Assessing the quality of urban life with vikor modeling, a case study of Izeh city

Document Type : Article extracted from dissertations

Authors

1 Master of Science in Urban Planning, Jundi Shapur University of Technology, Dezful

2 Associate Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful, Iran.

Abstract
Background and Objective: The rapid growth of urbanization, large-scale migration, and the transformation of socio-economic structures in recent decades have turned urban quality of life into one of the critical concerns of urban planning. In this context, the city of Izeh faces multiple challenges across economic, social, cultural-service, and physical-environmental dimensions.
Methodology: This study aims to evaluate and rank the indicators of urban quality of life in Izeh using the multi-criteria decision-making VIKOR model. The research is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in method. The statistical population included 382 residents of Izeh, selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected via a researcher-made questionnaire and documentary sources. After normalization, indices of utility (S), regret (R), and the VIKOR index (Q) were calculated for each dimension.
Result and Findings: Findings revealed that the physical-environmental dimension ranked first (Q=0.04691), reflecting relative satisfaction with infrastructure, green spaces, and housing. The economic dimension ranked second (Q=0.22093), but showed the necessity for improvements in job opportunities and income equality. The social (Q=0.63780) and cultural-service (Q=1.00000) dimensions were ranked third and fourth, respectively, highlighting weaknesses in social participation, public services, and cultural facilities. These results indicate that while residents are relatively satisfied with the physical-environmental aspects, significant challenges persist in economic, social, and cultural-service dimensions. The study concludes that although the physical-environmental dimension demonstrates relative strength, substantial deficiencies exist in other dimensions. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing urban policies and planning strategies aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Izeh and other similar cities.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 April 2026

  • Receive Date 25 February 2026
  • Revise Date 04 April 2026
  • Accept Date 17 April 2026
  • First Publish Date 17 April 2026
  • Publish Date 17 April 2026