نوع مقاله : علمی - پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 استادیار، گروه جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی شهری، دانشگاه پیام نور. تهران، ایران
2 استادیار، گروه جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی شهری،دانشگاه پیام نور.تهران، ایران
3 دانشجوی دکتری جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی شهری، دانشکده جغرافیا، دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The proliferation of urbanization and the corresponding increase in population density within metropolitan areas have led to the need of ensuring urban security and mitigating the incidence of crime. Accordingly, it has become a great concern for urban planners, policymakers, and citizens. In this critical context, the physical design of urban spaces can have a fundamental role in preventing crimes and reinforce the socio-psychological security of residents through enhancing the quality of the life environment. The theoretical framework of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is viewed as one of the most applicable models for analyzing the relationship between urban designs and security. This approach embraces such principles as natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, appropriate urban furniture design, enhanced illumination, and improved spatial legibility. The large-scale projects of Maskane Mehr (Mehr Residential Complexes) have been emphasizing rapid and cost-effective constructions. Therefore, they usually lack adequate environmental and physical quality. This deficiency renders them susceptible to the emergence of social damages and increased criminality. A remarkable example Mehr residential complex of Zanjan city. These complexes have recently confronted security challenges and a decline of sense of belonging and satisfaction among the residents. Considering the issues, this study tried to see the role of the physical design of urban spaces in Mehr residential complexes of Zanjan in crime prevention and enhancing social security. The primary aim was to identify and analyze the physical components that influence environmental security and evaluate the degree of correspondence between the existing conditions and the principles of the CPTED approach. Other aims were evaluating residents' perceptions of security in public spaces, measuring the influence of furniture
design and illumination on crime prevention, and analyzing the impact of environmental components on the sense of psychological security. The significance of this research is that residential spaces, when designed without paying attention to environmental design principles, can foster social isolation, precipitate criminal behaviors, and undermine social cohesion. Furthermore, the tentative results may provide a basis for developing design strategies and urban policies focused on securing public spaces and enhancing the quality of life in big housing projects.
Method
This applied study is descriptive-analytical and used both archival and field studies for collecting the data. The statistical population consisted of 19,053 residents of the Mehr residential complexes in the city of Zanjan. Employing the Cochran formula with 95% confidence, the sample was determined to be 377 participants. Random sampling was applied. The main data collection instrument was a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire that included such indicators as: illumination of public spaces, condition of urban furniture, natural surveillance, environmental legibility, territoriality, and suitability of the space for vulnerable populations. For data analysis, Excel and SPSS software were applied. Dara analyses were performed at both the descriptive level (mean, standard deviation, and frequency) and the inferential level (path analysis, TODIM model, and DPSIR model). Moreover, the TODIM multicriteria decision-making model was used to prioritize the environmental components that affect security. The DPSIR model was used the analytical framework for establishing the causal relationships among environmental, social, and managerial factors.
Results
The results of the statistical analyses showed that the components of physical design play a significant role in the enhancement of environmental security within the Mehr residential complexes of Zanjan. The overall mean score for the status of the physical components, as perceived by the participants was 3.49, which shows a relatively desirable condition. The path analysis showed that the response component of the DPSIR model (having such interventions as optimal design of urban furniture improved illumination, spatial legibility over heights, and the accommodation of the environment for the vulnerable) had made the most substantial influence on security enhancement (holding a positive path coefficient of 0.542). Pressure component was followed. The component with a coefficient of 0.376 has to do with population density, spatial dilapidation, and absence of natural surveillance. Furthermore, the results of the TODIM model showed that residents exhibited the highest level of sensitivity against the quality of street illumination, security over nights, and the potential for visual surveillance in public spaces. This finding shows that components of environmental design influence not only the occurrence of crime but also the subjective feeling of security.
Discussion and Conclusion
The results of this study showed that the physical design of residential environments, particularly in large-scale housing projects like Maskane Mehr, can play an effective role in preventing criminal incidents and the promotion of the sense of security. These results are in line with the theoretical underpinnings of the CPTED approach, indicating that if the design of public spaces is desirable and adhere to such key components as appropriate lighting, functional furnishings, clearly defined access routes, and the possibility of natural surveillance, the social anomalies will decrease. One conclude that urban security is not only a matter of law enforcement or judiciary concern but also it has a physical-spatial aspect. Therefore, it is recommended that urban policymakers and designers of massive housing projects use the CPTED approach for redesigning or retrofitting of public spaces within the Mehr residential complexes. Moreover, the active participation of residents in the maintenance, social education, and environmental management may be considered a complementary way of increasing the security. This study emphasizes that the establishment of a secure city necessitates the intertwining of urban design knowledge with socio-cultural policies, because security is not merely the result of the presence of police but rather it reflects spatial quality.
کلیدواژهها English
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