L’exurbanisation comme stratégie face aux risques industriels majeurs

Abstract

Reading the urban space in industrial cities in Algeria reveals several elements of contrast causing an inconsistency which remains difficult to control. Urbanization represents one of the new strategies of urban and environmental policy adopted in Algeria in the urbanization mastery field around risky industries, based on a legal arsenal aiming at a decent and respectful living environment. This thesis entitled “Implications of urbanization as a strategy in the face of industrial risks: Assessment of the relocation process of Hassi R'mel city in Algeria and its impact on the urban development of the region”, represents a modest contribution to the research field on cities and risks, State/Society relations and also on the new mode of urban development management for the resilience of cities. The objective of this study is to assess actions planned in terms of urbanization and transfer of urban infrastructure in the Hassi R'mel industrial city (Algeria), outside the declared high risk perimeter of the gas industry (decree 05-476), to a new city created ex-nihilo as a measure of the protection and the distance against the industrial risk. Eventually, to identify urbanization process impacts on the living environment of the population as well as susceptible factors to reduce exposure to risk through more resilient urban development. The proximity of the chosen site to the operating and risk perimeter seems to present a potential threat to the safety of local residents. The deficit in terms of the urban development of the new city represents another aspect of inadequacy with wishes and aspirations of the relocated population. This research revolves around three different research areas but largely interdependent: industrial cities, the urban development, and the legislation governing their interaction in terms of the urban and environmental governance. Methodological tools are used and an in-situ survey is carried out in order to reach objectives of this study. The empirical part with a dual approach (temporal and spatial) and its multidimensional aspect (town planning, risk management and land planning), allowed to perform a synthesized assessment in a SWOT matrix. Also, to identify dysfunction points in the urbanization process.