Analysis and Study of Spatial Segregation in Cities (Case Study: Boroujerd City)

Document Type : Original article

Authors

Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning، Faculty of Earth Sciences، Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The objective of this research is to analyze and investigate the foundations of spatial segregation in the city of Borujerd. Most domestic studies on segregation have primarily focused on socio-cultural foundations, relying on data from the Statistical Center of Iran and questionnaire surveys.  Most of these studies have been conducted in metropolitan areas, with limited research addressing small and medium-sized cities. In all these studies, the dual spatial structure of cities—namely, the division between northern and southern areas—is evident. However, recent research has begun to emphasize the role of emerging factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and virtual social networks.
Methodology: This research is fundamental-applied in terms of objective and follows an descriptive-analytical method based on direct observations and questionnaire distribution. The primary spatial units of analysis are the urban neighborhoods of Borujerd, which are classified into five distinct clusters: marginalized neighborhoods, annexed villages, privileged neighborhoods, pre-planned residential complexes, and the city's historical core neighborhoods. Data collection was conducted through both documentary and field research methods. To identify the influential factors in socio-economic segregation among different areas of Borujerd, questionnaires were distributed using simple random sampling, with the number of questionnaires allocated proportionally to each cluster's population. The study population comprises all residents of Borujerd, which had a total population of 249,337 according to the 2016 national census. The sample size was determined using Cochran's formula, resulting in 384 completed questionnaires.
Findings and Discussion: In marginalized neighborhoods, the presence of extended family and tribal affiliations emerges as the most significant factor in residential choice. For annexed villages, respondents identified two primary determinants: the absence of overcrowding and the presence of kinship networks. Residents of privileged neighborhoods prioritize different criteria, with two factors being particularly influential: the lack of population density and cultural homogeneity, particularly in terms of educational attainment levels among neighbors. Pre-planned residential complexes demonstrate a more complex set of considerations, where three factors play crucial roles: low population density, cultural similarity in educational backgrounds, and the perceived absence of criminal activity. The historical core neighborhoods of the city show similar patterns to the planned complexes, with residents valuing the same three factors: minimal crowding, cultural/educational homogeneity, and low crime rates.
Conclusion: Spatial segregation is not merely a physical or economic phenomenon but is significantly influenced by social, cultural, and security factors. The findings reveal that individuals  prefer living in neighborhoods with socio-cultural homogeneity, where conditions such as high security, similar educational levels, low population density, and the presence of relatives or close kin are maintained. These preferences lead to the formation of class-homogeneous or ethnically homogeneous neighborhoods, which in turn intensify spatial segregation. The spatial distribution of low, middle, and high socio-economic groups in Borujerd is distinctly clustered, a pattern shaped by the metrics used to construct the city's different socio-economic strata. This clustering pattern results from urban planning systems that have focused on developing pre-planned residential complexes and expanding facilities and services in privileged neighborhoods and the city's historical core, while neglecting the expansion of marginalized neighborhoods and annexed villages. The study demonstrates that spatial segregation in Borujerd manifests through clear divisions between northern and south areas, with the southern part of the city accommodating lower socio-economic groups and the north part housing middle- upper class residents.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abayateye, P. 2023. A Method for Evaluating Diversity and Segregation in HOPE VI Housing Neighborhoods–Focus on Cuyahoga and Franklin Counties, Ohio, The University of Toledo, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1682878055068005.
Bitonti, F. Benassi, F. Mazza, A. and Strozza, S. 2023. From South Asia to Southern Europe: A comparative analysis of Sri Lankans' residential segregation in the main Italian cities using high-resolution data on regular lattice geographies. Genus, 79 (1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41118-023-00203-y
Bharathi, N. Malghan, D. and Rahman, A. 2023. Ethnic diversity and economic development with spatial segregation. Economics Letters, 222, 110951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2022.110951
Bastos, C. and Thieken, A.H. 2024. Urban growth and spatial segregation increase disaster risk: lessons learned from the 2023 disaster on the North Coast of São Paulo, Brazil. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 24(9), 3299-3314. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3299-2024
Crowell, A. and Fossett, M. 2022. Metropolitan racial residential segregation in the united states. Demographic Research, 46, 217-260. https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2022.46.7
Critelli, G. and Musella, M. 2016. Social Segregation in Urban Area: the results of a project in the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 223, 89-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.311
Chai, H. 2024. Socio-spatial segregation in residents' daily life: A longitudinal study in Beijing. Applied Geography, 171, 103395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2024.103395
Dash, M. 2023. Spatial Segregation in Mid-Size Indian Cities: Correlation of Three Area-Based Socio-Economic Measures With Street Morphology. Doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas. https://doi.org/10.7454/jessd.v7i2.1222
Delmelle, E.C. 2022. Mapping inequality: The geography of socioeconomic and racial segregation. Journal of Urban Affairs, 44(3), 321-340. https://doi.org/10.1111/gean.70006
Dao, T.H.D. Nguyen, T.T. Le, H.A. Pham, V.H. and Tran, Q.B. 2024. Uncovering Spatial Patterns of Residential Settlements, Segregation, and Vulnerability of Urban Seniors Using Geospatial Analytics and Modeling Techniques. Urban Science, 8(3), 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8030081
Diwakar, P. 2023. Placing Caste: Spatialization, Urban Segregation, and Musical Boundary-Making. Social Forces, 101(4), 1834-1855. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soac142
Dorman, M. Benenson, I. Omer, I. and Portugali, J. 2020. How does socio-economic and demographic dissimilarity determine physical and virtual segregation? Journal of Spatial Information Science, (21), 177-202. https://doi.org/10.5311/JOSIS.2020.21.527
Dueñas-Fernández, D. and Llorente-Heras, R. 2021. La segregación laboral en tiempos de crisis: diferencias europeas. Revista de economía mundial, (57). https://doi.org/10.33776/rem.v0i57.4804
Emko Consulting Engineers (2011). Comprehensive Development and Urban Planning Studies of Borujerd City (In Persian)
Gibbons, J. Yang, T.C. and Hwang, J. 2020. Evaluating residential segregation's relation to the clustering of poor health across American cities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(11), 3910. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17113910
He, G. and Wu, X. 2017. Marketization, occupational segregation, and gender earnings inequality in urban China. Social Science Research, 65, 96-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2016.12.001
Hochstenbach, C. and Musterd, S. 2021. Gentrification and the suburbanization of poverty: Changing urban geographies of inequality. Urban Studies, 58(5), 927-947. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2016.1276718
Jami Odolo, M. Yazdani, M.H. and Jalili Sadrabad, S. 2023. Analysis and ranking of factors affecting economic concentration and segregation in Ardabil city. Geographical Spatial Planning Journal, 47, 37-94. https://doi.org/10.22059/jurbangeo.2022.344959.1711 (In Persian)
Kaufmann, E. and Goodwin, M. 2021. The dynamics of ethnic segregation: A network approach. Social Networks, 64, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2020.10.003
Lee, G. Jeong, B. and Go, S. 2024. Exploring Urban Amenity Accessibility within Residential Segregation: Evidence from Seoul's Apartment Housing. Land, 13(6), 824. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060824
Lees, L. Shin, H.B. and López-Morales, E. 2023. Planetary gentrification and spatial inequality. Progress in Human Geography, 47(2), 215-234. https://doi.org/10.1177/03091325221123456
Liao, Y. Gil, J. Yeh, S. Pereira, R.H. and Alessandretti, L. 2024. The Uneven Impact of Mobility on the Segregation of Native and Foreign-born Individuals. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2407.00404
Masías, V.H. Schlör, H. Kappner, K. and Weinhardt, C. 2024. Evolving demographics: a dynamic clustering approach to analyze residential segregation in Berlin. EPJ Data Science, 13(1), 1-41. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.403
Nieuwenhuis, J. Galster, G. Marcińczak, S. and van Ham, M. 2020. Does segregation reduce socio-spatial mobility? Evidence from four European countries with different inequality and segregation contexts. Urban Studies, 57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098020911907
Riggs, W. and Gulsrud, N. 2023. Digital divides and urban segregation: New dimensions of spatial inequality. Cities, 134, 104190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.104190
Shertzer, A. Twinam, T. and Walsh, R.P. 2022. Zoning and segregation in urban economic history. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 94, 103652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2022.103652
Statistical Center of Iran. 2016. General Population and Housing Census. (In Persian)
Sharifi, A. and Khavarian-Garmsir, A.R. 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic and urban segregation: Impacts and policy responses. Sustainable Cities and Society, 76, 103443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142391
Tammaru, T. Knapp, D. Silm, S. Van Ham, M. and Witlox, F. 2021. Spatial underpinnings of social inequalities: A vicious circles of segregation approach. Social Inclusion, 9(2), 65-76. https://doi.org/10.17645/SI.V9I2.4345
Tao, R. Li, W. Liu, Y. and Chen, X. 2023. Big Data and urban segregation: New approaches to measuring inequality. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 100, 101915 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2023.101915.
Türk, U. and Östh, J. 2023. Introducing a spatially explicit Gini measure for spatial segregation. Journal of Geographical Systems, 25(4), 469-488. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10109-023-00412-1
Wong, D.W. 2008. A local multidimensional approach to evaluate changes in segregation. Urban Geography, 29(5), 455-472. https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3638.29.5.455
Wang, L. and Li, X. 2023. Spatial segregation and urban inequality: A machine learning approach. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 104, 102-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.106062
Wardhani, S.A. Firman, T. and Hudalah, D. 2022. Spatial segregation at large-scale planned residential bintaro jaya. IOP Conference Series, Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1089/1/012042
Wiranegara, H. Firman, T. and Hudalah, D. 2021. The effect of housing policies on housing segregation in Indonesia. IOP Conference Series, Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/737/1/012064
Xu, A.Z. 2024. Segregation and the spatial externalities of inequality: A theory of interdependence and public goods in cities. American Political Science Review, 118(3), 1431-1448. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055423000722
Zamiri, M. Nastaran, M. and Ghalehnoei, M. 2024. Analysis of socio-spatial segregation of ethnic groups in Bojnourd city. Urban Studies Journal, 50, 77-89. https://doi.org/10.22034/urbs.2023.139221.4935 (In Persian)
Sustainable Development of Geographical Environment
Volume 7, Issue 13 - Serial Number 13
Summer
June 2025
Pages 19-32

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics