Assessing the Appropriateness of “Mixed Scanning Planning” Theoretical Approach for Applying in Urban Development Planning System in Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Urban Planning & Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Velenjak, Tehran

2 PHD Student, Department of Urban Planning & Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Velenjak

Abstract

The low rate of realization and the inefficiency of Urban Development Plans based on traditional comprehensive approaches during previous decades in Iran planning system, and the decision-makers attitude towards an incremental conservative and operational approach have demonstrated the necessity of thinking about changing the attitudes toward making plans, which are intended to remove the shortfalls in these two paradigms in Iran. The harmony of traditional comprehensive approaches with contextual requirements and the structure of political economic system in Iran make the immediate rejection of this approach impossible on one hand. On the other hand, the incremental sufficiency of maintaining the present situation, remedying but not developing, and requiring pluralistic consistent environments make the unilateral acceptance of this approach inappropriate, although it is closer to implementation. The main issue in question is that accepting which approach will be applicable enough now that the necessity of polishing theoretical viewpoints and planning methodology with an emphasis on contextual necessities, environmental constraints, planning issues, and the stronger link between plans and operational areas are clear. Therefore, the presented research tried in a descriptive-analytical way to answer this question of whether organizing the aforementioned theoretical errors as combinational approaches will be useful enough. The main purpose of the study is therefore denominated to test the applicability of the combinational Mixed Scanning Approach in answering particular issues related to the planning system in Iran. The achievement of this purpose is first made possible through recognizing the effective internal and external necessities and abilities in the correct operation of this approach in meta-analysis form as an important criterion for a review of research background and summarizing the available knowledge corpus. Finally and in the second step, the appropriateness of Mixed Scanning approach and fulfilling urban development planning requirements is measured according to the possibilities through comparing the necessities and facilities of Mixed Scanning approach with the requirements and issues of planning system in Iran, and elaborating on the amount of harmony between both paradigms. Measuring the requirements for urban development planning system in Iran in form of recognizing the domestic conditions, distinguishing its environmental requirements and constraints, and conforming it with the effective possibilities and requirements in correct performance of the Mixed Scanning paradigm indicate the relative ability and appropriateness for applying Mixed Scanning approach as an alternative approach in urban development planning system in Iran. The abilities of Mixed Scanning approach such as increasing the realism and the power of facing the uncertain and complex environmental conditions in the developing Iran, needing some requirements that are fewer than those required for rationalism in an environment full of difficulties in achieving or the lack of up to date information, a tendency towards pragmatic and paying attention to performance with an emphasis on the environmental characteristics of the planning system and denying the comprehensive and certain paradigm, and having a simultaneous amount of idealism and conservatism, therefore making the progress and development possible will clarify the relative appropriateness of this method in urban development planning system in Iran.
 

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