Urban livability
Ali Mahdi
Abstract
The importance of the issue of urban health has made the concept of the urban heart in more than 40 countries of the world to be centered on the issue of eliminating environmental inequalities. Therefore, for many governments, increasing awareness of environmental effects on human health has become one ...
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The importance of the issue of urban health has made the concept of the urban heart in more than 40 countries of the world to be centered on the issue of eliminating environmental inequalities. Therefore, for many governments, increasing awareness of environmental effects on human health has become one of the main functions of governments in relation to citizens and explaining new approaches in studies and urban planning. This study, based on the importance of planning and environmental quality and urban health, has investigated this issue in the city of Qom. The current research, which is a type of library and field studies, with a descriptive-analytical and survey method, and using a wide environmental survey by the executive team (photographing, sampling, interviewing and preparing informal reports with the citizens of each region, observations field and distribution of questionnaires), has been completed and its results analyzed using Spss16, ArcGIS software show that under the influence of issues, problems, deficiencies and weak knowledge and planning required in The area of upgrading and improving the current environmental, physical and visual quality indicators of the city of Qom, different dimensions of urban health (social, mental and physical health), the citizens of Qom receive direct and indirect effects in different degrees, among which, The psychological dimension of the citizens of Qom city should be prioritized for investigation and planning for the future. Comparison of the average of urban health sub-indexes (mental, physical, social) shows that the highest average (2.57) belongs to the social health sub-index and the lowest average (2.30) belongs to the mental health sub-index. In general, according to the obtained averages, none of the dimensions of health in Qom city have a good condition because the average of all sub-indices is much lower than the average (3).
Urban livability
Zeinab Kia; Aliakbar Shamsipour; Ghasem Azizi
Abstract
Highlights
- Tehran exhibits significant climatic diversity due to variations in elevation, morphology, and physical features.
- The geomorphological characteristics of Tehran's substratum play a critical role in shaping homogeneous climate response units.
- The city's compact urban texture and developmental ...
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Highlights
- Tehran exhibits significant climatic diversity due to variations in elevation, morphology, and physical features.
- The geomorphological characteristics of Tehran's substratum play a critical role in shaping homogeneous climate response units.
- The city's compact urban texture and developmental patterns contribute significantly to the formation of Tehran's urban heat island.
- The climate response units of Tehran are influenced by elevation, surface morphology, and urbanization patterns.
- The middle strip of Tehran, featuring hills and constructed parks, creates distinct local climatic conditions.
Introduction
Understanding the natural characteristics of urban areas, especially their climatic features, is crucial for effective land management. Urban climate plays a fundamental role in shaping ventilation patterns, air quality, and thermal comfort. To enhance urban planning strategies, a suitable climatic classification system is essential for distinguishing different zones based on their environmental conditions. Climatic zoning facilitates the identification of distinct climatic features, enabling region-specific planning and management.
Traditional climate zoning methods are insufficient for modern urban environments due to variations in land use, land cover, urban geometry, and structure. This research employs an applied approach, using descriptive and analytical methodologies. The study integrates multiple spatial data layers, including digital elevation models, land use/cover, building density, green spaces, and hydrographic networks, to classify urban climate zones effectively. These parameters provide a comprehensive understanding of Tehran's climatic conditions and their spatial distribution.
Study Area
Tehran, spanning 615 square kilometers, is situated between mountainous zones and arid plains, leading to diverse climatic conditions. The city's climate is primarily influenced by its topography, with the northern highlands experiencing more favorable conditions than the central and southern low-altitude plains.
Local climatic differences arise due to varying land uses, such as green spaces, barren lands, asphalt surfaces, and residential zones. Building density significantly impacts the urban climate, contributing to distinct microclimatic conditions across different localities. The city's morphology and topography play a decisive role in shaping its climatic response units.
Discussion
A geomorphological map provides valuable insights into the shape, structure, and texture of Tehran’s urban landscape. This map illustrates the relationship between natural features, built environments, and climatic conditions. Different neighborhoods within Tehran exhibit unique topographic characteristics, construction patterns, traffic densities, and accessibility, all of which influence local climate variations.
Key homogeneous climate response units in Tehran include mountains (class 3), green spaces (class 16), and riverbeds/lakes (class 17). These units contribute positively to reducing air temperature, enhancing air quality, and promoting natural ventilation. Preserving these areas is crucial for mitigating urban heat island effects and improving urban climate resilience.
To assess Tehran’s climate at a localized scale, topographic and urban structural parameters were analyzed. First, the spatial distribution of building density was classified into five distinct groups. Subsequently, a geomorphological map of Tehran was generated, identifying ten morphological classes. By integrating building density and urban geomorphology data, a homogeneous climate response unit (HCR) map was developed. This map serves as a vital tool for understanding and managing Tehran’s urban climate.
Conclusion
This research introduces a novel approach to urban climate zoning, previously applied in Lisbon, Portugal, for classifying urban climatic conditions. Central Tehran exhibits high building density, limited green spaces, and pronounced urban heat island effects. The primary factors contributing to the urban heat island phenomenon include high population density, intensified urban activities, and dense construction patterns.
The geomorphological analysis highlights that central and southern Tehran, particularly districts with minimal green spaces (e.g., District 9), suffer from poor air quality and inadequate natural ventilation. These areas exhibit unfavorable climatic conditions due to high pollution levels, urban congestion, and limited airflow. Conversely, northern Tehran (e.g., Districts 1 and 4) benefits from superior air quality, attributed to its proximity to mountains, river valleys, and extensive green spaces.
The prevailing wind direction in Tehran originates from the west, influencing pollutant dispersion patterns. Industrial concentrations in the western parts of the city exacerbate pollution levels in adjacent areas. Consequently, central and southern Tehran require strategic urban interventions to enhance climatic conditions. Recommendations include:
- Integrating green spaces on building facades and streets.
- Establishing water features such as ponds and fountains to moderate air temperature.
- Utilizing reflective and cool materials in urban surfaces to mitigate heat accumulation.
- Expanding green areas to improve air quality and humidity levels.
- Regulating urban expansion to prevent excessive development in climatically vulnerable zones.
- Designing transportation networks to facilitate natural air circulation.
In conclusion, effective climate zoning strategies are essential for sustainable urban development in Tehran. Implementing targeted climate-responsive urban planning measures can significantly improve air quality, thermal comfort, and overall environmental conditions in the city.
Urban livability
Aram Khezerlou; Asghar Abedini
Abstract
Highlights
- The highest weight concerned the indicator of building quality, and the lowest pertained to the area covered by sewage.
- The rate of livability is higher in the old part of the city of Urmia, Iran than in the new part.
- The rate of livability is in better conditions in the old part ...
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Highlights
- The highest weight concerned the indicator of building quality, and the lowest pertained to the area covered by sewage.
- The rate of livability is higher in the old part of the city of Urmia, Iran than in the new part.
- The rate of livability is in better conditions in the old part than in the new part based on the indicators of access to the main thoroughfares, average land price, population density, access to sports and recreational use, access to medical use, access to academic and cultural use, access to commercial use, number of literate people, and number of employees.
- The rate of livability in the new part is in good conditions compared to that in the old part based on the indicators of building quality, area covered by sewage, and access to green spaces.
Introduction
The increase in the development of urban population and replacement of concern for quantitative standards by consideration of qualitative approaches has led to a rise in the quality of urban life and urban livability, where the role of officials and urban management is important, along with the need for a comprehensive study of various dimensions in the city. Following the rapid population growth as a result of migration and the unplanned expansion of the city of Urmia, Iran, the capital of West Azerbaijan Province, and the consequent problems, the need for a comprehensive effort to save the city and improve the quality of life therein has been highlighted more than ever. In response to these problems, various theories and approaches have been proposed, one of which is the livable city approach. Given that livability is a complex, multidimensional concept, and its patterns are completely different from one region to another, no comprehensive model has been presented so far of the effects of livability indicators in the old and new parts of cities in the current conditions and the relationships between them. Therefore, this comparative study was intended to investigate the extent of livability in the old and new parts of Urmia based on the relevant indicators.
Theoretical Framework
Livability is defined as the quality of life experienced by the inhabitants of a city or region. Kennedy and Bai believe that the concept of livability is defined by terms such as the well-being of the society, and represents the characteristics that turn a place into one where people always want to live.
Methodology
In this descriptive-analytical applied research, data collection was conducted through library studies, available articles, field studies, and census information released in 2016 by the Statistical Center of Iran. Thus, after the resources relevant to livability were studied, twelve indicators were selected from among various effective factors to obtain the research output, given the availability of data on Urmia. These indicators include access to medical use, access to commercial use, access to sports and recreational use, access to green space use, quality of buildings, area covered by sewage, access to academic and cultural use, number of literate people, population density, average land price, number of employees, and access to the main thoroughfares. Given that each of the indicators effective in specification of livability has a different coefficient of importance (weight), the opinions of the elite were used in this article to determine the weights of the indicators. To weigh the indicators according to the BWM method, thirty questionnaires were developed with contents based on their pairwise comparison in terms of the preference of the best indicator over the others and the preference of the other indicators over the worst. In the next step, the questionnaire data were entered into the GAMS software and calculated and analyzed. A weight of 0.081 was calculated with the value of lε obtained for the thirty questionnaires, which indicates the stability and consistency of the calculated weights due to its proximity to zero. For a spatial analysis, the information layers of the indicators were first digitized and edited in the GIS software, and the significance coefficient calculated by the BWM method was multiplied by each of the indicators through conversion of the information layers into a raster and their classification. Using the weighted sum, the indicators were then combined for measurement of livability in the old and new parts of Urmia.
Results and Discussion
The calculations of the weights of the twelve indicators in the Gomez software indicates that the highest weight concerns the average land price indicator, with a significance coefficient of 0.169, and the lowest weight pertains to the area covered by sewage, with 0.015. The average value of λε obtained for the thirty questionnaires was 0.081, which indicates the stability and consistency of the calculated weights due to its proximity to zero.
Conclusion
The results of combining the twelve livability indicators for the old part of Urmia show that 2% of this part lies in the zone with very low livability, 13% in low livability, 32% in medium livability, 35% in high livability, and 18% is in very high livability. In the new part of Urmia, 7% lie in the zone with very low livability, 21% in low livability, 39% in medium livability, 29% in high livability, and 4% in very high livability. Furthermore, livability is better in the old part than in the new part based on the indicators of access to the main thoroughfares, average land price, population density, access to sports and recreational use, access to medical use, access to academic and cultural use, access to commercial use, number of literate people, and number of employees. On the other hand, livability in the new part is in good conditions compared to that in the old part based on the indicators of building quality, area covered by sewage, and access to green space use.
