Urban physical characteristics for sense of security

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6093/1970-9870/12482

Keywords:

Physical characteristics, Built environment, Sense of security, Structural equation modeling, Shiraz

Abstract

This research delves into the symbiotic nexus between the morphology of the urban fabric and the phenomenology of security. Situated in Shiraz, Iran, this inquiry interrogates the determinative role of four morphological attributes; green spaces, land use, illumination, and network connectivity, juxtaposed against socio-economic traits. Through a dialectical comparison of two ontologically distinct urban enclaves, we employ structural equation modelling to forge and empirically ground the Physical Attributes Affecting Sense of Security Model (PAASSM). The analysis reveals that the city's corporeal fabric, principally its land use and green commons, are primary architects of the citizen's sense of sanctuary, with socio-economic variables exerting a subordinate yet non-trivial influence. The superior security manifest in the city's modern, planned district stands as a testament to the virtues of deliberate spatial ordering. Ultimately, this study bequeaths a novel epistemological framework, articulating a new mandate for urban praxis: to recognize the deliberate sculpting of the built form as a primary instrument for cultivating a safer, more resilient, and socially cohesive polis.

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Author Biographies

Mohammad Sedaghatfard, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University

He holds a Master's degree in Urban Planning from Shiraz University. His research focuses on urban safety, the physical characteristics of the built environment, and perceptions of security in public spaces. He has conducted several studies on the impact of spatial and social factors on urban life, with a particular interest in enhancing the sense of security in city neighborhoods.

Ali Soltani, School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS), University of New England, Sydney

He is Currently on leave for doing FIAS fellowship - Marie Curie Actions of the European Commission and a researcher at Flinders University, Australia. He specializes in urban planning, spatial analysis, and sustainable development. Prior to this, he served as a Professor at Shiraz University. Dr. Soltani has an extensive research background in GIS applications, environmental planning, and urban design, and applied to road safety, health geography, environmental health, and environmental impacts of transport networks development. Over his career, he has collaborated extensively with researchers across countries and Australian universities and has published widely in these areas. His academic work continues to contribute to evidence-based urban policy and planning both in Australia and internationally.

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Published

31-12-2025

How to Cite

Sedaghatfard, M., & Soltani, A. (2025). Urban physical characteristics for sense of security. TeMA - Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, 18(3), 475–487. https://doi.org/10.6093/1970-9870/12482

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