نشریه مطالعات عمران شهری
پیاپی 6 (پاییز 1397)

Ergonomics or the engineering of human factors is an interdisciplinary science whose objective is to increase the productivity, health, safety, and wellbeing of human beings in their environment. This science tries to match the environment to the needs of human beings instead of matching human beings with their environment. Ergonomics is an issue which must be considered in the modern design of neighborhoods and cities. Accordingly, the current study uses a descriptive analytical method to investigate and assess the satisfaction level of citizens with the status of urban ergonomics of Sa’di Neighborhood in Ilam City. The study uses library studies, observations, and field studies using questionnaires and observations to gather the required data. The questionnaire used in this study has been developed by the researcher and its validity has been confirmed by university professors and other experts in this field. The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient, which was equal to 0.934, indicating the acceptable reliability of the questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics (Hall Yen and Ten indicators, and single-sample T-test) in SPSS software application. The results of the study indicate that from the point of view of the citizens, the status of the ergonomics of Sa’di neighborhood in Ilam City is not satisfactory. The inhabitants are not satisfied with the safety status and the ergonomics of this neighborhood, the health of the environment, the ergonomics of urban furniture, and the ergonomics of public status in Sa’di neighborhood. In other words, when designing the space and environment of Sa’di neighborhood in Ilam City, urban ergonomics or human factors have not been considered.

Ameri neighborhood of Ahvaz is one of the old Ahvaz textures and it is the primary nucleus of the city, with a highly dense and irregular texture suffering from problems such as narrow roads, lack of urban infrastructure and so on. In this study, the objective is to investigate the factors that affect the urban environment's rehabilitation with an emphasis on improving the quality of urban spaces. The research method is descriptive-analytical and in terms of its objectives, the study is a practical one. Data collection is done by field study and a questionnaire which is based on the physical, social, economic, and activity factors. The statistical population of the study includes all the residents in Ameri neighborhood. The sample size is calculated using Cochran's formula, giving a size of 100 participants, selected using cluster sampling in various parts of Ameri Neighborhood. The collected data have been analyzed using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The results of the study show that criteria such as painting the urban space, with a weight of 0.594; separation of the sidewalk, with a weight of 0.434; tradeoff in space with a weight of 0.434; and access to the space by all the age groups, with a weight of 375, respectively, have the most significant role in recreating urban worn-out areas of Ameri Neighborhood with an emphasize on the approach to improve the quality of urban spaces. Thus, strategies and suggestions such as reducing the density on the roads on Nahjul-Balaghah highway, introducing climate-friendly furniture, allocation of facilities to promote the growth of in-city enterprises and so on are presented.

Urban managers have always tried to attract public participation in order to realize their goals with regards to urban development and urban management. The participation of citizens in urban affairs is one of the important principles of sustainability and democracy in urban environments. Considering the importance of participating in the urban development and management of a city, the main objective of the current study is to evaluate and investigate the methods for citizenship participation in the urban development of Ilam City using a descriptive-correlative methodology. The statistical population of the study includes all the residents of Ilam City. Based on Cochran’s Formula, a sample of 200 heads of households in four zones of Ilam City were selected using random cluster sampling and they were asked to complete the questionnaire of the study. The questionnaire used here was developed by the researcher; its validity was confirmed by experts in this field and its reliability, based on Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient, was 0.83, which is acceptable. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software application. The results of the study show that the level of participation shown by citizens of Ilam City in urban affairs was lower than the average threshold, while its level varies from one area of the city to the other. Moreover, financial participation with a value of 2.514 was ranked as the top participation method was instrumental participation with a value of 2.181 was ranked last. Furthermore, there was a positive and significant relationship between various types of participation (financial, political, physical, instrumental, subjective, and spiritual) and the urban development of Ilam City. Also, financial, political, physical, subjective and spiritual participation in urban development of Ilam City explained 51 percent of the variance in urban development of Ilam City.

Nowadays, free trade zones can serve countries as opportunities and instruments with a high capability to play an economic role or to create various future perspectives. Cities created and expanded under the influence of free trade zones, will face an increase in the population, which will significantly promote economic activity and investment. Ultimately, the physical organization and structure of the cities will go through significant changes. The main objective of the current study is to evaluate and analyze the physical impacts of free trade zones on the development and growth of Chabahar and Tianjin Cities as well as the consequences and outcomes of this development. The study utilizes a descriptive analytical methodology. The required data were collected using public documents, statistical reports, and satellite images. Therefore, in order to determine the extent of the expansion of these cities, the Landsat satellite images in 1991, 2001, and 2004 for Chabahar City and in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010 for Tianjin City were processed in Envi 4.8 software application. The general results of the study show that the physical development of these cities has been influenced by the activities in the free trade zones, and with the growth of economic activities, the trend of physical expansion has accelerated. For Chabahar City, the analysis of satellite images shows that the limits of the city have increased from 991 hectares in 2001 to 1646 hectares in 2014. However, this increase has not been consistent and it has been due to the migration of rural residents to the city, living in informal residences. Moreover, the limits of Tianjin City have experiences a significant growth after the creation of the free trade zone, in a way that the city expanded from 124,000 square kilometers in 2005 to 200,000 square kilometers in 2010. In fact, the models of development scale cycle in Tianjin not only caused the expansion and development of human residences and service centers, but it also caused industrial and infrastructure development. Indeed, development cycle models have prevented the spiral development of urban lands.

In recent years, new approaches for urban development and urban planning around the world have focused on human-based pedestrian-based approaches and attitudes instead of technocratic and machine-based models. One of these approaches is New Urbanism, which is especially close to pedestrian- based approaches in terms of different aspects and principles; and these two have a lot of common criteria and indicators. The current study aims to evaluate the walkability of Kianpars Neighborhood in Ahvaz using a new urbanism approach. By drawing on previous research, 32 walkability indicators extracted from the new urbanism approach have been analyzed and evaluated using the survey methodology. The results of the study show that among the 32 selected indicators, Kianpars Neighborhood has an acceptable level for only 5 indicators related to walkability. For the remaining indicators, this neighborhood lacks the necessary conditions for walkability and in fact, the machine-based pattern reigns supreme in this neighborhood. Ultimately, a number of strategies for improving the walkability of this neighborhood and shifting its machine-based state towards a pedestrian-based paradigm have been presented.

The proper method of implementing sustainable urban development is one of the most important challenges facing urban policy makers and planners, and based on the fact that the demand for public services in cities is increasing while the city halls are suffering from various financial limitations, this challenge is getting more serious by the day. Accordingly, acquiring a sustainable model for financial resources in order to fund the current costs as well as the civil costs of the city is one of the most important factors in urban sustainability since it will provide the possibility of investing in the organization and the structure of the developmental infrastructure of the city. This study is a descriptive analytical study which uses the SWOT model, trying to change weaknesses into strengths and threats into opportunities. In the current study, after evaluating weaknesses and threats present in the urban structure, three models for mitigating these challenges are proposed in order to manage the sustainable development of Safiabad City in Northern Khorasan Province of Iran. The first model makes the revenue structure and urban management of Safiabad City sustainable in mid-term and long-term by focusing on “controlling, reducing, and gradual elimination of unsustainable and unhealthy revenue sources” and “management, improvement, and promotion of sustainable sources”. On the other hand, the second model focuses on presenting new sustainable revenue sources in order to increase the potential of the available sources in the urban structure.

During the recent decades, the issues and problems of cities have become more complex, and the integrated urban management requires a transformation and a new attitude beyond the attitude and performance of the previous traditional management system. The current study has been carried out in order to evaluate the factors influencing the integrated urban management in Ahvaz City using a descriptive analytical methodology. In terms of objectives, the study is an applied one, and the required data have been collected using library sources and authentic electronic references. The statistical population of the study includes all the experts of urban and regional planning, among whom 383 participants have been selected based on Cochran’s Formula. The collected data have been analyzed using the SWOT model. The results of the study show that the role of economic policies and strategies is reported as high (28.3 percent), as relatively high (28.3 percent), as somewhat high (20 percent), and as relatively low (23.3 percent). Moreover, the role of physical-environmental policies and strategies is reported as high (28.3 percent), as relatively high (36.7 percent), as somewhat high (28.3 percent), and as relatively low (6.7 percent). Furthermore, the role of organizational, administrative, and legal policies and strategies is reported as high (16.7 percent), as relatively high (40 percent), as somewhat high (23.3 percent), and as relatively low (20 percent). Finally, it can be said that the role of the policies and strategies for integrated urban management of Ahvaz City for all the dimensions is reported as high (28.3 percent), as relatively high (25 percent), as somewhat high (31.7 percent), and as relatively low (15 percent). Therefore, a number of recommendations and suggestions have been presented for making use of and improving the effectiveness of integrated urban management for Ahvaz City.

Regional Planning and Development aimed at reducing inequalities is an important issue in developing countries. A prerequisite for regional planning is identifying the position of the regions relative to each other in terms of development. Reducing disparities in the enjoyment of resources and achievements and community facilities is considered one of the most important criteria for sustainable development. In light of these issues, the main objective of this study is to analyze the spatial disparities in regional development with an emphasis on the cities in Isfahan Province. The descriptive analytical methodology is used in this study and the required data are collected using library study and various documents. For the analysis of spatial disparities of regional development in the province, the multi-criteria decision-making models, including SAW (Simple Additive Weighted) and VIKOR (Vlse Kriterijumsk Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje), are used. In order to analyze the obtained data, Excel software application is utilized, while drawing the necessary maps, ARC GIS software application is used. The combined results of both models show regional imbalance and inequality in Isfahan Province. In fact, the cities of Mobarakeh, Natanz, Nain, Ardestān, Khansar, and Kashan have a very high level of facilities; cities of Khoor and Biabanak, Shahin Shahr, Shahr-e-Reza, Golpayegan, Fereydunshahr, and Najafabad have a high level of facilities; cities of Dehaghan, Isfahan, Aran va Bidgol, Semirom, Friedan and Tyran and Krone have a relatively high level of facilities; and finally, cities of Chadegan, Borkhar, Khomeini Shahr, Lenjan and Fellavarjan are among the deprived cities of Isfahan Province.