https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/ Sustainable Development of Geographical Environment en daily 1 Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107457.html https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107099.html Introduction: Over the past few decades, the Jalair River has been subjected to varying degrees of morphological changes, resulting in diverse consequences. Accordingly, this study was conducted to investigate and analyze evolutionary trends, examine the resulting changes, and ultimately identify the relationship between these trends and their controlling factors. The analysis was carried out across three time periods (2009, 2014, 2024) for river management purposes, focusing on two reaches: the first reach spanning 3 kilometers (divided into 2 sections) and the second reach spanning 4 kilometers (divided into 3 sections).Materials and Methods: The Jalair River basin is one of the watersheds in the Central Iran region, located in the Khazarazan district of Tafresh County. It is a sub-basin of the Qarachai River, which discharges into the Salt Lake (Namak Lake). The highest point of the basin is the Siah Kamar Mountain in the southeastern part, with an elevation of 3074 meters above sea level, while the lowest point is at the basin outlet, with an elevation of 1238 meters above sea level. The required data for this research were collected using hydrometric data from the Jalair station, Google Earth satellite imagery, field observations, and surveys. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using ArcGIS, Google Earth, and Excel software. Given the total length of the Jalair River (7 kilometers), the study area was divided into northern and southern sections. For a more detailed examination, the river course was further segmented into upstream and downstream reaches based on changes in pattern, slope, and channel position. To investigate changes in the channel planform, the right and left banks of each river reach were initially delineated for different years (2009, 2014, and 2024). These delineations were then overlaid to calculate the displaced area. Finally, riverbank changes were analyzed using the River Network Change Index (RNCI) and planform change analysis.Results and Discussion: The results obtained using the River Network Change Index across the three studied time periods revealed that in the first period, all right banks of the reaches in this section were of the aggradational type, with Reach 2 experiencing the highest sedimentation. The left bank of Reach 1 was aggradational, while the left bank of Reach 2 was erosional. In the second period, all right banks of the reaches in this section were erosional, with Reach 1 experiencing the highest erosion. All left banks of the reaches were aggradational, with Reach 2 exhibiting the highest sedimentation. In the third period, all left and right banks in Reaches 1 and 2 were aggradational. The highest average rate of periodic change occurred in the second period on the left bank. Furthermore, the analysis of channel planform changes showed that the two adjacent reaches exhibited contrasting behaviors over the 15-year period: Reach 1 experienced an 11% reduction in area (narrowing), while Reach 2 underwent an 11% increase (widening). This disparity reveals a strong dependence of each reach's morphological response on local characteristics and the combined effect of extreme hydrological events.Conclusion: The change analysis indicates a predominant long-term trend of aggradation. However, the occurrence of intermittent erosional phases (particularly on the right bank) and intense changes in specific reaches suggest the influence of extreme hydrological events and non-uniform morphological responses along the river. A persistent pattern of asymmetry between banks is also observed, with the right bank exhibiting a greater tendency toward erosional behavior. Furthermore, different reaches demonstrated varied responses, with Reach 2 being a focal point of intense change. The results of the river planform change study also reveal that the studied river is a dynamic and non-uniform system. At the long-term scale (15 years), the dominant trend is aggradation, but this trend was not uniform along the river, as two adjacent reaches exhibited opposing behaviors. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107225.html Introduction: Social interactions constitute one of the most significant dimensions of collective life in urban open spaces and play a crucial role in enhancing vitality, presence, and the overall quality of users’ spatial experience. However, the mere existence of open spaces or physical facilities does not necessarily lead to the formation of social interactions. Previous studies have demonstrated that such interactions emerge through the relationship between spatial characteristics, environmental conditions, and users’ perceptions of space. Accordingly, contemporary research has shifted its focus from purely physical analyses of space toward the investigation of perceptual constructs influencing social interactions. A previous study conducted by the author showed that social interactions in urban open spaces can be conceptualized through three principal constructs: presence, sociability, and environmental quality. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how these constructs influence one another and whether they may perform reinforcing or compensatory roles. Therefore, the present study, with an emphasis on users’ perceptual data, investigates the interrelationships among these three constructs. The primary aim of this paper is to explain the mechanisms through which these indicators contribute to the formation of social interactions in urban open spaces.Materials and Methods: The present study is applied in terms of purpose and quantitative–analytical in terms of nature and methodology. The conceptual framework of the research is based on the findings of the author’s previous study, which identified presence, sociability, and environmental quality as the principal constructs underlying social interactions in urban open spaces. Research data were collected through a structured questionnaire and field surveys conducted in three different locations within an urban park in the city of Borujerd and were analyzed using SPSS software. Multiple linear regression and interaction effect analyses were employed to investigate not only the direct effects of the indicators, but also the combined and synergistic effects of these constructs on the formation of social interactions.Results and Discussion: The findings revealed that the role of perceptual constructs in shaping social interactions is dependent upon the spatial context of each location. In the first location, presence and sociability emerged as two independent factors exerting the strongest influence on social interactions. In the second location, the interaction effect between these two indicators became the most significant factor explaining social interactions. In the third location, presence—manifested through spatial depth—together with climatic conditions, played the dominant role in the formation of social interactions, while the influence of sociability diminished.Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that social interactions in urban open spaces are not the result of the independent influence of a single factor; rather, they depend on the way perceptual constructs interact within different spatial contexts. The results revealed that the roles of presence, sociability, and environmental quality vary across different spatial situations and shape diverse patterns of social interaction. It was also found that presence can enhance social interactions through two distinct pathways: accessibility and seclusion. Accordingly, social interactions are a context-dependent phenomenon shaped by the relationship between spatial organization, users’ perceptions, and environmental conditions; therefore, enhancing social interactions requires a context-sensitive approach that simultaneously considers spatial qualities, perceptual experiences, and users’ behavioral patterns. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107118.html Introduction: The coastal villages of Chabahar county, with favorable weather from spring to winter, have great potential for attracting tourists. The volcanic rocks, rocky beaches, mosques, traditional Baluchi life and texture, and numerous historical monuments are among the tourist attractions of this beautiful region. On the other hand, in the coastal villages of Chabahar county, due to the closure of borders, the lack of livelihood and income options due to geographical isolation, as well as the various potentials of this region for attracting tourists and the effects that tourism can have on the life of coastal villages in the region, the importance of tourism in this region has increased, which can improve rural sustainability in the study area. Given these interpretations, attention to coastal tourism and its effects on the sustainability of coastal villages in Chabahar county seems necessary. Materials and Methods: The present study is applied in terms of purpose and its method is descriptive-analytical. Theoretical studies were conducted using documentary methods and field data were collected using questionnaires and interviews with local people. The statistical population of the present study included coastal villages in Chabahar county in Sistan and Baluchestan province (N=3441). 345 households were selected as a sample using the Cochran formula and simple random sampling. Since the study area has 6 large villages, their selection was done by counting the total number of households. A researcher-made questionnaire in the form of a Likert scale was used to collect information and data. SPSS software, version 22, was used for analysis. Finally, analysis of variance, Fisher's exact test, and multivariate regression were used to analyze the data and information. Results and Discussion: Linear relationship between coastal tourism and rural sustainability, Fisher’s exact statistic (F) with the value (150/389) showed that this variable (coastal tourism) can be used to predict the dependent variable (rural sustainability). Based on the test findings, the influx of tourists and the development of the coastal tourism industry in the villages of Chabahar city have had positive effects on rural sustainability in the studied region and have increased the sustainability of rural households' lives by improving the economic situation, attracting government funds, and generally improving the situation of residents at different socio-economic levels. of coastal tourism on the sustainability dimensions of coastal villages: Effects A multivariate regression test showed that the development of coastal tourism in the villages of Chabahar county, indicated that the development of coastal tourism had the greatest impact on the sustainability of the economic (0.541), social (0.423), physical (0.389), and environmental (0.195) dimensions, respectively. Conclusion: Coastal tourism has led to an increase in the diversification of economic activities in villages, an increase in the price of agricultural land due to the construction of hotels and shops, an increase in the variety of job opportunities, the creation of rural employment, and the prevention of labor migration. In terms of social sustainability, it has also had positive effects in improving health facilities, increasing social interactions between local people and tourists, and increasing place attachment. In terms of physicality, it has also led to improvements in the repair and construction of new roads, an increase in the price of residential houses, the development of new housing, and the use of durable and disaster-resistant materials, and changes in the structure of the village in terms of construction. Finally, the results of the environmental effects of coastal tourism showed that in this regard, the effects were more negative than positive. Because it has contributed to environmental instability in coastal villages to some extent through environmental pollution, noise pollution, coastal degradation, etc. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107310.html Introduction: Suicide is one of the most serious social harms and public health concerns, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide each year and leaving extensive consequences for families and society. This phenomenon is not merely the result of individual and psychological factors; rather, it is shaped through the interaction of social, economic, cultural, and environmental conditions. In recent years, the increasing trend of suicide in Iran, along with regional inequalities, has highlighted the need for place-based approaches. Despite the expansion of studies on the geography of suicide in different countries, spatial research in this field remains limited in Iran. Therefore, the present study is one of the first domestic studies to examine the geography of suicide in Bijar city using spatial analysis methods. The main objective of this research is to identify the spatial pattern of suicide in Bijar city and to examine the extent to which common geographical characteristics exist among different gender groups in suicide attempts.Materials and Methods: This study employed a descriptive–analytical design with a spatial approach. Data on registered suicide attempt events in Bijar City during 2021–2024 were collected and analyzed using ArcMap after data preparation. Ripley’s K function was applied to examine the overall spatial pattern of the events, Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) was used to visualize the spatial distribution and identify areas with higher concentrations of recorded events, Global Moran’s I and Local Moran’s I were employed to investigate spatial autocorrelation and neighborhood patterns of the recorded events by gender, and Getis–Ord Gi* was used to identify statistically significant spatial clusters.Results and Discussion: The findings indicated that the registered suicide attempt events in Bijar City exhibited a clustered and non-random spatial pattern. Ripley’s K function confirmed a clustered structure across all examined distance scales, while Kernel Density Estimation revealed a heterogeneous and multicenter distribution of recorded events, with the highest concentrations located in the central and southern parts of the city and moderate concentrations in the northwestern and eastern areas. Furthermore, Global Moran’s I demonstrated a significant positive spatial autocorrelation in the spatial distribution of recorded events by gender. The results of Local Moran’s I and Getis–Ord Gi* also revealed differences in the spatial organization of recorded events between women and men, with a relatively greater concentration of recorded events among women in the peripheral areas and a relatively greater concentration of recorded events among men in the central and southern parts of the city. These findings reflect differences in the neighborhood structure and relative spatial concentration of recorded events by gender and should not be interpreted as differences in suicide rates or suicide risk between women and men.Conclusion: The findings indicate that the distribution of registered suicide attempt events in Bijar City follows a clustered and non-random spatial pattern. Spatial analyses revealed greater concentrations of recorded events in specific parts of the city as well as differences in the spatial organization of recorded events between women and men. These patterns may be interpreted in light of structural, social, cultural, and environmental factors. Since the density maps represent only the spatial distribution of recorded events, the findings should not be interpreted as reflecting the actual suicide rate or population risk. Therefore, place-based preventive interventions that simultaneously consider the social and gender-related characteristics of each area may contribute to improving the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107119.html Introduction: City entrances are a connection between the natural environment outside the city and the artificial environment inside the cities, which should prepare the tourist or traveler for entering the city. Identity elements include a sense of vitality, legibility and predictable behavior, remembering and learning, a sense of belonging, loyalty and ethnicity. In this regard, cultural identity at entry points can be promoted through the body of the entrance landscape and the creation of collective memories at the city's entry points. Accordingly, the present study seeks to assess the current situation and provide suggestions for improving the entrance to the city of Khoy from the side of Tabriz as a pilot. This study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of research method with a survey approach.Materials and Methods: According to the approach of the present study, this study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of research method with a survey approach. The research data were extracted from two library and field methods and were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire with a five-scale Likert scale. For this purpose, the organization of the entrance to Khoy city from the Tabriz side was analyzed using the SWOT method and three semantic, functional and formal dimensions in the form of 35 sub-indices, and using the purposeful snowball sampling method, a statistical population of 45 people including all university elites, experts, officials and managers of the urban area was selected. Physical or formal characteristics include the quality of passages, security, signs and equipment, tourism facilities and natural elements; performance indicators include services and equipment and emergency and law enforcement services, and semantic components include the beauty of the landscape, the representation of cultural, climatic, economic and architectural identity and the sense of beauty caused by vegetation, signs and buildings. More than 16 domestic and foreign studies were reviewed, each of which analyzed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of entry points as a case study.Results and Discussion: The entrance to the city is not defined in the entry points of Tabriz. In terms of the matrix of internal factors, the existence of farms and gardens, native vegetation, the largeness of agricultural plots, and the openness of the view to the natural bed are the strengths of analyzing the semantic, functional and formal aspects of the arrangement of the entrance to Tabari. Based on this, identity and semantic weakness, functional weakness in organizing movement and services, and formal weakness in readability and input marking can be considered as the weak points of analyzing the semantic, functional and formal aspects of organizing Tabari's input. Based on the matrix of external factors, the strengths of these entry points can be interpreted as the possibility of creating a "green gate of the city", attracting transit tourism, agricultural uses, and unregulated growth, physical disturbance, weakening of identity and transit pressures constitute the weak points of this sector.Conclusion: The functional sub-index of farms and gardens around the route has been the best strength of this urban entrance. Along with that, the main weakness of providing services to passengers and meeting the principled and planned needs (functional), the opportunity point is the potential of green space, the existence of agricultural uses and the possibility of using them (formal), and the threat point is the undefined entrance (formal) for the city; accordingly, it is important to pay attention to creating welfare-recreational and accommodation services for tourists and taking advantage of the green space and desirable vegetation of the route to beautify it as much as possible and to use the symbols of the identity-cultural index of the city of Khoy. The suggestions in this section are as follows: installation of graphic signs including signboards and advertising boards, lighting at night, Separation of expressway and bypass roads and creation of service, welfare, recreational and residential complexes. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_104171.html Introduction: In contemporary discourse, philosophical concepts such as the right to the city and spatial justice have garnered significant attention within urban planning literature. These ideas emphasize equitable access to urban resources and services for all citizens and seek to establish spatial justice. Despite this intellectual emphasis, these concepts have not yet played a substantial role in urban planning both in theory and practice. Although current plans are not fundamentally flawed in their content, their limited effectiveness can be mainly attributed to external factors such as structural misalignments between these plans and the intrinsic characteristics of Iranian cities, inadequate realism regarding existing conditions, and the ongoing political and economic transformations prevalent in Iran.Materials and Methods: This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach with a mixed-methods design. The main variables were identified through a comprehensive review and coding of library sources and expert opinions. The qualitative portion included available documentation related to the right to the city and urban development plans, while the quantitative part involved specialists familiar with Iran’s urban planning system who have engaged with the concepts of the right to the city and urban development. The primary variable is the formulation of a “Right to the City” model, with dependent variables including the spatial distribution of urban services and space production. Space production is also treated as an endogenous variable. Key codes were derived through semantic categorization, overlap analysis, and expert consultation. Ultimately, nine independent variables were identified: philosophical thought, the right to the city, citizenship rights, space production, political thought, governance, economic conditions, social conditions, and cultural conditions. These variables formed the basis for developing the proposed research model.Results and Discussion: In traditional urban planning, per capita service estimates are derived from demographic and spatial data and then benchmarked to propose new standards, which are subsequently integrated into planning documents. However, decades of experience in Iran demonstrate that this approach diverges substantially from theoretical principles, often leading to unbalanced physical expansion, peripheral neighborhoods, poverty, declining living standards, shortages of service centers, and social inequalities. Therefore, this study adopted a rights-based approach to the city to identify key influential variables, followed by hypothesis formulation and testing. The results indicate that, despite advancements in the content and theoretical framework of urban planning discourse, these reforms have yet to foster the capacity to create an ideal urban environment that effectively meets citizens’ needs. Focusing on two critical dimensions service distribution and space production the research examined factors across economic, political, social, cultural, governance, citizenship rights, and philosophical paradigms many of which remain inadequately integrated within the context of the right to the city in urban planning.Conclusion: This research emphasizes the strategic importance of prioritizing the "Right to the City" as a guiding approach for developing equitable and responsive urban spaces. The findings indicate that, over recent decades, Iran’s urban policies and development programs have undergone substantial conceptual and theoretical reforms, with major deficiencies progressively addressed. However, these reforms have yet to fully foster the creation of ideal urban environments or establish spatial justice. The motives and mechanisms necessary to operationalize citizens' rights and spatial justice within urban planning remain insufficiently realized. Currently, the "Right to the City" lacks a clear, influential role as a determinant in urban design and development, remaining mainly in theoretical discourse. Therefore, policymaker and planner-ship should undertake comprehensive structural and procedural reforms within Iran’s urban system. Such reforms are crucial for translating philosophical and legal principles into practical implementation, ultimately fostering more just, equitable, and responsive urban environments. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_106896.html Introduction: In today's dynamic world, we are witnessing significant developments in the field of architecture. These developments are influenced by technological advances and the modern and new needs of Western societies, which have gradually entered the arena of Iran. Meanwhile, this raises the question of whether these developments concern only technical aspects or also influence architectural aesthetics. The tectonic approach is a concept in architecture that offers a theoretical framework to this question. Tectonics is an architectural concept integrating technical and artistic dimensions. Contemporary Iranian architecture has experienced a gradual decline in vernacular identity during the modernization process and has neglected the principles of native and traditional architecture in its pursuit of achieving global standards. Because native and traditional Iranian architecture, with a strong and fruitful history from various perspectives such as sustainability and being focused on Iranian culture and art, can share a large and special part of this art and culture. Previous studies have expressed aspects of this architecture from three perspectives in which the continuation of vernacular architecture to the contemporary era and the future has been ignored. The first perspective aims to preserve the works left behind by vernacular architecture. The second perspective seeks ways to ensure the continued existence of vernacular architecture, and the third perspective uses vernacular architecture as a source for understanding architectural values. The characteristics that exist in vernacular architecture are one of the most influential factors in attracting tourists, and this perspective can have a significant impact on the development of sustainable tourism and introducing this approach to society. Because in today's world, where the concept of sustainable development is receiving special attention, the tourism industry, which is a dynamic industry, seeks to align its development with the principles of sustainability by understanding the balance between economic prosperity and environmental protection. In the context of contemporary Iranian architecture, one of the main challenges is to preserve the vernacular identity against global trends. Gilan Province, with its rich heritage of wooden structures and designs in harmony with the climate, is a representative example of native architecture. The main goal of this research is to apply the tectonic approach and draw inspiration from the features of native architecture of Gilan in order to design sustainable tourism accommodations. These accommodations should, in addition to environmental sustainability, strengthen visitors' sense of place in tourists and help them experience the authentic identity of the place. Materials and Methods: The research method of this qualitative research is descriptive-analytical in nature and applied in purpose. Data collection in the form of documentary research and field observations has been pursued in two main phases to deeply understand the indicators of native architecture of Gilan by focusing on the tectonic approach. Result and Discussion: The two phases resulted in the extraction and compilation of the final indicators of native architecture of Gilan based on the tectonic approach in order to be used in the design of sustainable tourism accommodations with a focus on the native architectural style of the region in order to develop sustainable tourism. The findings and results indicate that the vernacular architecture of Gilan, with its efficient use of native materials such as wood and the design of steeply pitched roofs, has provided an inherent and adaptive response to the region's climatic challenges (such as high humidity and heavy rainfall) and is an outstanding example of environmental sustainability and thermal comfort. Conclusion: The important achievement of the research is the development of a comprehensive theoretical framework based on a tectonic approach to reinterpret the vernacular elements of the region's architecture. This framework allows these elements to be reproduced in contemporary designs using new technologies and materials without sacrificing cultural authenticity and climatic efficiency. The practical application of these principles in the design of tourist accommodations in the region, which provides the possibility of this conceptual and practical integration towards the development of sustainable tourism, is very important. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107278.html Introduction: E-tourism, as one of the significant manifestations of digital transformation in the tourism industry, plays an important role in facilitating access to information, service reservation, travel planning, and improving tourists’ experiences. With the expansion of the internet and communication technologies, the ways in which tourism services are delivered and received have been fundamentally transformed, making e-tourism an effective tool for enhancing the speed, accuracy, and quality of services. In addition to reducing costs and time, this approach contributes to sustainable development, greater competitiveness among tourism businesses, and improved tourist satisfaction. It enables a more personalized travel experience and opens up new avenues for marketing and promotion, especially for niche tourism segments.” Materials and Methods: This study is applied in terms of its purpose and employs a mixed methodological approach combining descriptive-analytical and futures studies perspectives. Data were collected descriptively from documents, articles, and internet-based sources related to e-tourism and the sustainable development of rural settlements. The statistical population consisted of 25 participants. In the first stage, influential factors were identified through Delphi interviews and subsequently integrated and validated through a review of the research literature. For content validity of the questionnaire, expert opinions were considered. Reliability was assessed using the test-retest method with two consecutive rotations, yielding impact coefficients of 90% and 101%, and dependency coefficients of 83% and 98%, respectively. These figures indicate a suitable stability for the matrix. In the next stage, these factors were evaluated using a futures-studies questionnaire and MICMAC analysis. Data analysis was conducted at two levels: direct and indirect influence. Variables were categorized into five groups based on their degree of influence and susceptibility: driver, dependent, dual-risk, regulator, and secondary lever. Ultimately, the key drivers influencing e-tourism for the horizon of 1414 were identified and prioritized. The statistical population included available experts, specialists, and informed stakeholders in rural tourism, consisting of village managers, local council administrators, and experts and managers from the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization of Amol County. Results and Discussion: The findings regarding the identification of key drivers influencing e-tourism indicate that financial support from public and private sectors for rural e-tourism infrastructure projects, such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, augmented reality, and high-bandwidth, high-speed internet (ET2), targeted promotion of the region’s tourist attractions and accurate information dissemination among local communities and tourists (ET5), provision of high-quality and high-speed internet access infrastructure for tourists and rural residents to support e-tourism development (ET14), establishment of an integrated organizational monitoring system for guiding e-tourism in the Larijan district of Amol (ET3), strategic planning and foresight in policy-making as well as the formulation of effective regulations for e-tourism (ET10), and improvement of governmental regulations and facilitation of licensing procedures for investors and applicants in the e-tourism sector (ET9) are among the most influential key drivers. Conclusion: The analysis showed that the main drivers of e-tourism in Larijan, Amol, include financial support and technological infrastructure, targeted advertising and information dissemination, integrated monitoring, and effective policy-making accompanied by simplified licensing procedures. Given local challenges such as weak internet connectivity, dispersed rural settlements, and administrative bureaucracy, strengthening infrastructure—including high-speed internet, IoT, cloud computing, and augmented reality—is essential. Ultimately, the sustainable development of e-tourism in Larijan requires comprehensive cooperation among government, the private sector, local communities, and academic institutions, along with continuous monitoring of indicators and periodic reassessment of key drivers within five-year horizons. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_106916.html Introduction: Contemporary urban management is increasingly complex, highlighting the urgent need for alignment among overarching policies, medium-term plans, and annual budgets. Islamshahr, as part of the Tehran metropolitan region, has experienced substantial in-migration in recent decades. However, the lack of macro-level planning commensurate with this rapid growth has contributed to high population and building densities. Municipal strategic-operational plans are important tools for achieving sustainable development and improving citizens' quality of life. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these plans is influenced by multiple interrelated factors. Therefore, identifying and prioritizing the key drivers that enhance the effectiveness of these plans through a futures studies approach is essential for urban management in Islamshahr. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the factors that most strongly affect play the most significant role in the feasibility and effectiveness of strategic-operational plans for the city and municipality of Islamshahr? Materials and Methods: This is an applied study and employs a mixed (descriptive-analytical) methodology within a futures studies framework. Data were collected through document review and a questionnaire survey. The expert panel comprised 25 urban management and planning specialists in urban management and planning (including urban managers, city council members, provincial government experts, and university professors). Potential indicators were derived from the literature and refining them through the Delphi method, analyzed using MICMAC cross-impact analysis the direct and indirect influence and dependence of variables across five dimensions: Structural-Organizational, Process-Planning, Resource-Economic, Environmental-Stakeholder Participation, and Specialized-Technical. Results and Discussion: The matrix fill rate ranged between 90.00% and 91.67%, indicating a high density of relationships among variables. In the Structural-Organizational dimension, "Relative Autonomy of the Municipality and Interdependence, "Restructuring and Reorganization" and "Coordination among Organizational Units" were identified as the most influential drivers. In the Process-Planning dimension, "Information Technology and Knowledge Management," "Precise Definition of Goals and Vision," and "Coordination among Units and Related Organizations" ranked highest. In the Resource-Economic dimension, "Diversification of Revenue Sources," "Financial and Budget Transparency," and "Resilient Financial Policies" had the greatest impact. In the Environmental-Stakeholder Participation and Specialized-Technical dimensions, factors such as "Institutional Collaboration," "Information Transparency," and "Specialized Capacities and Up-to-Date Data" emerged as key drivers. Conclusion: The findings reveal that the effectiveness of strategic-operational plans in Islamshahr is primarily influenced by governance/organizational and process drivers, while financial, participatory, and technical drivers play complementary roles. The most influential drivers include decentralization, restructuring and reorganization, precise goal definition, information technology and knowledge management, revenue source diversification, financial transparency, attention to socio-economic conditions, and enhancement of specialized capacities. This study corroborates that in Islamshahr, citizen participation is more a consequence of improved governance, transparency, and communication than a primary cause. Furthermore, the relative autonomy of the municipality, as a highly influential variable, underscores the importance of reducing financial-administrative dependencies and strengthening local decision-making. Finally, practical solutions such as establishing cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms, implementing performance-management dashboards, diversifying revenue streams, and deploying integrated urban data systems are proposed to enhance plan effectiveness. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_106935.html Background and Purpose: Pedestrians are an effective factor in improving urban spaces, physical health and quality of life of residents, reducing the negative impact of motor vehicles on the environment and strengthening social connections and social feelings among residents. Therefore, the spatial quality of pedestrians is the result of the interaction of a set of physical, social, aesthetic and functional factors. Therefore, understanding the causal relationships between these factors helps to develop an optimal model for designing, organizing and improving pedestrians. Therefore, considering the benefits and positive effects of sidewalks in various dimensions, as well as the importance of examining the causal relationships of the components explaining the spatial quality of sidewalks in order to develop a desirable design and planning model, the present study was written with the aim of explaining the causality of the spatial quality of sidewalks in Tabriz metropolis in order to develop a desirable model.Methodology: The present study employs a mixed‑method research approach (quantitative and qualitative), with an applied purpose and a descriptive–analytical nature. First, the components explaining the spatial quality of pedestrian streets are extracted through documentary studies, and then the data are analyzed using expert surveys and the DEMATEL technique. Moreover, Grounded Theory is utilized to develop an optimal model for planning and designing pedestrian streets in the metropolis of Tabriz. The statistical population of the research consists of experts (specialists, managers, and urban officials) familiar with the pedestrian streets of Tabriz. Since the size of the population is unknown, a sample size of 100 participants was determined using Cohen’s method.Findings and Discussion: The findings of the research, based on the examination of physical and aesthetic, functional and motor, social and cultural, environmental and perceptual and psychological criteria (spatial qualities), show that (1) the functional and motor criteria have the greatest impact and the perceptual and psychological criteria have the greatest impact. (2) The functional and motor, physical and aesthetic criteria have the greatest interaction with other criteria under study. (3) The functional and motor, physical and aesthetic and environmental criteria are causal variables and the social and cultural, perceptual and psychological criteria are effect variables. (4) The greatest power of influence is related to the functional and motor criteria and is positive. It can also be said that in the sidewalks of Tabriz metropolis, functional, physical and environmental criteria are of fundamental importance as causal variables. Also, the results of these space qualities will increase social interactions and improve perceptual and psychological criteria. The study of sub-criteria also indicates that increasing the durability and efficiency of space has the greatest impact and improving the quality of space experience has the greatest impact. Also, the criterion of increasing the durability and efficiency of space has the greatest interaction with other criteria. The greatest impact power has been related to the criteria of increasing the durability and efficiency of space, physical organization of space and continuity and movement integration, respectively. Also, out of the 24 criteria studied, 14 were causal criteria and 10 were effect criteria.Conclusion: The results indicate that considering the causal relationships, on one hand, and integrating them into the spatial quality indicators discussed in international discourses—such as Comfort and Image (safety, attractiveness, legibility, identity, cleanliness, furnishings, aesthetics), Use and Activity (diversity of functions, mixed-use, functional sustainability, emphasis on human scale), Accessibility and Connectivity (expansion of visual connectivity of spaces, avoiding spatial discontinuity, permeability and access, spatial coherence and continuity), and Sociability (enhancing the sense of belonging to the space, diversity of social activities, inclusivity)—can lead to the successful implementation of a successful pedestrian street model in the metropolis of Tabriz. Furthermore, the extracted core category for the optimal planning and design of pedestrian streets in the metropolis of Tabriz is the “Integrated Model for Enhancing the Spatial Quality of Urban Pedestrian Streets with an Experience-Oriented, Context-Based, and Interaction-Focused Approach.” This core category posits that the quality of a pedestrian street is not achieved merely by aggregating indicators, but is rather the result of a dynamic and causal interaction among physical, functional, environmental, socio-cultural, and perceptual components. This interaction must be understood and designed within the context of Tabriz’s climate, culture, social behaviors, and physical structure. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107098.html Introduction: Geotourism in arid regions represents one of the most appealing branches of nature-based tourism, focusing on geological features and distinctive landscapes to offer visitors a unique experience. Playas and desiccated salt lakes are among the most significant geotourism attractions in desert environments, as they provide valuable evidence of regional climatic history and geological processes. Geotourism in such areas can also contribute to the sustainable development of local communities by creating economic opportunities, generating employment, and promoting the conservation of these fragile ecosystems. More broadly, geotourism in deserts and playa landscapes offers an opportunity to deepen understanding of Earth systems, enjoy pristine natural environments, and foster a culture of natural resource conservation. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate selected geosites in Qom Province in support of desert geotourism development. Materials and Methods:  This study employed topographic and geological data, field observations, and questionnaire surveys to achieve its objectives. The multi-criteria NCT model was applied to assess the selected sites, identify potential threats, and support planning for conservation and sustainable development. The questionnaires consisted of two sections: one designed for experts and researchers, and the other for local residents and visitors. Responses were collected using a five-point Likert scale. To ensure consistency in the evaluation framework, the selected phenomena were limited to playas. Four playas in Qom Province were assessed: Hoz-e Soltan, Mareh Wetland, Ghadir-e Asb Playa, and Namak Lake Playa. The reliability of the questionnaires was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. Within the NCT framework, each geosite was evaluated according to the following group criteria: scientific and geological value, ecological and conservation value, cultural-historical and social value, economic and tourism value, and management capacity and sustainable development potential. A perception gap analysis was also conducted to identify differences in viewpoints between experts and the local community. In addition, field investigations were undertaken to qualitatively verify and interpret the results. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that the scientific value index (N) achieved the highest score among the three principal indices, followed by the tourism value index (T) and the conservation value index ©. This finding suggests that, despite their considerable scientific and tourism significance, the geosites are also exposed to potential threats. A comparison between expert assessments and local community perceptions revealed differences in emphasis, although the overall patterns were broadly consistent. The tourism value of the playas in Qom Province falls within a moderate to relatively high range, indicating a substantial potential for geotourism development. At the same time, the presence of potential threats highlights the need for targeted conservation measures. Comparative analysis further showed that the dominance of scientific value (N) over the other dimensions is consistent with the established literature, which regards playas as important archives of climatic fluctuations and tectonic processes. Meanwhile, the moderate to relatively high tourism value (T) demonstrates the potential to translate this scientific significance into meaningful visitor experiences and geotourism development in line with global trends. Conclusion: Qom Province contains a rare assemblage of playas formed through the interaction of tectonic, climatic, and hydrological processes, endowing them with high scientific, educational, and tourism value. Recognizing these landscapes as geosites can play a key role in the sustainable development of the province’s desert regions. Hoz-e Soltan and Namak Lake are particularly outstanding examples, with strong potential for geotourism, geoscience education, and climate change research. Ghadir-e Asb Playa and Mareh Wetland, owing to their distinctive hydrological and environmental characteristics, are important not only for their geological attributes but also for their ecological significance. Adopting a geosite-based perspective toward the playas of Qom Province can also enhance public awareness of the vulnerability of desert ecosystems. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107081.html Introduction: Due to the frequent visits of tourists to rural tourism destinations, waste management in these areas requires a more complex process than in other rural settlements because of the high volume of waste generated. In this context, the participation of rural women, as managers of resources and households, constitutes the primary element in the waste management process; however, their participation alone is insufficient. Given the specific conditions of these villages, rural managers and tourists also represent other key elements related to waste management, as their optimal performance can play a decisive role in facilitating waste management processes. Therefore, addressing the research gap regarding the relationship between these three key elements, this study aims to explain the impact of satisfaction with the performance of rural managers and tourists on women's participation in waste management using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. Materials and Methods: The statistical population consists of women residing in the selected tourism villages in the Hawraman Cultural Landscape, from which 180 individuals were selected as the sample. The primary instrument for field data collection was a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using mean comparison tests and Duncan's multiple range test in SPSS software. ArcMap was utilized for the spatial representation of the level of rural women's participation in waste management, and Amos Graphics was used for structural modeling. Results and Discussion: The calculated mean results for the three key elements related to waste management revealed that the mean values for 'rural women's participation in waste management' and 'tourists' satisfaction with performance' were 2.95 and 1.3, respectively, both at a moderate level. Meanwhile, the mean value for 'satisfaction with rural managers' performance' was 3.57, which was above the moderate level. The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) regarding the differences among rural tourism destinations in terms of women's participation in waste management showed a significant F-statistic (F = 4.089). Regarding the goodness-of-fit indices for the final model, the obtained values for P, CMIN, DF, CMIN/DF, RMR, GFI, NFI, CFI, PRATIO, RMSEA, and HOELTER were 0.055, 118.734, 95, 1.25, 0.048, 0.922, 0.954, 0.99, 0.792, 0.037, and 180, respectively. Under these conditions, it can be concluded that the proposed model possesses an acceptable goodness-of-fit. Furthermore, the analysis of the effects of the variables included in the final model showed that 'satisfaction with rural managers' performance' and 'tourists' satisfaction' had statistically significant effects on the dependent variable, with critical ratios of 5.636 and 4.055, and standardized total effects of 0.497 and 0.363, respectively. Additionally, the results indicated that these two variables collectively explained 61% of the variance in the research's dependent variable. Conclusion: Considering the sensitivity and dependence of the local community's livelihood in tourism destination villages on tourist visits, and given the significant positive statistical effect of both satisfaction with rural managers' and tourists' performance on the level of rural women's participation in waste management, it is essential to enhance the performance of both rural managers and tourists in waste management through the implementation of key and effective measures. Furthermore, the fitted model can serve as a foundation for future studies related to the development and strengthening of rural women's participation in waste management, particularly in tourism destination villages. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107080.html Introduction: Social security stands as one of the foundational pillars of urban livability and neighborhood quality of life, shaped by the dynamic interplay of physical, social, and institutional-governance dimensions. Although each of these dimensions has been examined independently in prior scholarship, integrated frameworks capable of quantifying their relative contributions to social security remain scarce. This gap is particularly consequential in Iranian urban neighborhoods such as Azadshahr in Yazd, where compounding challenges—including physical deterioration, elevated in-migration rates, and growing social heterogeneity—make comprehensive, multi-dimensional assessment an urgent priority. Existing studies have tended either to rely heavily on subjective perceptual data or to conduct physical-spatial analyses in isolation, leaving the relationship between residents' security perceptions and neighborhood spatial structure underexplored. To address this empirical gap, the present study undertakes a multidimensional analysis of perceived social security in Azadshahr, with the explicit aim of comparatively evaluating the explanatory strength of all three dimensions within a unified analytical framework. Materials and Methods: This applied study adopts a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's framework was conducted through 22 semi-structured interviews with residents, security professionals, and urban planning experts. NVivo-assisted coding produced 274 initial codes, subsequently organized into 13 sub-themes and four overarching themes: physical factors, social factors, institutional-governance factors, and social security. These findings guided the construction of the quantitative survey instrument. In the quantitative phase, 367 residents were selected through simple random sampling from Azadshahr's total population of 8,547. A researcher-developed 61-item questionnaire, scored on a five-point Likert scale, was administered. Content validity was established through expert panel review (CVI = 0.91; CVR = 0.89), while construct validity was confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was demonstrated through Cronbach's alpha (0.74–0.81) and composite reliability coefficients (0.82–0.90). SPSS was used for descriptive and inferential statistics, and AMOS facilitated structural equation modeling, yielding strong model fit indices (CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.058, SRMR = 0.044). Three separate structural models were estimated to compare dimensional effects. Additionally, a physical-spatial analysis drawing on field observations and satellite imagery was carried out to examine street network configurations, land-use patterns, defensible space features, and overall built-environment quality in alignment with the CPTED framework. Results and Discussion: All three dimensions exerted positive and statistically significant effects on perceived social security (p < 0.001), though with markedly different magnitudes. The social dimension proved to be the strongest predictor (β = 0.56; R² = 0.57), with neighborhood relations, sense of belonging, social capital, and civic participation emerging as its most influential indicators. The physical dimension ranked second (β = 0.31; R² = 0.23), with lighting quality, public space conditions, land-use diversity, and housing typology as key contributors. The institutional-governance dimension, while statistically significant, demonstrated a comparatively modest effect (β = 0.29; R² = 0.19). Physical-spatial findings corroborated residents' perceptions, revealing that indefensible spaces, physical decay, limited active land uses, and poor spatial legibility in certain sections of the neighborhood corresponded closely to reported experiences of insecurity. Conclusion: This study establishes that social security in urban neighborhoods emerges from a multilayered interaction among physical, social, and institutional-governance factors, with social dimensions carrying the greatest explanatory weight. Physical interventions, therefore, are necessary but not sufficient; sustainable security outcomes require their integration with strategies that cultivate social capital, encourage local participation, and strengthen neighborhood governance. By bridging perceptual data with physical-spatial analysis, this research advances a more holistic and multidimensional approach to urban security assessment in the Iranian context. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_106969.html Absratct Background and Purpose: Spatial justice, as one of the fundamental principles of sustainable development, refers to the equitable distribution of opportunities, resources, services, and facilities in geographical space, alongside inclusive decision-making processes and respect for the diversity of local needs and identities. Spatial justice interweaves the distributional dimension emphasized by planners, the procedural norms highlighted by legal scholars, the lived experience stressed by sociologists, and the manifestation of power in space. North Savadkuh and Savadkuh counties, located in Mazandaran Province, possessing pristine nature, agricultural, livestock, and tourism potential, hold a strategic position and particular significance in regional development. However, spatial justice, as a foundational principle of sustainable and human development, faces profound and tangible challenges and inequalities in the rural areas of these two counties. In this context, identifying the dimensions and level of spatial justice in both counties will greatly assist rural planners in formulating programs and policies. Therefore, the primary goal of this research is to examine and analyze spatial justice from the perspective of the people residing in rural settlements.In this regard, identifying the dimensions and extent of spatial justice in both counties will greatly assist rural planners in formulating programs and policies. Therefore, our main goal in this study is to examine and analyze spatial justice from the perspective of people in rural settlements.Methodology: This research is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in methodology. In this study, data collection methods to address the research questions are twofold: documentary (secondary data) and survey. The instrument employed in the survey method was a questionnaire. The statistical population of this study consists of rural residents in Savadkuh County and North Savadkuh County. The sampling method was cluster sampling, and the sample size was determined using Morgan's table at 384 individuals. In the first stage, rural districts were selected as primary clusters. Subsequently, from each cluster, a number of villages were selected through purposive sampling, and households were chosen randomly. The number of sample villages was determined at 50 villages via non-probability purposive sampling, as previously mentioned. Considering population proportions in rural settlements, 34 villages were selected in Savadkuh County and 16 villages in North Savadkuh County. Raw data for measuring spatial justice indicators were collected through questionnaires. For data analysis, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized in the section examining the effects of spatial justice indicators. This study employed a structural approach using AMOS software. In the section examining and analyzing spatial justice indicators and their components, a One-Sample t-test was conducted using SPSS software.Findings and Discussion: The findings of the present research, framed within Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), revealed that all examined primary dimensions have a significant impact on empowerment regarding spatial justice. Psychological-cognitive factors exhibited the highest influence, with a regression coefficient of 0.68 and a t-value of 8.65, indicating the critical importance of self-esteem, sense of belonging, and intrinsic motivations in enhancing spatial justice. Following this, political factors ranked second with a coefficient of 0.64 and a t-value of 9.12. Conversely, the results of the One-Sample t-test indicated that the majority of spatial justice indicators and components are in an undesirable condition. A favorable status was observed only in certain components, including lifestyle changes, social participation, access to healthcare services, diversity of economic activities, and sense of local belonging. Conclusion: Weaknesses in institutional-managerial dimensions (laws, budget, effective management, data-driven planning, planning) and political dimensions (non-discrimination, political participation, conflict of interest, development of political awareness, international capacities) in both regions—especially mountainous areas—are identified as underlying and exacerbating factors of deprivation. Ineffective management, lack of transparency, weaknesses in data-driven planning, and discrimination in resource allocation constitute the primary obstacle to the realization of spatial justice.Keywords: One-Sample t-test, Structuralural ‌Equation, Modeling (SEM), Foothill villages, Mountainous villages, Spatial justice indicators https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_106769.html Background and Purpose: Urban shrinkage essentially represents a reconceptualization of previous scientific terminologies found in earlier discourses, including terms such as deurbanization, urban decline, urban blight, urban decay, obsolescence, population loss, and urban poverty. Researchers often define a shrinking city as an urban area that experiences economic stagnation, population loss, a high unemployment rate, and social and demographic problems. The objective of this research is to analyze and examine urban shrinkage with a particular emphasis on the role of migration as a contributing factor. Methodology: This research is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in method, based on direct observations and questionnaire distribution. The primary spatial unit consists of the urban neighborhoods of Borujerd city, categorized into five clusters: marginalized neighborhoods, annexed villages, affluent neighborhoods, pre-planned housing complexes, and the city's core formation neighborhoods. According to the statistics, the cluster of pre-planned housing complexes was excluded as it does not contain residents who are emigrants from the city. Data collection utilized both documentary and field methods. For the section on the causes of citizen emigration from Borujerd, a citizen questionnaire was designed using a Likert scale. Given the questionnaire's design for investigating emigration causes from Borujerd, Cronbach's alpha test was employed within the SPSS software environment; the obtained Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82 confirms the questionnaire's reliability at a very good level. The questionnaire's validity was verified by specialized professors. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used. Given that the data collection was survey-based and the variables under investigation were of a nominal-ordinal nature, and considering that no statistics are registered regarding the number of emigrants, we employed non-probability purposive sampling. Furthermore, to determine the sample size in a manner consistent with scientific foundations for survey research, we deemed it reasonable to base the sample size on the completion of 100 questionnaires. For the analysis of the questionnaire data, we utilized the one-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) test within SPSS software. Findings and Discussion: The findings revealed that, considering the F-statistic value and significance level greater than 0.05, there was no significant difference in mean scores among privileged neighborhoods, marginalized informal settlements, historical urban core areas, and annexed former villages regarding variables such as: greater employment opportunities outside the city, lack of job opportunities in Borujerd, absence of banking facilities like loans, inequality in amenities and services between Borujerd and the provincial capital as well as other destination cities, shortage of sports infrastructure and facilities, difficulties in family formation for oneself or children, presence of greater personal freedoms in larger cities, insufficient governmental institutions and organizations in the origin city, inefficient performance of city officials, and government resolutions and plans favoring the provincial capital - with all respondents across different neighborhoods expressing consensus about the impact level of these factors on migration from Borujerd.Conclusion: Migration leads to sustained population decline in Borujerd city as the primary indicator of urban shrinkage, with residential neighborhoods gradually emptying and rising vacancy rates of houses, while population decrease reduces demand for services causing business closures and intensifying migration through a vicious cycle, as migration intensification fragments urban space where marginalized neighborhoods, annexed villages and historic urban cores face depopulation while pre-planned townships and privileged areas gain population, driving internal relocation between neighborhoods or to other cities as middle classes increasingly opt for inter-city migration with significant numbers from Borujerd's historic core neighborhoods relocating to Tehran. The long-term effects of migration on urban shrinkage include population aging, decline in the workforce, closure of small businesses, reduced capital attraction, increased vacant and abandoned properties, decline in infrastructure and urban facility quality, proliferation of unsafe neighborhoods, closure of schools and educational centers, reduced quality of healthcare services, diminished public transportation, social fragmentation, decreased social vitality, increased psychological problems, abandonment of agricultural lands, expansion of marginalized settlements, and environmental degradation https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107136.html Introduction: The urban open spaces are considered as the most important places of social interaction. but the tendency to machine life, the vast presence of vehicles and changing the face of the city due to the domination of the automobile on the urban space, has caused some public spaces to lose their importance in different scales of the city. invention of automobile and development of cities gradually became a priority for pedestrian and pedestrian - oriented spaces in cities and urban spaces and the spatial quality of urban spaces, urban open spaces and pedestrians were reduced. broad urban streets with car governance and rapid growth of city and urbanization cause the destruction of human scale in cities, destruction of urban open spaces, increasing accidents, reducing resilience and comfort of citizens. the collection of these factors has led to the attention to the issue of resilience and human - centered in urban planning. resilience approach includes different aspects of social, economic, institutional, physical and environmental. the central part of the city is the old and historical texture of the city that the composition and diversity of land use in this section (business, administrative and service) has been the destination of many internal travels. in this regard, the main objective of this research is to provide solutions and strategies to increase resiliency and improve the sense of comfort in public and urban spaces with human-centered approach. Materials and Methods: The present study is an applied research and in terms of nature and method of implementation is descriptive - analytical. a researcher - made questionnaire was used to collect data. the statistical population of this research includes two groups of experts and citizens. at the first level, purposive sampling method and in the second level, random sampling method was used. the sample size in the first level of 25 people and at the level of citizens by using Cochran formula is 384. the validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the members of the main group and the reliability of the questionnaire by Cronbach 's alpha test with the value of 0/751. Results and Discussion: The findings of spatial analysis revealed the density of commercial and service users around the street and main squares (Imam street, Velayat-e Fagih and Enghelab square). this congestion has prevented the travel to this area of the city. while the existing street network does not have the capacity to withstand the imposed traffic load during the night and the weekends. in the face of this traffic load, the extent and extent of public parking lots is not desirable; and this important problems will double the central part of the city. the results of the analysis of factors affecting the comfort and social interaction and the importance / satisfaction diagrams of these factors from the viewpoint of citizens showed that the first priority is the convenience of citizens considering pedestrian rights by giving priority in the network network and removing the dam 's dam. in such a way that observance of sidewalk rights in the streets shows satisfaction among citizens. the results also showed that in some key factors affecting the comfort and social interaction, we need to improve and optimize and in others need to be reviewed. Conclusion: The urban spaces are one of the elements of spatial structure and identity of the city but domination of the automobile on the urban space has caused some public spaces to lose their importance and function in different scales of the city. comfort in public spaces means creating environments that people enjoy and feel comfortable in their daily activities. the most important comfort factor in public and urban open spaces is observance of human rights. the results of this study can be generalized to most urban neighborhoods and urban management system in iran and emphasizes the necessity of paying attention to citizen rights. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107288.html Introduction: Decentralization is a new type of organization that results in the formation of various structures for the management at multiple national and local scales. An important perspective of power distribution or decentralization in decentralized systems is to provide the basis for improving management and providing local services by transferring the competences and authorities of land administration from the central government to local governments. For this purpose, and in the process of decentralization, local competences are separated from national competences in these systems. To gain experience on how to separate local from national competences, this article examines the countries of France and Turkey as decentralized systems.Materials and Methods: The method of the article is descriptive and its approach is deductive, in which the selected countries have been subjected to a comparative study based on the theoretical framework of decentralization. The data collection tool is library and computer, and the study of legal texts and scientific and research documents. In the research methodology, first, considering the most important indicators determining the decentralization model and in order to determine the legal principles of how to separate local competences from national competences in the selected countries, the laws and documents in question have been examined using the method of directional qualitative content analysis. The study framework includes examining the foundations of the formation of local governments and the type of their relationship with the central government, describing the competences of local governments, and also providing an example of how to separate local competences from national competences in the field of health in the countries under study.Results and Discussion: The results show that understanding the legal status and the type of financial and supervisory relationship between local and central government in such political systems is an introduction to addressing the issue of how to separate local and national competences. In countries with decentralized system, local governments have a legal status in the administration of the country's affairs, the guiding principles of which are derived from the constitution. Despite their extensive competences, local governments in these countries do not have complete independence in decision-making, administration, and implementation of local affairs, and a specific supervisory and financial relationship exists between local and central governments. Influenced by these factors, the position of local governments in the administrative and decision-making structure has been determined, and the scope of its competences and powers has been determined. The experiences of the countries studied show that the system of national divisions and their various levels, rather than simply defining various population and settlement points, focuses more on defining and introducing local units and actors in the administration of the country that have a legal status in the country.Conclusion: Therefore, the formulation of guiding principles for decentralization is inevitable, in which the type of supervisory and financial relationship between local government and the national government must be determined. Also, in separating local competences from national competences, it is not possible to determine a fixed boundary between the scope of competences and performance of the central government and local governments, but it is possible to consider some of the affairs that are sufficiently homogeneous and have similar characteristics as local affairs within the scope of competences of the central government. It is worth noting that the separation is not done with a specific and specific criterion, but local competences in each of the different areas are separated from national competences among different local units such as secretary of state, governorates and municipalities at the discretion of the boards or legal councils consisting of experts in the same domain. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107015.html Introduction: Public spaces, as the main platform for the formation of urban life, play a decisive role in the quality of citizens' interactions and social bonds. In recent decades, physical transformations resulting from modern planning and rapid urban development, often without considering socio-cultural dimensions, have led to a fundamental change in the essence of these spaces. These changes have affected their potential to strengthen social interactions, sense of place attachment, and social capital. In recent decades, a devastating paradox has occurred in the urban development of Tehran (and many metropolises around the world): on one hand, the symbolic and economic importance of public space is increasingly emphasized, and on the other hand, its social and cultural nature is being destroyed in the gears of modern urban planning and speculative urbanism. Prioritizing traffic efficiency at the expense of destroying sidewalks and gathering spaces, giving priority to symbols of development. at the cost of ignoring the human scale, and turning multi-purpose spaces into uniform, controlled commercial products are just a few examples of this trend. These transformations, which often lack historical sensitivity and are indifferent to local wisdom, gradually erase collective memory from spaces, turning them into rootless, defenseless, and passive places. This research was conducted with the aim of studying the physical transformation of public spaces and its impact on the quality of social interactions in selected areas of Tehran. Materials and Methods: The present study is applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of method. The statistical population of the qualitative section includes experts and specialists in fields related to urban collective spaces (such as urban planning, architecture, urban design, urban sociology, and urban management). A purposive snowball sampling method was employed for participant selection, whereby initially a number of recognized experts were identified and interviewed, and then, through their referrals, other qualified individuals were added to the sample. Data collection continued based on the principle of theoretical saturation; after conducting 10 interviews, no new data emerged, and theoretical saturation was achieved. Consequently, the interview process was halted at this stage. The collected data were then analyzed using MAXQDA qualitative data analysis software. Results and Discussion: Analysis of the findings indicates that a total of 474 conceptual codes were extracted from the interview data through coding. These codes were organized during the analysis process into 6 main categories and 18 subcategories. Based on frequency and importance, the most significant main categories identified, in order, are: factors affecting transformation (24.7%), physical-spatial transformations (22.8%), and strategies and solutions (18.6%) of the total extracted codes. To ensure the reliability of the coding process, Cohen's Kappa coefficient was calculated, yielding a value of 0.81. This value indicates a high level of agreement among coders and suitable reliability of the qualitative data. Furthermore, using network analysis, key nodes influencing the studied system were identified. The results showed that political-managerial factors, with 31 references and 5 connections, act as the central and pivotal node. On the other hand, transformations during the Pahlavi period, with 42 references, were identified as the most significant historical key node, having the greatest impact on shaping the current situation. Regarding solutions, out of 17 identified strategies, the analysis results determined that 9 strategies fall into the very high priority group. These strategies primarily focus on categories such as community-based regeneration, revitalizing human scale, enhancing walkability, and increasing citizen participation, and should be placed at the forefront of future actions. Conclusion: The results of the research indicate that public spaces are not neutral backgrounds, but rather play a decisive and dynamic role in the quality and quantity of communications and social bonds among citizens in the selected areas of Tehran. Public spaces should be recognized as living and dynamic arenas that enable diverse interactions, dialogue among different groups, and the formation of a collective identity, which requires a fundamental review and redesign with this approach https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_103899.html Passive defense is called as the most important intelligent measures to deal with human and natural threats in times of peace and tranquility. Today, knowing the current situation and creating a vision of the desired situation in relation to the spatial analysis of urban infrastructures in the light of security and defense considerations and using it in combination with the Geographical Information System (GIS) is of fundamental importance in the field of decision-making and planning according to It has a defensive purpose in studies. The main goal of this research is to evaluate the level of damage of the infrastructures of Mazandaran province. For this purpose, an evaluation process has been carried out using the geographic information system and the ANP model. Relevant spatial data have been collected from the official centers and authorities of the country, and written sources and questionnaires from local experts and experts have been used to measure and determine the criteria. The results of this research show that more than 60% of the area of the province is very vulnerable. And less than 20% of the province's area is exposed to low vulnerability. Also, the results show that the northern regions of the province and the Caspian Sea border are more vulnerable than the southern regions of the province and the highlands, and in case of establishing new infrastructures and crisis management in emergency situations, it is necessary to pay attention to the vulnerable areas of the province https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107340.html Introduction: Nowadays, the housing sector, especially in developing countries, faces fundamental policy shortcomings that have led to spatial imbalances in housing accessibility, mismatches in supply and demand, excessive increases in housing and rent prices, and the formation of informal settlements. In this regard, it is essential that housing policy approaches rethink existing structures with a reformist perspective. Therefore, given the inefficiency of existing housing policies and the necessity of formulating reform policies, especially in developing countries, the present study was written with the aim of formulating a reform approach to housing policymaking in Ardabil city based on the effectiveness of policies in responding to housing supply and demand. Materials and Methods: The research method in the present study is quantitative with an applied purpose and descriptive-analytical nature. In this study, first, through documentary studies, the criteria of the reform approach to housing development policymaking were extracted and then the required data were collected through questioning with experts. The DEMATEL technique was also used in the analysis of the data. It is worth mentioning that DEMATEL is one of the multi-attribute decision-making methods and is used to identify the pattern of causal relationships between the variables under study. Also, the statistical population of the study includes managers, officials and academic elites in Ardabil city, which the sample size was determined to be 200 people using the Cohen formula. Results and Discussion: The research findings show that the criteria of governance and transparency are the most influential and the criteria of social and justice-oriented approach are the most influential. The criteria of governance and transparency and the social and justice-oriented approach have the most interaction with other criteria under study. Also, the criteria of land policy reform and urban planning, reform of the financial and credit system of the housing sector, and governance and transparency are causal variables, and the criteria of construction quality reform and productivity promotion and social and justice-oriented approach are dependent variables. On the other hand, the greatest influence is related to the realization of governance and transparency and in a positive way. Finally, it can be said that in the reform approach to housing policymaking in Ardabil, rethinking the institutional (realization of governance and transparency), economic (reform of the financial and credit system of the housing sector) and legal (reform of land policies and urban planning) structures are of fundamental importance as causal variables. The examination of the sub-criteria also indicates that the integration of housing policymaking institutions has the greatest influence, while the production of social and supportive housing has the greatest dependence. Furthermore, the criterion of social and supportive housing production has shown the highest level of interaction with the other criteria. Conclusion: The results show that housing policymaking in Ardabil city has faced a series of challenges in recent years, including an imbalance between supply and demand, ineffective support tools, a shortage of suitable land for development, weak institutional coordination, and a lack of accurate data-based planning. Therefore, a rethinking of housing policies in Ardabil city is necessary, emphasizing an integrated, long-term approach that relies on targeted interventions. This rethinking should include structural changes, in other words, the use of a reform approach in policymaking in order to increase the success of housing programs. Based on the analyses conducted, the proposed reform approach for the city of Ardabil it requires a transition to integrated governance; an approach that aligns physical development with sustainability and social justice standards based on housing supply and demand, by linking innovative financing, smart support for vulnerable groups, and data-driven monitoring, to prevent future crises. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_107367.html Introduction: The growing demand for energy, the depletion of fossil fuel resources, and the increasing environmental impacts associated with conventional energy production, including greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and air pollution, have intensified the global transition toward renewable energy resources. Among various renewable energy alternatives, solar energy has received considerable attention because of its abundance, environmental compatibility, and long-term sustainability. Iran is recognized as one of the countries with significant solar energy potential due to its favorable geographical location, high annual solar radiation, and extensive areas suitable for photovoltaic development. Nevertheless, the successful implementation of solar power projects depends largely on selecting appropriate locations that satisfy technical, environmental, economic, and infrastructural requirements. Improper site selection may increase construction and operational costs, reduce energy generation efficiency, and create environmental conflicts. Consequently, scientific site selection has become one of the fundamental stages in renewable energy planning. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), combined with Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques, have proven to be effective tools for evaluating spatial suitability by integrating numerous criteria simultaneously. Accordingly, the present study aims to identify, evaluate, and map suitable areas for solar power plant development in Bojnord County using GIS-based spatial analysis and multi-criteria evaluation in order to support sustainable energy planning and facilitate optimal utilization of the region's solar energy potential. Materials and Methods: This study is an applied research conducted using a descriptive–analytical approach based on Geographic Information Systems. Twelve effective criteria representing climatic, environmental, technical, and infrastructural conditions were considered in the site selection process. These criteria included solar radiation, slope, distance from urban population centers, distance from rural settlements, distance from roads, distance from power transmission lines, distance from industrial centers, distance from wells, distance from gas transmission lines, distance from agricultural lands, distance from faults, and distance from rivers. The required spatial data were collected from relevant governmental organizations and reliable spatial databases and were processed to produce thematic GIS layers. Since the selected criteria possessed different measurement scales and units, all layers were standardized using fuzzy membership functions to transform them into a common suitability scale ranging from minimum to maximum suitability. The relative importance of each criterion was determined through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on pairwise comparison matrices completed by seventeen experts with relevant professional experience. The weighted criteria were subsequently integrated using the weighted overlay method within the GIS environment to produce the final land suitability map. This integrated framework enabled simultaneous consideration of multiple influencing factors and provided a comprehensive spatial evaluation for identifying the most appropriate locations for solar power plant construction. Results and Discussion:The spatial analysis revealed considerable variation in land suitability across Bojnord County. The final suitability map indicated that the central parts of the county and several areas with appropriate access to technical infrastructure, particularly electricity transmission lines and transportation networks, possess the highest suitability for solar power plant development. These areas benefit from favorable solar radiation conditions, relatively gentle slopes, and appropriate spatial accessibility, making them more suitable for investment in photovoltaic energy projects. The results further demonstrated that solar radiation, distance from power transmission lines, and slope were the most influential criteria affecting the final suitability pattern, highlighting their critical role in determining optimal locations. Conversely, proximity to rivers, faults, agricultural lands, wells, and other environmentally sensitive areas reduced the suitability of several locations because of environmental protection requirements and technical limitations. The findings indicate that high solar radiation alone cannot guarantee the suitability of a site for photovoltaic development. Instead, a balanced consideration of climatic, environmental, technical, and infrastructural factors is necessary to achieve reliable site selection. The integration of GIS, AHP, fuzzy standardization, and weighted overlay analysis provided a systematic and efficient decision-support framework capable of improving the accuracy and reliability of spatial suitability assessment while reducing uncertainty associated with single-criterion evaluations. Conclusion: The results of this research demonstrate that Bojnord County possesses considerable potential for solar energy development and contains several highly suitable areas for future photovoltaic power plant construction. The integrated GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation framework employed in this study successfully identified priority locations by simultaneously considering environmental, technical, climatic, and infrastructural factors. The generated suitability map can serve as a practical decision-support tool for planners, policymakers, and investors involved in renewable energy development by facilitating more informed site selection, reducing implementation costs, minimizing environmental impacts, and improving investment efficiency. Furthermore, the methodological framework adopted in this research can be applied to other regions with similar geographical and climatic characteristics to support renewable energy planning and sustainable regional development. The findings contribute to expanding the application of spatial decision-support techniques in renewable energy planning and provide a scientific basis for promoting clean energy production, enhancing energy security, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels in accordance with sustainable development objectives. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_104606.html Background and purpose In the past decades, the concepts of quality of life and livability have been considered among the most important planning principles for settlements and have been of considerable importance in order to achieve sustainable development. The need to pay attention to this issue is of double importance despite the unbalanced population structure and spatial inequalities in our country. In the meantime, small cities are one of the most important residential areas in developing countries, where the low livability rate has led to emptying and a significant decrease in population. One of the effects of population decline in urban areas is the fading of identity in these destinations because people who migrate from their departure points gradually lose their sense of belonging to that place and find belonging to their departure destinations. On the other hand, residents of areas with a low livability level, due to service and living inadequacies, are more trying to meet their individual needs, and numerous problems and social inequalities are an obstacle to the formation of a unified social identity in these destinations. Therefore, in the current research, it is assumed that the decrease in livability will affect the fading of social identity in cities. In this regard, the aim of this research is to explain and summarize the most important indicators of livability for the small city of Songhor and measure these indicators on the identity of this city. In this regard, qualitative and quantitative methods were used. methods First, by analyzing the content of domestic and foreign articles, the general indices of livability were extracted as 94 factors. In order to localize and determine the most relevant indicators for the purpose of this research, the results of the first stage were summarized in the form of a Delphi process and a survey of experts. In addition, the effects of livability components on the social identity of the city were also investigated, and in this regard, multiple linear regression analysis was used in Spss software. At this stage, the findings from the Delphi stages were prepared in the form of a questionnaire and distributed and collected among the citizens. The statistical community is the city of Songhor and the sample size includes 200 residents of different neighborhoods of the city of Songhor. Discussion and findings In the content analysis stage, after the identification of open codes and their frequency, following the inductive approach, open codes were categorized according to their semantic affinity and 43 sub-themes were extracted from the integration and integration of related codes. Sub-themes were also categorized into 7 main themes. Further, the results of the Delphi steps showed that livability indicators in Songhor city are in 7 general categories: "Urban Management", "Environmental Features", "Social Features", "Urban Services and Infrastructure", "Economic Features". ", "cultural characteristics" and "climatic characteristics" can be formulated. In the last stage, in order to measure the effects of livability components on the social identity of the cities, the results showed that the 3 economic, cultural and environmental dimensions have higher correlation with the social identity of the city with the effect coefficients of 0.468, 0.286 and 0.209, respectively. The components of climatic features were also removed from the model due to the lack of significant value. Conclusion In evaluating the role of livability components on the social identity of the city, we came to the conclusion that the economic, cultural and environmental components have the highest correlation with the social identity of the city. The results of this research are especially important in the current situation where cities and settlements are seriously facing an identity crisis and the low level of livability components. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_104749.html The main purpose of this research is to investigate the status of sustainable urban regeneration indicators in the 12th district of Tehran from the perspective of three groups (officials, citizens, urban elites). The research method used is descriptive-analytical. In this regard, 383 questionnaires among citizens, 50 questionnaires among urban elites and 50 questionnaires among officials and experts of related departments and organizations have been completed. SPSS software and MANOVA multivariate analysis of variance test were used for data analysis. The results show; The overall average of urban regeneration indicators in the 12th district of Tehran is equal to 2.82 from the point of view of the officials and 2.49 from the citizens' point of view and 2.55 from the urban elites' point of view. According to all three groups, the average of all indicators was lower than the theoretical average of the questionnaires, which is (3). In general, the average opinions of the two groups of urban elites and citizens are very close to the status of sustainable urban regeneration indicators in the 12th district of Tehran, and they have described the city's situation as inappropriate in terms of indicators. However, the average opinions of managers are different compared to the other two groups, and from the managers' point of view, the indicators are very close to the average. The results of the MANOA test also show that there is a significant difference between the opinions of different urban groups in terms of sustainable urban regeneration indicators. And it is only in the economic index that there is no difference between the average opinions of the groups, while in other indices there is a significant difference between the opinions of the groups regarding the indices. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the status of sustainable urban regeneration indicators in the 12th district of Tehran from the perspective of three groups (officials, citizens, urban elites). The research method used is descriptive-analytical. In this regard, 383 questionnaires among citizens, 50 questionnaires among urban elites and 50 questionnaires among officials and experts of related departments and organizations have been completed. SPSS software and MANOVA multivariate analysis of variance test were used for data analysis. The results show; The overall average of urban regeneration indicators in the 12th district of Tehran is equal to 2.82 from the point of view of the officials and 2.49 from the citizens' point of view and 2.55 from the urban elites' point of view. According to all three groups, the average of all indicators was lower than the theoretical average of the questionnaires, which is (3). In general, the average opinions of the two groups of urban elites and citizens are very close to the status of sustainable urban regeneration indicators in the 12th district of Tehran, and they have described the city's situation as inappropriate in terms of indicators. However, the average opinions of managers are different compared to the other two groups, and from the managers' point of view, the indicators are very close to the average. The results of the MANOA test also show that there is a significant difference between the opinions of different urban groups in terms of sustainable urban regeneration indicators. And it is only in the economic index that there is no difference between the average opinions of the groups, while in other indices there is a significant difference between the opinions of the groups regarding the indices. The results of the MANOA test also show that there is a significant difference between the opinions of different urban groups in terms of sustainable urban regeneration indicators.The results of the MANOA test also show that there is a significant difference between the opinions of different urban groups in terms of sustainable urban regeneration indicators. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_103969.html These exchanges, depending on the level of border penetration, can play an essential role in the economic, social and physical development of urban settlements in the border areas. In this regard, the present research has been conducted with the aim of evaluating the effects of border exchanges and interactions on the improvement of the quality of economic, social and physical indicators of the border city of Marivan from the citizens' point of view. In terms of method, this research is considered as descriptive-analytical research and in terms of goal, it is considered as applied-developmental research. Documentary-field data collection method and a researcher-made questionnaire were used. The method of data analysis was also quantitative and in the form of t-test statistical tests and Pearson correlation. The results of the research showed the evaluation of citizens' opinions regarding the effects of the border on most of the economic, social and physical indicators of the city of Marivan has shown that there are positive effects. Of course, it did not affect the indicators of the quality of life and city services, and it also had a negative effect on the educational indicators in the city. The results of the correlation coefficient also showed that there is a significant correlation between the characteristics of people's age, education and length of stay in Marivan city with economic, social and physical indicators. https://egsdejournal.sbu.ac.ir/article_105102.html Over the past few decades, emerging environmental threats arising from population growth, urbanization, water transformation, and the threat to the survival of ecosystems and human communities due to water scarcity, especially in areas with low rainfall, have led to increasing threats to water resources on a transnational to transnational scale. Strengthening the aspects of cooperation interactions has played an effective role in hydro-political relations. The main question of the article is what are the factors of water diplomacy in the hydro-political relations of the Kora-Aras catchment countries? The hypothesis of the article is that the most important factors in water diplomacy and hydro-political relations of the countries of this basin are Turkish dams, river pollution by Armenia, unclear legal regime of Aras-Kora river, economic development plans of catchment countries, poor management of catchment water resources and its consequences Threats to food and agricultural security, threats to human health, migration, threats to the national security of downstream countries, and future conflicts and tensions between the basin countries will witness a range of hydro-political relations (cooperation, tension, war) between the basin countries. Recognizing the entanglement of natural fields, capacities and capabilities with vulnerabilities arising from the threat of water security and hydro-political relations between actors and activists is the technique of water diplomacy and the method of this research is qualitative (library and documentary studies...) and quantitative (expert interviews). Questionnaire using SPSS, AHP, SAV techniques).