Identifying the factors affecting healthy city planning and developing a desirable model (Case Study: Tabriz Metropolis)

Document Type : Articles from PhD & Master Dissertations

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

The increasing growth of urbanization and the emergence of problems and challenges arising from it in various health, social, economic, and environmental dimensions have led to the design of approaches related to sustainability, one of the most comprehensive of which is the healthy city. Considering the importance of applying this approach in planning modern cities, the present study was written to identify the components affecting healthy city planning and to develop a desirable model in Tabriz metropolis. The research method in the present study is mixed in terms of type, applied in terms of purpose, and analytical and exploratory in nature, and uses structural equations based on partial least squares. The research findings show that the most important influential components in the direction of healthy city planning in Tabriz metropolis are, respectively, political obligation with emphasis on appropriate legislation in higher-level documents, political support for creating a healthy city and formulating principles and strategies for health for all, rethinking the organizational structure based on forming a single organization in charge of healthy city planning with working groups of different dimensions (social, economic, environmental, and health), and a common vision based on appropriate capacity assessment (assessment of possibilities and limitations). Finally, considering the identified influential components and the 14 principles of a healthy city based on the reports of the World Health Organization, the strategies and desired model of healthy city planning in Tabriz metropolis were formulated, taking into account the existing conditions and basic requirements. In other words, the localization of the 14 principles of a healthy city, considering the political, organizational, and existing prospects and possibilities of Tabriz metropolis, was the aim of the present study.

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