Motaleate Shahri

Identifying the Impact of Design Factors on Improving Pedestrian Health, the Case of “Motahary Neighborhood” in Mashhad

S R; M A; n z

Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, , Pages 27-36

Abstract

Human health has been an important issue in society. Modern society is increasingly aware that humans and culture are components of the natural environment. In this case, human health is inevitably linked to environmental conditions. Recent changes in urban life including increases in car and motor vehicle ... Read More Human health has been an important issue in society. Modern society is increasingly aware that humans and culture are components of the natural environment. In this case, human health is inevitably linked to environmental conditions. Recent changes in urban life including increases in car and motor vehicle usage and environmental pollution make it an important issue that should be considered in the urban development process. Physical inactivity plays a crucial role in obesity leading to many illnesses such as diabetes which in turn often leads to kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, and amputations. A model based on physical activities is an important part of urban design and planning today. Drawing primarily on recent peer-reviewed literature in a broad range of subjects such as health, planning, and environmental fields, outlines the influence of design at three spatial scales of physical health, mental health and socio - cultural aspects. Enough evidence exists to support urban design as a powerful tool for improving human health and condition. Considering health as a pre-condition for the three dimension of sustainable development by the World Health Organization demonstrates that this matter is an important aspect of urban design and planning. Cars permit travel over greater distances between home and work. In addition to generating more air pollution, long commutes have been associated, in a small body of literature, with other adverse effects on human health and welfare. The main goal of this study emphasizes a pedestrian-oriented approach. In order to evaluate this approach, parameters were reviewed under two different criteria, physical –environmental and social- cultural (it is worth mentioning that these parameters have a physical aspect because of our aims in designing our case study). The research method was based on survey and field study operations. A questionnaire was completed by 200 people in “Motahary neighborhood” in Mashhad. The lack of physical activities in cities of developing countries and our city being a case in point means that important steps must be taken to counteract this issue. This paper shows that the provision of properly designed walkways through a mixed-use, human-scaled urban environment increases pedestrian activity. Neighborhood efforts in this direction will not only improve residents’ health through unstructured exercise, but also integrate marginalized sectors into urban life, and enhance the sense of place and community. These elements must be incorporated into relatively high-density neighborhood plans that include public buildings, open spaces, mixed land uses, and pedestrian walkways to increase physical exercise and enhance healthy civic life. Finally, neighborhoods must be embedded in existing urban infrastructure to provide wider cultural and business opportunities and reduce reliance on the automobile. “Motahary neighborhood” was selected as a case study and it is one of oldest neighborhoods in Mashhad. This paper concludes by presenting an urban design guideline in urban neighborhoods for improving human health taking into consideration its two dimensions: physical – environmental and social- cultural criteria. Finally, the recommended model was obtained from survey analysis and other data.

Urban Design

Identifying the Manner and Amount of the Impact of Elements of Urban Sidewalks on Dimensions and Components of Pedestrians Health

m gh; m n; v t

Volume 2, Issue 7 , July 2013, , Pages 15-30

Abstract

Abstract Background: Sustainable urban design as a new academic science in the field of everyday life in urban spaces, can play a vital role in improving citizens health. Health and hygiene in the evolution history of human from ancient times until now has been the subject that societies have always ... Read More Abstract Background: Sustainable urban design as a new academic science in the field of everyday life in urban spaces, can play a vital role in improving citizens health. Health and hygiene in the evolution history of human from ancient times until now has been the subject that societies have always interacted with. So that the health and welfare of the people of a city, is a key indicator to show the success of that city's sustainable development policies. In this case, one of the places that we observe the presence of people and their physical activities in the city, are the urban sidewalks that are the integral element of streets and made the human interaction besides the automobiles they have made. Objectives: Important consideration is that pedestrians health is not limited only to physical health and the dangers and disadvantages of automobiles. But many other factors can affect the health of pedestrians in the sidewalks environment. With this description, it is necessary to take actions to maintain and enhance pedestrians health in all of its dimensions. This article seeks to answer the question of which elements of urban sidewalks can influence pedestrians health and how and how much of this effect is? Methods: The process of this study includes four main stages. In first and second stages, with a literature review on urban sidewalks and health, requirements for collecting elements of urban sidewalks and also defining dimensions and components of health, were provided. To achieve this purpose, library studies, review of domestic and foreign similar researches and searching the internet, as a data collection techniques were used. In third stage, by using qualitative correlation method on components, we tried to establish the relationship between elements of sidewalks and health components, and finally in fourth stage, by a comparative analysis of these two categories, manner and amount of the impact of elements of urban sidewalks in relationship with dimensions and components of health are identified. Results: By examining how the 61 typical elements of urban sidewalks affect each components of quadripartite dimensions of pedestrians health and counting the existing relationships, determined that, entertainment equipment on the ground (19 relationships), margins uses (18 relationships), materials color (18 relationships), and pots and potted shrubs (17 relationships), have the greatest impact on pedestrians health components. Also, automatic devices (2 relationships), and consoles and saliency of the first floor of buildings (2 relationships), having minimal impact on pedestrians health components. By pluralizing the amount of impact of elements of each main part of sidewalk, it determined that sidewalks surfaces have the greatest impact on physical health, sidewalk furniture on social health, vegetation on mental health and soft elements of sidewalk on both social and mental health. Conclusion: This study showed that health is not just a simple and one-dimensional concept that only notices the physics of society’s population, but also includes other dimensions (such as social, mental and even spiritual). In addition, it explores and explains a significant relationship between urban design (specially designing urban sidewalks) and health, and with a new glance, showed that the elements of sidewalks of a urban space, can influence pedestrians health more differently. The results of this research need to seriously used and considered in preparing design guidelines for urban spaces (sidewalks of streets, plazas, pedestrian ways, local tracks, etc.) and any urban spaces where the movement of pedestrians flows in. The final design production with this regard, can improve public health of the society.

Articles in Press

Current Issue

Volume 13 (2024)

Volume 12 (2023)

Volume 11 (2022)

Volume 10 (2021)

Volume 9 (2020)

Volume 8 (2019)

Volume 7 (2018)

Volume 6 (2017)

Volume 5 (2016)

Volume 4 (2015)

Volume 3 (2014)

Volume 2 (2013)

Volume 1 (2012)

Keywords = health

Identifying the Impact of Design Factors on Improving Pedestrian Health, the Case of “Motahary Neighborhood” in Mashhad

Abstract

Identifying the Manner and Amount of the Impact of Elements of Urban Sidewalks on Dimensions and Components of Pedestrians Health

Abstract