Introduction

Physical coherence and sustainability in urban areas can contribute to optimizing resource utilization, improving the quality of life for residents, and preserving biodiversity in the city of Pardis. This approach requires collaboration and coordination among organizations, institutions, and the local community in the studied city, so that the goals of physical coherence and sustainability are integrated and synchronized in urban design and development. This research aims to explore the relationship between physical coherence and urban sustainability and identify which components of physical coherence have a greater impact on urban sustainability in Pardis.

Research Methodology

The methodology of this research is descriptive-analytical, and based on its objective, it is applied in nature. To gather the necessary information, both library studies and field observations were conducted. In this study, the most important dimensions of physical coherence and urban sustainability were extracted in the form of a table, encompassing physical, social, economic, and environmental factors. In this regard, a questionnaire was first administered to 385 residents in the form of a five-point Likert scale (ranging from "very high" to "very low"), and for the analysis of variables, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to assess their significance. Additionally, a second questionnaire was administered to experts, using a pairwise comparison method with numbers (0 = no effect; 1 = low effect; 2 = moderate effect; 3 = high effect).

Research Findings

The coefficients of the impact of physical coherence on social sustainability, economic sustainability, urban sustainability, environmental sustainability, and physical sustainability were found to be 0.452, 0.498, 0.724, 0.526, and 0.487, respectively, indicating a positive and significant relationship. Furthermore, the impact of urban sustainability on social sustainability, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and physical sustainability were found to be 0.624, 0.688, 0.727, and 0.673, respectively, indicating a significant relationship between the studied components. Additionally, there is a significant relationship and influence between physical coherence and urban sustainability, as indicated by the T-statistic.

The indicators of physical coherence, including coherence, spatial hierarchy principle, unified facades, visual aesthetics, and preservation of the city's identity, are factors that are examined in relation to the design and development of urban spaces and architecture. These indicators and principles determine the interactions between spaces and architectural elements and have a considerable impact on the visual quality and user experience of these spaces. In this regard, the results show that coherence and visual aesthetics, followed by the preservation of the city's identity, are considered causal factors, while the spatial hierarchy principle and unified facades are identified as effect factors. In other words, based on the components of physical coherence and based on the (Di-Ri) value, coherence with a score of 0.284 is identified as the most influential factor, while the spatial hierarchy principle with the lowest score of -0.444 is identified as an effect factor. Therefore, improving coherence between elements and spaces, realizing a reasonable spatial hierarchy principle, using unified facades to create harmony and correlation between architectural elements and spaces, as well as visual aesthetics and preservation of the city's identity, contribute to improving the quality and attractiveness of urban spaces.

Conclusion:

One of the most significant changes that have occurred in the fabric of contemporary cities compared to ancient cities in Iran is the loss of physical coherence. In ancient Iranian cities, the design and structure of the cities were such that there was a strong physical coherence among different elements of the city, such as alleys, streets, squares, and buildings, which contributed to the overall perception of the city as a well-organized and coordinated unit. However, in modern cities, due to social, economic, and technological developments, physical coherence is often less emphasized. Factors such as unplanned and uncontrolled development, land use changes, increased traffic and vehicles, inconsistent and inappropriate urban reforms, and economic pressures can lead to a decline in physical coherence in cities.

Physical coherence is an essential quality for the physical, social, and economic vitality of cities. It means that the urban structure should be designed in a way that establishes good connections and physical relationships among different elements of the city, and a proper combination of public and private spaces, streets, squares, and buildings should be created. This physical coherence in cities ensures a better quality of life for residents, more effective urban functioning, and smoother movement within the city. The aim of this research was to analyze the physical coherence and its impact on urban sustainability in Pardis city. PLS and DEMATEL were used for data analysis. The research findings show that the coefficient of the impact of physical coherence on urban sustainability is significant and meaningful. The T-statistic also indicates the significance of the relationship and the influence of physical coherence on urban sustainability, which reflects the impact of physical coherence on the sustainability of urban spaces. Therefore, preserving and improving physical coherence can be an important objective in urban planning and design to enhance sustainability in Pardis city.

The DEMATEL results indicate that coherence is identified as a causal and influential factor, while spatial hierarchy as a spatial principle is identified as an effect and influenced factor. In terms of sustainability indicators, physical, social, and economic factors are identified as causal factors, while environmental factors are identified as effect and influenced factors, with a negative value (-0.471) in the Di-Ri vector. These findings are consistent with the findings of other studies such as Carlos Balas (2010), Edibi Saei Nejad (2019), Piri et al. (2021), Khazraei and Abedini (2022), Alikhani and Zamani (2015), Aghayan (2010), and Khodabandeh et al. (2021).

In general, increasing physical coherence to enhance sustainability in Pardis city requires collaboration among urban planning, architecture, sociology, and other related fields to design and construct the city in a harmonious and coordinated manner with the social and cultural needs of the residents.