An assessment of Urban Quality of Life by Using Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach (Case study: Comparative Study of Quality of Life in the North of Iran)

Sedigheh Lotfi,Karim Solaimani

doi:10.3844/jssp.2009.123.133

Abstract

Problem Statement: Researches of quality of life are concentrated mainly on the urban nature in the recent years and the urban quality of life gained many attentions in empirical studies. The concept of urban quality of life is a multi-dimensional and complex issue. So, needless to say that this concept can be used in planning when there is an appropriate and reliable framework for measuring. Approach: The present study tried to create a framework on the base of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for objective measuring of urban quality of life and then it would be applied for a comparative study of two northern cities of Iran. Results: The results showed that using analytic hierarchy process model creates opportunity to involving the different groups’ views of urban users with respect to their duties and functions in the stage of criteria weighting. Conclusion: This process not only provided an appropriate bed for objective measuring of urban quality of life but it facilitated the participation of urban authorities in the process of measuring and analyzing the urban quality. Also one of the advantages of the model was its high level of clarity and simplicity which could be perceived by all urban decision makers.

Highlights

Researchers from a variety of disciplines have studied Quality Of Life (QOL) since the 1930s[53]
Michalos and Zumbo[33] predicted life satisfaction from 14 life domains for seven different time periods between 1979 and 1997. Of those domains relating to urban QOL, housing was significant in six time Objective and subjective indicators of urban quality of life 81 periods, recreational activity in five, transportation in four, government services in three and residential area in two
Since the concept of quality of life is multidimensions and involves with many indicators, the multi criteria analyze models are able to provide an appropriate fretwork for measuring and investigation

Summary

Introduction

Researchers from a variety of disciplines have studied Quality Of Life (QOL) since the 1930s[53]. The purpose of this study is to model the priorities, expectations and needs of the inhabitants of Istanbul, a city with a population of about 10 million, from a multidimensional perspective In this way, effective allocation of the city's resources can be achieved to improve the Quality Of Life (QOL) for such a large number of people, which is the primary concern of the local authorities as well as the urban planners. Effective allocation of the city's resources can be achieved to improve the Quality Of Life (QOL) for such a large number of people, which is the primary concern of the local authorities as well as the urban planners For this reason, a survey is conducted in Istanbul so that the priorities of the inhabitants are revealed and the city where they would like to live is portrayed. The relative importance of the constructs is estimated through the eigenvector approach

Objectives

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion