نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Aim: One of the important issues in urban planning is the reduction of intra-city trips and achieving a sustainable environment. 15-minute cities are among the ideas presented in this direction. The present study aims to evaluate this issue in Mashhad city, with a focus on the 9th district.
Materials & Methods: The research method is descriptive-analytical.The components related to the 15-minute city were identified in four categories as diversity, density, proximity, and digitization. To measure the diversity criteria, all the activities of the region were collected in the form of 7 user categories and 76 activity categories. In the following, spatial analysis models, including density models, network analysis, and the "service area" function, were utilized to determine the position of each part of the range in terms of its ability to upgrade to the city of Fifteen Minutes, based on the criteria in question and the combination of layers produced.
Finding: The results showed that from the intersection of the time-space traffic calculations on the one hand and the spatial criteria of the fifteen-minute city on the other hand, the studied area has four different situations. In the meantime, areas with the ability to reach the city in 15 minutes and less presence of cars have a better ability to reach the city in 15 minutes.
Conclusion: It can be said that paying attention to the principles of the fifteen-minute city can play an important role in reducing traffic and intra-city trips in the 9th district of Mashhad.
Innovation: A key aspect of the research's innovation is the method of data collection, particularly in preparing the user layer and analyzing business activity in the study area, utilizing map tools, and implementing the Fifteen Minute City theme.
کلیدواژهها English
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
The 15-minute city is based on access to essential services and facilities within a 15-minute distance from the place of residence using fossil-free vehicles such as bicycles and walking, which also increases safety and reduces injuries. Mashhad is a special example of intra-city travel. The 300-kilometer area of this city, with a pattern of location of uses that has caused the separation of work and residence, has practically caused numerous intra-city trips. Among the developing areas of this city, District 9 is a city that has long been a place of residence for people with high economic income and social status due to its special locational attractions, such as access to the southern heights of the city, the Mashhad countryside route, the existence of important uses such as Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Vakilabad Garden, and proximity to the Mellat Park. A look at the demographic changes in this area shows that in recent years, there has always been a high desire to live in this area. This issue, along with the level of car use, has practically caused numerous traffic jams on the axes of this area. Therefore, efforts to reduce the level of traffic and improve the environmental conditions of this area are essential. It seems that the 15-minute city model can play an important role in achieving this goal. Accordingly, the necessity of evaluating this area from the perspective of the 15-minute city criteria will be useful. Therefore, the present study attempts to show, within the framework of the 15-minute city model, which areas of District 9 have more potential to achieve this issue and, in general:
- What is the status of District 9 from the perspective of the criteria related to the 15-minute city?
2. Materials and Methods
The research method is applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature and method. To collect the required information, data sources such as the Center for Statistics data separated by urban blocks in 2016 (including 20,000 urban blocks), Google Maps, and the Open Street Map (OSM) system were used, and the data obtained was stored in the spatial database in the form of raster vector formats. Initially, the Google Maps system was used to identify areas with low speeds and long travel times. Accordingly, in order to obtain more accurate data, the entire area 9 was divided into four sub-areas with a scale of 1:15000, and the relevant data was stored over one week at 30-minute intervals. For this purpose, 231 images were taken for each sub-area and 924 images for the entire area. Finally, by processing all the images and classifying them into four categories, a layer of areas with high traffic and longer travel times was prepared. Also, data from the Open Street Map (OSM) system and the network analyzer in ArcGis software were used to calculate the proximity index. In this regard, by receiving the latest information from the area's roads from the OSM system and fixing topology errors, and considering pedestrian movement and an average speed of 4 to 5 km/h, the intensity of the proximity index was examined at the area level. In addition, in order to determine the status of the diversity index in the area, the latest information on the location of services and activities was obtained using the Google Maps system and the Balad and Neshan software. The collected activities were stored in the spatial database in the form of 7 user categories and 76 different activity and job categories. These uses and activities include educational (including 6 types of activities), religious (including 2 types of activities), cultural (including 1 type of activity), administrative (including 7 types of activities), commercial (including 50 types of activities), recreational (including 3 types of activities), and medical (including 7 types of activities). The stored uses and activities were analyzed using the network analysis model and the "service area" function with intervals of 0.25 to 15 minutes, and a service area map was prepared for each activity.
3. Results and Discussion
Analysis of the results showed that the indicators under study play a fundamental role in determining the quality and efficiency of residents' access to essential services. The prepared raster map shows a heterogeneous and continuous distribution of indicators at the regional level, with red areas indicating the lowest level of the 15-minute city index and blue areas indicating the highest level of the indicators. Since the final map is raster and has a continuous and quantitative nature, it is not possible to accurately name specific neighborhoods because even in a single neighborhood, the 15-minute city index may be low in some areas and high in others. By combining these two maps, new patterns were identified that describe the road conditions and the capability of the 15-minute city in four scenarios. This combination of analyses shows that achieving the 15-minute city requires attention to traffic and urban transportation patterns in addition to improving accessibility and service indicators. For example, in the AL scenario, where the 15-minute city index is high, and road traffic is low, the current infrastructure can be used as a successful example for policymaking and development in other areas. In contrast, the ZH scenario represents areas that face additional challenges, including high traffic density and inadequate access to services, and require road redesign and a more equitable distribution of services. Also, the results indicate that areas with low ZL index and low traffic can have potential for improvement and upgrading, but this requires structural interventions in the field of service diversity, appropriate density, and transportation pattern management. Strengthening infrastructure and supporting planning in these areas can contribute to sustainability and improve the quality of life in the region.
4.Conclusion
Based on the research findings, it can be stated that paying attention to the principles of the 15-minute city can play an important role in reducing traffic and intra-city trips in District 9 of Mashhad.
One of the most important innovative aspects of the research is the method of data collection, especially regarding the preparation of the user layer and business activity in the study area using available mapping tools and implementing the Fifteen Minute City theme in the study area.
5. Acknowledgment & Funding
· Authors are thankful to all interview participants for supporting this research.
· The manuscript did not receive a grant from any organization
6. Conflict of Interest
· The authors declare no conflict of interest.
