The Explanation of an Interpretive Structural Model for the Application of Biophilic Urban Planning in Hot and Arid Climates

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student, Urban Planning, Yazd University, Yazd.

2 Master of Urban Planning, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran.

3 Master of Regional Planning, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran.

4 Associate Professor of Urban Planning, Yazd University, Yazd.

Abstract
Cities grapple with numerous challenges, including climate change, exacerbated by the urban heat island effect and environmental pollution, public health crises, and other urban dilemmas, underscoring the imperative for sustainable approaches. As a rapidly evolving sustainability strategy, the biophilic approach prioritizes human well-being while safeguarding natural and biological resources. This approach encompasses green infrastructure, governance, urban design, behaviors, and lifestyles. Conversely, despite its historical status as a sustainable city adapted to a hot and arid climate, Yazd has witnessed its newer urban developments deviate from this paradigm, resulting in challenges related to climatic comfort and energy consumption. Consequently, the biophilic approach could address Yazd's urban challenges. This research aims to align biophilic urbanism indicators with urban planning principles in hot and arid climates, culminating in developing an Interpretive Structural Model (ISM) to facilitate its implementation in Yazd. The study initially extracts biophilic, hot, and arid climate urbanism indicators through documentary research. Subsequently, these indicators are synthesized to derive a final set of biophilic urbanism indicators tailored for hot and arid climates. Furthermore, the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) method is employed, with an initial matrix completed by 15 experts, to determine the relationships between dimensions and indicators. The findings reveal that biophilic governance and biophilic behaviors and lifestyles exert the most significant influence on other indicators, serving as foundational elements across various dimensions. A more pronounced impact can be achieved by strategically modifying these dimensions to foster biophilic urbanism in Yazd.

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