Understanding place in preparation for planning: Analysis of neighborhood patterns in Mitzpe Ramon: [Research article]

This paper presents the analysis of neighborhood and settlement patterns of the town of Mitzpe Ramon using different methods. The juxtaposition of these methods gives us a perspective of the town as a whole. The researchers show that the town suffers from discontinuity of the built environment and low population density. Current development taking place west of the existing urban area perpetuates the low density and actually decreases it further. Thus, they suggest that further development should take place in the ‘urban deserts' which are the currently undeveloped areas surrounded by integrated roads and existing neighborhoods within the town itself. Making Mitzpe Ramon more dense, compact and integrated may increase the potential for social and economic interaction between its multiple communities, and may contribute to the conservation of its unique natural surroundings.