Urban and Regional Development Planning
Hesam Hassanipour; Ali Khaksari Rafsanjani
Abstract
Public spaces have important role in city life, are so effective for cities for appropriate quality of life and economic, social and cultural development. Public space planning takes place in political, economic and socio-cultural context in planning traditions. The question is how planning traditions ...
Read More
Public spaces have important role in city life, are so effective for cities for appropriate quality of life and economic, social and cultural development. Public space planning takes place in political, economic and socio-cultural context in planning traditions. The question is how planning traditions affect public space planning? The relation between two concepts above is “public interest” that is common in all planning approaches and overlaps with the subject of public space directly. The research process starts with studying public space criterions (government role, public sphere, complexity, diversity, social goals and participation) and planning traditions, and compares planning traditions regarded to public space by theoretical analysis of intersectional matrix of planning features and public space criterions. The differences, limits and capabilities of planning traditions, make different approaches for reaching social goals and different response to diversity and dynamics of cities. That would be happened according to structural context of planning. The public space with multi-dimensional features includes social interactions and diverse interests and goals. It’s more compatible wth participatory planning approaches which are more focusing on social and non-physical aspects. The participatory approaches take more attention to diverse groups and interests as well as relational and participatory methods in planning processes. Urban planning in Iran needs to be changed to participatory approaches which take attention to diversity and urban dynamics in public space.
Urban and Regional Development Planning
Reyhaneh Ashtiyani; Mostafa Behzadfar; Seyed-Majid Mofidi-Shemirani
Abstract
Given the vital role of socio-cultural and psychological components in shaping sustainable neighborhoods, these dimensions have rarely been studied in a comprehensive and systematic manner. With the growing importance of improving the quality of life for children as the future generation, designing sustainable ...
Read More
Given the vital role of socio-cultural and psychological components in shaping sustainable neighborhoods, these dimensions have rarely been studied in a comprehensive and systematic manner. With the growing importance of improving the quality of life for children as the future generation, designing sustainable neighborhoods with a child-friendly approach has gained increasing attention. This study aims to identify and prioritize the socio-cultural and psychological components of sustainable child-friendly neighborhoods and to propose a practical framework in this field. Conducted using a qualitative, descriptive method and logical reasoning, the research first employed a systematic review of scientific literature and credible national and international sources to extract relevant components. These components were then prioritized using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on expert input from 20 specialists. Finally, through a comparative analysis, key components were identified at three scales: metropolitan, intermediate, and small cities. The findings indicate that the socio-cultural components include education, justice, interaction and participation, accessibility, well-being and quality of life, cohesion, identity and sense of belonging, responsibility, event-based activities, diversity, and safety and security. The psychological components include spatial and environmental perception, emotional and mental well-being, psycho-social interactions, psychological and social support, psychological resilience, cognitive stimulation and creative learning, sense of belonging and meaning, and personal and character development. These components contribute to enhancing children’s quality of life and support the development of safe environments for their growth. The proposed model serves as a strategic tool for policymakers, planners, and urban designers to integrate children's needs into sustainable development processes.
Urban and Regional Development Planning
Amanullah Baloch; Mehrzad Ebrahimi; Hashem Zare
Abstract
This study uses a mixed methodology (quantitative-qualitative) and panel data to examine the impact of the digital economy on green growth in the metropolitan areas of Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Karaj during the period 2019 to 2023. Purposive sampling was conducted based on access ...
Read More
This study uses a mixed methodology (quantitative-qualitative) and panel data to examine the impact of the digital economy on green growth in the metropolitan areas of Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Karaj during the period 2019 to 2023. Purposive sampling was conducted based on access to complete data and geographic-economic diversity. Data were collected from reliable sources including the Statistical Center of Iran, the Central Bank, and the Environmental Protection Organization. Data analysis was conducted using the Super-SBM model for adverse environmental outcomes, the spatial autoregressive model for spatial spillover effects, and panel data regression with fixed effects. The results show that the digital economy has an impact on green growth through a 30% reduction in resource mismatch and an increase in green technology innovations. Mashhad and Isfahan performed best in this regard with GGI indices of 1.15 and 1.08, respectively, while Tehran failed to reach its full potential due to the 25% share of polluting industries (GGI=0.92). Also, the development of the digital economy in Tehran has had a positive impact on the green growth of Karaj and Islamshahr. To optimally exploit the benefits of the digital economy, it is recommended to formulate green digital transformation programs, establish green innovation funds, and design regional governance frameworks. These results can be a guide for urban policymakers in Iran and developing countries and provide new directions for future research in the field of new technologies.
Urban and Regional Development Planning
Akbar Talebpour; mahnaz karami
Abstract
The quality of urban public spaces especially historical squares, has faced a crisis in recent decades, as many interventions have been purely physical and the social and cultural consequences of project implementation have been ignored, which has created problems for residents, businesses, and users ...
Read More
The quality of urban public spaces especially historical squares, has faced a crisis in recent decades, as many interventions have been purely physical and the social and cultural consequences of project implementation have been ignored, which has created problems for residents, businesses, and users of the space. This study aimed to assess the social and cultural impacts of the reorganization plan of Shahr-e Rey Square, as one of the historical and religious squares of Tehran. The study used a mixed quantitative-qualitative approach and data were collected through a questionnaire (270 respondents including residents, businesses, and users of the space), semi-structured interviews with 30 experts, and field observation. Data analysis was conducted based on the theories of social impact assessment of vankeli, sense of place and place belonging of Ralph and Tuan, social capital of Putnam, spatial justice of Soja, and public spaces and urban life of Jacobs and Gel. The findings showed that, in addition to improving physical and environmental conditions, the reorganization of the square had limited positive effects on the sense of belonging, social interactions, and cultural identity, but spatial inequality and some dissatisfaction of the business community were also identified as negative consequences that, in the medium term, could increase public dissatisfaction and disrupt the implemented reorganization plan. Considering these results, while emphasizing the importance of simultaneously paying attention to the social, cultural, and physical dimensions of urban regeneration projects, it is necessary to provide solutions to enhance the positive effects and reduce the negative consequences.
Urban and Regional Development Planning
Mohammad shali; Babak moharrampour
Abstract
Urban third places are social environments beyond home and workplace that play a significant role in enhancing social interaction, place identity, and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the sense of belonging to third places, using the Einali recreational area in ...
Read More
Urban third places are social environments beyond home and workplace that play a significant role in enhancing social interaction, place identity, and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the sense of belonging to third places, using the Einali recreational area in Tabriz as a case study. The research employed a descriptive-analytical method with a quantitative approach. Data were collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale from a random sample of 384 visitors, of which 355 valid responses were analyzed. Key variables included place attachment, participation in activities, and user loyalty. Instrument reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.928. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between the sense of belonging to urban third places and the research variables. Significant differences were also observed in component scores based on visitation patterns and education levels. Structural equation modeling showed that place attachment indirectly strengthens user loyalty through social bonding and participation in activities. The model explained a substantial portion of the variance in the dependent variables. The results underscore the importance of addressing identity, social, and behavioral dimensions simultaneously to foster a stronger sense of belonging to third places
Urban and Regional Development Planning
Farid Ganjeali; Iman Ghalandarian
Abstract
Understanding the human-environment interaction within the context of increasing urbanization is a primary challenge in urban studies. Aiming to delineate the intellectual structure and emerging trends in the interdisciplinary field of behavioral sciences and the built environment, this study utilizes ...
Read More
Understanding the human-environment interaction within the context of increasing urbanization is a primary challenge in urban studies. Aiming to delineate the intellectual structure and emerging trends in the interdisciplinary field of behavioral sciences and the built environment, this study utilizes a mixed-method approach of scientometric and content analysis. By analyzing bibliographic data from Scopus and Web of Science using VOSviewer and conducting a content analysis of 56 key articles, a comprehensive map of the scientific landscape was developed. The findings indicate a primary research focus on urban planning (33%) and landscape design (21%). Two main and complementary intellectual currents were identified: one focusing on the "psycho-social" dimensions of behavior, and another centered on the impact of "physical form and planning interventions," reflected in leading journals such as the Journal of Cleaner Production and Transportation Research Part A. The results signify a paradigm shift from objectivist to more pragmatic and integrated analyses. By identifying research gaps and hubs, this paper provides a guide for future studies aimed at enhancing the quality of urban spaces through more informed design interventions.
