Formulating the sidewalk design principles with emphasis on increased Urban Security (Case Study: Golestan Boulevard in Ahwaz)

Security is one of the factors improving the quality of urban spaces. Desirable and functional design of constructed space leads to reduction of crime and increase of urban space quality. A secure urban space encourages appropriate activities and limits inappropriate activities; hence, these urban spaces as well as their type will affect the rate of occurrence of crime and violence in the city. By increasing the presence and supervision of citizens, the level of social interaction in urban spaces increases and security would therefore be added to the environment as well. One of the main aims of creating security is promotion of quality in the field of urban spaces. Desirable and functional design of constructed spaces leads to an increase in the number of citizens present which results in a fall in crime rates and a rise in sidewalk quality. An urban physical structure aimed at creating interaction between humans and the environment is the latest approach for dealing with reduction of urban crimes in the form of physical and social dimensions. The impact of this approach is more evident in the formation of the framework and thus social functions and trends. The purpose of this study is the improvement of urban sidewalk quality in order to increase environmental security. Investigation of pedestrian security with a physical approach to the environment as well as the use of sidewalks by citizens is essential and necessary. In this regard, Golestan Boulevard in the city of Ahvaz, despite regional and trans-regional performance levels, suffers from lack of interaction and consequently lack of quality and security. Therefore, it is important to increase the presence of people in the urban flow of the city .The research method employed in this study is descriptive- correlation which has been extracted using a theoretical framework. Thus, after the division of space into three sequences and in accordance with the space criteria of each sequence described, the data matrix was drawn. After physical and functional analysis based on existing urban flows, the presence of people in this area was measured. For quantifying the amount of presence in the spaces, LOS or level of service was used. Accordingly, after collecting information regarding the presence of car users and pedestrians in the area by encoding the information, the amount of time spent in the urban space based on function and subsequent supervision by car users and pedestrians within the framework and micro and macro functions, was analyzed. Data collection was undertaken via interviews and field observations. The results of the compiled information based on the effects of one component of space (flow) on the other components (physical and functional), was reviewed which showed that the greater presence of people would improve urban space quality. Finally, factors increasing space security are presented.