Geography and Urban Research

Reframing the Principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design in the Age of Smart Technologies: Urban Governance Requirements and Strategies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

reza ghaderi 1
Ehsan Salimi 2
Sepedeh Bozari 3

1 a. Phd in Criminal Law and Criminology, Islamic Azad University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.

2 b. Associate Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.

3 c. Associate Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22130/gur.2026.2084750.1038
Abstract
One of the fundamental functions of governance is to provide security and social peace for its citizens. In this context, crime and, particularly, the fear it generates in contemporary cities are considered among the primary obstacles to achieving sustainable security and a desirable quality of life. The paradigm of penal governance regards crime prevention as a key strategy for confronting this phenomenon. Among preventive approaches, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) has gained significant prominence in recent decades by emphasizing the physical and spatial design of urban environments to reduce opportunities for crime. However, the emergence of the novel "smart city" paradigm and transformations in urban governance methods have revealed the necessity to revise and evolve traditional CPTED principles. This article, employing a descriptive-analytical method and based on library resources, seeks to elucidate the theoretical framework of "Smart CPTED" within the context of smart urban governance. This framework expands the traditional concept by leveraging functions such as natural surveillance, access control, territoriality, and maintenance, elevating it from a merely reactive state to a predictive and proactive level. The research findings indicate that smart urban governance, through the integration of advanced analytical technologies like artificial intelligence and data networks within the city's cyber-physical infrastructure, opens a new chapter in crime prevention. This novel approach is not solely focused on the hardware and physical dimensions of the city but emphasizes social dynamics, enhancing the quality of life, and strengthening citizen participation in digital environments as fundamental pillars for ensuring sustainable security.

Keywords

Smart Urban Governance
Crime Prevention
Environmental Design
Modern City
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Geography and Urban Research
Volume 3, Issue 1
Winter 2026
Pages 68-84

  • Receive Date 06 February 2026
  • Revise Date 20 April 2026
  • Accept Date 03 May 2026
  • Publish Date 09 June 2026

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