Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

61

Indexed, Abstracted and Cited: Index Copernicus International (Poland), ISRA Journal

Impact Factor, International Impact Factor Services (IIFS), Directory of Research Journals Indexing (DRJI), International Institute of Organized Research and Scientific

Indexing Services, Cosmos Science Foundation (South-East Asia), International Innovative Journal Impact Factor, Einstein Institute for Scientific Information {EISI},

Directory of Open Access Scholarly Resources, Science Indexing Library (UAE), Swedish

Scientific Publication (Sweden), citefactor.org journals indexing, Directory Indexing of International

Research Journals

World Journal of Biology and Medical Sciences Published by Society for Advancement of Science®

ISSN 2349-0063 (Online/Electronic) Volume 4, Issue-3, 61-69, July to September, 2017

Journal Impact Factor: 4.197

WJBMS 04/03/139/2017

All rights reserved www.sasjournals.com A Double Blind Peer Reviewed Journal / Refereed Journal wjbmedsc@gmail.com/wjbms.lko@gmail.com

REVIEW ARTICLE Received: 01/09/2017 Revised: 12/09/2017 Accepted: 13/09/2017

Important of Planning Theory and Strategic Urban

Sadaf Kheyrodin Mashad Azad University, Iran

ABSTRACT This paper aims to review evolution and characteristics of urban planning theory and Strategic Urban Planning in Iran. Planning theory is the body of scientific concepts, definitions, behavioral relationships, and assumptions that define the body of knowledge of urban planning. There are eight procedural theories of planning that remain the principal theories of planning procedure today: the rational-comprehensive approach, the incremental approach, the transactive approach, the communicative approach, the advocacy approach, the equity approach, the radical approach, and the humanist or phenomenological approach. Urban planning designs settlements, from the smallest towns to the largest cities. Strategic Urban Planning over past decades have witnessed the metamorphosis of the role of the urban planner in the planning process. More citizens calling for democratic planning & development processes have played a huge role in allowing the public to make important decisions as part of the planning process. Community organizers and social workers are now very involved in planning from the grassroots level. The general objectives of strategic urban planning (SUP) include clarifying which city model is desired and working towards that goal, coordinating public and private efforts, channelling energy, adapting to new circumstances and improving the living conditions of the citizens affected. Strategic Urban Planning processes (SUP), also known as Urban Renewal Projects, began to appear at the end of the 20th century.

Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

62

Iranian urban systems have been under the influence of capitalist relations since 1960; however, approximately after the Islamic revolution that situation led to the overthrowing of traditional connections between cities and villages. Strategic planning is a technique that has been applied to many facets of human activity. Urbanization trends in Iran have increased the serious problems facing cities such as lack of housing. In Iran the urban development plans need to prepare jobs, health, education and quality comprehensive plan for all cities. The urban population has increased from 46.7 % in 1976 to 61% in 1996, respectively. Transportation planning in Iran , or transport planning, has historically followed the rational planning model and organizational process, collaborative planning, and political bargaining. Key words: Planning Theory, Strategic Urban Planning and Urbanization.

INTRODUCTION In recent years much emphasis has been placed on the need for planning to expand its boundaries both from a conceptual and a practice-based perspective. In particular, the ‘revival of strategic spatial planning’ in the 1990s and 2000s has seen a renewed emphasis on the strategic and spatial dimensions of planning. Urbanism entered a new phase by the arrival of Islam so that the formed foundation of urban life changed in the Sassanid era. Urban communities experienced major developments in accordance with Islamic rules in social and economic dimensions. Also, establishment of mosques resulted in physical alteration of cities. By gradual dominance of Islam in Iran, the fields were ready concerning rapid growth of cities and creation of new cities with transformed form and modern culture. Following these changes and in accordance with comprehensive ideology of Islam and its philosophical principles, the concept of “Islamic city and urbanism” was raised as a new topic in urbanism worldwide and in particular in Islamic countries. The main motivation behind starting strategic urban planning processes was the attempt to adequately react to problematic situations (mainly economic crisis or standstill). At the beginning of the 21st century, this kind of organization is not reactive but proactive. In the case of Spain, crisis situations are not the main causes of these processes, rather they are motivated by the search for an improved level of public-private cooperation, the wish to coordinate activity, continued improvements, the wish to launch revitalization processes and even to follow others. The initial determination needed to launch this type of processes varies by region; in Spain, most processes are fronted by public entities, approximately 50%, while a significant percentage has mixed public-private leadership. An SUP process, according to Borja and Castells is: The definition of a city project that unifies diagnoses, specifies public and private actions and establishes a coherent mobilization framework for the cooperation of urban social actors. A participative process is a priority when defining contents, as this process will be the basis for the viability of the objectives and actions proposed. The result of the Strategic plan should not necessarily be the creation of regulations or a government program (although its adoption by the State and Local Government should mean the instigation of regulations, investment, administrative measures, policy initiatives, etc) but rather a policy contract between public institutions and civil society. For this reason, the process following the approval of the plan and the monitoring and implementation of measures or actions is just as or more important than the process of elaboration and consensual approval.

Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

63

Basic Stages of an SUP process (strategic urban planning) Using the work of the Technical Secretary as a starting point, work groups debate

and approve a diagnosis of the city that includes its localization. The document must be approved by the Executive Committee, by the General Council or a full meeting of the Corporation as the case may be.

Based on the diagnosis, and keeping in mind its antecedents and conclusions, strengths and weaknesses, the next step is the creation of scenarios and, based on the use of imagination and rigour, the development of prospective tasks related to the creation of future alternatives so that the Executive Committee can select a model or vision for the city. Their choice will be the basis for the generation of related key topics and/or directions for general actions to be taken.

Once the work teams have been reorganized, mainly made up of key decision-makers and implementers, each key topic and line of action will be dealt with separately, designing a detailed list of necessary and/or advisable projects. Once the results have been consolidated, a prioritised list of projects will be made available from which a selection will be made. The next step is the elaboration of an action plan that includes the agents involved, timing and resources. The people involved in the structure of the process, at least theoretically, are capable of carrying it out; for an example, please consult the document from the General Council of SUP of Valencia (Albrechts, 2006).

Once all of the previously mentioned documents have been approved, the next step is implementation - carrying out the project itself. This stage is decisive; at this point plans are usually given a structure in which the organization is even more explicitly clarified.

Fig 1. Use management urban planning in Mecca.

Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

64

Critical Comments on SUP processes Sectors in the area of civic participation, as well as planning professionals and political activists have all expressed criticism of SUP processes. However, SUP processes include aspects that favor selective participation, territorial organization and coordination/cooperation between public and private sectors. On the other hand, Strategic Urban Planning processes seem to be independent of political ideologies (for example, the SUP processes in Barcelona (Fainstein, 2005), Bilbao (Faludi, 1982) and Valencia (Hall, 1988) are carried out with mixed Government teams including the following Spanish political formations: PSC-PSOE (Yiftachel, 2006), PNV (Zanganeh et al., 2011) and PP respectively) and can produce a notable degree of stability in the majority behind the project.

Strategic approach in urban planning A specification of strategic-structural plans shows they are better than comprehensive plans. The most important specifics of these plans are:

1. Cyclical process of preparation of these plans 2. Flexibility and envisaging probable failures and the possibility of reviewing the

perspective, general objectives, and strategies 3. Possibility of participation of people in preparation, approval, implementation, and

review of these plans Iranian managers are supporting comprehensive plans despite the fact that such plans were proven outdated in other countries over four decades ago. Support extended by Iranian officials to comprehensive plans is the main challenge facing strategic-structural ones. The high capacity of strategic-structural plans to adapt to complicated and changeable social and economic conditions has been proven. But implementation of these plans needs at least a basic foundation in science, theory, economics, law, finance, and administration. Until such preconditions materialize, implementation of a plan with a strategic stance is impossible. Madinah has best Islamic urban planning Millions of Muslims visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah every year, but very few know that Madinah Munawwarah, the City of Light, is not only the first settlement in Islam, but also a shining example of urban planning based on principles outlined in the Qur'an. “The city of Madinah as built by the Prophet (PBUH) is a very good example of urban planning. The ultimate purpose of life, of worshipping God, provided guidance for the planning of Madinah (in the first year of the Hijra or 623 CE),” said Dr. Hisham Mortada, an architect and environmental expert. Mortada said there are many principles found in the Prophet’s planning of Madinah that should be considered when building future Muslim dwellings. The Prophet (PBUH), started by building a mosque in the center of his growing community. Then he distributed the quarters, properties and houses to the muhajireen, other immigrants, original tribes, the Ansar and other individuals. The urban characteristics of this settlement became the planning standard that was later followed in most traditional Islamic cities.“We have to realize the beauty and relevance of Islam and also let it be known to non-Muslims what rich heritage we have based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah encompassing different levels from the individual to the Ummah,” said Mortada, who did his master’s

Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

65

degree in architecture at Penn State University in 1989, and went on to receive his PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 1993. He said Islam “is oriented towards community.” This leads to the concept of the Ummah, of which neighborliness is the backbone. The Islamic built environment takes into consideration all measures to strengthen good neighborliness, he said. The proximity of houses makes it easier to keep in touch with each other, exchange visits, and help each other in time of need. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Nobody can be a true believer if his neighbors pass the night hungry while his (own) belly is full. He who is best to his neighbors will enjoy the neighborhood of God on the Day of Resurrection.” Islam encourages strong family ties and the extended form of family so much so that a traditional Arab-Muslim house was never complete — as the family grew, so did the house. Yet, a degree of individuality was provided within the boundaries of social unity, equality and brotherhood. The Resilience of Theories in Planning It has been proposed that the development of a scientific discipline is a process in which theoretical revolutions take place (Kuhn, 1970 Kuhn T. (1970), the structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. [Google Scholar]). There are a number of classic examples, for instance the implications in physics of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, and subsequently Quantum Physics and the problem of probabilism versus determinism. The objective of this section is to briefly analyse whether urban planning is exposed to this process of consecutive revolutions. We propose a negative answer to this question. The term ‘revolution’ cannot be used to describe with accuracy what occurs in the evolution of urban planning. We will suggest that what urban planning experiences is a Hydra-like phenomenon. A note on terminology is necessary prior to further discussion. We will adopt the general terms ‘theory’ and ‘theoretical standpoint’ to address an organized scheme of knowledge that makes sense as long as a certain set of validating assumptions are accepted. This is a loose definition that aims to be applicable both at the paradigm level of theory-making (in which fundamental hypotheses are established) and at a ‘lower’, more close-to-practice, level. According to John Muller, Kuhn’s model is a “singularly erudite contribution” to the development of scientific thought (Muller, 1998 Campbell H. & Marshall R. (2002). Utilitarianism’s bad breath? A re-evaluation of the public interest justification for planning. Planning Theory, 1 (2), 163-187. [Crossref], [Google Scholar], p. 287). Putting it simply, Kuhn proposed that scientific disciplines have consensual views on their values, methods, standards and generalizations. These theoretical standpoints help scientists to undertake their work because they provide a fundamental frame of reference. These standpoints provide a basis that allows scientists to make holistic sense of the available knowledge, and how to undertake research in order to expand it. Kuhn considered that, when the evidence resulting from scientific inquiry makes a certain standpoint unsuitable, a shift takes place and a new standpoint replaces the old one. The new standpoint has then integrated the new information, and has coped with the theoretical, ethical, and practical challenges imposed by the findings. Science can return to a situation of ‘normality’. An example: when it was accepted that it is the planet Earth that rotates around the Sun, and not the other way round, a new theoretical standpoint for physics was considered necessary. This represented a fundamental shift. After that, substantial research was dedicated to

Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

66

understanding how planets move around the Sun, the shape of their trajectory, and their speed, etc. This is what Kuhn called a period of ‘normal science’: the objective of it is to expand accepted knowledge, not to question the validity of the fundamental assumptions.

Fig 2. The Dry line urban flood protection infrastructure.

Fig 3. Urban planning in New York City, best urbanization.

Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

67

Some Practical Suggestions for Planning Education This section presents some suggestions for planning education based on the previous considerations. We are not trying here to draw a comprehensive policy strategy, but just to show some examples of practical implications of our thoughts. Three suggestions will be presented. A concrete proposal will follow the presentation of the suggestions. This proposal will connect the three suggestions in a feasible challenge that some planning schools might be willing to accept. This proposal can be seen as an example of a pedagogical initiative that those who are sympathetic to this line of ideas and are considering making changes in their schools’ curricula might find interesting to analyse.

Fig 4. Show the transport planning level.

CONCLUSION The rapid urbanization process all over the world has raised the need to employ more satisfactory urban development approaches; these are especially recognized and declared in developing countries. This study to indicate what achievable ways may improve the current urban development plans based on the comprehensive planning method in Iran Ultimately, appropriate measures are presented in order to suggest how the defects found in the current Iranian urban development plans may be corrected by employing the lessons learned from practical examples recorded in other selected countries. The primary data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews from decision making and decision taking processes in Iran. In conclusion we suggest that the identified defects of urban development plans in Iran may be improved by adapting to the most recent universal concepts of urban planning. The rapid expansion of large Asian cities generates serious social, economic, and physical problems, and has thereby forced these areas to create alternative expansion plans, such as

Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

68

the idea of building up secondary cities and towns. The result of the rapid expansion of large cities, combined with poor urban management, accentuates the mass poverty in many Asian cities. This large urban population is expected to double or triple in size between 1970 and 2000 Transportation planning is the process of defining future policies, goals, investments and designs to prepare for future needs to move people and goods to destinations. As practiced today, it is a collaborative process that incorporates the input of many stakeholders including various government agencies, the public and private businesses. Transportation planners apply a multi-modal and/or comprehensive approach to analyzing the wide range of alternatives and impacts on the transportation system to influence beneficial outcomes fig 4. Transportation planning is also commonly referred to as transport planning internationally, and is involved with the evaluation, assessment, design and siting of transport facilities (generally streets, highways, bike lanes and public transport lines).

Fig 5. San Francisco roadway plan 1948.

REFERENCES Albrechts L. (2006). Bridge the gap: From spatial planning to strategic projects. European

Planning Studies, 14 (10), 1487-1500. Bruton M. J. (1974). The spirit and purpose of planning. London: Hutchinson Davidoff P. (1965). Advocacy and pluralism in planning. Journal of the American Institute of

Planners, 31 (4), 331-338

Kheyrodin, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 4 (3) 61-69, 2017

69

Fainstein S. (2005). Planning theory and the city. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 25 (2), 121-130.

Faludi A. (1982). Three paradigms of planning theory. In: Healey P., McDougall G. & Thomas M. J. (Eds.). Planning theory: Prospects for the 1980s. Oxford: Pergamon Press, pp. 81-101.

Hall P. (1988). Cities of tomorrow: An intellectual history of urban planning and design in the Twentieth Century. London: Blackwell.

Yiftachel O. (2006). Re-engaging planning theory: Towards ‘south-eastern’ perspectives. Planning Theory, 5 (3), 211-222

Zanganeh S. S., Sauri, D., Serra, P., Modugno, S., Seifolddini, F. and Pourahmad, A. (2011). Urban Sprawl Pattern and Land-Use Change Detection in Yazd, Iran. Habitat International, 35(4), 521-528. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2011.02.004

Zhang, T. (2006). Beyond Metropolis: The Planning and Governance of Asia’s Mega-Urban Regions. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 25(3), 333-334. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0739456X05285897

Ziari, K. (2006). The Planning and Functioning of New Towns in Iran. Cities, 23 (6), 412-422. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2006.08.006

Corresponding author: Sadaf Kheyrodin, Mashad Azad University, Iran Email: sadafkheirodin@yahoo.com