Development of a conceptual model of urban open space quality for leisure (Case study of Arak city)

Subject Areas :

mohammad kazem yavari ¹ , Alireza Sheikholeslami ² , farzaneh sasanpour ³

1 - PhD student in Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd Branch.
2 - Faculty member of Islamic Azad University, Borujerd Branch. Department of Engineering, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Iran.
3 - Associate Professor and Faculty Member of Kharazmi University.

Received: 2021-07-24 Accepted : 2021-10-01 Published : 2024-02-20

Keywords: Arak, Structural Equations, leisure, Quality of urban open spaces, theory of logical operation,

Abstract :

The topic of spending leisure time is one of the important needs of citizens in the contemporary era, which faces many problems in developing countries. This research aims to introduce a comprehensive and efficient tool for evaluating and understanding the quality of urban open spaces related to leisure time. The current research is applied and, in terms of method, descriptive-analytical, and has been conducted with a mixed (qualitative-quantitative) approach. To collect data, the exploratory walking technique was used in the open spaces of Arak city. In this research, the proposed model for the analysis and investigation of urban open spaces has been compiled and confirmed by using Lisrel software and checking the fit indices of structural models. The results of this research can effectively help urban planners and managers in creating less imperfect open spaces.Based on the findings from examining suitability indicators in the analysis of the quality of open spaces in Arak city, the component of environmental qualities acted independently, while the component of functional qualities—form and experience-aesthetic—are correlated. Additionally, the component of "experiential-aesthetic" qualities has had a greater impact on the quality of open spaces for spending leisure time. Among the 45 indicators of quality examined, the indicator "existence and conditions of cozy and secluded spaces and facilities for creating climatic comfort" has the greatest effect in improving the quality of open spaces for spending leisure time in Arak. This item is considered part of the criterion of "comfort and coziness" from the component of aesthetic-experiential qualities. Extended Abstract     Introduction   In addition to the importance they place on working time, citizens also have a special importance in using their time outside of work (leisure). A large part of leisure activities are carried out in open urban spaces, and these spaces have an effective role in promoting a positive quality of urban life due to the opportunities they provide to their users in all fields, especially leisure. In open urban spaces, quality is commensurate with the extent to which users' needs are estimated and the use of opportunities that motivate the design and construction of space, and the challenges of providing high quality services in these spaces seem more difficult when urban planners and designers The demands of the stakeholders are not properly informed. Therefore, in urban open spaces, quality is not only related to facilities, techniques and procedures, but also includes the desires and wishes of users. With the advent of modernity and the rapid growth of urbanization , the issue of leisure in many cities of developing countries has become a major problem. Therefore, the most important necessity of this research is to address this issue and find solutions to evaluate and improve the quality of urban open spaces and take advantage of this potential in order to develop leisure time and meet the needs of users.   Methodology The present research is applied in terms of purpose and methodologically, it is a descriptive-analytical research that has been done with a mixed (qualitative-quantitative) approach. In the process of this research, first, the considered relationships and correlations between the variables of the concept of quality in urban open spaces were proposed as a structural model based on the theoretical foundations of the research. In this model, how the quality indicators affect the constructive criteria and the main components of quality are drawn and then in order to evaluate the significance of the predicted correlations, the necessary data in the study sample (open spaces of Arak city - Iran), with The use of exploratory walking technique has been collected and the structural model has been analyzed and evaluated using the confirmatory factor analysis method (quantitative method) and LISREL software.   Results and discussion In general, in the study of structural models, the purpose is to determine whether the theoretical relationships between the variables that were considered by the researcher in the conceptual framework stage (proposed initial model) have been confirmed by the data or not? Therefore, the result of the study of two structural measurement models and a structural model of path analysis, which is extracted from the proposed model by considering the cause-and-effect relationships of variables and the main purpose of the research. Based on the fit standards obtained from (fit andicated) software file, the mentioned structural models have been approved and as a result, the explanatory power of the proposed model and the quality components of open spaces for spending leisure time in the studied sample (spaces The city of Arak) is also approved.Based on the factor load and the coefficient of effect of the predicted correlations between hidden and obvious variables, in the approved structural models, the most effective components as well as indicators of the concept of quality in urban open spaces were identified. In addition, according to the information obtained from the study of the structural model of the aforementioned path analysis, the independence and dependence of the effect of quality components on the main purpose of the research is also explained.   Conclusion Based on the structural model of measuring the impact of the main components of qualities on the main purpose of research in urban open spaces, indicates the existence of an acceptable relationship between these variables, and in the open spaces of Arak, among the three main components "functional-formal", " Experimental-aesthetic "and" environmental ", the component" experimental-aesthetic "due to the higher factor load it has gained, has had a greater impact on the quality of open spaces for leisure.The direct and non-correlated effect of the environmental quality component on the quality of urban open spaces for leisure is confirmed, and it can be said that the variables related to the environmental quality component, in the studied sample, act independently and are influenced by other components. Do not have. In similar studies, no research has been found that indicates the independent performance of environmental components compared to other components on the quality of open spaces.Also, according to the approved structural measurement models, it can be said that among the indicators (items) extracted from the research literature, which are considered as obvious variables affecting the quality of urban open spaces, the item "lack of input control" They do not have the necessary fit to the space with the specified timing "and the statement" the presence of general signs and readability in the space ". This means that according to the data extracted from the open spaces of Arak city, these species do not have the explanatory power of the concept of quality in open urban spaces in the studied sample.Considering the factor loads obtained for each of the indicators, in the approved structural models, it can be concluded that the indicator "Existence and conditions of cozy and secluded spaces and the existence of facilities for creating climate comfort", among all 45 items Surveys have the greatest impact on improving the quality of outdoor spaces for leisure, and city managers and planners need to pay more attention to them. This index is a component of the "comfort and convenience" criterion, a component of "experimental-aesthetic" qualities; It is consistent with the studies of Ian Bentley et al. (1990) as "The Possibility of Personalizing Space", Roger Transick (1986) as "Space Enclosure" and Peralia et al. (2019) as "Comfort".  

References:

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