Document Type : Article extracted From phd dissertation
Authors
Department of Geography and Urban Planning, No.C., Islamic Azad University, Nour, Iran
10.22034/jsc.2025.549019.1884
Abstract
A B S T R A C T
Rapid urbanization and population growth in developing cities pose significant challenges to human health and urban sustainability. Urban livability, closely linked to the concept of a healthy city, has emerged as a critical framework for improving quality of life, well-being, and social equity. This study aims to identify and prioritize key drivers of livability in Qaemshahr and to propose a strategic framework for achieving a healthy city. Employing a mixed-methods, descriptive-analytical approach, the study involved 30 urban experts and managers selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected via a specialized questionnaire and in-depth interviews, with validity confirmed using the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and reliability verified through test-retest. Quantitative results indicate that among 13 livability drivers, recreational and cultural services (mean = 8.7) and institutional–managerial factors (mean = 8.4) are most influential, followed by healthcare services (mean = 8.2) and access to consumer goods (mean = 7.9). Transportation infrastructure and urban green space scored moderate impact levels (means = 7.5 and 7.3), while housing had the lowest effect (mean = 6.0). MICMAC analysis revealed institutional and managerial indicators as leverage drivers, whereas physical and environmental indicators serve foundational roles. Qualitative findings highlight that social and cultural factors—citizen participation, social capital, and public space quality—exert indirect but significant influence, with neglect potentially limiting other drivers’ effectiveness. Coordination among infrastructure, services, and governance emerged as a key factor in enhancing livability. The study presents a hierarchical and networked framework, demonstrating that integrating smart management, cross-sectoral policies, and simultaneous attention to foundational and leverage indicators can effectively improve urban quality of life and promote sustainable development. This framework provides a scientific and practical guide for strategic decision-making in developing Iranian cities.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Rapid urbanization in the twenty-first century has posed unprecedented challenges to human health and the sustainability of ecological systems. In response, the concept of urban livability has emerged as a central paradigm in urban planning and design, aiming to create environments that not only support basic living conditions but also enhance quality of life, well-being, and human flourishing. Urban livability is increasingly intertwined with the notion of a healthy city, emphasizing equity in health, community participation, and the integration of cross-sectoral actions to develop supportive physical and social environments. Philosophically and theoretically, urban livability can be approached from structural-institutional perspectives, which highlight the role of governance, institutional capacity, and resource distribution, and from systems-complexity perspectives, which view the city as a dynamic network of social, spatial, and environmental components where drivers act as nodes or catalysts of change. Despite theoretical consensus on the importance of these concepts, a significant gap persists between discourse and practical implementation, particularly in rapidly developing urban contexts with limited resources and complex challenges. Identifying key drivers of urban livability is essential for navigating the trade-offs among economic, social, and environmental dimensions and for advancing integrated and sustainable urban development.
Methodology
The present study adopts an applied, descriptive-analytical approach, combining content analysis with interpretive structural modeling (ISM) based on expert opinion. Experts in urban management were selected through snowball sampling until theoretical saturation was reached. Initial data collection involved a literature review and in-depth interviews to identify potential drivers of urban livability. A structured questionnaire was developed to assess the influence and interdependence of these drivers. The validity of the instrument was confirmed through content validity assessment, while reliability was verified using a test-retest method, demonstrating strong consistency in expert responses. Data were processed using ISM and MICMAC analysis to determine the hierarchical relationships and classification of drivers. This process involved constructing a structural self-interaction matrix, converting it into a binary reachability matrix, and analyzing direct and indirect relationships to identify leverage points and the hierarchical positioning of each driver within the urban livability system.
Results and discussion
The findings reveal a multi-layered, complex structure of urban livability in the case study city, characterized by interdependent physical, environmental, social, economic, and institutional dimensions. Physical and environmental drivers, including infrastructure quality, mixed land use, and environmental conditions, form the foundational level, exerting broad potential influence on other factors. Social and institutional drivers, such as citizen participation, governance effectiveness, and access to health and recreational services, emerge as key leverage points with high influence and relatively low dependency, indicating their critical role in system-wide interventions. The hierarchical analysis demonstrates that urban livability is not driven by isolated factors; instead, effective outcomes require the alignment and integration of foundational infrastructure, environmental quality, social cohesion, and institutional governance. MICMAC classification highlights the importance of focusing on high-impact, low-dependency drivers for strategic planning, while dependent drivers require supportive structural interventions. Overall, the analysis indicates that interventions targeting physical infrastructure alone, without systemic consideration of social and institutional interactions, are insufficient to produce sustainable improvements in urban livability.
Conclusion
This study underscores that achieving urban livability and the healthy city paradigm in rapidly developing urban contexts necessitates a systemic, network-based approach. By integrating structural-institutional and systems-complexity perspectives, the research identifies critical drivers, their hierarchical positioning, and interdependencies, providing a roadmap for evidence-based urban policy and planning. Key drivers such as institutional governance, health and recreational services, and social engagement act as leverage points that can catalyze system-wide improvements. The findings also highlight that while foundational physical and environmental drivers are essential, their effectiveness depends on coordination with social and institutional mechanisms. The proposed framework enables urban planners and policymakers to prioritize strategic interventions, optimize resource allocation, and design integrated policies that promote sustainable, equitable, and health-oriented urban development. Ultimately, a networked understanding of urban livability offers actionable insights for enhancing the quality of life in complex urban settings and provides a replicable model for other rapidly developing cities seeking to implement the healthy city approach.
Funding
There is no funding support.
Authors’ Contribution
The authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All authors approved the manuscript's content and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest, but none.
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.
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