Urban Planning
Aliakbar Salaripour; Sara Nikmard Namin; Mohammad Nouripour sedehi; Zahra Ahmadi
Abstract
In recent decades, a strategic approach based on developing collective urban visions has been introduced within Iran's urban planning system. In this context, the present research investigates the "Public Event: Rasht 1422" and explores the significance of event-driven approaches in shaping ...
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In recent decades, a strategic approach based on developing collective urban visions has been introduced within Iran's urban planning system. In this context, the present research investigates the "Public Event: Rasht 1422" and explores the significance of event-driven approaches in shaping these visions. Consequently, by adopting a policy analysis method within a broader model that includes textual analysis, four distinct stages in the visioning process and implementation of the Rasht 1422 public event were carried out and analyzed.
The first stage involved a comprehensive review of theoretical foundations. In the second stage, through refining the conceptual model for developing Rasht's public event, the critical interplay of three key elements – space/place, citizens, and urban institutions/management – was elucidated in creating discursive and interactive spaces for vision formulation. This stage further included a qualitative review and systematic categorization of policy documents using textual analysis techniques.
Following the document analysis, the third stage focused on pre-defining the event framework through:
Completing and analyzing citizen questionnaires and in-depth interviews
Conducting working group sessions and interviews with key stakeholders
Incorporating insights from urban elites and influential figures in Rasht
This participatory visioning approach ensured that the core vision axes were developed through inclusive engagement with the majority of stakeholders and decision-makers. The fourth and final stage involved executing the main event, where three primary activities were conducted:
Finalizing and prioritizing 29 key vision axes
Developing the comprehensive vision statement
Formalizing the collective urban vision
Through this step-by-step implementation of the participatory event model, the study presents a practical framework for enhancing citizen engagement and multi-stakeholder participation in urban visioning processes. The research demonstrates how such event-based approaches can effectively bridge the gap between urban institutions, citizens, and physical spaces to co-create sustainable urban futures.
Urban Planning
Hamideh Boghrati; Toktam Hanai
Abstract
Increased environmental pressures and threats to cultural heritage in historic areas have affected the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of these regions, making a comprehensive assessment of these consequences challenging. The complexity arising from the multitude of local and regional variables ...
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Increased environmental pressures and threats to cultural heritage in historic areas have affected the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of these regions, making a comprehensive assessment of these consequences challenging. The complexity arising from the multitude of local and regional variables has made it difficult to form integrated and operational analytical frameworks. This research aimed to design a new methodological framework to improve the accuracy and efficiency of assessing the environmental impacts of tourism in historic contexts. It did so through a meta-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods.
Data was gathered through a systematic review of 28 selected articles from reputable databases like Web of Science and was qualitatively analyzed using MAXQDA software within a thematic coding framework. The research process had three main stages: first, identifying methodological considerations in previous studies; second, critically analyzing methodological challenges (data collection tools, sampling, and analysis); and finally, designing a hybrid model based on integrating quantitative data (e.g., the contribution of influencing factors) and qualitative data (e.g., the perspectives of local stakeholders).
The findings show that previous studies primarily focused on the quantitative measurement of variables such as tourist consumption of natural resources (56%), transportation systems (68%), and economic development (60%). In contrast, the socio-cultural dimensions and the role of local stakeholders were not systematically addressed.
This research's methodological innovation lies in combining a systematic review with in-depth qualitative analysis, using hybrid tools (structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews), and incorporating the results of studies that included the views of local stakeholders in their analysis. This approach provided a deeper understanding of the social and cultural dimensions. It allowed for the simultaneous identification of macro patterns through quantitative data and the hidden layers of conflicts through qualitative data, which were mostly studied separately in previous research. The results emphasize that using adaptive frameworks and a hybrid methodology in future studies can bridge the gap between purely quantitative assessments and passive qualitative analyses, leading to sustainable policies in managing historic tourism.
Urban Planning
Erfaneh Ghanbari; Mehrnaz Molavi; Saber Mohammadpour; Sahand Lotfi
Abstract
Problem Statement: Extensive economic, social, and political transformations in urban societies, along with the emergence of conflicting interests, values, and needs, have shifted urban planning approaches toward consensus and the convergence of stakeholders to achieve common benefits. Although it is ...
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Problem Statement: Extensive economic, social, and political transformations in urban societies, along with the emergence of conflicting interests, values, and needs, have shifted urban planning approaches toward consensus and the convergence of stakeholders to achieve common benefits. Although it is a prominent necessity in participatory planning, this topic does not have adequate theoretical support. Some studies have examined consensus as a part of the conflict resolution process, but it has rarely been explored as an independent and multidimensional concept. This represents one of the key gaps in the urban planning literature.
Objective: The study aims to identify the organizing themes and propose a conceptual model for achieving consensus among stakeholders in the urban planning process.
Research Method: Through a systematic search and review of the literature and employing a qualitative thematic analysis approach with an inductive, bottom-up reasoning, initial consensus themes were extracted via manual coding of the texts. The process continued until acheiving the theoretical saturation and yielding a well-defined and comprehensive set of the “organizing themes of consensus in planning.” Codes were then categorized based on their role in fostering consensus, leading to the formation of sub-themes and likwise subsequently overarching main themes. Subsequently, the themes were validated through theoretical triangulation and cross-referenced with prior studies. By elucidating the relationships and internal linkages among these themes, a conceptual model for the realization of consensus was developed.
Findings: "Facilitated participatory process," "stakeholders and actors," "discourse and communicative action," "conflict management," "power relations and dynamics," and "adaptive management" were identified as the main organizing themes of consensus, all of which are interrelated. The absence of any one of these themes may disrupt the process of achieving consensus. The validity of these themes is supported by Habermas’s “Communicative Action Theory”, Lefebvre’s “Right to the City”, contemporary “Pluralism”, Foucault’s concept of “Power”, and “Complexity Theory”.
Results: The proposed model provides a framework to guide the participatory planning process and is adaptable to various scales and diverse cultural, political, and legal contexts. By mitigating conflicts, it facilitates an effective, equitable, and sustainable consensus. According to this model, consensus necessitates a “facilitated participatory process” and the active engagement of “stakeholders and actors.” “discourse and communicative action” and attention to “power relations and dynamics” are prerequisites for the accurate identification of conflicts; neglecting these elements leads to ineffective “conflict management” and the disregard of pluralistic interests. “Adaptive management” enables critical evaluation, continuous monitoring, and learning for policy adjustment. Due to its capacity for localization and deeper analysis of latent power mechanisms, this model can support contemporary planning approaches. Despite its emphasis on theoretical aspects, its methodological and practical limitations should not be overlooked.
Urban Planning
Ehsan Darvishi; Ali shamsoddini; Mohammad Hemmati
Abstract
Entrepreneurship plays a key role in the economic and social development of new towns. In the face of multiple challenges in these urban areas—such as the shortage of sustainable employment opportunities, inadequate infrastructure, and social issues—entrepreneurship can serve as an effective solution ...
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Entrepreneurship plays a key role in the economic and social development of new towns. In the face of multiple challenges in these urban areas—such as the shortage of sustainable employment opportunities, inadequate infrastructure, and social issues—entrepreneurship can serve as an effective solution for job creation, increased productivity and income, and improved quality of life for residents. It plays a fundamental role in achieving sustainable economic and social development. This study aims to explain and propose novel entrepreneurial-oriented models in new towns, with a focus on sustainable urban development in Parand New Town. From a methodological perspective, the research is applied in purpose and qualitative in nature, employing a descriptive-analytical and explanatory approach. A multi-stage strategy was adopted by combining documentary analysis, analytical reasoning, and fieldwork methods. On the one hand, this approach helped gather theoretical foundations and global experiences in the fields of urban development and entrepreneurship; on the other hand, it allowed for the analysis of local and contextual conditions in order to design context-appropriate models. Documentary findings identified five fundamental dimensions for entrepreneurial development in new towns: (1) Institutional-governance (participatory local institutions and network governance, transparent policymaking and enabling legislation, integration of urban and economic policies); (2) Economic (financial infrastructure and access to capital, emerging markets and links with local and regional economies, entrepreneurial urban branding); (3) Socio-cultural (education and empowerment, entrepreneurial culture, social participation networks, and social capital); (4) Technological-knowledge-based (innovation ecosystems, university-industry linkages, smart urban technologies, and support for start-ups); and (5) Physical-environmental (flexible urban spaces and innovation zones, green and environmentally adaptive infrastructure, legal facilitation, and active local participation). In the fieldwork phase, 136 initial codes were identified, synthesized into 21 intermediate codes and 8 abstract concepts—namely: institutional and managerial fragmentation, weak social participation networks, financial dependence on external capital, underdeveloped entrepreneurial urban branding, bureaucratic culture and risk aversion, university-to-market skill gaps, weak technology and innovation infrastructure, and inefficiency of shared spaces and innovation zones. These were categorized into five overarching thematic categories. Based on both documentary and field findings, dominant conceptual themes were extracted as the core of the study. A comparative analysis with international cases was conducted to assess localization potential in Parand, and ultimately, a context-specific model for entrepreneurial-oriented development in Parand New Town was proposed.
Arezoo Alikhani
Abstract
This study investigates the transformative potential of digital tools in enhancing citizen participation in sustainable urban development, proposing an analytical framework grounded in Arnstein’s ladder of participation to evaluate e-participation from unawareness to empowerment. The central challenge ...
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This study investigates the transformative potential of digital tools in enhancing citizen participation in sustainable urban development, proposing an analytical framework grounded in Arnstein’s ladder of participation to evaluate e-participation from unawareness to empowerment. The central challenge addressed is transitioning from passive engagement to active collaboration within digital environments while overcoming barriers such as digital inequality and limited technological access. The research question explores how digital tools can amplify citizen involvement across Arnstein’s participation levels. Employing a systematic literature review and qualitative content analysis, the study examines the application of digital tools across five primary levels—information provision, consultation, implicit participation, collaboration, and empowerment—and eight sub-levels. Data were gathered from academic literature, project websites, and social media platforms, with qualitative content analysis conducted using MAXQDA software to systematically code and categorize thematic patterns. Findings reveal that tools designed for information provision enhance awareness but remain superficial, while those facilitating consultation enable engagement yet often yield passive outcomes. Tools supporting implicit participation foster trust through responsiveness, and those promoting collaboration and empowerment transform citizens into active partners in urban governance. However, achieving full citizen control remains elusive due to persistent challenges, including digital divides, inadequate digital literacy, and insufficient commitment from urban authorities. The study advocates for comprehensive digital literacy programs, the development of interactive and user-centric platforms, and the integration of digital and traditional participation methods to bolster engagement. This research contributes a robust theoretical framework for analyzing digital participation and provides actionable recommendations for policymakers to foster inclusive, sustainable, and participatory urban environments. By enriching the discourse on e-participation, it underscores the critical need to address social, technological, and institutional barriers to empower citizens in shaping their urban futures.
Urban Planning
Roya Moghabeli; Alireza Mohammadi; Mohammad Hassan Yazdani
Abstract
The growing prevalence of building violations in urban areas is not merely a matter of ignoring technical and legal regulations; it reflects deeper dysfunctions in land policy systems, inefficiencies in permit issuance processes, weak regulatory institutions, and legal loopholes in urban construction ...
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The growing prevalence of building violations in urban areas is not merely a matter of ignoring technical and legal regulations; it reflects deeper dysfunctions in land policy systems, inefficiencies in permit issuance processes, weak regulatory institutions, and legal loopholes in urban construction governance. In many Iranian cities, this issue has evolved into a structural challenge, contributing to the expansion of informal settlements, spatial disorganization, decreased urban environmental quality, and disruption of spatial order. Despite the expanding body of research, there is still a notable lack of data-driven and spatio-temporal analyses at the urban scale. This study aims to examine the typology, density, and spatial distribution patterns of building violations by analyzing 23,897 recorded cases submitted to the Article 100 Commission of Ardabil Municipality between 2021 and 2022. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, employing Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for spatial analysis. Spatial clustering and directional trends were analyzed using the Average Nearest Neighbor (ANN) model, Standard Deviational Ellipse, and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), and thematic maps were generated for each violation type. The results indicate that the three most frequent violation types were: "construction inconsistent with permit" (7,934 cases), "excess built area" (5,957 cases), and "construction without permit" (4,502 cases). Higher densities were observed in Municipal Districts 2 and 3, while District 4—despite its physical deprivation—showed lower reported violations, likely due to underreporting and lack of formal monitoring. Moreover, a reduction of 2,639 cases was observed in 2022 compared to 2021. The findings provide a foundation for rethinking control policies, improving oversight mechanisms, and promoting spatial technologies for ongoing monitoring of urban construction activities. The spatial analytical findings revealed that building violations were clustered and concentrated in the central areas of the city, with approximately one-fourth of the urban area identified as high-high clusters of violations.
Urban Design
Farshad Nourian; Sajedeh Nazarimajd
Abstract
Rapid urban development has led to significant transformations in physical environments, activities, and place experiences. As a result, the meaning and collective memory have also undergone transformations. Today, people increasingly use social media across various domains; and one of the uses of these ...
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Rapid urban development has led to significant transformations in physical environments, activities, and place experiences. As a result, the meaning and collective memory have also undergone transformations. Today, people increasingly use social media across various domains; and one of the uses of these social networks that has become more prevalent among users in recent years is the recording and sharing of past and present memories and experiences in different ways. The way individuals perceive a place and create collective memory has been profoundly influenced by the direct and indirect interactions between places and people through social media tools. However, there is limited research on the impact of popular social media tools such as Instagram on the urban context, particularly on collective memory regarding urban spaces. Even though there is significant discussion about the impact of new technologies on place, the evolving impact of information and communication technologies on the perception of place is evident today. However, the integration of these technologies into urban planning and design practices remains a topic of debate. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge about the impacts of social media on collective memories of places, which in some cases has led to the creation of less memorable and less meaningful places. This research, by adopting a qualitative content analysis method, aims to develop a theoretical framework by juxtaposing the concepts of Instagram social media and collective memories in urban spaces. This article is divided into two parts: analysis and synthesis. At first, a preliminary chart was formed to examine the one-to-one relationships between the main concepts of collective memory and social media. The final framework illustrates the significant impact of using Instagram narratives through a dual model of individual and place (physical environment, activity, and meaning) over the time process of interaction with a place on the process of memory representation. Ultimately, the results of this study suggest that research in this area can be refined within the framework of concepts such as collective memory and Instagram social media. The present research indicates that new opportunities for interaction with places are emerging due to the increasing use of digital social media, especially Instagram, necessitating research on the impact of these social media tools in the urban context. The proposed theoretical model is a step forward in understanding the role of Instagram narratives in representing collective memories. Urban design professionals can use this model in the context of urban spaces to enhance and preserve the collective memories of individuals. This framework can be utilized for approaches to reviving memories in urban spaces with historical identity, which, in addition to physical dimensions, focus on moving forward and integrating the psychological process of collective memory representation. Additionally, this model can clarify how individuals perceive their environment in the new internet era, which is highly valuable for urban actions. Since the ultimate goal of urban design is to create meaningful places, this model provides a valuable basis for integrating the increasing use of social media with urban actions.
Urban Planning
Zeinab Adeli; Azin pirasteh
Abstract
With the increasing expansion of urbanization and structural changes in the urban fabric, the quality of the urban environment, especially the air pollution situation, has become one of the serious challenges of metropolises. In the meantime, in addition to atmospheric conditions, vehicle traffic volume, ...
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With the increasing expansion of urbanization and structural changes in the urban fabric, the quality of the urban environment, especially the air pollution situation, has become one of the serious challenges of metropolises. In the meantime, in addition to atmospheric conditions, vehicle traffic volume, natural features of the land, etc., the way urban spaces are organized and their morphological features also affect pollutant emission patterns; therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between urban form indicators in 22 districts of Tehran and the type and amount of air pollutants. For this purpose, after defining and selecting urban form indicators and measures (22 indicators that are specified in the dimensions of environmental design, land use, accessibility, and density), the quantitative level of each indicator in 22 districts of Tehran was calculated. Then, using data from the Air Quality Control Company, the annual average concentration of air pollutants (CO, O3, PM2.5, NO2, SO2) was calculated over a period of one year - from the beginning of Farvardin 1403 to the beginning of Farvardin 1404. The research method is based on the Pearson correlation method, in which the correlation of each urban form index with various air pollutants was obtained using SPSS software. The results of these correlations showed that the indices of residential unit density, gross population density, built-up area of the region, non-residential land use area, retail unit density, local services, fineness, distance traveled, pollution sources, and number of intersections with pollutants had a statistically significant correlation. This result indicates that urban space design patterns and urban form play a significant role in changes in air pollution and air quality, especially in 22 districts of Tehran.
environmental psychology
Roya Hatami varzaneh; Mahmoud Shokuhi Dolatabadi; Fatemeh Bahrami Gahruei
Abstract
Urban stress, as one of the most prevalent mental health-related disorders, reflects the connection between the urban environment and its impact on human psychological well-being. In this regard, enhancing the quality of urban spaces, with an emphasis on therapeutic urban design, contributes to the improvement ...
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Urban stress, as one of the most prevalent mental health-related disorders, reflects the connection between the urban environment and its impact on human psychological well-being. In this regard, enhancing the quality of urban spaces, with an emphasis on therapeutic urban design, contributes to the improvement of residents’ mental health. The assessment of perceived stress levels in urban spaces is influenced by sound and visual environments as well as urban stressors, including natural features, traffic, enclosure, crowding, and natural or human-made sounds. Although the impact of sound and visual environments on various aspects of mental health is well-recognized and highlighted in previous studies, their independent and interactive impacts on urban residents’ stress remain largely unknown and require further investigation. Therefore, conducting studies tailored to the specific conditions of Isfahan is essential to expand the knowledge of urban psychology. The main research question is as follows: How do sound and visual environments affect the perceived stress levels of residents in urban spaces of Isfahan? The present study was designed as a laboratory-based experiment aimed at evaluating the therapeutic impacts of sound and visual environments on residents’ stress in the urban spaces of Isfahan. This study was conducted using a two-way factorial design (four sound environments × five visual environments), and participants were randomly assigned to one of the 20 therapeutic environments in a virtual reality laboratory. These 20 videos were produced to realistically simulate urban experiences and examine their impacts. Each video combined images of selected urban spaces in Isfahan (Shahid Rajaei Park, Sepah Street, Imam Ali Underpass, and Shahid Keshvari Neighborhood) with sounds including nature sounds, crowd murmurs, and traffic noise. Nature sounds represented relaxing experiences in green spaces, crowd sounds reflected human presence in urban environments, and traffic noise represented exposure to auditory stress-inducing sources. This collection covers a diverse range of common urban spaces in Isfahan and represents familiar and dominant auditory experiences for residents. A total of 100 students from the University of Art Isfahan completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to induce a moderate level of stress before exposure to the therapeutic environments. Participants reported their stress levels both before and after exposure to a randomly assigned environmental treatment using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The results indicate that the impact of sound environments on reducing urban stress is 1.4 times greater than that of visual environments. Moreover, environments with natural characteristics, regardless of whether they are auditory or visual, have a greater impact on stress reduction compared to environments with artificial features. The combination of natural landscapes and nature sounds had the strongest impact on perceived stress in urban spaces compared to other environments. These findings indicate that sound and visual environments influence perceived stress both independently and interactively. This interaction plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of urban spaces and shaping users’ psychological experiences, which is observable in specific combinations of sound and visual environments.
Urban Planning
Mojtaba Rafieian; Nafiseh Zahed
Abstract
Since the emergence of the concept of the “family-friendly city” in 1995, numerous countries have implemented plans and extensive studies to operationalize this approach; however, a precise and comprehensive definition of the concept and its attributes has not yet been developed. By conducting a ...
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Since the emergence of the concept of the “family-friendly city” in 1995, numerous countries have implemented plans and extensive studies to operationalize this approach; however, a precise and comprehensive definition of the concept and its attributes has not yet been developed. By conducting a a systematic review of existing research from 1995 to 2025 in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, this study seeks to close this gap.Using bibliometric methods, including citation analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis with VOSviewer, together with a qualitative review of the literature, it examines research trends, key concepts, indicators, gaps, and future directions. The inclusion criteria covered studies related to family-friendly urban planning, and after removing duplicates and conducting a thorough screening process, 57 articles were selected for final analysis. The findings indicate that research activity in this field has followed a fluctuating pattern, with a notable turning point in 2020. The United States, with 22 percent of the publications and 306 citations, leads research on the family-friendly city. The concept encompasses spatial dimensions (affordable housing, safe transportation), social dimensions (social capital, diversity), economic dimensions (employment opportunities), environmental dimensions (safety and sustainability), governance and participation (family involvement), and temporal dimensions (work–life balance). The results also indicate that the family-friendly city has undergone a conceptual shift from focusing on physical aspects toward sustainability and livability. A geographic concentration on North America and Europe, along with a scarcity of studies in the Global South, represents a key limitation of research on family-friendly cities. This study shows that the family-friendly city approach can serve as a strategic framework for creating sustainable, inclusive, and livable urban environments. It offers policymakers and urban planners a valuable resource for making more informed and effective decisions about the future of families in cities.
Urban Sociology
Ebrahim Ekhlasi; Ali Khanmohammadi; Ali Khaksari Rafsanjani
Abstract
The aim of the article is to analyze the process of establishing automobile-related engineering discourse in the physical structure of Tehran during the period 1346-1400, so that the mechanisms of employing specialized language by the mentioned discourse becomes visible. Revealing the reliance of the ...
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The aim of the article is to analyze the process of establishing automobile-related engineering discourse in the physical structure of Tehran during the period 1346-1400, so that the mechanisms of employing specialized language by the mentioned discourse becomes visible. Revealing the reliance of the automobile-related engineering discourse on power institutions, new technologies and its transformation into the central core of urban policy-making in Tehran is the consequent goal of the research. Comprehensive documents of plans of Tehran, regulations, driving license-oriented laws, urban signs, and media are the data sources of the research. The data were collected in a purposeful manner according to the considerations of theoretical sampling and explored based on Wodak's critical discourse analysis and Foucault's genealogy. The findings of Wodak's critical discourse analysis have made the "metaphorical meaning" and the "role of language" in "legitimizing engineering engineering policies visible." The concepts contained in the official language and technical documents - while forming a new urban identity and regime and marginalizing biological, historical and human readings of the city - have reproduced and consolidated the “others” of the automobile-related engineering discourse. Providing a clear picture of the historical course of the evolution of key concepts related to “vehicle ownership”, “traffic order” and “right of way” are the central outlines of the findings derived from Foucault’s genealogy. The most general interpretative conclusion is constructed in the terms of a historical narrration based on the integration of the findings of Wodak’s discourse analysis, Foucault’s genealogy and the theoretical discussions of the article. According to the constructed narrration, automobiles, traffic and driving signs, property documents, and highways, through their overlapping activities in urban power networks and playing an effective role in shaping the spatial and discursive structure in the physical context of modern Tehran, have, in addition to hegemonicizing specific patterns of movement, speed, and control, ultimately turned non-car-oriented neighborhood spaces and local memory into rejected othernesses in urban-automobile relationships; thus, the totality of relationships arising from the automobile’s technical-engineering discourse, by determining the decline of human livability, have succeeded in creating a technocratic and alien image of Tehran.
Urban Planning
esmail Dalir; Morad Nasiri; Saman Abizadeh; Masoomeh Amoozadeh
Abstract
Security and safety of the urban environment is a multidimensional and key phenomenon in urban studies. A safe city is a city that, while reducing physical and psychological threats, provides the basis for promoting sustainable well-being and security for its citizens. In examining the relationship between ...
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Security and safety of the urban environment is a multidimensional and key phenomenon in urban studies. A safe city is a city that, while reducing physical and psychological threats, provides the basis for promoting sustainable well-being and security for its citizens. In examining the relationship between safety and the urban environment, two basic dimensions are considered: the social dimension (behavioral and institutional), and the structural dimension (physical and physical) that is related to urban security. From this perspective, urban security requires the simultaneous analysis of physical, social, service and mental indicators. Also, safety assessment in urban environments is usually carried out based on two categories of criteria: objective criteria such as crime statistics, accident rates and infrastructure quality and subjective criteria including citizens' perception of safety, in which factors such as lighting, visibility and social cohesion play a role. In addition, indicators such as the quality of green space, air pollution, access to health services, job opportunities, and the level of preparedness against natural disasters are also effective in shaping urban safety. In general, the combination of these indicators and their comprehensive analysis provides a more accurate picture of the state of urban security and safetyUrban safety and security, as one of the main indicators of quality of life, play an important role in the social and physical sustainability of cities. The number of population and the complexity of the urban structure have made its management and analysis a major challenge for urban planners and managers. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating and measuring the level of safety and security in the urban areas of Ardabil. This study was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive and analytical in terms of method. A number of 15 changes were set in the form of 30 questions with a five-option Likert design and were provided to 383 people from the statistical sample in the five regions of Ardabil city using the Cochrane method of random sample selection. The analytical model of Vazpas and TOPSIS was used for the analyses. The findings showed that from several cases of the study, the most socially focused and the use of the traffic management system played the least role, thus urban areas 3, 1, 2, 4 and 5 were among the lowest in terms of urban environment safety and security, and overall, Ardabil city was in a higher than average state with a Qi value of 0.5535. Based on these results, urban safety in Ardabil relies more on social, physical, and managerial factors than on security requirements.
Urban Design
parima Yami Marandi; Hassan sajadzadeh
Abstract
Street cafés have increasingly become influential elements in shaping the urban experience along the Enghelab Square–University of Tehran axis. Beyond their service-oriented function, these cafés possess the capacity to create “third places” and strengthen social interactions. ...
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Street cafés have increasingly become influential elements in shaping the urban experience along the Enghelab Square–University of Tehran axis. Beyond their service-oriented function, these cafés possess the capacity to create “third places” and strengthen social interactions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of street cafés in enhancing the components of the third place based on Oldenburg’s theory and to analyze how physical, social, managerial, and perceptual indicators influence user experience.This research is applied and descriptive–analytical in nature. Data were collected from 380 users through a 55-item questionnaire based on 13 third-place indicators, with a reliability coefficient of 0.94. Data analysis was conducted using Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Pearson correlation, Friedman, and ANOVA tests in SPSS.The findings indicate that spatial quality and sensory experience (3.80), social vitality and liveliness (3.78), café form and architecture (3.82), and especially café management (3.90) showed strong performance and played the most significant role in shaping a positive user experience. Dimensions such as sense of belonging, activity diversity, and perceptual comfort were rated as moderately high. Conversely, dimensions related to continuity of activity (3.36), physical interaction with the street and soft boundaries (3.50), and particularly the urban environmental index (2.88) received the lowest mean scores, highlighting weaknesses in environmental sustainability and spatial integration with public spaces.Overall, the results demonstrate that street cafés along the Enghelab–University of Tehran corridor act as urban activators beyond their consumptive role, fostering social interactions, enhancing spatial experience, and increasing sense of belonging—thus contributing meaningfully to the formation of third places. However, improvements in environmental sustainability, café–street integration, and management of extended operating hours are essential for strengthening third-place functions in these settings. These findings can serve as a basis for urban planning, policy enhancement, and human-centered design in similar urban corridors.
