societal living environment if the integration is well addressed. The developing region of Iskandar Malaysia shows potential to prove the nexus with the current trends of urbanisation process. The tremendous transformation in spatial distribution seemingly unintegrated with the transportation system has potential to draw impacts on the air quality. Research on the nexus of spatial pattern, transportation, and air quality was carried out in Iskandar Malaysia by analysing and evaluating the interconnectivity of the aspects. The spatial pattern study was conducted by analysing the current land use pattern and supported by the household travel survey of 400 household held in eight prominent residential zones. To confirm the traffic-induced air pollution, traffic volume survey was conducted at preselected points connecting origin and destination of the respondents. Air quality was analysed by correlating the traffic volume and air quality by using the existing model. The analysis revealed that the spatial policy of Iskandar Malaysia has driven growth towards a polycentric system with a de-concentration travel pattern for working purposes. The phenomenon exhibits a more distributed rather than concentrated and lumped traffic pattern. The travel behaviour of the citizen signified by high dependency on private automobile. This study confirms that there is nexus of spatial pattern, transportation, and air quality in Iskandar Malaysia. The nexus of the integration provide ideas to foresee the potential resolving ideas from the changes in the spatial pattern, transportation, and air quality setting in the region.