Land use and Sustainable Development

The impact of climate change threatens rural livelihoods in semi-arid areas like Kordian District of Iran’s Jahrom County, particularly where there is inadequate spatial planning. This research analyzes policy shortcomings in Iran’s spatial planning framework concerning climate-induced resilient livelihood changes, based on the qualitative analysis of four documents and field survey of 18 stakeholders. This study identifies and analyzes the following critical gaps: 1 misalignment between climate adaptation objectives and land-use planning decisions spatial planning within higher order planning documents, 2 layered governance silos, and 3 the local livelihood framework is planned for but not planned with. The spatial analysis showcases overlooked economic opportunities like pastoralism, horticulture, and solar energy, which are limited by infrastructural deficits, climate hazards, and policy fragmentation. Further compounding these issues is geographic isolation and dysfunctional settlement morphology. This research outlines actionable strategies within the policy-action-instituition matrix framework, calling for the spatial restructuring of service network configurations, climate-resilient livelihood diversification, improved governance coordination, targeted youth and female empowerment, and the ecosysystem-based adaptation approach to spatial planning. The gaps between the objectives and the means employed demonstrate the inadequacy of current spatial planning approaches to semi-arid regions integrating climate, institutional frameworks, and socio-spatial relations. The proposed framework spatially called suggest is adaptable and enrich spatial.

present study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the factors influencing the creative consumption of urban space by women in Behesht Boulevard, District 6, Shiraz. Considering the research objectives and the components under investigation, the research is of an applied type and its method is descriptive-analytical. Theoretical data were collected using a documentary method, while empirical data were gathered through a survey-based Delphi technique. The statistical population consisted of 30 experts and specialists selected through a purposive or judgmental sampling. A total of 31 drivers, structured in 4 main dimensions, were processed using structural cross-impact analysis within the MICMAC software. the findings from the cross-impact analysis indicate a complex and intertwined distribution of drivers in terms of their influence and susceptibility. the clustering system of the drivers shows a concentration in a dual-cluster system. Among the 31 driving forces, the following key factors had the highest direct impact on the mentioned boulevard: designing safe spaces for women, attracting women's participation in decision-making, creating multi-purpose social spaces, raising awareness about women's rights, supporting women's voluntary activities, developing local social groups, providing job opportunities in the artistic and creative sectors, organizing cultural activities specifically for women, ensuring easy access to public spaces, designing child-friendly public spaces, promoting a culture of using art in public spaces, providing accessible health and welfare facilities, and establishing cultural and artistic learning environments.

This research examines the role of in-between spatial systems in enhancing presence quality, taking the Qeysarieh precinct of the Isfahan Bazaar—one of the principal connectors between Naqsh-e Jahan Square and the historic bazaar network—as the study area. The precinct was selected owing to its high density of pedestrian flows, adjacency to tourism–service–commercial land uses, and diversity of intermediary spatial elements. The study adopted a mixed-methods (quantitative–qualitative) approach. In the quantitative component, perceptual data from 351 users regarding four dimensions—environmental, physical, functional, and psychological—were collected through a standardized questionnaire and analyzed using the one-sample t-test and Friedman test. In the qualitative component, the spatial structure was evaluated through a space-syntax approach at four levels: axial analysis (Integration, Choice, Mean Depth), visibility analysis (VGA) and isovists, agent-based simulation, and assessment of overall intelligibility. Quantitative results indicated that psychological, functional, and environmental dimensions were assessed above baseline, whereas the physical variable showed no significant difference. Syntactic analysis showed that the Zarrabkhaneh route and Qeysarieh Chahar-Suq exhibited the highest centrality and distributive roles, and that chahar-suqs exerted greater influence on movement and stopping than corridors. The low coefficient of determination for intelligibility (R² = 0.11) indicates a need to improve perceptual guidance within secondary networks. Integrating quantitative and qualitative findings suggests three principal strategies whose implementation, by aligning form, function, and perception, can increase the sustainability of presence quality and enhance user experience within historic urban fabrics.

In recent decades, the design and construction of residential complexes in many cities have prioritized quantity over quality. This disregard for physical quality has reduced housing to a purely quantitative and market-driven commodity. This approach has, in turn, led to inefficiency in achieving social sustainability and has created a significant gap between the spatial structure and the real, diverse behavioral needs of residents. recent studies in the field of social sustainability in residential complexes have led to the identification of a key indicator called "physical desirability." This indicator, acting as the missing link between the physical and social dimensions of housing, can create a synergistic relationship between the quality of space and the collective behavior of residents. The current research aims to investigate and identify the components of physical desirability, with a focus on systematically analyzing previous studies. the research method for this study is descriptive-analytical, and data were collected through library and documentary sources. the findings show that three fundamental components—legibility, flexibility, and identity—can interact to create a foundation for sustainable housing. Legibility enhances the intelligibility and usability of a space, flexibility allows the environment to adapt to the changing needs of residents, and identity strengthens the emotional and cultural bond between people and their living environment. the results of the research indicate that physical desirability, through these components, acts as an active mediator between the spatial structure and social actions. It directly impacts the strengthening of collective security, the increase of social cohesion, and the sustainability of neighborhood interactions. Ultimately, enhancing physical desirability not only improves the quality of life for residents but can also become an effective strategy for the sustainable regeneration of contemporary residential fabrics.

A sustainable urban economy seeks to strike a balance between economic growth, social justice, and environmental protection in cities. This concept focuses on the optimal use of resources, reducing environmental impacts, and improving the quality of life of citizens. In Sustainable Urban Planning, Bryson provides a strategic framework that includes stakeholder analysis, developing a shared vision, and implementing action plans. This approach emphasizes public participation, local resource management, and strengthening green infrastructure so that cities can function as economic engines while maintaining environmental and social sustainability. The present study is applied in terms of purpose, mixed (quantitative-qualitative) in terms of data collection method, and cross-sectional in terms of time. It was conducted in District 5, District 20, Tehran (Abdol Azim Shrine area, Shahr-e Ray). In line with the topics discussed, the strategic planning of the shrine of Abdul Azim Hassani (AS) according to the ten stages based on strategic planning (Braison model), provides an analytical framework for the strategic decision-making process and a reference for monitoring (Region 20 Municipality) as an output of the Braison model for the development of a sustainable economy of the area.

This article provides an overview of the ongoing debate on evaluation within the field of urban planning. It begins with a state-of-the-art review that is organized into three interrelated parts. The first examines the historical evolution of evaluation theories and methods, highlighting how approaches have shifted from traditional cost–benefit analysis and rational models toward more complex, participatory, and context-sensitive frameworks. The second part addresses the contemporary planning debate, which is shaped by diverse paradigms such as communicative planning, collaborative governance, and sustainability-oriented strategies. Special emphasis is placed on the practice of evaluation in planning, with particular reference to Public Participation in Planning (PPIP) and Participatory Planning Review (PPR) as mechanisms that attempt to bridge technical expertise with local knowledge and community priorities. the second section of the article turns to the application of these methods across different planning systems, with a particular focus on the Iranian context. Here, the discussion critically evaluates the reliance on positivist theories in the preparation of detailed plans, questioning both their relevance and their limitations in addressing contemporary urban challenges. Through an extensive review of literature and case-based evidence, the study identifies the key strengths and weaknesses associated with the preparation and implementation of detailed plans in Iran. finally, the article suggests that establishing a set of general principles for evaluating the implementation of urban plans can strengthen the legitimacy, effectiveness, and inclusiveness of planning practice. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing citizen participation and integrating evaluation more systematically into the theory and practice of planning.