An Analysis of the Livability Situation in Urban Environments (Case Study: Kouye Salar Neighborhood-Urmia)

Subject Areas : Urban planning

Mirnajaf Mousavi ¹ ( Professor in Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. )
Javad Jahangirzadeh ² ( Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. )
Nima Bayramzadeh ³ ( M.A in Urban planning, Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran. )
Amin Shahsavar ⁴ ( M.Sc. in Geography and Urban Planning - Urban Spatial Planning, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. )
Sajjad Omidvarfar ⁵ ( M.Sc. in Urban Planning and Regeneration, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran. )

Received: 2023-04-26 Accepted : 2023-07-14 Published : 2023-10-23

Keywords: Urmia, livability, Sustainable Development, Spatial analysis,

Abstract :

The main purpose of the research is to analyze the livability situation in Kouye Salar neighborhood. The most important distinguishing point of this research with similar researches is the use of the combined method of inferential statistics - spatial interpolation - structural relations. The present research method is descriptive and analytical in terms of nature and is practical in terms of purpose. To collect of information, a library-document and field-survey method was used. The tools of data collection are in several ways: observation, questionnaire, and taking notes. The statistical society of this research is the residents of Kouye Salar neighborhood, which has 18,000 people according to the 2016 census of the Statistics Center. To determine the sample size, Cochran's formula was used and the sample size was 376, which was distributed in the study area using the cluster random sampling method. One-sample t-test was used for quantitative data analysis and IDW method was used for spatial data analysis. The DEMATEL model has been used to evaluate the relationship between the livability dimensions. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts and the reliability of the questionnaires was also confirmed by Cronbach's alpha test with the alpha coefficient value of 0.775. Based on the results of the research, the dimensions of livability, which include social, economic, environmental, urban management, historical pattern, and facilities and services, have obtained average of 2.94, 2.07, 3.01, 1.25, 1.83, and 2.55, respectively and also, the livability level is unfavorable with an average of 2.27. Also, the results of the spatial analysis of the livability dimensions in Kouye Salar neighborhood show that about 66% of the neighborhood is in an unfavorable condition. According to the results of DEMATEL model, the dimensions of urban management, economic and facilities and services as "cause" and the three dimensions of environment, social and history pattern as "disability" are extracted and shown in the livability of the locality territory.  Extended AbstractIntroduction The ever-increasing growth of Urmia's urban population and on the other hand the city's transformation into a megalopolis has always challenged the level of quality of life, or in better words, the level of urban livability. In this regard, due to the unprincipled physical expansion of the city of Urmia from the north, it has caused the formation of informal settlements such as Kouye Salar, which has significant problems and deficiencies in terms of urban equipment and service uses, because of the unplanned development. Due to the rapid growth and development caused by the presence of a large number of immigrants from other regions, Kouye Salar neighborhood is experiencing many problems due to inefficiency in dimensions such as economic and urban management. This neighborhood, which is located in the 2nd region of Urmia, has a diverse population and is more suitable for immigrants. One of the main problems of the mentioned neighborhood is the informality and the lack of service and urban equipment uses. Therefore, the main purpose of the research is an analysis of the livability situation in Kouye Salar neighborhood. Among the innovative aspects of the research, we can mention the section of research method, which analyzed this neighborhood in terms of livability by combining spatial data and a questionnaire. The most important distinguishing point of this research with similar researches is the use of the combined method of inferential statistics-spatial interpolation-structural relations, so that a specialized expert's view is also made on the livability of Kouye Salar in addition to considering the votes and opinions of the neighborhood residents. Another distinction is the use of all livability dimensions, indicators and variables for a neighborhood, because usually, this range of components is used in extra-local scales and inferential and spatial statistical methods are also used in the same way.Methodology The present research method is descriptive and analytical in terms of nature and is practical in terms of purpose. To collect of information, a library-document and field-survey method was used, which In the first step, the background and theoretical literature of livability was collected from scientific articles and authentic documents, and then the field survey of the studied area was done. The tools of data collection are in several ways: observation, questionnaire, and taking notes. The statistical society of this research is the residents of Kouye Salar neighborhood, which has 18,000 people according to the 2016 census of the Statistics Center. Cochran's formula with an error percentage of 0.05 was used to determine the sample size, and a sample size of 376 was obtained which was distributed using cluster random sampling method in the study area. SPSS and GIS software were used for data analysis. Quantitative analysis of data through one-sample t-tests and spatial analysis of data through IDW method in the geographic information system have been done in order to evaluate the status of livability indicators and provide suggested solutions to improve the status of this neighborhood. Also, to evaluate the relationship between dimensions of livability, the DEMATEL, which is one of the multi-indicator decision-making methods, has been used and the opinions of 4 experts (urban planning, social, economic and social worker experts), who had sufficient knowledge of the research subject, were used in order to complete the initial matrix. To evaluate the validity of the questionnaire, experts in the fields of urbanism and urban planning were used, who confirmed its validity. Also, the reliability of the questionnaires has been evaluated through Cronbach's alpha test for about 20 questionnaires, which shows the good reliability of the questionnaire with the alpha coefficient value of 0.775.Results and discussionThe findings of this research show that according to the data from the field collection and the questionnaire and the results of the one-sample test, the qualitative status of the social, economic, facilities and services, urban management and historical pattern respectively with an average of 2.94, 2.07, 2.55, 1.25, 1.83 are at the lower than average level and the environmental dimension is at the average level with an average value of 3.01. The social and environmental dimensions are in the intermediate and medium to high level, which as mentioned earlier, factors such as relative security, establishment of ritual ceremonies, lack of differences and ethnic conflicts, reducing the level of pollution and proportionate collection of waste, have had a great impact on the relevant situation. The average level of facilities and services is mostly due to the existence of gas, electricity, drinking water network and provision of daily needs of the people, which mostly reflects the quantitative aspect, while Kouye Salar neighborhood has poor quality of drinking water and noticeable drop in water pressure in the warm season and the roads inside the neighborhood are not up to standard and quality, and at the same time, access to important services such as education and health is not optimal and is associated with difficulties and challenges for the residents. The neighborhood’s economy, regardless of its unfavorable and critical situation on a national scale, has complex conditions and the most important reason is the lack of attractiveness and fields for investment and entrepreneurship, and the existing micro-enterprises are currently operating with minimal production capacity and they are deprived of the necessary support and facilities. The worst situation is for urban management and historical patterns. Kouye Salar neighborhood, despite its historical background, does not have any suitable symbols and its public spaces, such as the network of roads, lack the necessary qualitative appeal. These factors have caused the overall livability level of the neighborhood to be defined as unfavorable, with an average of 2.27, and thus, the contrast and heterogeneity of an enclosed low-privileged place in the bio-peripheral circle is revealed with urban livability standards. Also, the results of the spatial analysis of the collected field data show that the situation of social, economic, environmental, urban facilities and services, urban management and historical pattern dimensions in the neighborhood is in an unfavorable situation, and these factors have caused a decrease in the level of livability in Kouye Salar neighborhood, so that this neighborhood with an area of 511,486 m2 is at an unfavorable level and with an area of 262,972 m2 at an intermediate level.ConclusionThe target neighborhood has also been examined from view of structure and cause and effect analysis, and according to DEMATEL model, the degree of influential - effectiveness of each of the dimensions on the neighborhood livability (according to unfavorable, intermediate and favorable components) has been investigated which according to the desired factors and indicators, dimensions of urban management, economic and facilities and services as "cause" and three dimensions of environment, social and historical pattern as "disabled", are extracted and shown in the livability of the locative territor

References:

• (2005). Livability 101, United States of America.


• Aliakbari, E., Marsoosi, N., & Akbari, M. (2020). Pathology of meta-study livability research of Iranian metropolises. Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement, 10(35), 85-106. doi: 10.22111/gaij.2020.5454. In Persian


• Bandarabadi, A., & Shahcheraghi, A. (2011). The city of Livability from basics to meanings, Azarakhsh Publications, first edition. In Persian


• Cao, Y., Li, F., Xi,X., Corné van Bilsen, D.J., Xu,L. (2021). Urban livability: Agent-based simulation, assessment, and interpretation for the case of Futian District, Shenzhen, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol.320,1-15.


• Cheng, G., Zhang, F., Yang, J., Lu, X., (2016). Evaluation for livability for urban residential areas based on GIS. Bull. Surv. Mapp. 1, 49–52.


• Economist, (2005). The Economist Intelligence Unit’s quality-of-life index.


• Hekmati, A. H., Joodaki, H., & Ziari, Y. (2023). Analysis of the relationship between urban livability and environmental sustainability in area 22 of Tehran metropolis. Urban Environmental Planning and Development, (), -. https://doi.org/10.30495/juepd.2023.1977557.1127. In Persian


• Hoseinzadeh, R., Safaralizadeh, E, & Khabbazi, H. (2022). Assessing the Livability of Urban Neighborhoods in the Direction of Sustainable Development, from the Perspective of Citizens, Case Study: Shahre Kohne and Seyed Morteza in Kashmar City. Journal of Geography and Environmental Studies, 10(40), 123-140. In Persian


• Jalili, M., Sasanpour, F., Shamai, A., & Fasihi, Habibolah. (2022). Spatial Duality of Livability in District 7 of Tehran. GEOGRAPHY, 19(71), 43-61. In Persian


• Jia, Z., Gu, G., (2017). Urban livability and influencing factors in Northeast China: an empirical study based on panel data,2007-2014. Process in Geography, 36(7), 832–842. https://doi.org/10.18306/dlkxjz.2017.07.005.


• Li, Xueming, Liu, X., Ji, B., (2008). Differentiation characteristics of livability of urban communities in Dalian. Prog. Geogr. 27, 75–81.


• Liu, J., Nijkamp, P., Huang, X., Lin,D. (2017). Urban livability and tourism development in China: Analysis of sustainable development by means of spatial panel data,Habitat International,Vol. 68, 99-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2017.02.005


• Liu, Y., Zhou, W., Tan, Y., (2010). The livability of guangzhou City: A subjective evaluation approach based on Japanese housewives. Sci. Geogr. Sin. 30, 39–44.


• Mahlouji, M., Khademolhoseiny, A., Saberi, H., & Ghaed rahmati, S. (2022). Assessing the factors affecting urban livability in informal settlements, study of Zone 14 of Esfahan. Journal of Geography and Environmental Studies, 10(40), 7-20. In Persian


• Martínez-Bravo, M. D. M., Martínez-del-Río, j., Antolín-López,R. (2019). Trade-offs among urban sustainability, pollution and livability in European cities,Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 224, 651-660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.110


• Meng, B., Yin, W., Zhang, J., Zhang, W., (2009). The spatial characteristics of the livable city satisfaction degree Index in Beijing. Geogr. Res. 5, 1318–1326.


• Mercer, (2019). VIENNA TOPS MERCER’S 21ST QUALITY OF LIVING RANKING.


• Momeni, A., Jahanshiri, M., & Azmi, A. (2020). The effects of good governance on the viability of urban peripheral settlements in Adran Rural District. Preipheral Urban Spaces Development, 2(1), 193-205. In Persian


• Mousavi, M., Bayramzadeh, N., Omidvarfar, S., & Kamel Nia, R. (2021). Assessing the levels of livability in informal settlements (Case study: Falahat neighborhood, Urmia city). Journal of Urban Social Geography, 8(2), 222-203. doi: 10.22103/JUSG.2021.2053. In Persian


• Otari, M., & Shams, M. (2022). Presenting an Interpretive Structural Model of Health-Oriented Indicators to Achieve Livability (A Case Study of District One of Tehran). Quarterly Journal of Environmental Based Territorial Planning, 14(55), 213-234. In Persian


• Paul, A. (2020). Developing a methodology for assessing livability potential: An evidence from a metropolitan urban agglomeration (MUA) in Kolkata, India, Habitat International, Vol.105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2020.102263.


• Paul, A., Sen, J. (2018). Livability assessment within a metropolis based on the impact of integrated urban geographic factors (IUGFs) on clustering urban centers of Kolkata, Cities, Vol. 74, 142-150.


• Pourahmad, A., Darban Astaneh, A., Zanganeh Shahraki, S., & Pourghorban, S. (2020). Evaluating and analyzing the Effective Factors on the urban livability of Kish Island. Geographical Urban Planning Research (GUPR), 8(1), 1-22. doi: 10.22059/jurbangeo.2019.260659.927. In Persian


• Saghebi, M., Mafi, E., & Watanparast, M. (2022). Evaluation and measurement of urban viability and factors affecting it (case study of Bojnourd city). Journal of Applied researches in Geographical Sciences, 22 (67), 335-350. In Persian


• Sahebi, M., Farahani, M., & Motahari, S. (2022). The Structural Modeling of the Factors Affecting Urban Livability of Kermanshah Metropolis. Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 12(3), 75-90. doi: 10.22126/ges.2022.7623.2518. In Persian


• Saraei, M., & Yarahmadi, M. (2022). Identification and Evaluation of Livability Components in Urban Areas (A Case Study: Esfarayen City). Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 12(4), 23-35. doi: 10.22126/ges.2022.7545.2513. In Persian


• Shahnavazi, Y., Anvari, M. R., & Karimian Bostani, M. (2022). Analysis and Explaining the Correlation Pattern between Dimensions and Indicators of Viability in Zahedan. Quarterly Journal of Environmental Based Territorial Planning, 15(56), 67-86. In Persian


• UN-Habitat (2016). Urbanization and development: emerging futures.


• Vahidifar, P., Rezvani, A. A., & Norikermani, A. (2022). A Model for Explaining Effective Factors in Accessing the Livable City (A Case Study of District 10 of Tehran). Quarterly Journal of Environmental Based Territorial Planning, 15(56), 201-221. In Persian


• Xiao, Y., Chai, J., Wang, R., Huan Huang, H. (2022). Assessment and key factors of urban liveability in underdeveloped regions: A case study of the Loess Plateau, China, Sustainable Cities and Society, Volume 79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.103674.


• Yi, X., Jue, W., Huan, H., (2021). Does economic development bring more livability? Evidence from Jiangsu Province, China. J. Clean. Prod. 293, 126187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126187.


• Zeiny, S. M., & Mojtabazadeh, H. (2021). A comparative study of the livability indices of urban areas of Islamshahr. Reaserch and Urban Planning, 11(43), 165-178. In Persian


• Zhang, Z., Ju, J., Chen, Z., (2014). The livable evaluation and analysis of characteristics of space in Lanzhou. Acta Ecol. Sin. 34 (21), 6379–6389. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201312313074.