ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Information and communications technology in Urban Management
F. Nazarova; T. Voropayeva; N. Horobets; O. Sokolova
Abstract
global and significantly affect (negatively, positively) the state and development of the national and world economy. The purpose of the paper is the formation of methodical-practical foundations of energy risk management in the energy sector.METHODS: The matrix method was used in building the energy ...
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global and significantly affect (negatively, positively) the state and development of the national and world economy. The purpose of the paper is the formation of methodical-practical foundations of energy risk management in the energy sector.METHODS: The matrix method was used in building the energy security risk assessment matrix. Economic-mathematical modeling was used. Depending on the characteristics of the dynamic series and the available information, the methods of analytical alignment, smoothing using the moving average, the average absolute increase, and the average coefficient of change were applied.FINDINGS: The energy security risk assessment matrix was created. The development of a strategy for the behavior of subjects of market relations in the electricity market should be based not only on the results of risk identification and assessment and the developed risk management plan, but also on the risk response plan and the method of their control (monitoring). The coefficient of use of the installed energy capacity was in the range of 32–26% in Poland in 2021. Calculations of average annual growth rates for each of the dynamic series give reason to state that the highest growth rates of dependence on energy imports were characteristic of coal (+4.17%) and the lowest ones — of oil (+0.35%) during 1990–2021. Considering the forecast values for 2030, a certain decrease in the growth rate of dependence on the import of energy resources (for coal and oil) and an increase- for gas are expected.CONCLUSION: As a conclusion, the method of forecasting the total final energy consumption of the country was improved for forecasting the amount of energy resources in order to use it for building an energy policy that considers such variables as the economic situation and the political situation in the country. The formation of a risk response plan should be based on management plans and documentation of risk manifestations, intellectual and organizational assets of the economic entity (generalized risk management experience, management strategies, templates, etc.). manifestations, intellectual and organizational assets of the economic entity (generalized risk management experience, management strategies, templates, etc.).
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Urban and municipalities management
P. Tolouei; F. Babaei Semiromi; R. Arjomandi; A.H. Hassani; R. A. Azizinejad
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aqueduct is one of the most complex and amazing inventions of human history, created to meet the most vital needs of human society in arid and semiarid regions areas. If aqueducts are properly maintained, reconstructed, and restored, they can be valuable water supply system ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aqueduct is one of the most complex and amazing inventions of human history, created to meet the most vital needs of human society in arid and semiarid regions areas. If aqueducts are properly maintained, reconstructed, and restored, they can be valuable water supply system from ground water resources. The quality of the water in these sources will have a direct impact on the consumer of its consumption, so it seems necessary to check the water quality of these sources.METHODS: This study investigated the state of five aqueducts in Tehran using parameters such as calcium, magnesium, phosphate, sulfate, turbidity, total hardness, nitrate, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, total coliform and fecal coliform. Then the obtained values were compared with the permissible limits of the World Health Organization and the national standard of Iran. The data was analyzed using SPSS26 software and a one-sample t-test.FINDINGS: The results of water quality during a one-year survey period showed that the parameters of alkalinity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, sulfate, and nitrate were below the maximum desirable and permissible standards of the national standard of Iran and the World Health Organization, and therefore will not create any restrictions for drinking and agricultural use. Total hardness, phosphate, turbidity, calcium, magnesium, and chlorine have discrepancies with the national standards of Iran and the World Health Organization and these components must be adjusted for use. According to the one-sample t-test, there was a significant difference between the average and the permissible values of all parameters except magnesium at the 95% confidence level. All aqueducts except the America aqueduct had levels of fecal coliform that were higher than the maximum allowed by the environmental standards therefore, before using the aqueduct, it must be purified to control the environmental standards.. However, the total coliform, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand levels were not a problem. In addition, the water quality of these sources was placed in a group (C3S1) based on the Wilcox diagram.CONCLUSION: The physical and chemical analysis of the studied aqueduct water showed that the water quality is suitable for the irrigation of green spaces and salt-resistant plants. The biological characteristics of the studied aqueduct water also revealed that these sources were polluted by domestic and industrial effluents. This issue will only grow worse with time, as the amount of rainwater decreases and the amount of pollution in the underground water sources increases.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Urban architecture, design, development and planning
P. Alaedini; R. Shahvali
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A relatively large number of historic (traditional and old) houses have been restored in Iranian cities in the recent period. Of increasing demand in the era of the experience economy, many are used as cafes, restaurants, galleries, ecolodges, etc. Cultural heritage and urban ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A relatively large number of historic (traditional and old) houses have been restored in Iranian cities in the recent period. Of increasing demand in the era of the experience economy, many are used as cafes, restaurants, galleries, ecolodges, etc. Cultural heritage and urban policies have further provided a general framework and some incentives for the restoration and reuse of these houses. Leveraging a tourism development framework, this paper investigated how authenticity could be achieved in practice in the restoration and reinvention of historic houses.METHODS: A flexible policy research approach was employed to probe the current framework governing the restoration of historic houses. Another part of the analysis was based on a set of semi-structured interviews and field observations targeting restored historic houses in the city of Shiraz. Specifically, interviews were conducted with owners/operators of the most significant category of reused old houses—those turned into ecolodges—along with visitors.FINDINGS: Based on the fieldwork results, five general recommendations were provided for owners/operators of restored historic houses/ecolodges toward realizing authenticity: there is a need for pre-planning and employment of adequate knowledge and knowhow to provide authentic experiences to visitors; objective elements should leverage creativity, balance tradition and modernity, and give the establishment its own personality; subjective elements should be reflective of local culture, history, and hospitality; a major aim is to have tourists emotionally engaged with the place and easily interact with people, places, and things; and allowing for co-creation could instill an enduring sense of belonging into visitors.CONCLUSION: Notwithstanding recommendations for owners/operators of restored historic houses, tourism and urban authorities must focus on the creation of a policy framework that encourages the delivery and management of authenticity. Adopting a stronger socio-cultural approach should help to achieve additional regeneration objectives of local economic development through increased interaction among public-sector agencies, non-governmental institutions, local populations (property-owners or tenants), and investors.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Urban architecture, design, development and planning
P. Shehu; L.S. Rikko; M.B. Azi; D.B. Bawa; A.Y. Taimako
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of the fascinating and complex realities of global development in the 21st century is urbanization. The present study focused on appraising the spatial pattern, nature, and growth drivers in selected peri-urban areas of Jos Metropolis. Accuracy assessment and classification ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of the fascinating and complex realities of global development in the 21st century is urbanization. The present study focused on appraising the spatial pattern, nature, and growth drivers in selected peri-urban areas of Jos Metropolis. Accuracy assessment and classification of Landsat Satellite Images, evaluation of the spatial pattern of growth, the nature of growth, and the driving forces of growth were conducted.METHODS: Data were collected through field observation and questionnaire administration, use of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System, Global Positioning System, and camera. Satellite imageries used to identify the classes of LULC from 1999 to 2022 were Thematic Mapper (L5_TM) 1999, Landsat 7 ETM+ 2014, and Landsat 8 ETM+ 2022. GPS was used for Ground Truthing, and IDRISI Taiga software was used for image classification and area calculation. ArcGIS 10.1 used to visualize the satellite images and produce maps. FINDINGS: Results revealed a definite growth rate pattern and land modification trends in the peri-urban areas over the study period. Between 1999 and 2014, fast growth was observed in Farin Gada and Rantya at 42.5% and 35.8% change, respectively; there was slow growth in Sabon-Gari at 7.0% proportion. From 2014 to 2022, growth in Farin-Gada (41.9%), Rantya (35.9%), and Rahowl Kanang (21.9%) proceeded rapidly with Sabon-Gari maintaining the least growth (0.3%). The study observed a linear growth pattern along arterial roads and a dispersed pattern proceeded by land fragmentation as built-ups spread farther from the road corridors. The nature of growth in the peri-urban areas was significantly unplanned, irregular, and disorderly and observed to be massively taking over agricultural land and swallowing up adjoining settlements. The study identified eight drivers that contributed to shaping and propelling growth in the areas.CONCLUSION: The study recommended that the government should integrate the peri-urban areas into its physical development planning schemes and should enforce an effective Development Control mechanism to manage the spatial growth of these areas. The findings will help planners and policy-makers make informed and unified decisions beyond administrative boundaries. The study also adds to the body of knowledge globally and provides the bases for further research.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Information and communications technology in Urban Management
F. Rahmanian; N. Mehdibeigi; N.M. Yaqhoubi
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Social commerce is a subset of electronic commerce and refers to transactions that are conducted through social commerce media. Social commerce creates new channels for consumers that improve not only their purchasing decisions but also their shopping experiences. The attitude ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Social commerce is a subset of electronic commerce and refers to transactions that are conducted through social commerce media. Social commerce creates new channels for consumers that improve not only their purchasing decisions but also their shopping experiences. The attitude of consumers is one of the factors that influence the behavioral intention of consumers. As long as the customer does not have confidence in the social business, he does not want to buy, and the trust that the buyer gains is based on the information, knowledge, transparency and capabilities that social business provide to customers. So, this paper aims to investigate the moderating role of attitude toward purchasing in the relationship between knowledge-based trust and citizens' social commerce and for this purpose, citizens of the east and southeast of Iran are considered as the case of study.METHODS: In terms of purpose, the present study is applied and based on the nature and method, it is descriptive-survey. The statistical population of the present study consisted of 361 citizens of the east and southeast of Iran who use social network and were selected by random sampling. Required data were collected by a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed and analyzed by structural equation modeling and partial least squares method. FINDINGS: Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability and Spearman correlation coefficients were greater than 0.7 and Communality was greater than 0.5, which indicated the high reliability of variables in the model. Also, the Average Variance Extracted square root of all variables was greater than the correlation of them with other variables. So, Discriminant validity of the model was appropriate. Average Variance Extracted was more than 0.5, which indicated the appropriate convergent validity of the variables. According to T-value, knowledge-based trust had a significant and direct effect (0.745) on citizens' social commerce. Knowledge-based trust explained 55.5% of changes in citizens' social commerce. According to T-Value, the attitude toward purchasing had a positive (+0.106) reciprocal role in the relationship of knowledge-based trust and social commerce.CONCLUSION: The findings showed that knowledge-based trust plays a positive role in social commerce; So, strengthening knowledge-based trust can lead to improved social commerce. Also, the attitude toward purchasing is positive moderator in the relationship between knowledge-based trust and social commerce; So, in order to change from a weak attitude to a strong attitude toward purchasing, the relationship between knowledge-based trust and citizens' social commerce is strengthened.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Human capital in urban management
A.R. Santos
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of the key indicators in the evaluation of service quality is the execution of a Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015) and the success of any organization lies in its ability to effectively manage its resources. Human resources play an integral role in this process, ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of the key indicators in the evaluation of service quality is the execution of a Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015) and the success of any organization lies in its ability to effectively manage its resources. Human resources play an integral role in this process, and their contribution to quality management systems is invaluable. This study described the profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex, working experience, employee position, and sector of an organization. This study also assessed respondents' attitudes toward hiring and selection, compensation and rewards, and training and development. Additionally, this study tried to establish a strong correlation between the respondent profile and their attitudes regarding education and training, recruitment and selection, and compensation and rewards.METHODS: This study used a descriptive quantitative method. A total of 150 employees of the ISO 9001:2015 certified service sector within the Cities in Nueva Ecija were surveyed using a survey questionnaire.FINDINGS: Findings present 40% of the respondents came from Generation Y and 26.67 respondents from Generation Z. The respondents' attitudes toward the training and development practices of various service firms found that the highest mean of 3.52 representing a distinct plan for learning and development and encouraging employees to participate in relevant training programs got the second-highest weighted mean of 3.47. Having a criterion to measure the effectiveness of the training got the lowest weighted mean of 3.09. This study also determines the attitude of the employees on recruitment and selection practices of their respective organizations. Filling up vacancies with internally qualified employees got the highest weighted mean of 3.32 followed by informing the applicants about the job conditions needed to achieve a job before hiring, Furthermore, the posting of job advertisements got a weighted mean of 2.19. Lastly, the respondents' attitude toward rewards and compensation practices showed the highest score of 3.59 that Employees are encouraged to accomplish the company's goals by their compensation packages. Other rewards and compensation practices include satisfactory rewards and compensation system, salary satisfaction, rewarding employee collaboration, and reviewing salary increments, bonuses, and other allowances fairly and justifiably with a weighted mean of 3.37, 3.32, 2.85, and 2.77, respectively.CONCLUSION: The results show that specific practices of Human Resource Management, which have been identified, are crucial to improving organizational performance since they contribute to the success of businesses.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Urban ecology and related environmental concerns
S. Salehi; F. Gholamreza Fahimi; Masoud Kiadaliri; A. Tavana; K. Saeb
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recycling and reusing construction and demolition debris is a productive step toward solving this problem. Still, the recycling process also leaves industrial effluents, which is evident in producing recycled sand. The present research has investigated the environmental effects ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recycling and reusing construction and demolition debris is a productive step toward solving this problem. Still, the recycling process also leaves industrial effluents, which is evident in producing recycled sand. The present research has investigated the environmental effects of recycling construction debris at sand recycling plants. Considering the negative impacts of sand washing mud produced at the plant in the Aab'Ali Landfill of Tehran in Iran, the material's physicochemical characteristics and environmental impact have also been investigated to regulate practices. METHODS: The Environmental Impact Assessment has been carried out in physicochemical, biological, socio-cultural, and economic-technical areas. Due to the large dispersion of the studied soil and the composition diversity in each sampling, 30 samples of the sand washing mud and the material mixed with the surrounding soil have been collected. The exploitation phase during the factory construction plan's implementation stage was considered the current research's main phase. Hence, 13 micro activities and 23 environmental parameters were identified, and the results were analyzed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Plus Software using the Iranian Leopold Matrix method and discussed based on the results of the experiments.FINDINGS: According to the results of the matrix calculation, the three micro-activities included washing the sand through a sand-washing machine, fine sand washing through the EvoWash machine with a score of -3.6, converting concrete pieces and large boulders into smaller pieces by jackhammers, transferring to the jaw crusher machine with a score of -2.8, and transferring the remaining sand washing mud produced by the EvoWash machine to the storage pond with a score of -2.7 had the most negative effects. The three micro-activities of waste processing for green space irrigation (+2.2), selling products (+0.9), and hiring employees with a score of +0.5 have the most positive effects on the environment. As ranking smaller than -31 forming 50% of the total average of rows and columns, the activity of the plant and the sand extraction process in this landfill is approved by providing modification alternatives.CONCLUSION: Considering the positive impact on the economy, increasing green spaces in the region, job creation, and also reducing the amount of increasing debris accumulated in the landfill is evaluated positively and can be done considering the reforms; including the prevention of releasing remnant sand washing mud freely and recycling it instead. Reusing the sand washing mud requires improving the water purification systems used in the EvoWash machine.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Urban architecture, design, development and planning
N. Esmaeilpour Zanjani; Y.A Ziari; Z.S. Zarabadi; H.R. Sabbghi
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cities are the main energy consumers; they can be a critical solution to threats to energy resources, the environment, and climate change. Knowing the effective indicators in urban planning and design in the energy field is one of the priorities of urban planners and designers. ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cities are the main energy consumers; they can be a critical solution to threats to energy resources, the environment, and climate change. Knowing the effective indicators in urban planning and design in the energy field is one of the priorities of urban planners and designers. In this regard, Current research in the first step has tried to define a conceptual framework of urban system indicators influential to energy planning in cities. And in the second step, since climatic characteristics could be as fundamental factors in urban energy planning, the relationship between climatic indicators and urban energy planning indicators has been identified.METHODS: This study is basic research in terms of purpose and presents a new conceptual framework for the urban energy system. It also aimed to analyses the relationship between the urban energy system indicators and local climate indicators. Its methodology is descriptive-analytical, conducted by library method and survey. Data analysis was done through a combination of quantitative and quantitative methods and descriptive statistical analysis. To do the survey questionnaire and interview experts in the energy field in different countries by using the Delphi method has been done.FINDINGS: The urban energy system conceptual framework was identified, and it has been divided into seven sub-systems (physical, land use, infrastructure, and transportation, movement/accessibility, cultural and technological), 15 components, and 61 indicators. Also, by analyzing the relationship between urban energy and climate indicators, “Air temperature” is the most related climate indicator from the experts’ view with 682 total scores, followed by “Solar radiation and sunny days”, “greenery” and “wind” indicators respectively with the sum points of 624, 596 and 594 scores in the seven defined urban energy system indicators.CONCLUSION: A theoretical framework of urban energy systems has been defined based on previous studies and experts' ideas in a comprehensive framework. And by analyzing the relationship between the defined urban energy system and climate indicators, the important indicators were recognized in each group. That could be academic knowledge and a practical source for future urban plans. For future studies, the institutional and economic dimensions of urban energy systems have to be conducted to complete the theoretical framework.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Urban and municipalities management
M.S Khan; I.J. Mousumi; M.H. Jaman; M.M. Billah
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Reducing the salinity intrusion from sea water, a closure dam has been constructed on Little Feni River at Musapur Union in 2016. The objective of this research was to assess the soil quality based on the variables, i.e., PH, total organic carbon, total organic matter, total ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Reducing the salinity intrusion from sea water, a closure dam has been constructed on Little Feni River at Musapur Union in 2016. The objective of this research was to assess the soil quality based on the variables, i.e., PH, total organic carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, electrical conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids, respectively.METHODS: A total of 21 soil samples were collected from 7 sampling stations with 10-15cm depth. The PH, total organic carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, electrical conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids were measured with pH meter, titration, Van Bemmelen factor, spectrophotometer, conductivity meter and salinity meter, respectively. Data were analyzed by statistical package for the social sciences, maps were produced by Arc GIS software and cluster analysis was done by Ward method, respectively.FINDINGS: The mean concentrations of PH, total organic carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, electrical conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids were 8.1±0.169, 0.506±0.278%, 0.873±0.465%, 0.044±0.023%, 21.599±8.312ppm, 0.462±0.47ppm, 2.024±526.76dS/m, 2.024±2.382ppt and 222.448±259.927ppm, respectively. The study result revealed that the ranges of these soil parameters were 7.19-8.5, 0.27-1.07%, 0.50-1.82%, 0.02-0.09%, 9.45-32.19ppm, 0.25-1.53ppm, 123.23-1625dS/m, 0.64-7.37ppt and 63.57-802.33ppm, respectively. Strong positive correlation observed between total organic matter and total organic carbon (r=0.999), total nitrogen and total organic matter (r=0.998), potassium and electrical conductivity (r=0.991), salinity and potassium (r=0.994), potassium and total dissolved solids (r=0.989). Likewise, phosphorous was positively correlated with potassium (r=0.444), electrical conductivity (r=0.476) and salinity (r=0.467) with significance level of p ≤ 0.05. The variance test elicited that F value of PH, total organic carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, electrical conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids were 25.505 (p<0.000), 18.011 (p<0.001), 14.013 (p<0.003), 23.478 (p<0.000), 29.393 (p<0.000), 17.924 (p<0.001), 9.502 (p<0.009) and 4.944 (p<0.046), respectively. The spatial distribution showed the reducing pattern of concentrations from outside to inside area of the closure dam. The cluster analysis showed the same sources of origin for pH, total organic carbon, total organic matter, total nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous and salinity (NaCl) which might be the possible cause of anthropogenic activities, i.e., use of chemical pesticide/fertilizer for agricultural cultivable land.CONCLUSION: It is concluded that inside soil was more fertile rather than outside soil after the construction of closure dam. Lastly, the rate of crop production will be increased and soil should be more productive in the study area.
CASE STUDY
Urban ecology and related environmental concerns
Y.A. Petrova
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To date, much of the research has addressed the question of how sustainability can be achieved through innovative environmental projects proposed by concepts and theories in the field of sustainable development. This case study reflects the new formation of ecologically valid ...
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To date, much of the research has addressed the question of how sustainability can be achieved through innovative environmental projects proposed by concepts and theories in the field of sustainable development. This case study reflects the new formation of ecologically valid guidelines. Ecological intelligence caused by the impact of the environmental changes and the related risks. Modern developments and implementation of innovations support the achievement of the sustainable development goals. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of youth value orientation and ecological intelligence towards innovations in the realization of the sustainable development goals, development, and implementation of innovations depending on the differentiations of priorities of these goals.METHODS: The methodology of this study presents the thematic overviews on the subject, related to the study conducted, statistics data and the qualitative research on the online questionnaire designed to collect data. The respondents' answers showed awareness of the problems facing the inhabitants of planet Earth today, and the importance of introducing innovations to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.FINDINGS: The information obtained in the survey on the differentiation according to the priority of the SDGs for the development and implementation of innovations showed that solutions to the problems of environmental sustainability are considered a priority by one in four of the respondents participating in the survey (82.9%). At the same time, in the implementation of the SDGs that focus on achieving environmental sustainability, the fight against change is considered more important. The fact that none of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals has a priority score of 0 indicates that innovation and implementation are needed to achieve each goal.CONCLUSION: Without ecological intelligence and value orientations on the importance of innovative developments, it is impossible to understand the consequences of human impact on the environment and the importance of developing and implementing innovations for the continuation of life on planet Earth. That's the point why over one-third of respondents consider additional environmental knowledge to be significant, regardless of future profession. The study may interest philosophers, sociologists, psychologists and anyone concerned with the stability of planet Earth.
