Urban Planning
Yaghob Abdali; Saeed Zanganeh Shahraki; hossein hataminejad; Ahmad Pourahmad; Mohammd Salmani
Abstract
Operationalizing the concept of urban disaster resilience is a major milestone toward understanding both the characteristics that contribute to the resilience of cities to natural hazards and the interactions required to build and sustain it. While the measurement of urban disaster resilience has recently ...
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Operationalizing the concept of urban disaster resilience is a major milestone toward understanding both the characteristics that contribute to the resilience of cities to natural hazards and the interactions required to build and sustain it. While the measurement of urban disaster resilience has recently gained much attention, there is so far no optimal approach for operationalizing this concept and therefore there is a need to conduct more empirical studies on what constitutes disaster resilience and how to assess it. The city of Khorramabad is prone to many risks due to exposure to surface runoff flowing from the surrounding mountains, floods, flooding of rivers that pass through the center of the city, and the inherent feature of being located in a unique valley. Researchers predict that future weather-related events will increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change.The consequences of these events, i.e. damage to infrastructure and property, as well as personal injuries and loss of life, are likely to increase. In this study, a resilience assessment focuses on the inherent characteristics and capacities of Khorramabad in the context of flash floods from surface water or from the overflow of rivers. The measurement approach is based on constructing a composite index based on six resilience dimensions social, economic, institutional, infrastructural, community capital, and environmental of community flood resilience. This follows by developing a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making method. The applied method is a combination of the DANP for prioritizing the selected indicators and the TOPSIS tools in order to get Khorramabad's urban districts ranked based on their resilience levels. Most of the data provided for the indicators are mainly obtained from the Iranian Statistics Center as the unique reference of the country's official statistics, Other required data were retrieved from publicly available information sources of Khorram Abad Municipality, Organization of Management and Prevention of Natural Disasters, Renovation and Equipping of Iranian Schools, and Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of Iran. The results clarify that District 23 is comparatively the most resilient district, while Districts 1, 4, 7, 13, and 17 are the lowest level of resilience. Such place-based assessments have an opportunity to track community performance over time and provide the tool to decision-makers in order to integrate resilience thinking into urban development and resilience-oriented urban planning.
Urban Planning
Bahador Zamani; Ehsan Babaei Salanghooch
Abstract
In recent years, the use of grounded theory methodology has increased in scientific fields related to the built environment, especially in urban planning and design. On the other hand, researchers' lack of attention to the foundations and methodological considerations of grounded theory and its readings ...
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In recent years, the use of grounded theory methodology has increased in scientific fields related to the built environment, especially in urban planning and design. On the other hand, researchers' lack of attention to the foundations and methodological considerations of grounded theory and its readings has sometimes led to a type of methodology with eclectic readings, which sometimes lacks and conflicts the nature of the grounded theory methodology and the primary considerations of the intended reading. Despite this, the review and evaluation of the quality of such research in the scientific fields related to the built environment, particularly urban design and planning has been done less. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to systematically evaluate the studies using the grounded theory methodology in urban planning and design in order to understand the appropriate application of the key tenets of this methodology in this field of knowledge and to provide suggestions for future applications. In this regard, the eligible studies have been selected by systematic search of papers published in reliable Persian-language scientific databases applying the systematic review method. After screening the existing studies based on the specified criteria, 44 studies published until 2019 were selected and evaluated based on the evaluation criteria of the grounded theory methodology. The results of the methodological evaluation of the conducted researches based on the grounded theory methodology showed that despite the increasing use of this method in urban planning and design research, many of these research have been unsuccessful in fully and accurately applying the principles and stages of the grounded theory methodology and its readings, and their results have been reduced to a diagram, model and conceptual framework instead of a theory as the expected achievement from the application of this method. In addition, the results of the present study showed that a number of the research only use a set of techniques of the grounded theory methodology including coding or memo writing. Neglecting important processes such as theoretical sampling, constant comparison and in-depth analysis of categories, has caused that these studies did not go beyond the level of description, and while limiting themselves to presenting descriptive themes and narratives, they rarely achieve theory building as the aim of the grounded theory methodology. Based on the findings of this paper, improving the quality of research based on the grounded theory methodology in the field of urban planning and design requires researchers with a correct understanding of the nature, characteristics and principles of the grounded theory and a deep insight of the readings of this method and their differences, in order to measure the appropriateness and justify the choice of the appropriate reading based on the aims and characteristics of the research.
Urban Planning
Aliakbar Salaripour; Zahra Seif Reihani,; Narges Taleb vali alah
Abstract
Just as there are components that attachment to a place affects them, there are also components that affect attachment to a place. The current research tries to determine the positive and negative factors affecting attachment to a place. Using purposive sampling, 89 participants were selected. Each participant ...
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Just as there are components that attachment to a place affects them, there are also components that affect attachment to a place. The current research tries to determine the positive and negative factors affecting attachment to a place. Using purposive sampling, 89 participants were selected. Each participant was asked to prepare about 3 photos of the environments they are attached to. After receiving the photos, individual in-depth interview sessions were held. Thematic analysis has been used to achieve the purpose of the research. Also, the collected images were categorized based on the type of place and geographical scale. In this research, 23 positive factors (memories, similarity, symbol, positive feelings, peace, comfort, security, balance of city and nature, connection with nature, pleasant smell, taste, touch, hearing, aesthetic, unique identity, support from interests, location, type of housing, personal growth, preservation of past heritage, privacy, antiquity, social cohesion) and 7 negative factors (environmental damage, economic recession, urban management inefficiency, loneliness, ignorance and neglect of society, forgetfulness cultural activities, negative emotions) affecting place attachment were identified. The results of the research show that aesthetic, memories and positive feelings have the most positive effect on attachment to a place, and the inefficiency of urban management, negative emotions and economic stagnation have the most negative effect on attachment to a place. After examining the pictures taken by the interviewees, 7 categories of recreational space, object space, neighborhood, home, social place, commercial place and cultural-educational-administrative uses were obtained. Recreational space, home, neighborhood, commercial place, object space, cultural-educational-administrative uses and social place, respectively, obtained the highest frequency. Among the people whose place of attachment is recreational spaces, houses, commercial places or cultural-educational-office uses, the aesthetic factor has the highest percentage. Based on the interviews conducted, regarding social places, memories, positive emotions, aesthetic issues, age were identified as the most important factors affecting attachment to a place. Most of the interviewees who paid attention to the neighborhood admitted that the inefficiency of urban management can have a negative effect on attachment to the place. Regarding the space of the object, the symbol obtained the highest frequency among the factors affecting the attachment to the place. Ambient space was the most common type of location, which includes places such as multi-story house, seaside path, market, etc. The uncontrollable space was the second most common scale, and one of its examples is coffee shop. Controllable space, which comes in third place, includes objects such as chairs. Since most of the places were environmental spaces, most of the reported factors are also in this scale. In addition, aesthetics, inefficiency of urban management, memories, positive feelings, unique identity, economic recession, age and symbol are 8 factors in all three scales. All the factors mentioned in the scale of environmental space are more abundant compared to the other two types. The aesthetic factor has the highest percentage in the scale of environmental space and uncontrollable space. Also, city management can increase citizens' attachment to the city by paying attention to positive and negative factors.
Urban Planning
Tohid Hatami Khanghahi; Sahar Fahimi Hamidabad; Vahid Vaziri
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionScientific forecasts indicate a great increase in the elderly population in the upcoming years and emphasize the attention to their diverse needs and social life. The lack of attention to the elderly's social needs limits their potential for social participation and reduces their ...
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AbstractIntroductionScientific forecasts indicate a great increase in the elderly population in the upcoming years and emphasize the attention to their diverse needs and social life. The lack of attention to the elderly's social needs limits their potential for social participation and reduces their quality of life. The existing studies often investigate the elderly's physical needs in public places but there are insufficient studies on their social needs, especially in urban public places. The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental physical factors affecting the social well-being of the elderly in the body of urban public spaces in a case study.Theoretical FrameworkThe idea of active aging was first introduced with an emphasis on being active to maintain health and productivity. Active aging later supported personal decisions, independence, social status, and an increase in the quality of life of the elderly. The concept of "active aging" refers to the ability to participate in social, economic, and civic life, and maintenance of well-being by providing opportunities for the elderly to engage in meaningful and attractive activities to facilitate their independence. According to the World Health Organization, not only genes and personal characteristics, but also urban public places and social factors can play important roles in determining the health and well-being of individuals in their lives. Free, public, and green urban spaces provide opportunities for social interaction and cause the feeling of existence in society.MethodologyThis is a descriptive-analytical study that was conducted in Mosalla Park and Sheikh Safi sidewalk in Ardabil, Iran in two stages. To this end, 47 physical factors were first classified into 5 indices, and 50 architectural experts compared the effective physical needs in improving social well-being in two case study samples. In the second stage, 74 elderly people in the case samples answered the Keyes standard social well-being questionnaire with 5 indicators. Finally, the data obtained from the two steps were analyzed in SPSS 26 software. Results and DiscussionTherefore, the Wilcoxon non-parametric test was performed to compare physical factors between two case samples. Sheikh Safi walkway had more favorable physical factors than Mosalla Park. Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test (CMH) was performed to obtain the affectability of social well-being of the elderly by physical factors in case samples. According to the results, the elderly on Sheikh Safi sidewalk have better social well-being. Findings showed that the quality of physical factors and the improvement of these factors in public open space leads to a positive effect on the social well-being of the elderly. In this study, "Footpaths with a slope of less than 5%" with the highest average value among the significant items, is the most effective factor that affects the social well-being of the elderly.ConclusionPlanners and designers must challenge their previous mindsets with a new look at physical criteria. Many factors affected the elderly's social well-being. An important part of these factors was related to the architecture, design, and physical characteristics of urban spaces; hence, social health advocates should cooperate with urban designers and architects in the field of determinants of promoting the elderly's social well-being, and adopt policies and strategies which consider their needs to involve them in social life with equality.
Urban Planning
esmaeil daviran
Abstract
Highlights- Geographical locations have their own unique patterns of space consumption, depending on their design, in different time periods.- Camps with a mobile nature, such as sports camps, have annual productivity and operate linearly in terms of space allocation.- Behavioral camps experience a starting ...
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Highlights- Geographical locations have their own unique patterns of space consumption, depending on their design, in different time periods.- Camps with a mobile nature, such as sports camps, have annual productivity and operate linearly in terms of space allocation.- Behavioral camps experience a starting point, concentration, and decay due to climate change.- Examining the timing of public spaces is essential for their better planning and management.IntroductionThe three key concepts of time, place, and human behavior together shape space. The urban space and its changes are the result of human movement in time and space. Although there have been many discussions about the concept of space, the theories of time-geography and Lefebvre have had the most significant impact on urban issues.Urban parks, as one of the urban public spaces, are a suitable environment for the formation of behavioral camps. The presence of different human groups with diverse ages and genders in such spaces leads to the formation of specific places for individual and group socialization, creating a space of consumption with a special character. The surrounding environment as a result of time is very effective in the formation of the type of camp and its way of functioning.This research examines the rhythm of the behavioral hangouts of urban parks with regional (multi-neighborhood) function, using the case study of Ibn Sina and Baharestan parks in Zanjan city. This is because no special studies have been done on the subject of behavioral camp rhythm and the functional structure of rhythms in camp spaces, and most of the research has focused on explaining the formation of camps or the rhythm of spaces.MethodologyThe current research is a type of qualitative research based on the descriptive-analytical method with the nature of discovery and the method of rhythm analysis. Data collection using field observation and continuous interview during the formation hours of the camp. Data analysis was done with qualitative methods based on communication matrix, rhythm and qualitative information tables with three main components of structure, dynamics and sociability of the environment.Results and DiscussionThe rhythm of the behavioral camp in the studied gardens is significant, active and explorable mainly in the spring and summer seasons. The use of space is different according to the type of camp, but they have functioned in connection with each other. Sports camps have more durability and annual continuity. The temporal continuity of the rhythm of the elderly-based behavioral camp has more daily and seasonal continuity in terms of the number and stability of people. In terms of the space allocation and the number of people, the youth behavioral camp has less space compared to other camps. Waterfront furniture elements, trees, play equipment, sports equipment, stones, chairs, trees, the smoothness of the park ground, grass, besides the spatial security factor, have a greater impact on the durability and daily continuity of the camp. Spatial dependence of camps based on the elderly, children and family have the highest ratio. The geographical distance of the residence in Tharbahank is less than that of the other centers. The type of space consumption in the studied rhythms is mainly social and sports in nature. The structural morphology of gardens (regular, irregular or linear geometric shape) is effective in the formation of the type of behavioral camp and its rhythm. The rhythm of the studied camps is mainly in daily and afternoon time sequence and has a specific location with fixed and variable people. Based on the correlation matrix, there is functional correlation and coherence between the variables. The rhythm of space use in the monthly time period shows that the behavioral settlements based on collectivism mainly have the starting point in April and the peak in August, and with the gradual change of climate (from heat to cold) they move to temporary disintegration and again with climate change. (from cold to heat) forms and peaks.ConclusionThis research examined the rhythm of the social and age groups of the urban parks of Baharestan and Ibn Sina Zanjan. The study found that the rhythm of behavioral hangouts in urban parks is affected by a variety of factors, including:- The type of park: Parks with a focus on social activities, such as playgrounds and picnic areas, tend to have a more active and explorable rhythm than parks with a focus on sports or other passive activities.- The time of year: Parks tend to be more crowded in the spring and summer months, when the weather is warmer and more pleasant.- The weather conditions: Parks may be less crowded in inclement weather, such as rain or snow.- The age and gender of park users: Parks tend to be more crowded with families and children during the day, while they may be more crowded with adults in the evening.The findings of this study suggest that the rhythm of behavioral hangouts in urban parks is an important consideration for park planners and managers. By understanding the factors that influence the rhythm of park use, park planners can better design and manage parks to meet the needs of their users.
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
Nikoo Medghalchi; Hossein Bahrainy; Mojtaba Rafieian
Abstract
Highlights
- The development of information and communication technology is an important change that causes paradigm shift in urbanism.
- The COVID pandemic emphasizes the importance of information and communication technology.
- This study seeks to trace urban studies on information and communication ...
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Highlights
- The development of information and communication technology is an important change that causes paradigm shift in urbanism.
- The COVID pandemic emphasizes the importance of information and communication technology.
- This study seeks to trace urban studies on information and communication technology and the COVID pandemic and provide appropriate data and knowledge for urban policy-making and future studies.
Introduction
The advent of the information age in the 20th century due to the great changes in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) has led to the prevailing approach to maximizing the solution of urban problems for advancing urban planners, designers, and policy-makers. The rate of growth and extensive development of urban studies has provided a wide range of interactions between its different sections. Coinciding with its growing trend, the corona virus has been spreading around the world since December 2019, re-examining the role of ICT.
Theoretical Framework
There is a lack of domestic research on ICT and the city. Given the existence of the gap and the importance of considering the area in urban studies, the purpose of this article is to identify, extract, and provide an interactive research space between the development of ICT and the subfields of urban studies in order to introduce and classify topics, approaches, methods, and results.
Methodology
Using the method of systematic review, the content of published foreign scientific research was reviewed and analyzed. This was carried out with a search for valid articles, a study of the abstracts and research results of more than 150 articles and their review, and a final selection of 93 articles after entering them into the Excel software environment.
Results and Discussion
The selected articles have been published in English in the period of 30 years between 1990 and 2020. Monitoring, examining, and extracting the key themes of the articles led us to 8 categories, including 1) urban policy, 2) electronic participation, 3) smart city, 4) city structure and spatial organization, 5) travel behavior, 6) digital gap, 7) public space, 8) and competitiveness, and 30 sub-themes. About 90% of the articles have been published in reputable scientific journals, and the rest appear in books and conference proceedings. An examination of the frequency of articles shows the growing worldwide trend in concern for this field in urban studies in recent years. According to the analysis made in the research, the use of ICT is applicable to planning theories at all levels, including the two levels of access and data processing and communication independent of time and place. These technologies enhance and promote the development of networks, social cohesion, and smart development of the city. The digital gap is intrinsically related to digital and urban inequalities. In network-oriented cities and societies, the issue of communication poverty is as important as traditional poverty. Many discussions have been raised by researchers on the impact of ICT on the structure and spatial organization of the city. Despite the initial premise of using the technology, which was to reduce concentration and increase urban dispersion, two more approaches, the centralization approach and the dual approach, have also been proposed in the field. The development of ICT has profound consequences on urban economic competitiveness. ICT is the basic driver for smartness in cities. A provider of access to the transfer of information and planning tools, granting the opportunity to share modes of transportation and work from a distance, the technology is of considerable importance for transportation systems. The relationship between the urban public space and technological developments and the development of ICT with the spread of the corona virus has been taken into consideration. Recent studies show that the spread of the corona virus has multiplied the use of ICT, which will definitely change the severity of its impact on the city and urban planning and design more rapidly. Therefore, this article is presented in order to explain the various dimensions of this issue.
Conclusion
Given the application of ICT in the field of urban planning, it is comprehensible that the creation of links with urban planning and design has proceeded slowly despite the increasing development of telecommunication technologies. It is necessary to consider the complex relationship between the city and ICT. On the one hand, the relationship has raised the challenge of polarization, inaccessibility, and urban injustice, and on the other hand, it has involved benefits such as increased participation and social networking, urban innovation and creativity, and urban sustainability and intelligence. In fact, it is necessary to fill the gap between ICT and urban planning. The central solution framework of the smart city is based on the city rather than intelligence. One of the most important challenges discussed in the previous studies is the issue of accessibility among different social classes. In spite of the initial hypothesis that the importance of place is reduced as that of distance decreases due to the development of ICT, place still matters. The point to be considered in regard to the relationship between the density and spread of the corona virus is the absence of a direct relationship between its population density and death. In fact, the ever-increasing development of ICT and the persistence of policies of closure and maintenance of social distancing during the pandemic are themselves factors effective in the development of digital facilities and technologies in the city. Urban spaces are changing and transforming due to the development of new technologies. In fact, the urban space paradigm established in 2020 promises the emergence of virtual open spaces. Future studies will be focused especially on an understanding of the shift towards the digital space and the emergence of a combination of the real space and the virtual space in developed countries. Moreover, it is necessary to know the social dimensions of urban spaces according to the conditions imposed by the corona virus in order to understand the type and method of changing the shape of the public space of the city and social interactions. Finally, the study and review of the valuable articles published in the area of the interface between the city and ICT has raised wide, diverse issues that require familiarity, mastery, and theoretical specialization besides their practical applications for policy-makers, planners, and urban designers and managers.
Acknowledgment
The Article has been derived from the Ph.D thesis entitled “The Impact of Information and Communication Technology and the covid Pandemic on Urban Studies: A Systematic Review”, which has been defended by first author under the second author`s supervision and the third author`s advisory at the Qazvin Branch Islamic Azad University.
Urban Planning
Zahra Tamjidi; Zahra sadat saiedeh Zarabadi; Farah Habib
Abstract
Highlights:- The right to the city is a human right that concerns citizens’ possession of the city and their participation in city affairs, regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, or religion.- Children are a group of citizens who should be considered in urban planning due to their ...
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Highlights:- The right to the city is a human right that concerns citizens’ possession of the city and their participation in city affairs, regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, or religion.- Children are a group of citizens who should be considered in urban planning due to their special physical and psychological conditions.- The four-part model of “Child’s Right to the City” includes the urban governance system, social inclusion, spatial access, diversity and vitality, and relevant components.- The components of the concept of the child’s right to the city are effective in improvement of the quality of urban spaces for children. IntroductionThe right to the city is an issue of social, political, and legal nature that, based on the concept of citizenship rights, demands a set of rights for all city residents to use urban life in a transparent, fair manner. Urban spaces occupy a major part of the time and space of people’s daily lives, and they have young audiences who are much more influenced by environmental factors than adults. Therefore, a part of the function of an urban space should be assigned to children, which makes it particularly important to properly design urban spaces for children as citizens and future builders of the city. The presence of children in the public space of a city provides them with appropriate experiences, including acquaintance with urban geography, appropriate social relations with peer groups, appropriate physical mobility in a wider space than the limited space of the home, enhancement of the sense of belonging to the place, city, and neighborhood, and acquisition of identity through the sense of place. Since children have psychological needs that are much more complex than biological and physical needs, the design of urban spaces taking into account the psychology of development and children’s mental characteristics, health, and safety is effective in fostering creativity and strengthening the sense of cooperation and children’s education. Despite the global attention paid to children’s issues and useful international movements, there is less concern in our country for children’s specific issues in the urban arena, and children in cities are faced with many special problems in terms of age and physical and mental conditions, such as non-observance of basic rights, lack of security and safety, insufficient facilities and spaces for activities and games, and consequent lack of feeling of belonging to the space. As residents of the city, children’s right thereto has been neglected in many cases by decision-makers, planners, and even other citizens. Due to the dominance of the ageist culture, children are always ignored in planning and decision-making, and they are left out as isolated, unqualified people in an understanding of their priorities and needs.Theoretical FrameworkThe right to the city can be defined and claimed for all its residents. It emphasizes two main rights. The right of allocation is defined for anyone who lives in an urban space on a daily basis, regardless of their nationality, gender, and age, and the right of participation is used to apply the opinions and mental ideals of space users. Children and teenagers are also daily users of urban spaces, although the type of space use by children and teenagers is different due to their age conditions and the restrictions on their independence. However, their right to the city and urban spaces should be recognized, and methods should be provided for their participation in definition and change of the urban space.MethodologyThe purpose of this article is to examine the concept of the right to the city and to identify the factors that are effective in improvement of the appropriateness of the urban public spaces for the presence of children. For this purpose, both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. Since both types of analysis are interpreted sequentially, the present article falls in the category of sequential-exploratory research. For analysis of the qualitative data, meta-synthesis and Grounded Theory were used, along with the NVivo software, employed to code the data. The data collection method involved documentary research and semi-structured interviews. The multiple regression test was used to investigate the relationships and the level of support between the components of the child’s right to the city and the quality of urban spaces.Results and DiscussionIn this research, the urban space quality index was considered as a dependent variable, and the components of the child’s right to the city (urban governance, social inclusion, access to spaces, and diversity and vitality) were regarded as independent variables. On that basis, the urban governance component involves 35.5% of the improvement made in the quality of the urban space in order to realize the child’s right to the city, and the other components include social inclusion, spatial accessibility, and diversity and vitality, with 31.2%, 28.9%, and 14.6%, respectively. Moreover, the influence of each of the sub-components of the child’s right to the city on the quality of urban spaces and the corresponding correlation were investigated separately.ConclusionBased on the four-part conceptual model, the four main zones of the concept of the child’s right to the city include urban governance, social inclusion, spatial accessibility, and diversity and vitality, which make up four consecutive steps to the final goal of the research based on frequency. The sub-themes exhibit a hierarchical structure. In the zone of diversity and vitality, for example, it can be inferred according to the concepts of the right to recreation, safe spaces versus security spaces, social interactions, and collective life that concern for creativity should be realized so that the environment can be considered memorable to be capable of completing the above zone.
Urban Planning
mehdi karoubi; Mohammad Taghi Taghavifard; soran ahmadizad
Abstract
Highlights
- The tourism development model is necessary due to the rapid growth of this industry, increasing income and employment in the countries of the world.
- As actors in tourism activities, local stakeholders play the greatest role in the sustainable development of cultural tourism.
- The eight ...
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Highlights
- The tourism development model is necessary due to the rapid growth of this industry, increasing income and employment in the countries of the world.
- As actors in tourism activities, local stakeholders play the greatest role in the sustainable development of cultural tourism.
- The eight common components of discussion include urban potentials, citizens, impact of border cities, event management, orientation toward other tourism destinations, tourism economics, government management, and advertising.
Introduction
Tourism is one of the largest, fastest industries in the world, which causes an increase in income, employment, and investment in many countries. As a cultural event, tourism development causes effective interactions between tourists and destinations to let them acknowledge and respect each other more. In fact, it provides an apportunity for establishment of more effective communications between nations and people. Cultural tourism is a topic addressed in the tourism industry, and there is a lot to do in that regard in a country like Iran, which is the origin of civilization and written history. Kurdistan Province is located in the west of Iran. Given its diverse cultural attractions, it should attract more cultural tourists through careful planning in the field of cultural tourism, and profit can be made by local people in return as cultural products are sold to tourists and promoted. This provides a good opportunity to take advantage of the attractions of this province, especially the cultural attractions. The aim of this research was to consider a model for development of cultural tourism in Kurdistan Province.
Theoretical Framework
The outbreak of the Coronavirus has almost devastated the tourism industry, and the images of empty streets and entertainment venues, blackouts, and closed shops in cities around the world are very strange and sometimes frightening. Of course, the statistics on the tourism industry in different countries are alternating. According to a global estimate, approximately three million jobs in the tourism and travel sectors have been eliminated or are expected to be lost soon. International travel revenues have fallen by more than $300 billion, and hotel occupancy has fallen sharply to about 25 percent. Experts and specialists in the field of tourism have different opinions about the future of travel and tourism, but the Coronavirus will definitely change the way of thinking, tourists’ behavior , and the amount of people’s travel around the world. However, the tourism industry is moving towards purposeful holidays in today’s world, and a new form of tourism along with cultural tourism involves travel that combines relaxation and satisfaction of mental needs . Cultural tourism can have particular effects in any region, such as rediscovery and celebration of local residents’ lost cultural privileges, recognition and development of regional awareness in spatial dimensions and cultural identity, promotion of a good sense of belonging to a culture, economic infrastructure development, in the long run, and enhancement of employment in an economy undergoing recession. The present developmental applied study aimed to describe the conditions or phenomena under study, and such a plan can be implemented only to help understand the existing conditions better or to assist the decision-making process.
Methodology
The present study is considered as applied, as it is possible to apply the results in the cultural tourist attraction program, and a mixed research method (qualitative and quantitative) was used therein. First, the researcher identified the factors affecting the development of cultural tourism in Kurdistan Province using the method of semi-structured interviews through opinion polls provided to professors and managers and research information obtained by questionnaires in the field of cultural tourism based on earlier research. The theoretical framework and library studies were used to examine the results and identify the factors effective in the field of cultural tourism. The population in both theoretical and practical sections included A) faculty members of universities, including professors of tourism management, in Kurdistan Province and professors of universities in neighboring provinces with expertise in the field and at least one research article in the field of cultural tourism with a scientific rank (scientific-research, scientific-development, ISI, and ISC), B) tourism managers, marketing experts, and specialsts in cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism in the cities of Kurdistan Province, C) managers of tourism agencies in Kurdistan Province, and d) cultural tourists.
Results and Discussion
Using common concepts, categories were extracted which included eight components: urban potentials, citizens, impact of border cities, event management, orientation toward other tourism destinations, tourism economy, government management, and advertising. The research results indicated the favorable conditions of urban potentials, citizens, impact of border cities, event management, orientation toward other tourism destinations, and tourism economy. However, government management and promotion in Kurdistan Province was not in favorable conditions. The results were examined through verification of eight hypotheses appropriate to the eight components.
Conclusion
From the final results of the analysis of available data and information, it can be inferred that Kurdistan Province exhibits a high capability (potentially) of attracting tourists and developing cultural tourism. However, a large part of the province has been abandoned and ignored due to improper advertising and provision of information, lack of infrastructural facilities, physically inadequate access routes, and relevant organizations’ insufficient supervision and planning to introduce the unique features and privileges of museums. This includes the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, which has failed to draw visitors’ attention to this tourist destination in line with expectations. Given the high potentials of Kurdistan Province in the field of cultural tourism development, the present study suggested that the province should be turned into a cultural province. Finally, it should be acknowledged that cultural tourism involves tourists’ behavior and their interaction with local residents. We must promote cultural development and increase respect for the cultures of other countries among the citizens of Kurdistan. Residents can play an important role in the formation of tourists’ perception of the destination.
Urban Planning
fahimeh Namvar Haghighi Shirazi Fard; khalil Hajipour; Amir Hosein Shabani; mahmoud mohammadi
Abstract
Highlights
The existence of intermediary institutions between the local government and the people is a strategic factor in reconstruction of distressed areas.
In the implementation of land readjustment, legal regulations and definition of the executive framework play a key role.
Landowners’ ...
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Highlights
The existence of intermediary institutions between the local government and the people is a strategic factor in reconstruction of distressed areas.
In the implementation of land readjustment, legal regulations and definition of the executive framework play a key role.
Landowners’ desire to participate is the most important factor in the implementation of land readjustment in distressed areas.
Introduction
In recent decades, the increasing growth of cities has transformed agricultural lands and increased the costs of urban services, leading to urban expansion. Moreover, the cities are faced with problems such as the deterioration of urban neighborhoods and suburbs due to people’s lack of willingness to live in these neighborhoods, decline in investment in old neighborhoods, reduction of capacity, and decline in the quality of life. With 1,700 hectares of distressed areas, the city of Shiraz, Iran is no exception, and suffers the same problem. It is possible to solve such issues through urban growth management policies. One of these policies is Land Readjustment (LR). It is necessary to identify and classify the legal, institutional, economic, social, and local factors influencing land readjustment in order to provide effective, sufficient urban generation. Thus, this study aimed to identify the key factors influencing the land readjustment process in distressed areas and to examine the cause-and-effect relations through Interpretative Structural Model in order to identify the most important variables in the implementation process. This could be a guide for urban management to achieve infill development by stimulating and implementing the most important variables and, consequently, increasing the possibility of the entire land readjustment project.
Theoretical Framework
Land readjustment is a technique used for management of urban development, according to which a number of irregular plots of land are divided into more regular plots after consolidation with proper planning, and sections including ones used for provision of public services are also divided between the original owners for construction purposes. In this method, the lines of ownership are changed for consolidation, division, and replacement of land areas for the purpose of creation or improvement of urban facilities and public services. Rather than forced to provide the required land, the owners are invited to negotiations for consolidation of their lands to provide land for services.
Methodology
The present research could be categorized as an applied descriptive-analytical study. Due to the complexity of the relationships, the MicMac software was used to analyze the driving and dependent forces. In this method, the factors are placed in an n * n matrix and filled with numbers 0, 1, 2, and 3 based on expert opinions, and are considered as the basis for further analysis. For this purpose, indicators were extracted from the theoretical framework of the research as a 22 * 22 matrix and provided to seventeen urban experts in Shiraz as a two-stage Delphi questionnaire.
Results and Discussion
In the case of unwillingness to participate, two variables were considered as increasing system risk: definition of the laws concerning the residents and owners’ protests pertaining to the urban design before, during, and after its implementation and enactment of the laws concerning the payment of the probable indemnity to the residents. This was because any legislation could be an obstacle in the system, decreasing the owners’ and residents’ partnership tendency, without fair consideration of their interests.
The major organizational-institutional variables played an important role in the implementation of land readjustment, and influenced the other variables. These included partnership of the local government through intermediary and facilitating institutions, law-abiding local governments, and concern for individual and social justice. This is because these variables actually link the social variables to the executable ones, and function as an interface to provide a framework for correct implementation to meet people’s needs.
Furthermore, partnership of the local government through intermediary and facilitating institutions is one of the most effective, most impressive variables, which plays a key, strategic role.
Conclusion
The findings reveal that the key to implementation of land readjustment in distressed areas and to solve their problems is to create an intermediary institution to listen to the people’s demands and opinions. Other strategic variables involved in land readjustment in distressed areas include concern for individual and social justice in the local government, strategic perspective and flexibility of the local government, definition of the tangible, approachable objectives, and appropriate assessment of land price before and after the execution.
Therefore, it is necessary to constantly examine the variables during both design and implementation of land readjustment in a distressed area. All these variables are either directly related to or applied by the local government, indicating the importance of city authorities’ policy-making and employment of experienced workforce.
It is also important for the basic requirements according to the existing facts to select appropriate sites and set tangible goals, because the process would stop as a result of a lack of concern for the facts.
Urban Planning
Mohammad Reza Haghi; ehsan heidarzadeh
Abstract
Highlights
- The development of the Internet and electronic services contributes to the sustainability and resilience of cities against epidemics.
- Provision of neighborhood-scale land uses, especially green spaces and sports, is the first priority in the city of Kermanshah, Iran in the face of epidemics.
- ...
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Highlights
- The development of the Internet and electronic services contributes to the sustainability and resilience of cities against epidemics.
- Provision of neighborhood-scale land uses, especially green spaces and sports, is the first priority in the city of Kermanshah, Iran in the face of epidemics.
- The approaches of integrated urban management, digital cities, orientation toward the neighborhood, and social capital have a key role in promotion of resilience in Kermanshah.
Introduction
The worldwide outbreak of Covid-19 since the end of 2019 can be considered as one of the biggest challenges in recent decades, which has caused the issue of epidemic diseases to assume a prominent position in the atlas of natural and artificial hazards. The high rate of spread, high mortality rates, and severe damage to various economic and social sectors of societies indicates the importance of considering this key issue. According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus epidemic is a global crisis that is unique in contemporary history in terms of spatial extent, onset rate, and complexity. Therefore, the present study has sought to answer the following question: which urban resilience variables are associated with higher priority in the struggle against epidemic diseases in the city of Kermanshah, Iran?
Theoretical Framework
A community’s resilience to potential contingencies is determined by the degree to which it can access the required resources and its capability of organizing itself both in advance and when needed. Accordingly, a resilient community is one that functions prudently in reduction of risk, preparation for the various effects of risk, and acceleration of recovery from hazardous events.
Following the outbreak of Covid-19, it became clear that urban resilience extends beyond climate, landscape, ecology, and natural disasters. To raise the capability of an urban environment, therefore, such shocks need to be absorbed without significant changes in its structure or function. Hence, urban planners must seek to answer such questions as why urban planning has been inactive in control of the coronavirus epidemic crisis, and whether the concentration and distribution of population and activity has made city dwellers more vulnerable to diseases, terrorist attacks, and artificial and natural disasters. The answers to these questions are essential because there is ample evidence about the influence of urban form and design on the prevalence of epidemics.
Methodology
The present applied research involved interpretive description. The required information was collected in two ways: through library studies and questionnaires. For collection of data and identification of the initial variables through a review of various study sources, nineteen variables were finally selected for evaluation. After the variables were compiled, the studied sample was analyzed by the elite.
Since the Micmac software was used to analyze the data, the questionnaire involved a matrix of cross-adjustment effects, and was validated by experts. The data input to Micmac were obtained using the Delphi method and a questionnaire distributed among fifteen experts familiar with the conditions in Kermanshah (ten people with doctorate degrees and five with master’s degrees). In order to increase the validity of the data, prerequisites were considered such as explanation of the conceptual model based on the latest scientific research, the experts’ acquaintance with the case study, reception of the experts’ feedback about the final results, and independency of the experts.
Results and Discussion
The present study analyzed the influence of urban resilience against epidemics on the basis of nineteen variables. The findings demonstrated that the following variables had the greatest direct and indirect impacts on the other variables involved in resilience in Kermanshah in the face of Covid-19: the infrastructure for remote provision of professional, administrative, academic, and medical services, access to green and open spaces and recreation-and-sports land uses, access to services and neighborhood scale uses, capacity of urban facilities and equipment such as the electricity network and Internet, and unified, integrated management in crisis conditions. Moreover, the two variables capacity of neighborhoods for walking and cycling and enhancement of local communities’ public participation and social capital exhibited a two-dimensional nature in the issue of resilience in Kermanshah. This means that these variables are affected by others while greatly influencing them.
Conclusion
Based on the factors identified as drivers, suggestions should be made for their promotion. Therefore, four macro approaches were mentioned as priority plans through adaption of the driving factors to what had been proposed in previous studies, including integrated urban management, the digital city, orientation toward the neighborhood, and social capital. In fact, one can implicitly achieve urban resilience against epidemic diseases by placing such approaches at the forefront of the urban planning system.
The four proposed approaches are important because the synergy of measures taken in the public and private sectors is expected to improve and prevent waste of time and financial and human resources, aided by integrated urban management. Enhancement of the role of the digital city is important not only for provision of tools for identification and control of carriers of disease but also for better reduction of physical contact through telecommuting capacity, e-learning, online shopping, etc. Orientation toward the neighborhood is also considered significant as it reduces long inter-neighborhood commute by meeting citizens’ daily and weekly needs on a neighborhood scale. In addition, if urban neighborhoods are properly designed, achievements such as pedestrianization and access to green and open spaces will be realized, which will play a key role in residents’ mental and physical health during quarantine. The impact of social capital is also important because epidemics can be managed only through the people’s empathy and collective will. In fact, as the disease spreads among the people, their support and participation can undeniably help to control it.
Urban Planning
HOJJAT GHIYASVAND; mohamadjavad saghafi; hossein medi
Abstract
Highlights
-The street geometry index (H/W) is highly effective on the thermal performance of residential buildings.
-The lower the value of the index (H/W) on the streets of a cold-climate city, the lower the energy consumption of the building.
-Changing the pattern of occupancy level of an urban ...
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Highlights
-The street geometry index (H/W) is highly effective on the thermal performance of residential buildings.
-The lower the value of the index (H/W) on the streets of a cold-climate city, the lower the energy consumption of the building.
-Changing the pattern of occupancy level of an urban building, to reduce the level of shadow and increase the level of solar radiation wall, improves thermal performance.
-Increasing the depth of the yard in the southern pattern of the city of Hamadan, Iran reduces the consumption of thermal energy in a building.
Introduction
The relationship between building density and energy consumption involves a complex interaction between climate factors, location patterns, the way urban open spaces are located, and the adjacency of the buildings of which they are composed. Therefore, this study investigated the thermal performance of residential buildings based on the patterns of residential blocks in Hamadan Province, Iran using the concept of minor climate and thermal islands influenced by density regulations. It aimed to evaluate the effect of these regulations on energy consumption. A comprehensive collection of thermal simulations were conducted based on the climate of Hamadan and a statistical analysis for examination of the effect of height on the energy consumption resulting from increased urban density.
Theoretical Framework
A criterion used for measurement of the energy consumption of buildings is the micro-urban climate resulting from the density regulations (H/W). These regulations can affect the access of buildings to sunlight and, thus, the energy performance of buildings. Density regulation indices include two categories: middle-scale and micro-scale. The middle-scale category involves an H/W criterion for measurement of the impact of the outdoor environment. The micro-scale category involves criteria for changes in the building volume geometry, including the surface-to-volume ratio (S/V), ratio of surface exposed to direct sunlight to total surface (Ssn/Ssh), shadow area (Ssu/Ssh), substructure (Ssu/A), volume (Ssu/V), and ratio of window surface to the total wall surface (WSR), which changes as height varies.
Methodology
The methodology involved a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. In the simulation stage, two modes were considered to specify the effect of H/W on energy consumption. First, fixed height and variable street width were considered in the modeling for examination of the effect of the street width index, and fixed street width and variable height were then considered for examination of the height index. For analysis of the findings of the statistical methods, correlation, analysis of variance, and multiple regression were used.
The relationships between energy consumption and the variable of street width and each of the indicators of the variable of height were investigated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. For investigation of the simultaneous effect of all the indices of the independent variable on the dependent variable (energy consumption), multiple regression analysis was used to specify which geometric factor exhibited the greatest impact on energy consumption. Analysis of variance was used for comparison and evaluation of the mean differences between the groups.
For validation, two methods were used: experimental (involving field measurements) and comparative (involving a comparison of the results of different software).
Results and Discussion
The results obtained from the correlation analysis revealed that there is a close direct relationship in all residential blocks of northern patterns between H(fix)/W(6m-36m) and annual energy consumption, while there is no correlation in southern patterns. The relationship between H(4f-10f)/W(fix) and annual energy is direct in northern patterns but inverse and slightly effective in southern patterns.
As the H(fix)/W(6m-36m) ratio decreases, cooling energy consumption increases sharply (inverse correlation), and heating and total energy consumption decrease sharply (direct correlation). In this analysis, energy savings are greater on a wider street than on a narrower street, and fixed-height buildings exhibit lower annual energy consumption on a wider street.
Positive correlation (high intensity) and negative correlation with heating energy (low intensity) is established between the geometric characteristics of residential parts (S/V, Ssu/S, Ssu/V, Ssu/Ssh, and Ssn/A) and cooling energy consumption. Wider streets receive more sunlight than narrower ones, so those with lower geometric indices exhibit better thermal performance and greater reduction of heating energy consumption.
Conclusion
Building density and its indices are influential in northern patterns, and increase in height and pathway width contributes to the reduction of energy consumption. Therefore, the geometric index of an urban street is effective in northern patterns, and a rise in height through an increase in the horizontal distance between buildings affects the reduction of energy consumption. However, the value of the index (H/W) is lower on the urban passages of the cold climate of Hamadan (deep urban valleys), and the energy consumption of the building decreases as the absorption of solar radiation increases. Multiple regression analysis showed that the most indicative energy consumption factors in the patterns included the geometric index (H/W), the number of sunny surfaces (Ssu), the ratio of shadow (Ssh) to the substructure (A), and total surface area (S) . The proposed model (involving a change in the occupancy level of the initial model) exhibited the most optimal thermal performance with decreases by 42.9% in cooling energy and by 4.73% in total energy.
Acknowledgment
The article has been derived from the Ph.D. thesis entitled "Determination of housing deployment pattern considering the influence of climate factors on the inside thermal comfort whit an energy management approach (case study Hamedan)", which has been defended by the first author under the second author’s supervision and the third author’s advisory at the Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University.
Urban Planning
Mostafa Dehghani; Gholamreza Haghighat Naeini; Esfandiar Zebardast
Abstract
Highlights
- The expression knowledge city has been considered as an umbrella term for other phrases such as place of knowledge, city of learning, and smart city.
- Knowledge-based spaces have shifted from a focus on the limited concept of science and technology to an emphasis on the broader social ...
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Highlights
- The expression knowledge city has been considered as an umbrella term for other phrases such as place of knowledge, city of learning, and smart city.
- Knowledge-based spaces have shifted from a focus on the limited concept of science and technology to an emphasis on the broader social concept of knowledge.
- The current model for planning knowledge-based spaces involves capacity-building for long-term learning and political and cultural influence.
- Knowledge-based spaces range from technology-oriented to knowledge-oriented and from non-spatial to spatial.
Introduction
Different types of concept have been formed gradually under the title of knowledge-based spaces with different goals and functions due to the need to use effective, open, participatory innovative solutions and employ ICT capabilities to create sustainable life in cities and respond to the wills and needs of citizens. An understanding of the dimensions and characteristics and a capability of differentiating these concepts will help policymakers and city managers to choose strategies and policies and invest in these areas. This is realized through prevention of mental confusion, emergence of internal contradictions, and incoherent eclecticism of the concepts. On the other hand, the sustainable development of cities has been challenged by global trends such as the increasing urbanization, transformation of cities into places of mass-energy consumption, and production of various environmental pollutants. However, there has been an increase in the need to use effective, open, participatory innovative solutions to create sustainable life in cities and the concern for knowledge-based spaces as a result of the efforts made by cities to attract skilled, entrepreneurial, creative people.
Theoretical Framework
The existence of different concepts concerning knowledge-based spaces, such as digital city, information city, smart city, wired city, learning city, and knowledge city has led to confusion in attempts to distinguish their meanings. This conceptual confusion is due to the lack of understanding of the dimensions, characteristics, and instances of these concepts, and is a major obstacle against the efforts to persuade policy-makers and city managers to invest in these areas. This ambiguity causes planning strategies and policies to be inconsistent with the institutional environment and governance system or strategies and policies to be fraught with internal contradictions and incoherent eclecticism. In the attempts to address this issue, typology and comparative studies based on specific criteria and components contribute greatly to a better understanding of different types of knowledge-based space. So far, various types of knowledge-based space have been proposed (Castells & Hall, 1994; Dodge et al., 1998; Shiud, 2001; Nam & Pardo, 2011; Nikina et al., 2016; Carvalho et al.; Wenden, 2017; and Lara et al., 2016). Moreover, some researchers have compared two or more knowledge spaces (either directly or implicitly) (Strategy, 2012; Jojaru & Peso, 2013; Yigitjanlar & Lee, 2014; Koch, 2017; Chang et al., 2018; and Yigitjanlar & Inkinen, 2019). However, no integrated comparative study has been performed so far for all concepts of knowledge-based spaces to provide a clear, comprehensive image and a deep, coherent understanding of these spaces. Therefore, the present study seeks to develop a coherent framework to provide a new typology for a better understanding of the types of knowledge-based space. Thus, the aspects and features of distinguishing concepts, trends, and paradigm shifts in knowledge-based spaces become apparent through identification and classification of the main sources pertaining to each space and examination of the definitions and the process of formation and conceptual evolution of each concept and feature and the dimensions and instances thereof.
Methodology
The present meta-combined systematic qualitative review is conducted to pursue a descriptive-exploratory purpose. In addition to creating a new theory, meta-composition can be used to develop conceptual models or expand understanding of existing knowledge, especially to discover similarities and differences concerning concepts and ideas about a phenomenon. It can involve seven steps, including examination of research questions, systematic review of texts, exploration and selection of appropriate texts, extraction of textual information, analysis and composition of qualitative findings, and quality control and presentation. In the present study, the seven stages proposed by Sandlowski and Barroso (2007) are considered.
Results and Discussion
This study comparatively examines the concepts of knowledge-based spaces based on the six components of development discourse, type of knowledge required for development, location, key stakeholders, management model, and historical period. Moreover, the typology of knowledge-based spaces is based on the two components of spatiality and type of knowledge required for development. Accordingly, four types of knowledge space are identified: 1- technology-based non-spatial, 2- technology-based spatial, 3- knowledge-based non-spatial, and 4- knowledge-based spatial. The research findings demonstrate that concepts such as smart city and knowledge city (due to semantic inclusion) have largely replaced concepts such as digital city and virtual city, and are currently used more widely in policy-making and planning knowledge-based spaces.
Conclusion
The expression knowledge city has been considered as an umbrella term for other phrases such as knowledge place, learning city, and smart city. Moreover, the findings of the present comparative study of knowledge-based spaces based on the above seven components indicate that that knowledge-based spaces have gone through paradigm changes over time, such as the transition from a focus on the limited concept of science and technology to an emphasis on the broader social concept of knowledge, the transition from the discourse of economic development to sustainable, integrated development in various economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions, the transition from citizens’ passive role to their active participation in the creation, development, and management of knowledge-based spaces, the transition from government and centralized management of a limited number of stakeholders with specific guidelines and frameworks to government of networks based on the interaction of a wide range of stakeholders, the transition from a hardware, capital-based perspective involving tangible infrastructure networks to a software perspective based on intangible intellectual capital and knowledge innovation systems, and the transition from management and planning models aimed at increasing livability standards and complexity management to citizen engagement grounding and capacity-building for long-term learning and political and cultural influence. These trends and paradigm shifts represent a kind of conceptual convergence among the features and components of knowledge-based spaces. In addition, the results demonstrate that the typology of knowledge-based spaces is based on the two components of location and type of knowledge required for development, given the significant roles of these components in the differentiation of various knowledge spaces,–calling for a deeper, more expressive understanding of these spaces.
Urban Planning
majid rousta; mohamad Soleimani; mozafar sarafi; mojtaba rafiyan
Abstract
Highlights
- Improvement of residents’ quality of life
- Scale in urban regeneration programs and plans
- Unorganized, poor urban neighborhoods
- Statuses of urban regeneration projects in Iran and impact of project efficiency and residents’ quality of life
Introduction
One ...
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Highlights
- Improvement of residents’ quality of life
- Scale in urban regeneration programs and plans
- Unorganized, poor urban neighborhoods
- Statuses of urban regeneration projects in Iran and impact of project efficiency and residents’ quality of life
Introduction
One of the most important challenges in today’s metropolises is the existence of unhealthy, poor urban neighborhoods in the peripheries. A series of regeneration policies and plans have sought to meet such a challenge over the twentieth century to provide a better quality of life for residents of such impoverished urban spaces. Such measures have hardly been successful, however. This study has assumed that a major reason for such failures has been the lack of concern for scale in urban regeneration plans and schemes. Accordingly, two main questions have been raised here. The first pertains to the reason why the concept of scale should lie at the heart of an urban regeneration plan and to the way in which such a focus can improve plans and upgrade the quality of life in an urban residence. The second question concerns the status of urban regeneration based on the criteria and indicators considered in this study and the effects it can have on project efficiency and target residents’ quality of life.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework of this study has been set only to extract the indicators and criteria of the survey (questionnaire) and to measure the quality of life in the target samples. Therefore, the intellectual approaches of sustainable urban regeneration, right scale theory, expectation-efficiency model, sustainable place-making, and collision effectiveness theory have been considered in this research simply as theoretical approaches supporting the survey. However, the arguments made in these approaches and the set of controversies that can arise about each along with the relationships between them go far beyond the references cited in this article. After all, the main components of the questionnaire for assessment of the quality of life in the target samples include the theoretical approach of the right scale, providing the required coordination between the elements, the theoretical approach of collision effectiveness, providing effectiveness, the theoretical approach of sustainable place-making, affecting target residents’ quality of life, and the theoretical approach of expectation-efficiency, affecting satisfaction.
Methodology
The present applied research has been designed as a systematic logical plan seeking to maximize scientific validity in the definitions, criteria, indicators, procedures, and methods of data collection and analysis and in the information and extraction and inference of the findings. Two contextual methodologies have been adopted to analyze the concept of scale, along with a survey-data methodology used to measure the quality of life. The data and information sources include censuses and questionnaires, library documents, programs and designs, and techniques of analysis, including correlation and regression (used to measure the quality of life), and meta-analysis (used to identify the scale). A set of qualitative (subjective) and quantitative (objective) criteria has been extracted in accordance with the theoretical framework of the research. The indicators and variables extracted from theoretical approaches and global and Iranian experiences have finally been used to compile a questionnaire, the descriptive and inferential results of which have been presented in the next step of the research.
Results and Discussion
The results obtained for the first question of the research demonstrate that the approaches should be implemented as local small-scale regeneration projects operated in regional integration, unlike previous approaches, in which national (government) programs and projects have been implemented as large-scale renovation projects. In addition, the concept of scale is generally used today to refer to the spatial, temporal, quantitative, or analytical dimension. Scale is also a determining factor in pattern recognition, phenomenon explanation, result generation, and program and plan optimization for regeneration and achievement of satisfaction and efficiency.
The results obtained for the second research question indicate the significance of the correlations between the number, initial energy, and locations of urban regeneration projects in all the sample cities and their impacts on target residents’ quality of life. Given the importance of this relationship (correlation) and fulfillment of the requirements for presentation of the prediction model in this field, a multivariate regression model has been proposed. The obtained model indicates that the factors of projects, initial energy and orientation can predict how target urban residents’ quality of life is affected in the present study.
Conclusion
Finally, what distinguishes this research from similar studies in the literature is the distinct practical outputs that it has presented in the field of urban planning as well as the focus beyond the concept of scale in its traditional sense, which has disturbed its meaning. The research findings challenge the current attitudes of urban planners and designers towards sustainable urban regeneration policies, emphasizing the significance of holistic approaches in the definition of urban place-making projects. The need has been defined not only from a physical point of view, as in Makower (2014), in the recognition of the urban scale but also from a multidisciplinary perspective, with an emphasis on socio-economic and physical approaches in the three layers of project relationships, level, and size for improvement of citizens’ quality of life and realization of their satisfaction with life in places. It seems that expansion and enrichment of the findings of this research in the field of urban planning and design requires further research, refining, for example, the concept of scale at the place level and effective socio-cultural relationships on the place formation continuum and identifying the appropriate level and effective economic relationships on the continuum.
Urban Planning
zohreh asadi; Hamid Mohammadi
Abstract
Highlights
Brand can create a coordinating role among many economic and social activities and be attractive to all tourism stakeholders.
Strategic orientation to focus the activities of all stakeholders in order to achieve a common end goal.
Helping cities to attract skilled population, attract ...
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Highlights
Brand can create a coordinating role among many economic and social activities and be attractive to all tourism stakeholders.
Strategic orientation to focus the activities of all stakeholders in order to achieve a common end goal.
Helping cities to attract skilled population, attract tourists and investors by relying on competitive advantages and identity
Urban branding is a process that helps cities increase the sense of belonging and satisfaction of current citizens.
the Use the capabilities of destinations to create creative attractions to attract tourists
Introduction
In the past few decades, branding has attracted plenty of attention in tourism planning. In globally competitive markets, the need of destinations to create a unique identity, that is, to differentiate themselves from competitors, has become more vital than ever. Tourism destination branding is a relatively new strategy in attraction of tourists because the brand gives the tourism destination identity and personality, and distinguishes it from other tourist destinations. According to the above, this study sought to address the role of the brand in the development of creative tourism and to help identify the city of Junqan, Iran as a brand using the city brand management (CBM) model. The research also attempted to specify the role and position of urban branding in the identification of the tourism in this city in terms of creativity.
Theoretical Framework
- Branding and urban branding
A brand is a rich source of emotional communication and cognition that leads to memorable experiences of a place such as a city. Urban branding is a relatively new concept that cities have adopted to differentiate themselves from other cities, to develop civic pride among their citizens, and to help tourists and business owners make decisions. Branding a city requires recognition of and information on the believable and realistic features of the city. That includes the historical, social, political, and international identity of the city, how it functions economically, and its amenities. Urban branding has turned into an essential topic in the field of tourism and a main factor affecting the tourism industry. Successful branding for cities and urban tourism destinations is based on their potentials and talents, so that the possibility of replacing it with other destinations is excluded.
- Creative tourism
Creative tourism means to travel to an original, exciting experience and to learn art, get to know the heritage or special features of the place, and establish a relationship between tourists and locals. A creative tourist develops their creativity capacity by approaching locals through informal participation in interactive workshops and learning the experiences that the destination culture plots for their vacation. In creative tourism, tourists engage in the cultural prospects of the destination, so that they can participate in various creative activities including agriculture, art, cooking, dance, and music. That creates new opportunities to learn new skills and establish closer relationships between tourists and locals and their cultural heritage.
Methodology
In the present applied, development-oriented research, a theoretical framework was first presented for the field of urban branding and creative tourism, and the role of urban branding in tourism was expressed using the methods of descriptive and library research for data collection. Then, the key factors influencing the generation of an image of Junqan and identification of its brand for development of creative tourism were studied using the city brand management model (CBM), the library method, and semi-structured interviews with urban and tourism experts. The interpretive analysis method was also used for analysis of the interviews.
Results and Discussion
The purpose of branding in tourism is to create and maintain a favorable image of the destination, increase tourists’ awareness, create positive attitudes toward the destination, and modify tourists’ behavior of visiting the destination. In addition to its positive economic aspects, the development of tourism in Iran can lead to a rapprochement between people of different nationalities. The study attempted to create a brand and manage it for the city of Junqan by examining the concepts of brand, urban brand, and creative tourism using the urban brand management model. The brand can help the city to enhance each of the indicators of creativity, leading to the development of creative tourism. The findings demonstrated that Sardar Asad Bakhtiari Castle was identified as the brand of the city of Junqan. For development of creative tourism aided by the city brand, a tourism route was provided that combined the historical and natural sights of the city to create innovative products and attract entrepreneurs who would find competitive advantages over other destinations. This could reflect the reputation and vision of the city around the world and support and guide creativity in the city, leading to the promotion of tourism, exports, and investment in the city.
Conclusion
We are currently facing the changing needs of tourists around the world, looking for new experiences and seeking to discover their talents. Urban branding is a strategy adopted to add a competitive advantage by providing a clear picture, cultural and political importance, and economic and social development. The main purpose of the discussion was to generate greater appeal for investment and to attract tourists and potential residents with an emphasis on community development and reconstruction of local identity in Junqan. Therefore, the achievement of the research could be addressed in terms of the dimensions of creative tourism. In the field of cultural development and measures, we attempted in this research to introduce, develop, and apply the people’s traditions, customs, and clothing, arts, and handicrafts and to introduce the way of life and interactions of the civil society in order to provide the requirements of tourism in Junqan. Moreover, with today’s development of technology and the information society, the need to employ talented native specialists having graduated in urban management is felt more than ever before. The development of public spaces to increase interactions and establish exhibitions is another infrastructure needed in the city of Junqan, which is in line with the development of creative tourism. Each of the above factors can be important and helpful both in the management and in the economy of the city, so they can be considered in line with the role of the brand in the development of creativity in tourism in Junqan.
Acknowledgment
This article has been extracted from a Master’s thesis in the field of Urban Planning entitled Explaining the Role of Urban Branding in Promotion of Creative Tourism: The Case of the City of Junqan, defended by the first author under the supervision of the second author at Yazd University.
Urban Planning
Akbar Asghari Zamani; Shahrivar Roostaei; Nader Zali; Seyedeh-Samira Shafiee-Masuleh
Abstract
HighlightsThe greenery (shady trees and vegetation) and seating areas provide a good sense of going out in the city‘Gardens and parks’ are one of the variables of the desirability of the urban night landscapeThe majority of nightlife consumers consider their perceived safety to be more due ...
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HighlightsThe greenery (shady trees and vegetation) and seating areas provide a good sense of going out in the city‘Gardens and parks’ are one of the variables of the desirability of the urban night landscapeThe majority of nightlife consumers consider their perceived safety to be more due to ‘activities/people on the streets, etc.’The spatiotemporal flow of evening and night-time activities leads to more revenue and financial turnover for the city and municipality IntroductionNightlife and night-time economic attractions are a proper way to expand a working day and the impetus for national growth and development. The present study sought to answer the basic question of how the city of Rasht, Iran could provide a suitable platform for the spatiotemporal flow of activities in the evening and at night.by adopting an analytical framework of time geography and quantitative analysis of nightlife consumption practices in the city center.Theoretical FrameworkThere have been many studies outside Iran on urban nightlife, most of which refer to a combination of social science studies on alcohol and the night leisure industry (Aresi & Pedersen, 2016; Pedrero-García, 2018; Søgaard, 2017). Studies conducted in Iran on nightlife have addressed the topic differently from the research performed outside Iran; these studies have been focused on geography and tourism planning (Shaykh-Baygloo & Soltani, 2019), urban vitality (Ghazanfarpor et al., 2019), cultural factors (Anizadeh, 2018), urban night leisure planning (Kashfi, 2012), and urban night landscape with an emphasis on lighting (AkhavanSaraf et al., 2014). Against this background of research, the present study sought to complement the previous geographic research by adopting an analytical framework of time geography and a quantitative analysis of nightlife consumption practices at the center of Rasht. The innovative aspect of the present study, adopting an analytical framework of time geography, was the combination of two fields, namely nightlife consumption and perception of safety.The perception of safety, that is, the experience of the subjective feeling of being secure (Tulumello & Falanga, 2015), has been known as a key component of a well-functioning city (Cozens & Tarca, 2016). It is influenced by many factors, including the built environment and activities (Bennetts et al., 2017; Piroozfar et al., 2019; van Nes et al., 2016) as an attribute of safer places (Llewelyn-Davies & Partnership, 2004). The literature (Heshmati & Charehjoo, 2018; Park & Garcia, 2019; Piroozfar et al., 2019; Yaran et al., 2019) suggests that the activity factor alone cannot cause spatial differentiation, concentration and thus a greater sense of safety. The solution is to create a high-quality environment by providing different types of complementary opportunities and activities and thoughtfully designing spaces to minimize inconsistencies so as to host a variety of uses and users. This is doubly important in the discussion of nightlife.Urban spaces attract a large number of people at night. The most easily distinguishable time-space layer is that of life and business in the evening and the early hours of the night (usually during 9-11 PM, but sometimes during 6-11 PM) (Rowe & Bavinton, 2011). After evening business, night-time business (11 PM to 2 AM) begins, and the number and diversity of nightlife users decreases dramatically, resulting in fewer services, especially public transportation. The expected outcomes of the present study were the urban nightlife ideals: to identify nightlife consumption practices and evaluate the spatiotemporal flow of activities in two layers of time-space, i.e., evening-downtown Rasht and night-downtown Rasht, in terms of perceived safety, diversity, and inclusivity.MethodologyA questionnaire was used for the data collection. The participants were asked to provide information on the following:(1) geographic locations of night-time activities in the city; (2) types of nightlife activity, including the movies, cafes/restaurants, parks/green spaces, bazaars/shopping malls (commercial centers, hypermarkets, etc.), walking/running, gymnasiums, etc.; (3) arrival time and duration of the last night out; (4) companionship, involving group size and group composition in terms of gender and ethnicity.In a part of the questionnaire, the respondents were asked to evaluate their feelings of safety/lack of safety at a specific (nightlife activity/entertainment) location and state the reason. In addition, the questionnaire included questions about the respondents’ more general patterns of going out and their demographic and socioeconomic statuses. The respondents were asked how often they went out on average and where they often went for nightlife. They were also asked about their genders, ages, lifestyles (living conditions, place of residence), social classes (academic degree, occupation, and type of work), and ethnicities. The data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistical methods (chi-squared test and two-step cluster analysis) using the SPSS 26 software.Results and DiscussionThe cluster analysis indicated significant differences in the types of nightlife consumption in downtown Rasht. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity in the space-time paths of nightlife downtown could be summarized in two distinct patterns: going to the park and shopping. These patterns are diverse in many ways, but could be identified at a part of the city center (Sabzeh Meydan Park). The key predictors included the following in descending order of significance: group ethnicity (1.00), group gender (1.00), group size (1.00), type of nightlife activity/entertainment (0.82), average duration (0.60), living conditions (0.48), ethnicity (0.42), location (0.33), gender (0.27), and academic degree (0.18). In this study, occupation and type of work, place of residence, and age played insignificant roles. The findings demonstrated that the majority of nightlife consumers in downtown Rasht felt safe, and this perceived safety could be accounted for mainly (78.2%) by the factor known as activities/people on the street, etc. In the study area, women had a pivotal role in the social production of space, which could be attributed to their perception of the feeling of safety in the nightlife of downtown Rasht.ConclusionAccording to the above findings, the average time of arrival at the first nightlife activity/entertainment (19:28) and the average time spent downtown (3.21 h), Rasht can be a suitable platform for the spatiotemporal flow of activities only in the evening and the initial hours of the night (during 6-11 PM). To conclude, three practical suggestions are made simultaneously for revision of the current procedure: to diversify the activities performed downtown, to manage the area by improving the quality of urban spaces and supporting longer hours of night-time activities, and to provide frequent late-night public transport.AcknowledgmentThis article has been extracted from a doctoral dissertation entitled The Impact of the Physical Environment Attributes on the Perception of Safety and the Patterns of Space Use in Downtown Rasht Using Evaluative and Behavior-Based Mapping, developed by the fourth author under the supervision of the first author and the advisory of the second and third authors at the University of Tabriz.
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
Mozhgan Sabet Teimouri; sajedeh baghban khiabani; ali alizadeh Zoeram
Abstract
HighlightsCulture and tradition have been the most important effect on development of tourism Destruction of agricultural lands threatens the sustainable development of tourism Destruction of traditional textures threatens the sustainable development of tourism Destruction of agricultural ...
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HighlightsCulture and tradition have been the most important effect on development of tourism Destruction of agricultural lands threatens the sustainable development of tourism Destruction of traditional textures threatens the sustainable development of tourism Destruction of agricultural lands is one of the negative consequences of tourismIntroductionTourism is a relatively new social activity that has recently emerged as a global phenomenon, and is considered as an important factor in social and cultural changes and development. Today, most experts recognize that the phenomenon of tourism can enrich all areas of human life in terms of speed and aspects of influence as the miracle of the century. Various effects of tourism development are observed in the city of Shandiz, Iran as tourists flood into the city. The development of tourism in Shandiz and its surrounding areas has led to positive physical and functional changes, such as the expansion of health care and accommodation facilities and increase in access to transportation. In general, factors including the desire to divide land and establish complexes as neighborhood settlements and sites equipped for gardening and residence (temporary residences), consistent with the development of tourism in the city, cause the location and construction processes to neglect the natural environment, the requirement for infrastructures and relevant services, and the impact on existing settlements, resulting in widespread intrusion on physical properties and their destruction. Given the positive and negative effects mentioned in regard to Shandiz, this research sought to make an expert analysis of the future trends in the city in order to mitigate or eliminate the negative effects and promote the positive ones based on the model of sustainable tourism development. The study was focused on identification of scenarios for addressing the physical and functional effects of the development of the Shandiz tourism destination and on specification of the optimal scenario in this field.Theoretical FrameworkThe tourism industry can have significant effects as an important form of human activity. It is quite clear how tourism affects the destination area, where tourists interact with the local environment, economy, culture and society. It should be noted that tourism issues are generally multifaceted, and their categorization is not as straightforward as often stated. In other words, the effects of tourism cannot be classified simply as social, environmental, or economic, as they tend to exhibit many interrelated dimensions, and may change over time with the development of destination areas.MethodologyFor achievement of the purpose of the study, descriptive-analytical investigations, documentations, and questionnaires were applied in the framework of the Delphi model and software analyses. After an enumeration of the key driving forces using the Delphi method, the method of future research was used to explain the various conceivable conditions for the future of Shandiz. Therefore, different conceivable states for each of these variables were discussed in expert panels, where the participants presented the pros and cons of each of the proposed scenarios. Then, the experts were asked to judge the effect of each possible situation on others on a qualitative scale from -3 (strongly restricting effect) to +3 (strongly promoting effect) according to the conditions prevailing in the study area. The expert judgments were incorporated into the ScenarioWizard software environment for presentation of system-compatible scenarios, ranging from the most favorable to the most catastrophic on a continuum involving moderate as well as favorable and catastrophic scenarios.Results and DiscussionThe findings of the study forecast three possible scenarios out of 39366 for Shandiz in the 2029 prospects, of which one was evaluated as favorable and two as unfavorable, although the results of similar studies have indicated the importance of land use change in the process of sustainable tourism development in cities. The findings of this study, however, demonstrate that culture and tradition have been the most important determinants of sustainability in the development of tourism in Shandiz. In an analysis of such results, it can be stated that the most effective assumptions here involve an enhancement of the traditional features of the fabric in the favorable scenario and their destruction in the unfavorable scenarios. However, destruction of agricultural lands was identified in this research as a negative consequence of tourism development, unlike in other studies. The findings indicate that moderate construction of buildings of residential use and enhancement of the traditional features of the city will effectively contribute to credibility of the favorable future of Shandiz in 2029. It is therefore suggested that the above factors should be focused on for achievement of a favorable future in the city in the field of tourism. Moreover, it will bring about greater stability in the favorable scenario to change the architectural pattern from traditional to postmodern, whereas the destruction of the traditional fabrics and agricultural lands in the unfavorable scenarios will lead to other destructive effects and threaten the sustainable development of tourism in the city.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate that the destruction of traditional fabrics in the unfavorable scenarios of tourism development in Shandiz exhibits greater stability than the other assumptions. Overall, the optimal scenario for the future of the city is more stable and robust. For establishment of a sustainable space for tourism, therefore, it is suggested that the preservation of the traditional urban space and proper management of land use changes be emphasized. Thus, sustainable development of tourism in Shandiz can be achieved if the favorable scenario proposed in this study is adopted, which emphasizes the enhancement of traditional features in a context consistent with the culture, balanced distribution of constructions with residential, commercial and tourist reception, and accommodation and recreational uses, preservation of agricultural lands and gardens, improvement of the quality of communication services, connection of the new and old fabrics, improvement of architecture in accordance with the local culture and materials, and modification of the architectural pattern from traditional to postmodern.
Urban Planning
Soroush Khalili; Jamileh Tavakolinia; Naghmeh Mobarghei Dinan; Hamid Soltaninejad
Abstract
HighlightsThis paper evaluates Arg commercial center with EIA method;After the studies, the present research prepares a procedure on reducing the environmental impact of commercial centers with the help of EMP;The growing interest in building commercial centers in large cities is a significant issue ...
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HighlightsThis paper evaluates Arg commercial center with EIA method;After the studies, the present research prepares a procedure on reducing the environmental impact of commercial centers with the help of EMP;The growing interest in building commercial centers in large cities is a significant issue that is shown in this research. IntroductionNowadays, large areas of urban land are dedicated to commercial uses, and the trend towards shopping center construction has intensified. As a type of public space, commercial spaces, have conquered cities and snatched the lead from other land uses in the city. Commercial centers have turned into part of people’s lifestyles in this era, and have played an important role in the retail industry. Besides the positive economic effects of the savings, these centers have also caused damage to the environment. Theoretical FrameworkIn today’s intellectual world, a proper urban environment is an influential factor in human social life. Like all environments in which life takes place, the urban environment affects and is affected by human activities, and this interaction can lead to environmental catastrophes if destructive, due to the large populations that are involved. Today, the problems that have arisen in the environmental input conditions are troubling many cities in the country, and the preservation of the urban environment in urban development and management plans has been subject to plenty of inconsistency and negligence. Numerous approaches and theories have been proposed on the subject of the urban environment and healthy city, such as garden city movement, eco-city (ecological city), compact city, smart city, sustainable development, etc.According to the above theories and following a detailed study of each, the sustainability approach can be considered as the most common, practical approach in the present century. Sustainable development can be defined as the management of the relationships between human systems and natural ecosystems with the aim of sustainable use of resources to ensure the well-being of present and future generations. Therefore, the theoretical approach of this paper involves sustainable development. MethodologyThe study area includes the Arg commercial center, located in the Tajrish area, Tehran. The availability of the old bazaar, malls, and shopping places has turned the Tajrish neighborhood and its surroundings into a major commercial center in the north of Tehran. The economic prosperity thus brought to the neighborhood has caused many problems due to the multiplication of the population during the day. The main square in the area in the past was the current Tajrish Square, next to which commercial centers and houses were built.Using the method of systematic study in this descriptive research, quantitative statistical methods were adopted at the descriptive level. Moreover, the research technique was selected based on the application of the EIA model, with the help of RIAM. Among the various methods of environmental impact assessment, the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix, also known as the Pastakia Matrix, could objectively and conceptually assess and compare options in plans and projects and display the results clearly and concisely as tables and graphs.The Environmental Management Plan could help reduce the adverse effects of a project and ensure that the current quality of the environment is maintained. This plan provides solutions in all the stages of planning, construction, operation, and post-operation of a development project concerning the environment. The development of an environmental management plan is aimed mainly at projects for which EIA studies have not been carried out before construction, as in the case study of the Arg commercial center. Whereas environmental impact assessment studies begin at the same time as the cognition phase and before its approval, with executive operations in some cases, the environmental management plan section of these reports would never be implemented in practice due to the non-location of the provided solutions and suggestions, and would be removed from the agenda. Thus, no control or auditing was performed on the impacts of the project on the environment. Results and DiscussionIn order to demonstrate the significance of whether the construction of the Arg commercial center at the current location was appropriate, a rapid impact assessment matrix was developed in the present study in four physical-chemical, bio-ecological, socio-cultural, and economic-technical environments. After a detailed study of each of the four affected environments, we obtained the sum of all the ranges of change, where range -D, with environmental scores ranging from -36 to -71, clearly exhibited the largest number of adverse effects, and the physical-chemical environment had the largest number of negative components. The results indicated the severity of the negative impacts caused by the construction of Arg.The possible consequences of the project once implemented on the environment were identified, given the nature of various activities after the project and the current conditions of the environment in the area. In addition, the legal regulations were reviewed. ConclusionAn acceptable method of achieving the purposes of sustainable development is to make environmental assessments for projects, which can be made available to managers, planners, and decision-makers as a planning tool. These days, the high dignity of human beings and efforts to increase their comfort are often ignored in the design, construction, and location of commercial spaces, and only economic benefits are considered, dominating other dimensions of sustainability, such as the environmental dimension.Finally, it is suggested that the environmental impact assessment for large commercial complexes be made early upon the project proposal, i.e. in the recognition phase, and a construction permit be issued for the center in question after all the above evaluation reports are compiled and defended.
Urban Planning
Mojtaba Rafieian; golkou giahhchi
Abstract
Highlights: Prioritization of Environmental quality indicators were done by structural equation modelling (SEM) method. Smart PLS software was used in order to analyzing data. Environmental quality indicators of coastal areas were investigated based on users’ opinions. Permeability is the most ...
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Highlights: Prioritization of Environmental quality indicators were done by structural equation modelling (SEM) method. Smart PLS software was used in order to analyzing data. Environmental quality indicators of coastal areas were investigated based on users’ opinions. Permeability is the most efficient factor in desirability of coastal areas. Introduction Human societies have always been interested in beaches and their surrounding areas. This can be attributed to the existence of two territories of land and water in these areas, which lead to the creation of competitive advantages in social, economic, physical, and other aspects. The considerable demand of the population for exploitation of coastal areas has caused systematic problems and disruptions in these areas. As explained by Iran’s Vice President for Strategic Planning and Supervision, these problems have a variety of dimensions, such as environmental, land use, political and security, and regulatory and legal aspects. Therefore, these areas require the adoption of an integrated planning and management approach. Hence, the comprehensive integrated coastal zone management plan has begun to link planning at the national, regional, and local levels since the early 90’s around the world and after less than a decade later in Iran (in the late 90’s). Theoretical Framework Since 1976, the concept of environmental quality has been examined in the field of urban studies (urban planning and design), which addresses all the aspects of urban environments and spaces (Rafieian et al., 2013). It has been discussed and developed by many theorists over the past few decades. In terms of content, the previous decade can be regarded as the period of maturity of this notion, but there are still a large number of challenges involved in the implementation and operation. [N1] The need for a comprehensive, integrated approach to coastal areas at the micro and macro scales, as well as the multidimensional concept of environmental quality, has provided an opportunity to view coastal areas from the perspective of this notion, to identify its indicators, and to prioritize them. Based on a review of the literature on coastal areas and environmental quality, the authors found that coastal users can provide one of the most important links between them. Fig. 1. Theoretical framework Methodology Most of the dimensions that affect citizen satisfaction are determined by the concept of environmental quality. This study sought to prioritize the components of environmental quality based on user opinions. According to the literature, national and international documents, and authors’ views, a questionnaire was made to collect different indicators of the nine components. Moreover, coastal areas have some aspects that have been identified by other studies. Fig. 1 shows the theoretical framework of this study, which involved different aspects of coastal areas and environmental quality. The method of analysis used in this study is based on Structural Equation Model (SEM). The data were analyzed using the SmartPLS 3 software. For testing the model, data were collected from 160 questionnaires based on the Likert spectrum distributed in the coastal area of Bandar Anzali. According to the SmartPLS outputs, space users had an indirect impact on the nine indicators of environmental quality derived from the theoretical framework. Results and Discussion Desirable environmental quality zones have nine features, of which permeability is the most powerful. According to this model, changes in environmental quality affect those in the permeability of the coastal zone by up to 87%. In this study, permeability is defined through four indicators, including absence of space confusion, quality of bike paths and sidewalks, visibility of natural and significant sights, and walkability and cyclability. According to coastal users, therefore, these four features are the most significant in this type of area. In addition to permeability, the flexibility variable is more influential than the others. In this research, flexibility was defined by four indicators: flexibility of outdoor spaces, services for individuals with disabilities, flexibility of buildings, and individuals’ unblocked access to spaces. If environmental quality is there in a coastal zone, therefore, the above four indicators are expected to be in desirable conditions. According to earlier experts’ and researchers’ findings on the indicators of environmental quality and a comparison to the results of the present study, we found that the proportionality indicator has been neglected in the definitions of environmental quality, as well as efficiency. Moreover, the comparison demonstrated that the present study examined a larger number of indicators over Iran, and considered issues such as meaningfulness, proportionality, flexibility, and functional compatibility for the first time. Conclusion Coastal areas are one of the most important zones around the world as they have a variety of advantages. Since there are different aspects to be considered in regard to coastal areas, it requires a comprehensive approach to plan and manage this kind of area. Theoretically, environmental quality can be addressed given a range of indicators corresponding to different dimensions of coastal areas. This research considered coastal users as the link between environmental quality and coastal areas, using structural equation modeling to examine the theoretical model. According to the PLS outputs, the indicators of environmental quality in coastal areas are prioritized as follows: permeability, flexibility, functional compatibility, efficiency, meaningfulness, proportionality, variety, presence of different groups of individuals, and sustainability. Thus, permeability is the most significant factor affecting the desirability of this kind of space.
Urban Planning
fatemah esmaeilpoor; mohammadhosein saraei; najma esmaeilpoor
Abstract
Highlights The prestige and identity of the middle tissues of Arak has been effective in the cost of land and has resulted in the destruction of usable residential units. Contrary to Bergess's theory - which describes the central fabric as a fabric with depressing neighborhoods with a sad and ...
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Highlights The prestige and identity of the middle tissues of Arak has been effective in the cost of land and has resulted in the destruction of usable residential units. Contrary to Bergess's theory - which describes the central fabric as a fabric with depressing neighborhoods with a sad and sometimes ruined appearance and the habitat of immigrants and low-income cities - the high price of land and the profitability of investing in the central fabric of Arak make it attractive. And has become the residence of the upper social and economic classes. 1. Introduction Throughout history and all around the world, the living spaces of different classes in cities have been segregated given their socio-economic conditions. The central fabric of the city of Arak, Iran is characterized by the highest housing and land prices, and many citizens wish to live there. The high price of land in this area has led to a high demand for housing. As a result, many of the buildings are demolished and converted into new, multi-story condominiums although usable by the owners and builders. Problems have arisen currently, and inappropriate prospects are expected for the future due to the replacement of single-family houses with multi-family apartment buildings without other residential needs considered, such as transportation, provision of health services, education, open and public green spaces, and parking spaces. The purpose of this article is to provide a structural modeling of the reasons for the above tendency and for the high prices of land in this fabric and of the impact of social status in the neighborhoods on regeneration. 2. Theoretical Framework The urban ecology perspective distinguishes cities from three aspects of household: socio-economic, family, and ethno-racial. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the socio-economic status of high social classes on the high prices of land in the central fabric of Arak and its impact on the regeneration of the central city neighborhoods. Just as the lower classes and ethno-racial groups regard segregation as a way of uniting and preserving their identity, the upper classes try to maintain their residential territory in terms of habits and behaviors by segregating prestigious neighborhoods. Dignity or prestige results from approval by others. Therefore, social class can be defined as a group of individuals with similar positions in the labor market or with similar lifestyles and cultures. According to Weber’s socio-economic theory of capitalism, economic conditions alone do not necessarily determine one’s way of life. 3. Methodology This is an applied quantitative descriptive-causal study. For investigation of the orientation toward the central fabric and its effects on this fabric, different aspects of questionnaire data analysis and in-depth interview were considered using structural equation modeling and the Smart-PLS software. 4. Results and Discussion The findings demonstrated that the central fabric of Arak has appealed to the population, contrary to Borges’ theory. The high prices of land in this fabric is mainly associated with its validity and authenticity (T value = 2.682). Its easy access to the city center is another factor affecting the orientation toward this fabric and the increase in land prices therein. These high prices have led to the demolition of single-family houses that are not yet very old, to be turned into multi-story apartment buildings. The effect of the low cost of transportation on the individuals’ decision to choose these neighborhoods to live in was not confirmed (T value = 1.306). The regeneration of the fabric has changed its demographic conditions and the departure of low-income classes (T value = 23.861). The output of the final matrix and the design of the interpretive structural model placed the two variables of transportation and social status in the dependent zone, the housing price variable in the linking zone, and the variables of demographic change and land use diversity in the independent zone. The central fabric of Arak appeals to citizens due to its originality, prestige, and expensive land. This is contrary to Borges’ theory, which describes the fabric around the city center as one with distressed neighborhoods and a miserable, destructed appearance where immigrants live. 5. Conclusion Given that the original neighborhoods with indigenous populations in Arak provide proper opportunities for regeneration, gentrification of this fabric must be avoided, since land is a scarce resource in cities, and it is extremely costly to meet the infrastructure requirements of development. Moreover, urban managers should consider the current trend as an opportunity to provide a plan for efficient use of these lands because the lands in central Arak involve capacity and demand for housing. Thus, infrastructure and superstructure facilities and services also increase proportionally to the increase in density and residential construction. Acknowledgments The authors hereby express their gratitude to the Municipality of Arak for provision of the required information.
Urban Planning
mohammad hasan saeedi motlagh; naser barati
Abstract
Highlights
The quality of perception of the residential environment as a tool for urban planners to promote and organize the environment promotes social interaction.
Using Bonito, Fornara and Bones in 2003, the effect of residential quality perception components on continuous social interaction ...
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Highlights
The quality of perception of the residential environment as a tool for urban planners to promote and organize the environment promotes social interaction.
Using Bonito, Fornara and Bones in 2003, the effect of residential quality perception components on continuous social interaction was explained using double regression.
Among the indicators, the highest impact factor belongs to the maintenance and care of the environment, the attachment and urban streets respectively.
Modelling of perceived residential quality index effects on continuous social interactions have been confirmed and explains nearly half the variations of social interaction.
There is a significant relationship between social interaction and the quality of the perception of residential environment in the Bagh Shater.
1. Introduction A tool for urban planners to improve and organize the environment of residence, the quality of its perception can provide the requirements for the formation and promotion of social interaction. The obligations of neighborhoods and neighborhood units include the provision of a tool to enhance social interaction and of a place for citizens to meet each other and the management and coordination of civic activities. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to investigate the effects of the indicators of residential environment quality perception on continuous social interaction. 2. Theoretical Framework A factor that affects the quality of life involves the establishment of an appropriate level of collective and social interaction in living environments. The perceived quality of the residential environment is defined as the experience of life satisfaction and happiness. Likewise, the process of perceiving the urban environment is a determining factor in an individual’s image drawn and stored of his surrounding environment, and plays a fundamental role in the formation of his residential environment and his satisfaction with it. Environmental perception is a process where one chooses the required data according to his needs from the environment. Environmental quality is complex, and includes the mental perceptions, attitudes, and values of different groups and individuals. The quality of the environment can be defined as a fundamental part of the broader concept of quality of life. The process of social interaction is the key to the perception of social processes. Environment information is achieved through perceptual processes that are evoked by mental images and guided by human needs. Finally, perception of these processes can help to measure the effects of residential environment perception on social interaction. 3. Methodology To investigate the effect of the perceived residential quality indicator on continuous social interaction, this research used the descriptive-analytic procedure and the survey method. The population of the case study involved the inhabitants of the Bagh-Shater neighborhood in Tehran, Iran. The sample size was selected based on factors such as location and urban planning and architecture features. First, the indicators and components of perceived residential quality were assessed, and the qualifications of the perceived residential environment quality indicator were then studied using Bonaiuto, Fornara, and Bonnes’s (2003) questionnaire. Finally, the effect of the residential quality indicator on continuous social interaction was analyzed. 4. Results and Discussion The results demonstrated that modeling the effects of the perceived residential quality indicator on continuous social interaction confirmed and explained nearly half of the variations therein. The indicators with the highest impact factors included the maintenance and care of the environment, attachment to the place, and urban streets, in that order. With respect to the main hypothesis of the study, there was a significant relationship between social interaction and the quality of perception of the residential environment in Bagh-Shater. This resulted in a positive, almost high correlation between the quality of environmental perception and social interaction, which increased as the quality of environmental perception rose. Based on the obtained results, the best policy to improve continuous social interaction was to enhance the capacity of local communities, thus enabling individuals to maintain the neighborhood spaces where they lived. 5. Conclusion The results obtained on the effect of attachment to social interaction were in line with Fisher’s (1977). Accordingly, this could be associated to a large extent with the way in which an individual has established social relations with people and social institutions. If it can facilitate the flow of citizenship through man’s sense of attachment to the environment, urban space can serve to improve continuous social interaction and, consequently, the quality of the residential environment. The results of this study were in line with the views of Peter Kaltrop (1989) and the new principles and guidelines of urban planning, which have considered the creation of neighborhood units with high walkability as the main factor in establishment of social interactions and enhancement of environmental quality. Moreover, they were consistent with the promotion of social interactions according to the results of Torabi and Rafieian’s research, based on the significant impact of the sociability of space, which is a physical characteristic of space, indicating the effect of the environmental quality in promotion of social interactions. This alignment can also be accounted for by the structure of the network of passages and the general ossification of the neighborhood, which plays an important role in formation of appropriate spaces compatible with social interactions despite its old, distressed quality.
Urban Planning
isa piri; Leila Hashemi
Abstract
Highlights
Street renaissance as a responsive tool in problematic solution of public areas of the city, especially the street and re-reading social life, preserving civilization, achieving the idea of an interactive humanist space
Renaissance in order to renew the desirability of urban open ...
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Highlights
Street renaissance as a responsive tool in problematic solution of public areas of the city, especially the street and re-reading social life, preserving civilization, achieving the idea of an interactive humanist space
Renaissance in order to renew the desirability of urban open spaces
Social-cultural revival of the street
Street renaissance as a tool in the production and reproduction of human-centered social spaces
In Renaissance strategies, the focus is on man and on human planning and design
1. Introduction
Addressing urban problematics by pondering urban streets and introducing street renaissance as a functional tool in solution of urban problems and social revitalization of public spaces will eventually generate and regenerate human living spaces that lead to different experiences of space objectivity on citizens’ subjectivity
2.Theoretical Framework
_ The concept of renaissance and urban renaissance
Renaissance means rebirth and a form of birth in a new life.
_ The concept of street and street renaissance
Street renaissance is a revolution in the sphere of technocratic and elitist reflection on the city, which fearlessly attacks the distressed, soulless body of the city, and is based on human dignity and a democratic, socio-cultural movement that seeks to cross out the unsightly streets of the city, leading to the renewal of utility on various perceptual, functional, and aesthetic dimensions of urban public spaces, including streets, sidewalks, squares, and sometimes neighborhoods.
Urban renaissance is an idea aimed at the success of urban regeneration programs, promotion of sustainable lifestyles, design of physical spaces, and inclusion of all social groups in the city. On the other hand, urban renaissance is an approach to socio-cultural and economic revitalization.
_ Conceptualization of the indicators
The ideal of street renaissance is to present human spaces, generate and regenerate spaces as places for invitation and constant presence of citizens, and generate spaces admired by citizens. Therefore, for specification of the effectiveness of the indicators and components extracted from the contents, indexing is first carried out based on the criteria of environmental response, generation of social spaces, and human orientation of the space.
_ Renaissance-based strategies
Innovation strategies and human-oriented planning are aimed at improving the biosocial quality and enhancing the daily lives of citizens in open urban areas. Renaissance strategies are based on functional strategies in policy-making, planning, and design of public urban spaces that provide the scope of activity and the path to the desired conditions. These solutions can affect areas such as streets, sidewalks, and squares from economic, social, cultural, and other aspects and provide a policy and perspective on what they should be. They include economy-based strategies, culturally-oriented strategies, and social and aesthetic street strategies.
3. Methodology
The present study involved a dual analysis with both quantitative and qualitative methods; therefore, for specification of the effectiveness of the indicators and components extracted from the contents, indexing was first carried out based on the criteria of environmental response, generation of social spaces, and human orientation of the space.
_ Questionnaire
A questionnaire with 64 items was made, along with a direct interview with statistical panels of experts (30 people). In this method, the Delphi technique was used with the Likert spectrum in order to confirm the indicators and components and the validity of the questionnaire according to Lavasheh’s model, where the items are specified by the expert panels as necessary, unnecessary but useful, or unnecessary. 60 of the items were thus specified as necessary.
_ Direct interview
The qualitative research method involved interviews and the content analysis procedure, composed of a point-to-point examination and fragmentation of the research text, a design of questions with raw data for face-to-face interviews on the research scope, and a classification of the phrases based on semantic units and coding of the detected words. In fact, content analysis was made with the three methods of open, axial, and selective coding to identify the core categories corresponding to the main concepts that made up the basic characteristics of the study, a careful bottom-up examination of the text.
_ Amos software
The Amos software was used along with structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis to identify the causal relationships between the variables in terms of how to obtain the street renaissance of the area. A proper level of fitness was indicated, besides a direct relationship between all the components and their effectiveness on each other, demonstrating that the proposed model of structural equations affected street renaissance.
_ MAXQDA software
A model was presented using the MAXQDA software to demonstrate the relationship between the research indicators in order to account for the effectiveness of street renaissance as a practical tool and the implementation of renaissance-based strategies in the generation of human social spaces.
4. Results and Discussion
The quantitative and qualitative analyses demonstrated that the research indicators were of great significance. Therefore, the null hypothesis of insignificance was rejected, and emphasis was placed on promotion of potentials in space. In fact, quantitative and qualitative analysis, along with presentation of renaissance-based solutions, makes up the basis of a solution to the problem of urban open spaces, especially the street, and a reinterpretation of their past social lives.
5. Conclusion
Urban renaissance is a technique from the past century used in urban issues, which aims to innovate in the reflection on the city and the generation of human spaces. It is a model for modification of inefficient parameters and unsuccessful ideas in urban regeneration plans, especially for the street, which can lead to social revitalization of the central part of the city with economic, cultural, physical-structural, and social approaches.
Urban Planning
Mohammad Mehdi Azizi; Bahare Bahra
Abstract
Highlights In the process of urban regeneration, the establishment and strengthening of decision-making should be through evaluation. The article has tried to achieve a generalizable structure for evaluation after the implementation of flagship development at neighborhood scale. In flagship development ...
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Highlights In the process of urban regeneration, the establishment and strengthening of decision-making should be through evaluation. The article has tried to achieve a generalizable structure for evaluation after the implementation of flagship development at neighborhood scale. In flagship development at the scale of neighborhood, more important notice should be given to the residential parameter. Introduction. Urban development through development of internal neighborhoods is an attempt to restore urban life to the deteriorated areas of cities. In order to facilitate this process, planning and implementation of flagship development has been considered as one of the policies used for urban neighborhood regeneration and provision of the requirements for the residents’ presence and concern for different dimensions of development.Regeneration of the historical and deteriorated areas in cities has been addressed in the recent literature on urban planning worldwide. Inefficiency is a major problem in historical and deteriorated urban areas, where automatic update and change is no longer possible.As in many other countries, the current process of extension of deteriorated urban areas in Iran indicates that problems will be complicated if no precautionary measures are taken, and no appropriate policies or operating plans are adopted.Implementation of flagship development has been considered as a solution.A main purpose of flagship development is to help achieve urban regeneration goals, an approach taken up as a comprehensive strategy for making positive changes in a place with signs of deterioration. This strategy is aimed at quality improvement, with integrated economic, social, and physical goals. Flagship development is applied in order to improve a place that is in the process of decaying and deteriorating, and its advocatesare agreed that an urban area will not achieve regeneration without such projects, since it causes a series of reactions that will lead to regeneration of the urban fabric. On the other hand, it is not the case that we hope to achieve development over a vast urban area simply by relying on this project, as many projects all around the world have failed to achieve their main purpose, i.e. to regenerate a decaying fabric. Theoretical Framework. Evaluation is possible throughout the urban regeneration process, from the stage of problem identification to the implementation of projects and the review of the decision-making process. Through presentation of mobility and development indicators, therefore, the present study has developed into an appropriate, generalizable structure for assessment of the impact of flagship development and catalyst projects after implementation at the neighborhood scale. It evaluates the effects of an example of these projects in the Gowdal Mosalla neighborhood in the historical city of Yazd, Iran. The theoretical framework of the research involves three main parameters based on the overall literature and practical experience: the physical parameter, the residential parameter, and the activity parameter. The activity parameter includes the indicators of dependency burden, percentage of active population, percentage of commercial use, active commercial use, employment rate, and men’s rate of immigration. The physical parameter includes the indicators of access to infrastructure, access to parking space, population density, residential renovation, percentage of non-arid land, sustainable buildings, new buildings, percentage of administrative use. The residential parameter includes the indicators of percentage of indigenous population, percentage of tenancy, active housing, single-family housing, home access to primary schools, access to local parks, access to sports venues, youth population, number of students, level of education, and coefficient of residence. Methodology. A research method based on the quantitative methodology, regression analysis was used in this study to analyze the effects of each indicator on each factor, and the matrix of impact assessment, known as Leopold Matrix, was used for evaluation after the implementation of the flagship development and the neighborhood regeneration. The final results were obtained after 25 evaluation indicators pertaining to urban regeneration and flagship development were extracted from the established overall literature and practical experience, and secondary data on 93 urban blocks of the Gowdal Mosalla neighborhood were analyzed in SPSS 21. Results and Discussion. The research findings demonstrate that the project performed at the Faculty of Arts and Architecture of Yazd has the greatest effects on the physical parameter, followed by the residential parameter and, eventually, the activity parameter at the scale of the Gowdal Mosalla neighborhood, and it can be approved as a positive flagship development through provision of modification options. The results indicate the closest relationships between the indicator of native quality and the residential status of the fabric, between the indicator of access to services and the status of the residential environment, and between the indicators of population at the age of activity and percentage of commercial land use and the activity and economic status of the neighborhood. Population density, administrative level, and the stability of buildings affect the mobility and physical development of the neighborhood. Conclusion. In future planning, it is necessary to consider indicators that focus on improvement of the residential parameter, especially through consolidation of the existing indigenous population and absorption of the young population. Moreover, the extracted theoretical framework will be effective for planning flagship developments and evaluating them in future practice and research.
Urban Planning
Hani Arbabi; Siyamak Alishahi; Mohammad-Hosein Sobhiyah; Sahar Taheripour
Abstract
Highlights: Comparing the findings of both empiricist and rationalist methods in identifying the most critical stakeholders is very convergent Map of stakeholder communication shows the most critical stakeholders based on the different index of SNA. Introduction. An important aspect of ...
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Highlights: Comparing the findings of both empiricist and rationalist methods in identifying the most critical stakeholders is very convergent Map of stakeholder communication shows the most critical stakeholders based on the different index of SNA. Introduction. An important aspect of improving the quality of urban life is existence of appropriate facilities and infrastructures on urban passages, including the design and construction of urban overpasses and underpasses, as a large-scale urban project. One of the goals of urban development projects is to reduce traffic load in cities and to address people’s demands and solve their problems in that regard. Implementation of such projects will undoubtedly be effective in improvement of the quality of urban furniture and provision of comfort and welfare for citizens. They involve a wide range of stakeholders with different levels of interest, and there is an essential need for adequate communication and exchange between them. The present study addresses stakeholders’ prioritization and communication in a project involving the construction of an intersection with multi-level crossroads in the city of Urmia, Iran using the interest-power matrix as an empirical method and social network analysis as a rationalist method. Theoretical framework. Improper management of stakeholders in an urban project can cause political, social, and cultural problems. The created challenges are not purely technical, and require the management of stakeholders based on their social, cultural, and political backgrounds with different strategies and goals (Aaltonen & Kujala, 2016). In the literature, methods of stakeholder analysis are divided into two categories: empirical and rational. Empiricists assert that knowledge is inductive and obtained through experience; therefore, the analysis of stakeholders is based on a small number of them (the key stakeholders). This model is based on the fact that the key stakeholders have a great deal of information about their expectations and other stakeholders. Decision-makers can make optimal decisions making subjective judgments in that regard. However, many researchers have criticized this approach for several reasons, including the negligence of some stakeholders and their mediating measures affecting other stakeholders and, ultimately, the project. Moreover, the accuracy of the results decreases as the complexity of the project increases, resulting in the formation of a rationalist approach to stakeholder analysis. The basis of knowledge acquisition in the rationalist approach is knowledge independent of experience. In this approach, trust in results is enhanced through an attempt to involve all stakeholders rather than to focus on the key ones. The decisions reflect the actual relationships between stakeholders, making up an excellent way to identify hidden stakeholders who may have little evident impact. However, they can cause overall disruptions in urban development projects (Yang, 2014). Methodology. In this qualitative research, which was performed using a one-sample case study, documents on the project and semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. The purposeful sampling method and the snowball technique were used, and 17 stakeholders were finally identified for the project. The data were analyzed using the interest-power matrix (with the brainstorming technique) and the NodeXL software (for social network analysis). Results and discussion. The results demonstrate that the primary stakeholders in the interest-power matrix include the municipality, people, city council, and residents, in that order. Moreover, the municipal stakeholder, who has gained the greatest interest and power to influence the project, has been the implementer as well. On the other hand, the Water and Wastewater Company, the Department of Electricity, and the Telecommunications Company have obtained the least interest and power in the project. As for the distribution of stakeholders in the interest-power matrix, no specific focal points were achieved in the upper quarters of the matrix. In the social networks analysis, however, people, municipalities, city councils, and contractors exhibited the highest priorities, and suppliers, the environment, and oil companies had the lowest priorities. The residents, city council, and municipality played the most crucial role in the communication between all the stakeholders. In terms of communication power, the military organization was highest, located adjacent to the project. Furthermore, the response times between the stakeholders and the frequency of response were relatively unfavorable. Finally, an urban development project could achieve different results in terms of its stakeholders’ importance and prioritization through changes in its use and framework although it has a significant impact on the city, and involves a wide range of stakeholders. Conclusion. The comparison between the findings of the empiricist and rationalist methods in the identification of the most crucial stakeholders exhibits high convergence. There are differences, however, in the identification of the least important stakeholders. Use of empiricist and rationalist methods can help identify, prioritize, and manage stakeholders. To some extent, they cover each other’s shortcomings, and use of a combination of the two methods to analyze stakeholders can perhaps be the right solution. The findings of this research can help the managers of urban transport development projects that involve large numbers of stakeholders to manage them as successfully as possible and to identify and analyze the positions and importance of the stakeholders involved in such large-scale projects, especially those who seem to have less prominent roles but greater influence. The project may gain better cost, time, and quality during the construction phases, which involve the greatest fund and longest time, by spending less time and cost but involving a wider range of effective stakeholders in the initial phases.
