Extended Abstract

Introduction

Inefficient urban textures, especially in cities with a historical background such as Ilam, are considered one of the fundamental challenges in the path of sustainable urban development. Studies show that urban development policies in Ilam over the past decade have failed to create positive changes in the status of these textures. The instability in these areas has not only affected these neighborhoods themselves, but also the entire urban structure of Ilam. Since these areas are an inseparable part of the urban system, their instability leads to the instability of the entire city. It is also not possible to eliminate or ignore these neighborhoods; because these areas are considered to be among the vital nuclei of the urban future. To deal with the existing challenges and achieve sustainable urban development, an organization and empowerment approach is proposed. This approach is based on a comprehensive synthesis of the factors that inhibit and stimulate development and provides operational solutions for the reconstruction of inefficient textures. The socio-economic empowerment of the residents of these areas through increasing access to public services, creating local job opportunities, and strengthening the public transportation network is one of the main axes of this approach. Also, improving the physical resilience of infrastructure to deal with natural disasters such as earthquakes and protecting the cultural heritage of the region should be considered. In addition, internal development is proposed as an effective solution for maximizing the capacity of existing land within urban areas; ultimately, the synthesis of organization and empowerment can provide a comprehensive framework for the sustainable revitalization and development of inefficient urban areas of Ilam.



Methodology

The present study aims to analyze and identify the factors that inhibit and stimulate the development of the urban fabric of Ilam and has been conducted with an analytical-descriptive approach. This study is designed based on library and field data (questionnaire). The statistical population of this study includes the population living in 4 urban areas consisting of 14 urban areas. The sample size was considered to be 384 people using the Cochran formula. In this study, simple random sampling method was used to complete and distribute the questionnaires. Based on the qualitative content analysis of the collected data and by reviewing existing sources and interviews, key concepts were extracted from the text of the notes and interviews, and through open coding, 43 inhibiting factors and 38 stimulating factors of development were identified in four main factors: physical-spatial, environmental, social (cultural), economic, and managerial-institutional. These were used in the subsequent stages of the research for statistical analysis and quantification.



Results and discussion

Based on the results obtained from the research, the indicators under study in all dimensions have a standard factor loading higher than 0.4 and the T-statistic value for all indicators is more than 1.96. These values indicate the existence of significant relationships between the indicators and factors related to urban development. Also, these indicators have sufficient accuracy to measure their respective structures and the average variance extracted (AVE) for all the studied dimensions has been calculated to be more than 0.5. This confirms that each indicator accurately measures only its respective structure and is classified into key factors. The research findings show that the driving factors of the development of Ilam's urban fabric can be analyzed in four main dimensions: physical - spatial, environmental, social (cultural) and economic, and managerial - institutional. The results indicate that the identified factors play an effective role in advancing the development of Ilam's urban fabric. Overall, the findings show that strengthening physical-spatial infrastructure, efficient environmental management, promoting social participation of citizens, improving the institutional-management system, and reducing administrative barriers can be used as key strategies for organizing and empowering the urban fabric of Ilam. In summary, the results of the model fit analysis indicate that the overall fit criteria are at a desirable level. This indicates that the collected field data have been able to effectively confirm the barriers identified in the qualitative phase of the research. Therefore, the proposed model can be used for a more detailed analysis of the factors inhibiting and stimulating the development of the urban fabric of Ilam and can be used as a basis for management decisions in order to organize and empower this fabric.



Conclusion

The research findings show that the inhibiting factors can be categorized into four dimensions: physical - spatial, environmental, social (cultural), economic and managerial - institutional. In contrast to these challenges, development driving factors have also been identified that can play an important role in organizing and empowering the urban fabric. The results of this research show that the inhibiting factors are mainly caused by weak infrastructure, managerial inefficiency, environmental degradation, and social problems that require comprehensive planning to resolve them. In contrast, strengthening public participation, improving infrastructure, and implementing environmental policies can be proposed as key strategies for the sustainable development of Ilam city. It is suggested that programs be developed to promote coordination between organizations; public education be provided to increase citizens' awareness about the benefits of sustainable development; investment in transportation infrastructure, green space, and building retrofitting be expanded; Also, creating incentives to attract domestic and foreign investors should be considered in order to pave the way for sustainable development. Finally, to provide scientific, technical, and practical suggestions to eliminate the inhibiting factors and strengthen the driving factors for the development of Ilam's urban fabric, using the experiences of different countries and adapting them to local conditions, the following can be mentioned: 1) Creating comprehensive frameworks for integrated policymaking and planning 2) Developing sustainable transportation infrastructure and communication networks 3) Implementing sustainable environmental management policies 4) Strengthening public participation in decision-making processes 5) Economic development based on innovation and creative industries 6) Improving the quality of public services and social infrastructure 7) Promoting a culture of environmental protection through public education 8) Creating incentives to attract private investment