Analysis and Evaluation of the Social Effects of the Urban Waterfront Regeneration (case study: Bushehr city)

Subject Areas : Regional Planning

sh shahriari ¹ , Seyed Kamal Shahriari ² , Farah Habib ³ , Hossein Zabihi ⁴

1 - PhD student of Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Department of Urban Planning, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Professor of Islamic Azad University, Department of Urban Planning, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4 - Associate Professor, Islamic Azad University, Department of Urban Planning, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2023-05-23 Accepted : 2024-01-10 Published : 2024-02-20

Keywords: Social impact, Urban regeneration, Keywords, urban waterfront, urban waterfront regeneration,

Abstract :

Abstract
Urban water banks, vital environmental resources, act as hubs for significant economic and social activities. Evolving urban structures promote urban regeneration, focusing on neglected areas, including waterfronts, for enhanced social and economic vitality.The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the social effects of regeneration in the coastal city of Bushehr. The research method is descriptive-analytical and based on data collection through the field. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. The structural and content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed and its reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's coefficient greater than 0.70. The statistical population of the research is the population of Bushehr, which was determined as a sample size of 380 people based on Cochran's formula. The result showed that the results of the test showed that the indicators of social regeneration were significant at a level less than 0.05 and equal to 0.000. In this context, two indicators, including the reduction of social damage with an average of 3.771 and the improvement of social cohesion with an average of 3.647, have had a more suitable situation in the Blue Bank of the city. In addition, the result of the test showed that the 10 investigated indicators in the field of social effects of regeneration were significant at the level of 0.000. Friendly environment index with an average of 3.892 is known as a significant social impact of regeneration. The result of Pearson's correlation shows that a significant relationship has been observed between the variable of regeneration of the city's water bank with social dimensions including democracy, sociability and satisfaction at a level of less than 0.01. The highest correlation was related to the reconstruction of the Water Bank with democracy with a coefficient of 0.164.
 
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In urban regeneration, urban development in the sense of quantitative growth of physical elements and improving the quality of urban life will take place in the form of urban development plans. Urban regeneration plans are trying to bring back social life and economic prosperity to the fabric by using the potentials in worn-out areas and by using public participation with minimal budget. Coastal cities are one of the most productive and dynamic environmental resources and a platform for huge economic and social activities in the world. Valuable natural resources, biological diversity and the ability of huge economic activities have turned these areas into one of the most sensitive and valuable urban areas in the world. In a coastal city, the natural environment directly and indirectly affects the urban economy and consequently the quality of life in the city, and there is also a direct relationship between economic growth and the improvement of urban living standards. Urban water banks are among the most productive and dynamic. They are considered as environmental resources and a platform for huge economic and social activities. In fact, changes in the management and organization of old tissues with changes in the economic and social structure of cities have presented a new approach called regeneration in urban restoration, and the regeneration of inactive water banks has been on the agenda of urban planners for a long time. Regeneration plans seek social life and economic prosperity of different urban contexts. The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the social effects of regeneration in the coastal city of Bushehr.
Methodology
The research method is based on the descriptive-analytical goal and is applied and based on the method, it is quantitative. The research data is the result of a survey study in Bushehr city. The main tool of the research is a researcher-made questionnaire, the validity of which was verified by experts. Its reliability was also confirmed through Cronbach's alpha coefficient, which reached a value above 0.70 for different parts of the questionnaire. The statistical population of this research is made up of 29,845 residents of Bushehr based on the latest official census of the country (2015). The sample size was determined to be 380 people using Cochran's formula. The sampling method in this research was random sampling, where the share of each individual in the entire statistical population was the same. For data analysis, SPSS software and appropriate statistical tests were used, as well as structural equation modeling in AMOS software.
 
Results and discussion
The result of the sample t-test showed that the 6 investigated social indicators were significant at a level less than 0.05 and equal to 0.000. Examining the direction of significance using the average shows that all the indicators have an average value greater than the average value of the test (3) and therefore it can be concluded that the status of social regeneration indicators in the water bank of Bushehr city is favorable. The comparison of the average indices shows that the social damage reduction index has the best condition with an average of 3.771. Also, two indicators of improving social cohesion with an average of 3.647 and participation and attention to the role of people with an average of 3.642 are known in the next ranks. The lowest average was related to the spatial belongingness index with a value of 3.305.
The result of the t-test test shows that the 6 highlighted indicators were significant at a level less than 0.05 and equal to 0.000. Examining the direction of significance using the mean shows that all the social effects of regeneration have an average greater than the average value of the test (3) and therefore it can be concluded that the social effects of regeneration in the water bank of Bushehr city are favorable. Comparison of average indicators shows that friendly environment index with an average of 3.892 is known as a significant social impact of regeneration. Also, two indicators of welcoming environment with an average of 3.805 and uniqueness index with an average of 3.686 are recognized in the second and third ranks. The lowest average was related to the public rights demand index with a value of 3.347. In general, the social effects of regeneration are significant and need to be improved.
In order to present an experimental model of the social effects of regeneration in the water bank of Bushehr city, using AMOS software, first order factor analysis model related to each of the indicators (10 items) was drawn and in the continuation of the mentioned model, each of The factors have been validated. The mentioned factors (indices) have been classified into 10 main features using the exploratory factor analysis model, and the identified factors have been validated using exploratory factor analysis. The results of examining the factor loadings related to 10 indicators show that the value of the factor loadings is more than 0.3 and indicates the appropriate status of the indicators or effects in the drawn model. This model can evaluate and predict the social effects of regeneration in the water bank of Bushehr city. In addition, the indicators used in the model have acceptable validity.
After examining the overall fit of the model of social effects of regeneration in the water bank of Bushehr city, the effect of independent variables on the dependent variable of the research was examined. In general, it can be said that 10 social indicators including freedom of action, demand for public rights, right to change, right to property, participation, social interactions, social mixing, welcoming environment, uniqueness and friendly environment can be effective in the water bank of Bushehr city. to be Examining the role of 10 factors or social indicators of regeneration shows that the total effect value is 0.44, and in total, the social effects of regeneration can explain about 44% of the variance, role-creation and positive effects in the urban water bank.
According to the results of this model, the most impact is related to the unique impact of regeneration with an explanation of 0.90, which actually has the greatest impact on the water bank of Bushehr city. The right to change with an explanation of 0.88 and also the right to own property with an explanation of 0.77 have been recognized in the second and third ranks of the social impact of regeneration in the urban water bank. In total, the 10 social effects of regeneration that have been investigated have been or can be effective in the creation and development of the city's Water Bank.
 
Conclusion
In general, according to the results of this research, it should be concluded that the regeneration of Bushehr's urban waterfront promotes social interactions, the uniqueness of the urban public space, the creation of a friendly environment, freedom of action, the right to change, the demand for public rights in the urban space, and participation. It has been socialized. According to the results of the research, it is suggested that in line with the development of the spaces of the water bank of Bushehr city, the index of social interactions and its increase should be emphasized. It is also suggested that the public spaces in the water bank of Bushehr city with historical elements and arising from culture and environment. The area should be designed

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