Geography and Urban Research

Abstract Vulnerable urban spaces are among the spaces that endanger citizens' psychological and social security by creating conditions for the formation and occurrence of criminal behaviors due to inappropriate physical and social characteristics. While dealing with related concepts and definitions, this research seeks to evaluate and zone defenseless urban spaces in region 1 of Tabriz. The type of exploration of this mixed method research is functional, fundamental, and in terms of purpose, the research uses exploratory and applied methods, and is based on documentary and field data.The statistical population of the study includes the physical space of neighborhoods in region 1 of Tabriz. The data obtained by the effective components in creating defenseless spaces are analyzed using of GIS software and weighting methods; the final overlap of layers is used to zoning neighborhoods in terms of defenseless spaces. The findings show that Valiasr and Golkar neighborhoods have the least defenseless spaces, and Mallazeinal, Seylab Qoshkhaneh, Baghmishe Ghadim, Polsangi, Yousefabad, and Idelou neighborhoods have the least defenseless areas in the study area, respectively. In addition, as we move from the eastern areas to the western borders of the region, defenseless spaces increase, their quality decreases, and socio-physical vulnerabilities and social security of citizens are more affected. Inadequate lighting , barren and ruined landscapes, vegetation and dense green spaces, dead-end passages, narrow passages, and L-shaped U-shaped passages are the most important variables that affect the creation of defenseless urban spaces.The effects of these variables include poor monitoring and visibility, loneliness and darkness, poor quality of spaces and confusion, and burnout of tissues, resulting in reduced social security

Abstract Safety as a basic human need has a considerable effect on citizens' life quality and urban spaces livability. Golestan neighborhood, as a minority group settlement located in central historical and old part of Sabzevar, have for several years been seeking ways to overcome their segregation. While according to studies securing a sense of safety is a main part of this endeavor, based on CPTED approach, due to its physical and functional deterioration, the mentioned neighborhood faces numerous challenges in terms of spatial-physical dimensions of unsafety. Therefore, through an analytical hierarchical process (AHP), this study aims to identify and prioritize the most important physical-spatial criteria and indices of the neighborhood causing its unsafety and undefendability,. This can provide a proper basis for any effective policy-making and decision-taking in the future planning for the area. Hence, after an in-depth literature review on CPTED theory, and deriving physical-spatial criteria and indices of urban spaces affecting their safety, a field study with 30 experts familiar with Golestan has been conducted. In the field study, the criteria and indices of the research AHP model have been weighed by expert panel via pairwise comparison matrix. The results of the present study showed that 6 main criteria and 19 sub-criteria were recognized affecting the safety of Golestan neighborhood. Furthermore, among the given criteria, physical permeability, liveliness, and legibility of Golestan neighborhood are the three most important environmental design features which negatively affect its safety. Also, Street geometry, paths width, and urban block system are the most important indices among the tested indices.

Abstract Improving and upgrading the landscape and the quality of the urban environment is one of the goals of urban planning and one of the factors that improves the quality of the urban environment. But in recent years urban furniture has received less attention from urban planners and managers. Lack of special design, disregarding ergonomics, design, suitable color, and lighting and lack of fit with culture are the most important problems of urban furniture in Iranian cities. The purpose of this research is to investigate the desirability of urban furniture with an emphasis on pedestrian paths in Malekan city. The present applied research uses a descriptive-analytical method. The data were collected through the review of relevant texts and articles, field and comparative surveys, questionnaires and interviews with citizens, and data analysis in SPSS software and the use of statistical tests of the sample T-Tech test and A factor analysis model. The results of this research show that in the comparative evaluation (evaluation of furniture with standards), the state of urban furniture in properties is different from common standards in terms of construction, design, location, and in many cases the standards are not observed. Upon asking the citizens about the level of satisfaction with the furniture in the studied area, it was revealed the level of satisfaction is lower than the average. Finally, it is suggested to consider that the urban furniture plays an important role in visual appearance and urban vitality. More attention should be paid to complying with rules and standards in the design and placement of pedestrian furniture.

Abstract Women are mostly more vulnerable in urban spaces, especially neighborhoods, for reasons including their intense experience of fear in life and the consequences of being in danger in such situations, as well as the gender discrimination that exists against them in society. This is while the carefree presence of the female population in the neighborhood space requires security control over the neighborhood space.
The purpose of the research is to examine the neighborhood's situation in terms of factors affecting the level of women's safety.
This research is fundamental-applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature and method. The statistical population of the study included the residents of the Shishegar Khaneh neighborhood in Urmia city. Based on the Cochran relationship with a confidence level of 95% and an accuracy rate of 7%, the sample size was estimated to be 300 people.
The findings of the present study indicate that there is a simultaneous linear relationship. According to the beta coefficients, the highest level of impact on women's sense of security in the Shishegar Khaneh neighborhood of Urmia is the subjective light and brightness criterion of 0.532, and the lowest level of impact on women's sense of security in the Shishegar Khaneh neighborhood of Urmia city is the objective size criterion of 0.078.
 Urban authorities and administrators must pay special attention to the establishment of proper and appropriate lighting equipment in the neighborhood to provide lighting during dark hours.
 

Abstract Security, as a multidimensional concept, encompasses physical, psychological, social, and economic dimensions. In this regard, the present study investigates the perceptions of female students at the University of Tabriz regarding security in the public spaces of the metropolitan area of Tabriz. The research methodology is based on semi-structured interviews and deconstructive analysis, conducted using NVivo software. This approach facilitates the identification of meanings, contradictions, and ambiguities embedded in the interviews and enables the recognition of various factors influencing security perception. The deconstructive analysis entails identifying and examining key terms and binary oppositions, such as security/insecurity, psychological/physical, light/darkness, surveillance/disorder, and open/closed spaces. This analytical approach enhances the comprehension of the implicit meanings and the underlying concepts within the students' responses. The examination of these binary structures underscores the significant role of such dichotomies in shaping security perceptions. The lexical and thematic analysis reveals that terms such as security, lighting, surveillance, public spaces, and population density frequently appear in the interviews. These concepts are identified as pivotal factors contributing to either the enhancement or diminishment of the sense of security. Additionally, the presence of other individuals, social diversity, antisocial behaviors, a sense of belonging to the community, and cultural and structural disparities among cities are recognized as influential determinants. Furthermore, urban design attributes to security perception, and the economic characteristics of the region also impact this perception. Personal experiences, risk perception, the presence of security forces, and surveillance systems are likewise identified as critical factors affecting perceived security.
 

Abstract The first step in spatial development planning is understanding how economic, social, cultural, and other opportunities are distributed across different geographical regions. A focus on this aspect can enhance service delivery and promote greater balance between regions. The objective of the present study is to spatially analyze ethnic development in Iran, with particular emphasis on economic indicators. This research is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. The data required for the study were collected from library and archival sources, the Statistical Yearbook of Iran for 2022, and the most recent Iranian National Census conducted in 2016. Using these sources, data for 22 key economic indicators were gathered. In this study, Shannon entropy, the coefficient of variation, and the VIKOR method were employed for weighting, dispersion analysis, and development level determination, respectively. ArcGIS software was used to generate maps and visualize the results. The findings of the study reveal a lack of balanced economic development among Iran’s ethnic groups. The analyses show that, in terms of economic development, the Persian and Azeri ethnic groups—with Q-values of 0 and 0.5828, respectively—are the most economically developed, while the Turkmen and Baluchi ethnic groups, with Q-values of 0.9007 and 0.9978, respectively, are the least developed. Overall, the results suggest that the economic development status of Iran's ethnic groups exhibits a weak correlation with social and spatial justice. This highlights the need for effective and efficient planning and interventions to achieve balanced development across different geographical regions.