Spatial justice

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spatial justice in different dimensions (physical, social, economic, and environmental) in order to have balance regarding four regions of Shahriyar city. The spatial justice approach in a city is used for controlling and reducing the physical-spatial inequalities as well as a fair distribution of municipal services and facilities in different areas of the city. In this study, the spatial justice of four areas of Shahriyar city was evaluated with 13 criteria and 27 indicators. This study was carried out through exploratory-analytical research method that used two models of the analytic hierarchy and the shortest distance. Eventually, the final map of different access levels was drawn through combining fuzzy logic with these two models. The findings and obtained results through Topsis model indicated that area 1 of Shahriyar city had the highest rank in social, economic, physical, and environmental indicators. However, the area 3 had unfavorable economic and physical conditions, and area 2 had unfavorable environmental conditions. Having integrated Topsis and Fuzzy models, it was shown that areas 1 and 2 were considered as privileged regions and areas 3 and 4 were respectively determined as the semi-privileged and nonprivileged regions. Moreover, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method indicated that areas 1 and 4 had better conditions and areas 3 and 2 are respectively on the lower levels. Finally, after combining the results of fuzzy and AHP models, the final map was designed. It showed that the areas 1 and 4 were privileged regions; areas 3 and 4 were respectively the semi-privileged and underprivileged regions of the Shahriyar city. Generally, the results of this study indicated that the physical-spatial development of Shahriyar city was unbalanced and did not meet the conditions of equity-based city.

Environmental dimensions can be used as indicators of urban quality of life due to their potential contribution to subjective well-being. The environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological, and social elements interrelated in various ways, individually and collectively. This study aims to uncover qualitatively whether these two environmental elements, namely social and physical factors, are indeed predictors of subjective well-being and reliable indicators of quality of life in cities. The study presents and tests a model that examines a matrix of cross-effects between social and physical indicators with subjective well-being. Data are obtained through an expert survey in the city of Tehran. In this approach, a group of urban planners undertakes the effect of social and physical components on subjective well-being. First, the existing literature is studied, and the related components are identified. Then, some interviews are made, and the cross-section analysis effects are extracted in a cross-effect matrix. As the finding revealed, among physical factors, percapita and spatial justice can have the highest impact on subjective well-being in Tehran. This was followed by access to urban transportation networks depending on their type, quality, and amount. Also, commute, neighborhood, housing, and job satisfaction were predictors of subjective well-being. Among social factors, spending leisure time, continuous social interactions, and health status impact subjective well-being.