Research Paper
Sirous Ghanbari
Abstract
Sustainable physical and social development of rural housing, as one of the main pillars of the formation and maintenance of the life of local communities, has always been one of the main concerns of regional development policymakers. In the meantime, Sistan Region, due to its unique climatic, social ...
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Sustainable physical and social development of rural housing, as one of the main pillars of the formation and maintenance of the life of local communities, has always been one of the main concerns of regional development policymakers. In the meantime, Sistan Region, due to its unique climatic, social and economic characteristics, is a clear example of regions where the housing development process is influenced by contradictory and complex forces. This research has been conducted with the main aim of analyzing and measuring endogenous and exogenous factors affecting the physical and social development process of rural housing in this region in order to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms affecting the quality of rural life and, ultimately, to provide strategies for optimizing development interventions. The present research is applied in terms of its purpose and has been conducted using a mixed method (qualitative-quantitative) and a descriptive-analytical approach. The statistical population was defined in two groups: experts (20 people with purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was reached) and local residents (170 people with accessible sampling). Using the grounded theory method, endogenous factors (including indigenous knowledge adapted to the climate, cultural-family patterns, local livelihood and economic system, and social capital) and exogenous factors (including macro policies, natural hazards and climate change, economic developments, the influence of cultural-physical patterns, and foreign infrastructure) were identified. Based on the results of the one-sample t-test from the perspective of local communities, natural hazards and climate change were identified as the most influential factor on housing development with the highest mean (3.77), which indicates the direct perception of residents of environmental threats. After that, economic factors including local livelihood system (3.60) and macroeconomic developments (3.61) were emphasized as the main financial obstacles in housing investment and maintenance.
Research Paper
Issa Ebrahimzadeh; Zahra Salari; Masoumeh Kakha
Abstract
In arid and desert cities, the lack of efficient green belts, water resources, restrictive topography, and rural migration to urban spaces, along with pressure on infrastructure, have significant environmental, social, and economic consequences. These issues lead to a decrease in ecological function, ...
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In arid and desert cities, the lack of efficient green belts, water resources, restrictive topography, and rural migration to urban spaces, along with pressure on infrastructure, have significant environmental, social, and economic consequences. These issues lead to a decrease in ecological function, reduced urban resilience, and exacerbated inequalities in access to green spaces. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the green belt in controlling urban sprawl and guiding sustainable urban development within the southwestern axis of Zahedan. And through this, it simultaneously improves environmental sustainability, land use and social welfare. The method used in this research is descriptive-analytical. For this purpose, information was first collected through library resources, articles and internet resources, and in order to better understand the study area, field observations were carried out. In the next step, using an expert questionnaire and the Delphi method, expert opinions were collected and analyzed to explain and prioritize the solutions and their coordination coefficients using SPSS software. After the Delphi method was implemented in three consecutive rounds with the participation of academic and administrative experts, the results of the analysis of the findings showed that the Kendall coordination coefficient of consensus among members increased significantly from the first to the third round and has increased from 0.234 to 0.724. The research findings show that the green belt of the southwestern axis of Zahedan can reduce air pollution and dust, but it faces the main challenges of lack of water resources, the need for smart water management, and the selection of species adapted to the dry climate. Although it is possible with a sustainable development approach and the use of modern technologies and drought-resistant plants such as Xeriscape and can help improve air quality, it has not been able to fully control urban growth and development and requires comprehensive long-term policies and solutions. This plan can serve as part of a comprehensive urban management strategy to reduce air and dust pollution while preserving the privacy of the city and its suburbs, but its success requires interagency cooperation, transparent laws, and public participation
Research Paper
Aliakbar Anabestani; Sara Fazli; Bijan Rahmani
Abstract
This study aims to identify, structurally analyze, and prioritize the factors influencing the formation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart village approach in Iran. The primary problem addressed is the absence of an integrated framework to elucidate the interrelationships among technological, ...
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This study aims to identify, structurally analyze, and prioritize the factors influencing the formation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart village approach in Iran. The primary problem addressed is the absence of an integrated framework to elucidate the interrelationships among technological, economic, social, and managerial components, and to assess their impact within the context of the country's rural areas. This research is applied in terms of objective and utilizes a descriptive-analytical methodology. Data were collected through documentary studies and by soliciting opinions from experts in the field of rural planning ($n=30$). The Delphi method was employed to extract key components. Subsequently, the DEMATEL technique was utilized to analyze causal relationships and determine the degrees of influence and dependence, while the Analytic Network Process (ANP) was used for final weighting and prioritization. The DEMATEL results indicated that Smart Agriculture, Smart Energy, and Smart Economy, with impact values of 1.001, 0.137, and 0.087 respectively, play a driving role in the relationship network and are categorized as causal factors. However, the limit super matrix results in the ANP analysis reveal that Smart Environment achieved the highest final weight (0.27032), followed by Smart Agriculture (0.19688) and Smart Health (0.16148). At the sub-criteria level, technologies related to environmental monitoring, smart resource management, and digital health garnered the highest priority. The findings suggest that realizing an IoT-based smart village requires strengthening environmental and technological infrastructures, focusing on smart agriculture and smart health, and establishing institutional coordination at the local level.
Research Paper
Yadolah Hossini; Hojjat Sheikhi
Abstract
In most Iranian cities, the existence of issues such as: ethnic segregation, neighborhood deterioration and decline, increased traffic, social and economic anomalies, inequality in access to opportunities and resources, and many other issues have exacerbated the identity crisis in cities and have confronted ...
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In most Iranian cities, the existence of issues such as: ethnic segregation, neighborhood deterioration and decline, increased traffic, social and economic anomalies, inequality in access to opportunities and resources, and many other issues have exacerbated the identity crisis in cities and have confronted urban social life with serious challenges. Because environmental quality is directly related to people's thoughts and feelings about environmental, social, and economic conditions, as well as the level of individual satisfaction. Therefore, it is necessary to have perspectives that can study the phenomenon of the decline of urban social life and the issues and problems related to it in a comprehensive and comprehensive manner. One of these approaches to solving problems in urban spaces is the category of "vitality". For this purpose, the present study was used to analyze the role of the quality of urban spaces in Ilam in promoting vitality. This research is applied in terms of purpose, descriptive-analytical in nature and method. SPSS and structural equation technique in Smart PLS software were used to analyze data and information. The results showed that in the urban furniture index, beauty in the form and pattern of furniture design (with a coefficient of 0.970), in the index related to residential and commercial buildings, building facades in accordance with local culture (with a coefficient of 0.884), and in the index related to roads and sidewalks, road lighting factors (with a coefficient of 0.777) were selected as the most effective factors in the vitality of urban spaces in Ilam.
Research Paper
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.
Research Paper
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.
Research Paper
Hamidreza Lashkari; Reyhaneh Soltani Moghaddas; Hossein Rahimi
Abstract
Local policymaking, as one of the fundamental pillars of modern governance and sustainable development, focuses on designing and implementing public programs within a specific geographical area while emphasizing the unique needs, priorities, and capacities of that region. At the same time, rural tourism ...
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Local policymaking, as one of the fundamental pillars of modern governance and sustainable development, focuses on designing and implementing public programs within a specific geographical area while emphasizing the unique needs, priorities, and capacities of that region. At the same time, rural tourism is considered a key strategy for achieving sustainable development, generating employment, reducing poverty, controlling excessive migration, and revitalizing the cultural and environmental dimensions of rural areas. In this regard, tourism can serve as a major economic driving force for local communities. Consequently, local policymaking plays a decisive role in guiding, facilitating, and ensuring the sustainability of rural tourism business development. The present study aims to investigate the role of local policymaking in the development of tourism businesses in the coastal villages of Chabahar Township. In terms of purpose, the research is applied, and methodologically, it adopts a descriptive–analytical approach based on documentary, library-based, and field studies. The statistical population includes academic experts, executive managers, and residents of the coastal villages of Chabahar Township. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and ArcGIS software, along with SWARA and EDAS models, as well as one-sample t-tests, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analysis. The findings indicate that the status of local policymaking across all dimensions—including economic, social, historical–cultural, managerial–institutional, spatial–physical, and environmental dimensions—is unfavorable and significantly below the standard level. In terms of prioritization, institutional–managerial indicators at the micro level and national-level indicators at the macro scale received the highest weights and importance, whereas environmental indicators ranked lowest. Furthermore, the results of the EDAS model revealed that the villages of Ramin and Tis are in relatively better condition regarding tourism development compared to Pasabandar and Beris villages. The findings clearly demonstrate the existence of structural weaknesses and the absence of an integrated framework for local tourism development policymaking in the study area. Weak inter-organizational coordination, inefficient local institutions, and insufficient financial resources are identified as the main barriers to achieving sustainable tourism development in these coastal villages.
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