Document Type : Research article
Authors
Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22059/jurbangeo.2024.366607.1869
Abstract
ABSTRACT
One of the most important goals of the Renovation Plans of Urban Blighted is to enhance the quality of the environment, and the dominant approach of urban renovation is regeneration, which takes into account the economic, social, cultural, physical, etc. aspects. This study's main aim was to evaluate Renovation Plans in Urban Blighted the Central Core of Ahvaz Metropolis Using a Formative Approach to an Urban Sustainable Landscape. This study, in terms of purpose and method, was applied-theoretical and survey and descriptive-analytical due to the nature of the subject and the governing approach of this research. The statistical population of this study was all residents 18 years and older in Urban Blighted, the Central Core of Ahvaz Metropolis. Using Cochran's formula, a sample of about 384 people was selected as a sample group. The evaluation results of various indicators of renovation Plans of Urban Blighted the Central Core of Ahvaz Metropolis using a one-sample t-test showed that on average, all indicators of this research (economic, physical, aesthetic, and environmental), except for social and functional indicators are less than assumed average (3). In other words, the Implementation of renovation plans and projects to improve the status of social and functional indicators was impressive. However, the mentioned plans had very little role in Improving the status of physical, environmental, economic, and aesthetic indicators. The results of the Friedman test showed that the most important has been related to the social index, and the least important has been to the aesthetic index
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Geographic centrality, ease of access, establishment of market and commercial activities, and historical and cultural values have caused Urban Blighted to generate income. Thus, investing in these areas can be economically advantageous. However, despite the mentioned features, due to the lack of attention of managers and officials, lack of proper planning, and the existence of many issues and problems, such as the inappropriate road network, wear and tear of residential units, weak infrastructures, and environmental problems, these tissues are on the path of stagnation and backwardness. The appearance of urban wear and tear, especially the wear and tear of the central and old fabric of cities, along with the transformation of land as a scarce social resource, has made the optimal use of Urban Blighted, which is one of the primary sources of land supply, to become especially important and necessary. The primary purpose of this research is to evaluate renewal projects in the Urban Blighted of the core of the Ahvaz metropolis with the approach of developing a sustainable urban landscape.
Methodology
The present applied-theoretical study employed a survey research and descriptive-analytical research method. The statistical population of the research consisted of all citizens eighteen years and older living in the Urban Blighted of the central part of Ahvaz metropolis. The sample size was determined as 384 individuals using Cochran’s formula and with a confidence coefficient of 0.95%, selected by a simple random sampling technique. The data collection method was also documentary and survey research. In the first stage, the data related to the research theoretical framework and background from scientific sources, including books, dissertations, and valid scientific articles, were collected. In examining a case sample of the method, survey research (questionnaire) was employed. The previous domestic and international studies on the research area were reviewed to prepare the questionnaire. Then, questions and items related to the study indicators (social, economic, functional, physical, aesthetic, and environmental) were extracted. In the next stage, questions and indicators were examined and explicated using urban management experts’ opinions. Finally, SPSS software, the one-sample t-test, and the Friedman test were employed to analyze the data collected using the questionnaire.
Results and discussion
The results of the one-sample test in connection with the six indicators of this research in the studied area show that between the theoretical averages (equal to 3) and the obtained theoretical averages (experimental average) of the economic, social, physical, functional, aesthetic and environmental, there is a significant difference at the level of 0.95% because firstly, they differ from the theoretical average; secondly, the obtained t-statistic is greater than the value of the standard t-statistic (greater than 1.96 positive and negative); thirdly, the level of significance obtained for the one-sample test, a two-tailed test, is less than 0.05; and fourth, the distance between the upper and lower limits does not include zero, that is, zero is not placed between these two limits. Among the six indicators, two social and performance indicators significantly differ significantly from the theoretical average, which is also positive. Therefore, implementing improvement and renewal projects has effectively improved the condition of the social and functional indicators of the Urban Blighted of the central core of Ahvaz. On the contrary, four physical, economic, environmental, and aesthetic indicators negatively differ from the theoretical average. Therefore, the implementation of improvement and renewal projects had a minimal effect on the mentioned indicators, and the average of these indicators is still below the average.
Also, based on the Friedman test results and referring to the chi-square statistic as 193.86, significant at the error level of 0.05%, it should be said that the participants’ average opinions towards the research indicators are different in the scope of the study statistically and with a confidence of 0.95%. In addition to the significance of the difference or lack of difference in the mean rating of the respondents, the Friedman test deals with the prioritization of indicators. In other words, the test result indicates the participants’ opinions about the six studied indicators. Accordingly, social and functional indicators have more favorable conditions than other research indicators. After these two indices, the physical and economic indices have the highest and lowest ranks related to the aesthetic indicator.
Conclusion
In general, the research results indicated that implementing renewal projects had little effect on improving the living conditions of the residents. These projects have had the most significant impact on social and functional indicators and little on other economic, physical, aesthetic, and environmental indicators. Accordingly, to improve the effects of the implementation of improvement and renewal projects in improving the quality of life of the residents of dilapidated buildings and increasing their level of realization based on the primary goals, more attention should be paid to the approaches of empowering the residents and taking advantage of social capital and public participation in line with the policies of a system based on the citizens’ participation as much as possible in all fields, including social and environmental issues, along with economic and physical issues, is necessary as the main pillars of sustainable development.
Funding
There is no funding support.
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.
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