A Research Study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Research Studies Project Report (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1994

The study participated in the world wide methodical debate on the spatial planning. The advocates of "Urban Funct i ons in Rural Development" (UFRD) approach are challenging the validity of "Location Allocation'' approach and vice a versa. In this context, through extensive deliberation, this study has endeavored to establish the argument that the combination of supply oriented UFRD approach and optimization oriented location allocation approach can maximize the social benefit of the public as well as private investment. This study experimented with series of techniques in order to examine the centrality of market centers. In this process, it became evident that the traditional scal ogram advocated by the propounders of UFRD approach cannot truly reflect the centrality of the market centers. Therefore, necessary adjustments are made to make the tool more relevant and useful . The third and most important experiment of this study was with the "LOCNET" computer software package . This could be regarded as a demonstration on the application of objective oriented computer software package to solve the spatial problems . The results could be obtained in reasonably shorter time and those are also more precise than the manual crude methods. As t he findings of the whole exercise, present and future hierarchy of market centers are determined. Karnrnnerdnopkun i s recommended to devel op as the regional market center and due to low development potential the investment on Bankrut is proposed to freeze. Two additional local market centers and one weekly market are also proposed. Investment proposals are based on this concept of hierarchy of market centers. Some urgent road improvement projects are outlined in the investment proposal. The implementation of those strategies during two successive five years planning periods is expected to result higher level of accessibility of hinterland vill ages to the all l evel of market centers . On the other hand by strengthening the functions in existing and new market centers would help to provide the qualitative service, which is necessary for the economic development . Notes: 1. This Research Study was completed as part of the requirements for the SPRING (Asia) Program. SPRING, an acronym for Spatial Planning for Regions in Growing Economies, i s an M. Sc. program, jointly offered by AIT and University of Dortmund, Germany . Under the SPRING Program a Research Study carrying 12 credits , must be conceptualized and completed within only one term, i.e. from 1st May to 31st July. The SPRING Program thus differs from other M. Sc. programs at AIT where most students write a thesis which spans at least eight months. 2 . Professor Klaus R. Kunzmann (University of Dortmund, Germany) attended the final examination of the SPRING (Asia) students in August 1994.