https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/ Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement en daily 1 Sat, 20 Feb 2027 00:00:00 +0330 Sat, 20 Feb 2027 00:00:00 +0330 https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9490.html In recent decades, attention to the development of entrepreneurial cities has become a primary priority in urban, economic, and social policies. These types of cities, by providing suitable environments for innovation, job creation, and economic growth, are recognized as engines of transformation in th0e field of sustainable urban development. This research, using a meta-analysis and qualitative meta-synthesis approach, examines existing policy models in the field of entrepreneurial cities and attempts to analyze the practical consequences of these policies within the context of urban entrepreneurial ecosystems, identifying existing challenges, gaps, and opportunities. To achieve this goal, scientific articles published between 2018 and 2024 from reputable databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, JSTOR, Web of Science, and Elsevier were reviewed and analyzed. The research findings indicate that three key elements—demand, talent, and financial resources—play a fundamental role in the success of urban entrepreneurship. Furthermore, startup competitions, urban density and diversity, and inclusive urban policies are recognized as factors that strengthen entrepreneurship at the local and regional levels. Meanwhile, the city's social and cultural environment also has a direct impact on entrepreneurial activities and can play a role in facilitating or hindering entrepreneurial processes. This article emphasizes the need to design comprehensive and coherent policy models that are not only tailored to the local conditions of each city but also have their long-term impacts carefully evaluated. Ultimately, the research results can help decision-makers, urban planners, and researchers develop more effective frameworks to support urban entrepreneurship and take an effective step towards economic and social development. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9532.html The present study aims to examine the economic impacts of sustainable tourism on spatial justice in Binalud County (Torqabeh and Shandiz). The main objective of this research is to identify and propose effective strategies for achieving spatial justice within the process of sustainable tourism development. In terms of purpose, the study is applied in nature, and in terms of methodology, it is descriptive–analytical. The statistical population consists of 54 villages in Binalud County, from which 19 villages were selected using simple random sampling. Based on calculations performed in the G*Power software, the sample size was determined to be 160 individuals; however, to enhance precision and generalizability, the sample size was increased to 200. The primary data collection instrument was a researcher-designed questionnaire administered in the field. A pilot test with 30 questionnaires was conducted in an area similar to the study population. Reliability and internal consistency were assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability, with both indices exceeding 0.7, indicating satisfactory validity and reliability of the measurement instrument. For inferential analysis, regression coefficients and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed, and the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to verify the normality of the data. Discriminant validity was also confirmed using the Fornell–Larcker criterion. Data analysis was carried out with SPLS3, SPSS, and Excel software packages. Path analysis results using the SEM model show that the economic impacts have a significant effect on spatial justice: the path coefficients are 0.728, the t-statistic exceeds 7 (well above the critical threshold of 1.96), and the p-value equals 0.000, indicating very high significance at the 99% confidence level. This implies that strengthening the economic effects of sustainable tourism can contribute to the improvement of spatial justice. Finally, based on the study’s findings, practical recommendations are presented. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9589.html Border markets, as a bridge between the two countries, provide numerous economic opportunities for local and regional residents and play an important role in the economic development and sustainable livelihood of rural households. Trade is one of the main indicators in establishing communication between countries and the livelihood of border residents, which allows us to use opportunities and strengths and strive to achieve the continuity and sustainability of friendship and understanding, security and economic prosperity, create employment opportunities, stabilize the population, and ultimately regional development. The type of research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical research method. The reliability of the research tool was also obtained using Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the components under study, which was 0.72. The validity of the research or the validity of the questionnaire was also obtained with face validity (using the opinions of specialists and experts). The statistical population of the present study is the heads of households in 6 villages around the border market of Inche heborun in the Dashli borun district, which has a population of 5804 people. Simple random sampling method was used to select the research samples, and the Cochran formula was used to determine the sample size, and 360 people were selected as the sample population. The data extracted from the questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS software and descriptive and inferential statistics such as gamma correlation analysis, Friedman's mean comparison, and multiple linear regression with the simultaneous method. The results of the chi-square correlation show a significant relationship between the border market and the improvement of economic indicators at a 99% confidence level. The results of the Friedman test indicate that the indicators under study show a significant difference up to the 99% confidence level. Also, the results of the gamma correlation matrix indicate a significant relationship between the indicators of economic development and the border market. Also, the results of the gamma correlation matrix indicate a significant relationship between the establishment of the border market and the improvement of economic development indicators and sustainable livelihoods of villagers. Also, the coefficient of determination in the regression equation shows that the indicators studied predicted about 71 percent of the development of the study area and about 29 percent depended on variables that were not identified in this study. Accordingly, the Inche boron border market has played an important role in improving sustainable livelihoods and promoting quality of life indicators in the villages of the study area. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9596.html The desirability of urban squares and their related elements, as among the most influential factors shaping public-space quality and urban vitality, requires a coordinated quantitative and qualitative approach to multiple components by urban managers. This applied study in Marivan aims to provide a clear assessment of current desirability levels and to propose practical solutions. It employs a descriptive–analytical framework with a mixed-methods design: documentary sources inform the theoretical review, while interviews, field observations, and questionnaires comprise the empirical phase. In the quantitative component, questionnaires were analyzed using inferential statistics (one-sample t-tests) and descriptive metrics (means and modes) to evaluate desirability against predefined indicators. In the qualitative component, semi-structured interviews were coded openly; the emergent questionnaire was then distributed and subjected to structural equation modeling to confirm and generalize findings, identifying the causes and factors that affect these elements’ desirability and efficiency in the urban environment. The study population, selected through purposive sampling, included urban managers, academic experts, and informed residents of Marivan. Findings reveal that urban squares and their elements rank poorly on design–architecture–performance (mean = 2.58), socio-economic (mean = 2.42), and environmental (mean = 2.19) dimensions across 33 dependent variables. Major impediments include weak specialized management; inadequate funding for landscape planning and maintenance (the single most impactful factor); an emphasis on form over meaning in design; a disorganized physical fabric of public spaces; and limited participatory governance and citizen engagement. These shortcomings undermine the vitality and optimal performance of Marivan’s urban squares. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9619.html The growth of urbanization and increasing complexity have increased the importance of the resilience of communication networks against crises. In these circumstances, smart urban transportation using new technologies is considered as a key strategy for proactive management and rapid response in emergency situations. In this regard, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of smart urban transportation on the resilience of communication networks in Kermanshah city. The present study is descriptive-analytical in nature, in terms of its applied purpose, and in terms of its method, it is a combination of library and survey methods and is based on a futures research approach. The research area was Kermanshah city. The statistical population of this study is 50 urban transportation, road and urban development experts and municipal experts. The Delphi method and the cross-effects matrix (MicMac) were used to analyze the data. The research findings indicated that among the 46 main influential factors on the role of smart urban transportation in the resilience of communication networks, 27 variables were identified as key and influential. These variables have the greatest influence and the least susceptibility (influenceability) on the future development of the role of smart urban transportation in the resilience of communication networks in Kermanshah city. Furthermore, the results showed that environmental and pedestrian resilience factors, such as covered sidewalks, are the main drivers (precursors) of the system and have the greatest influential force. Conversely, smartization indicators, particularly smart parking, are primarily susceptible (influenceable); therefore, future success depends on prioritizing physical resilience infrastructure to create a suitable platform for the implementation of smart technologies. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9620.html The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of artificial intelligence on optimal urban management by urban managers in Shahrekord. The present study is a descriptive-analytical study in terms of its applied purpose and method. The statistical population of the study included all urban managers in Shahrekord, 60 people, and the sample size was determined based on the total census to be 60 people. The research tool included a 35-question questionnaire in two sections: artificial intelligence with 21 questions and optimal urban management with 14 questions. The validity of the tool was confirmed in terms of face, content, and construct, and its reliability was confirmed based on Cronbach's alpha at 0.79. The collected data were analyzed based on structural equation path analysis with PLS software. The results showed that in general, artificial intelligence has a positive effect on optimal urban management. Also, strategic vision positively affects optimal urban management, shared destiny positively affects optimal urban management, willingness to change positively affects optimal urban management, commitment and optimism positively affects optimal urban management, alignment and coherence positively affects optimal urban management, knowledge development positively affects optimal urban management, and performance pressure positively affects optimal urban management. Therefore, artificial intelligence can enable urban managers in Shahrekord to make optimal and evidence-based decisions using accurate data and smart analytics. In addition to improving efficiency and productivity, this technology can help reduce environmental problems, improve quality of life, and better manage resources. If urban managers in Shahrekord can exploit the potential of artificial intelligence, they will witness a transformation in the quality of urban services and improve the well-being of citizens. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9634.html In today’s interconnected world, cities have become key players in shaping the architecture of the global order, and urban diplomacy, as a new language of global interaction, has transcended the boundaries between politics, knowledge, and culture. In this context, sister city relations are no longer merely symbolic mechanisms for cultural exchange; they have evolved into functional platforms for the reproduction of intellectual capital, the transfer of innovation, and the enhancement of urban governance capacities on a global scale. This research, using the analytical approach of knowledge network theory and bibliometric analysis, reconstructs the conceptual map of urban diplomacy and provides a strategic framework for understanding the transformation of sister city relations in the context of network governance. The findings indicate that the conceptual structure of intercity relations has moved beyond the linear and symbolic model of the past, evolving into a complex, multi-centric, and learning-based system. In this new framework, concepts such as sustainability, social innovation, smart cities, and resilience have become key components of synergistic governance. In this context, sister city relations function as “nodes of knowledge,” enhancing global problem-solving capacity through the exchange of information, technology, and experience. The knowledge network analysis reveals that the main research clusters in this field have emerged along two primary pathways: first, the “knowledge and technological diplomacy” cluster, which focuses on the transfer of urban innovations and scientific cooperation; and second, the “cultural and social diplomacy” cluster, which emphasizes the reproduction of social capital and the international image of cities. Finally, this study, by integrating network data and multi-level governance concepts, presents a conceptual model for redefining the role of sister city relations in achieving sustainable urban development goals. This model recognizes cities not only as geographical entities but also as living systems of knowledge production, political agency, and collective learning—systems from which the future of global cooperation will emerge. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9693.html The acceleration of urbanization and the increase in its attractions have led to the migration of different social classes of people to cities, and the phenomenon of housing segregation has emerged as a consequence. In this regard, housing filtering has long been considered the main force in the supply of housing for low-income groups in housing markets. The aim of this research was to identify the criteria involved in housing filtering and the extent of its effects in urban areas. This research is of a descriptive-analytical type. To begin the study, library resources and existing documents were first used to identify the criteria for housing filtering. To refer to the statistical population of citizens over 18 years of age, 383 people were selected using the Cochran formula and simple random sampling method. For each criterion, two questions and a total of 24 questions were designed in the form of a 5-option Likert scale and were provided to the statistical sample of urban areas using a simple random method based on the population share of each region. After collecting the questionnaire, the data were analyzed using SPSS software, and the VIKOR model was used to obtain the final analysis result. The results showed that housing filtering in Ardabil city worked ideally with values (Pi 0.363). And urban areas 2, 1, 3, 5 and 4 had the highest to lowest performance in terms of housing filtering, respectively. In this regard, shopping mall index with values of 0.0368, government policies with 0.031, income 0.02418, health facilities 0.0216, educational facilities 0.0214, mortgage facilities 0.019, housing supply 0.016, construction 0.01108, employment status 0.00784, public transportation 0.0051, housing demand 0.00258, inflation rate 0.00148, had the highest to lowest impact on housing filtering. The overall results showed that housing filtering in Ardabil city follows a semi-dynamic and policy-oriented pattern; This means that spatial mobility and the relocation of high-income classes occur in response to government policies, facilities, and service facilities, rather than natural market changes. Therefore, future urban housing policies should focus on improving economic infrastructure, strengthening the supply of affordable housing, developing urban services, and reforming housing facility policies so that the filtering process can lead to a reduction in spatial inequality and improved housing justice in the city. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9734.html Water security, as a fundamental dimension of human security, has emerged as a strategic and multidimensional issue in recent decades, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide. Zahedan metropolis, situated in a dry climate, characterized by rapid population growth, expansion of informal settlements, and heavy reliance on transboundary water resources, faces a high level of water vulnerability. This study comprehensively assesses Zahedan's water security, examining the concurrent impacts of climate change and hydro-political dynamics in the transboundary Helmand River basin on the sustainability of the city's water resources. The research employs an applied approach with a mixed-methods design (quantitative–qualitative). In the climatic analysis, data from the CRU database at 0.5×0.5-degree spatial resolution and the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for 1991–2022 were used to analyze trends in temperature, precipitation, and drought in the Helmand basin. In the hydro-political analysis, documentary review, examination of treaties, policies, and upstream infrastructure initiatives in Afghanistan, along with spatial-geopolitical analysis of bilateral relations, were applied. Climatic findings indicate that the Helmand basin has experienced significant temperature increases, gradual precipitation declines, and intensified frequency and severity of droughts over the past three decades—a trend that has severely undermined the basin's natural capacity for sustainable water supply, heightening downstream areas'—particularly Zahedan's—dependence on unreliable river inflows. Conversely, hydro-political analysis reveals a dominance of competition and hydro-hegemony patterns in Iran-Afghanistan relations. Development of dams and diversion projects such as the Kamal Khan Dam, coupled with weak enforcement mechanisms of the 1973 Helmand Treaty, has imposed additional pressure on Zahedan's water security. The results demonstrate that Zahedan's water insecurity stems from the complex interplay of natural (climate change) and human-political (hydro-politics) factors, with its persistence potentially yielding far-reaching implications for food, social, economic, and national security. https://gaij.usb.ac.ir/article_9774.html Housing is one of the important urban uses. Housing, as a fundamental concept, is initially defined as a physical unit that provides a specific and limited space for residence. But housing also has other dimensions; it is at home that people experience a sense of security, peace, and intimacy and form their individual and social identity. Sustainable housing pays attention not only to the physical aspects of housing, but also to its social, economic, and environmental dimensions. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the components of sustainable housing in the city of Kirkuk. The research method is descriptive-analytical and is also practical in terms of purpose. Library and survey methods were used to collect data. SPSS software and one-sample t-tests, stepwise regression, and one-way analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. The results of examining the components of sustainable housing in the city of Kirkuk indicate that; The accessibility component had the highest rank with an average of 2.94, followed by the economic component in second place with an average of 2.83, the social component in third place with an average of 2.65, the physical component with an average of 2.51, and finally the environmental component with an average of 2.42. The result of the stepwise regression test showed that the environmental component with a beta of 0.301 has the highest impact and the economic component with a beta of 0.205 has the lowest impact on the sustainable housing situation in Kirkuk.