Information and communications technology in Urban Management
L. Tavanaei Marvi; M. Behzadfar; S.M. Mofidi Shemirani
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Smart cities have been criticized for being too technologically driven and reinforcing entrepreneurial thinking rather than focusing on citizens and social sustainability. This paper aims to “define the implementing principles for Smart Cities in Tehran as a social ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Smart cities have been criticized for being too technologically driven and reinforcing entrepreneurial thinking rather than focusing on citizens and social sustainability. This paper aims to “define the implementing principles for Smart Cities in Tehran as a social construct”. In this regard, this study tries to develop smart city indicators and suggest a set of implementing principles for smart cities, citizens, and civic organizations in Tehran. Furthermore, this paper illustrates how in-progress smart city projects are meeting the citizens' needs in 22 districts of Tehran Municipality.METHODS: The present study has used a qualitative and quantitative methodology based on theoretical frameworks. In this paper, Maslow's hierarchy of needs acts as a meta-method for defining the principles of social sustainability to implement smart city projects. First, smart sustainable cities and associated indicators were evaluated based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Second, a case study approach was utilized to assess Tehran’s smart city projects. Finally, the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats and Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix techniques were used to define strategies based on internal and external environmental factors and relation to social sustainability.FINDINGS: The results indicated that promoting innovation centers and living labs to create a vibrant, active, and healthy public realm was the most effective strategy for smart city development in Tehran (Weaknesses-Opportunities8=.1.323). Two important additional strategies were “involve stakeholders and focus on people and consider urban residents not only as recipients or users of smart cities but also as designers of smart cities” (Strengths-Opportunities3=1.075) and “promote community involvement in council decision-making by developing interactive platforms” (Strengths-Opportunities8=0.884).CONCLUSION: This paper contributes knowledge on how cities such as Tehran can achieve and implement social sustainability using a smart city approach. Plans and projects for a smart city in Tehran were deemed neither realistic nor sufficiently strategic, and they are assumed to satisfy neither policymakers nor citizens. Social sustainability-based principles and strategies are necessary to incorporate citizen perspectives into Tehran’s smart city plan and policies. The present study adds several significant insights to the existing frameworks for implementing smart city frameworks in Tehran.
Urban architecture, design, development and planning
R. Mesgaran Kermani; S.M. Mofidi Shemirani; N. Nikghadam
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lack of paying attention of contemporary architecture and urban planning to the environment and adaptation to the climate of the region has caused many environmental problems. To solve a part of the problem, the present paper was conducted to achieve the proportions governing ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lack of paying attention of contemporary architecture and urban planning to the environment and adaptation to the climate of the region has caused many environmental problems. To solve a part of the problem, the present paper was conducted to achieve the proportions governing the exterior skin of open spaces of urban districts that have unique characteristics to adapt to the climate of their region, since about 2/3 of Iran is covered by arid climate, it was examined. The old texture of Yazd is one of the best architectural models compatible with arid climate of Iran, which its teachings can give suitable guidelines for contemporary architecture and urban planning. In this regard, three districts from the historical texture of Yazd were selected as research samples.METHODS: This research is of applied in terms of aim and its methodology is descriptive-analytical conducted by library method and field survey. The method of research and data analysis is a combination of quantitative and quantitative, in which the geometric properties of 143 plots were studied first and then, by comparing and analyzing the results, the fit was obtained.FINDINGS: The results showed that the average height of the exterior skin in the squares was more than that in the passages and entrances; this ratio is 1.22 for the entrances and 1.35 for the passages. The average width of the exterior skin is greater in the squares, followed by the passages and entrances, respectively, with ratios of about 2.3 and 12, respectively. The ratio of height to exterior skin width is 1 to 5.7 in the squares and 1 to 39 in passages, exterior skin width is about 6 times in the squares and 39 times in passages. These proportions are a sign of the influence of the region's climate, the generalization of which in similar climates will increase the harmony with the climate.CONCLUSION: Results suggest the existence of proportions and relations in the exterior skin that are affected by the climatic characteristics of the arid region of Iran and can be managed in the open spaces of urban districts.
