Area-based physical deprivation index in an urban setting: A new approach

Zeinab Khadr, American University in Cairo
Mohamed Nour, American University in Cairo
Ramdan Hamed, American University in Cairo

The current study addresses a major impediment that commonly confront policy makers and national and international agencies concerned with the living conditions of the dwellers of these areas; namely the identification of the most physically deprived small areas in an urban setting. The study developed a methodology to produce an index of physical deprivation for small areas in urban settings (referred to as zones in the study). Using data available at the most basic GIS layers (administrative layer, road and irrigation system layer, residental building layer and land mark layer)and principle component analysis, we were able to construct an index that reflects the levels of physical deprivation in these zones (the average area of the zone is (0.7km2) )within the urban context of Cairo governorate. Based on the index, cluster analysis was used to classify the zones into three distinct categories (Low, Medium, and High). Test on the internal coherent of the index confirmed the ability of all variables included in the index to significantly distinguish among those three categories of zones. Tests of validity of the index using field visits to a representative sample of zones also confirmed the validity of the index in distinguishing among the three categories of the zones.