The Impact of Special Economic Zones on Urbanization Patterns in Cambodia

Since their establishment in 2005, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have become a cornerstone of Cambodia's economic development strategy. Similar to advanced economies that use place-based policies like SEZs to target economically disadvantaged locations, Cambodia has relied on SEZs to promote export diversification and attract foreign investment. In this way, SEZs hold immense potential to reshape urbanization patterns by creating job opportunities and attracting migrants, triggering rapid urban expansion around their zones. However, this expansion can outpace existing infrastructure, leading to challenges. While previous research has evaluated SEZ success and socioeconomic impacts, a critical gap exists in understanding their influence on urbanization and the built environment. This study bridges this gap by investigating how SEZs have impacted urbanization patterns in three Cambodian provinces: Banteay Meanchey, Preah Sihanouk, and Svay Rieng. Employing Spacenet7, a powerful open-source geospatial analysis platform, the research attempts to track building location changes and construction activity at the individual building level, utilizing a deep temporal stack of medium-resolution satellite imagery. This granular spatial-temporal data enables the mapping of the spatial extent of urbanization spurred by SEZs and identifies spatial patterns of development. By investigating these trends, this research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between SEZs and urban development in Cambodia. Findings can inform economic development policymakers and urban planners navigating the opportunities and challenges of SEZ-driven urbanization. Additionally, the insights gained can be valuable for crafting more sustainable and balanced SEZ development strategies that promote economic growth alongside well-planned urban environments that improve residents' quality of life.