In collaboration with Payame Noor University and Iranian Geography and Urban Planning Association

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

10.30473/psp.2026.77446.2801

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 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.

Keywords

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