An analysis of the environmental effects of urban development Stimulating projects (case study: Tabriz metropolis)

Document Type : Article extracted From phd dissertation

Authors
Mohammad Mahdi Pourarbabi 1
Ali Panahi 2
Reza Valizadeh 3
1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/he.2025.528212.1111
Abstract
It is essential to pay attention to the principles of ecology and environmental protection in urban planning and development-stimulating projects. In this regard, considering the principles of sustainable development and its environmental indicators, the aim of the present study is to investigate the environmental impacts of urban development stimulus projects in Tabriz metropolis and to present strategies for the environmental health of these projects. The research method in the present study is mixed in terms of type, applied in terms of purpose, and exploratory in nature, which in order to analyze the data, have been used the gap analysis method and logarithmic regression coefficient in SPSS software. The research findings show that the development stimulating projects of Tabriz metropolis have had positive and negative effects in terms of natural landscapes, vegetation, waste and waste, and environmental pollution. The results of the change gap also show that natural landscapes and vegetation have had negative performance, while waste, waste, and environmental pollution have had positive performance. Also, the largest change gap with a value of -1.08 is related to natural landscapes and their destruction, and the smallest change gap with a value of 0.55 is related to environmental pollution and its reduction due to the creation of development-stimulating projects in Tabriz metropolis. Ultimately, for the environmental health of these projects, strategic management is essential in the dimensions of project preparation and planning (situation and environmental impact assessment), formulation of binding environmental laws and regulations, and implementation (environmental screening based on the severity and significance of potential environmental impacts).

Keywords

Subjects

  1. رضویان، محمدتقی؛ کانونی، رضا و یارمرادی، کیومرث. (1395). محیط‌زیست شهری. تهران: نشر علم.
  2. شیرین کلام، پگاه؛ صالحی، اسماعیل و ایمانی جاجرمی، حسین. (1402). ارزیابی اثرات متقابل زیست‌محیطی و اجتماعی پروژه‌های توسعه و ساخت بزرگراه امام علی (ع)، تهران. مدیریت شهری و مهندسی محیط‌زیست، 1(4)، 34–
  3. عزیزی، محمدمهدی و بهرا، بهاره. (1399). ارزیابی اثرات پروژه‌های محرک توسعه در محله‌های شهری (نمونه مورد مطالعه: محله گودال مصلی، شهر یزد). مدیریت شهری، 10(37)، 70–
  4. فتح‌العلومی، ایل‌ناز و کاشانی‌جو، خشایار. (1401). بررسی اصول مکان‌یابی پروژه‌های محرک توسعه‌ی شهری در بافت‌های تاریخی (نمونه موردی: منطقه 12 شهر تهران). علوم و تکنولوژی محیط‌زیست، 24(1)، 69–
  5. ملکی، سعید و سعیدی، جعفر. (1395). بررسی ابعاد زیست‌محیطی و جایگاه محیط‌زیست شهری در برنامه‌های توسعه‌ی ایران. مطالعات مدیریت شهری، 8(27)، 89–
  6. Acuto, M., Parnell, S., & Seto, K.C. (2018). Building a global urban science. Nature Sustainability, 1, 2–4. https://doi.org/1038/s41893-017-0013-9.
  7. Anders, J., Schubert, S., Sauter, T., Tunn, S., Schneider, C., & Salim, M. (2023). Modelling the impact of an urban development project on microclimate and outdoor thermal comfort in a mid-latitude city. Energy and Buildings, 296, 113324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113324.
  8. Cui, X., Fang, C., Liu, H., & Liu, X. (2019). Assessing sustainability of urbanization by a coordinated development index for an Urbanization-Resources-Environment complex system: a case study of Jing-Jin-Ji region, China. Ecological Indicators, 96(1), 383–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.09.009.
  9. Fatemi, M.N., & Rahman, T. (2015). Regeneration of the Hazaribagh urban brownfield: An imperative for Dhaka’s sustainable urban development. Urbani izziv, 26(2), 132-145. https://doi.org/5379/urbani-izziv-en-2015-26-02-004.
  10. Francin, K.I. (2015). Urban Catalyst. Supervised Research Project Submitted to Professor Raphaël Fichler In partial fulfillment of the Masters of Urban Planning degree. School of Urban Planning. McGill University.
  11. Galdini, R. (2020). Temporary uses in contemporary spaces. A European project in Rome. Cities, 96, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2019.102445.
  12. Kidokoro, T., Sho, K., & Fukuda, R. (2023). Urban suburbia: Gentrification and spatial inequality in workers’ communities in Tokyo. Cities, 136, 104247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104247.
  13. Kim, E.S., Lee, D.K., & Choi, J. (2024). Evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation measures in environmental impact assessments: A comprehensive review of development projects in Korea. Heliyon, 10(11), e31647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31647.
  14. Li, W., Wang, Y., Xie, S., & Cheng, X. (2021). Coupling coordination analysis and spatiotemporal heterogeneity between urbanization and ecosystem health in Chongqing municipality, China. Science of The Total Environment, 791, 148311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148311.
  15. McPhearson, T., Parnell, S., Simon, D., Gaffney, O., Elmqvist, T., Bai, X., & Revi, A. (2016). Scientists must have a say in the future of cities. Nature, 538, 165–166. https://doi.org/10.1038/538165a.
  16. Michael, F.L., Zainon Noor, Z., & Figueroab M. J. (2014). Review of urban sustainability indicators assessment–Case study between Asian countries. Habitat International, 44, 491-500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2014.09.006.
  17. Nakajima, H., & Murayama, A. (2024). Inclusive urban regeneration approaches through small projects: A comparative study of three Japanese machizukuri cases. Cities, 152, 105241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105241.
  18. Narjabadifam, N., Cen, A.C., Awad, H., Versteege, M., & Gül, M. (2024). A framework for evaluating urban solar adoption considering economic and environmental priorities of project owners. Sustainable Cities and Society, 110, 105101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2023.105101.
  19. Naya, R.B., Nicolas, P.L.C., Medina, C.D., Ezquerra, I., Garcia-Perez, S., & Monclus, J. (2023). Quality of public space and sustainable development goals: analysis of nine urban projects in Spanish cities. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 12(3), 477-495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2023.01.002.
  20. Ndreu, A. (2016). The Definition and Importance of Local Governance. Social and Natural Sciences Journal, 10(1), 5-8. https://doi.org/10.12955/snsj.v10i1.730.
  21. Nita, A., Hossu, C-A., Mitincu, C.G., & Iojă, I-C. (2022). A review of the quality of environmental impact statements with a focus on urban projects from Romania. Ecological Informatics, 70, 101723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101723.
  22. Oswalt, P., Overmeyer, K., & Misselwitz, P. (2013). Urban catalyst: the power of temporary use. Berlin: DOM;
  23. Petersen, J-P, & Heurkens, E. (2018). Implementing energy policies in urban development projects: The role of public planning authorities in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Land Use Policy, 76, 275-289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.05.004.
  24. Price, S.J., Ford, J.R., Campbell, S.D.G., & Jefferson, I. (2016). Urban Futures: the sustainable management of the ground beneath cities. In: Eggers, M.J., Griffiths, J.S., Parry, S., Culshaw, M.G. (Eds.) Developments in Engineering Geology. Geological Society of London Engineering Geology Special Publication 27, London, pp. 19–33.
  25. Ruan, F., & Li, X. (2024). The role of the environmental subsystem in sustainable urban development: Evidence from megacities in China. Heliyon, 10(3), e24880. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24880.
  26. Sarkheyli, E., Anderton, A., & Büker, H. (2025). Managing sustainability conflicts in urban development projects: Planners' perceptions and strategies in Oceanhamnen, Helsingborg. Cities, 163, 106065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106065.
  27. Shi, F., Yang, B., & Li, M. (2023). An improved framework for assessing the impact of different urban development strategies on land cover and ecological quality changes -A case study from Nanjing Jiangbei New Area, China. Ecological Indicators, 147, 109998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.109998.
  28. Soria, K.Y., Palacios, M.R., & Gomez, C.A.M. (2020). Governance and policy limitations for sustainable urban land planning. The case of Mexico. Journal of Environmental Management, 259, 109575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109575.
  29. Styhre, A., & Brorström, S. (2021). Urban development project goals and the role of professional ignorance: ambiguous policy objectives and their consequences. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal, 16(2), 281-298. https://doi.org/10.1108/QROM-06-2020-1961.
  30. Talukdar, S., Rihan, M., Hang, H.T., Bhaskaran, S., & Rahman, A. (2022). Modelling urban heat island (UHI) and thermal field variation and their relationship with land use indices over Delhi and Mumbai metro cities. Environment Development and Sustainability, 24(3), 3762–3790. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01587-7.
  31. Toukola, S., Ahola, T., Ståhle, M., & Hällström, A.A. (2023). The co-creation of value by public and private actors in the front end of urban development projects. International Journal of Project Management, 41(8), 102542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2023.102542.
  32. United Nations. (2016). Human Settlements Programme, World Cities Report, Urbanisation and development: emerging futures, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Kenya.
  33. Zheng, H.W., Geoffrey, Q.S., & Hao, W. (2014). A review of recent studies on sustainable urban renewal. Habitat International, 41, 272-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2013.08.006.
Human Ecology
Volume 4, Issue 12
Autumn 2025
Pages 1374-1385