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The Role of Urban Structure in Enhancing the Sustainability of Cities: A Comparative Study

Ahmed S. Al-Khafaji, Ihsan A. Jasim, Jakleen Q. Zumaya, Laheab A. Al-Maliki, Sohaib K. Al-Mamoori, Tuqa R. Alrobaee

Abstract


The topic of sustainable urban structure is a crucial area in urban planning, given its direct connection to land use patterns, their distribution and density, as well as their relationship with transportation network patterns. These factors play a vital role in achieving sustainability. The theoretical aspect of the research focused on modern literature and global experiences addressing sustainable urban structures, aiming to provide a clear definition and to identify critical indicators that influence the achievement of urban sustainability. The study identified seven key indicators: density, average distance to the center, hierarchical structure, spread index, land price, the location of the center relative to the city, and the street network pattern. These indicators are applicable and measurable for any city worldwide to assess the sustainability of its urban structure. The research conducted a comparative case study between the cities of Kut and Hillah. The urban structure of Kut is characterized by separation due to the presence of a river, whereas Hillah features a more connected structure, in addition to differences in density distribution, land use, and transportation network patterns. The indicators for both cities were measured using mathematical models, geographic information systems (GIS), and three-dimensional spatial representations. The study concluded that while the indicator results varied between the two cities, Kut achieved better outcomes than Hillah in four of the seven indicators.

 

Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-04-015

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Keywords


Urban Spatial Structure; Al-Kut City; Al-Hillah City; Spread Index; Land Price.

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DOI: 10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-04-015

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Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmed Shamkhi Al-Khafaji

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