Investigating the Effects of Re-generated Urban Spaces on the Socio-Economic Performance of the Historical Context of Isfahan (Case study: Imam Ali Square)

Extended Abstract:IntroductionImam Ali Square (AS) as the most important open space in the northern part of Isfahan with high activity density needs to achieve the desired quantitative and qualitative dimensions. The reconstruction and revitalization of the square has been the major costly urban renovation project in this city. For examlem to rehabilitate the square, the passing cars in the four streets leading to this place were first driven out of the square through the underpasses and then, all the shops in the middle of the square wer bought and demolished through public participation by using participation papers. Next, the markets on the sides of the square were completed and restored with traditional designs. The  local markets have now their activaties in this square on Mondays and Wednesdays, while the municipality has tried to organize or dismantle them. When paying attention to the actions taken, one can observe that they are comprehensive and holistic.However, only physical issues, such as paving and improvement of appearance, have been considered in the restoration plans of this complex. It seems that effective steps have not been taken to revitalize this square. Revitalization of an urban -- economic life and vitality --has a hidden dimension often overlooked. For example, this complex has not been successful in enabling the former merchants to buy new shops and got involved in such issues as lack of attending to former small businesses that have used to increase interactions, lack of welcoming citizens, and lack of maintaining meanings and memories. Due to its proximity to the old market and historical sites, this space has the potential to create an active tourist center that can provide strong roots of urban life. Therefore, paying more attention to the performance of this area could increase citizens' satisfaction and vitality and a sense of belonging for citizens and businesses. Undoubtedly, neglecting the mentioned factors and not conducting the necessary research in this regard would cause the lack of tangible identity, disorder and visual confusion, lack of psychological security and people’s confusion in the area, abandonment of cultural and historical elements, lack of positive people’s evaluation of urban spaces, reduced social interactions, and decreased sense of belonging. Therefore, the present made an attempt to study the effects of recreating Imam Ali Square on the socio-economic performance of the surrounding area. MethodologyThe present study was an applied research with a descriptive-analytical approach. In the first step, a list of the influential factors were identified as the research variables and compiled in the form of two questionnaires. In the first questionnaire, the importance of each factor based on Likert Spectrum was asked from 100 urban experts as the statistical population using the Snowball method. To assess the importance of economic and socio-cultural practices in Imam Ali Square, the information collected from the first questionnaire was analyzed through descriptive findings and Chi-square tests in the SPSS software environment. The average values of economic and socio-cultural indicators in the real society were assumed to be equal to 3. The importance of the studied indicators in all the items had to be higher than average. Applying the method of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in the LISREL software environment, the effective socio-economic factors in recreating the area of ​​Imam Ali Square were identified. DiscussionThe results showed that the level of satisfaction with the neighborhood was below the social criterion and the economic criterion of land and housing market was one of the most important factors affecting the quality of life in the area. Changing false and unstable activities and jobs, organizing suitable jobs and activities, modifying the prices of residential commercial lands, increasing the qualities of commercial units, attracting domestic and foreign investors to the economic sector, increasing the presence of pedestrians and social groups and their understanding of the area, removing the disturbing jobs, strengthening the national and international images of this square, organizing beggars, using the square as an urban space, and reducing individual and social insecurities in the social sector were among the factors that received the highest points in the fields of recreating the economic and socio-cultural performance of the square, thus indicating that the project of recreating the revitalizing Imam Ali Square had been successful in these fields. ConclusionImam Ali Square was considered as the most active and prosperous commercial and economic areas in Isfahan before its reconstruction. People from the surrounding cities and villages in addition to Isfahan used to come to this place for shopping due to the great variety of products offered in this area. For example, the fruit and vegetable market in the north of Abdul Razzaq Street was very prosperous though being an irregular complex of fruit stalls. In the past, especially during the Qajar period, this center was used to buy and sell coal. However, after supplying oil and gas to the domestic and industrial markets, the coal sale activity gradually declined and was replaced by peddling activities. Towards the end of the square, a gathering place was formed for vendors to sell second-hand and cheap goods. Another market in this area was the bird market in Cucumber Caravanserai. In this market, animals, such as chickens, roosters, partridges, pigeons, etc., were sold. The mentioned center and the coal market had a very dirty atmosphere and an unfavorable appearance. They had nothing to do with the historical identity and cultural values ​​of the area. In this place, peddling, smuggling, buying and selling drugs, and begging were done a lot.Nevertheless, among the actions taken, meanings and memorable messages, customer attraction, business satisfaction, and economic life were lacking in this area and this had caused it to be involved in a declined prosperity and hence not to have its former vitality. Keywords: urban space, recreation, historical context, Imam Ali Square, Isfahan References:- Aykaç, P., Rifaioğlu, M.N., Altınöz, A.G.B., Güçhan, N.Ş., (2009). Design Interventions as Regenerators in Historic Towns: Proposal for Ayvalık Historic Depots Region, In the International Conference on the Urban Projects, Architectural Intervention in Urban Areas, TU, Delft, The Netherlands.- Bailey, N., (2010). 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Explaining the effective physical criteria in promoting resilience of informal settlements in the face of environmental hazards (Case study: Hamadan)

The vulnerability of informal settlements to environmental hazards reveals the importance of paying attention to resilience. Resilience is considered a form of foresight due to the dynamic nature of society's response to risks. Accordingly, this issue is one of the ways to reduce risk and vulnerability in human settlements. This research has been carried out to identify physical factors affecting the creation of resilient neighborhoods in the areas involved with informal settlements in Hamedan city against environmental hazards. The research indicators were evaluated in five spectrums of user index, density index, access index, physical structure index, and road network. The present research method is practical in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of its nature and method, and to collect information and data, documentary and field method (questionnaire) has been used. The results show that the level of resilience of informal settlements in Hamedan city is lower than the average level and the first factor i.e. building resistance has the biggest role in explaining the improvement of resilience of informal settlements in Hamedan city. This factor can be successful in dealing with and adapting to resilience. Among the identified factors, the density factor does not affect improving the resilience of informal settlements, and other factors have a direct and positive effect

Planning for Housing of Ashkezar-Iran with Sustainable Urban Development Approach

ABSTRACT Housing is considered as one of the most essential needs of human life, the smallest fundamental element of habitats and the former of one of the Geographical phenomenon. Paying attention to the housing issue and scheduling it, along with the sustainable urban development is considered necessary in all national, regional and urban planning for solving the citizens problems and providing peaceful and green environment along with safety, comfort and welfare. The article glances at the theoretical and scientific literatures of housing and sustainable development by scrutinizing the quantitative and qualitative indices of the city of Meybod for figuring the housing condition of the city, using the elements and selective Bio-Social indices and also evaluating constancy condition in the complex of the city's residential regions and areas. The purpose of the article is to scrutinize the sustainable development of the Ashkezar and planning for its housing. The existing statistics specially the survey research, the condition of the city's housing was scrutinized and evaluated according to the qualitative and quantitative indices during the period between 1986-2005. The results show that the condition of the sustainable urban development is on progress with the meaningful relation with the process of the sustainable urban development. In the next stage the existing condition of the housing in the two areas of the city: residential areas and the city's eight areas, was selected according to the three of Bio-Social consistency indices, standardized properly with the subject of the project and by scoring model and scrutinized and evaluated by means of the SPSS software. According to the selective indices, there is no meaningful difference between the two residential areas of the city. The results show that there is need for 3382 new residential units. So, the existing potentials inside the city (arid fields and ruined units) and by considering economical, social and specially cultural conditions and also the nature of the city of Ashkezar and along with the sustainable urban development constructing the two stories buildings, all of the city needs in the current period and also in the future would be afforded. So, aggregate development and short level building could be a suitable pattern for the sustainable development of the city of Ashkezar. KEY WORDS: quantitative and qualitative indices of housing, sustainable urban development, planning for housing, the city of Ashkezar

Magnetic resonance cholangiography compared with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis

Background: Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) has gained popularity for diagnosing primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We determined the accuracy of MRC compared with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) for diagnosing PSC. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted on patients referred to an outpatient gastroenterology clinic from 2001 to 2013. Patients with established diagnosis of PSC who had undergone MRC and ERC within a 6-month interval were included. Controls were selected from patients who had undergone imaging for reasons other than PSC evaluation. Disease outcome at the study time and liver biochemistry data at diagnosis and 1-year thereafter were retrieved. Diagnostic accuracy of MRC in comparison with ERC was evaluated. Results: A total of 46 definite PSC patients (age at diagnosis = 36.8 ± 11.6 years, 33 male) were found. Diagnostic imaging for PSC was ERC alone in 12, MRC alone in 23, and ERC plus MRC in 11 patients. Controls were 89 patients mostly with bile stones. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of MRC was 90.9%, 95.5%, 20.23, and 0.10, respectively. Early PSC was found more frequently by MRC compared with ERC (30.4% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.146). No significant difference was found between imaging modalities with regards to patients′ outcome (P = 0.786) or liver biochemistry at diagnosis or 1-year thereafter (P >0.05). Conclusion: Starting diagnostic imaging for PSC with MRC seems better and may provide diagnosis of PSC at its earlier phase. Further studies with larger sample of patients and longer follow-ups are warranted

Interaction Design, user experience & Urban Creativity scientific journal : screens and beyond

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