Urban Planning
Volume 6, Issue 22 , May 2017, Pages 3-14
Abstract
Today, the distribution method of urban services is one of the major requirements of urban life. However, using traditional methods of land supply for urban services in Iran (such as compulsory acquisition, dispersed incentive policies, etc.) has led to the destruction of agricultural land, gardens and ...
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Today, the distribution method of urban services is one of the major requirements of urban life. However, using traditional methods of land supply for urban services in Iran (such as compulsory acquisition, dispersed incentive policies, etc.) has led to the destruction of agricultural land, gardens and other valuable land. It has also led to non-optimal use of land with the capacity for development. This has not left a choice to urban managers and planners other than turning to new approaches, including transfer of development rights which is based on respecting ownership rights. The transfer of development rights (TDR) is a voluntary and market-based land use management mechanism. In this approach, land development is introduced to more suitable areas to protect the land with higher agricultural value, the environmentally sensitive areas and open spaces. The concept of TDR is to establish an exchangeable market of transferable development rights. In this applied research, quantitative techniques were studied in the city of Shiraz using theoretical background concepts. It was attempted to answer these questions: “What are the conditions required for using the TDR approach in Shiraz metropolis? Which metropolitan area is suitable for the implementation of this approach?” Analytic hierarchy process (AHP), expert questionnaires and Arc GIS software were used to answer these questions. Based on the TDR method, the case study regions were divided into regions transferring and receiving development rights. In this context, each of the regions has an indicator. The results showed that in the receiving regions the participation rate of citizens ranked first with a weight of 0.271. The desire to increase density and having the passage network ranked second and third, respectively. In the transferring regions, parameters of monuments and historic buildings ranked first with a score of 0.273. Citizen participation was the second and gardens was the third priority. Based on the results, District 5 of Area 1, District 7 of Area 4 and Districts 2, 3 and 4 of Area 8 have a very high potential to get developed. Also, District 1 of Area 1, Districts 1 and 6 of Area 2 and District 2 of Areas 6 and 8 have a very high potential to transfer development rights. The results indicate that this approach needs to be implemented in Shiraz metropolis as it enjoys lands which are valuable for their historical, natural and ecological properties, such as Ghasredasht gardens and the central historical texture of the city. The main requirements for the implementation of this model are high level of people's participation, firm legal guarantees, the presence of a coherent administrative structure, and respect for private property and public interests. The present research has been conducted academically based on the available information and resources. The participation of organizations and executive authorities is required to apply the results. In fact, this research has investigated the necessity of implementing the TDR model with an emphasis on Shiraz metropolis. It has identified priorities related to executive issues and urban management for each district of Shiraz.
Urban Architecture
y p; A H
Volume 6, Issue 22 , May 2017, Pages 15-26
Abstract
Functional quality of cumulative spaces is special to environmental and urban design. In line with improvement of functional quality of these urban places, it is important to take security elements into account. These elements include both objective and subjective indicators. The absence of these components ...
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Functional quality of cumulative spaces is special to environmental and urban design. In line with improvement of functional quality of these urban places, it is important to take security elements into account. These elements include both objective and subjective indicators. The absence of these components in such spaces with unlimited users affects their overall performance. The aim of this study is to examine some visual or skeletal components in one of these communal spaces, i.e. parks. To validate research findings and user preferences, subjective factors (users’ perception of space) will also be evaluated. In this research, the objective quality of space will be assessed through space syntax indices following the characteristics of the space syntax theory which investigates the physical parameters of space. Other research tools include field research (environmental and field data), questionnaires, interviews and researchers’ observations. The subjective and perceptual characteristics of users in terms of “security” are hereby placed under investigation. After stating the problem and introducing Space Syntax theory in the environment analysis, this paper tries to analyze the issue of crime hotspots (security or lack of security) in the environment regardless of the effective factors on the users’ perceptions (first step). After analyzing the issue by this method, the survey strategy was used to validate the obtained results and to adapt them to the views of space users (second step). To achieve the objectives of the research, after the introduction of research tools, the total area of the park was determined by syntax factors and then open questionnaires, field observations and cognitive maps were used. The results showed that the population of the research avoided some parts of the park due to different subjective reasons. In some cases, environmental quality and, in some other cases, subjective characteristics of the environment were effective on creating a sense of insecurity with the space. Ultimately, it seems that subjective factors have priority over environmental indicators in selecting a space. Other important results of the research are as follows: - The central area of the park seems to be desirable. This is because of its shallow depth and lack of permeability as well as the low level of monitoring due to the structural and skeletal features of the environment. - A favorable environment in urban parks in terms of security is a place which has relatively large terraces with few wide passageways without any deadlock. - Safe spaces in parks have proper lighting. Accordingly, there should be no tall and broadleaf trees in the main communication areas, especially on the passageways, so that they would not block lighting in the night. - When these spaces have innovative design features and create the subjective sense of belonging to the place in people, even in the absence of some objective characteristics of a safe environment, they will lead to increased usability of the environment, socialization of the space and thereby maintaining a desired level of security in the environment.
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 ...
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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 Planning
Farshad Nourian; Parsa Arbab
Volume 6, Issue 22 , May 2017, Pages 43-58
Abstract
This research aims to explore the outlook of global cities in developing countries through the critical analysis. Global or globalizing cities have emerged in the developing countries during the past two decades. Some of the latest cases include Bangkok, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Jakarta, Johannesburg, ...
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This research aims to explore the outlook of global cities in developing countries through the critical analysis. Global or globalizing cities have emerged in the developing countries during the past two decades. Some of the latest cases include Bangkok, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Shanghai, and Taipei. Other older cases involve Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, and Mexico City.Questions about the concepts and meanings of the global functions for development of these cities are raised when considering their role as part of the global cities network. The main body of literature on the patterns of the global city attempts to use the framework of the prime examples and paradigmatic cases of the global or globalizing cities such as London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo for evaluating the evidence of the globalization of cities in developing countries. Moreover, the success and the status of these cities are considered and measured mainly based on western criteria. This issue is due to the domination of western (Anglo-American) framework in the field of the globalization and the city.
In contrast, an increasing number of academic researchersbelieve that the relationship between the global city concept and the issues of power, actors and institutions - that operate globally - is exaggerated. In their view, this challenge has led to the underestimation of the local context and probabilities. Hence, the application of the current dominant paradigm of the globalization for the outlook of the global cities in the developing countries has been criticized by them. They argue that achieving a general set of comprehensive and universal results is a barren probability. Meanwhile, a type of ethnocentrism dominates the literature of globalization and global cities. Moreover, it is problematic to focus the research on the limited and specific factors and criteria of globalization, especially when such research attempts to explain the results and outcomes of the global cities in the developing countries. Therefore, alternative approaches, differentiated with the current dominant ones, have been proposed in this regard. Other models based on the complexity and diversity of the effects and consequences must be adopted. Serious consideration for the valuation of the local and native capacities, priorities and differences is essential for any theoretical and empirical study on the process of the globalization in the developing countries. It is necessary to operationalize distinct types of measures instead of the current global city label in reference to them. Accordingly, it is very important to use innovative models or patterns through the adoption of new frameworks based on the various roles, positions, capacities, dimensions, effects and consequences. Instead of absolute acceptance of the dominant Anglo-American approaches, it is more useful to conduct further studies on the interaction between the global and local actors. Such approach, presented as an alternative conceptual framework in this paper, could act as a basis for further studies on new cases in the developing countries.
Urban Sustainability
Sina Razzaghi Asl; Farzaneh Khoshghadam
Volume 6, Issue 22 , May 2017, Pages 59-74
Abstract
Urban authorities and residents of urban deteriorated areas have faced many problems including, among the most important, unstable social condition of these areas. Social problems are one of the most important issues in renovation of and intervention in these kind of urban fabrics. According to the literature, ...
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Urban authorities and residents of urban deteriorated areas have faced many problems including, among the most important, unstable social condition of these areas. Social problems are one of the most important issues in renovation of and intervention in these kind of urban fabrics. According to the literature, definitions of urban regeneration have evolved over time and now are strongly influenced by the concept of sustainability. In fact, intervening in urban deteriorated areas is quite a social issue. There are different approaches for intervention in urban deteriorated areas. Regeneration and its recent approach - urban renaissance - is considered as the newest concept for intervention in recent years. On the other hand, the dominant and recent view of urban regeneration is social sustainability. Therefore, the subject of social sustainability seems essential in the intervention with the social approach in urban deteriorated areas. This study tries to review the existing literature about social sustainability and then extract and analyze the key factors of social sustainability in deteriorated areas of Shiva Neighborhood in Tehran. The aim of this study is to examine social problems of deteriorated areas of the study area and evaluate the effective factors on improving social sustainability. This research is a descriptive survey in the context of library studies which uses SPSS to analyze data. The study is also a qualitative–quantitative research with an applied goal. The results of this study indicate that the most important indicators affecting social sustainability in deteriorated areas, in Shiva Neighborhood in particular, are sense of belonging, walkable neighborhood, vitality, security, supply of affordable housing, social participation, equitable distribution of resources and services, creating job opportunities, education, activity in the place, residents’ empowerment, environmental health, sense of satisfaction, free time, and satisfaction with income. These indicators were grouped in seven categories of equity, quality of life, social security, social interaction, social justice, social participation and social cohesion. These seven categories have respectively the most impact on improving social sustainability in deteriorated areas of Shiva Neighborhood. Equity represents the economic situation of residents. Based on the conditions of deteriorated areas, it seems reasonable that this factor is the most effective one. Despite the importance of this factor, its impact was negative and reduced social sustainability. Social security and social interaction were other factors having a negative impact on social sustainability after renovation in the neighborhood. Quality of life, social justice and social participation were the factors that improved social sustainability in this neighborhood. The impact factor of social cohesion shows that the measures taken have not been considerable in the eyes of the residents. Overall, based on the average of all factors, social sustainability increased after renovation in Shiva Neighborhood, but the amount of this increase was very low and required more serious efforts. It will be very effective to consider these factors in the future planning process of renovation in this neighborhood, an issue that will prevent behavioral, mental, occupational and identity disorders.
Slum Settlements
akbar mohammadi; Kasra Ashouri; mohammad bashir robati
Volume 6, Issue 22 , May 2017, Pages 75-88
Abstract
Nowadays, due to different reasons such as low financial affordability, high cost of standard housing, lack of affordable land in cities (especially for a particular population), lack of scientific criteria in finding location (for housing) or in urban development, and as urban development processes ...
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Nowadays, due to different reasons such as low financial affordability, high cost of standard housing, lack of affordable land in cities (especially for a particular population), lack of scientific criteria in finding location (for housing) or in urban development, and as urban development processes surpass rational urban planning and managemen, most cities and urban habitats are located in sites which are exposed to a variety of human-made threats because of natural hazards or technological progresses. In this regard, in the case of a crisis, efforts to achieve circumstances which provide the possibility to restore the conditions before crisis or increasing the flexibility of those cities and habitats are of high importance. Resilience is a new approach proposed as a novel perspective to deal with rapid changes and increasing needs and complications of cities. In most cases, this approach is used to face the unknowns or uncertainties. Resilience is also emphasized over vulnerability. The concept of resilience has evolved over time; in the recent decade, it has peculiarly been the center of attention in scientific and political debates. The present applied research tries to recognize and evaluate the effective factors on social and institutional resilience in Naisar detached urban district of Sanandaj. It also attempts to optimally adapt those factors by using descriptive, analytic and comparative methods. Naisar district is located at the northeast of Sanandaj. It is 309.5 hectares making it the largest spontaneous settlement of the city. At the beginning, this area was in the form of a village in Sanandaj suburbs, but, due to lack of residential land in the city (Sanandaj has many hills unsuitable for residential construction), the village turned into a satellite area for the overflowing population of the city in the 90s. In the census of villages in 1996, the population of Naisar was announced to be 938. The interesting point is the rapid increase in Naisar population over the past 15 years. The population of Naisar was 12480 in 2006. In 2011, it increased by 29.5% and reached 27377. Like many such settlements, Naisar has a very low resilience in the face of incidents. The purpose of this research is to investigate the social and institutional resilience criteria in this settlement. To this end, the indices and influential factors on social and institutional resilience in these settlements were first identified and defined operationally through library research. Then, the resilience level of the spontaneous settlement of Naisar was determined through AIR, RIF and CIR formulas. The results of the research indicated low levels of resilience in this settlement. Based on the findings, it seems that more factors are effective on the evaluation of the resilience level of the spontaneous settlement of Naisar due to its unfavorable conditions. The results also indicate that, in Naisar detached urban district, as one of the particular settlements of Sanandaj which has been recognized as an informal settlement, social resilience has a more favorable situation than institutional resilience.
Urban Planning
A K; T G
Volume 6, Issue 22 , May 2017, Pages 89-97
Abstract
The issue of waking and providing suitable environments to encourage walking level has become one of the main strategies to improve quality of environment in cities. The issue is constantly attracting much more attention as it has been confirmed that walking has positive effects on citizens’ health, ...
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The issue of waking and providing suitable environments to encourage walking level has become one of the main strategies to improve quality of environment in cities. The issue is constantly attracting much more attention as it has been confirmed that walking has positive effects on citizens’ health, reducing traffic and pollution and increasing social interaction between people. Planning and design approaches that focus on sustainability, density, security, etc. consider walkability of urban spaces as an available strategy for achieving these concepts. Many prior surveys have considered the level of walking and walkability of urban spaces as an important factor in sociability and quality of urban spaces. Although prior surveys have generally focused on determining physical and spatial dimensions effective on walking, the effect of each physical and spatial factor in different urban areas (residential, downtown…) on different types of walking (business and recreational) is not the same.
Since people walk for different objectives and as various aspects of the built environment have different effects on encouraging people to walk in urban environments, this study tries to seek how spatial-physical factors influence the walking level of citizens at residential districts. This research poses two main questions: which aspects of people’s walking are affected by physical-special factors of residential districts? Which physical-special factors have more impact on the level of walking? In this research, theoretical studies on the spatial-physical factors of urban areas and walking indicators revealed that several environmental factors are effective on the walking level of people including continuity of paths, mixed usage, quality of paths, safety and security, beauty and desirability, and residential density. These factors are in a way parts of the wider spatial system of a city (or are affected by them). This wider system includes type of components, quantity of components, density, context, structure and spatial distribution. After developing the conceptual model of the research, the walking level of residents (business and recreational walking) in three neighborhoods of Nowshahr was evaluated through a questionnaire. Then its relationship with spatial-physical factors resulting from theoretical studies was measured through multivariate linear regression.
The results of the study showed a significant relationship between spatial-physical variables of urban neighborhoods and recreational walking (first hypothesis). The reason for this could be that business walking is a required activity for individuals which should be done in all circumstances regardless of the environment. However, recreational walking is not an obligation and is encouraged in favorable contexts and conditions, so environmental conditions and form of urban areas can significantly affect it. ANOVA results also indicated high correlation between walking level of citizens and land use, density and accessibility factors among the physical-spatial factors of the city (second hypothesis). Accordingly, urban physical-spatial features that represent mixed use, physical density and more pedestrian roads will be more favorable because in this case the rate of recreational walking will increase significantly.
