Spatial Analysis of the Relationship between Urban Form and Accessibility in Tehran’s Neighborhoods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Dep. of Geography and Urban Planning, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

2 University of Bu-Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Urban development based on a compact and sustainable urban form plays a significant role in optimizing urban travel patterns. This structure contributes to reducing travel distances, promoting walkability, improving access to urban services, and decreasing dependence on private vehicles. In this context, neighborhoods with higher population density and land-use mix offer shorter travel distances and greater accessibility compared to low-density suburban areas. Tehran, as one of the largest and most populous metropolises in Iran, has experienced substantial horizontal growth and spatial dispersion in recent decades. This expansion has increased the distance between origins and destinations, raising serious concerns about spatial equity and accessibility. Accordingly, spatial planning aimed at enhancing urban form to meet residents’ needs within short distances and with greater ease has become a key priority for urban management. However, a review of existing literature reveals that most previous studies have focused on macro-level scales such as cities or regions, while limited information is available on accessibility at the neighborhood level. This research aims to fill this gap by analyzing the relationship between urban form and neighborhood-level accessibility in Tehran.
Materials and Methods: This applied study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. To gather theoretical foundations, documentary and library studies were conducted. The required data were obtained from the 2016 statistical blocks provided by the Statistical Center of Iran, Tehran’s urban land-use maps, and Open Street Map (OSM). Seven key indicators were used to evaluate urban form, including measures of density, connectivity, and land-use mix. Hansen’s gravity-based model was employed to assess accessibility across neighborhoods. Finally, statistical tests in SPSS were used to examine the relationship between urban form variables and the accessibility index.
Results and Discussions: The research findings indicate that neighborhoods in districts 14, 8, 10, and 17—located in central Tehran—exhibit more sustainable and compact urban forms compared to other districts. In contrast, districts 21 and 22 in the western part of the city show more dispersed and unsustainable spatial patterns. Accessibility analysis revealed that although accessibility levels are somewhat scattered across Tehran, the highest concentration is observed in central areas, particularly in district 12. Conversely, neighborhoods in the western areas, especially districts 21 and 22, experience limited accessibility. Comparing the results with previous studies shows alignment with Sarvar et al. (2020) and Nikpour et al. (2017) in terms of central Tehran’s more sustainable form. However, the findings contradict Mitropoulos (2023) regarding the sustainability of the central urban form.
Conclusions: The results of the study showed that urban form has a significant relationship with the level of accessibility, but this relationship is not very strong and other factors also determine the level of urbanization. However, among the urban form indicators, building density has the highest correlation with the indicators shown.

Keywords

References

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