تحلیل نابرابری‌های فضایی - کالبدی و کیفیت محیط شهری در سکونتگاه‌های غیررسمی مشهد با استفاده از تحلیل شبکه (نمونه موردی: محله خواجه ربیع)

Abstract

Enhancing the quality of the urban environment to achieve spatial justice at the neighborhood level has always been a concern for urban managers. This issue becomes even more critical in informal settlements, which face shortages in accessing many amenities. Therefore, this research aims to improve the quality of the urban environment, reduce spatial inequality in access to urban facilities, and balance environmental quality at the neighborhood scale in the Khajeh Rabi neighborhood of Mashhad. This study is applied in purpose and employs a descriptive-analytical method. Data collection was conducted through documentary and library research, field visits, and GIS map analysis for six types of land uses: educational, green spaces, sports, religious, cultural, and healthcare. First, the current status of service land uses was examined, and their per capita values were compared with standards derived from academic sources, the comprehensive plan, the detailed plan, and the existing per capita values in Mashhad. Next, data analysis and overlay of information layers were performed using network analysis in GIS to optimize land-use location management. Appropriate strategies were proposed to balance the neighborhood’s service needs with the environmental capacities of the informal settlement of Khajeh Rabi. The results indicate that green spaces and healthcare land uses are in an unfavorable state and fall short compared to the four mentioned standards. Therefore, green space development is the first priority, and healthcare is the second priority for neighborhood improvement. Cultural and religious land uses are in a relatively neutral state, while sports and educational land uses, being in a better condition, are the third and fourth priorities. Furthermore, using network analysis in GIS, the central, eastern, and western parts of the neighborhood were identified as areas lacking facilities. Priority construction sites were proposed as vacant plots near population centers, with access to transportation networks and land-use compatibility with the detailed plan of the area.



1. Introduction

Marginalization has emerged as one of Iran's priority social challenges with a relatively long history. Undoubtedly, informal settlements pose a serious threat to urban sustainability and social cohesion by reproducing numerous social problems. Urban environmental quality, as a component of quality of life, is a key topic in urban studies that has been neglected in urban planning for informal settlements.

Among Iranian cities, Mashhad is both the world's second largest religious metropolis and Iran's second largest city after Tehran in terms of population (3,062,242) and area, facing challenges from informal settlements. Mashhad has 66 informal settlement target neighborhoods. High population density, small plot sizes, low-quality residential fabric, along with shortages in service spaces such as educational facilities, green spaces, sports, religious, cultural and healthcare uses are among the issues in these settlements. The Khajeh Rabi neighborhood, given its long history, is not exempt from these problems. This neighborhood is one of Mashhad's oldest informal settlements suffering from poor conditions.

Therefore, this research aims to improve urban environmental quality in Khajeh Rabi neighborhood of Mashhad, reduce inequality in access to urban amenities and balance environmental quality at neighborhood scale. It examines and analyzes current access to services and infrastructure, studying six service categories (educational, green space, sports, religious, cultural and healthcare) using network analysis.



2. Research Methodology



This research is applied in purpose and employs a descriptive-analytical method. The data collection is based on documentary and library research, field visits, and GIS map analysis for six types of land uses: educational, green spaces, sports, religious, cultural, and healthcare. First, the current status of service land uses—as one of the most important indicators of urban environmental quality—is examined and analyzed in the Khajeh Rabi neighborhood. The per capita land use is extracted based on the population of the study area and compared with various standards and the existing per capita values in Mashhad. Next, data analysis and overlay of information layers are performed using network analysis in GIS to optimize land-use location management. Finally, the outcome will be proposing appropriate strategies to balance the service needs of the neighborhood with the environmental capacities of the informal settlement of Khajeh Rabi.



3. Results and discussion

The research findings indicate that two land uses - green spaces and healthcare - are in an unfavorable condition and show deficiencies compared to the mentioned standards. Therefore, the comparisons reveal the development priorities and basic needs of the area. In other words, green space land use shows deficiencies against all four mentioned standards, making it the top priority for neighborhood development, healthcare land use shows deficiencies against three standards, only meeting the detailed plan standard satisfactorily, cultural and religious land uses maintain a relatively neutral status against all four standards, placing them as third priority. Sports and educational land uses show better compliance with all four standards, making them the lowest development priority.



4. Conclusion

Using network analysis in GIS, the study identified spatial patterns and service-deficient areas. To achieve spatial justice and balance service needs with environmental capacity, the research recommends focusing on developing green spaces and service facilities in eastern, central and western sectors where these are lacking. Approximately 56 hectares of vacant land present suitable development opportunities. The network analysis considered these selection criteria for optimal locations: Proximity to population centers, Appropriate distance from existing facilities, Accessibility to transportation networks, Compliance with the detailed plan's proposed land use, Current vacant status of the plots