Assessing Built Environment's Impact on Crime: Pakdasht Case Study

This research investigates the correlation between the built environment and fear of crime in the Mehr Housing Project located in Pakdasht County, Iran. The study employs a descriptive-analytical method, utilizing questionnaires and interviews to gather data from residents. The analysis, including factor analysis and linear regression, identifies key factors influencing environmental safety and crime, categorized into objective (poverty) and subjective (physical conditions) factors. The findings reveal that physical factors, social structure, satisfaction, and safety significantly impact crime rates. The research emphasizes the importance of environmental design and its role in addressing social issues, with low satisfaction levels and inadequate security measures contributing to increased crime. The study concludes that poverty and physical conditions are the most significant variables contributing to crime in the Mehr public housing, supporting the correlation between the built environment and crime.

Geographical Urban Planning Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter 2018 1
Assessment of Correlation between Built Environment and fear of
Crime in the “Mehr” Housing Project
(Case Study: Pakdasht County, Iran)
Mohammad Amin Khorasani1, Mostafa Tavana2, Mina Sufi Neyestani3
1. Assistant Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Geography, Tabriz
University, Tabriz, Iran
2. MA in Urban Planning, University of Tehran
3. MA in Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, Tehran
Received: 21 February 2017 Accepted: 04 February 2018
Extended abstract
Introduction
Nowadays, crime is one of the core problems in human societies, especially in cities. This is a
problem that human community with all the advances and abilities failed to control up to now.
Criminologists have often considered several factors in criminology theory for instance
environment and environmental characteristics that played a crucial role in criminal impetus and
motivation in urban spaces. Also, there is theoretical and empirical literature in the field of
criminology highlighting noteworthy relationships between several indicators of built
environment and crime patterns. The identification of the variables related to crime could allow
policymakers in private and public sectors of housing industry to develop improved approaches
to combat crime by developing better strategies and policies for proper planning and design.
The ―Mehr‖ housing project is one of the most recent projects undertaken by the Ministry of
Roads & Urban Development. Despite the main aim of the project which is to accommodate
low income citizens, recent studies demonstrated that the living condition in this housing project
is not satisfactory because it was formulated and developed regardless of safety and security
aspects of built-enviornment quality. The purpose of this research is to identify those effective
factors contributing to environmental safety and crime in Mehr public housing, e.g., in the
Imam Reza Pakdasht in the Tehran City, Iran, where the houses are not safe and secure the low
quality of environment.
Methodology
This study has a descriptive – analytical research method. For this purpose, two groups of
objective and subjective factors are used to test the hypothesis of this research. Data have been
obtained from questionnaires distributed to a randomly selected sample of 384 respondents. The
sample number has also been determined by using Cochran formula. Additionaly, the interview
 Corresponding Author: [e-mail]

Geographical Urban Planning Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter 20182
technique was applied to gather data from the residents. Hence, factor analysis and linear
regression are used to analyze the data obtained through questionnaire and field survey. As the
first step of analysis, indices of environmental safety and crime are discussed. The indices have
been classified into objective and subjective groups. It should be noted that this study mainly
focused on the subjective indicesthan the objective ones. In the next step, factor analysis has
been used for the analysis. KMO test is equal to 0.811, which made it possible to continue of
the analysis using factor analysis. The factor analysis has been used to develop the four factors
affecting ―environmental safety‖ including: physical factors, social structure, satisfaction
factors, and safety factors.
Results and discussion
The last step of the analysis is related to identification of the underlying factors which affect the
extent of environmental safety. These factors are evaluated through the use of other criteria
such as the expanse of migration and level of economic hardship and poverty. For this purpose,
linear regression was used. Furthermore, the results of this study have revealed that these factors
are directly related to environmental safety and crime. The physical factor has defined more
than 23% of the variance of the total data to indicate how many physical factors affect the crime
in the Mehr housing complex. The lack of attention to the environment design and its role in the
emergence of social issues is one of the most prominent features of the complex. The second
factor has explained only 15.67 of the total variance that show significant difference.
Satisfaction is defined by the variables of satisfaction of housing, satisfaction of income,
dissatisfaction of access to services and dissatisfaction of housing. This has indicated that life
satisfaction is always one of the important factors in preventing crime and social harm. Due to
the low level of security in the Mehr housing complex, the existence of this factor (security) was
not expected. The low level of interactions and the lack of police in the complex are the most
important items increasing the crime.
Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that poverty of the residents as objective factor and physical
conditions as subjective factors are the most significant variables contributing crime in Mehr
public housing. Additionaly, these results are in accordance with those previous researches that
concluded that the communities with low efficacy in social indicators such as social cohesion,
stability of the population, and family disruption are likely to record more crime. Furthermore,
relationships in physical qualitites of built environment including high-density, inappropriate
access to network, existence of ruined and abandoned areas emphasize on this fact that our
opinion about the correlation between built enviorment and crime is more plausible.
Keywords: crime, urban environment, poverty, Pakdasht, Mehr Housing.
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Geographical Urban Planning Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter 2018 5
Identification of Spatial Planning Pattern for Makran Coastal Areas
with an Approach to Sustainable Regional Security and Development
(Case Study: Chabahar and Iranshahr County)
Qiumars Yazdan Panah1, Behnam Almasi 2, Leila Mohammadi Kazem Abadi3
1. Assistant Professor of Political Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of
Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2. PhD student in Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of
Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3. MA in Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran,
Tehran, Iran
Received: 15 Jenuary 2017 Accepted: 10 February 2018
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Access to the sea has always been one of the important factors for development of the countries.
It is thought that having access to free waters is a necessary condition for a global power. As
Alfred Tayer Mahan (1840-1914), one of the paramount American theorists, said that "the
power of the sea" was the basis of national strength and it was important to the theory of naval
power and its strategy. It was able to make significant changes in the US Navy's policy. The
success of some countries such as Britain owes to hacking the hierarchy of governments. Mahan
provided solid historical evidence that the emergence and survival of the great powers in the
world has always been dependent on the power of the navy through the relative superiority of
the seas. Eventually, it can be concluded that ruling on the world involves dominance on the
seas. The purpose of this study is to provide a model for the land use planning in the coastal
areas of Makran Sea cabed on the existing potential and challenges in Chabahar, Jask, and
Konarak with a sustainable regional development and security approach. Therefore, the main
objectives of this research are as follows:
• planning for the pattern of landlocked coastal areas of the Makran Sea with a sustainable
regional development and security approach;
• Investigating the opportunities and strengths in providing the pattern of landlocked coastal
areas of the Makran Sea with sustainable development approach;
• Identification of Makran Competitive Dimensions to other parts of the region;
• Assessing resources and capabilities of the region based on resource-based view;
• Providing effective environmental factors beyond the control of the spatial organization of
the region;
• Providing a strategy of suitability between resources and capabilities and external factors;
• Providing internal and external development strategies;
 Corresponding Author: [e-mail] Tel: [phone]

Geographical Urban Planning Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter 20186
Methodology
The present study is conducted by descriptive-analytical method. The combined methods have
been used for this research. For this purpose, documentary and library studies have been used by
a survey method to employ Delphi questionnaire for surveying experts in the field through
quantitative and qualitative analysis. The purpose of this study is to provide a model for land
locking of the coastal areas of Makran Sea with an approach to security and sustainable regional
development.
This research is a multi-stage process that seeks to achieve an optimal pattern. In the first
part of the study, we have initially evaluated the four factors of weakness, strength, opportunity
and threat in the form of SWOT quality model. Then, for the interpretation, the hierarchical
analysis process method was used in Expert Choice software environment. To do this, all four
factors have been extracted, coded, processed and weighted. To determine the significance of
each criterion, they have been included in the form of 7 indicators of interpretation. To analyze
the results, a questionnaire has also been used to analyze the opportunity and strength of the
study area. To study the internal strengths and outbound points of the subject, the threats and
weaknesses have been identified. The results have been incorporated into the Meta SWOT
model and software. The development strategy map and security model have been derived from
inward and outward factors. Spatial statistics and spatial analysis methods have also been used
in ArcGIS software to show the status and land space and spatial distribution of resources in the
study area.
Conclusion
For more than two decades, policy makers, planners and experts in Iran have considered
different planning methods such as regional, spatial and land use planning, while emphasizing
on the capabilities and resources of the geographical areas and comprehensive development.
The plannings are mainly based on regional equilibrium in natural, economic, social, cultural
and political fields through formulation of desirable and endogenous strategies in national arena.
In Iran, like most of the economies and societies, several regions have a major responsibility for
generating income and production, have public services and economic prosperity, and can
influence other areas. It should be acknowledged that inequality and deprivation are a direct
threat to the security of a society and any development planning without considering the public
interest and planning to overcome inequality cannot be taken. Balanced and coordinated
development of the regions is a very important prerequisite for achieving sustainable economic
development and integrated development of the country (Matric & sevic, 2001). In the
exploratory approach to the regional development process, the balance of development and the
balanced arrangement of activities in space are of particular importance. Regional inequalities
are emerged from two main areas: first, the natural conditions of each geographic region and,
secondly, the views of decision makers and economic planners. It is noteworthy that advances
in technology reduced, the importance of the first factor and the importance of the second factor
has been increased. Therefore, decision makers and planners play the most essential role in
creating regional inequality. According to the results of this research, some suggestions can be
proposed: increase in the use of positive capacities and potentials and removing deficiencies;
strengthening the defense and security infrastructure of the region in order to preserve and
protect the country's territorial integrity; creating appropriate platforms and equal opportunities
for creation of endogenous growth and development in order to achieve regional equilibrium;
Maintaining the values and benefits of the region by using cultural, educational and economic
capacities; assigning budget lines from government and nongovernmental credit resources to
promote regional development indicators; emphasizing cultural-religious affiliations and
strengthening the convergence, identity and national integrity to preserve the unity and social
cohesion of the region; development of public and private investment in the regional industry
sector in line with comparative and competitive advantages; organizing a settlement network
between province centers, towns and villages of the region; special attention to development
especially in the border regions of the region; determining the national and transnational role of

Geographical Urban Planning Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter 2018 7
the province to the sea-based economy; providing necessary facilities for the effective role of
the country in the field of international transit; agricultural development in terms of water
resource constraints in the region; fulfilling and implementing necessary measures for the
prosperity of tourism in the region; effective and constructive interaction with neighboring
countries and expansion of economic and international cooperation.
Keywords: spatial planning, social security, international cooperation, Chabahar.
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Geographical Urban Planning Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter 201810
Suitable Areas for Urban Physical Expansion Emphasizing on
Geomorphologic Factors (Case Study: Dezful City)
Rana Sheykh Beyglou1, Saeed Negahban2
1. Asisstant Professor of geography, Shiraz University, Iran
2. Asisstant Professor of geography, Shiraz University, Iran
Received: 13 Jenuary 2017 Accepted: 01 October 2017
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Cities are the areas for population concentration all over the world. Urbanization and urban
growth are accounted as main indicators of economic growth and development of countries. As
the population is increased, the cities experience rapid physical growth. To determine suitable
areas for urban development, geomorphological indicators have always been of great
importance. Initial site selection of cities has been conducted in the shade of geomorphologic
units and geomorphologic processes. Certainly, expansion and development of cities can be
confined to geomorphologic features. In fact, geomorphologic attributes of a geographic place
not only affect distribution or concentration of human activities, but they are also accounted as
effective factors to shape spatial constructions. Overall, the effects of geomorphologic features
on a city may be categorized in site selection, urban physical expansion, urban growth
directions, urban morphology and urban constructions. Thus, planning for development of rural
and urban settlements regardless of geomorphologic indicators and identifying natural
environment potentials will not be practically successful.
Dezful city such as many cities of Iran is continuously encountered with population growth.
Population of this city from 52121 in 1956 has increased to 264709 in 2016; in other words,
during this period of 55 years, annual average population growth rate was 2.88 percent.
Regarding continuity of population increase in Dezful city and inevitable urban physical
development, it is of great importance to find suitable areas for future development. In the way
to determine suitable directions for urban development, a main job is to study geomorphologic
indicators. Hence, present research has investigated geomorphologic indicators in Dezful City
and its surrounding areas to map suitable directions for future urban development.
Methodology
To identify potentials and limitations of urban physical development of Dezful in surrounding
areas of the city in respect of geomorphological parameters, we selected eight main
geomorphological indicators including slope, fault, lithology, height, river, land use, slope
direction, and distance from other main settlements. At first, the condition and attributes of
these indicators were considered in sub-province and city scale, and related maps were produced
using GIS. The comparative importance of the mentioned geomorphological parameters was
calculated based on experts‘ viewpoints. Then, suitability of lands in surrounding areas of the
 Corresponding Author: [e-mail] Tel: [phone]

Geographical Urban Planning Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter 2018 11
city in eight geographic directions including north, northeast, east, southeast, south, southwest,
west and northwest was comparatively analyzed in respect of each geomorphologic indicator.
These comparative analyses were done through pairwise comparisons using Analytical
Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert Choice software. In this way, the comparative suitability
of each geographical direction for urban physical development relative to each
geomorphological criterion was calculated. Then, the scores were combined to gain all scores of
geomorphological parameters for each direction and calculatethe composite scores for
geographical directions. Based on these composite scores, the geographical directions were
ranked and, finally, the most suitable directions for future urban physical development of Dezful
city were determined in terms of geomorphologic indicators.
Results and discussion
Among the eight geomorphologic indicators, two indicators of ‗slope‘ and ‗fault‘ gained the
highest importance coefficients. The lowest coefficients belonged to the indicators of slope
direction and land use. The result of comparative analyses of geographic directions in terms of
geomorphologic indicators showed that directions of east, west and northwest are more
favorable than other alternatives with regard to slope. In the indicator of fault, direction of
northeast and east are more suitable. The directions of west and northwest are preferred
directions with regard to lithology. Comparison of alternatives in respect of height showed
priority of northeast and northwest directions. In the indicator ofdistance from other main
settlements showed priority of east, south and southeast for urban development. In indicator of
land use, directions of east and northeast were determined as suitable development directions.
Comparative evaluation of eight alternative directions based on indicator of distance from river
showed that the axes of south and southeast have better condition and, finally, in indicator of
aspect, southeast area is more suitable direction.
To determine preference values of criteria and relative scores of alternatives for each
criterion, the pripority scores of alternatives synthesized based on Analytical Hierarchy Process
(AHP); then, the scores of each geographic direction was resulted as follows: east 0.189,
northwest 0.158, west 0.149, northeast 0.135, north 0.121, southeast 0.097, south 0.085, and
southwest 0.065. The inconsistency ratio of comparative analyses was at acceptable range.
Conclusion
As mentioned, we analyzed surrounding areas of Dezful city in terms of geomorphological
indicators including slope, fault, lithology, height, river, land use, aspect, and distance from
other main settlements to determine suitable areas for future urban physical development; using
experts‘ viewpoints, comparative analyses were done by applying AHP. The preference values
of these criteria are 0.312, 0.312, 0.118, 0.076, 0.049, 0.033, 0.024 and 0.076, respectively.
Therefore, among the geomorphological indicators of this research slope and fault acquired the
highest preference values. Then, urban peripheral areas in all directions were analyzed in terms
of the geomorphological indicators. The best directions for future urban physical development
in each criterion based on pairwise comparisons are as follows; slope: east, west and northwest;
fault: northeast; lithology: west and northwest; height: northeast and northwest; distance from
other main settlements; east, southeast and south; river: southeast and south; land use: northeast
and east; aspect; southeast.
We have combined preference values of the criteria and those of geographical directions in
each geomorphological criterion in order to calculate overall preference values of geographical
directions for urban developments. In this regard, directions of east, northwest and west gained
the scores of 0.189, 0.158 and 0.149, respectively. Thus, these directions are determined and
proposed as preferred areas for urban development.
Keywords: urbanization, urban physical development, geomorphology, Dezful city.

Geographical Urban Planning Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, Winter 201812
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