The Impact of Environmental Design on Crime Prevention and Improving Women's Safety case study: Kardanesh Behbahan Park

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Urban Planning, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Urban parks, as an integral part of contemporary cities, play a key role in enhancing the quality of life for citizens. With the growth of urban populations and increasing challenges such as environmental pollution and the expansion of physical spaces, the need to address the safety of these spaces, particularly for vulnerable groups like women, has become more evident. This study was conducted to analyze and evaluate the safety of women in Kardanesh Park in Behbahan. The research is descriptive-analytical, and data were collected through library studies and the distribution of 100 questionnaires within the park area. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and statistical tests such as the t-test and correlation analysis. The findings revealed that territoriality is the most significant factor in environmental design for improving women's safety in Kardanesh Park, with clear definitions of public and private spaces contributing to an increased sense of security. Additionally, the variable of permeability was found to be at a satisfactory level, and adherence to access hierarchy, separation of pedestrian and vehicular paths, and integration of the street network enhanced spatial connectivity and safety. Natural surveillance and access control also showed a significant relationship with women's social safety, as strengthening these components helped reduce fear and increase women's presence in the park. However, issues such as environmental pollution and a lack of suitable furniture were identified as major barriers to user satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of applying Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to enhance women's safety in urban spaces and propose measures such as improving lighting, installing CCTV cameras, and upgrading physical infrastructure.

Highlights

  • Zoning and defining public, semi-public, and private spaces play a key role in improving women’s safety in Kar-Danesh Park.
  • Strengthening natural surveillance and access control reduces fear and increases women’s social presence.
  • Enhancing permeability and access hierarchy through better street network design improves safety and satisfaction.
  • Poor environmental quality and inadequate street furniture reduce satisfaction and women’s sense of safety.
  • Applying CPTED principles such as better lighting, CCTV, and physical improvements enhances women’s safety in urban spaces.

Keywords

References

  • Abu-Saud, M. (1993). The methodology of the Islamic behavioral sciences. American Journal of Islam and Society, 10(3), 382-395.
  • Azizzadeh, M., Enayati, B. and Farzaneh, M. (2015). The Necessity of Promoting Environmental Security for Sustainable Urban Parks; Utilising the CPTED Approach. Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design, 3(1), 1-14. [In Persian]
  • Baazm, Reyhaneh, Safiri, Khadigeh, Mirzaei, K, & Kalantari, A. (2022). women's perception about the space of Tehran city. journal of iranian social development studies (Jisds), 14(2), 187-201. [In Persian]
  • Carmona, M., & Tiesdell, S. (2007). Urban design reader: Routledge.
  • Evaluation the Impacts of Urban Elements on Formation of Behavioral Patterns by Emphasizing Gendered Urban Spaces (Case study: 2nd Region of Tehran’s Municipality). Journal title 2017; 16 (46) :241-260. [In Persian]
  • farahzad M, Rafieian M, kamyab S, arghan A. Identifying the Factors Influencing the Presence and Participation of Women in Urban Space from View of Right to the City. GeoRes 2018; 33 (1) :95-108. [In Persian]
  • Hajiahmadi Hamedani, A., Majedi, H. and Jahanshahloo, L. (2015). Evaluation criteria affecting the activity of women in urban areas, Case study: 20th Golestan Dist, poonak, Tehran. Motaleate Shahri, 4(14), 47-60. [In Persian]
  • Hillier, B., Penn, A., Hanson, J., Grajewski, T., & Xu, J. (1993). Natural movement: or, configuration and attraction in urban pedestrian movement. Environment and Planning B: planning and design, 20(1), 29-66.
  • Kimic, K., & Polko, P. (2022). The use of urban parks by older adults in the context of perceived security. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(7), 4184.
  • latifi, G., Galandarian, I. sargazi, S. (2017). The Impact of Religious Places on the Feeling of Safety Among Women. Social Development & Welfare Planning, 8(33), 135-167. doi: 10.22054/qjsd.2017.8706. [In Persian]
  • Mahrous, A. M., Moustafa, Y. M., & Abou El-Ela, M. A. (2018). Physical characteristics and perceived security in urban parks: Investigation in the Egyptian context. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 9(4), 3055-3066.
  • Marginson, S. (2007). The public/private divide in higher education: A global revision. Higher education, 53, 307-333.
  • Safaiepour,, Piri, F., Amanpour, S., Shojaieyan, A. (2016). Women's Sense of Security in Urban Parks with an emphasis on environmental (physical) and social indicators (Case Study: City of Ilam), Police Women, 9(23), 5-29. magiran.com/p1586217 . [In Persian]
  • Mohammadi, M. (2019). Redefining the Binary Oppositions of Gendered Urban Space Based on Semeiotics Approach -An Analysis to the Public Space of Traditional Neighborhood. Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism(JIAU), 9(2), 33-51. doi: 10.30475/isau.2019.87932. [In Persian]
  • Moir, E., Hart, T. C., Reynald, D. M., & Stewart, A. (2019). Typologies of suburban guardians: understanding the role of responsibility, opportunities, and routine activities in facilitating surveillance. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 21, 1-21.
  • Nourani, s, Nourani, F, & Pourmohammadi, M. (2013). women-ferienly city case study: center of ardabil city. environmental based territorial planning (amayesh), 5(19), 165-181. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/130663/en. [In Persian]
  • Safari, M., Shamai, A., Movahed, A. and Shahhosseini, P. (2021). The effect of presence in women's space on women's rights to the city with the role of motivating moderator (Case study: Women's parks in Isfahan). The Journal of Community Development (Rural-Urban), 12(2), 415-445. doi: 10.22059/jrd.2021.313733.668599. [In Persian]
  • Shariati Mazinani, S. and Foroghzadeh, S. (2017). urban public spaces and women security: The case study of Mashhad. Strategic Research on Social Problems, 6(4), 71-90. doi: 10.22108/ssoss.2018.100985.1007. [In Persian]

Zakeri-Hamane, R. , Afshani, S. A. and Askari-Nodoushan, A. (2012). Social Capital and the Sense of Social Security in the City of Yazd, Iran. Iranian Journal of Sociology, 13(3), 83-110. [In Persian]

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 27 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 25 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 12 April 2025
  • First Publish Date: 19 June 2025
  • Publish Date: 19 June 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics