urban sustainability

In the era of knowledge, the rapid advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) is considered a crucial factor in addressing the growing environmental, social, and economic challenges in urban areas. Knowledge-based cities, leveraging this technology, are at the forefront of enhancing the quality of life for residents and the efficiency of services towards achieving sustainable urban development. This study aims to explore the potential and application of ICT in knowledge-based urban development. The data analyzed were collected through a survey of 66 experts from the Deputy of Urban Planning in the 22 districts of Tehran Municipality, ensuring theoretical saturation. Structural equation modeling and the partial least squares approach, utilizing SmartPLS3 software, were employed for data analysis. The findings indicate that the variables of ICT application and potential, as well as knowledge-based urban development in Tehran, and their respective components, scored an average ranging from 3.5 to 4.3 on a 5-point Likert scale, suggesting a relatively stable status. Furthermore, the coefficient for the impact of ICT application and potential on knowledge-based urban development exceeded 0.96, confirming the main model of this research. The outcome suggests that investing in research and development of ICT can serve as a solution to overcome the limitations of knowledge-based urban development in the Tehran metropolis.

VBuilding livable cities has been an important goal in Iran's new urbanization system. In this regard, understanding the residents' satisfaction with the component of urban livability and its determining factors in the country's metropolises can significantly impact urban planning and policies, especially on urban construction and development. However, there is no scientific evidence about satisfaction with urban livability in Iranian cities based on the lived experience of residents. This study is based on surveys in the Karaj metropolis and understanding related issues based on lived experience to analyze and evaluate people's attitudes. The results showed that overall satisfaction with the conditions governing the urban livability of Karaj is low due to various reasons such as concerns and fears related to environmental crimes, lack of access to effective public transportation systems, and lack of related facilities to support public transportation services etc. Also, more satisfaction is observed with the comfort dimensions of public facilities and natural environment compared to the dimensions of urban security, environmental health, socio-cultural environment and convenient and accessible transportation. In addition, citizens are more satisfied with indicators such as recreational facilities, dining facilities, shopping facilities, and educational facilities, while they are relatively less satisfied with indicators such as the capacity to respond to disasters, the existence of emergency shelters, solid waste pollution, and air pollution. The obtained results can help city planners in the urban management system of Karaj to make better decisions about improving urban livability and improving the level of citizens' satisfaction based on effective components.

The coronavirus outbreak in 2019 gradually spread across the globe, creating numerous problems in various aspects of individuals' personal and social lives. The unknown nature of the virus posed significant challenges for decision-makers in confronting it, making crisis management in cities more difficult. This pandemic's consequences have led to imposing restrictions on social, economic, and environmental sectors. Key factors significantly impact the resilience of cities against the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors such as urban growth patterns, economic dimensions, accessibility to services, and the urban environment are the main indicators of urban sustainability. By adopting smart urban growth as a growth model for post-pandemic cities, cities can be made more resilient against disasters like pandemics. This study aims to propose an appropriate spatial planning model for the city of Isfahan in the post-COVID-19 era, focusing on urban sustainability. It seeks to identify a suitable spatial planning model for Isfahan by analyzing urban planning patterns, urbanization, and urban sustainability. A quantitative analysis method was used to evaluate the data, with data collected through questionnaires and analyzed using statistical tests in SPSS and AMOS software. Subsequently, the MICMAC software was used to identify the interrelationships between the influential factors in the study. The findings indicate that out of the 27 variables examined in this study, nine variables have been identified as the driving forces for determining the appropriate spatial planning model for the city. These driving forces include neighborhood-level planning, integrated management, law formation, neighborhood empowerment, citizen participation in local affairs, local institutions, the role of local governance, urban space polarization, and inequality in the quality of life, which collectively form a suitable model for spatial planning aimed at ensuring the sustainability of Isfahan.

With the beginning of the third millennium, the necessity of re-approaching walking as the healthiest, most economical and most dynamic method of movement and transportation within the city has been given serious attention by experts and managers of urban affairs. Pedestrian Movement, whose goal is to restore and develop pedestrian spaces in cities and give priority to pedestrians as first-class urban elements, has become one of the axes of urban planning and design. Based on this, this article is an effort to achieve the importance of pedestrian movement and sidewalks in today's cities and the impact of these spaces on sustainable urban development. According to the nature of the subject and research objectives, the approach governing the research environment is descriptive-analytical. The statistical population of the citizens of Isfahan city (Chaharbagh Abbasi pedestrian area) and the sampling method in this research is random sampling. The sample size based on Cochran's formula is 384 people. In this research, attempt has been made to use the required data through relevant centers, organizations, observations and field studies, a researcher-made questionnaire to collect information from citizens. SPSS software and fuzzy AHP model were used in the analytical part of the research. According to the obtained results, it can be said that the urban pedestrian circuit has a significant effect in achieving urban sustainability, so that it strengthens and improves urban activities, reduces the use of environmental pollutants and helps to preserve the environment, reduces dependence on motor vehicles in Chaharbagh Abbasi Street has become

Physical coherence and sustainability in urban areas can contribute to optimizing resource utilization, improving the quality of life for residents, and preserving biodiversity in the city of Pardis. This approach requires collaboration and coordination among organizations, institutions, and the local community in the studied city, so that the goals of physical coherence and sustainability are integrated and synchronized in urban design and development. This research aims to explore the relationship between physical coherence and urban sustainability and identify which components of physical coherence have a greater impact on urban sustainability in Pardis.

The methodology of this research is descriptive-analytical, and based on its objective, it is applied in nature. To gather the necessary information, both library studies and field observations were conducted. In this study, the most important dimensions of physical coherence and urban sustainability were extracted in the form of a table, encompassing physical, social, economic, and environmental factors. In this regard, a questionnaire was first administered to 385 residents in the form of a five-point Likert scale (ranging from "very high" to "very low"), and for the analysis of variables, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to assess their significance. Additionally, a second questionnaire was administered to experts, using a pairwise comparison method with numbers (0 = no effect; 1 = low effect; 2 = moderate effect; 3 = high effect).

The coefficients of the impact of physical coherence on social sustainability, economic sustainability, urban sustainability, environmental sustainability, and physical sustainability were found to be 0.452, 0.498, 0.724, 0.526, and 0.487, respectively, indicating a positive and significant relationship. Furthermore, the impact of urban sustainability on social sustainability, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and physical sustainability were found to be 0.624, 0.688, 0.727, and 0.673, respectively, indicating a significant relationship between the studied components. Additionally, there is a significant relationship and influence between physical coherence and urban sustainability, as indicated by the T-statistic.The indicators of physical coherence, including coherence, spatial hierarchy principle, unified facades, visual aesthetics, and preservation of the city's identity, are factors that are examined in relation to the design and development of urban spaces and architecture. These indicators and principles determine the interactions between spaces and architectural elements and have a considerable impact on the visual quality and user experience of these spaces. In this regard, the results show that coherence and visual aesthetics, followed by the preservation of the city's identity, are considered causal factors, while the spatial hierarchy principle and unified facades are identified as effect factors. In other words, based on the components of physical coherence and based on the (Di-Ri) value, coherence with a score of 0.284 is identified as the most influential factor, while the spatial hierarchy principle with the lowest score of -0.444 is identified as an effect factor. Therefore, improving coherence between elements and spaces, realizing a reasonable spatial hierarchy principle, using unified facades to create harmony and correlation between architectural elements and spaces, as well as visual aesthetics and preservation of the city's identity, contribute to improving the quality and attractiveness of urban spaces.

One of the most significant changes that have occurred in the fabric of contemporary cities compared to ancient cities in Iran is the loss of physical coherence. In ancient Iranian cities, the design and structure of the cities were such that there was a strong physical coherence among different elements of the city, such as alleys, streets, squares, and buildings, which contributed to the overall perception of the city as a well-organized and coordinated unit. However, in modern cities, due to social, economic, and technological developments, physical coherence is often less emphasized. Factors such as unplanned and uncontrolled development, land use changes, increased traffic and vehicles, inconsistent and inappropriate urban reforms, and economic pressures can lead to a decline in physical coherence in cities.Physical coherence is an essential quality for the physical, social, and economic vitality of cities. It means that the urban structure should be designed in a way that establishes good connections and physical relationships among different elements of the city, and a proper combination of public and private spaces, streets, squares, and buildings should be created. This physical coherence in cities ensures a better quality of life for residents, more effective urban functioning, and smoother movement within the city. The aim of this research was to analyze the physical coherence and its impact on urban sustainability in Pardis city. PLS and DEMATEL were used for data analysis. The research findings show that the coefficient of the impact of physical coherence on urban sustainability is significant and meaningful. The T-statistic also indicates the significance of the relationship and the influence of physical coherence on urban sustainability, which reflects the impact of physical coherence on the sustainability of urban spaces. Therefore, preserving and improving physical coherence can be an important objective in urban planning and design to enhance sustainability in Pardis city.The DEMATEL results indicate that coherence is identified as a causal and influential factor, while spatial hierarchy as a spatial principle is identified as an effect and influenced factor. In terms of sustainability indicators, physical, social, and economic factors are identified as causal factors, while environmental factors are identified as effect and influenced factors, with a negative value (-0.471) in the Di-Ri vector. These findings are consistent with the findings of other studies such as Carlos Balas (2010), Edibi Saei Nejad (2019), Piri et al. (2021), Khazraei and Abedini (2022), Alikhani and Zamani (2015), Aghayan (2010), and Khodabandeh et al. (2021).In general, increasing physical coherence to enhance sustainability in Pardis city requires collaboration among urban planning, architecture, sociology, and other related fields to design and construct the city in a harmonious and coordinated manner with the social and cultural needs of the residents.

A happy city plays a significant role in the development of tourism and can greatly contribute to the tourism industry. Happiness, as one of the most important factors influencing public health, also holds a crucial position in tourism. Therefore, focusing on the role of a happy city in tourism development can significantly aid in achieving the goals and advancement of the tourism industry. This research aims to elucidate the role of a happy city in the tourism development of the metropolitan area of Isfahan. The study employs a mixed-methods approach and is applied in nature. Statistical data were collected using a questionnaire from a sample of 20 university professors and tourism industry experts. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling and path coefficients in SmartPLS software. The results reveal that there are significant causal relationships between the influential factors of a happy city (social-cultural, economic-livelihood, managerial-administrative-political, environmental, psychological, spatial (physical) factors) and tourism development in Isfahan. The most significant component affecting tourism development in Isfahan is the social-cultural factor, followed by economic, spatial-physical, environmental, psychological, and managerial-administrative factors, with coefficients of 0.762, 0.239, 0.202, 0.217, 0.229, 0.231, and 0.203, respectively, all significant at the p<0.05 level. Among these, the social-cultural component has the highest impact with a coefficient of 0.762, followed by economic, spatial-physical, environmental, psychological, managerial-administrative, and service and infrastructure components on the development of tourism in the metropolitan area of Isfahan.

One of the challenges faced by urban planners is optimal urban and regional management and balance in the development of cities. the main goal of this research is to measure the economic and social stability of the cities of Mazandaran province during the census of 1385 and 1400. The current descriptive-analytical research method was carried out using the data of government agencies and the census of 1385 and 1400. In order to identify the components of sustainability, 30 professors in the field of urban planning were selected as the sample size. Measuring the economic and social stability of Mazandaran cities in the censuses of 1385 and 1400 is considered an innovation of this research. In order to evaluate the sustainability of the cities of Mazandaran province using questionnaires that were completed by experts in the field of urban planning; Among the models of stability barometer, radar, and electricity, stability factors were ranked. At the end, with the Copeland technique, the final ranking was determined. The results of the sustainability measurement techniques showed that the cities of Sari, Babol, Amel, Qaimshahr, Tankabon and Chalus have higher ranks in terms of sustainability. Also, the cities of Mazandaran province have had different stability, and the problem of instability is more related to small and medium-sized cities in terms of size, and more related to economic issues in terms of indicators. Therefore, it is possible to provide the stability and development of cities by implementing the solutions obtained from this research

In the era of climate change, ensuring food security through the utilization of agricultural lands in and around cities is paramount. These lands are threatened by urban expansion, and their preservation requires the support of urban planners. This research examines the issue of repurposing urban agricultural land for other urban uses from a social practice perspective rather than a physical or legal one. The article explores why and how changes in agricultural land use occur and the potential for intervention, guidance, and management of this process from a social practice standpoint. The case study focuses on agricultural lands in the west of Tabriz city over more than 50 years, from the approval of the first urban plan to the present. The study employs historical reconstruction for analysis. “Sayings” are analyzed using texts from urban development plans, while “doings” are derived from maps of the current situation from different years and interviews with long-time neighborhood residents. The findings indicate that changes in the three sources of meanings, materials, and competence have altered social practices in different periods during this period. If this continues, it could lead to changes in land use methods. Also, multiple meanings and corresponding materials and competence coexisted during each period, weakening or strengthening the dominant social practice. Throughout the period, the differing perspectives of urban management, landowners, and citizens have influenced the process of social practice.

Today, tourism as an industry is a dynamic global and social phenomenon whose scientific knowledge and analysis can provide a reliable framework for planning the current and future tourism industry. The aim of this study is to identify the key drivers of tourism in Khorramabad and to investigate how these drivers affect each other. This research is descriptive-analytical in terms of applied goal setting strategy and its method and exploratory based on future research methods. Theoretical data were prepared by documentary method and experimental data by survey method based on Delphi method. The statistical population of the study was 30 experts and specialists in the field of tourism in Khorramabad city were selected by purposive sampling. Delphi methods, cross-impact analysis and MicMac software were used to analyze the obtained data. The results show that what can be understood from the distribution of variables affecting the future tourism situation in Khorramabad is the instability of the system. 4 main factors as key factors on the future of tourism in the city of Khorramabad have the greatest impact, which are: easy access, suitable climate, appropriate and strategic location in the region, the existence of historical monuments. As a result of matrix analysis and evaluation of the impact plan of key factors by direct and indirect methods, 12 key factors including: comprehensive tourism plan, integrated management, private sector investment, development of leisure and tourism centers, easy access, convenient and strategic location in The region, suitable climate, government macro-policy, number of tourist attractions, increase of accommodation centers, existence of important historical monuments and security were identified.

The deteriorated areas of cities, caused by their physical, economic, and social characteristics results in decay and separation from other metropolitan areas. The aim of this study was to assess the indicators of urban livability in the historical areas of Kermanshah City.

This is an applied study that was conducted in 2023-2024 in Kermanshah City. After preparing a list of factors, a questionnaire with 38 questions was prepared and evaluated by the expert community. After content validity assessment and the removal of duplicate questions based on expert opinions, the questionnaire items were reduced to 32. The research population in the next stage included all residents of the historical fabric of Kermanshah City (n=378). Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test method and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).

The social, cultural, economic, and managerial aspects of urban livability in the historical fabric of Kermanshah City were in unfavorable condition, while the environmental condition was desirable, and the physical condition was in an average conditions. The AHP technique provided the highest weight to the economic index and the lowest weight to the managerial index.

Among the indices of urban livability, the economic index had the highest level of importance and priority.

Today, public spaces in cities are more than ever the scene of the presence and manifestation of the collective and daily life of citizens, for this reason these spaces play a significant role in the mental health of citizens. The main purpose of this article is to investigate the role of public spaces in the mental health of citizens of Region 2 of Kermanshah Municipality. This article is based on the purpose of applied research and based on the nature of a descriptive and analytical research. Library method and questionnaire tool were used to collect data. For this purpose, 384 citizens of the 2nd region of Kermanshah were selected as a statistical population using Cochran's formula, and questionnaires were distributed among them by a simple random method and information was collected. The results of the research showed that women's mental health in public spaces is at a higher level than men's, but there is no significant difference in mental health between single and married people, but there is a significant difference in mental health between owners and tenants. and people who own their own residential houses have better mental health than renters. Also, the results of examining the indicators of public spaces and the level of mental health using the Pearson correlation test indicate that the correlation between urban public spaces and the mental health of citizens is at a significant level of 0.001, the correlation coefficient is equal to 0.183, which indicates that the relationship There is a strong relationship between the components of public spaces and the level of mental health of citizens

One of the challenges encountered by urban planners pertains to achieving optimal management and balance in the development of urban and regional areas. In relation to this matter, the primary objective of this study was to assess and analyze the trajectory of economic and social stability in the cities of Mazandaran province during the 2006 and 2021 censuses.

This study, characterized as descriptive-analytical in nature, relied on data obtained from government agencies and the aforementioned censuses conducted in 2006 and 2021. To determine the components of sustainability, a sample of 30 experts was selected using a simple random method. The questionnaire's validity and reliability were established through the calculation of Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Subsequently, the stability of 16 cities in Mazandaran province during the 2006 census and 22 cities during the 2021 census was evaluated employing the stability barometer, Electr, and Vicor models. Finally, the cities' sustainability was assessed through the utilization of the Copeland technique, which enabled the determination of the final ranking.

The findings from the utilization of sustainability evaluation methodologies demonstrated varying degrees of sustainability among cities. Additionally, the economic and social indicators revealed that the cities of Sari, Babol, Amel, Qaimshahr, Tonkabon, and Chalus exhibit higher levels of sustainability. Moreover, the city of Sari has consistently upheld its position of superiority due to its centralization in political-administrative affairs and the implementation of growth pole strategies, leading to the concentration of economic, political, and social activities and resources within the province.

In conclusion, the cities within the Mazandaran province have encountered distinct levels of stability, with the issue of instability primarily affecting small and medium-sized cities in terms of their scale, and predominantly associated with economic matters when considering indicators. Consequently, the implementation of solutions derived from this research offers the potential to foster stability and facilitate the development of cities.

Today, the increasing level of urban population and migration has caused new challenges in the structure and performance of cities in environmental, socio-cultural, and economic issues. Urban sustainability is a concept that emerged as a new paradigm in the world following the sustainable development plan, and it is an approach that leads to social justice. It is necessary to provide a suitable basis for evaluating and measuring environmental, economic, and socio-cultural sustainability in urban planning and development. Arak metropolis is one of the most polluted cities in the country. The purpose of the present study is to measure the sustainability of Arak city zones from the citizens' point of view to show the quality of different city zones.

The city of Arak, the capital of Markazi Province, has 5 municipal zones and a population of 520,994 in 2016. Regarding geomorphology and geology, Arak is located in a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides and the Miqan desert. With the establishment of several industrial plants, such as machine building and metal industries, in the 1940s, the city became polluted environmentally. The required data and information were collected by secondary and field study using a questionnaire; in order to achieve the objectives of the research, 4 main indicators and 13 sub-indices related to sustainability in Arak were defined from reliable sources in this field and adjusted in the form of a 5-option questionnaire in the form of a Likert scale from very high to very low. The statistical population of the research consists of all the citizens of Arak city who are over 20 years old and have a history of living in Arak city for over 5 years (due to the understanding of the dimensions of the research), which is 384 as sample size. Stratified sampling based on urban neighborhoods were exerted to distribute the questionnaires. In order to measure the validity of the research questionnaire, the opinions of 10 experts commented on the primary version. Also, in order to measure the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha test was exerted, and the reliability coefficient was obtained above 0.70 percent, which confirmed the reliability. Finally, the collected information was analyzed using GIS and SPSS26. To measure indicators for variable, a one-sample t-test and variance test (ANOVA) was used, and Friedman's test was applied to rank indicators and the urban zones. Finally, GIS was applied to display the analysis results in maps regarding the different socio-economic and environmental dimensions.

The research results showed that the average economic sustainability is more than 3, and the upper and lower limits are positive. So, the status of economic sustainability in the 5 zones of Arak is evaluated from medium to high. Also, the average of the variables of environmental and physical-infrastructural sustainability and socio-cultural sustainability is less than 3, and their lower and upper limits are also negative; Therefore, according to the significance level is less than 0.05, it can be concluded that the average obtained is lower than the value of the test (3) and the status of variables of ecological-environmental sustainability, physical-infrastructural sustainability and socio-cultural sustainability in the  5 zones of Arak are evaluated as less than average and inappropriate. The finding from the Friedman test revealed that the highest average rating (3.14) is assigned to economic and the lowest average rating (2.05) to physical-infrastructural sustainability.

The theoretical and research background review showed that sustainability is valued concerning economic, social and environmental indicators. Paying attention to sustainability issues as one of the most important factors and drivers for promoting urban development has been the focus of urban planning researchers and city planners in recent years. Environment-friendly policies could strengthen sustainability. The present research showed that the sustainability of the different urban zones of Ark is evident regarding the different dimensions. So, it can be concluded that the following recommendations could improve the situation as strengthening local and indigenous industries compatible with the environment, increasing green space, concerning the limits of factories can reduce pollutants, and closing polluting industries or at least modifying and improving them.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting urban sprawl and its impact on livelihoods in Ahwaz metropolis. This research is applied-theoretical in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of method. The trend of land use changes showed that the amount of built-up area increased, and the area of ​​green and agricultural land uses and so on decreased. The results of Delphi method shows that economic, political-managerial, technological, social-cultural and natural- environmental factors have the most effect on the dispersal of Ahvaz city, respectively. Also, the results of the evaluation of the spillover effects on the biodiversity indices showed that spillover of the urban spill on the increase of the cost of public utilities and consequently the reduction of the quality of services, the weakness of urban service quality monitoring, environmental problems, security decline, public utilities, identity degradation and fragmentation. The landscape has been impressive. According to the results, zones 2 and 3 are very poor in terms of monitoring the quality of urban services and other areas of Ahvaz are in a very poor condition. Zones 2 and 3 of Ahvaz have been in moderate environmental condition, Zones 1 and 4 are low and other zones are very low in terms of livability. In terms of the scattered impact of urban overcrowding on reducing security to four levels of very low viability (areas 5, 6 and 7), low viability (areas 4 and 8), moderate viability (area 1) and high viability (areas 2 and 3) are divided. According to general urban uses, Ahvaz is divided into two categories of low and very low biodiversity, and areas 1, 2 and 3 are better than other areas. In terms of weakening urban identity and landscape, zones 2 and 3 are in the middle range of biodiversity, zone 1 is in the low range of biodiversity and other areas are in the low range of life.In the present study, for the first time, the factors affecting dispersal of the city and its impact on biodiversity are investigated.

The purpose of the current research was to identify the components of urban sustainability in the city of Likk, of the provinces of Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad, using a descriptive-analytical method. First, 36 indicators in 4 environmental, economic, social and physical dimensions of urban sustainability were determined by using documents and opinions of 23 experts in the relevant field. In order to rank the factors, AHP and Expert Choice software were used. In the present study, the inconsistency rate of all pairwise comparisons was less than 0.1. Therefore, the consistency of the comparison matrix is ​​acceptable. The innovation of the current research was to identify the indicators of sustainability in a small city with a geographical location and specific customs and culture, and to apply quantitative and qualitative criteria simultaneously and score and prioritize them. The findings showed that economic factors, environmental, physical, and social factors were important. Among the components or sub-criteria, income status and employment percentage were considered as the most important factors affecting urban sustainability. Therefore, the indicators of sustainability and their degree of importance in small cities are affected by the economic, social, environmental and physical conditions of those societies. Unbalanced growth of urbanization with inadequate urban infrastructure and lack of sufficient job opportunities cause urban instability. The process of sustainability is a multi-dimensional flow that should be avoided while paying attention to the improvement of the economic situation and the creation of public welfare, the destruction of resources, the destruction of the environment and social anomalies.

Nowadays, studying and surveying the indicators of sustainable development in different dimensions can be an appropriate criterion to determine the status of areas and regions in terms of locative and spatial distribution of proper facilities as well as a factor to resolve the problems in order to achieve economic, social, cultural and environmental prosperity of urban residents. 

With this approach, the present research aims to analyze and determine the sustainability levels of the regions and urban areas of Kashan in terms of sustainable development indicators in the nine criteria.  While demonstrating the level of quality of life of the inhabitants, the facilities and deficiencies and degree of stability of the areas and regions identified, the research is to provide programs and strategies to reduce deficiencies and deprivation in areas and regions. 

Regarding the purpose, the type of research is applied and in terms of the method of administration, it is descriptive-analytical. Taking into account the integrated indicators of sustainable development and with the combined approach of multi-criteria decision-making models such as DEMATEL, ANP and TOPSIS, the researcher attempts to answer this question; “How is the locative and spatial development pattern in the levels of the areas and regions of Kashan?”

The results of the research display that the locative-spatial development pattern throughout the areas and regions of Kashan is unbalanced in all selected indicators in three levels of benefited, semi-benefited and less-benefited ones; the areas and regions do not benefit the same conveniences and services. Regarding these issues, the resources, aptitudes, social, economic and environmental capitals and urban capable lands should be applied to eliminate the spatial shortages required in the regions and areas in proportion to sustainability indicators.

Due to the growing trend of urban population all around the world, especially in developing countries, in the immediate future we will face a predominantly urban world that to meet their needs, urban land will be exploited beyond Its threshold of ecology and people will demand their needs from city officials and managers as a result. The theory of smart city, which was formed based on the answer to the many problems of urban dwellers in the 90s, presented the issues of sustainability such as mixed land use, easy accessibility, preservation of the natural environment, etc. in the field of urban planning and urbanism. This theory demonstrated the points that while supporting modern urban life, can solve its problems in the form of following and implementing new urban planning techniques in the heart of existing cities and in contrast to urban sprawl.

Aims and Objective:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of smartening on the sustainability of Nowshahr as one of the small cities in Iran.

the present study is of the type of applied research. Questionnaire, interview and field observation tools were used to collect information. Using a questionnaire, 383 citizens participated and the findings of this section using statistical techniques, factor analysis and one-sample t-test and coefficient Pearson correlation was analyzed in SPSS software.

In examining the correlation coefficient between intelligence and sustainability, it is found that there is a direct and strong correlation between these two variables in Nowshahr. The results of the one-sample t-test show that the status of intelligent variables in Nowshahr is not in a good position with a stability approach. The results of factor analysis have shown that among the six indicators of smartening, "smart governance" with a factor load of 0.853 has the highest priority in the eyes of experts and specialists in smartening Nowshahr with a sustainable approach. "Smart people" with a factor load of 0.847 and "smart environment" with a factor load of 0.836 have the highest importance in terms of average factor load. In order to develop the level of smartness and sustainability in Nowshahr, a strategy can be developed by urban management along with local sustainability indicators in order to improve the level of services to citizens.

In the last few decades, the number and use of motor vehicles have increased dramatically in cities across the world and urban spaces and mobility have been dominated by motor vehicles. Thistrend has made various environmental, social, and economic issues for cities and has threatened their sustainable development. Therefore, in recent years, special attention has been paid to changing the mobility model as well as urban design and planning. So that the urban sustainable development paradigm and theories like New Urbanism emphasize the reduction of automobile dependence and increasing the walkability of urban space.Walkability refers to the extent to which an environment is suitable for walking. There are various environmental, social, and economic benefits for walkability in urban spaces. Therefore, recognizing the various factors affecting the walking of citizens, including physical-spatial indicators and planning to improve these indicators can be effective in the sustainable development of cities. Consequently, in the study, the relationship between physical indicators of urban space and citizens' walking rate in Qaen city neighborhoods is analyzed. 

The general approach of the present study is descriptive-analytical. This research is applied research and correlational research that seeks to investigate the relationship between a set of variables. The data collection method is library and field study. Statistical population is the inhabitants of Qaen city, that are about 43,000 people. The sample size is 360 people and the sampling method is simple random. The share of each neighborhood in this sample size was determined based on the population share of that neighborhood from the whole city. The dependent variable in this study is citizens' walking rate and the independent variable is composed of the physical-environmental factors, such as access to diverse land uses(land use mix), visual quality of urban spaces, quality of sidewalks, and connectivity of the street network. Multiple regressionhas been used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses.

The results suggest that there is a positive relationship between the level of land use  diversity and the rate of citizens' walking. So it can be expected that with the increase in the land uses diversity in urban neighborhoods, the probability of walking will increase. The land uses diversity and proximity of residential units to various urban and neighborhood activities (commercial, office, green space, schools, parks, restaurants etc.) makes less need to use motor vehicles and instead, walking is considered as a basic mode of mobility within neighborhoods. On the other hand, the mixture and diversity of land uses in an urban area can cause more people to be present in urban spaces and this presence increases the sense of security that encourages walking.Another finding is that the connectivity of the street network has a positive effect on the level of citizens’ walking. In fact, the connectivity of streets, based on the frequency of intersections and their short distance from each other in a range, helps to connect multiple paths and, on the other hand, reduce the speed of vehicles. This makes it possible, firstly, to select a variety of routes for walking within the neighborhood, and secondly, due to the close distance of the intersections in reducing the speed of motor vehicles, the safety of walking increases.The results also showed that the effect of sidewalk quality is significant on people's walking rate. Thus, it can be said that improving the quality of sidewalks can increase the desire of citizens to walking. However, the relationship between visual quality and walking in the neighborhoods of Qaen city was not conformed. So the visual quality of urban spaces (beauty, cleanliness, lighting, etc.) has not affected the level of citizens’ walking.

The study examined four important physical indicators of walkability to determine how much it affects walking in Qaen city. According to the findings, 3 indicators including diversity of land use, connectivity of the street network, and sidewalk quality have a positive and significant effect on the amount of walking, but the visual quality indicator does not have a significant effect on  people's walking. Thus, it can be said that by improving these three indicators along with social and cultural planning, citizens' walking rate is expected to increase in this small city.

Following the change in conditions and factors affecting urban development in recent times, man-made residential neighborhoods have a special place in the formation of cities and their sustainable development. Sustainable urban development, including recent theories and policies and is considered current, has occupied a major part of the urban planning literature of recent years. But the recent theory at the local scale has not yet been properly explained and can be considered as the subject of research, sustainable development at the residential scale. Viability Improves the quality of urban spaces in modern cities while humanizing them as much as possible. The present study tries to assess the situation of diversity and development in residential neighborhoods as one of the most basic pillars of sustainable urban development. In this article, descriptive-analytical method has been used. To measure the diversity and development of neighborhoods and urban livability indicators, a qualitative model with 3 general indicators (diversity in construction, diversity in use and diversity in users) and 69 variables has been designed and used. Then, for data analysis and final decision making, non-compensatory multi-criteria decision making (MADM) method of Maximin and Maximax was used. The results show that neighborhoods 12, 8, 6, 2, 9, 1, 3, 11, 10, 7, 5, and 4 have the desired status of diversity and development, respectively.

The rapid population growth and urbanization in the metropolis of Tehran in recent decades has led to an increase in resource consumption and the spread of pollution. Continuation of this process can upset the economic and social balance within it and cause ecological imbalance in the urban area in which it is located. This is exactly contrary to the principles of sustainable development for the city of Tehran and its environment. The study area in this study is the 13th metropolitan area of Tehran, which is located in the east of Tehran with an area of about 1283 hectares and from this area is about 930 hectares to the urban fabric and the rest of the military lands, industries, sanctuaries, etc. Also, Sorkheh Hesar forest park with an area of about 394 hectares is located outside the legal limits and on the outskirts of the region, which is one of its prominent features to become a green city. On the other hand, the location of this region on the eastern outskirts of Tehran and the existence of a large military and industrial use can be major obstacles to urban stability and the formation of a green city. Based on this, the present study tries to assess the existing spatial-physical structure of Region 13 in the framework of green city indicators and to evaluate and analyze the capacities and challenges of green city formation in its areas