Niloofar Panahi, Mohammadreza Pourjafar, Ali Soltani, Ehsan Ranjbar,
Volume 33, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
The aging of the population in developed and developing countries calls for special attention to improve the quality of life for older people. Meanwhile, one of the key factors influencing the quality of life of older people is their mobility. Most of the previous studies have considered the mobility of younger people while considering the aging of the population, the mobility of older people needs special attention. This research aims to investigate the factors affecting older adults’ mobility in urban spaces. Thus, we examined Sage, Science Direct, Wiley, Taylor and Francis databases. Initially, 300 papers were gathered. In the following steps, after a more detailed review of the content of the papers and the removal of the unrelated ones, 28 papers remained which had the most relevance to the subject, and content analysis was done. The content analysis results show that the factors affecting elderly mobility are personal factors, lifestyle and attitudinal factors, and built environment factors. Finally, the model of the factors affecting elderly mobility is proposed. According to this model, the three factors proposed can affect the mobility of older adults directly and indirectly. Our findings add to the growing research on investigating older adults’ mobility factors. If urban planners get familiar with the factors affecting the mobility of older people in urban spaces, they can lead people to more sustainable modes of mobility and decrease car orientation in urban areas. Therefore, in future policies, the role of all the factors in the mobility of older people should be considered because the restriction of mobility can prevent the active participation of individuals in social activities and ultimately create feelings of depression and social isolation.
Narges Soltani, Parvin Partovi, Daryoush Moradi Chadegani,
Volume 34, Issue 4 (10-2024)
Abstract
Preserving the Natural Environmental Cultural Heritage (NECH) and improving the urban Quality of Life (QOL) are crucial urban planning issues that play critical roles in cities. The modernization and expansion of cities due to population growth, lifestyle changes, and improved quality of life are inevitable movements in developing and developed countries. Although the new progression has brought many opportunities concerning socio-economic aspects, it has also caused some challenges for urban planning, particularly in conserving cultural heritage. It reaches a point where it is possible to visualize the link between heritage conservation and sustainability, which will enhance the development of future cities. The present study investigates how the NECH and QOL have evolved to be implemented in urban strategic planning to upgrade the NECH and QOL values. The research time scope covers 1920, when the first use of “standard of living” (before QOL) was proposed, until 2023. By reviewing and analyzing texts and documents of historical transformation of the NECH and QOL, tracing and overlying common fields of the NECH and QOL concepts (historical-structural analysis and comparative analysis), and organizing sequential cause and effect relations between milestones and evidence of NECH and QOL historical transformations (timeline diagram), the authors explained the strategic planning approach to support the (NECH and QOL) using the adaptive analysis method and extracting both substantive and procedural components for urban spatial, strategic planning process. The research results presented an urban spatial strategic planning model according to the NECH and QOL components (substantial and procedural). Due to the nature of urban spatial strategic planning (focus on uncertainty in planning; probability of planning process; need to expand the scope of planning in the broader political, social, economic, and environmental fields; focus on paying attention to diverse shareholders; and ability to support urban planning models based on description, analysis, and prescription); a cyclical-continual steps (1) assessing the current situation, (2) problem finding, (3) cause and effect problem analysis, (4) producing a final statement of significant issues and goals, (5) presenting decision options and suggestions (problem-solving), and (6) sharing strategic planning related to cultural and natural heritage among key shareholders and residents, with special content in each step, configured. The achievement of this spatial strategic planning model is bridging between the quality of life and the natural environment cultural heritage concepts and applying its principles of substance and procedure adapted to local conditions in such a way that the capacities of the natural environment heritage of the cities are coextensive with upgrading the resident’s quality of life.
