نشریه برنامه ریزی توسعه شهری و منطقه ای
پیاپی 31 (زمستان 1403)

The relationship between "spatial plans" as products of spatial planning and "settlement sustainability" as an outcome of sustainable development presents a significant challenge. This issue is critical in theoretical and scientific domains and requires exploration through innovative approaches. Given the simplicity of the sustainability concept, this research emphasizes an economic perspective, employing the Results-Based Management (RBM) approach. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility of settlement sustainability by focusing on economic growth and sustainable employment through provincial spatial plans in less developed regions. The research design follows a sequential approach and employs a mixed quantitative-qualitative methodology conducted in two phases. In the first phase, a document review of previous studies identified the pillars and factors of settlement sustainability. In the second phase, the validity of these pillars and factors, as well as their interrelationships were analyzed. This analysis also examined their content and practical reflection within the provincial spatial plans of selected less developed regions. Semi-structured interviews with experts were conducted, and a summative content analysis approach was applied.The findings reveal a clear correspondence between spatial levels and settlement sustainability factors, aligning with the three levels of results output, outcome, and effect. As the spatial scale of settlements increases, the influence of development plan results diminishes over time, transitioning from "effect" to "output."

Design for Social Innovation (DfSI) has emerged as a powerful approach to addressing complex social challenges and fostering sustainable community development worldwide. This paper synthesizes findings from a comprehensive analysis of fourteen DfSI initiatives that, through diverse methodologies and participatory processes, tackle issues such as social cohesion, economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and health and well-being. The study employs qualitative research methods, including thematic analysis and comparative case study analysis. Data were collected from project documentation and seminal articles, offering a holistic understanding of the multifaceted impacts of DfSI across various global contexts. Key findings underscore the effectiveness of human-centered design and strong community engagement mechanisms in achieving sustainable outcomes. The analyzed projects demonstrated significant impacts, such as strengthening social ties, promoting environmental stewardship, enhancing health outcomes, and stimulating local economies through entrepreneurial activities. This paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge by shedding light on the transformative potential of DfSI in addressing diverse societal challenges. It emphasizes the importance of adaptive strategies, collaborative partnerships, and scalable models for advancing sustainable community development through design-driven approaches. The paper concludes with recommendations to further DfSI research and practice, focusing on enhancing scalability, inclusivity, and long-term impact.

Conflict is a prevalent issue in protected areas in Iran, presenting a significant challenge for planners. Tourism development can be a major factor exacerbating conflicts in protected areas. Focusing on the Miankaleh Wetland in Iran, the present study aimed to identify the nature and causes of conflicts associated with tourism development in protected areas, and to explore ways to overcome them. First, a meta-synthesis approach was used to analyze the qualitative findings of previous studies. Articles, books, and theses published between 2000 and 2024 were identified and selected from the databases using purposive sampling. The analysis helped present a thematic network along three dimensions: the nature of conflict (what), the causes of conflict (why), and the methods of conflict management (how). According to the findings, conflicts in protected areas are often intergroup and inter organizational. The main causes of conflict include poor communication and lack of collaboration, injustice and power dominance, and faulty governing structure. Additionally, managing conflicts requires six stages: social capital, compromise and consensus, creating social organizations, communicative action, gradual co-evolution, and conflict improvement. The results of the research not only contribute to the expansion of knowledge about conflict reduction methods in tourism but also provide a basis for future studies in this field.

The legal framework governing interventions in the provision of suitable housing in the cities of Iran is rooted in development plans, which, at various scales (national to local), are expected to systematically and integratively incorporate policies for ensuring adequate housing. These plans, underpinned by the rule of law, are intended to guarantee the execution of housing policies. This study employs a narrative review with a critical lens to explore the nature and extent of the relationship between housing planning, policymaking, and development plans in research conducted on Iranian cities. An analysis of 27 selected scholarly articles reveals several critical findings. First, there is a limited understanding of the concept of suitable housing within the reviewed research. Second, the methodologies employed are predominantly quantitative, relying on technocratic perspectives, which fail to capture the multifaceted realities of housing conditions. Third, an overwhelming focus on metropolitan areas—particularly Tehran—and a restricted temporal scope confined to the past decade highlight a neglect of other spatial and temporal dimensions across the country. Lastly, the studies exhibit a lack of attention to macro-structural factors, particularly those related to the political economy of space, which significantly influence housing provision and policy.

Over the past few decades, the metropolis of Isfahan has accelerated the process of unsustainable development with its excessive physical development, industrial development, service costs, air pollution, marginalization, etc., which requires attention to development indicators and trends. It requires the axis in the field of sustainability. Prosperity has indicators that affect social stability as one of the pillars of sustainable development. This research has analyzed the components of urban prosperity in the metropolis of Isfahan by using the cross-effects analysis technique as well as MicMac and Scenario Wizard software. The results of Mik Mak show that the metropolis of Isfahan has an unstable system. Finally, 14 key factors were selected and 42 different possible situations were considered on the key factors in the Scenario Wizard software. The results show that 3 scenarios are more likely to occur in the future development of Isfahan. Among these 3 scenarios, the first scenario contains ideal conditions, scenario number 2, a relatively favorable scenario, and scenario number 3, a critical and unfavorable situation. Among these, the poverty rate had the greatest effect, which shows the importance of this factor in the prosperity of Isfahan.

The rapid expansion of cities and increasing traffic, coupled with the development of new technologies, has presented countries with unprecedented challenges. Traditional institutions and management methods struggle to adapt to the complexities of a rapidly evolving world. In response, urban planners are working to develop integrated models for 21st-century cities to meet emerging expectations. The concept of a smart city has emerged as a cornerstone of transformation and development in the third millennium. Urban transportation, in particular, has been significantly influenced by advancements in information and communication technology, including the Internet of Things (IoT). This study adopts an applied research approach, employing a descriptive-analytical method for data collection and analysis. Qualitative analysis was conducted using an open-ended questionnaire to identify key components and influential factors. Subsequently, a closed questionnaire was designed, and data were collected from 177 samples using purposive sampling and the snowball technique. The findings reveal numerous challenges faced by Tabriz, as a metropolis, in achieving intelligent urban transportation. Key obstacles include the weakness of integrated urban management, the absence of a clear vision, inadequate planning, limited financial resources, insufficient organizational structures, the lack of IoT-based intelligent systems, reliance on heterogeneous systems, and limited familiarity with IoT-based intelligent systems. These issues highlight the need for strategic interventions to overcome the barriers to smart urban transportation in Tabriz.