جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « w index » در نشریات گروه « هنر و معماری »

In recent years, the study of socio-spatial segregation has gained increasing importance within the fields of urban and social sciences, especially with the advent of advanced computational tools that facilitate more precise measurements and analyses. Socio-spatial segregation at the neighborhood level represents one of the most visible and impactful forms of spatial inequality and social injustice within urban settings. By providing tools for effective measurement, researchers and policymakers can better evaluate and analyze the extent and severity of these inequalities, gaining insights into the distribution of resources and opportunities across different social groups.Moreover, tracking the evolution of segregation over time within a specific geographical area allows for a deeper understanding of how urban development, migration patterns, and policy interventions influence the spatial organization of populations. This,in turn, sheds light on the degree to which citizens have equitable access to essential services, such as education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, as well as the overall quality of life in different urban neighborhoods.

Theoretical Framework:

The primary goal of this research is to measure the social and spatial segregation of ethnic groups within the neighborhoods of Bojnord and to analyze how these patterns have evolved over time. The central research question that guides this study is: What are the socio-spatial dimensions of residential segregation among ethnic groups in Bojnord, and how are these dimensions changing in response to broader social, economic, and political factors?Since Bojnord's designation as the capital of North Khorasan province in 2003, the city has undergone rapid growth and transformation. Its population has nearly doubled, and its physical area has tripled by 2021, largely due to significant waves of migration from nearby villages, other cities, and even regions beyond the provincial borders. These demographic changes have inevitably led to shifts in the social and spatial organization of the city, raising important questions about the nature and consequences of residential segregation in this context.

The research employs a descriptive and analytical approach, utilizing the latest population statistics, along with data on the ethnic and religious composition of Bojnord's neighborhoods. This data was collected and analyzed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of residential segregation in the city. In addition, the study draws on population statistics and compositions from previous census periods, particularly those following Bojnord's designation as the provincial capital, to track changes in segregation patterns over time.To measure the socio-spatial dimensions of residential segregation, the study utilizes the Geo-Segregation Analyzer software, which generates detailed maps to visualize the distribution and concentration of different ethnic and religious groups within the city. These maps provide a clear representation of how various social groups are spatially organized within Bojnord, highlighting areas of significant ethnic clustering and isolation.

The analysis reveals that the distribution of populations, particularly those who have migrated to Bojnord in recent years, is heavily influenced by the city's ethnic and cultural diversity. Among the 26 districts of Bojnord, the highest dissimilarity index was observed between the Turkmen and Tat ethnicities, indicating a pronounced level of segregation between these two groups.Despite the high concentration of Turkmen and Tat populations in certain neighborhoods, the Tat group does not exhibit significant spatial isolation compared to other ethnic groups. However, the clustering of the Turkmen population within Bojnord's neighborhoods increased markedly between 1385 and 1395, coinciding with a substantial influx of Turkmen immigrants during this period. This trend has continued in subsequent years, although at a slower pace, as immigration rates have declined recently.The results of this study offer valuable insights into the extent and intensity of segregation among different social groups, both ethnic and religious, within Bojnord's neighborhoods. Various indicators were employed to measure the dimensions of residential segregation, revealing that much of the population growth in Bojnord over the past two decades has been driven by immigration rather than natural population growth. Immigrant groups, particularly those belonging to specific ethnic and religious communities, have tended to settle in neighborhoods where others of similar backgrounds are already concentrated, further reinforcing the spatial concentration of these groups in specific areas of the city.

The findings of this research indicate that since Bojnord's designation as the capital of North Khorasan province, residential segregation among ethnic groups has intensified, with the Turkmen ethnic group showing the most significant growth in segregation indices. If this trend continues, it may lead to heightened social tensions and conflicts, as the spatial separation of ethnic groups can exacerbate existing inequalities and contribute to social fragmentationGiven Bojnord's status as a provincial capital and its diverse ethnic composition, the social and spatial segregation of ethnic groups within urban neighborhoods poses significant challenges for urban planners and policymakers. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving the quality of life for all residents, ensuring equitable access to housing, support services, and opportunities in key areas such as employment, education, and healthcare. Policymakers must consider strategies to promote greater social integration and cohesion within the city, fostering a more inclusive and just urban environment for all its inhabitants.

Thermal comfort has always been one of the primary goals of architectural design. Many studies have addressed indoor thermal comfort. However, less attention has been paid to outdoor thermal comfort. Outdoor spaces need to be equally emphasized because of the occurrence of daily activities in them. Open spaces play a unique role in the spatial structure of traditional Iranian architecture. Mosques are among the most important buildings in the history of Iranian architecture. With the spread of Islam in the early centuries of Hijri, many mosques were constructed in the great province of Khorasan, some of which are still standing. Most of these mosques have open spaces that are built based on the climate; therefore, they are among the best sources of modeling for contemporary architecture to achieve thermal comfort. Thus, the research questions of the present study can be expressed as follows: What is the range of thermal comfort in the open spaces of Khorasan mosques based on the PMV index? What are the optimal geometry patterns of mosque courtyards in the Khorasan region to achieve thermal comfort? In order to answer the questions, ENVI-MET4 simulation software was used.

The approach of the current study in terms of its purposes and methodology is applied research and quantitative respectively. In the first stage of the study, the form, dimensions, and proportions of the yard and the percentage of open to closed spaces of the traditional mosques of Khorasan province were analyzed through an analytical method, based on library studies. The courtyards of the traditional mosques were categorized, the patterns governing them were extracted, and thermal comfort was evaluated. Four sample cities were selected based on four different climatic zones. In the second stage, using the simulation method, the models were made on July 23rd during the summer solstice for the four cities in the ENVI-MENT 4 software. The simulation results were illustrated and analyzed in the Leonardo software, and the PMV thermal comfort index was used.

Three types of mosque courtyards in the mentioned cities were analyzed. Based on the PMV index and the comparison of plan structures, the results revealed that in Qochan City, the plan with a square geometry is close to the thermal comfort range. In Mashhad, a rectangular courtyard with an extension in the direction of the Qibla is the best option to achieve thermal comfort in open spaces. Moreover, in the city of Sabzevar, the rectangular plan perpendicular to the Qibla direction, and in the city of Tabas, the rectangular plan parallel to the Qibla direction were identified as the best models of thermal comfort.

The proportions and forms of the courtyards are square in the high foothills; rectangular in line with the Qibla in the low foothills; rectangular in the direction of the Qibla in the plains, and rectangular in the direction of the Qibla in the desert climate. Considering the joy of outdoor worship, it is necessary to design the courtyard in such a way that it can provide comfortable conditions as a subclimate, particularly during hot summer days.

Iran is among top countries worldwide in terms of architectural heritage, and it has been located in an earthquake-prone region. To this end, preservation of historical buildings is of critical importance. The first task to address this issue is to determine the structural elements of the building as well as the mechanical properties of its materials and evaluate its response to earthquakes. The Ghadaki house is attributed to the middle period of the Qajar era in the nineteenth century and was recently included in the group of buildings belonging to Tabriz Islamic Art university. This research is focused on the seismic assessment of this structure and proposes appropriate retrofitting methods to improve its seismic performance. The subject is studied in three main steps;The researchers of Tabriz Art University have used non-destructive tests to preserve the originality of the building, and in this research, the results of these tests, which include the compressive strength of the building prism and the modulus of elasticity, were used. These values are equal to 0.43 and 843.9 MPa respectively. Then, a seismic safety analysis has been performed by 3Muri software, which uses an equivalent frame model to model masonry walls. The seismic safety index of this building was obtained to be less than 1, which means the structure lacks enough safety. In the last step, we propose three different methods for retrofitting and it was recommended to use all three methods simultaneously, which results in an improved seismic safety index lying between 2 and 4.45.

As an important subjects in the urban studies, an issue that has been less addressed in Iran so far, is the relationship between the physical quality of citizens' living environment and mental disorders. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical quality indices of urban neighborhoods and mental disorders in Isfahan metropolis. This study was performed on 434 citizens of Isfahan. The assessment of mental disorders was performed with SCL-90 questionnaire. The quality of people's living environment was assessed in five dimensions (natural conditions, quality of public open spaces, street conditions, environmental pollution and local services) with a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and Ordinal Logistic Regression. Results showed, the mean score of the Global Severity Index was 1.29. In the correlation analysis, a significant relationship was seen between mental disorders and physical characteristics (P <0.001). The results of OLR showed that 15 indicators (local parks, quality of sidewalks, walking capacity, diversity of vegetation, street safety, sitting and pause spaces, street lighting at night, cleanliness of the environment, no noise pollution, smooth traffic on the surface Neighborhoods, water spaces, diversity of plants, trees and flowers, access to recreational facilities, access to public transportation and access to local shopping malls) have the greatest impact on mental disorders. The correlation between mental disorders and the physical quality of urban neighborhoods means the integration of health considerations and urban planning principles to reduce the negative effects of residential environments on mental disorders.

Thermal comfort in semi-hot and dry climates is one of the main factors for the presence of people in open urban spaces. The present research seeks to achieve a greater presence of people and reduce heat stress for the comfort quality of the micro-climate of the garden. Each of the artificial components of Jahathe n Nama Garden and the effective climatic conditions, has dealt with all of them. Thermal comfort has always been one of the main factors in architecture and urban planning, and among the solutions that respond to climatic conditions, we can mention the Iranian gardens, which have had a great impact on modifying the climatic conditions of the environment since ancient times. Elements that cause human comfort and have natural and artificial dimensions and components. Due to this issue, the Iranian garden model has created green and pleasant spaces for comfort and tranquility and the presence of people, which has been able to make the climatic conditions of the environment livable, desirable, and pleasant.

The research method is descriptive-analytical and, in terms of method, qualitatively and quantitatively simulated with Envi-met 4 basic software, which is selected by selecting eight points in the garden, on the first of July by comparing them with the PET thermal comfort index between points. Therefore, the research is based on two strategies of logical reasoning, library analysis on the one hand and quantitative measurement based on ENVI-met 4 basic simulation software. On the other hand, the effective components such as (the location and structure of the garden, and materials) are compared between the mentioned points. Ross data analysis was performed at 9 am, 12 noon, and 5 pm on the 1st of July, the hottest day of the year in the afternoon.

By examining the models (change of materials and orientation), the comfort conditions of the garden are improved and the change of orientation of the garden is more effective than the change of materials. Also, the average radiant temperature has the greatest effect on thermal comfort. R1=0/73  R3 = 0.70, R5 = 0.74, and R7 = 0.74 indicate their correlation. The artificial components of the Jahan Nama garden greatly affect the thermal comfort of the garden in hot seasons. 

 As a result, the choice of materials and proper orientation leads to controlling the rate of absorption of air temperature and circulation, which reduces heat stress. In the end, the research findings show that the synergy of the components of the Iranian garden in hot and semi-arid climates increases the thermal comfort in the microclimate of the garden and in creating urban open spaces with quality and optimal energy consumption Warm seasons and physical and mental health and reduction of heat stress are very important and the research findings are presented as a model that shows the synergy of these components to provide outdoor thermal comfort.

The increasing population has changed the morphology of cities and caused changes in the surrounding environmental conditions. Green space per capita is about 4.5 square meters in Iran, which is quite different from the global standard: 20 to 25 square meters per person (Haashemi et al., 2016). As a result, it seems necessary to increase the amount of greenery in cities. Lee et al. (2016) introduce shading and ventilation as the main factors in the improvement of thermal comfort conditions in the environment using trees. Vegetation reduces mean radiant temperature and improves environmental conditions through evaporation and daylight control and reflection (Salata et al., 2017). It plays a major role in the regulation of weather conditions by controlling and conducting wind flow and reducing wind speed and pressure (Perini et al., 2018).

Theoretical Framework:

Thermal comfort involves conditions of perception in which the surrounding environment is thermally satisfactory (Ashrae, 1997). In their review of the studies conducted in the field of thermal comfort in outdoor spaces, Johnson et al. have introduced the predicted survey average index as one of the most widely used indices among ones such as SET and UTCI. (Johansson et al., 2013). This index has been widely used in different regions with different climates (El-Bardisy et al., 2016; Salata et al., 2015; Abdi et al., 2020). This model was designed by Fanger in 1970, considering factors such as air temperature, average radiant temperature, and relative humidity and two personal variables including clothing resistance and activity level, used as a composite index. This index specifies the coefficients that are measured according to Asher’s thermal scale and indicates the average thermal sensation of a large group of people in a certain space (Fanger, 1970). Therefore, considering and measuring this index causes othermicroclimatic factors to be taken into account and obtained through the following formulae:PMV=(0.303e-0.036m+0.028)[(M-W)-H-Ec-crec-Erec] E=3.05×10-3(256tsk-3373-pa)+Esw Ec=3.05×10-3[6.99×5733(M-W)-pa]+0.42(M-W-58.15) Crec=0.0014M(34-Ta) Erec=1.72×10-5M(5867-Pa). The value of H can be measured directly and calculated using the following equation:H=Kcl=tsk-tcl/Icl. Moreover, previous research has pointed out the importance of planting patterns, trees, and vegetation and their impact on the environmental and microclimatic conditions of the region. The question that arises now is what kind of tree planting pattern, among the common ones, can have a better impact on the environment. In this study, therefore, the four common planting patterns of sextuple, quadruple, row, and scattered were selected to be applied in the same conditions and with the same number of trees.

In this research, the ENVI-met software was used because the output provides most of the parameters required for thermal comfort, such as Ta, Tmrt, and wind speed (Taleghani et al., 2015), and the results have been validated and used by researchers (Taleghani et al., 2018). For data measurement, five receptors were selected at the central points of the site. These receptors were located so as to be scattered in the site and be capable of expressing the general state thereof. Therefore, three receptors at the central points of the site and two located around the site were selected. Moreover, because the average human height between the positions of sitting and standing is 1.50 meters, the simulation measurement was carried out at this height. The environmental data and information on the receptors were extracted during the study hours (10 am to 9 pm), and the average value was calculated for the predicted survey average index.

The analysis of the data and figures extracted from the software demonstrates that a more uniform shade is created in the environment in the scattered pattern than in the others, and because the trees are scattered in most parts of the site, solar access is more limited there than in the other scenarios. Moreover, ventilation conditions are easier in the row pattern than in the scattered pattern, and the warm wind passes through the trees more easily there due to the regular arrangement. Therefore, the best planting pattern is the one that creates the more uniform shade and better ventilation conditions. However, the results of the scattered pattern are the same in most parts of the site, and there is only a little difference between them in some cases. As a result, the scattered and row patterns of tree planting are better than mass planting and concentrated in certain parts of the site.

The results of comparing the treeless scenario to the others demonstrate that the thermal comfort conditions change to a large extent, and all scenarios create better environmental conditions than the treeless state. Moreover, because the row pattern exhibits a lower average PMV for most receptors and most hours of the day, it is the best pattern. The sextuple pattern has high indices in most cases, and the quadruple pattern has a similar function to the sextuple one. Therefore, it can be concluded that the row and scattered patterns create better comfort conditions than the others. The results of this research can be used by architects, landscape designers, and urban designers. In this research, different patterns of trees have been compared, so future research can involve comparison of other plantings such as grass and shrubs and of the effects of different planting patterns.

- The physical characteristics of streetscapes, including the widths of the pathways, are effective on the functions of Kaplan’s matrix.
- Kaplan’s visual preference matrix plays a more effective role in non-urban landscapes than in urban ones.
- A higher green index causes more final visual preferences.
- Narrower pathways are stronger functions of Kaplan’s matrix.
- Mystery was found to be the most stable variable, and legibility was identified as the weakest in urban landscapes, as well as non-urban ones.

Evaluations and assessments of the visual preference matrix adopted from Kaplan’s theory in natural and non-urban landscapes have demonstrated that landscapes are preferred by individuals that fulfill the audiences’ needs in four types of perceived quality, including coherence, complexity, legibility, and mystery, under the title of informational variables. However, the theory has not been studied effectively in urban landscapes. The importance of the vegetation that is there on urban pathways, like streets and alleys, due to the daily observation of such landscapes by the citizens, in view of the observers’ environmental and mental health, caused the authors to investigate the effect of this part of observable vegetation in urban landscapes besides other structural factors of pathways, such as their widths, on the perceived and informational variables of Kaplan’s matrix, thereby evaluating the role of the matrix in urban landscapes.

According to Kaplans, the visual information that facilitates understanding and exploration is very important in the formation of human preferences. The sum of the two information needs and the degree of their deduction by time (urgent or in near future) resulted in a matrix consisting of four informational variables: coherence, complexity, legibility, and mystery. The structure of mystery and complexity is based on the need for exploration (the former by lapse of time and the latter immediately), and the structure of legibility and coherence is based on the need for understanding (the former by lapse of time and the latter immediately). Any landscape, having a degree of these variables, provides a type of perceived quality for the audience. This study aims at understating the level of effectiveness of each of these variables on the audience’s preference, based on the increase in the greenery in pathways of particular widths (8, 10, and 20 meters), to provide the necessary attention for their desirable effectiveness through knowledge of the level of effectiveness of each of such variables.

Given its aim, i.e. to recognize the quality and degree of the effects of the relevant variables on each other, the methodology of this study is descriptive-correlational, and the method of data collection is quantitative based on the structured questionnaire. 280 participants were provided online with the questionnaire, involving a combination of questions and colored images from the streetscapes in question. The streetscape images were taken from the observer’s perspective based on location at the pathway crossroads and some other features, and the questions were borrowed from those raised by Kaplans on the informational variables and provided to the participants more clearly and more fluently. The understanding of the green index of each image and its increased level was accomplished using Photoshop 2020. Finally, the responses were analyzed and assessed through a number of tests using SPSS 24.

The results of preference in States (1) and (2) for the green index obtained through the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test indicated that the average of this variable has increased significantly in all the three pathways with the increase in the green index.
 
In the investigation of the effect of informational variables on the preference variable, the results of the linear regression test indicated that the increase in the green index in the 8m pathway has raised the preference variable, affected by the three variables of coherence, legibility, and mystery (rather than the single variable of mystery in State (1)). Moreover, there have been effects in the 10m and 20m pathways from the two variables of mystery and complexity (rather than the single variable of complexity in State (1)) and the single variable of complexity (rather than mystery in State (1)). An increase in pathway width reduced the effect of informational variables on the preference variable.

The results of this study indicate that even in the present situation of the urban landscapes, suffering deficiency in coherence and coordination, an increase in the green index could significantly affect citizens’ satisfaction generally in all pathways. However, with respect to the effect of Kaplans framework on visual preference in artifact landscapes, the results demonstrated that informational variables affect preference more significantly with an increase in the green index in narrower pathways, and the effect decreases as pathway width rises. This implies the sensitivity of concern for narrow pathways, which calls for greater attention to an increase in all informational variables due to the severer enclosure. If pathway width increases, there will be less concern for the lack of coherence in the buildings, while an increase in complexity and mystery is effective in the satisfaction of the audience of such residential streetscapes. Due to its lively, dynamic nature, therefore, vegetation inherently involves the required variety and complexity and great capacity for exploration. It also exhibits sufficient potentials for an increase in the mystery feature through the creation of an attractive enclosure and blockage of the observer’s view. Moreover, this study demonstrated mystery (the most stable of the four informational variables) as the strongest variable with the highest degree of significance and legibility (the last predictor of the preference matrix) as the weakest variable. Thus, it seems that vegetation could have an effective role in the increase in the legibility of urban landscapes with a particular form and scale.

Third places, as places of community, are formed by social interaction and networks and can have a great impact on determining patterns of cohesion and participation in social institutions and processes. The present research is applied-developmental in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of methodology. The statistical population of this study includes all residents of areas (3, 4, 6, 8 and 9) of Isfahan municipality who were selected purposefully. To achieve the research objectives, 16 categories (third places, accessibility, invitability, dynamism and vitality, comfort and security, flexibility, performance, form, meaning and content, social sustainability, social security, social interaction, social justice, social participation, social belonging, and social identity) were extracted. To discover the pattern trend for the classification of stability indices and the role of third places on them, one-sample t-test, Pearson correlation, and Friedman test were used, and for path analysis, the structural plural equation model was used in Smart PLS Software. For the placement of the third place indices on social sustainability, the weighted geographical regression tool was used. The results of the coefficient of determination between the mentioned indices showed that third place has a social impact of 0.90%. The results of the weighted geographical regression analysis showed that the most important component affecting the social stability variable was comfort and security with a coefficient of 0.91%, well explaining the effect of the third place on social stability. Also, the results of the weighted geographical regression model showed that Region 4 had the lowest effect (0.03), Regions 3 and 8 had a moderate effect (0.05), and Regions 6 and 9 had a high effect (0.07) on the social stability in Isfahan.

Climate change is one of the most significant environmental reactions that has affected the environment and  along with increasing population, industrial expansion, and urbanization, has led to an increase in urban metabolism and changes in weather patterns. Therefore, thermal comfort, which is a satisfying thermal condition from the surrounding man-made environment, is affected by the surrounding climatic conditions. Historically, the temperature and providing thermal comfort has been one of the most important priority needs of users. In this regard, environmental compatibility, rereading and reproducing concepts in accordance with the environment have been essential. The main objectives of this research in reducing the ambient temperature are to retrieve vernacular strategies and identify the techniques that encompass the natural, cultural, traditional, and social conditions prevailing in an area. The proportions of climatic elements in the façade -the exchange of internal and external boundaries has been one of the main elements in temperature response and balance- including all physical points and vector constituents that form a space with an arch that is closed on three sides, and opened to the courtyard from the front, have shown significant effects on lowering the temperature of their surroundings. In this regard, four porches with four geographical directions (north, south, east and west) in the three houses (with historical antiquity and influential climatic elements like: Sadr Jahromi , Forough–al-Molk and Mohandesi) of Shiraz's historical fabric were selected. In this research, quantitative approaches such as field study and collection of climate data and physical components were used along with computational simulation. The field data and experimental results obtained by devices (portable instruments in the selected buildings) such as thermo-hygrometer to record maximum and minimum ambient temperature and humidity and thermo-pyrometer to measure surface temperature on the targeted points, such as yards and porches were analyzed and validated by Envi-met (climate analysis simulator) software. Lastly, PET thermal comfort index, physiological equivalent temperature and index for determining the comfort temperature in open and semi-open spaces, were calculated using Bio-met software (the impact of all climatic factors can be evaluated by the results of this index). The research results showed that according to the difference between the average PET index of porches and yards, the porch modifier had a greater effect on this index than the yard. Therefore, variables such as the width of the porch, the area of the spatial opening in the facade, and the height of the courtyard have significant impacts according to the geographical direction. By increasing the width of the openings and the height from the surface of the yard, followed by preventing temperature reflections, including long wave infrared radiation emitted based on heat received from surrounding materials and reducing the reception of these rays and their re-emission, the temperature of the PET index decreased, and the PET temperature was in a more appropriate range in terms of thermal perception and degree of physiological pressure. Also, better temperature condition and reduced thermal stress condition were experienced in the porches.

This study examines the effect of geometrical indices of a street (Orientation and H/W) on the buildings` direct solar access on an urban scale, which its results can be used by urban planners in designing new neighbourhoods and redeveloping old ones in developing cities. In cold climates, the access of buildings to sunlight due to the street geometry index is necessary to reduce the heating load and affects the thermal performance of buildings. This index (height to width ratio (H/W) and orientation) directly affects the absorption and emission of urban sunlight and changes in them can affect the amount of solar radiation absorption of the building.This study aims to investigate the amount of the buildings` solar has gained in the cold climate of Hamedan. The research method is quantitative and based on numerical data of simulating solar radiation and the geometry of the urban texture of Hamedan. Data analysis was conducted by statistical analysis of box diagram, correlation coefficient, and reference model. First, to examine the effect of street width index, fixed height, and variable street width (6 to 36 meters) and then to examine the height index, fixed street width and variable height (3 to 9 floors) were considered in the modelling. The findings reveal that east-west oriented buildings have the highest solar gain of 17.9% in the winter, and nearly 60% of the streets in the new urban texture of Hamedan are placed in the non-optimal orientation.The average solar gain in northern blocks is more than in southern blocks and streets; with a lower H/W index this gain increases indicating a reverse and intensive correlation. Index H/W compared to orientation has the greatest effect on a solar gain on the building located alongside streets.  In shallow geometrical valleys, the temperature from radiation is higher than in deep valleys and as the H/W index rises, i.e., as the street becomes narrower, the direct solar gain decreases. In southern blocks, due to a deep valley in the yard, most of the south façade of a building in the winter is always in the shade of building volumes and absorbs little solar radiation. In this state, the greatest amount of absorption is reflective and scattered. Therefore, increasing the depth of the yard in these blocks to absorb more sunlight was studied in our recommended pattern. From the measured indices in this study, the H/W index has the greatest impact on solar gain for buildings located alongside streets. This index has a 123% higher influence compared to the orientation index on absorbing radiation and is of more importance. In Hamedan, regarding the H/W index, a twelve-meter street has the least absorption, thirty-five-meter, and seventy-five-meter streets have the most absorption in the winter. In our recommended patter, increasing the depth of the yard and using vertical shades for windows leads to a 2.7% and 25.8% rise in solar gain for northern and southern blocks, respectively. This pattern reduces 11.7% and 4.94% of absorption for the mentioned blocks in the summer.

AbstractOne of the most important indicators in the urban standard is attention to the physical and social characteristics, which is one of the most important factors in explaining these indicators to the principles of pedestrian standard in urban sidewalks. Therefore, in this study, the status of pedestrian capability criteria in Shamsabad neighborhood of Malayer city has been investigated. The method of data collection was a questionnaire and data analysis was performed according to the two-variable correlation method and two Pearson criteria and Friedman test. Findings indicate that Shamsabad Malayer neighborhood has created many problems in terms of landscape, environmental quality and low physical standards. For this reason, it can be said that the most important issue to improve the current situation and bring the conditions of Shamsabad neighborhood of Malayer closer to a standard pedestrian axis, is to create active 24-hour uses along with creating space inside this route. Also, attention should be paid to the universality of the route, ie the provision of access facilities for the disabled, children, women and etc.Keywords: Pedestrian, urban standards, social index, Malayer cit

The relationship between building density and energy consumption involves a complex interaction between climate factors, location patterns, the way urban open spaces are located, and the adjacency of the buildings of which they are composed. Therefore, this study investigated the thermal performance of residential buildings based on the patterns of residential blocks in Hamadan Province, Iran using the concept of minor climate and thermal islands influenced by density regulations. It aimed to evaluate the effect of these regulations on energy consumption. A comprehensive collection of thermal simulations were conducted based on the climate of Hamadan and a statistical analysis for examination of the effect of height on the energy consumption resulting from increased urban density.

 Theoretical Framework

A criterion used for measurement of the energy consumption of buildings is the micro-urban climate resulting from the density regulations (H/W).  These regulations can affect the access of buildings to sunlight and, thus, the energy performance of buildings. Density regulation indices include two categories: middle-scale and micro-scale. The middle-scale category involves an H/W criterion for measurement of the impact of the outdoor environment. The micro-scale category involves criteria for changes in the building volume geometry, including the surface-to-volume ratio (S/V), ratio of surface exposed to direct sunlight to total surface (Ssn/Ssh), shadow area (Ssu/Ssh), substructure (Ssu/A), volume (Ssu/V), and ratio of window surface to the total wall surface (WSR), which changes as height varies. 

The methodology involved a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. In the simulation stage, two modes were considered to specify the effect of H/W on energy consumption. First, fixed height and variable street width were considered in the modeling for examination of the effect of the street width index, and fixed street width and variable height were then considered for examination of the height index. For analysis of the findings of the statistical methods, correlation, analysis of variance, and multiple regression were used.The relationships between energy consumption and the variable of street width and each of the indicators of the variable of height were investigated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. For investigation of the simultaneous effect of all the indices of the independent variable on the dependent variable (energy consumption), multiple regression analysis was used to specify which geometric factor exhibited the greatest impact on energy consumption. Analysis of variance was used for comparison and evaluation of the mean differences between the groups.
For validation, two methods were used: experimental (involving field measurements) and comparative (involving a comparison of the results of different software).

The results obtained from the correlation analysis revealed that there is a close direct relationship in all residential blocks of northern patterns between H(fix)/W(6m-36m) and annual energy consumption, while there is no correlation in southern patterns. The relationship between H(4f-10f)/W(fix) and annual energy is direct in northern patterns but inverse and slightly effective in southern patterns.As the H(fix)/W(6m-36m) ratio decreases, cooling energy consumption increases sharply (inverse correlation), and heating and total energy consumption decrease sharply (direct correlation). In this analysis, energy savings are greater on a wider street than on a narrower street, and fixed-height buildings exhibit lower annual energy consumption on a wider street.Positive correlation (high intensity) and negative correlation with heating energy (low intensity) is established between the geometric characteristics of residential parts (S/V, Ssu/S, Ssu/V, Ssu/Ssh, and Ssn/A) and cooling energy consumption. Wider streets receive more sunlight than narrower ones, so those with lower geometric indices exhibit better thermal performance and greater reduction of heating energy consumption.

Building density and its indices are influential in northern patterns, and increase in height and pathway width contributes to the reduction of energy consumption. Therefore, the geometric index of an urban street is effective in northern patterns, and a rise in height through an increase  in the horizontal distance between buildings affects the reduction of energy consumption. However, the value of the index (H/W) is lower on the urban passages of the cold climate of Hamadan (deep urban valleys), and the energy consumption of the building decreases as the absorption of solar radiation increases. Multiple regression analysis showed that the most indicative energy consumption factors in the patterns included the geometric index (H/W), the number of sunny surfaces (Ssu), the ratio of shadow (Ssh) to the substructure (A), and total surface area (S) . The proposed model (involving a change in the occupancy level of the initial model) exhibited the most optimal thermal performance with decreases by 42.9% in cooling energy and by 4.73% in total energy.

Acknowledgment

The article has been derived from the Ph.D. thesis entitled "Determination of housing deployment pattern considering the influence of climate factors on the inside thermal comfort whit an energy management approach (case study Hamedan)", which has been defended by the first author under the second author’s supervision and the third author’s advisory at the Qazvin Branch, Islamic Azad University.

The issue of façade and design of it in the architectural design process has always been of fundamental importance. Also, the facade is one of the most effective features in creating visual quality for the audience. While Facade design has continued with the least fluctuation until the last decade in the art of architecture, today we witness the emergence of facades with the name of neoclassical (Roman) in the context of Iranian cities. This type of facade uses similar elements such as columns, entrance stairs, proportion, order, and symmetry in stone materials. Neo-classical architecture has inspired government buildings in Iran, although it has less attention to the precise proportions of classical architecture and its intellectual insight. Hence, this study aims to investigate the four economic, social, aesthetic, and fashion indicators in the emergence of the neoclassical facade according to Watson's behaviorist approach. It seems that these four indicators are important according to John B. Watson's behaviorist approach to the emergence of the neoclassical facade. The research method is survey-based. In this article, first, the origin of these facades in Greek and Roman architecture also, in the Qajar and Pahlavi eras are historically analyzed. Then, according to Watson's psychological approach, each environmental stimuli is addressed through a Likert scale questionnaire, considering the statistical population in Shahin Shahr and calculating the number of households using Cochran's formula. It is concluded that the economic, aesthetic, fashion, and social indicators, respectively, in the emergence of the neoclassical facade have motivated the purchase of the buildings with these facades through analyzing and evaluating the questionnaire, using SPSS software, and the received response from the stimulus.

One of the most important consequences of the rapid growth of urbanization and physical development of the cities in recent decades has been the disintegrated distribution of urban service centers, paving the way for social inequality in accessing them. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to compare and rank the cities of Mazandaran Province as one of the densest regions of the country, in terms of access to urban services. In this study, using statistical sources of Mazandaran Province and library studies, twenty-two levels of cities of Mazandaran Province were ranked in terms of access to twelve components selected from the urban services. In this regard, the data of the National Statistics Organization and the Organization of Management and Planning of Mazandaran Province have been used to compare the cities to each other after determining their weight using the feature index and Sturgess’ model in VP software. The results show that there is a huge difference between the cities of this province in terms of net output current values of the studied indicators, so that the cities of Miandorood and Amol with -0.7460 and 0.9087, respectively, are the least and the most prosperous cities of Mazandaran in terms of access to the twenty-two components.

Quality of urban life (QoUL) is an important component of satisfaction with the general living conditions and has wide consequences in cities. The mental quality of urban life arises from the objective characteristics of urban environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the level of quality of urba life with an integrated assessment method of objective-subjective indicators based on the level of satisfaction with the fulfillment of needs. The research method is descriptive-analytical and survey. The sample size is equal to 378 people of Shterban population, which is obtained through Cochran's formula. In this paper, the method used to assess the quality of life in urban areas is based on taking into account the basic needs of residents in the Shotorban neighborhood of Tabriz, which is derived from the Max-Nef Human Development Scale model. Because the quality of urban life is a multifaceted concept and in this regard should be thoroughly studied using an integrated approach. Data analysis was performed with SPSS software. As a result, with the integrated assessment of quality of life in Shotorban neighborhood, it was found that the level of satisfaction is 6 out of 10 indicators used at an average level (50%) and above. 4 indicators are close to and below the average level (50%) of satisfaction, which in the end, the overall score of the integrated assessment was equal to (52.51%), which shows that the level of satisfaction with the quality of life in Shotorban neighborhood is at a moderate level.

Informal settlements are a fundamental challenge in modern urbanization. Various approaches and plans have been adopted to address this challenge, but many of them have not been associated with success for various reasons, including a lack of understanding of the characteristics of these settlements, especially the demographic dimensions. Studies have demonstrated that housing and habitation in informal settlements is far more frequent in Sanandaj than the national average, and covers more than half of the city’s population. The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic characteristics and indices in informal settlements and compare them to those in other settlements in Sanandaj. The achievements are highly significant mainly because they provide an overview of the active demographic structure and processes in formal and informal settlements. Moreover, many theories that indicate the formation of informal settlements highlight the importance of social, economic, and demographic factors in this regard.

The theoretical framework of this research was based on theories that focus on urban growth and diversity in developing countries. Furthermore, these theories address the typology of urban settlements due to this diversity.According to the demographic transition framework, rural-urban migration is the initial source of urban growth at the early stages of transition, but natural population growth itself is the fundamental source of urban growth as the transition and urbanization processes continue, and the urban sector grows increasingly larger (Keyfitz, 1980: 149). In the middle and end of the demographic transition, where the rates of death and birth are both low and more or less equal in urban and rural areas, rural-urban migration turns into another factor affecting the growth of urban population.Undergoing a state of demographic transition and post-transition, the city of Sanandaj, Iran has witnessed both natural growth and rural migration, and has therefore experienced high rates of urbanization. This increasing urbanization has led to the formation of various structures and patterns of urban settlement, including informal dimensions, and represents different trends, types, and patterns in demographic terms.

The present research is a quantitative descriptive study with an exploratory nature although it analyzed the current conditions. It was conducted to compare population characteristics and indices in formal and informal settlements in Sanandaj with a secondary analysis of raw data from the population and housing censuses in 2006, 2011, and 2016 in Sanandaj. After the data were processed and prepared, the districts were classified into settlement types based on previous research, and the population characteristics and indices in urban settlements were then compared and analyzed.

According to the results, the most dramatic demographic changes in Sanandaj, including those in size, population growth rate, and migration, had occurred in informal settlements. In addition, they are considered as the poles of attraction of the population along with the new settlement areas. There is instability and imbalance among the settlements in terms of the static characteristics of the population, including household density, residential unit quality, academic conditions, dependency burden, and employment status This indicates that informal settlements with larger households, smaller residential units, larger populations per room, and higher ratios of flimsy housing units are excluded from the proper cycle of economic and social urban life. These problems can all lead to occurrence of further urban challenges.

The present study revealed the existence of heterogeneous characteristics and demographic indices in the settlements of Sanandaj. Although the same pattern in terms of population processes cannot be considered for different districts, some settlements are characterized by both higher population growth and poorer housing, occupation, employment, and education. This makes them not only more vulnerable but also potential causes of urban issues and the Achilles’ heel of urban management.The policy solution proposed in this article is that it is necessary and fundamental to pay attention to the demographic characteristics and indices of informal settlements in the provision and advancement of a comprehensive approach to planning and management in order to upgrade and regenerate these settlements. The results of this paper provide important lessons for planners and policy-makers on population redistribution policies and urban management, and indicate the different dimensions and characteristics of population in districts and settlements of Sanandaj.

Rapid population growth and lack of enough urban land increase the need for high-rise buildings. Due to high energy consumption of highrise buildings establishing energy saving measures is crucial. This paper aims to explore multiple factors that influence energy demand and thermal comfort in high-rise buildings. In this regard the impact of architectural parameters including building form, orientation, and window wall ratio on highrise building’s energy demand and thermal comfort is investigated in three different climate context(Tehran, Bandar Abbas, and Tabriz) by parametric analysis and optimization methods. Moreover the impact of urban density on results are assessed. The results show that the rectangular form with a south orientation with a 40% window to wall ratio in both Tehran and Tabriz is acceptable in the parametric method. On the other hand, in Bandar Abbas, high urban density is ideal in both the energy and comfort sectors, while Tehran and Tabriz need a low urban density context. Architectural parameters including window to wall ratio(WWR), window characteristic, building form, with 15.4%, 9.9%, and 8.8% respectively, showed the highest sensitivity by the parametric method in the energy demand assessments. However, the sensitivity index of architectural parameters on energy demand in Tehran, Bandar Abbas, and Tabriz are 16%, 6%, and 23%, respectively, based on the genetic algorithm. Based on results a higher sensitivity index of the genetic algorithm over the parametric approach is established with 9.4% and 23.3%, respectively, in the energy demand and thermal performance. On the other hand, the parametric method can establish a step-by-step process for the designer to evaluate each architectural variable's impact on thermal comfort and energy demand in the first stages of building design.

The flood is the second natural disaster in terms of the damage that it causes to human societies every year. At the same time, cities and population centers are exposed to the highest risk and potential for physical damage caused by flood events. The growing trend of floods in Iran in recent years indicates that most parts of the country are at risk. According to the conducted studies, about forty large and small floods occur annually in different parts of the country. Since the flood is the most devastating disaster in the world and a serious threat to life, preparation of flood hazard maps is essential in identification of flood-sensitive areas, and is one of the first steps taken to reduce damage. It should be noted that researchers can easily identify areas with high risk using flood hazard maps to prevent damage. In the modeling of research on natural and environmental hazards such as floods, the complexity of natural systems makes it difficult to use physical models, highlighting the use of hybrid models as a suitable alternative. Therefore, it is necessary to provide appropriate methods and suggestions for estimation of runoff and flood in areas with high risk in order to prevent their occurrence. In recent years, a large number of statistical and probabilistic models have been used for flood hazard mapping, and GIS has been used as a basic analysis tool for spatial management and data manipulation due to its capability of managing large amounts of spatial data. Furthermore, it is possible using GIS prediction models to partition urban areas in terms of flood hazard. The obtained hazard maps can be used for identification of areas with high flood hazard. Today, the accuracy of flood susceptibility maps in urban areas can be increased using hybrid GIS models rather than single ones. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to predict the risk of flood in the city of Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, Iran using hybrid models in the GIS environment. The factors considered in this study as influencing the occurrence of flood included inclination, slope, elevation, distance from the river, river density, flow accumulation, land use, gradient curvature, lithology, distance from the passage, road density, distance from the building, building density, and rainfall. After collecting the required data and layers, we used two algorithms, including the definitive statistical index (SI) and the evidential belief function (EBF), both in isolation and in combination. The locations of flood susceptibility in Sanandaj were predicted. In order to assess the performance of the model, the AUC curve obtained from the ROC curve was used. According to the adopted assessment criteria (ROC) and the validation data, the EBF model (0.840) exhibited better performance than the SI model (0.827) in flood hazard mapping in the area under investigation. The accuracy rate of the hybrid SI-EBF model was 0.849 based on the ROC results, which demonstrated that the hybrid model performed better in prediction of the spatial hazard of flood than the single models. Finally, the results of the study showed that Sanandaj flood spurts resulted from various environmental and human factors, which can be handled using flood hazard maps and appropriate management measures to reduce flood damage.

Nowadays the development of small towns is considered as an effective strategy for regional imbalances and reduces the problems such as the concentration of population, activities and services in the large cities. In Iran, most of the population, activities and services are concentrated in large cities and have created imbalance in the region or country. Bushehr province, like other parts of the country, faces inequality and imbalances in the optimal distribution of services and facilities which causes extensive migrations to major cities of the province or metropolises of the country and collapses the hierarchical order of the settlement system of the region or country. This research seeks to investigate the role of Bandar Deylam in equilibrium of Bushehr province by using the methods of Elasticiablity Index and Social Network Analysis.
The results indicate that the attracting of population and the rate of elasticity of Bandar Deylam was reduced in the last decade (2006-2016). Also, Bandar Deylam can provide services to the peripheral settlements only in the fields of industry and fishing and it is not dependent on other settlements. But to receive superior services in other functional fields, it refers to Bandar Genaveh as a small intermediate city.
In general, Bandar Deylam plays the little role in balancing and developing the province, Despite its many potentials. In the end, some suggestions was offered for strengthen and improve the role of Bandar Deylam as a small town.