The Structural Modeling of the Factors Affecting Urban Livability of Kermanshah Metropolis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran

Abstract

Creating a livable city is an important goal to achieving sustainable urban development. Understanding the situation of residents' satisfaction with urban livability and its indicators is important for urban planning and policy-making. The present study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting urban livability and the relationships between them in the Kermanshah metropolis. The present research is applied-developmental in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in content. The statistical population was the citizens of Kermanshah with a population of 946651 people who have settled in eight urban areas. The sampling method was randomly classified, the sample size was 385, and the research tool was a questionnaire. The Smart PLS software and the structural equation model with partial least squares approach were used to investigate the relationships between dimensions and livability indicators. Structural modeling is a point of view in which the hypothetical patterns of direct and indirect relationships between a set of observed and hidden variables are investigated. The results showed that the socio-cultural dimension - with a path coefficient of 0.666 - had the highest impact, and the environmental dimension with a value of 0.249 had the lowest impact on the livability of Kermanshah. Also, except for the participation and solidarity index, the relationships between other indicators with the dimensions of livability are significant. The index of medical and health considerations with a path coefficient of 0.314 had the strongest relationship with the socio-cultural dimension. The housing index with 0.378 had the highest impact on the economic dimension, and the green and barren space index with 0.635 had the highest impact on the environmental dimension. Therefore, proper planning to use open and barren spaces in strengthening and developing urban green spaces in order to improve the quality of the urban environment can be effective in improving the livability of the Kermanshah metropolis.
 
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
Due to the various problems of cities, different approaches to promoting and improving their living conditions have been recommended and proposed, with livability being one of the practical ones in this field. Considering today's urban problems (social, economic and environmental) that forms the framework of urban livability, conducting research on urban livability is important. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting urban livability and the existing relationships between them in Kermanshah metropolis. At first, the current status of the three dimensions of livability (social, cultural, economic and environmental) and their indicators were determined from the perspective of citizens and then the impact of their dimensions and indicators on the livability of Kermanshah metropolis was calculated separately. The identification of current situation of dimensions and indicators of livability in Kermanshah showed the weakness of urban management. So, the necessary arrangements should be made to improve the weak indicators.
 
2-Materials and Methods
The research method is descriptive-analytical in content and, in terms of objectives and data collection, is practical and survey, respectively. Documentary and field methods were used to collect information,and the dimensions and indicators related to livability were categorized and compiled in the form of a preliminary questionnaire. Livability in three dimensions of socio-cultural, economic and environmental as well as 15 indicators and 116 items were surveyed by the viewpoint of citizens. The research statistical population was Kermanshah metropolitan citizens with a population of 946,651 people who have settled in 8 municipal districts. The sampling method was that of random classification and the number of samples was determined by means of the Cochran's formula. As many as 385 questionnaires were considered and distributed in each of the 8 municipal district, based on their population. The SPSS software version 21 and Smart PLS were used for data analysis. After proving the normality of the data and the existence of the necessary correlation between the variables, the structural equation model (SEM) with partial least squares (PLS) approach was used to investigate the relationships between dimensions and livability indicators. This method is the best tool for conducting analysis in studies in which the relationships between variables are complex.
 
3- Results and Discussion
Using one-sample t-test for studying the livability status of Kermanshah metropolisshowed that the livability status in the socio-cultural dimension with an average (3.024) from the citizens' viewpoint was moderate. Also, with the average being below 3, the livability situation in economic dimensions (2.939) and environmental (2.754) has been lower than average and weak. Finally, the general situation of livability in Kermanshah metropolis with a mean of 2.906 was lower than average and weak. Regarding the path coefficients of each of the research dimensions, the socio-cultural dimension had the highest impact with a value of 0.666, and the environmental dimension had the lowest impact on the livability of Kermanshah with a value of 0.249. The value of the path coefficient of the index "Medical and health considerations and care" (0.314) indicates a stronger relationship between this index and the socio-cultural dimension in the studied area. Also, the "housing" index with a value of 0.378 had the highest impact on the economic dimension. Among the indicators of the environmental dimension, "green and barren space" had the highest impact with the value of 0.635.
Improving the level of livability in the metropolis of Kermanshah requires finding effective indicators and their impact on the main dimensions, as well as finding the impact of the dimensions of livability. So, the results are divided into two parts: 1- The current situation of the three dimensions of livability and their indicators 2- The effect of their dimensions and indicators on the livability of Kermanshah metropolis, which has not been conducted in Kermanshah metropolis so far.
1- The present study results in the field of urban livability indicated that the livability status of Kermanshah metropolis, with a mean of 2.906, is lower than average and is not at a desirable level. The average socio-cultural dimension (3.024) had the highest rate compared to the average economic (2.939) and environmental dimensions (2.754).
2- The results of the present study on the impact of dimensions and their indicators on the livability of Kermanshah metropolis, which is also the main result of the research, showed that the social-cultural dimension has the highest impact, with a path coefficient of 0.666. The economic dimension with 0.363 and environmental dimension with 0.249 had the least impact on the livability of Kermanshah.
 
4- Conclusion
Consideringthe fact that the socio-cultural dimension was the most influential dimension in the present study, more attention should be paid to the indicators of this dimension in order to improve livability in the Kermanshah metropolis.  The indicators of " Medical and health considerations and care" and "public education", which had the greatest impact in this dimension, revealed that the citizens attach great importance to their family’s health and their own, as well as their children’s education and scientific advancement. This can be used as an opportunity to choose the right strategies and future plans. Since a proper and efficient economy in all cities of the world has a direct relationship with sustainable development and livability, in the next step, we must pay attention to the effective indicators of this dimension. The housing index, which has a high impact on the economic dimension, should be at the forefront of the attention of economic planners and policy makers in such a way that the issues of supply, quality and etc. on the indicators of this dimension would be resolved. The environment of a metropolis has an important effect on the quality of life and well-being of its citizens, so special attention should always be paid to this sensitive dimension. Planning for the development and improvement of the quality of green and barren spaces can be effective in improving the visual quality and in increasing the livability of urban areas of Kermanshah while reducing environmental pollution.

Keywords

References

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