Assessment and analysis of the status of urban sustainability in neighborhoods of Nasiriyah city, Iraq: Focus on spatial inequalities

Articles in Press

Document Type : scientific-research article

Authors

Safaa Nayef Sultan Hamami ¹

ALI sadeghi ²

amirreza khavarian Garmsir ³

¹ PhD student at the Faculty of Geography and Planning, University of Isfahan

² Faculty of Geographical Sciences And Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

³ Faculty member, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jgrd.2025.94668.1584

Abstract

Naseriyah (Iraq) city faces challenges in the distribution of public services, environmental pressure, and spatial inequality due to rural-urban migration and uneven physical growth. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and analyze urban sustainability in 62 neighborhoods of Naseriyah city. The main focus is on spatial inequality and aims to provide effective solutions for sustainable urban development. This descriptive-analytical and applied research was conducted with a random sample of 465 households. Field data were collected through a 5-option Likert questionnaire. The analysis included descriptive statistics, one-sample t-test (threshold = 3), independent t-test (comparing developed and undeveloped neighborhoods), GIS spatial analysis, and MEREC multi-criteria decision-making method for weighting and MARCOS for ranking neighborhoods in terms of sustainability level.According to the results, the social sustainability dimension is in the average position with a mean of 3.02, while the economic (2.93), environmental (2.95) and cultural (2.98) dimensions are below the median threshold (p < 0.05). The results of the two-sample t-test (p < 0.01) showed that there are statistically significant differences in all dimensions in developed compared to undeveloped neighborhoods: environmental (3.04 vs. 2.44), social (3.23 vs. 2.69), economic (3.09 vs. 2.46) and cultural (3.12 vs. 2.59). The results of the spatial analysis indicate that neighborhoods such as "Local Administration", "Al-Hussein" and "Sarai" are at the highest levels of sustainability, while "Mohiyyah", "Al-Karamah" and "Al-Zawiya" are classified among the least developed neighborhoods. Accordingly, the city of Naseriyah faces serious spatial inequality in urban sustainability.Therefore, it is recommended that managers in the city of Naseriyah implement projects to develop public transportation infrastructure and access, create equitable economic opportunities, and strengthen local environmental and cultural services.

Keywords

Sustainable urban development

sustainability of urban neighborhoods

economic sustainability

urban development

Naseriyah city

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