A Comparative Investigation of the Urban Form Effects on Citizens’ Health, A Case Study: Regions of 3 and 4 in Urmia City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master Student, , faculty of architecture ,urban planning and art, University of Urumia, Urumia, Iran

2 Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Art & Architecture Faculty,University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran

3 Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, , Art and; Architecture Faculty,,University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran

Abstract

Rapid growth of urbanization and physical expansion of cities in the recent decades have been accompanied by many negative consequences in different aspects. One of these consequences is the reduction of citizens’ health under the effects of factors such as car dependency, reduction in walkability (as daily physical activity) and inappropriate distribution of activities. In this regard, the issue of health in city has been considered in the recent years. Theatrical studies show that the urban form, which includes a set of physical and non-physical features in the city, affects the increase or decrease of residents’ health. So, the goal of this study is an investigation on the relation between urban form and citizens’ health in Urmia city. In another word, this research wants to recognize the most important elements of urban form which have more effects on public health. The method of this study is descriptive- analytical and also practical- developmental. Data collection is based on documentary studies and survey (distributing a questionnaire among the residents of region 3 and 4). For analysis, TOPSIS method is used. The results of this study showed that among eleven urban form elements in three environmental, social and physical categories, the amount of fabric compactness is the most effective factor on the citizens’ health and after that, there are mixed-use, the quality of pedestrian space, the air quality and the quality of green spaces. The results of TOPSIS analysis showed that according to the residents’ perspectives, the current situation of form in region 4 has more effects on urban health and this show that urban compact form (and its elements) has more effects on public health in comparison with urban sprawl (region 3). These findings are compatible to the theatrical studies. According to the successful pattern of dense development in Urmia city, it is necessary for the health of the citizens Urban planners pay more attention to this aspect of development and development policies of this type of development process to provide.

Keywords

References

Abedini, A. (2018). Measurement of Urban Sprawl Using Spatial-temporal Data (Case Study: City of Urmia). Motaleate Shahri, 7(25), 63-76. (in Persian)
Ahmad, G., Azizi, M. M., & Zebardast, E. (2011). Comparative Study of City Sprawl in Three Middle Range Cities of Iran: Ardabil, Sanandaj and Kashan. Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning, 3(5), 25-44. (in Persian)
Alberti, M. (2005). The Effects of Urban Patterns on Ecosystem Function. International Regional Science Review, 28(2), 168- 192.
Alexander, C. (1964). Notes on the Synthesis of Form (S. Zarin Mehr, Trans). Tehran: Rozaneh Publications. (in Persian)
Arundel, R., & Ronald, R. (2017). The role of urban form in sustainability of community: The case of Amsterdam. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 44(1), 33-53.
Bahraini, S. H., & Khosravi, H. (2010). Physical and Spatial Features of built environment which have Impact on Walking, Health status and Body Fitness. Honar-Ha-Ye-Ziba: Memary Va Shahrsazi, 2(43), 5-16. (in Persian)
Consulting engineers for planning and design. (2019). Summary of the integrated detailed plan report of Urmia city. Urmia Municipality. (in Persian)
Dempsey, N., Brown, C., Raman, S., Porta, S., Jenks, M., Jones, C., & Bramley, G. (2010). Elements of urban form. Dimensions of the sustainable city, 21-51.
Frank, L., Engelke, P., & Schmid, T. (2003). Health and community design: The impact of the built environment on physical activity. Island Press.
Gharaye, A., Zebardast, E., & Majedi, H. (2018). Explaining the relationship between city form and social sustainability (Case study: 22 districts of Tehran metropolitan). Physical Social Planning, 5(3), 79-93. (in Persian)
Giles-Corti, B. (2006). The impact of urban form on public health. Paper for Australian State of the Environment Committee, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
Hakimian, P. (2016). Investigating the Relationship between Physical Features of Urban Spaces and Obesity. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 8(15), 215-224. (in Persian)
Hamedi, A., Darskhan, R., & Fazamarzie Asl, M. (2019). An operational framework for explaining and measuring the indicators of The Urban Sprawl the city with the application of global experiences, case study: Urmia city. Soffeh, 29(2), 117-142. (in Persian)
Hankey, S., & Marshall, J. D. (2017). Urban form, air pollution, and health. Current environmental health reports, 4, 491-503.
Howell, A. (2013). Planning for Healthy Communities in Nova Scotia: The Current State of Practice (Unpublished Master's Thesis, University of Waterloo).
Iravani, H., & Rao, V. (2020). The effects of New Urbanism on public health. Journal of Urban Design, 25(2), 218-235.
Jenks, M., & Dempsey, N. (2005). Future and Design for Sustainable Cities. Oxford:  Architecturel Press.
Kalantari. K. (2015). Quantitive models in planning (regional,urban and rural). Tehran: University of Tehran. (in Persian)
Lynch, K. (1981). A theory of good city form (H. Bahreyni, Trans.). Tehran: University of Tehran. (in Persian)
McCormack, G. R., Cabaj, J., Orpana, H., Lukic, R., Blackstaffe, A., Goopy, S., Hagel, B., Keough, N., Martinson, R., Chapman, J., Lee, C., Tang, J., & Fabreau, G. (2019). A scoping review on the relations between urban form and health: a focus on Canadian quantitative evidence. Examen de la portée sur les associations entre aménagement urbain et santé : les données quantitatives canadiennes. Health promotion and chronic disease prevention in Canada : research, policy and practice, 39(5), 187–200.
Mohammadi, M., Parvizian, A., & Alizadeh, M. (2017). Extraction and sensing, indicators healthy city in eight districts Ahwaz city. Journal of Research and Urban Planning, 8(29), 161-178. (in Persian)
Mohammadi, S., & Nastern, M. (2014). An analysis on the relationship between city form and public health: with an emphasis on the movement patterns of residents. In the 3rd International Congress on Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Development, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran. (in Persian)
Momeni, M., & Shrifi salim, A. (2015). Madm models and softwares… Tehran: Author. (in Persian)
Moscato, U., & Poscia, A. (2015). Urban public health. A Systematic Review of Key Issues in Public Health, 223-247.
Næss, P. (2014). Urban Form, Sustainability and Health: The Case of Greater Oslo. European Planning Studies, 22(7), 1524-1543.
Nastaran, M., & Mohammadi, S. (2019). Ranking of Urban Neighborhoods in the Enjoyment of Walkability Index (Case Study: Neighborhoods of 1th District of Rasht). Journal of Studies of Human Settlements Planning, 13(4), 893-912. (in Persian)
Northridge, M. E., Sclar, E. D., & Biswas, P. (2003). Sorting out the connections between the built environment and health: a conceptual framework for navigating pathways and planning healthy cities. Journal of urban health, 80, 556-568.
Ompad, D. C., Galea, S., & Vlahov, D. (2017). Urban Health Systems: Overview. International Encyclopedia of Public Health, 311-317.
Planning and Design Consulting Engineers. (2016). Detailed plan report of area 3 of Urmia city. Urmia municipality. (in Persian)
Planning and Design Consulting Engineers. (2016). Detailed plan report of area 4 of Urmia city. Urmia municipality. (in Persian)
Pourmohammadi, M. R., & Zali, N. (2004). Human Development, Challenges and Prospects (with an Analytical Look at Human Development Indicators in Iran). Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tabriz, 10(15), 44-52. (in Persian)
Saghafi Asl, A., Zebardast, E., & Majedi, H. (2013). Application of TOPSIS Technique in Ranking of Tehran Urban Design Projects with Implementation Evaluation Approach. Honar-Ha-Ye-Ziba: Memary Va Shahrsazi, 18(4), 69-78. (in Persian)
Sheikhzadeh, F., Mohammadi, M., & Shahivandi, A. (2018). Compiling a District-Centered Strategic Planning Pattern with Focus on the Healthy City Approach (Case Study: Sareban District, Bojnourd). Geography and Urban Space Development, 5(1), 93-111. (in Persian)
Song, Y., Popkin, B., & Gordon-Larsen, P. (2013). A national-level analysis of neighborhood form metrics. Landscape and Urban Planning, 116, 73-85.
Vancutsem, D., Gee, D., Hoyer, U., & Laconte, P. (2009). Urban Planning and Human Health in the European City, Report to the World Health Organisation. International Society of City and Regional Planners.
WHO. (2010). Urban Planning, Environment and Health, From Evidence to Policy Action- Meeting report, Copenhagen.
World Bank. (2018). Urban Development.
Zamanzade, Z. (2018). Analysis of sustainability dimensions in a healthy city project and providing fulfillment - of – part strategies in Iran. Urban Management, 50, 215-235. (in Persian)
Zaali, N., & Sarmast, B. (2010). The Spatial Layout of the Urban Networks and Demographic Planning in the 2022 Prospective, the Case of Azerbaijan. Strategic Studies Quarterly, 13(48), 59-89. (in Persian)
Zali, N., & Mansouri Birjandi, S. (2015). Analysis of Key Factors Affecting the Development of Sustainable Transport in the Horizon of Tehran Metropolis 1404 (Structural Analysis Method). Spatial Planning and Planning, 19(2), 1-31. (in Persian)
Zapata-Diomedi, M. B., Brown, V., & Veerman, J. L. (2015). A rapid review of evidence: The effects of urban form on health: costs and benefits. Centre for Population Health, NSW Ministry of Health.
Zebardast, E., & Habibi, S. (2009). Examining Sprawl and its Causes in Zanjan City. Honar-Ha-Ye-Ziba: Memary Va Shahrsazi, 1(38), 115-123. (in Persian)
Zebardast, E., & Shad Zaviye, H. (2011). Identifying the factors affecting the urban sprawl and its relationship with the spatial structure of the city; case study: Urmia city. Letter of architecture and urban planning, 7, 89-112. (in Persian)
Zhou, C., Li, S., & Wang, S. (2018). Examining the impacts of urban form on air pollution in developing countries: A case study of China’s megacities. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(8), 1565.
Ziyari, K., & Janbabanezhad, M. (2012). Principles and standards of a healthy city. Sepehr, 21(82), 50-56. (in Persian)
Urban Planning Knowledge
Volume 6, Issue 4
February 2023
Pages 110-124

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 16 November 2022
  • Revise Date: 20 December 2022
  • Accept Date: 15 February 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics