Rostam Saberifar
Abstract
Older adults’ quality of life is closely associated with the characteristics of the urban environment, and the design of inclusive and supportive urban spaces—particularly in Iranian metropolises—constitutes a major challenge for urban planning. This study conducts a spatial-analytical ...
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Older adults’ quality of life is closely associated with the characteristics of the urban environment, and the design of inclusive and supportive urban spaces—particularly in Iranian metropolises—constitutes a major challenge for urban planning. This study conducts a spatial-analytical evaluation of age-friendly cities using a geospatial approach, through a comparative analysis of Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Shiraz. Adopting a mixed-method, data-driven framework, the research integrates older adults’ lived experiences with geospatial analysis. Data were collected through KoBo Toolbox and GPS-based location tracking, and subsequently operationalized using the AF_Score as a perceptual-quantitative index to enable spatial analysis and the identification of “places,” “anti-places,” and overlapping zones. The findings reveal that the quality of age-friendliness is spatially uneven across the four cities. Shiraz demonstrates the highest proportion of positive clusters and spatial continuity; Tehran exhibits a relatively coherent pattern; Mashhad is characterized by concentrated anti-place clusters; and Isfahan appears to be in a transitional state. A strong correlation (r = 0.82) between older adults’ perceptions and spatial zoning confirms that lived experience reflects the actual spatial organization of the city. Further analysis of infrastructural and social participation domains indicates that public spaces and pedestrian-oriented pathways are key components in fostering active aging and sustained urban presence. The innovation of this research operates at three levels: (1) theoretically linking the age-friendly city framework with spatial justice and lived experience; (2) employing participatory data from older adults combined with hotspot analysis to simultaneously assess intensity, extent, and spatial significance; and (3) proposing an operational spatial framework for identifying and prioritizing evidence-based urban interventions. The results suggest that large-scale indicator-based approaches fail to capture micro-spatial variations and the heterogeneity of aging experiences. Therefore, urban decision-making should be grounded in fine-grained, participatory geospatial analysis. This study provides a practical guide for policymakers and urban planners to enhance older adults’ quality of life and to foster more inclusive and age-friendly urban environments.
Ayuob Badragh Nejad; Ebrahim Moammeri
Abstract
Rapid urban transformations, particularly population growth and the physical–spatial expansion of cities, have often not been accompanied by the balanced development of urban services and facilities. This imbalance, as one of the underlying structural causes, has led to fragmentation in the distribution ...
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Rapid urban transformations, particularly population growth and the physical–spatial expansion of cities, have often not been accompanied by the balanced development of urban services and facilities. This imbalance, as one of the underlying structural causes, has led to fragmentation in the distribution system of service centers across urban areas, resulting in spatial inequality and structural imbalance in the distribution of urban services. In Gorgan city, unbalanced urban growth and increasing migration—especially the concentration of development in the climatically favorable southern areas—have highlighted the necessity of reassessing urban land-use distribution through the lens of spatial justice. The present study is applied in purpose and descriptive–analytical in nature and methodology. Spatial analysis and visualization tools available in ArcGIS 10.4 were used to evaluate the data. The required information was collected through documentary and library-based methods, including land-use maps from the comprehensive and detailed urban plans of Gorgan, statistical block data from the 2016 census, and the geographic locations of educational centers. After identifying the locations of educational facilities, the spatial distribution pattern of these centers was analyzed using spatial statistical techniques, including the Nearest Neighbor Index, multi-distance cluster analysis, and Moran’s I statistic. The spatial justice approach, emphasizing the equitable distribution of services, infrastructure, and opportunities among urban areas, plays a critical role in achieving spatial balance and sustainable development. The novelty of this research lies in applying practical spatial indicators for the classification and evaluation of urban land uses. The results of the Nearest Neighbor Analysis revealed that educational services in Gorgan exhibit a clustered spatial distribution pattern with a coefficient of 0.645. This pattern was statistically significant (p-value < 0.01), indicating the concentration of services in certain areas and insufficient access in others. Furthermore, the Global Moran’s I coefficient (0.096) and a Z-score of 3.64, with a 99% confidence level, confirmed the clustered distribution of educational services across Gorgan’s neighborhoods. This finding indicates the emergence of advantaged and disadvantaged areas (hot spots and cold spots) in terms of access to educational facilities. The findings demonstrate a considerable degree of spatial inequality in access to educational services in Gorgan City. The clustered distribution pattern highlights the gap between well-served and underserved areas and underscores the need to revise urban service distribution policies based on a spatial justice approach. Overall, the results indicate that educational indicators and land uses in Gorgan are distributed unevenly and in clustered forms, emphasizing the necessity for urban managers and planners to promote a more balanced spatial distribution of educational facilities.
ahmad pourahmad; seyed abbas rajaei; seyed mahmoud haji mirrahimi
Abstract
With the rapid growth of urbanization and the increasing number of private vehicles, the provision of parking has become a major challenge in metropolitan areas. As a key component of the urban transportation system, parking plays a crucial role in reducing on-street parking, improving traffic flow, ...
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With the rapid growth of urbanization and the increasing number of private vehicles, the provision of parking has become a major challenge in metropolitan areas. As a key component of the urban transportation system, parking plays a crucial role in reducing on-street parking, improving traffic flow, and enhancing citizens’ quality of life. The lack of adequate parking provision in urban areas—particularly in dense urban fabrics—leads to a range of social, economic, environmental, and physical consequences, including reduced safety, increased disorder and inconvenience, limited pedestrian and cycling accessibility, and a decline in the visual quality of the urban environment. Moreover, insufficient parking provision in buildings can contribute to uneven physical development across urban areas. This study was conducted in the Qom metropolitan area and adopts a quantitative research approach. Data on building violations related to parking deficiencies were collected for the period 2012–2024 and analyzed using ArcGIS software. Spatial analysis techniques, including Kernel Density Estimation and Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation index, were applied to examine the spatial patterns of violations. The findings indicate that Districts 3, 5, and 6 of Qom exhibit the highest levels of parking deficiency violations. Furthermore, the overlay analysis of violation data with population density and street width reveals that violation hotspots are primarily concentrated in narrow streets and densely built areas, particularly in District 6. This pattern reflects significant physical pressure and the emergence of uneven urban development. Accordingly, urban management authorities should implement stricter monitoring and enforcement measures to prevent parking deficiency violations in properties located along narrow streets and within dense urban fabrics. Additionally, revenues and penalties collected from such violations can be allocated to the development of public parking facilities and public spaces, such as neighborhood parks, to mitigate the adverse social, economic, and environmental impacts associated with this issue.
Mojtaba Esmaeili Vardanjani; Nafiseh Marsousi; Reza Mokhtari Malekabadi; Esmaeil Aliakbari
Abstract
The present study applies quantitative-survey method and secondary data to evaluate and spatial analysis of urban physical sustainability in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. First, 22 objective indicators of physical sustainability were selected using CVI and CVR methods. Then, the Principal Component ...
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The present study applies quantitative-survey method and secondary data to evaluate and spatial analysis of urban physical sustainability in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. First, 22 objective indicators of physical sustainability were selected using CVI and CVR methods. Then, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method was applied to evaluate the physical sustainability of the cities. Also, for spatial analysis of the distribution pattern of urban physical sustainability in the province, spatial autocorrelation (Morans I) and inverse distance weighting interpolation (IDW) method were used. Based on PCA method, findings indicated that four principal components (namely; urban landuse, worn textures, intra-urban accesses, infrastructures and communication technologies) with a cumulative variance of 64.548% explained the correlation between research variables to measure and evaluate urban physical sustainability in the province. Based on spatial pattern analysis method, results showed that there is a cluster pattern of sustainability around the whole province as well as a rather concentration of physical sustainability in cities closer to Shahrekord (the province center).
Mostafa Amirfakhriyan; Fatemeh Zaaferani
Abstract
The present study, using spatial analysis models and in the framework of the "spatial diffusion" approach, has evaluated the position of the central core of Torqabeh city from the perspective of population groups. This evaluation includes two periods: 1- Slow growth (before 2006) and 2- Rapid growth ...
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The present study, using spatial analysis models and in the framework of the "spatial diffusion" approach, has evaluated the position of the central core of Torqabeh city from the perspective of population groups. This evaluation includes two periods: 1- Slow growth (before 2006) and 2- Rapid growth (after 2006). Research variables include population, number of women, elderly, youth, employed, unemployed and illiterate. The scale of analysis comprises 1476 urban blocks and three periods of 1996, 2006 and 2016. For this purpose, a spatial database including the population characteristics of Torqabeh city and its central core was created and then data were analyzed using spatial statistical tools and techniques such as Getis-Ord Gi and Grouping Analysis. The results of this evaluation showed that before 2006, the central core was the origin of all population groups and was different from other urban areas. But after 2006, population groups with the dominant pattern of "continuous spatial diffusion" move out from the central core and settle around it. Spatial analysis models show that as a result of these changes, the central core of Torqabeh does not lose its position compared to other urban areas. Rather, this process causes some areas to become more similar to the central nucleus and the population characteristics of the central nucleus to be multiplied in other regions. The spread of population groups around the central nucleus and its adjacent areas, on the one hand, indicates the desire of individuals to be present in this area and show spatial cohesion, and on the other hand indicates the existence of a distinct pattern of central nucleus changes in physical growth which is different from common patterns in large cities.
Mohamad Hasan Yazdani; Sahar Hassanpour; Reza Hashemi Masoomabad
Abstract
In housing category, preparation of plans and programs for social and physical dimensions of housing can prevent gaps and inequalities of resident’s well-being and the city’s unplanned growth. Accordingly, the aims of the present study are: the spatial analysis of social and physical dimensions ...
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In housing category, preparation of plans and programs for social and physical dimensions of housing can prevent gaps and inequalities of resident’s well-being and the city’s unplanned growth. Accordingly, the aims of the present study are: the spatial analysis of social and physical dimensions of housing, showing the imbalance proportion of supply and demand for housing, and showing the relationship of housing shortage with horizontal expansion of Ahwaz city. Based on type the present study is an "applied-developmental" and based on method it is a "descriptive-analytical" research. Required data was collected using a library-documentary method. A total number of 20 social and physical indicators were applied for leveling the regions of Ahwaz city. Data analysis was done based on several methods such as; Superiority and Inferiority Ranking (SIR), Holdren, Shannon's Entropy, Pearson Correlation Coefficients, and Visual PROMETHEE software. Findings of the present study indicated that regions 2, 3, 4 and 8 are in a favorable situation in terms of social and physical indicators, whereas, regions 1, 6 and 7 possess a different social and physical situation. It shows an imbalance distribution of affordable housing across the city of Ahwaz. The Pearson correlation coefficient with a sig of two-sided 0.501 confirmed the imbalance supply and demand of housing in Ahwaz. Also, the results of Holdren and Shannon’s entropy methods represented an unplanned expansion of residential areas during 2006 to 2011, but such development was not coincident with housing demand and has taken place in regions where housing shortages have not been severe. This can be considered as an indicator of unsustainable growth of Ahvaz city in the housing sector.
Seyyed Mahdi Mousakazemi; Zeynab Farraji Chanzab
Abstract
Urban green space is one of the land uses that its distribution across the city is crucially important. Ardabil can be considered as a city with an inappropriate distribution of green space. The allocated green space per capita in Ardabil is 7.3 square meters. This figure is quite far from the indices ...
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Urban green space is one of the land uses that its distribution across the city is crucially important. Ardabil can be considered as a city with an inappropriate distribution of green space. The allocated green space per capita in Ardabil is 7.3 square meters. This figure is quite far from the indices determined by the United Nations Environment Organization which considers 20 to 25 square meters for each person. The present study was aimed at analyzing 44 neighborhoods of Ardabil city based on 11 selected indicators of green space availability set by experts. Based on type, the present study is an applied research with a descriptive-analytical method. The required data was obtained from the parks and green space organization of Ardabil in 2015 as well as through a field study. Then, in order to rank all 44 neighborhoods of Ardabil city according to their existing green spaces we have applied the Copeland model to integrate several multi-criteria decision-making models including TOPSIS, VIKOR, ELECTERE, and SAW. As a result, all neighborhoods of Ardabil were grouped into four categories namely: enjoyed, semi-enjoyed, deprived, and very deprived. As seven neighborhoods of the city lacked any kinds of green space, and most of the other neighborhoods fall in the deprived category, it can be said that the distribution of urban green space in Ardabil is an unbalanced distribution.
Ahmad Bokharaei; Nader Sanati Sharghi; ShahBakhti Rostami; MohammadHasan Sharbatiyan
Abstract
Based on the definition of social happiness advocated by veenhoven, it can be posited that he considers happiness as the type of behavior that leads to desirable quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to define and analyze social happiness at urban areas. First of all, it should be noted that ...
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Based on the definition of social happiness advocated by veenhoven, it can be posited that he considers happiness as the type of behavior that leads to desirable quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to define and analyze social happiness at urban areas. First of all, it should be noted that one who drives happiness by spreading joy through energetic behaviors and expressions, charm, humors and passions in friendly and intimate circles is considered as belonging to the warm-type happiness promotion category. Further, one who conveys a good sense to others belongs to the cold-type happiness promotion category. After interviewing the happiness promoters in this study, we came across people who were the opposite of the former group. We labeled them as happiness reception, who absorbed joy and happiness in the intimate circles. Based on this classification, it should be stated that as far as social vitality in cities is concerned, the social happiness variable and its components play a significant role in the life of individuals and urban planning. Based on this process, in the present paper a mixed research methods was used. The first step involved a qualitative study (collective case study). The second step was a quantitative analysis (survey) and the last step was the point interpolation. Based on these three steps, a random and spatial-regional based sampling was conducted. The research area was the city of Mashhad and its districts during the second half of 2018. The data collection instrument was a semi-structured interview, an interview-based questionnaire, and a spatial distribution mapping of the findings on the urban areas. The results showed that the social vitality of citizens was at the average level. Meanwhile, districts (1-2-4-5) were lower than average; district 9 was at the average level and districts (3-6-7-8-10-11-12 and Samen area) were higher than average. In terms of the social happiness, districts 10-11-12 had the highest and districts 1-4-5 had the lowest social vitality. In the urban areas of Mashhad, districts 10 and 5 had the highest and lowest social vitality among the 13 urban districts of the city, respectively.
Alireza Mohammadi; Sepideh Noori; Elahe Pishgar
Abstract
The aim of the present study is to analyze the spatial distribution and to show the spatial patterns of advanced producer services (APS) in Ardabil; one of the middle-sized cities in Iran. Sample of the study comprises 2100 activity units in four groups of advanced services, including banking and financial ...
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The aim of the present study is to analyze the spatial distribution and to show the spatial patterns of advanced producer services (APS) in Ardabil; one of the middle-sized cities in Iran. Sample of the study comprises 2100 activity units in four groups of advanced services, including banking and financial services, healthcare and remedial, real estate, and insurance services. Documentary and field methods are applied for collecting and processing the data. Spatial statistical techniques such as Kernel Density, Average Nearest Neighbor, the local Moran statistics, Cluster and Outlier spatial analysis, Hot Spots and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) methods have been used in GIS environment for data analysis, density estimation, distribution pattern analysis and conceptualization of spatial relationships. The results show that, insurance and real estate consulting services are enjoying the highest levels of coverage around the city. The highest densities of ASPs belong to center and south parts of the city. The spatial pattern of the advanced services is spread in type. Spatial pattern and spatial distribution of insurance services and real estate consulting are dispersed around the city, but the spatial pattern of banking, health and remedial services are clustered. The gravity or central point of advanced services locates at the geographical center of the city and the movement path of the advanced services follows a north-south route. There is a significant relationship between population density and some kinds of advanced services. Finally, some recommendations are presented based on the findings of the study.
Pari Shokri Firoozjah
Volume 4, Issue 2 , September 2017, , Pages 27-44
Abstract
Today, natural disasters and damages caused by these accidents in different parts of the world have made making cities safer to become a long-term and achievable challenge so that urban communities are looking for conditions to reduce the damage so they can get to pre-crisis situation as soon as possible. ...
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Today, natural disasters and damages caused by these accidents in different parts of the world have made making cities safer to become a long-term and achievable challenge so that urban communities are looking for conditions to reduce the damage so they can get to pre-crisis situation as soon as possible. Meanwhile, viability is an important way to strengthen communities and cities by using their capacities. In this regard, the present study uses a descriptive-analytic method to investigate the viability of Babol area against environmental hazards that’s questionnaire was arranged with four dimensions, 16 indicators and 31 sub-indicators and total of 383 questionnaires were distributed randomly among the statistical population of the study, based on the Cochran model. To investigate the research issues and data analysis has been used from the multi-variable decision-making model "VIKOR" and the standard weights of each of the indicators have been calculated using Chanol Entropy method. The results of the research data were analyzed using SPSS, GIS and Excel software it is shown that among different dimensions of urban vibration in 12 areas of Babol, physical dimensions (with a mean of 3.54) and then social (with an average of 3.14) are more appropriate but in general, about 50% of the studied areas in Babol have low glare and irregularity and only 25% of the regions are quite viable in terms of indicators.
