Urban Planning
Roghayeh Heidary; Esmaeil Aliakbari; Ahmad pourahmad
Abstract
Highlights
The trend of spatial dynamics in the city of Rasht, Iran has been intensive and based on rapid transition.
Rasht has experienced many spatial reflections in the process of transition to a metropolis.
Rasht has been influenced by various forces and factors in its transition to a metropolis.
Introduction
It ...
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Highlights
The trend of spatial dynamics in the city of Rasht, Iran has been intensive and based on rapid transition.
Rasht has experienced many spatial reflections in the process of transition to a metropolis.
Rasht has been influenced by various forces and factors in its transition to a metropolis.
Introduction
It is believed that the city, a living, dynamic entity influenced by internal-external factors through time and space, is subject to change and transformation, and its growth and development are affected by different aspects. Therefore, given the pattern of growth and expansion of the city, continuous monitoring and forecasting of land use changes and land cover in large cities is critical for management of the growth and sustainability of the urban ecosystem. Accordingly, the present study aimed to analyze the spatial dynamics of regional cities in the process of transition to a metropolis, focusing on the city of Rasht, Iran.
Theoretical Framework
Urban development is a long-term process of interaction between human activities and land. During this process, numerous changes may be brought about from various fields, such as ones in land use conditions, road network upgrades, population migration, and industrial structure optimization. Since the needs of societies and human groups are constantly changing and transforming due to their inherent dynamics, the built spaces are also subject to gradual change as spatial systems. Therefore, urban dynamics are representations of changes in urban spatial structures over time, which embody a myriad of processes at work in cities on different but often interlocking time scales ranging from life cycle effects in buildings and populations to movements over space and time as reflected in spatial interactions. City formation and development have occurred in different ways in different regions of the world and at different times, driven by diverse political, economic, social, and cultural processes )Bruns-Berentelg et al., 2020: 2( and technological changes (Pacione, 2005). Technological innovations have allowed flows of information, knowledge, and money to circulate across the world quickly, helping to intensify the ongoing, but previously slow, process of compression between time and space (Harvey, 1989). This has supported the processes of economic decentralization and globalization, enabling the emergence of new geographies where physical and political boundaries are not as important as before (Sassen, 1991; Castells, 1997). These shifts have contested usual concepts such as scale and territoriality, resulting in new forms of spatiality )Borges, 2010). According to Berg et al. (1982), cities evolve in a clearly defined sequence of stages that can be conceptualized in a model of urban development based upon population changes in urban regions as a whole and upon shifts of population within these regions )Clark, 2003: 61(.
Methodology
The research method was descriptive-analytical. Therefore, it sought to answer the following questions. What is the process of the spatial dynamics of Rasht in the transition to a metropolis? What are the forces and spatial reflections of this city’s drive to join millions of metropolises? In order to answer the research questions, the research data were collected using the documentary method and Landsat satellite images. The main data were extracted from US Geological Survey (USGS), taking into account MSS, TM5, and OLI sensor images of the Landsat satellite with a resolution of 60 by 30 meters from 1993, 2003, 2011, and 2019 (June, July, and August without clouds). Land use maps were generated in the four uses of urban and built-up areas, water and paddy areas, forests and agricultural lands, and gardens. In this research, the cycle and spatial dynamics of Rasht were studied, and demographic information was collected from statistics, censuses, and the website of the Statistics Center of Iran using historical data and the Davis model. To investigate the trend of land use change (1993-2019), spatial metrics were used through preparation of a time series of land use maps and land cover in Rasht and measurement of its urban sprawl.
Results and Discussion
The findings demonstrated that the trend of spatial dynamics in Rasht has been intensive and based on rapid transition. Unlike what the general model of urban life cycle stated, this city has experienced population and land use and cover instability in the growth stage, like other large cities. These dynamics are constantly evolving and exhibit repercussions and consequences under the influence of various factors such as natural forces and capabilities, political components, economic policies and development plans, infrastructure and communication system developments, peripheral spatial phenomenon integrations within the physical boundaries of the city, informal settlement expansions, and immigration flows. As far as the objective characteristics and reflections are concerned, one can point out the changes in the land use system and land cover, urban sprawl, imbalance in the spatial organization of the network and urban hierarchy, service-rendering, and expansion of the city’s economy foundations. The outcomes of the above reflections are evident in the rise in urban land use levels and disastrous effects of land and cover resource instability, the increase in the growth of urban areas and vulnerability and rupture of agricultural lands and paddy fields, the gaps in the urban network, and the ever-increasing service-rendering, political-administrative, and physical-spatial development of Rasht. Overall, the results on the changes in land use and land cover confirmed the rise in urban land use levels from 4915 hectares in 1993 to 9960 hectares in 2019. Along with the growth of land use in urban areas, agricultural land coverage has experienced a declining trend in the same period. The results on the spatial metrics also demonstrated that urban areas have increasingly grown, and numerous urban plots have been developed. Concurrently, agricultural lands and paddy fields have lost their spatial cohesion and integrity and have been disintegrated into numerous plots, which implies the fast-paced urban spatial dynamics into physical dispersion.
Conclusion
The city of Rasht is in the process of transition to a metropolis and has undergone fundamental changes in its spatial-physical boundaries along with the instability of land cover resources, the disastrous consequences of which are also the main concern about the city and the urban ecosystem today. Thus, spatial urban management through short-term land cover transformation, on one hand, and infill development policy strategies, i.e. redevelopment and new development, on the other hand, are very important to stabilize growth and slow down transition into a metropolitan area.
Acknowledgment
This article is derived from the doctorate thesis of the first author with the guidance of the second author and the advice of the third author who defended the thesis in September 2020.
Urban Planning
fazilat tahari; mahin nastaran; Parviz Ejlali
Abstract
Highlights
Organizing influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in the form of causal, contextual, intervening, and consequential categories and strategies.
Classification of influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in intellectual, political, instrumental, ...
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Highlights
Organizing influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in the form of causal, contextual, intervening, and consequential categories and strategies.
Classification of influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in intellectual, political, instrumental, organizational, legal, financial, educational, and social-cultural infrastructures.
Introducing grounded theory as a suitable method to understand all the influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in Rasht.
Introduction
As an Iranian city, Rasht is made up of diverse people of different ages, sexes, physical abilities, and ethnic backgrounds. Many of the world’s urban planning mechanisms have shifted to adopt diversity-oriented approaches and incorporate diversity and difference into urban planning processes by embracing the diversity of urban residents. However, the urban planning mechanism in Iran and the city of Rasht still treats citizens as the same thanks to modernist thoughts, disregarding the differences in age, sex, ethnicity, religion, and physical ability and, consequently, the differences in the citizens’ needs in the city. Planning theory and practice has recently become more conscious of the need to cater to diverse needs and preferences. Planning for diversity and difference is a social interpretation of planning for cities and an approach that considers the needs of different groups of people. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the realization of diversity-oriented urban planning in Rasht based on the viewpoints of planning experts in the city.
Theoretical Framework
Diversity refers to the increasingly wide range of social and demographic backgrounds of people who live and work in the city. The notion of diversity is now used as a label for policies addressing the heterogeneity of local populations. Certain differences give rise to discrimination and disadvantage, while others do not. Gender, race, disability, and age are critical issues at the root of much discrimination in the society. The critical point is that differences between diverse social groups in enjoyment of the opportunities of urban planning measures are continually reproduced by a range of processes and policies, rendering a number of people mainstream and others marginal. Planning for diversity is a social interpretation of planning for cities, and is an approach that considers different groups of people. There are two conceptual frames, or ways of regarding this profoundly social interpretation of planning for cities, that need to be deployed simultaneously. Firstly, planning for diversity is planning for the diverse range of people who live in and use the city. Secondly, planning the institutional settings to encourage equality of access across places is planning to reduce difference.
Methodology
One of the most efficient qualitative research methods, the grounded theory method was used to help achieve the research purpose; since the research problem is multifaceted, complex, and procedural, grounded theory can be an excellent way to provide an understanding of all the adequate conditions and factors. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed for data collection. Then, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten of the planning experts of this city. Sampling was carried out using a nonrandom sampling method called Snowball Purposive Sampling. In this research, a systematic approach known as grounded theory was applied. The systematic approach emphasizes the adoption of data analysis steps, including open coding, axial coding, selective coding, and the development of a logical model or a visual description of the generated theory. After the collection of textual interview data, analysis and coding began along with sampling. Specialized qualitative research software called Max QDA was used for that purpose. The main tasks of this software are to categorize data and connect the categories and to enable more sophisticated data analysis. In grounded theory, the researcher extracts subcategories, main categories, and core categories from the data, and continues the analysis.
Results and Discussion
Finally, the factors effective on the realization of the diversity-oriented urban planning approach were identified, including 17 main categories and 59 subcategories and the relationships between them. These factors include 1) reflection to govern the urban planning mechanism, 2) significant urban planning policies, 3) improvement of the approach applied to develop urban development plans, 4) modification of the contents of urban development plans, 5) public demand, 6) types of urban planning system, 7) national laws protecting the rights of various social groups, 8) law enforcement, 9) citizens’ cultural and social characteristics, 10) financial strength of municipalities, 11) organizational structure of the authority implementing the plans, 12) inter-organizational coordination, 13) education of urban planning students, 14) the knowledge and experience of the producers of urban development plans, 15) city council approvals, 16) needs assessment, 17) improvement of the quality of the urban environment/diversity-oriented urban environment. In the next step, we selected the category of applying and realizing the diversity-oriented approach from the open coding stage, placed it at the center of the process studied as the central phenomenon, and then related the other categories to it. These categories include causal conditions, strategies, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, and consequences. Next, a diagram called the coding pattern was drawn, which illustrates the relationships between causal conditions, strategies, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, and consequences. In the following step, we developed a theory of the relationships between categories in the axial coding pattern. This theory provides an abstract description of the process examined in this study, namely the application and realization of the diversity-oriented urban planning approach.
Conclusion
The results demonstrate that a wide range of intellectual, procedural, instrumental, organizational, legal, financial, educational, and socio-cultural infrastructures effectively realize this approach. Identification and explanation of these factors can guide the future decisions and practices of Iran’s urban planning authorities to help recognize diverse social groups, respond to their different needs in the city, and address discrimination in urban planning practices.
Acknowledgment
This article has been extracted from the first author’s doctoral dissertation, entitled Developing a Conceptual Model of the Diversity-Oriented Urban Planning Approach: Case study of Rasht, defended at the Art University of Isfahan under the supervision of the second and third authors.
Urban Planning
musa pazhoohan; zahra poormoghadam
Abstract
The culture-led urban regeneration and cultural tourism are two sides of a coin in the renovation of valuable urban areas. The first is a comprehensive process for saving the deteriorated urban areas of the city from the destruction of physic and activity, and the latter is the most effective way of ...
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The culture-led urban regeneration and cultural tourism are two sides of a coin in the renovation of valuable urban areas. The first is a comprehensive process for saving the deteriorated urban areas of the city from the destruction of physic and activity, and the latter is the most effective way of promoting people’s participation, culture and art and mobilizing social and cultural forces for old urban areas. Culture-led urban regeneration is one of the most recent approaches to sustainable urban regeneration, which, after many years of experience, has proved its legitimacy not only as a theoretical approach, but also as a practical strategy for the modernization and improvement of the old neighborhoods. The contribution of the cultural and human heritage of valuable neighbors to the process of regeneration can be realized because the local economy and related businesses would be supported through tourism development and tourists’ interest in such neighborhoods. Therefore, the culture-led urban regeneration through tourism development can be considered as one of the most promising solutions for the sustainable regeneration of old towns. When tourism is considered as way of rehabilitation of the underlying culture, culture-based tourism is clearly intended. Cultural tourism is defined as a type of tourism whose main purpose is to spread the horizons of knowledge through the discovery of artistic heritage or architecture of a land. This article investigates the interaction of the two in the framework of strategic planning of cultural tourism development in the old fabric of Rasht, which covers the Zahedan and Sagharisazan neighborhoods. The research method is descriptive-analytic, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative tools, including a questionnaire, for data collection. The internal and external factors are evaluated through a panel of 30 local experts, including experts from the Municipality and Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department. The sampling method was snowball sampling due to the uncertainty of the population. The results show that, despite having its own cultural resources, the old fabric of Rasht has not been able to use local resources due to the weakness of the cultural tourism infrastructure and the lack of creativity in the use of art and culture in the process of culture-led urban regeneration. Prioritized strategies, executive policies and action plans were developed for mobilizing cultural and artistic sources in developing cultural tourism while actively protecting cultural heritage and identity simultaneously. Creating new and different tourist attractions through reviving ritual traditions, improving historic buildings by planning attractive activities for tourists and pedestrinization of Bazar-Khahar-e- Imam –Zarjub are among the most prioritized strategies designed for cultural-led urban regeneration through urban tourism in the old fabric of Rasht. Besides, the results of this article show that the plan for tourism development in the Iranian historical neighborhoods should be a long-term plan that prioritizes the provision of infrastructure and changes in short-term views towards urban management.
