Geography and Urban Research

The Impact of Urban Growth Patterns on Reducing Environmental Pollution with an Emphasis on Smart Urban Growth (Case Study: Ahvaz City)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Seyyedeh Shahla Hosseini 1
Seyyed Jalaluddin Hosseini 2
Seyyed Hesamuddin Hosseini 3

1 a. Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran .

2 b. Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

3 c. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22130/gur.2025.2069557.1030
Abstract
Smart growth is a response to uncontrolled and scattered growth. Accordingly, smart growth seeks to determine which is the best place for development and in which physical form it should be carried out. A proper understanding and recognition of the expansion of the city in the current and future conditions is essential for implementing efficient management in the field of urban environmental protection. The purpose of the present study is to examine the spatial indicators of smart urban growth in the metropolis of Ahvaz. The research method is descriptive-analytical and the data analysis was carried out using the Dimatel technique. The results of the study show that among the effective indicators in smart urban growth of the metropolis of Ahvaz, the number of public parks index has the greatest impact and the share and per capita index of green space has the least direct impact on other indicators. Also, in terms of the indirect effects of the indicators, the per capita green space index has the greatest impact and the share and per capita index of open, barren, and agricultural spaces has the least impact. It can be said that among the four effective indicators in the smart growth of the Ahvaz metropolis, the highest interaction belongs to the index of the number of public parks and the lowest interaction belongs to the index of the share and per capita of open, barren and agricultural spaces. Also, the most effective factor among these four indicators is related to the index of the share and per capita of open, barren and agricultural spaces, and the most influential factor is the index of the number of public parks.

Highlights

1.       Ahmadi, A., Sheikhul Islami, A., & Jalili, M. (2024). Analysis of Factors Influencing the Growth of Smart Cities with a Future-Studies Approach: The Case of Aligudarz City. Journal of JFCV, 5(2),5-15. [In Persian]

2.       Anamoradnejad, R. B., Nikpour, A., & Hassani, S. Z. (2018). Spatial Physical Analysis of Urban Areas Based on Urban Smart Growth Indicators (Case Study: Babol City). Journal of Urban Research and Planning, 9(34), 19-30. [In Persian]

3.       Ansari, M., Vali Shariatpanahi, M., Malek Hosseini, A., & Modiri, M. (2021). Modeling Factors Affecting the Implementability of Smart Growth Principles in Malayer. Journal of MJSP, 25(2),1-34. 20.1001.1.16059689.1400.25.2.1.8 [In Persian]

4.       Bahadori Amjaz, F.L., Anabestani, A.A., & Tavakolinia, J. (2023). The Roles of the Main Components of the Formation of Smart Growth Approach in the Sustainable Development of Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Jiroft County. Journal of Spatial Planning, 12(2), 91-118. 10.22108/sppl.2022.132321.1639 [In Persian]

5.       Bibri, S. E., & Krogstie, J. (2017). On the social shaping dimensions of smart sustainable cities: A study in science, technology, and society. Journal of Sustainable Cities and Society, 29(12), 219-246. 10.1016/j.scs.2016.11.004

6.       Farajizadeh, K., Mousavi, M., & Mosaiebzadeh, A. (2023). The Estimation of the Factors Affecting the Expansion of Urban Smart Growth in Small Scale Cities, Case Study: Yasouj City. Journal of Urban Ecology Researches, 14(2), 103-118. 10.30473/grup.2021.45438.2325 [In Persian]

7.       Fareed, Y. (1994). Geography and Urban Development. Tabriz: Tabriz University Press. [In Persian]

8.       Firoozi, M., Pourahmad, A., & Sajadian, M. (2021). Ranking and relative comparison of Ahvaz metropolitan regions in terms of urban smart growth available indicators. Journal of GeoRes, 36(4), 383-390. [In Persian]

9.       Khandani, S., Safarlue, M.A., & Beygbabaye, B. (2020). Spatial analysis of urban smart growth indicators in middle Cities (Case Study: Marand city). Journal of Spatial Planning, 11(42), 181-194. [In Persian]

10.    Kozehgar, L., Saeedi, S., & Niknami, N. (2025). Evaluation of the social capacity of intermediate development with an emphasis on the smart growth approach (Sarab neighborhood of Mashhad). Journal of Urban Environmental Planning  and Development, 17(5), 95-110. 10.30495/JUEP.1404.1103330 [In Persian]

11.    Moradi, E., & Peyvastehgar, Y. (2022). The Assessment and Ranking of Yasuj City Districts Regarding Smart Growth Indicators with Sustainable Development Approach. Journal of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 12(3), 41-56. 10.22126/ges.2022.7460.2500 [In Persian]

12.    Mousavi Hassani, S. M. (2022). Smart city theories. Journal of Geography and Human Relationships, 5(2), 1-20. [In Persian]

13.    Rezaei Bezanjani, R., Azani, M., Saberi, H., & Momeni, M. (2019). Analysis and evaluation of smart urban growth strategy in the four regions of Kerman city. Journal of Scientific and research quarterly New Perspectives in Human Geography, 11(3), 25-41. [In Persian]

14.    Shams Najafi, F.A., Kamyabi, S., & Arghan, A. (2022). The Presentation of the Optimal Smart City Model From the Viewpoint of Sustainable Urban Development: The Case Study of Shahr-e Ray. Journal of Town and Country Planning, 14(2), 623-649. 10.22059/jtcp.2022.346547.670338 [In Persian]

15.    Tavakolinia, J., & Ostadi Sisi, M. (2010). An Analysis of Sustainability in Neighborhoods of Tehran METROPOLIS with Emphasis on The Assistant Councils Function (Case studies EVEN/darakeh velenjak). Journal of Human Geography Research, 72(23), 29-43.

16.    UN-Habitat .(2022). Envisaging the future of cities.

17.    Veglianti, E., Magnaghi, E., De Marco, M., & Li, Y. (2021). Smart city in China: The state of art of Xiong an new area. Journal of Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities: Promoting Innovation and Participation, 10(5), 81-97. 10.1007/978-3-030-60607-7_6

18.    Zyari, K., Hataminejad, H., & Torkamannia, N. (2020). Comparative assessment of urban smart growth indicators in 6 areas of 6th region, Tehran. Journal of Human Geography Research, 52(3), 775-792. 10.22059/jhgr.2020.45151.1006671 [In Persian]

Keywords

Urban Smart Growth
Spatial Distribution
Dimatel
Ahvaz
1.       Ahmadi, A., Sheikhul Islami, A., & Jalili, M. (2024). Analysis of Factors Influencing the Growth of Smart Cities with a Future-Studies Approach: The Case of Aligudarz City. Journal of JFCV, 5(2),5-15. [In Persian]
2.       Anamoradnejad, R. B., Nikpour, A., & Hassani, S. Z. (2018). Spatial Physical Analysis of Urban Areas Based on Urban Smart Growth Indicators (Case Study: Babol City). Journal of Urban Research and Planning, 9(34), 19-30. [In Persian]
3.       Ansari, M., Vali Shariatpanahi, M., Malek Hosseini, A., & Modiri, M. (2021). Modeling Factors Affecting the Implementability of Smart Growth Principles in Malayer. Journal of MJSP, 25(2),1-34. 20.1001.1.16059689.1400.25.2.1.8 [In Persian]
4.       Bahadori Amjaz, F.L., Anabestani, A.A., & Tavakolinia, J. (2023). The Roles of the Main Components of the Formation of Smart Growth Approach in the Sustainable Development of Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Jiroft County. Journal of Spatial Planning, 12(2), 91-118. 10.22108/sppl.2022.132321.1639 [In Persian]
5.       Bibri, S. E., & Krogstie, J. (2017). On the social shaping dimensions of smart sustainable cities: A study in science, technology, and society. Journal of Sustainable Cities and Society, 29(12), 219-246. 10.1016/j.scs.2016.11.004
6.       Farajizadeh, K., Mousavi, M., & Mosaiebzadeh, A. (2023). The Estimation of the Factors Affecting the Expansion of Urban Smart Growth in Small Scale Cities, Case Study: Yasouj City. Journal of Urban Ecology Researches, 14(2), 103-118. 10.30473/grup.2021.45438.2325 [In Persian]
7.       Fareed, Y. (1994). Geography and Urban Development. Tabriz: Tabriz University Press. [In Persian]
8.       Firoozi, M., Pourahmad, A., & Sajadian, M. (2021). Ranking and relative comparison of Ahvaz metropolitan regions in terms of urban smart growth available indicators. Journal of GeoRes, 36(4), 383-390. [In Persian]
9.       Khandani, S., Safarlue, M.A., & Beygbabaye, B. (2020). Spatial analysis of urban smart growth indicators in middle Cities (Case Study: Marand city). Journal of Spatial Planning, 11(42), 181-194. [In Persian]
10.    Kozehgar, L., Saeedi, S., & Niknami, N. (2025). Evaluation of the social capacity of intermediate development with an emphasis on the smart growth approach (Sarab neighborhood of Mashhad). Journal of Urban Environmental Planning  and Development, 17(5), 95-110. 10.30495/JUEP.1404.1103330 [In Persian]
11.    Moradi, E., & Peyvastehgar, Y. (2022). The Assessment and Ranking of Yasuj City Districts Regarding Smart Growth Indicators with Sustainable Development Approach. Journal of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 12(3), 41-56. 10.22126/ges.2022.7460.2500 [In Persian]
12.    Mousavi Hassani, S. M. (2022). Smart city theories. Journal of Geography and Human Relationships, 5(2), 1-20. [In Persian]
13.    Rezaei Bezanjani, R., Azani, M., Saberi, H., & Momeni, M. (2019). Analysis and evaluation of smart urban growth strategy in the four regions of Kerman city. Journal of Scientific and research quarterly New Perspectives in Human Geography, 11(3), 25-41. [In Persian]
14.    Shams Najafi, F.A., Kamyabi, S., & Arghan, A. (2022). The Presentation of the Optimal Smart City Model From the Viewpoint of Sustainable Urban Development: The Case Study of Shahr-e Ray. Journal of Town and Country Planning, 14(2), 623-649. 10.22059/jtcp.2022.346547.670338 [In Persian]
15.    Tavakolinia, J., & Ostadi Sisi, M. (2010). An Analysis of Sustainability in Neighborhoods of Tehran METROPOLIS with Emphasis on The Assistant Councils Function (Case studies EVEN/darakeh velenjak). Journal of Human Geography Research, 72(23), 29-43.
16.    UN-Habitat .(2022). Envisaging the future of cities.
17.    Veglianti, E., Magnaghi, E., De Marco, M., & Li, Y. (2021). Smart city in China: The state of art of Xiong an new area. Journal of Organizing Smart Buildings and Cities: Promoting Innovation and Participation, 10(5), 81-97. 10.1007/978-3-030-60607-7_6
18.    Zyari, K., Hataminejad, H., & Torkamannia, N. (2020). Comparative assessment of urban smart growth indicators in 6 areas of 6th region, Tehran. Journal of Human Geography Research, 52(3), 775-792. 10.22059/jhgr.2020.45151.1006671 [In Persian]
Geography and Urban Research
Volume 2, Issue 3
Autumn 2025
Pages 56-68

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