Evaluation of urban neighborhoods quality in District 4 of Shiraz based on the service availability index; Guidance for the future development of neighborhoods

A B S T R A C T
One of the key issues in urban planning and development is the discussion of sustainable development, spatial justice, and the access of current and future residents to urban services. The distribution of urban services should be such that it promotes spatial justice within neighborhoods and areas of the city while steering them toward greater sustainability. The aim of this research is to rank the neighborhoods in the fourth district of Shiraz based on their access to neighborhood services and neighborhood sustainability. This study adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology. To measure the level of access to services in the neighborhoods, per capita indicators of neighborhood land uses (residential, educational, cultural, commercial, and green spaces) have been considered as the research metrics. For the ranking of neighborhoods, the TOPSIS scoring technique has been employed. The results indicate that among the 12 neighborhoods in the fourth district of Shiraz, Golshan, Esteghlal-Havabard Boulevard, and Qadamgah-Islah Nejad neighborhoods rank the highest in terms of neighborhood service access, with scores of 0.6, 0.586, and 0.571, respectively. Following these, the neighborhoods of Etehad-Qalishoei, Derki-Shahid Pourberak, Adel Abad, Seraj-Pustchi, Mahdieh-Siman, Iman-Moallem, and Saheb al-Amr-Safir Boulevard achieved the next ranks, while North-Edalat and Ehsar-Aghaee neighborhoods ranked lowest in access to neighborhood services, with scores of 0.086 and 0.1, respectively. Therefore, there exists a significant imbalance and inequality in access to neighborhood services among the various neighborhoods in the fourth district of Shiraz.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Rapid urbanization and socio-economic transformations in cities have resulted in inequitable distribution of services and amenities. Sustainable development plans in many developing countries often overlook disadvantaged residential areas (Moroke et al., 2019). Reducing inequalities in access to community resources is a fundamental criterion of sustainable development (Saraei et al., 2013). Spatial imbalances in the distribution of services and amenities are not unique to any city globally (Darvish et al., 2015: 100), but this uneven distribution, coupled with increasing social stratification and segregation, has led to the polarization of areas and social groups within cities (Mirabadi et al., 2018: 71). Therefore, comparing the service provision levels of different urban neighborhoods can inform optimal resource allocation decisions (Ahmadi & Jahangard, 2020). Ranking residential neighborhoods based on their sustainability helps urban planners identify areas requiring immediate intervention through strategic decision-making (Andrade et al., 2022). This not only improves resource allocation and resident satisfaction but also reduces the need for residents to travel outside their neighborhoods, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and enabling more balanced planning to address deficiencies, disparities, and opportunities. District Four of Shiraz Municipality, the most populous of the city's eleven districts, comprises twelve neighborhoods exhibiting significant disparities in access to services. Given the district's population of 250,000 (Statistical Center of Iran, 2016), identifying deficiencies, proposing solutions for homogenization, and addressing the shortcomings in less-developed areas are crucial.
 
Methodology
This applied research employs a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing both library and field research methods. The study population comprises the twelve neighborhoods of District Four, Shiraz Municipality. Five neighborhood service indicators, selected based on theoretical frameworks and prior research, were used to rank and evaluate the neighborhoods and assess spatial justice in service distribution. Accordingly, the per capita ratios for five types of land use (residential, commercial, educational, religious, and green spaces) are recognized as the most frequented uses within neighborhoods. An optimal ratio for these land uses would enhance resident satisfaction, reduce their daily commutes outside the neighborhood, decrease regional traffic, and contribute to neighborhood sustainability. The TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) technique, with entropy weighting for the criteria, was employed to measure and rank the neighborhoods based on their access to neighborhood services.
 
Results and discussion
Attention to planning at the neighborhood level and considering various service indicators in relation to population distribution is essential, as urban neighborhoods, being the smallest urban units, have a significant impact on the overall structure of the city. Generally, the per capita usage of neighborhood facilities in the neighborhoods of Region Four does not meet the established standards and often shows a considerable disparity compared to standard ratios. The uneven and asymmetrical divisions of neighborhoods, along with a lack of attention to the population standards that underpin the distribution of services and facilities at the neighborhood level, are significant factors contributing to inequality and the absence of spatial justice in this area's neighborhoods.
Findings indicate that Golshan neighborhood, with a CL_i of 0.6, ranks at a more favorable level compared to other neighborhoods. Following Golshan, the neighborhoods of Esteghlal-Havabard Boulevard, and Qadamgah-Islah Nejad are better equipped with neighborhood services relative to others. Subsequently, the neighborhoods of Ittehad-Qalishuyi, Derki-Shahid Pourbirak, Adelabad, Saraj-Pushti, Mahdieh Siman, Iman-Moallem, and Saheb al-Amr-Safir Boulevard rank next. Finally, the neighborhoods of Isar-Aghayi and North Edalat have been identified as the most deprived areas in the region. The CL_i of the most advantaged neighborhood (Golshan) is nearly seven times that of the most deprived neighborhood. This score disparity indicates a stark difference in the level of access to neighborhood services among the neighborhoods in this region.
 
Conclusion
The research reveals that Golshen, Esteghlal-Hovabord Boulevard, and Qadamgah-Islah-e-Nejad rank first, second, and third, respectively, in terms of neighborhood service provision within District Four. Conversely, Shahrak-e-Isar-Aqaee and Adalat-e-Shomali rank eleventh and twelfth, respectively, receiving the lowest scores. This is notable considering Shahrak-e-Isar's substantial population of 17,988. Overall, per capita neighborhood service provision in District Four falls short of established standards, often exhibiting significant discrepancies. The uneven and asymmetrical divisions of neighborhoods, along with a lack of attention to population standards that underpin the distribution of services and facilities at the neighborhood level, are significant factors contributing to inequality and the absence of spatial justice in this area. While the ideal population size for urban neighborhoods is capped at 5,000, the average population in the neighborhoods of Region Four exceeds 20,000.
Neighborhoods such as Mahdieh Siman, with a population of 7,754; Iman-Moallem square, with 7,806; Saheb al-Amr-Safir Boulevard, with 9,176; and North Edalat, with 6,412, lack educational facilities at the primary school level. Additionally, North Edalat, which ranks the lowest among the neighborhoods in this region, lacks both educational facilities (at the primary level) and green spaces.
Neighborhood-level urban planning, considering various service indicators and population distribution, is crucial, as neighborhoods, as the smallest urban units, significantly impact the city's overall structure. To achieve spatial justice and address inequalities in District Four, a review of the neighborhood boundaries is necessary, considering population standards (5,000 residents) and distance standards (maximum 15-minute walking distance to elementary schools). While standardizing all neighborhoods' service provision is practically impossible and economically infeasible, redistributing or reallocating resources to approach standards and improve quality of life in underserved areas is essential.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.