Urban Management
sara vosoughi; Behnaz Aminzadeh
Abstract
Highlights: Justice, trust, effectiveness, intrusiveness, complexity, and revenue allocation are critical factors in the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Lack of trust and justice are the most important variables that reduce the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion ...
Read More
Highlights: Justice, trust, effectiveness, intrusiveness, complexity, and revenue allocation are critical factors in the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Lack of trust and justice are the most important variables that reduce the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Perceived effectiveness of the Tehran congestion pricing reduces in the second year of the implementation of the scheme. 1. Introduction Congestion charging schemes are implemented in an increasing number of cities as a method of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Studies such as Schade & Schlag (2000: 93) and Huber et al. (2020:666) indicate that public acceptability plays a crucial role in the success of these schemes. According to research findings (Schmöcker et al., 2012: 15-17; Fujii et al., 2004: 290-293), factors influencing public acceptability vary by socioeconomic context. Given the absence of such studies in Iran, this paper investigates what factors affect the public acceptability of congestion charging schemes (2018-19) in Tehran. The answer to this question can be useful for urban authorities to better manage congestion charging schemes. 2. Theoretical Framework 2.1 Factors effective on public acceptance It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of acceptability and acceptance. Acceptability concerns the attitude towards a specific object like congestion pricing. In contrast, acceptance pertains to some kind of behavior exhibited as a reaction to an object. It is assumed that attitudes guide people’s behaviors and reactions (Schade & Schlag, 2000: 5). Indeed, the public acceptability of congestion charging schemes is a crucial factor in specification of people’s reactions or behaviors in regard to them. A review of the literature on the public acceptability of transport pricing policies indicates several effective factors, including justice or fairness (Gu et al., 2018: 98; Jakobsson et al., 2000: 154-153; Ittner et al., 2003), expected effectiveness (Schuitema et al., 2010: 588; Jakobsson et al., 2000: 155-156), trust in the government (Sugiarto et al., 2020: 144-145; Grisolía et al., 2015: 38), perceived intrusiveness (Huber et al., 2020: 657), revenue allocation (Glavic et al., 2017: 81; Ubbels & Verhoef, 2005), problem awareness (Jaensirisak et al., 2005: 149-150; Schmöcker et al., 2012: 10), complexity (Gu et al., 2018: 98), social norms (Jakobsson et al., 2000: 154; Schade & Schlag, 2003: 48), and privacy (Ison & Rye, 2005: 461). The context (social, political, and economic) determines which of these factors are most effective on public judgment. 2.2. Case study The implementation of the congestion pricing scheme in Tehran started in 1980. Since then, the entry of private cars to the central business district (CBD) has been limited, and only drivers with permits have had access to the area. The main policy for reduction of congestion in the CBD of Tehran, specification of limited access areas has been implemented for nearly forty years. In 2018, the city administrators decided to change this policy to facilitate public access to the district, and proposed a congestion charging zone and a low-emission zone. All citizens can pay for daily charges to drive into the former zone, and have limited access (based on the number of days) into the latter. The main purpose of our research is to investigate what factors influence the public acceptability of this new congestion pricing scheme for the CBD of Tehran in two consecutive years (2018-2019). 3. Methodology The content analysis method is applied to analyze almost 350 online comments made by users on the news about Tehran congestion pricing schemes in 2018-2019. 4. Result and Discussion The findings indicate that six effective factors, including justice, trust, influence, intrusiveness, complexity, and revenue allocation, are critical in specification of the public opinion about the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Problem awareness, social norms, and privacy—the other factors identified in the review of the literature—are not observed in the content analysis of the comments. The investigation demonstrates that the public acceptability of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme is heavily affected by two variables. Firstly, a low level of public trust in government policies causes a negative attitude toward them, with some arguing that the Tehran congestion pricing policy is not aimed at environmental concerns or congestion management, and it is the financial advantage of such policies that encourages the administrators to adopt them. Secondly, the public evaluates the Tehran congestion pricing scheme as unjust and unfair. According to the findings, low-income groups and residents of the congestion area perceive the scheme as less just because it does not consider their needs and conditions. This causes an increase in the sense of social discrimination, especially among low-income groups. Furthermore, the results show that the perceived effectiveness of the Tehran congestion pricing decreases in the second year of the implementation of the scheme. 5. Conclusion The results indicate that the lack of trust in local administrative policies and the sense of injustice are the most crucial variables in the public judgment of the Tehran congestion pricing scheme. Based on these findings, the authors provide recommendations for further studies on the impacts of the Tehran congestion scheme on public welfare in different income groups and the way the pricing systems can be adjusted to their different socio-economic needs. Furthermore, investigation of the methods of building trust in pricing policies can be useful for local administrators to better implement congestion pricing schemes around Iran.
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 ...
Read More
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 Ecology
Elham Ghasemi; Zahra Nazemi; Safoura Mokhtarzadeh; Mahdi Suleimany
Abstract
Highlights:
- Investigates the correlation between environmental factors and UHI intensity in the Isfahan metropolitan area over 10 years.
- Utilizes MODIS Aqua & Terra data alongside Landsat 8 imagery for comprehensive UHI analysis.
- Establishes a significant relationship between UHI ...
Read More
Highlights:
- Investigates the correlation between environmental factors and UHI intensity in the Isfahan metropolitan area over 10 years.
- Utilizes MODIS Aqua & Terra data alongside Landsat 8 imagery for comprehensive UHI analysis.
- Establishes a significant relationship between UHI and urban built density, vegetation, and water features.
- Determines vegetation as the most influential factor in mitigating UHI compared to other elements.
- Highlights the vital role of natural infrastructure in urban planning for UHI mitigation.
Introduction:
The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, characterized by a temperature increase in urban areas compared to their rural counterparts, presents considerable environmental challenges, impacting public health, urban energy systems, and city sustainability. This phenomenon, fueled by rapid urbanization and industrialization, exacerbates heatwaves, posing risks to public health. Understanding the UHI effect is essential for developing responsive urban planning strategies both spatially and institutionally. This study, centered on Isfahan, Iran, explores the correlation between UHI intensity and environmental factors, encompassing both built and natural attributes across five scenarios, including four seasons and one analyzing the ambient effect of the ZayandehRud river.
Theoretical Framework:
The UHI phenomenon involves complex interactions among various urban and environmental factors. The density of the built environment contributes to UHI exacerbation through heat storage and anthropogenic heat discharge. Air pollution, especially with greenhouse effects, directly influences heat-trapping and UHI formation. Conversely, green infrastructure and water bodies offer UHI mitigation through cooling effects. This study integrates theoretical basics from urban planning, climatology, and sustainable development for an analysis of how both natural and built elements correlate with UHI intensity in the Isfahan metropolitan area.
Methodology:
A mixed-method approach is adopted to address the multifaceted nature of Urban Heat Island (UHI) and its potentially correlated environmental factors. Land Surface Temperature (LST) data, crucial for delineating UHI, were extracted from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors onboard NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites, covering a decade from 2011 to 2021. This extended timeframe facilitates the exploration of UHI patterns across various seasons, examining specific impacts during both the flow and dry periods of the ZayandehRud river, as well as distinguishing LST differences between daytime and nighttime periods—unlike Landsat Satellite Images.
Additionally, Landsat 8 images are utilized to process the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) for mapping green infrastructures and water bodies. Air Quality Index (AQI) data from the year 2020 supplements the study, allowing for an investigation into the relationship between air pollution and UHI. The analysis of all datasets employs the Pearson correlation coefficient to ascertain the nature and extent of correlation among UHI and the identified environmental variables.
Results and Discussion:
The findings reveal the persistent prevalence of Urban Heat Island (UHI) during nighttime across all scenarios in Isfahan. However, during daytime hours, the trend shifts, giving rise to cooler zones within the city borders, indicating the emergence of urban cold islands. A noteworthy revelation from the study is the significant exacerbation of UHI attributed to the density of the urban built environment. Intriguingly, air pollution, though exerting a lesser impact on Land Surface Temperature (LST) compared to built density, still plays a role in elevating LST during daylight.
The study underscores the pivotal role of urban green infrastructure and water bodies in mitigating heat islands. Among these elements, green spaces, particularly vegetation, emerge as highly influential, surpassing the cooling effects of both water bodies and polluted air. The seasonal variation in vegetation cover also influences UHI intensity, with reduced vegetative cover in colder, drier seasons contributing to heightened UHI effects. These spatial and temporal dynamics emphasize the intricate balance between UHI and environmental factors, offering valuable insights for decision-makers. Such insights can guide targeted strategies in urban planning and design to address the challenges posed by UHI.
Conclusion:
The study emphasizes the importance of considering UHI in urban planning, design, and sustainability discussions. Strategies include reducing built density and integrating green and blue infrastructures. Addressing air quality and vegetation cover in shaping urban thermal landscapes suggests comprehensive policies. Guarding against UHI through natural space preservation and innovative design solutions tailored to Isfahan's climate can enhance urban livability. Future work should quantify contributions of different elements for comprehensive UHI mitigation models. This Isfahan case study serves as a cornerstone for wider applications across similar cities, aiding in combatting global warming and UHI effectively.
Urban Planning
m e; e z
Volume 3, Issue 11 , August 2014, , Pages 19-36
Abstract
In this article, factors influencing the integrity of the historic fabric of urban development projects are studied. Integration is one of the main features of the historic fabric of cities with hot and dry climates which is influenced by urban development projects. Reviewing theoretical and empirical ...
Read More
In this article, factors influencing the integrity of the historic fabric of urban development projects are studied. Integration is one of the main features of the historic fabric of cities with hot and dry climates which is influenced by urban development projects. Reviewing theoretical and empirical literature revealed that integration criteria is classified under five categories that include unification, interconnectedness and connectivity, porosity, authenticity and vulnerability. To investigate the effects of urban development plans on these criteria, the Revitalization of Imam Ali Square project, as one of the most important projects concerning the regeneration of the integrity of the historic fabric, was selected. This project was implemented in the crowded area of central Isfahan. The square dates back to eight hundred years ago. The open space of the square has been occupied since almost two hundred years ago, and just recently authorities decided to revitalize it. After introducing and surveying the case study area, the effects of the revitalization project on Imam Ali Square were examined based on the twenty-one sub-criteria of connectivity and interconnectedness of which information existed. Linkage and connectivity of access network, linkage and connectivity of landuses and functions, linkage and connectivity through revitalization of ancient buildings and ruins, linkage and connectivity of mass and space, linkage and connectivity of urban spaces walls and linkage and connectivity through the density are the six main criteria of interconnedtedness and connectivity principle. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to evaluate the project. In this research, the way AHP was carried out differed from the general way it is carried out in urban planning. That is because in the general use of AHP, several alternative plans exist whereas in this survey only one plan or option existed. Evaluating one plan by AHP needs three hypothetical alternatives. The plan can be compared with an acceptable hypothetical alternative, a desirable hypothetical alternative and an ideal hypothetical alternative. The overall result of the evaluation shows that the regeneration of Imam Ali Square is at an acceptable level. After comparing the hypothetical state of the present plan with the various criteria, the results indicate that the main criteria of interconnectedness and connectivity is far from the ideal state. Thus, although the physical-spatial criteria of integration are reasonable, it must be revised with an emphasis on process and flexibility in order to achieve better integration. The conclusion also shows how AHP can be used as a quantitive tool for evaluating qualitative criteria by assuming other alternatives. Possible solutions for reintegration of historic fabrics through revitalization plans include active participation of local community, urban design and transportation solutions of main access paths and streets for decreasing car speed, determination of urban design guidelines regarding quantity and quality of building new paths and widening existing paths in the peripheral areas of urban spaces. In addition to these guidelines, other solutions for the reintegration of urban historic fabrics are gradual development of street networks, flexibility of revitalization plans, small scale development and avoiding large scale ruins and demolitions, and paying attention to the current community needs and desires.
Urban Planning
m s; j t; m ch
Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, , Pages 19-32
Abstract
Despite the fundamental economic, social, political and technological transformations, urban planning process has not undergone any sensible change since 1968 to the present time and the role and position of planners and its prominent actor, i.e. the government, have remained invariant. A major part ...
Read More
Despite the fundamental economic, social, political and technological transformations, urban planning process has not undergone any sensible change since 1968 to the present time and the role and position of planners and its prominent actor, i.e. the government, have remained invariant. A major part of this change has resulted from the viewpoint held by planners who see the planning process as a technical, physical and intellectual process. In the present study, using concepts such as “knowledge”, “reality”, “rationality”, “value”, and “policy” an attempt has been made to criticize the traditional planning process, which is the dominant process in Iran. This study, by introducing other alternatives of scientific knowledge and instrumental rationality and exhibiting some gaps in the robust framework of the reality emphasized in traditional planning, addresses the role of values, experience, and mentality of planners as well as policy and policy implementation employed by social activists in the planning process. Furthermore, it reviews the unbiased and value-free perceptions of traditional values. For this purpose, through interviewing the managing directors of the country’s largest consulting engineering companies, which are in charge of preparing designs in Iran, we have investigated their various mentalities, perceptions, and experiences about the forces and approaches influencing the planning process. The reason why we have chosen company directors instead of project managers or design experts is that directors are more involved in the interactions with different actors in the planning process. After conducting the interviews with 15 managing directors, the contents of the interviews were scripted and the results were applied to review the framework of traditional planning process. Since government, in contrast to society, holds all the powers and fulfills all the duties and is involved in almost all urban planning processes, by drawing five abstract states of planners’ positions (governmental planners, government-serving planners, independent planners, public-serving planners, and public planners) we have assumed that there is a distance between the two main sides of society (government and community) where planners find an angled position with these two elements of society. By defining this position, planners in the planning process determine their relations with each of the primary forces where the smaller the angle, the closer the relationships.
Urban Design
Mina Kashani Hamedani
Volume 4, Issue 14 , May 2015, , Pages 19-30
Abstract
Urban space is the context in which the activities and different perception of users take place; but various users such as different age groups have dissimilar perceptions of environment. It seems that the built environment and particularly urban space as the product of work of urban planners, urban ...
Read More
Urban space is the context in which the activities and different perception of users take place; but various users such as different age groups have dissimilar perceptions of environment. It seems that the built environment and particularly urban space as the product of work of urban planners, urban designers and architects, does not necessarily consider the real variety of users and through this fact, aesthetic aspect of urban environment does not fulfill their needs fairly. Overlapping of the two domains of environmental psychology and urban aesthetics on the one hand and the diverse psychological characteristics in different age groups on the other hand confirm the necessity of this research. The need for studying urban aesthetics is re-affirmed also from a statistical point of view. In 2010 demographics, out of seven billion of the world’s population, approximately 1.2 billion were children between the ages of 5 and 14. This figure is approximately 17.4 percent of the total world population or one-fifth. The same statistics is shown in Iran where there were roughly 11 million children (5-14 age range) from the total population of 74 million in 2010 which is approximately 15 percent and or one-sixth of the total population. These official statistics are demonstrate the importance children in different fields generally and especially in urban design and urban aesthetic. Studying urban aesthetics from the viewpoint of particular users of urban space like children with different psychological characteristics leads to an introduction to urban aesthetics which is trying to find the answer to the research question. The objective is to identify the aesthetic preferences of children in their surrounding environment, especially in urban spaces. However, there were some limits in this study; the most important limiting factor was the lack of detailed information regarding the social and cultural environment of the statistical sample which could explain differences in children’s points of views. Thus, examining urban spaces from an aesthetic perspective is important because their users have different aesthetic perceptions and urban spaces are not necessarily responsive for all kinds of users. This research answers the following questions: which environmental aesthetic preferences can be recognized in different groups of children and adults, and what are the priorities of related variables in different groups. There are two major approaches to the study of aesthetics, empirical and philosophical. This research is based on the empirical approach according to the importance of visual aspects in urban design. This research has studied the signification of three groups conforming to Santayana’s classification of environmental aesthetics which consists of three categories of emotional, formal and symbolic. The research is applied and descriptive-analytic. Data was collected from library study based on documentary research as well as field observations and children’s drawings. Based on Cochran's C test, 750 effective questionnaires were dispensed in Isfahan city which is the figure for the statistical population. The results were analyzed by Likert-Scale and SPSS software. The findings indicate certain differences exist between the various age groups in their preferences of aesthetic priority and in the importance of formal variables from the viewpoint of children. Of the three mentioned categories of environmental aesthetics, the formal category was most frequently preferred by children.
Urban Management
mohammad ali firozi; saeed amanpour; Javad Zarei
Abstract
Institutional collaboration in urban management is the result of activities between urban organizations that contribute to collective action and have characteristics of trust, cooperation, participation, interaction, facility, and integrity. Therefore, it reflects the formation of the role of urban renewal ...
Read More
Institutional collaboration in urban management is the result of activities between urban organizations that contribute to collective action and have characteristics of trust, cooperation, participation, interaction, facility, and integrity. Therefore, it reflects the formation of the role of urban renewal of sustainable management of the actors in the areas of policy-making, administrative and executive management, and administrative development that facilitate institutional interaction. The present study focuses on the institutional capacity of cooperative management of renewed and worn fabrics of Iranian cities and the metropolitan Ahwaz in particular. The research method is an explanatory and descriptive approach to quantitative and qualitative analysis. Therefore, the required information was collected by reviewing reliable scientific documents, obtaining experts’ opinions in the field and conducting interviews with managers and staff member agencies. The statistical techniques of Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression in the SPSS are used to analyze the data. Also, with regard to the social network analysis, UCI NET is used for the analysis of semi-structured interviews. The results showed that, depending on their role, each agency should promote institutional capabilities consistent with the related requirements and consider sustainable urban renewal as a default action. In order to fulfill the integrated management approach in sustainable urban renewal in the city of Ahwaz, it is essential that each institution has a participatory approach. It is worth noting that setting mutual relations between the players and cooperation among them must be based on a long-term program that takes public interests into account.
Urban Transport
sayyed mohammad reza davoodi; masood ataee gharacheh; masoud mokhtari karchegani; Farhad javanmard
Abstract
An increase in the use of public transport offers one of the most convenient strategies for alleviation of the problems resulting from the excessive use of the private car (congestion, pollution, noise, etc.) in most urban areas. Rail transport systems provide a sustainable transport model in cities, ...
Read More
An increase in the use of public transport offers one of the most convenient strategies for alleviation of the problems resulting from the excessive use of the private car (congestion, pollution, noise, etc.) in most urban areas. Rail transport systems provide a sustainable transport model in cities, with advantages including very high safety, passenger convenience and comfort, absence of traffic congestion, low energy consumption, proper speed, absence of fossil fuels, and low passenger transport costs. For improvement of public transport, it is necessary to develop appropriate tools for measuring and monitoring the quality of service. From among the variety of methods that are there for measurement of transport service quality, one based on customer perspective was adopted in the present research, aimed at segmentation and analysis of citizen expectation from urban railway in the city of Isfahan, Iran using the Kano, FAHP, and FTOPSIS models. For data collection in this applied descriptive-analytical study, a mixture of library and field investigation was conducted. Based on the library study, the theoretical framework of the research was formulated, and fifteen of the most important citizen expectations were identified. These included 1. proper waiting time for passengers to receive service, 2. Internet (WiFi) and mobile network access on the train, 3. use of other public transport systems next to the stations, 4. provision of information on the train, 5. attractive environmental graphics, 6. adaptation of the stations for the disabled, the blind, and cyclists, 7. convenient train spaces in terms of cleaning, cooling and heating, and air conditioning, 8. provision of transport service to passengers on holidays and during off-hours, 9. security at the stations, 10. appropriate location of the stations, 11. proper appearance and suitability of the staff, 12. availability of elevators and escalators at the stations, 13. train arrivals matching the timetable 14. availability of parking spaces at the stations, and 15. enhancement of passenger transport capacity. Based on the field method, the required data were collected using three questionnaires: Kano, paired comparison, and significance assessment. The research population was divided to two groups. The first group, answering the Kano questionnaire, included all the citizens taking Isfahan urban train. Morgan’s table was utilized for specification of sample size for the first group, based on which, sample size was set to 380, and the simple random sampling method was used. The second group, who answered the questionnaire for paired comparison between the items and that for significance assessment of the indicators, included experts engaged in the field of urban trains. Finally, the results of item ranking indicated that the item titled proper waiting time for passengers to receive service had priority over the other items. In urban public transport systems, it is very important to determine waiting time for passengers at the stations to benefit from the provided services. Proper scheduling that results in reduced waiting times can greatly affect user satisfaction, and can be essential for system management. Availability of a credible schedule allows passengers to adjust their arrival times at the stations, thereby experiencing shorter waiting times.
Urban Architecture
akram esfandiari; Abbas Tarkashvand
Abstract
Like any other construction, a residential complex contains perceptual load for citizens as well as space and physical entity. Visual quality plays an essential role in the formation of this perceptual load. Thus, the perceptual function of a residential complex is dependent to a large extent on visual ...
Read More
Like any other construction, a residential complex contains perceptual load for citizens as well as space and physical entity. Visual quality plays an essential role in the formation of this perceptual load. Thus, the perceptual function of a residential complex is dependent to a large extent on visual quality, which is considered qualitative, so the analysis involves plenty of complication. Isovist analyses and sightlines provide an efficient means of analysis and assessment of visual quality through quantitative methods. A review of the theories and studies presented in the field of isovist tools indicates their significance in the analysis of constructed environments based on the visual perception of the audience. This research provides an explanation of the relationship between isovist indicators and spatial experience. On the other hand, concern for visual privacy, which is a major aspect of the visual quality of the environment, is related to overlook. Moreover, whether the residential space is overlooked by surrounding buildings is an essential factor in specification of the interior space quality of a residential unit. The purpose of this study was to provide a method of using isovist tools and sightlines in the process of assessing the visual quality of residential complexes. The research was conducted in the city of Kermanshah, Iran. To this end, residential complexes located in Kermanshah were first typologized and categorized using analyses of form based on a quantitative method. For prevention of the inconsistency of the urban spaces around the complexes from functioning as an interfering factor, the shapes of the obtained types were then homogenized with the normalization method, and the spatial-physical quality of the normalized types was measured using Spacemate. In the next step, visual quality was assessed using isovist tools based on criteria including area, thrust angle, maximum line of sight, and circumscription, and quantitative data were extracted. Finally, the correlation between the data collected from the visual quality measurements and those obtained from the analysis of the spatial-physical quality of the types was examined and analyzed. The results demonstrated that each of the residential complex types involved specific visual quality indicators and sightlines that compared quantitatively and qualitatively with the other types. Moreover, the isovist indicators, which represented the visual quality of the types, correlated with their spatial indicators. This demonstrated the validity of the proposed method in isovist and sightline analysis for assessment of the visual quality of residential complexes, and illustrated the use of the Spacemate charts for that purpose. This research could not assign any of the types absolute or relative superiority in terms of visual quality; however, it analyzed the visual characteristics of each, thereby providing designers with a tool to include the desired visual qualities in their designs. The results of the research can be used potentially in the design of residential complex sites and, consequently, affect the quality of residential plans.
Urban Management
davood Jamini; Ali shamsoddini; Alireza Jamshidi
Abstract
Highlights- Participation of citizens in various urban affairs brings many benefits such as enhancement of social capital, satisfaction, and improvement of the civil society.- A condition for achievement of sustainable development in today’s cities is the participation of citizens in its various ...
Read More
Highlights- Participation of citizens in various urban affairs brings many benefits such as enhancement of social capital, satisfaction, and improvement of the civil society.- A condition for achievement of sustainable development in today’s cities is the participation of citizens in its various affairs.- The constituent components of citizens’ participation include mental-spiritual participation, participation in provision of human resources, political participation, and financial participation.- A low level of participation of citizens in urban management can be attributed to various factors, including the weakness of city managers and the rules and regulations concerning their selection, citizens’ lack of concern, etc. IntroductionCitizens’ participation in various matters of urban spaces is one of the most important issues in achievement of sustainable urban development, an acceptable level of which is one of the most significant concerns of policy makers and urban planners. For achievement of sustainable development in Ilam, a border city in Iran, it is of particular importance to investigate the status of citizen participation in urban management and identify the factors affecting the level thereof, which makes up the main purpose of this study.Theoretical FrameworkLiving in a democratic society requires people to play an active role in various aspects of their lives (Predescu & Darjan, 2010: 3241). Citizen participation is of great importance in systems claiming democracy (Ginieniewicz, 2007: 328) and is vital for any democratic society, and democracy can be developed only through involved, informed citizens. In addition, it is important to have citizens ready to take responsibility for changing the reality of today’s world (Manganelli et al., 2012: 1476). For this reason, public participation is seen today as a new strategy in development (Khajeh Shahkoohi et al., 2015: 4). An inductive look at the existing patterns of participation in the world indicates that they can be classified according to three different criteria: the type of participation (1- decision-making, 2- financing, and 3- manpower), the field of participation in activities (1- construction, 2- environment, 3- ensuring city safety, 4- monitoring, 5- municipal services, and 6- social welfare), and the type of organization (1- spontaneous, self-motivated organizations and 2- formal, motivated organizations). Of course, it is also possible to classify participation patterns based on the activity to perform which the participation is made (Rezaei and Asyabani, 2018: 146).In a general conclusion, it can be stated that citizen participation in urban management involves different aspects and a particular position in the issue of sustainable urban development. However, different factors affect the level of citizen participation in urban management, which can vary by urban space.MethodologyThis is a descriptive-correlational applied quantitative study using the analysis of covariance-variance among correlation methods. The research area is Ilam, and the research population includes 194030 citizens of the city who are over 18 years old. 383 citizens were selected based on Cochran’s formula using stratified random sampling. In addition to documentary studies, the main research tool for data collection was a researcher-made questionnaire. It should be noted that the design of the questionnaire used to measure citizen participation in urban management was based on the works by Amirahmadi et al. (2016) and Meymandi Parizi (2017). The validity of the research tool was evaluated and confirmed through consultation of experts and university teachers (face validity) and also using convergence. Combined reliability coefficients (greater than 0.7) and Cronbach’s alpha (greater than 0.7) were used to measure reliability. The two methods of descriptive statistics (frequency, frequency percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation analysis and structural equation modeling) were used to analyze the data. It should be noted that one statistical method used in the field of structural equation modeling is partial least squares, calling for the use of relevant software such as SPSS and SmartPLS to analyze the data.Results and DiscussionThe results of the structural model analysis demonstrated that the variable of satisfaction with the performance of urban managers exhibited a significant effect on other independent variables. Thus, it had the greatest impact on the variables of proper urban governance (with an impact factor of 0.275), job satisfaction (with an impact factor of 0.262), and social capital (with an impact factor of 0.255). On the other hand, the variable of satisfaction with the performance of urban managers exhibited the slightest effect (with an impact factor of 0.05) on the level of citizen participation in urban management, where we can point out the low level of citizen satisfaction with the performance of urban managers (2.37 on average).ConclusionThe results demonstrated that there were significant relationships between citizen participation in urban management in the study area (the dependent variable of the research) and job satisfaction, satisfaction with the performance of urban managers, social capital, proper urban governance, quality of life (negative correlation), and sense of belonging to the place. Thus, it can be stated that the level of citizen participation decreases and increases as the level of each of these variables is decreased and increased. The results obtained from the structural analysis model (with the partial least squares method) indicated that the independent research variables were capable of explaining 75.8% of the variance in Ilam citizens’ participation in urban management. The values of the coefficients for the impacts of each of those variables on the dependent variable include 0.35 (quality of life), 0.05 (satisfaction with the performance of urban managers), -0.075 (social capital), 0.131 (job satisfaction), 0.372 (proper urban governance), and 0.275 (spatial affiliation).
Urban Sociology
masoumeh Hedayati marzbali; Mohamad Javad Maghsoudi tilaki
Volume 5, Issue 18 , May 2016, , Pages 21-36
Abstract
As crime rates have rapidly increased globally, crime prevention has received a great deal of attention among scholars in recent years. Neighbourhoods play a significant role in the lives of those who live and socialise within their boundaries, and how they interact in the neighbourhood environment. ...
Read More
As crime rates have rapidly increased globally, crime prevention has received a great deal of attention among scholars in recent years. Neighbourhoods play a significant role in the lives of those who live and socialise within their boundaries, and how they interact in the neighbourhood environment. Certain characteristics of the neighbourhood can affect residents’ perceptions towards neighbourhood problems. Both the social and physical conditions of the neighbourhood may affect the perception of the residents on the surrounding environment. The incivilities thesis posits that signs of incivilities contribute to an increase in the fear of crime. Despite the theory that management of incivilities can make safer communities, the empirical literature on examining the indirect effect of the incivilities thesis is limited. Interventions require a better understanding of the neighbourhood correlates of both cognitive (perceived risk) and affective (fear of crime) responses to crime. The affective dimension of fear of crime refers to the emotional responses to fear of being a victim of specific crime types, while the cognitive dimension refers to risk of crime victimisation. This study examines the associations between disorder, perceived risk and fear of crime by considering gender as a control variable in a sample of 160 residents in Penang, Malaysia. Five research hypotheses were put forward and tested using the structural equation modelling on a priori hypothesised theoretical model. The effect of perceptions of disorder on perceived risk and fear of crime was investigated. Of particular interest in this investigation was the possible contextual effect of gender on the residents’ perception of their neighbourhood. The results of structural equation modelling reveal that high disorder is positively associated with perceived risk and fear of crime. Likewise, perceived risk mediates the relationship between disorder and fear of crime. Consistent with prior research, women perceived higher levels of disorder, perceived risk and fear of crime. This would suggest that women perceived their immediate surroundings in negative terms and they are the gender more fearful of crime. This may presumably refer to a lack of physical strength, less mobility for this group of people and reinforced beliefs of vulnerability through communication, behaviour and interactions. In addition, over time, the results of the present study provide empirical support for the initial classic theory, incivilities thesis. In fact, lowering the level of crime is not the only way of alleviating risk perceptions and fear, particularly amongst women. Although we do not claim that fear is independent of direct victimisation, other factors such as environmental factors can play a significant role in mitigating fear of crime. Therefore, based on the study findings, we suggest that local planning authorities need to pay attention to such important matters in neighbourhoods as street lighting provision and maintenance, eliminating concealed spots, designing streetscapes to enhance visibility, and last but not least increasing the visibility of the police to citizens.
Urban Planning
Alireza Mohammadi; Mozafar Sarafi; Jamileh Tavakoli Nia
Volume 1, Issue 1 , March 2012, , Pages 23-39
Abstract
This paper begins with definition and classification of Advanced producer services (APS), continuing from a geographical point of view, emphasizes on spatial behavior of APS within Tehran Municipality regions. To determine the meta-national placement of Tehran metropolis within the world cities network, ...
Read More
This paper begins with definition and classification of Advanced producer services (APS), continuing from a geographical point of view, emphasizes on spatial behavior of APS within Tehran Municipality regions. To determine the meta-national placement of Tehran metropolis within the world cities network, the corporate geography of APS analyzes Tehran consisted of 22 municipal areas. The analysis of data collected from 200 firms out of 2000, including questionnaire, interviews and published documents reveal the following findings: First, Tehran is a national command and control center of APS sector in Iran. Second; Tehran has a very weak status in connection with World Cities Network by means of APS functions and it is not a world city yet. Finally, from the spatial organization point of view, APS has formed a new geography of corporate economy-based during the last two decadesin Tehran (i.e., 'Tehran Corporate Services District'), which is different from the conventional CBD of the city.
Urban Design
Volume 6, Issue 21 , February 2016, , Pages 29-38
Abstract
Safety is one of the most fundamental human needs and is a prerequisite for improvement of people’s welfare and health. In Maslow’s pyramid having safety is placed at the second step meaning that after physiological needs, safety is the most important need of human being that ...
Read More
Safety is one of the most fundamental human needs and is a prerequisite for improvement of people’s welfare and health. In Maslow’s pyramid having safety is placed at the second step meaning that after physiological needs, safety is the most important need of human being that causes higher needs to be achieved and on the other hand enables people to attend public spaces. People cannot show up in an urban space without the sense of safety and therefor some dissonance will emerge when a space is vacant of people. The lack of safety is a remarkable reason that makes our public spaces unsuccessful. Thus, safety is essential for social life in public spaces. There are different methods to make a space safe for people but the most important of them are the dispositional approach and positional approach. CPTED is a positional approach effective in increasing safety in a space and aims to prevent the occurrence of crime. This method relies upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal act by designing the space in an effective way. Urban designers and planners can enhance the qualities of social life through appropriate environmental design suggested by CPTED. Akhoond district in Qazvin is an important district because of its history dating back to the Safavid period and even now many people still live there. Therefore, it is very important to investigate this district in terms ofsecurity. The center of Akhoond district is one of the most traditional spaces in Qazvin city and had been a good place for residents of adjacent districts to communicate with each other in past decades. However, currently the majority of its residents believe that insecurity and social disorders are the most serious difficulties of the district which have resulted in an unpleasant sense of place and loss of its social identity. The center of this district was redesigned in 2008 with the purpose of revival and animation[H1] of place, but security levels are still perilous. This paper first explains the concept of safe urban space and then introduces CPTED and its principals, theorists and studies. This is followed by an analysis of cases designed by CPTED principals. Finally, the case study of this paper,_center of Akhoond district, _ is evaluated according to CPTED strategies through a comparative-descriptive method by observing the space and social behaviours and subsequently some solutions are proposed. Research findings show that in designing the mentioned space the matter of safety has not been considered and consequently led to a high number of criminal acts. Hidden corners, inappropriate activities in and around the space and shortage of efficient surveillance are observed. Therefore, the proposed solution omits the spaces that allow criminals to commit crimes in that district. This way people will live in a safe environment and can use the space without fear.
Urban Planning
Volume 1, Issue 2 , June 2012, , Pages 41-56
Abstract
Dealing with major challenges that many of the regions in Iran are faced with that, it is necessary to analyze the capacity of regional institutions and enforce their abilities. This article, therefore, tries to assess institutional capacity in the studied regions to demonstrate their institutional capacity. ...
Read More
Dealing with major challenges that many of the regions in Iran are faced with that, it is necessary to analyze the capacity of regional institutions and enforce their abilities. This article, therefore, tries to assess institutional capacity in the studied regions to demonstrate their institutional capacity. The article, also, aims to respond to this fundamental question: what are the appropriate strategies to enforce institutional capacity in Boukan and Orumiyeh counties? In order to reach the above aim and also answer the posed question, the surveying method is used. The paper also applies the strategic planning framework to determine appropriate strategies to enforce institutional capacity in the studied regions. The results demonstrate low institutional capacity in Boukan (by the average 2.46 out of 5). The results also demonstrate medium institutional capacity in Orumiyeh (by the average 3.04 out of 5). The appropriate strategies also include creating legal mechanisms to improve the relationship between institutions, improving the circumstance and necessary and appropriate legal arrangements to improve the performance of institutions, providing the necessary circumstance to enhance the accordance of the national and provincial regulations with their regional counterparts, enhancing the role of technical committees, devolution of the local affairs to local institutions, creating a legal context for cooperation of existing institutions in regional governing process, improving institutions’ access to knowledge and learning resources, paying attention to viewpoints and wills of local people, and enhancing the institutional abilities.
Urban Planning
Volume 1, Issue 4 , March 2012, , Pages 23-40
Abstract
The idea of "Urban Village" as a strategy to achieve sustainability, in settlements with various conditions and with different social and economic incentives, used as a solution for urban and rural sustainable development and its success in many instances has demonstrated its universality. This ...
Read More
The idea of "Urban Village" as a strategy to achieve sustainability, in settlements with various conditions and with different social and economic incentives, used as a solution for urban and rural sustainable development and its success in many instances has demonstrated its universality. This idea was introduced as a strategy to achieve sustainable development in England. It aims to create an environment with a various functions, self-sufficient, with priority to public transport, walking and, with public spaces and attractive for encouraging local community development and public participation. In this article, we investigated and evaluated the design principles in urban villages through library research. In the experiments with this idea, after the introduction of the overall project and its history, key directions and strategies used in each, particularly of the aspects of architecture and urban design, access and paths, suggested functions, the type of buildings and, and strategies used to promote sustainability and reduce energy consumption were suggested. The sample criteria were based on being comprehensive principles and guidelines presented in each case, was in relation to urban design and architecture and the principles of sustainability. Creating sustainable development of rural settlements with the use of urban village approach, will be a solution to the existing problems and controlling the context of rural development. This research attempted to use the theoretical, explaining the concept of the urban village and urban areas of successful experiences related to the topic of the local conditions in a village case (Agh Evlar Village from Talesh County), to provide suggestions for the development of control strategies and access to the uncoordinated construction of rural settlements. Applying the principles of this approach, to suit the needs of each region and the implementation of local residents were generalized. It can be said that as a fundamental subject, any rural housing policy and planning in the country can be successful if efforts and planning with architectural features of the rural and ethnic traditions, cultural and geographical diversity in different regions of the country is coincident. Moreover, in the housing, neglecting other aspects of the quality of it such as: environmental aspects, health facilities, light, construction technique, visual qualities, local and regional identities, is a main weakness of the rural housing program. Contemplate the local architectural patterns and reliance on local knowledge and facilities can be a good base for design and implementation.
Urban Ecology
Volume 1, Issue 3 , August 2012, , Pages 24-33
Abstract
Tehran has various environmental problems, which environmental pollution is one of the most important ones. There are numerous organizations responsible for the urban environment management and lack of coordinating and the discord among them is of the reasons for the emergence of the environmental problems ...
Read More
Tehran has various environmental problems, which environmental pollution is one of the most important ones. There are numerous organizations responsible for the urban environment management and lack of coordinating and the discord among them is of the reasons for the emergence of the environmental problems of Tehran. In the present research, besides investigating the feasibility of giving urban environmental management to the municipality, It is tried some methods be presented for the integrated and unity of the urban environmental management. On this base with the use of grounded theory methodology, through the study of documents and interviews with authorities and experts in this affair, the Tehran environmental management issue has been discussed in the pattern of five management duties, including planning, organizing, leadership, control, and supplying of resources and the conditions, strategies, and resultant consequences of revealed phenomenon were presented in the pattern of a paradigmatic model. In this methodology, sampling was done in subjective and snowball manner, and coding method was used for analyzing results obtained. Our results showed that there is no possibility for comprehensive and complete assigning environment management to municipality. However, on the other hand, the abovementioned management duties can be assigned to municipality in a relative manner, and environmental management can be done in integrated cooperation with other related organizations. Moreover, it requires some capacities be made in three structural, lawful, and cultural scopes in municipality organization in order to make municipality able in doing assigned duties.
Urban Planning
Volume 2, Issue 5 , March 2013, , Pages 27-34
Abstract
Nowadays, a special attention is given to the role of urban planning and the built environment and their impacts on neighborhood walkability and residents’ walking behavior. A large number of studies have been conducted about this issue in developed countries, but little has been done in this ...
Read More
Nowadays, a special attention is given to the role of urban planning and the built environment and their impacts on neighborhood walkability and residents’ walking behavior. A large number of studies have been conducted about this issue in developed countries, but little has been done in this regard in the context of a developing country such as Iran. These researches emphasized the strong relation between accessibility to parks, recreational and sport services. They applied two main approaches of objective and subjective. The objective criterion has some advantages like lesser measurement error, standardization and easy quantification and transferability into policy making. Some researchers believe that subjective approaches have more affinities with real perceptions especially in behavioral sciences. Thus, a considerable number of researchers recommend the use of both objective and subjective approaches. Evidence showed that the dimension of physical problems is more sophisticated in larger urban centers. Tehran mega-polis as capital center of Iran experiences a wide range of socio-economic problems due to the rising level of air pollution. According to the official records of heath organizations, obesity and heart diseases are on the increase among the population of large urban centers. Therefore, it seems that physical activity can partly help reduce the pressure of different physical and mental disorders. Obviously, urban planners play a significant role in carrying out the arrangement of urban land use on different scales from city to neighborhood. The present study examined the relationship between neighborhood walkability and adults’ walking behavior in Metropolitan Tehran. Three built environment measures of net residential density, land-use mix, street connectivity, and socio-economic status (SES) were calculated using geographic information systems (GIS) on a census block scale across Metropolitan Tehran. As participants, 657 subjects were recruited from neighboring areas in terms of both neighborhood walkability and SES scores. The amount of weekly walking was obtained using a self-reported method and, then, it was compared with the neighborhood walkability. The data were processed and classified using SPSS and anylsed via different statistical models. The results of this study showed that there was a significant relationship between the neighborhood walkability and residents’ walking behavior. People who lived in high walkable neighborhoods reported more weekly walking than those who lived in low walkable neighborhoods. These results highlighted the role of urban planning and the built environment in enhancing residents’ physical activity which, in turn, leads to the improvement of residents’ physical and mental health. The main conclusion of this research was that the method and measurement of physical activities in urban areas has definite connection with the socio-economic conditions of people. Thus, urban researchers need to employ social and economic indexes to identify the real requirements of urban neighborhoods and facilities to help members of society, especially the older people, to take part in physical activities. This research, however, recommended further studies in this regard to deepen our understanding about the relation between the features of built environment and the tendency of residents towards more physical activity.
S R; M A; n z
Volume 3, Issue 10 , May 2014, , Pages 27-36
Abstract
Human health has been an important issue in society. Modern society is increasingly aware that humans and culture are components of the natural environment. In this case, human health is inevitably linked to environmental conditions. Recent changes in urban life including increases in car and motor vehicle ...
Read More
Human health has been an important issue in society. Modern society is increasingly aware that humans and culture are components of the natural environment. In this case, human health is inevitably linked to environmental conditions. Recent changes in urban life including increases in car and motor vehicle usage and environmental pollution make it an important issue that should be considered in the urban development process. Physical inactivity plays a crucial role in obesity leading to many illnesses such as diabetes which in turn often leads to kidney failure, heart disease, blindness, and amputations. A model based on physical activities is an important part of urban design and planning today. Drawing primarily on recent peer-reviewed literature in a broad range of subjects such as health, planning, and environmental fields, outlines the influence of design at three spatial scales of physical health, mental health and socio - cultural aspects. Enough evidence exists to support urban design as a powerful tool for improving human health and condition. Considering health as a pre-condition for the three dimension of sustainable development by the World Health Organization demonstrates that this matter is an important aspect of urban design and planning. Cars permit travel over greater distances between home and work. In addition to generating more air pollution, long commutes have been associated, in a small body of literature, with other adverse effects on human health and welfare. The main goal of this study emphasizes a pedestrian-oriented approach. In order to evaluate this approach, parameters were reviewed under two different criteria, physical –environmental and social- cultural (it is worth mentioning that these parameters have a physical aspect because of our aims in designing our case study). The research method was based on survey and field study operations. A questionnaire was completed by 200 people in “Motahary neighborhood” in Mashhad. The lack of physical activities in cities of developing countries and our city being a case in point means that important steps must be taken to counteract this issue. This paper shows that the provision of properly designed walkways through a mixed-use, human-scaled urban environment increases pedestrian activity. Neighborhood efforts in this direction will not only improve residents’ health through unstructured exercise, but also integrate marginalized sectors into urban life, and enhance the sense of place and community. These elements must be incorporated into relatively high-density neighborhood plans that include public buildings, open spaces, mixed land uses, and pedestrian walkways to increase physical exercise and enhance healthy civic life. Finally, neighborhoods must be embedded in existing urban infrastructure to provide wider cultural and business opportunities and reduce reliance on the automobile. “Motahary neighborhood” was selected as a case study and it is one of oldest neighborhoods in Mashhad. This paper concludes by presenting an urban design guideline in urban neighborhoods for improving human health taking into consideration its two dimensions: physical – environmental and social- cultural criteria. Finally, the recommended model was obtained from survey analysis and other data.
Urban Geography
Volume 4, Issue 16 , November 2015, , Pages 27-38
Urban Planning
Mojtaba Rafieian; shiva Ajilian; Aref Ahgasafari
Volume 5, Issue 19 , August 2016, , Pages 27-36
Abstract
Objectives: Housing has always been considered a need in different societies.This need more than its individual aspects, is considered a collective need. With the advent of the industrial revolution which was accmanied by unprecedented population growth and increasing urbanization , the issue of providing ...
Read More
Objectives: Housing has always been considered a need in different societies.This need more than its individual aspects, is considered a collective need. With the advent of the industrial revolution which was accmanied by unprecedented population growth and increasing urbanization , the issue of providing housing for people in need who were sent to cities in the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution was introduced and by the expansion of its dimensions became more important to include in government intervention programmes. . Thus, the housing problem, as a common issue in most of the world’s cities, is how to connect the creation and planning of cities with different economic, political, social and cultural contexts. Nowadays, the limited resources of the government and rapid increase in demand for housing do not provide housing for all members of society. Hence, the framework of national development goals, especially the prioritized economic and social goals specify the housing share of low-income groups. In Iran, different policies have been planned and executed. One of these policies is the “Mehr Housing Plan”. Despite being the greatest and most highly discussed national plan proposed for solving the housing problems of low-income groups, it has caused social problems and residents’ dissatisfaction. “Mehr Housing” project focuses attention on determining role of the land price in housing prices and the action to eliminate this variable, controlling the price of housing in this way, and facilitating access of vulnerable people to suitable housing, but it has ignored a set of key issues. Therefore, the main question is how to improve residents’ satisfaction and/or what principles to employ in the policies for satisfying housing of low-income groups in order to improve residents’ satisfaction and to prevent problems in these districts. Therefore, this research aims at analyzing the policies for planning low-income group housing (Mehr Housing Plan) by measuring residential satisfaction in the Mehregan Town, Mashhad and identifying its principles, sizes and variables.Therefore, surveyswere conducted according to fundamental research method and inductive and deductive analysis. Questionnaires were then used for conducting an opinion poll on the variables to achieve residential satisfaction in the Mehr Housing Plan. The questionnaire data was analyzed using factor analysis methods, regression analysis, and structural equations modeling. LISREL 8.5, PSS, and Smart PLS softwares were used.
Findings :a “holistic view” was introduced as one of the major principles in the residential satisfaction in the Mehr Housing Plan which prevented concentration on only some parts of the problems using an integrated view to problems. On the other hand, “community-driven development” allows taking advantage of local community assets and social capitals through the presence of residents in all Mehr Housing processes. This way, the measures of Mehr Housing become close to the residents’ views and finally their satisfaction is gained. In other words, the “holistic view” and community-driven development” principles are among the major policies of Mehr Housing policies; if they are considered as a basis for the measures of Mehr Housing along with “process-orientation” principle, residents will be satisfied with its outcome.
Results: Finally, the model for communication method of the principles are depicted and proposed. Finally, the influence of “community-driven development” based on the principle of a “holistic view” is discussed.
Urban Planning
sh s; Samad Ebrahimzadeh Sepasgozar
Volume 6, Issue 22 , May 2017, , Pages 27-42
Abstract
Understanding individual acceptance and technology application is one of the most mature streams of technology adoption research. There have been several theoretical models, primarily developed from theories in psychology and sociology, employed to explain technology acceptance and use. The advancement ...
Read More
Understanding individual acceptance and technology application is one of the most mature streams of technology adoption research. There have been several theoretical models, primarily developed from theories in psychology and sociology, employed to explain technology acceptance and use. The advancement and availability of digital technologies may facilitate the implementation of smart cities and e-government systems. Many policy makers tend to enhance the smart city performance in their countries, while there is not deep understanding of key factors and barriers to adopting required technologies by users. Digital technologies such as laser sensors for collecting data from urban environments, web-based versions of Geographic Information Systems, positioning systems and smartphones may help to collect and process more accurate data. There is a considerable amount of studies focusing on the introduction and development of the above-mentioned technologies, but current literature does not provide a deep understanding of the technology adoption process in developing countries. Furthermore, the process of technology adoption has not been investigated in the field of urban planning and management. Current studies in e-government are not fully focused on the local city council e-services. The present study aims to develop the Urban Technology Adoption Model consisting of such key constructs as Low Quality Services, Cost Reduction, Energy Saving, and Time Saving. This paper intensively reviews the literature and identifies nine key constructs to use for modeling the adoption process. The constructs are identified from different domains such as technology acceptance in information systems, project management and sustainable technologies. However, the concept of technology acceptance is used in the smart city context. A survey-based method was used to test the proposed model using the Structural Equation Modeling method. The proposed model was first modified based on a sample of 110 participants in a selected major city (MC1). The modified model was validated based on the data collected from four more major cities (MC2 to MC5). The analysis shows that five constructs are critical for predicting the participants’ adoption behavior including Self-Efficacy, Operation, Work Facilitation, Relative Advantage and Compatibility. These factors were the top priorities of MCs’ users. Low priority factors as determined by the participants included such constructs as Low Quality of Services, Perceived Security and Energy Saving. This model is a valuable tool to predict the process of technology adoption at the level of local government in the field of urban e-services and management. The results of the present study are important in preventing any unsuccessful technology implementation at local level. The findings are also critical for urban planners and technology managers in developing countries since they are the main target of modern technologies. The presented model in this paper should be modified for different contexts as a future research agenda. In addition, a decision-making framework should be developed in the future based on an exploratory study recruiting participants from the management level.
Urban Scape
ali asadpour; Paria Barzegar; Niloufar Keshavarzi
Abstract
Attention to the users is one of the main factors in successful architectural design. Therefore, for successful urban design with which all age groups can interact, it is necessary to know enough about each of them. For example, the mental and physical scale of children is different from adults. As a ...
Read More
Attention to the users is one of the main factors in successful architectural design. Therefore, for successful urban design with which all age groups can interact, it is necessary to know enough about each of them. For example, the mental and physical scale of children is different from adults. As a result, design requirements for them are also distinct from other age groups. However, this issue has been underestimated in today’s urban design in Iran. Accordingly, the first step to find out design principles is to identify the factors which are considered by children. In other words, their mental image should be investigated because it is the result of a two-way communication between the observer and the environment. It is through this interaction that the observer selects, organizes and gives meaning to what he/she sees. The purpose of this paper is, thus, to identify physical (elements and components) and non-physical (behaviors, events, memories) factors effective on 5-7 years old children’s mental image of Shiraz urban streetscape. It should be noted that the choice of the street is due to the fact that it is the first and most important site in people’s relationship with the city. In this research, mental images were obtained through the sketch map (children drawings) technique. The statistical population of the research consisted of 111 children selected out of 257 children aged 5 to 7 years in District 1 of Shiraz (based on field visits in 2016). A total of 118 drawings were collected by this method. In addition to descriptive analysis, they were analyzed through exploratory factor analysis in SPSS 22. Children’s drawings were examined from three dimensions in consultation with their teachers: a) in terms of drawing elements; b) in terms of color variation and the level of details drawn by the child; and finally c) the level of exaggeration in the drawing of the elements. The results indicate that sex has no meaningful correlation with the type of drawings and their content. Therefore, sex was removed as a factor of analysis. The most frequently drawn physical elements on the street (fixed and movable) are cars, street linings and traffic lights which were drawn with exaggeration in 27% of the cases. Short and tall buildings were also seen in the drawings as part of the physical elements defining the streetscape. In addition to these, the sky-related elements (e.g. cloud, sun and rain), natural elements (e.g. green space, mountains, living creatures and humans) and even events (e.g. accidents, respecting the rules, playing, etc.) were an inseparable part in children’s drawings. The streets drawn by children were without color variation or lots of detail. This could indicate lower color variation of current streets. The children in this study referred to a combination of natural elements and games as the main factor in their mental image of the street. The subsequent factors included street regulations, the sky, street structure, city landscape and intersection structure which were extracted from factor analysis.
Urban Design
Abstract
The public spaces of city shape social flows, provide the material needs of citizens, their intrinsic need for communication and face-to-face social interactions. Therefore, the quality of urban spaces in the formation of social interactions, the mental image of the city and its visualization are important. ...
Read More
The public spaces of city shape social flows, provide the material needs of citizens, their intrinsic need for communication and face-to-face social interactions. Therefore, the quality of urban spaces in the formation of social interactions, the mental image of the city and its visualization are important. Several factors play a role in the formulation of the concept of quality, the most important of which is the configuration of urban spaces. The spatial configuration organizes the relationships between urban spaces. It is a factor in shaping qualitative variables such as readability and accessibility. Parks are one of the urban spaces whose social performance and productivity are directly affected by spatial quality. However, urban parks are now the epicenter of most social anomalies due to different factors and, as public spaces, are less able to provide a suitable environment for the formation of social interactions. In recent decades, the theory of space layout has made it possible to analyze the spatial configuration and its relationship with social, economic and physical factors using spatial variables.The present study investigates the structure and analyzes the features of spatial configuration of Mashhad in order to examine its effects on the spatial quality of urban parks. Configuration analysis provides an appropriate assessment of the spatial distribution, accessibility, security and readability of urban parks and can play an important role in redefining the quality of urban parks spatially. Since parks play an important role in urban spaces, evaluation of the layout, spatial distribution and access to urban parks in Mashhad are among the most important goals of the study. In addition, the readability and security of Mashhad parks are other parameters that are studied in this study using the space-layout theory variables. The present research is an applied research with a descriptive-analytical method. The statistical sample involves 290 parks in Mashhad in the five categories of neighborhood, local, district, region, and city. The research was conducted using spatial variables of space layout. The theoretical framework of the research was developed based on documentary and library studies with the aim of explaining the dimensions of spatial quality. Also, the city’s statistics in 2014, land use maps of 2011 (1/200 scale), satellite images and field surveys were used to analyze the data and collect information about the urban parks in Mashhad. The analyses were conducted in the GIS environment and 10 UCL Depthmap based on Mashhad’s axial map. The basic variables in this study were connectivity, interconnection, and control. The intermediate variables were readability, accessibility, space security, and cohesion. Research results show that despite the large dispersion of parks in the city, there is a spatial logic between the performance of parks and the city’s configuration. While regional parks are expected to be more readable in the structure and configuration of the city of Mashhad than district parks, the analyses show that they are less visible and accessible than other parks. The spatial distribution of these parks and their placement in spaces with a greater depth has decreased their spatial quality. Thus, one cannot expect significant functional and social effectiveness from this category of parks. In terms of spatial quality, urban parks are perhaps the only form of urban and social spaces that have the greatest impact on the spatial configuration of city due to their type of performance. The results of this study show that the distribution of urban parks in Mashhad is less spatially hierarchical. Although the main parks are distributed on a city scale in accordance with the axes of association and readability, most regional and district parks do not have such a distribution. This feature also affects the spatial cohesion of urban parks in relation to the structure of Mashhad and reduces the quality of space. Finally, it can be of said that, regardless of the spatial cohesion of Mashhad, which has a weak correlation with the components of the urban space and the city as whole, all the research indicators related to the quality of parks in Mashhad are poor and weak. This necessitates the attention to the park’s functional scale in the planning process, the proper location of urban parks, and the proper design according to the urban spatial pattern. Also, an assessment of the category of parks found that despite the number of neighborhood and local parks, these types of parks are better in terms of control than other parks, which seem to be logical according to the functional radius on a local scale. However, urban parks are of great importance in terms of accessibility and readability in the current structure of Mashhad. It seems that the assessment of spatial quality and its relationship with function can have an effective role in the planning and design of urban parks.
Urban Transport
masoud kadkhodaei; rouzbeh shad
Abstract
With the ever-increasing production of private cars, there has been far heavier traffic flowing through the streets of large cities, causing problems such as increased air pollution and increased travel time and latency in urban trips. Congestion pricing provides a way of managing traffic congestion ...
Read More
With the ever-increasing production of private cars, there has been far heavier traffic flowing through the streets of large cities, causing problems such as increased air pollution and increased travel time and latency in urban trips. Congestion pricing provides a way of managing traffic congestion and the consequent problems in large cities. In the implementation of the congestion pricing policy in large cities, it is of great significance how toll rate varies by time, affecting the efficiency of the plan and citizens’ tendency to use private cars. Therefore, adoption of the most appropriate method of scheduling in congestion pricing plans requires a precise analysis of different scheduling methods and their evaluation given the traffic and social characteristics of the city. Due to the presence of tourists in large tourist destinations, there are larger numbers of trips taken for entertainment and shopping purposes than in other cities. Furthermore, many drivers are not familiar with the directions, which makes urban travel patterns different in such cities, making it more important to adopt the appropriate congestion pricing plan scheduling. In this research, three methods, including fixed tolls, scheduled tolls, and smart tolls, were adopted for scheduling congestion pricing plans in large tourist destinations and ranked using the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method, where decision elements, including evaluation criteria and options, are weighted using pairwise comparison as well as their interdependence In the pairwise comparisons, the importance of or preference for each decision element is determined by experts opinions. Each option is scored with respect to each criterion through multiplication of the option weight by the criterion value, and the final score of the option is obtained through calculation of the sum of the above scores, on which basis the evaluation options are ranked. Since the final weights thus obtained by the ANP method are not normal, more accurate comparison could be made after their normalization. Based on the results, the method of scheduled tolls for congestion pricing plans were ranked first with a normalized weight of 0.49, and the methods of fixed tolls and smart tolls were ranked second and third with normalized weights of 0.26 and 0.25, respectively. The most effective indicators in the assessment included reduction of travel time, increase in the use of public transportation, reduction of the number of drivers traveling alone, increase in operating speed, and reduction of accidents with pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists, in that order. Use of the results of this research in urban management policy-making will optimize congestion pricing policies adopted in large tourist destinations such as the city of Mashhad, Iran and increase their effectiveness in reduction of traffic congestion and the consequent problems.
Urban GIS
Mahnaz Azadtalab; Himan Shahabi; Ataollah Shirzadi; Kamran Chapi
Abstract
The flood is the second natural disaster in terms of the damage that it causes to human societies every year. At the same time, cities and population centers are exposed to the highest risk and potential for physical damage caused by flood events. The growing trend of floods in Iran in recent years indicates ...
Read More
The flood is the second natural disaster in terms of the damage that it causes to human societies every year. At the same time, cities and population centers are exposed to the highest risk and potential for physical damage caused by flood events. The growing trend of floods in Iran in recent years indicates that most parts of the country are at risk. According to the conducted studies, about forty large and small floods occur annually in different parts of the country. Since the flood is the most devastating disaster in the world and a serious threat to life, preparation of flood hazard maps is essential in identification of flood-sensitive areas, and is one of the first steps taken to reduce damage. It should be noted that researchers can easily identify areas with high risk using flood hazard maps to prevent damage. In the modeling of research on natural and environmental hazards such as floods, the complexity of natural systems makes it difficult to use physical models, highlighting the use of hybrid models as a suitable alternative. Therefore, it is necessary to provide appropriate methods and suggestions for estimation of runoff and flood in areas with high risk in order to prevent their occurrence. In recent years, a large number of statistical and probabilistic models have been used for flood hazard mapping, and GIS has been used as a basic analysis tool for spatial management and data manipulation due to its capability of managing large amounts of spatial data. Furthermore, it is possible using GIS prediction models to partition urban areas in terms of flood hazard. The obtained hazard maps can be used for identification of areas with high flood hazard. Today, the accuracy of flood susceptibility maps in urban areas can be increased using hybrid GIS models rather than single ones. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to predict the risk of flood in the city of Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran using hybrid models in the GIS environment. The factors considered in this study as influencing the occurrence of flood included inclination, slope, elevation, distance from the river, river density, flow accumulation, land use, gradient curvature, lithology, distance from the passage, road density, distance from the building, building density, and rainfall. After collecting the required data and layers, we used two algorithms, including the definitive statistical index (SI) and the evidential belief function (EBF), both in isolation and in combination. The locations of flood susceptibility in Sanandaj were predicted. In order to assess the performance of the model, the AUC curve obtained from the ROC curve was used. According to the adopted assessment criteria (ROC) and the validation data, the EBF model (0.840) exhibited better performance than the SI model (0.827) in flood hazard mapping in the area under investigation. The accuracy rate of the hybrid SI-EBF model was 0.849 based on the ROC results, which demonstrated that the hybrid model performed better in prediction of the spatial hazard of flood than the single models. Finally, the results of the study showed that Sanandaj flood spurts resulted from various environmental and human factors, which can be handled using flood hazard maps and appropriate management measures to reduce flood damage.
