Geographical planning of space quarterly journal

Geographical planning of space quarterly journal

Structural analysis of the city physics with an environmental sustainability approach: A case study of Behshahr city

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Department of Geography, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
10.30488/gps.2026.561700.3876
Abstract
Rapid urbanization and unplanned urban expansion in recent decades have led to multiple challenges in the spatial, social, and particularly environmental dimensions of cities. This study aims to analyze the structural morphology of Behshahr city with an emphasis on environmental sustainability. The research employs a descriptive–analytical approach based on field and documentary data. The study population consisted of 15 experts in urban planning and environmental management, and data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using statistical methods (one-sample t-test and structural equation modeling) in SPSS and Smart PLS software. The overall status of the urban morphology in terms of environmental sustainability was evaluated as below the desirable level (mean < 3). The one-sample t-test indicated that most indicators, except for the people and local communities’ component, significantly differed from the theoretical median (p < 0.05). Structural equation modeling results revealed that the components housing and buildings (β=0.955), land use (β=0.945), and urban structure (β=0.936) had the greatest impact on environmental sustainability, whereas land (β=0.418) and zoning (β=0.459) indicated no significant effect. These findings reveal that improving construction management, revising land-use policies, optimizing land allocation, and organizing the urban form can reduce environmental pressures and enhance the city’s ecological resilience. Overall, achieving environmental sustainability in Behshahr requires modifications in morphological patterns and governance, moving toward a compact and resilient city, where urban development aligns with natural and ecological capacities to ensure a sustainable and livable future for coming generations
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