A B S T R A C T
The identity of cities evolves over time, a process that can contribute to their resilience and vitality. Although numerous studies have examined the dimensions and components of urban identity, no comprehensive synthesis of previous research has yet been undertaken to consolidate their findings. To address this gap, the present study adopts a systematic review approach to analyze existing research on the impacts of land-use change on urban identity, with a particular focus on dimensions and components. The study is based on 64 selected publications, drawing English-language sources from Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, and Persian-language sources from Civilica, the Comprehensive Humanities Portal, Normags, and SID. Findings indicate that 40% of domestic studies were published in 2015 and 2017, while 20% of international studies appeared in 2023. Asia and Europe emerge as the leading regions in advancing this line of research. Furthermore, 10% of English-language studies were published in Environmental Sciences, and 20% of domestic studies appeared in New Attitudes in Human Geography and Spatial Planning. The synthesis of previous research reveals that the natural–artificial and human–environmental dimensions of land use exert the strongest influence on urban identity. Among the components, structural, mass, and point elements are identified as the most significant in shaping the effects of land-use change on cities.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Originally, the notion of identity was explored within domains such as philosophy, logic, and psychology, but with the scientific advances of recent decades, its scope has broadened to encompass human-made environments as well. The living environment exerts a profound influence on human behavior and identity, shaping individuals’ relationships with their latent values. In this context, the city may be regarded as a spatial manifestation of identity, embodying the values rooted in the beliefs, worldviews, and culture of its inhabitants and creators. As both the foundation of social formation and a showcase for collective ideas, the city plays a pivotal role in shaping national identity.
Urban identity emerges from the dynamic interplay between built forms and social activities, evolving over time under the combined influence of environmental and human factors. City centers are more than mere commercial hubs; they serve as arenas for cultural, recreational, leisure, tourism, civic, and social exchange, offering spaces for the circulation of ideas and opinions. To foster attractive and livable environments that facilitate social interaction, urban centers require a coherent and positive identity system. The introduction of specific activities within a neighborhood can generate a distinctive capacity for shaping its identity. Moreover, land uses that are widely recognized by residents can play a decisive role in defining neighborhood identity. However, transformations in the social, cultural, economic, and political contexts of a city can profoundly affect the quality of place identity.
 
Methodology
This systematic review employs a qualitative approach designed to examine phenomena and identify categories derived from the existing body of literature in the field. Such an approach is particularly effective when the research literature in the target domain is extensive and well-developed. In these contexts, a systematic procedure enables the progressive identification, categorization, and synthesis of subcategories related to the phenomenon under investigation.
Scholars have proposed a variety of frameworks for selecting studies to be included in systematic reviews. In urban planning, systematic reviews have attracted increasing attention because they provide bibliographic information—such as titles, authors, abstracts, and keywords—often presented in graphical formats. Such tools generate new insights for the urban planning community. When keyword data are extracted, they can be used not only for graphical analyses but also to identify clusters of keywords and textual patterns from the reviewed articles and books. These clusters are then analyzed and interpreted in line with the research objectives and questions.
A comprehensive search across Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the keywords “land use planning” and “urban identity,” initially yielded 1,167 articles. Following the selection process, a final set of 64 articles and books was identified as the basis for this systematic review.
 
Results and Discussion
This study first analyzes the descriptive characteristics of prior research, including authorship, year of publication, and journal outlets. Subsequently, the dimensions and components of the impacts of land-use change on urban identity are identified. The literature on this phenomenon has expanded rapidly—particularly since 2010 in English-language studies and since 1393 (2014–2015) in Persian-language studies. The highest number of English articles was published in 2023, while domestic publications peaked in 1397 (2018–2019). Geographically, Asia, the Americas, and Europe represent the leading regions of scholarly contribution in this field.
Among domestic publications, the majority have appeared in the journal Geographical Space Planning and Environmental Studies (Haft Hesar). The review further indicates that scholars such as Ahmad Pourahmad, Bahar Nowkar, Zeinab Karkehabadi, Mojtaba Rafieian, and Karamatollah Ziyari are among the most prolific contributors to this body of research. A keyword analysis of the studies on land-use change and urban identity reveals the presence of three major thematic clusters. These three clusters structure the intellectual landscape of research in this domain.
 
Conclusion
Urban identity is a dynamic concept that continuously evolves over time. Changes in land use often weaken residents’ sense of belonging and may eventually result in the discontinuation or abandonment of certain urban functions. Existing scholarship has largely focused on localized case studies of land-use change, thereby highlighting the absence of comprehensive analyses that address its broader dimensions and constituent components. The scarcity of indigenous theoretical frameworks on identity and land-use change has constrained their application in empirical case studies, where such perspectives could otherwise offer valuable insights.
The findings show that scholarly interest in the relationship between land-use change and urban identity intensified in 2023, underscoring both the growing appeal of this topic and the pressing need to strengthen urban identities. In Iran, a notable increase in studies has been evident since 2018, much of it driven by doctoral research, reflecting recognition of a significant gap in the literature and the potential to advance the field. Research is most prominent in Asia, the Americas, and Europe, where transformations in urban identity have prompted extensive investigations into the role of land-use change in shaping and reinforcing city identities. Contrary to expectations, most domestic studies have appeared in Geographical Space Planning and Environmental Studies rather than the Urban Identity journal, with the latter publishing only a single article on the subject.
The analysis revealed three major clusters. The first links land-use change to the spiritual dimension of identity, encompassing elements such as collective memory, urban history, significant events, notable figures, place names, religious beliefs, ethical norms, ethnic composition, shared memories, and sacred spaces. The second cluster addresses the natural–artificial dimension of identity, which includes the public landscape, overall urban form, focal points such as squares, gates, and parks, as well as structural and linear elements like bazaars, palaces, landmarks, and natural or built morphological features. The third cluster explores the human–environmental dimension of identity, focusing on customs, beliefs, lifestyles, dialects, and languages.
Because many of the reviewed studies examined Islamic cities, the spiritual dimension received greater emphasis and more detailed treatment. The natural and artificial dimensions were also emphasized, as they often provide tangible expressions of shifts in the spiritual dimension through urban events and transformations. As research on land-use change and urban identity expands in developed countries, this line of inquiry is expected to gain increasing scholarly attention globally. This study employs both descriptive and statistical analyses to synthesize existing scholarship on land-use change and urban identity, thereby offering a comprehensive foundation for future investigations.
 
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.