Clarifying the City's Spatial Development Criteria for the Interconnection of the City and Separate Urban Areas with an Emphasis on the Smart Growth Approach case study: Hamedan City

Subject Areas : urbanism

Sara Bayat ¹ , Shadi Pakzad ² , Masoud Elahi ³ , Seyyed Mohammad Reza Khatibi ⁴

1 - PhD candidate, Department of urban planning, Qa.c.,Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of urban planning,Qa.c.,Islamic Azad University,Qazvin, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor,Department of urban planning,Qa.c.,Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran.
4 - Associate Professor,Department of urban planning,Qa.c.,Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran.

Received: 2025-01-10 Accepted : 2025-05-28 Published : 2025-07-15

Keywords: Spatial development of the city, interconnection, disconnected areas, smart growth,

Abstract :

Urban expansions in densely populated areas create significant challenges that necessitate rapid intervention to capitalize
on emerging opportunities. Residents in these areas face substantial transportation issues and unequal service distribution. The expansions around Hamadan are no exception; the city has developed and expanded at a pace much faster than its natural growth rate, leading to similar challenges. This situation increases the need for informed planning, fundamental organization, and appropriate urban design to prevent construction on agricultural land and uncoordinated urban sprawl. Given these issues and the shortcomings of previous studies, there is a pressing need for in-depth analysis and research on this phenomenon. This study aims to explore the application of smart growth in addressing these challenges in midsized cities. It examines the dual aspects of access and service distribution in three specific expansions: Hassanabad, Aliabad, and Qasemabad. Employing an applied approach, the study utilizes descriptive, analytical, field, physical, and survey methods, integrating qualitative and quantitative research techniques with documentary methods for literature and background information collection. The study investigates 28 indicators across two dimensions—access and service provision—through 60 questionnaires (20 per area) distributed among 25 urban development specialists selected via simple judgment sampling. These specialists, drawn from municipal, road and urban development, and housing foundation sectors, evaluated the indicators using a 5-point Likert scale. Data analysis involved content analysis of documented sources, while questionnaire responses were processed using SPSS software and one-sample t-tests. Access analysis included evaluating indicators aligned with study criteria, such as Choice R-n, connectivity, and integration, using Depthmap. Initially, a central map of the entire city was created in AutoCAD, followed by analysis in Depthmap. Subsequently, three alternative solutions were proposed, and results were obtained through the analytic hierarchy process using Expert Choice software for scoring and decision-making
Overall, results indicate that all three disconnected areas exhibit better performance indicators compared to their
transportation metrics. Despite proximity to connected urban areas, each location retains rural characteristics and lacks
key urban transportation features—such as adequately wide streets, efficient public transport, and sufficient parking. In
disconnected areas, intra-regional access plays a crucial role alongside performance in enhancing overall functionality.
Research findings suggest that access alone does not sufficiently improve efficiency in such areas. While Aliabad benefits
from road connections to adjacent isolated areas, the other two locations demonstrate more favorable conditions. Based
on findings and analyses, the study concludes that the most effective approach is limited-scale urban development that
maximizes internal capacity. Smart growth prioritizes directing investments toward transportation, schools, libraries, and
other essential public services in developed areas, addressing the needs of existing communities, particularly in underserved neighborhoods with minimal private investment. Additionally, preserving the distinctive features of urban spaces, such as architectural landmarks and cultural assets, is essential. The primary goal of any smart growth strategy is to enhance the quality of residential neighborhoods, ensuring comfort, aesthetic appeal, and easy access for all. A well-designed urban environment should provide safety, comfort, and affordability while fostering a vibrant and inclusive community

References:

1‌ پارسی، حمیدرضا؛ فرمهینی فراهانی، بهرداد. (۱۳۹۴). تحلیل پدیده گسترش بی‌رویه شهری در حاشیه شهرهای بزرگ (مطالعه موردی: دامنه‌های شمالی اصفهان)، فصلنامه مطالعات شهری، شماره ۱۰، ۴۹ - ۶۲.
2. حسینی، سید هادی؛ حسینی، معصومه. (۱۳۹۵). تحلیل عوامل مؤثر بر ایجاد پراکندگی در مناطق شهری ایران. مجله برنامه‌ریزی و آمایش فضا. شماره ۴، 66-33 .
3. رضوی، ناصر؛ مولایی قلیچی، محمد. (۱۳۹۲). سنجش پراکندگی شهری از طریق داده‌های سنجش‌ازدور، نشریه آنلاین برنامه‌ریزی و طراحی شهری آبادنامه. شماره ۶، ۷۵-۹۸.
4. ریسمانچیان، امید؛ بل، سایمون. (1389). بررسی جداافتادگی فضایی بافت‌های فرسوده در ساختار شهر تهران به روش چیدمان فضا، فصلنامه باغ نظر، سال هشتم، شماره 1، 69 – 80.
5. سـعیدی، نویـد و کاظمـی، داود (1390). بازشناسـی چارچـوب توسـعه درون زا در تناسـب بـا نقد سیاسـت‌های جاری توسـعه مسـکن مهر؛ نمونه موردی شـهر نطنز، مجله پژوهشـهای جغرافیای انسـانی، شماره 75، 113-132 .
6. شکويی، حسین و همکاران. (1378). "مؤلفه‌های اجتماعی - اقتصادی توسعه پایدار شهری"، اولین همایش مدیریت توسعه پایدار در نواحی شهری، دانشگاه تبریز.
7. شيعه، اسماعیل. (1378). با شهر و منطقه در ايران، دانشگاه علم و صنعت، 14.
8. طرح تفضیلی شهر همدان"، دفتر نقشه‌های شهری، شهرداری همدان، سال 1385
9. عباس‌زادگان، مصطفی. (1381). روش چیدمان فضا در فرایند طراحی شهری با نگاهی به شهر یزد، فصلنامة مدیریت شهری، 9، 64-75.
لینچ، کوین. (1386). فرم شهر خوب، ترجمه حسین بحرینی، انتشارات دانشگاه تهران، تهران. https://doi.org/10.52547/hafthesar.10.37.10
10. محمدیاری، فاطمه؛ میرسنجری، میر مهرداد؛ زرندیان، اردوان. (1400). ارزیابی و مدل‌سازی اثرات گسترش شهری بر الگوهای سیمای سرزمین درکلان‌شهرکرج، فصلنامهآمایشسرزمین،13(1)،141166 https://doi.org/ 10.22059/jtcp.2020.296920.670067
11. مشهدی¬زادهدهاقانی،ناصر. (1383). تحلیلیازویژگی¬هایبرنامهریزیشهریدرایران،انتشاراتدانشگاهعلموصنعت، تهران، چاپ پنجم.
12. Angel, S., Sheppard, S. C. & Civco, D. L. Dynamics(2015) the Dynamics of Global Urban Expansion. Washington, DC: World Bank, Transport, Urban Development
13. Butmore, Tom B. (1978). Sociology, translated by Seyyed Hassan Mansour and Seyyed Hossein Koljahi, Pocket Books Joint Stock Company Publishing, 326.
14. Frazier. J. G. (1997). "Sustainable Development: Modern elixir or sack dress?" Environmental conservation. Vol.24, No.2, pp. 182-193. https://www.jstor.org/stable/i40189754
15. Gollner, A.V. (1994). Suburbanization, Sustainability, & Climate Change Policy, A Ph.D Thesis Submitted to the Department of Geography, School of Earth Sciences, Macquarie University.
16. Hillier B. and Vaughan L. (2007), The City as One Thing. Progress in Planning, 67(3), 205-230
17. Hillier, B., Penn, A., Hanson, J., Grajews KI, T. and Xu, J. (1993). “Natural movement: or, configuration and attraction in urban pedestrian movement”. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 20, 29-66
18. Hiraskar. G.K. (1997), Town Planning. Rame Gowda, Urban and Regional planning. S.K.Khanna, Highway Engineering, C.E.G. Jhusto, Nemchand & Bros. Roorkee ,39-40
19. Jonas, Andrew E. G. (1991) Urban Growth Coalitions and Urban Development Policy: Postwar Growth and the Politics of Annexation in Metropolitan Columbus, Urban Geography, 12:3, 197- 225.
20. Litman,Todd.(2005),Evaluating Criticism Of smart Growth ,Victoria transport policy institute .(www.vtpi.org)
21. Newman, P., Kenworthy, J. (1999). Sustainability and Cities; Overcoming Automobile Dependences, Island Press, USA. https://doi.org/ 10.4236/jss.2019.74025
22. Rodenburg, C. A., Vreeker, R., & Nijkamp, p., (2003) Multifunctional land use: an economic perspective. In C.A. Rodenburg,R, Vreeker&P. Nijkamp(Eds), The Economics of Multifunctional land use: Experiences and Policy Lessons. Maastricht: Shaker Publishing.
23. Thrall, G. I. (2002). Business Geography and New Real Estate Market Analysis Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195076363.001.0001
24. Turner, T., 1997, City as a Landscape, Translated by Farshad Noorian, Pardazesh Press, Iran
25. Van, Schaick, J. & Van DerSpek, S. C. (2008). Urbanism on Track: Application of Tracking Technologies in Urbanism. Amsterdam: IOS Press. https://doi.org/10.7480/rius.1
26. Wang, Y., Dong, P., Liao, S., Zhu, Y., Zhang, D., & Yin, N. (2022). Urban expansion monitoring based on the digital surface model—A case study of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Plain. Applied Science. Vol. 14. https://doi.org / 10.22034/manzar.2020.242655.2080
27. Zeidler, E. H. (1985). Multi-use Architecture in the Urban Context New York: Van Nostrand Reinho.