ABHISHEK KUMAR SINGH,

Regn no. 2150400039,

MURP, 1st year 1st sem

TRESHOLD ANALYSIS :
Threshold analysis orginated in Poland in the early sixties,
it was devised as a tool for long range urban studies
which , according to Polands Physical Act of 1961, had to
be prepared for a period longer than the perspective
one(20 years)
The methodology difficulty of preparing such a study
relates to the fact that it is infeasible to construct a
program of development for an indefinite period of time.
The solution of this problem is sought by discerning in the
development process various discrete states for which it
would be worthwhile to view the future special
arrangement of urban land.it seems logical assume that
such states can be found in situations in which the
territorial expansion of a town encounters certain
limitations.
Within the boundaries of such limitations, the pattern of
urban development might be thought to be relatively
stable.
The core of the investigation is thus concentrated on the
analysis of existing urban development conditions, in the
belief that these conditions have a strong impact on the
stage-like development process.
Despite this impact, there are always many alternatives
for urban expansion which depend on the conception of
future development.
For this reason , it seems essential to quantify the
parameters of all the variants in order to permit the choice
of the optimal one.
This method has been introduced into the Polish town
panning practice.
It proved to be useful tool not only for long- range studies
but also for the preparation of master plans(structural
maps) for the perspective horizon(20 years).
The Polish experience has been transferred to many other
countries, and in particular to Scotland.Such practical

experience and the discussions(mainly in Poland and

Great Britain) on the validity of threshold analysis have
helped to develop the method and to introduce some
refinements into it.

According to the threshold theory formulated by B.Malisz ,

expanding towns are faced with limitations of a physical,
technological, and structural nature.
These limitation, which have been called development
thresholds, result in disproportionaltely high per capita
costs of future town expansion.
The analysis of these limitation, especially in public utility
networks,
Makes it possible to evaluate the most efficient variant of
development of a particular tow at a given period.
It helps also to detect the moment when further compact
growth of a town is no longer economically justified.
Lastly, efficiently indices for all towns within a given region
can be calculated and compared.
Thus the local physical analysis becomes an important
factor in regional planning.
It helps to find those parameters of ecomomic growth
calculation which until now have been lacking.
Threshold Analysis (TA) was proposed by Malisz in Poland, in
1963, and further developed namely by Kozlowski who
introduced the method in the UK in 1965 and Hughes (see for
example Koslowski and Hughes, 1972; Malisz, 1963).
It was generated by the need to develop effective cooperation
between physical planners and economists, to help the
dialogue between different planning levels, and to refine the
(long-term) planning process.
It is based on the assumption that cities encounter limitations
to their development, due to topography, land uses and
technology of infrastructure. These limitations, called

development thresholds which should be identified and

measured by the proposed method are irremediable and can
be overcame only at additional costs, or threshold costs.
The major contribution of TA lies in four main issues, enabling:
1).an improved planning methodology,
2).a measure of efficiency,
3).a basis for improved interdisciplinary cooperation, and
4). improved links with decision-making.
As Kozlowski and Hughes (1972) stated, it remains a strong
need to balance TA processes and results with other
complementary studies covering together the comprehensive
spectrum of the planning process.