نشریه برنامه ریزی توسعه شهری و منطقه ای
پیاپی 26 (پاییز 1402)

The objective of this research paper is to analyze the trends observed in spatial population concentration indices within the context of regional and urban balance policies during Iran's first to fifth development plans spanning the period of 1989 to 2015. The study employs a trend analysis methodology, utilizing data derived from Iran's censuses. The findings of the research reveal a consistent inclination of population movement towards urban centers, despite the articulation of regional and urban balance objectives in all development plans. This phenomenon manifests in two distinct forms of population centralization. Firstly, a persistent, overarching pattern of national-level centralization emerges as the gravitational center of population settlements in the country. Secondly, a more localized and variable form of centralization is observed in the regional context, wherein certain areas function as regional centers of population agglomeration. Over the duration of the first to fifth development plans, there is evidence of a decline in urban primacy. Interestingly, cities classified as second-tier (with populations ranging between 100,000 and 250,000) exhibit the highest rates of population growth, while cities belonging to middle-tier categories (with populations ranging between 10,000 and 99,999) experience a negative population growth. In conclusion, the overall outcomes indicate a slight amelioration in regional and urban imbalances. Consequently, a shift is observed in the spatial distribution of regional and urban populations, transitioning from an extreme periphery-center structure towards a periphery-semi-periphery arrangement.

The policy of developing new cities has been adopted in response to the ever-increasing rise in population and its excessive concentration in metropolises. However, a lack of consideration for immigrants' culture and identity has given rise to issues in social sustainability. Moreover, the failure to address population forecasting and incorporate economic planning has disrupted the self-reliance of immigrants in the new city of Pardis.  This research aims to investigate the phenomenon of identity dispersion in Pardis and explore approaches to cultivating an independent identity. The qualitative strategy employed in this applied descriptive-analytical study involves content analysis. The target community comprises two groups: the citizens and the urban management staff. Theoretical saturation was reached after conducting interviews with 38 individuals from these groups. Data were collected through targeted, semi-structured interviews, observations, and analysis of urban documents. MAX QDA software was utilized for data analysis. Following coding, ten minor categories and two major categories were identified. The major categories include immigration and the distinctive image of the city, which were found to be distinct entities. The findings of the study reveal that the urban management staffs perceive the enhancement of the city's independent identity to be influenced by the dynamic interaction between the northern and southern parts of Pardis, as well as the establishment of a technopark. On the other hand, residents primarily viewed the employment opportunities provided by the technopark as the most effective means of fostering an independent identity. They also emphasized the importance of leveraging shared ethnic characteristics in defining attractive activities for the community. Overall, this research sheds light on the complexities of identity formation in new cities and proposes potential strategies for cultivating a distinctive identity in Pardis.

Urban walls hold significant influence over the quality of urban spaces, making them one of the most impactful environmental elements. Enhancing their quality contributes to an overall improvement in the physical aspects of a city. While the urban landscape and its aesthetic indicators are well-established, the question arises regarding the influential components that shape the urban landscape. Hence, the objective of this scholarly article is two-fold: to identify effective solutions for enhancing the aesthetic dimension of urban walls in terms of their objective-physical aspects, and to prioritize these solutions based on the perspective of citizens who frequent the Eram sidewalk in Qom city. Determining the sample size was achieved through Cochran's formula, resulting in a total of 384 participants. The research methodology employed was practical and aligned with the nature of the study, employing a descriptive-quantitative approach to answer research questions. To analyze the collected data, the Lisrel software was employed for designing the structural equation. The research findings highlight the need for improvement in various components of the urban landscape when it comes to the walls of the Eram pedestrian area. These components include enhancing the beauty and visual variety in wall decorations, paying attention to facade additions, and diversifying the texture of materials utilized. Notably, citizens rated the absence of disturbances and visual disruptions as positive and appropriate, assigning it a high impact factor of 0.82. This component emerged as their top priority when indicating their visual preferences. By addressing these findings and incorporating the indicated solutions, urban planners and policymakers can effectively enhance the aesthetic appeal of urban walls, thereby improving the overall perception and experience of citizens within urban spaces.

Understanding the motivations behind tourists' decision to travel to a particular region greatly contributes to comprehending their behavior. This study aims to identify, categorize, and prioritize the motives of domestic tourists who choose to travel to Kerman city. The research methodology employed an applied approach, a descriptive nature, and utilized a mixed data type. The collection of research data involved the utilization of field and library methods. The statistical population for this study consisted of domestic tourists who visited Kerman city in March 2022 and were accessible for the researcher. The research sampling method used was non-probability sampling, specifically employing the easy or available sampling type. The identification and categorization of tourists' motives were achieved through the application of the Exploratory Factor Analysis method, while the prioritization of the identified motives was conducted using the TOPSIS method. The results of the data analysis demonstrated that the motives of domestic tourists for traveling to Kerman city encompassed the following aspects: the desire to visit historical-cultural attractions, religious motives, work-related motives, motives related to the economic benefits of travel, motives associated with group travel, motives to visit friends and relatives, shopping motives, entertainment and recreational motives, nostalgia, appreciation of the natural environment, and learning motives.

Land use planning plays a crucial role in urban planning by addressing urban needs, tackling land scarcity challenges, and determining the physical growth of cities. Urban redevelopment, specifically the revitalization of vacant and abandoned lands, serves as an effective strategy to optimize land utilization, mitigate pollution, and enhance the socioeconomic urban environment. In this study, a foresight approach is adopted, employing descriptive-analytical methods to conduct a structural analysis of the factors involved in infill development in the Bronsi barracks brownfields located in Mashhad. Data collection was conducted through secondary research and surveys, with a statistical sample comprising eight purposively selected urban experts. A total of 15 variables associated with sustainable brownfield planning were identified, encompassing physical-spatial, socioeconomic, managerial-institutional, and environmental aspects. These variables were further classified into five groups: influential, double-faceted, susceptible, independent, and regulatory. To evaluate the relationships among the variables, the Micmac software was utilized, and subsequent scenarios including probable and favorable outcomes were determined. The analysis highlighted the priority of three key factors in inactive lands: land price, accessibility to services and facilities, and the number of land uses. These findings are of great significance and should be taken into consideration by urban decision-makers not only in the studied sites but also in similar areas.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to public transportation systems worldwide, resulting in a substantial decrease in demand. In light of this, it is crucial to develop policies that mitigate potential risks and prioritize the health and safety of passengers. While the scientific and collective understanding of the interplay between these two spheres is steadily growing, the absence of a comprehensive review focusing on sound policymaking is deemed significant. This present research aims to quantitatively synthesize and consolidate existing studies in the field to determine the effectiveness of various policies by examining overlapping sources and combining findings. The meta-analysis method was employed to fulfill the research objective, with both Persian and English scientific research articles constituting the statistical population. The search process involved manual selection and utilized relevant keywords such as "public transportation" and "COVID-19." Ultimately, a total of 50 scientific research articles (in Persian and English) were included as the final statistical population. For the execution of the meta-analysis, data were inputted into the Stata software, enabling the creation of a forest diagram (also known as an accumulation diagram). Furthermore, analytical connections between the research articles were established using the VOSviewer‎ software. The findings of the synthesis reveal a profound research gap pertaining to the understanding of resource policies in this domain.