فهرست مطالب

International Journal of Architectural Engineering & Urban Planning
Volume:34 Issue: 4, Oct 2024

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1403/07/10
  • تعداد عناوین: 8
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  • Narges Soltani*, Parvin Partovi, Daryoush Moradi Chadegani Page 1

    Preserving the Natural Environmental Cultural Heritage (NECH) and improving the urban Quality of Life (QOL) are crucial urban planning issues that play critical roles in cities. The modernization and expansion of cities due to population growth, lifestyle changes, and improved quality of life are inevitable movements in developing and developed countries. Although the new progression has brought many opportunities concerning socio-economic aspects, it has also caused some challenges for urban planning, particularly in conserving cultural heritage. It reaches a point where it is possible to visualize the link between heritage conservation and sustainability, which will enhance the development of future cities. The present study investigates how the NECH and QOL have evolved to be implemented in urban strategic planning to upgrade the NECH and QOL values. The research time scope covers 1920, when the first use of “standard of living” (before QOL) was proposed, until 2023. By reviewing and analyzing texts and documents of historical transformation of the NECH and QOL, tracing and overlying common fields of the NECH and QOL concepts (historical-structural analysis and comparative analysis), and organizing sequential cause and effect relations between milestones and evidence of NECH and QOL historical transformations (timeline diagram), the authors explained the strategic planning approach to support the (NECH and QOL) using the adaptive analysis method and extracting both substantive and procedural components for urban spatial, strategic planning process. The research results presented an urban spatial strategic planning model according to the NECH and QOL components (substantial and procedural). Due to the nature of urban spatial strategic planning (focus on uncertainty in planning; probability of planning process; need to expand the scope of planning in the broader political, social, economic, and environmental fields; focus on paying attention to diverse shareholders; and ability to support urban planning models based on description, analysis, and prescription); a cyclical-continual steps (1) assessing the current situation, (2) problem finding, (3) cause and effect problem analysis, (4) producing a final statement of significant issues and goals, (5) presenting decision options and suggestions (problem-solving), and (6) sharing strategic planning related to cultural and natural heritage among key shareholders and residents, with special content in each step, configured. The achievement of this spatial strategic planning model is bridging between the quality of life and the natural environment cultural heritage concepts and applying its principles of substance and procedure adapted to local conditions in such a way that the capacities of the natural environment heritage of the cities are coextensive with upgrading the resident’s quality of life.

    Keywords: Natural Environment Cultural Heritage, Quality Of Life(QOL), Strategic Urban Spatial Planning
  • Safora Sadra, Amir Shakibamanesh* Page 2

    This study investigates how urban wall design characteristics affect pedestrians' perceptions of calmness and attention. Utilizing the portable EEG device Neurosky, the research translates brain wave activity into measurable emotional states, such as calmness and excitement, and attention levels. Employing virtual 3D interactive simulations, the study controls both physical and non-physical variables to isolate the effects of design elements. The analysis focuses on three key variables—scale, transparency, and continuity—revealing significant findings. Low wall height, fine-grained elements, continuous structures, and wider pathways enhance pedestrian calmness while reducing attention levels. In contrast, high wall heights, discontinuous or protruding features, opaque materials, and coarse-grained designs heighten attention but diminish calmness. These results underscore the dynamic interplay between individuals and their urban environment, highlighting the critical role of urban wall design in shaping psychological well-being. By offering evidence-based insights, this research informs urban design practices to create environments that foster comfort and engagement while minimizing stress.

    Keywords: Virtual Quasi-Experiments, Urban Walls, Cognitive Neuroscience, EEG, Calmness, Attention, Urban Design
  • Reza Babakhani*, Mahsa Safarnejad Page 3

    Design is a fundamental, problem-oriented, purposeful, and comprehensive activity. Despite the widespread use of computers in architecture, more than three decades after their introduction, the design process is still predominantly carried out by humans, starting with hand-drawn sketches which are later translated into digital formats via software. This is due to the fact that computers lack inherent design intuition, which remains a significant challenge in automating the architectural design process. This study aims to explore a novel approach that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for the automatic generation of architectural plans. The goal is to develop a system capable of producing designs that meet user requirements while adhering to established rules, regulations, and design standards. The central hypothesis of this research posits that by combining evolutionary algorithms with machine learning techniques, it is possible to create a process that allows machines to approximate a form of design intuition. The methodology of this research includes a combination of literature review, documentation analysis, and quantitative data analysis. The study employs genetic algorithms, supervised learning algorithms, and Python libraries. The findings indicate that using feature vectors for supervised learning can facilitate the identification of optimal designs, thereby introducing a degree of "relative intuition" into machines. Additionally, the application of genetic algorithms for exploring the design space and optimizing plans based on the dimensions of the user's land proves to be effective. Finally, by storing design process experiences through algorithms, it is possible to create a foundation for reinforcement learning, which improves the system’s performance over time. In conclusion, the study presents the Automated Design Intelligence (ADI) Theory as a new theoretical framework for automating architectural design, offering a potential shift in how design processes can be approached through AI and machine learning.

    Keywords: Machine Learning, Genetic Algorithms, Automated Design Intelligence
  • Hadi Farhangdoust*, Toktam Hanaee, Hero Farkisch Page 4

    The field of Knowledge and Information Science in its scientometric branch examines scientific indicators for evaluating the content and method. Using the benchmarks of this discipline in architecture and urban planning, while improving its theoretical foundations, also organizes its processes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive framework to resolving this issue. The main questions of this research are formed based on the recognition of the types, evolution and impact of theoretical foundations on the objective framework of this field. The research method based on its reflexive grounded theory, with constructive interaction between several layers of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives, has tried to measure the extent and method of impact of different scientometric layers as dependent variables on the scientific strategies of architecture and urban planning. The process of implementing the research method in MAXQDA software has been such that all sections have items as research layers. These items have been introduced to the software by providing a variety of descriptive, related keywords used in architecture and urban planning research along with theoretical saturation technique. The innovative part of this research is in examining the controlling variable that has comparative values of architecture and urban planning along with values of the content of information science and epistemology. The findings of this research lead to the recognition of the role, connection, and application of the layers of the theoretical foundations of these fields from a scientific point of view. It is also related to the improvement of theoretical quality and methods, indicators, applications and strategies based on theoretical foundations in architecture and urban planning. It increases the efficiency of scientific methods and theoretical support of the processes of these disciplines both in the production of written works and in building information modeling software.

    Keywords: Theoretical Principles, Scientific Processes, Knowledge, Information Science, Policymaking, Interdisciplinary Collaboration
  • Mehrdad Karimimoshaver*, Shima Nouri, Banu Özkazanç Page 5

    Air pollution in many cities is influenced by wind speed and direction, which in turn are affected by urban morphology.Air quality is closely related to urban fabric, which refers to the physical layout and design of urban areas. Factors such as building density, green spaces, transportation infrastructure, land use, and the shape and size of buildings significantly influence air quality. These features affect the concentration of pollutants in the environment by shaping wind flow and local dispersion patterns. This study examines how the height of buildings influences air pollution. In recent years, the strong tendency towards the construction of tall buildings has had adverse effects on cities. The rise in tall buildings, along with their impact on wind flows and the spread of pollutants, presents a significant challenge for urban planners. Today, the risks of air pollution are increasing, and therefore methods of monitoring how pollutants are released are of particular importance. This study evaluates the impact of tall buildings on pollutant dispersion and aims to provide a program tailored to the data obtained to control and improve the current situation. This research was conducted on two groups of buildings in the southwestern part of Tehran (District 18) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and geographic information systems (GIS). The results of the study show that as the wind speed in a path increases, the concentration of pollutants decreases. Additionally, increasing the height of a building in a single state increases the wind speed on two sides and decreases the wind speed on the other two sides. In general, based on the assumption of pollutant dilution with increasing wind speed, building height plays an effective role in pollution dispersion.

    Keywords: Pollutant Concentration, Pollutant Dispersion, Building Height, Wind Flow, Tehran
  • Parzhak Mohammad Pour, Abdolmajid Nourtagani*, Abdollah Ebrahimi Page 6

    In recent decades, social changes have caused the Iranian family to experience intergenerational structural transformations and lifestyle changes. Studying these changes and their relationship with housing changes can provide a model for the design of desirable housing in the future. Despite the importance of the topic, very few researches were found that reflected the effects of these transformations on the spatial configuration of housing. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the intergenerational changes in the family and the housing configuration system in the context of social changes in Northern Iran. The research method includes a systematic review of previous studies to create a theoretical model using the Sandlovsky and Barroso method, followed by field research that includes the selection of 203 households from the last three generations with a multi-stage cluster sampling method of Sari city houses. The features of their housing configuration were extracted with the depth map software, and the characteristics of the families living in them were extracted with a questionnaire, and then the findings were analyzed. The findings show that some characteristics of the family, such as communication patterns, social relations, women's education and employment, and power equality in the family have increased, and the components of religion, family dimension, and the number of extended families decreased. These transformations were aligned with changes in the housing spatial configuration, including the reduction of the number and types of spaces, rings, the gender function of spaces, and the increase of the function of public and semi-public spaces.

    Keywords: Housing, Household, Spatial Configuration, Intergenerational Change, Family Transformation
  • Habib Shahhoseini*, Paria Donyadideh, Paniz Mousavi Samimi Page 7

    Today, people are living in an immense world that contains the co-occurrence of the real world and the digital world. Since the quality of the shopping environment in the real and digital world plays a significant role in users’ preferences, the shopping environment’s design, even in the digital world, is important. The current study identified 51 images of shopping environments (clothing boutiques) published from 2019 to the end of 2021 on 8 architecture-related Instagram pages, with more than one hundred thousand likes. By using a quantitative-analytical method of content analysis and image coding, the present study examines the amount of "materials, lighting, showcase, form and seating types, colours and space configuration" as physical factors affecting Instagram consumers' preferences in shopping environments. The results show that clothing racks, hidden lighting, Stone and plaster materials, sharp-edge forms, puffs, and coherence (spatial configuration) are preferred by Instagram consumers. Examination of the average HSV of the selected images indicates a high Value and low Saturation of colours. The average Hue of the images is 89.66 °. The average RGB also indicates the average concentration of the green colour spectrum (consumers' preferred hue). The identified effective factors in the interior design of digital stores, can increase consumers’ preferences and provide insights for future online digital shopping environment management.

    Keywords: Digital Stores, Instagram, Image Coding, Interior Design, Shopping Environment, Users’ Preferences
  • Explaining ‘Making a Way’ (strategy-making) and ‘cognizing’ In the Strategic Urban Design Process
    Hossein Nourmohammadzad*, Hajar Asadpour Page 8

    The strategic urban design process (SUDP) occurs at the method level based on establishing a pair of functions and their interconnection at the macro, middle, and micro levels. Few researchers have attempted to explain such processes including ‘cognizing’ and ‘making a way’ as two related concepts. Cognizing illustrates the current state of the city's super system hierarchically, and ‘making a way’ helps conceive part of the probable (possible) situation. The mechanism creates causal relationships between the steps. The current study is a review one and was conducted using an analytical method and logical reasoning strategy. The study used a systematic approach to identify a two-step function to determine this mechanism. The steps function, sub-functions, and their mutual relations were first developed and then explained based on the process theory and the logical reasoning research method. The relation is formed with the flow of the specific information (Cognizing Outputs). Explanation propositions clarified the relationships between these two steps. The results of the explanation were shown with statements, and the emphasis was on waste and its return to the process cycle as feedback

    Keywords: Explanation, Urban Design Process, Cognizing, Making A Way