OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access peer-reviewed journal
https://doi.org/10.64211/oidaijsd190215
Influence of Morphological Characteristics on the Sustainability of Underserved Settlements: A Case Study in Jaffna Municipality and its Urban Fringe, Sri Lanka
Cavitha Thiliepan 1*, Thennakoon, T.M.S.P.K 2, Buddhika Madurapperuma 3
1 Department of Geography, University of Jaffna, Thirunelvely, Sri Lanka.
2 Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka and International Center for Multidisciplinary Studies (ICMS), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
3 Department of Botany, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
∗ Corresponding author: cavitha@univ.jfn.ac.lk
Volume 19, Issue 02, Pg. 185-214, 2026.
Abstract: Underserved settlements are crucial in providing housing and employment opportunities for the poor urban and their spontaneous spatial patterns pose challenges to sustainable urban development. This study examines the morphological characteristics of underserved settlements and their influence on the sustainability in the Jaffna Municipal area and its urban fringe in Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey with 341 underserved settlements using a stratified random sampling technique. Focus group discussions and interviews were made with representatives of the community-based organizations and ground-level officers, and administrative officers of government institutions, local authorities, academics, and social activists respectively. The secondary spatial and statistical data were obtained from Google Earth and government departments. SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the data collected via a questionnaire survey using descriptive, and inferential statistics, while ArcGIS 10.4 software was used for geo- spatial analysis. Morphology results showed that underserved settlements are distributed in clusters with R values ≤ 0.16; consist a wide range of building patterns, specifically linear, triangular, rectangular, circular, regular, and irregular where the average building density is 107.48 underserved settlements/km 2 and average building coverage is 0.30 km 2. Building coverage accounts for 99.12% of the variation in building density, whereas building area accounts for 96.74% of the variation; euclidean building distance accounts for 10.30% of the variation and road density accounts for 17.53%. Furthermore, this study found that building area, coverage, and road density have a positive relationship with building density, whereas euclidean building distance has a negative relationship. The underserved settlements’ building forms do not comply with building regulations, resulting in a faulty layout and a congested built environment. The majority of settlements do not obtain permission to build their houses because they have less than six perches of land, are occupying land reservations, or lack legal land tenure. The disordered expansion of densely built-up houses, noncompliance with building regulations, poorly accessible road networks, and lack of environmental protection all have negative effects on the environment, health, sanitation, economy, and socio-cultural values of not only underserved settlements but also the entire urban environment. As a result, the structure and form of underserved settlements must be optimised to drive sustainable development.
Keywords: Underserved settlements, Morphological characteristics, Sustainability, Urban environment, Jaffna Municipality, Urban fringe.
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