دانشگاه اصفهان جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی محیطی 2008-5362 37 1 2026 03 21 The Role of Urban Morphology in Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change (Case Study: District 4 of Urmia) نقش ریخت‌شناسی شهری بر کاهش تأثیرات تغییر اقلیم (نمونه مطالعاتی: منطقه 4 شهر ارومیه) 107 136 30488 10.22108/gep.2026.148608.1779 FA عرفان محمودی دانشجوی دکتری شهرسازی، دانشکده معماری و شهرسازی، دانشگاه علم‌وصنعت ایران، تهران، ایران سمانه جلیلی صدرآباد دانشیار گروه شهرسازی، دانشکده معماری و شهرسازی، دانشگاه علم و صنعت ایران، تهران، ایران نگین حبیب‌پور دانشجوی دکتری شهرسازی، دانشکده معماری و شهرسازی، دانشگاه بین‌المللی امام خمینی، قزوین، ایران Journal Article 2026 04 09 Abstract In recent decades, climate change has evolved from a purely global environmental challenge into a structural and operational crisis at the urban scale. As climate change intensifies, cities—serving as the primary hubs of population concentration and human activity—exhibit the highest vulnerability to natural hazards. Consequently, exacerbation of this phenomenon and the emergence of intra-urban thermal inequalities have underscored the urgent need to rethink the physical structure of cities. This study aimed to analyze the urban morphology of District 4 in Urmia and elucidate its role in mitigating the effects of climate change. The research adopted a descriptive-analytical methodology based on quantitative and spatial analyses. Data were collected by using GIS base maps, Landsat satellite imagery, space syntax analysis conducted with DepthmapX software, and physical-environmental indicators. The MEREC method was employed to weight 13 research indicators. The results indicated that the thermal information index of the area with a weight of 0.142 played the most significant role in distinguishing neighborhoods, reflecting spatial inequality in surface heat distribution. Analyses revealed that the western and central zones characterized by low-rise fabric and medium density exhibited more balanced thermal conditions. In contrast, the concentration of barren lands and impervious surfaces in the eastern sector had led to the formation of urban heat island hotspots. Furthermore, the hierarchical structure of the street network—featuring high connectivity, choice, and integration along main axes, as well as greater depth in residential fabrics—held potential for climate-oriented readjustment. Accordingly, a proposed morphological model was presented in the form of functional zoning (A to D), emphasizing the strengthening of continuous green infrastructure, density regulation, and climate-oriented rearrangement of barren lands. By integrating topological analysis, physical indicators, and thermal data at the neighborhood scale, this study provided a localized framework for enhancing climate resilience. Keywords: Urban Morphology, Climate Change, Space Syntax, MEREC Method, Urmia City. Introduction In the contemporary world, sustainable urban development extends beyond economic and social dimensions to encompass the preservation of ecological balance and adaptation to climate change. Through its profound impacts on food security and human settlements, climate change has posed serious challenges to cities—entities that are simultaneously the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions and the most vulnerable points to hazards, such as heatwaves and floods. In this context, urban morphology, which examines the physical form, the fabric of urban blocks, and the arrangement of open spaces, plays a decisive role in either exacerbating or mitigating phenomena, such as the urban heat island effect and energy consumption. Urmia, the capital of West Azerbaijan Province, is significantly affected by drying of Lake Urmia—a trend that has led to salt storms, reduced humidity, and intensified drought, all of which threaten the quality of life of its citizens. District 4 of this city characterized by its historical fabric and relatively high density serves as a prime example of the challenges associated with unbalanced urban development. Given that previous studies have largely been descriptive and have insufficiently addressed the analytical link between urban morphology and mitigation of climate impacts, this research was conducted with the aim of assessing the current status and proposing a morphological model to reduce the effects of climate change in District 4 of Urmia. The novelty of this study lay in the integration of topological analysis of the road network, physical-environmental indicators, and thermal data at the neighborhood scale, as well as the presentation of a localized framework for addressing these challenges. Materials & Methods This research adopted a descriptive-analytical method with an applied orientation and a quantitative nature based on the analysis of spatial data and spatial configuration in District 4 of Urmia. The study area covered approximately 1,221 hectares, accounting for about 10.9% of the total city area. According to the 2019 Detailed Plan, the district had a population of over 137,140 residents. Data collection was carried out through a combination of library research, field surveys, GIS base maps, and satellite imagery. Spatial data analysis was performed using ArcGIS software, while spatial configuration analysis was conducted by using DepthmapX software. The novel MEREC method was employed to weight the criteria. The process of screening and final selection of indicators was carried out in 3 main stages, ultimately resulting in the selection of 13 indicators across 4 categories: (1) physical-environmental and social characteristics, (2) green and natural elements, (3) accessibility, and (4) topological characteristics and road network configuration. The MEREC method derived final weights by constructing a decision matrix, applying linear normalization, and calculating the performance deviations of alternatives after removing each criterion. This method provided objective weights without relying on subjective judgments. Finally, by integrating the weighting results with spatial analyses, the morphological status of the district was evaluated and a proposed model for mitigating climate impacts was presented. Research Findings The research findings indicated that the morphology of District 4 in Urmia functioned as a climatic regulatory system, playing an active role in either generating or mitigating thermal stresses. The most prominent finding was the high weight of the thermal information index of the area (0.142) within the MEREC model, indicating that thermal differences among neighborhoods had contributed most significantly to distinguishing their climatic status. This demonstrated that the impacts of climate change were not distributed uniformly but were instead reproduced within the framework of spatial patterns shaped by urban form. The integrated analysis of physical-environmental indicators revealed a type of morphological duality within the district. The western and central zones characterized by the predominance of low-rise fabric and medium building density exhibited more balanced temperature levels. In contrast, the eastern neighborhoods had become hotspots for intensifying the heat island effect due to the concentration of barren lands and higher surface imperviousness. From a topological perspective, the road network structure of the district was defined by the concentration of connectivity, integration, and choice along the main axes, as well as greater depth within residential fabrics. Although the concentration of barren lands in the eastern sectors acted as a warming intensifier, it also provided important strategic capacity for climate-oriented reorganization. Based on strategic analysis, the optimal morphological model was formulated around 4 principles: (1) regulating and controlling density and building height, (2) strengthening continuous green infrastructure, (3) climate-oriented rearrangement of barren lands, and (4) managing road network topology. Accordingly, the district was divided into 4 functional zones: A (stabilization of the status quo), B (qualitative improvement), C (network enhancement), and D (land use conversion). Discussion of Results & Conclusion The results indicated that the spatial structure of the district functioned as a climatic regulatory system. Specifically, the thermal information of the area played the most significant role in distinguishing between neighborhoods and revealed spatial inequality in the distribution of heat. Analyses demonstrated that the low-rise fabric and medium density in the western and central sections had created more balanced thermal conditions. In contrast, barren lands and the lack of vegetation cover in the eastern zone had transformed it into a heat island hotspot. Furthermore, while the hierarchical structure of the road network was suitable for the cold climate, it required climate-oriented readjustment. The findings underscored that climate resilience lay in the targeted rearrangement of the existing urban structure. Accordingly, a proposed morphological model based on 4 functional zones (A to D) was presented, which included stabilizing the western fabric, strengthening the main axes, facilitating ventilation in deep textures, and reorganizing the eastern barren lands. This model, by emphasizing continuous green infrastructure and natural ventilation corridors, facilitated the transition toward a climate-responsive morphology. For future studies, the use of microclimate simulation models is recommended to further validate and refine these findings. چکیده در دهه‌های اخیر، پدیده تغییر اقلیم از یک چالش زیست‌محیطی صرفاً جهانی به یک بحران ساختاری و عملیاتی در مقیاس شهری تبدیل شده است. همچنین، با افزایش شهرنشینی، رشد جمعیت و تغییرات کاربری اراضی، شهرها در تعامل با نوسانات اقلیمی و روندهای گرمایشی، بیش از پیش در معرض تنش‌ها و مخاطرات محیطی قرار گرفته‌اند؛ بنابراین، تشدید تغییر اقلیم و بروز نابرابری‌های حرارتی درون‌شهری، ضرورت بازاندیشی در ساختار کالبدی شهرها را دوچندان کرده است. پژوهش حاضر با هدف تحلیل ریخت‌شناسی شهری منطقه ۴ شهر ارومیه و تبیین نقش آن در تقلیل اثرات تغییر اقلیم انجام شده است. روش تحقیق توصیفی‌تحلیلی و مبتنی بر تحلیل‌های کمی و مکانی است. داده‌ها از طریق نقشه‌های پایه GIS، تصاویر ماهواره‌ای لندست، تحلیل چیدمان فضا در نرم‌افزار DepthmapX و شاخص‌های کالبدی - زیست‌محیطی گردآوری شد. برای وزن‌دهی ۱۳ شاخص پژوهش از روش مبتنی بر حذف اثرات معیارها (MEREC) استفاده شد. نتایج نشان داد شاخص اطلاعات گرمایی محدوده با وزن 142/0 بیشترین نقش را در تمایز محلات داشته و بیانگر نابرابری فضایی در توزیع گرمایش سطحی است. تحلیل‌ها حاکی از آن است که پهنه‌های غربی و مرکزی با بافت کم‌ارتفاع و تراکم متوسط، شرایط گرمایی متعادل‌تری دارند. در مقابل، تمرکز اراضی بایر و سطوح نفوذناپذیر در بخش شرقی به شکل‌گیری کانون‌های جزیره گرمایی انجامیده است. همچنین، ساختار سلسله‌مراتبی شبکه معابر، با اتصال، انتخاب و هم‌پیوندی بالا در محورهای اصلی و عمق بیشتر در بافت‌های مسکونی، ظرفیت بازتنظیم اقلیم‌محور را داراست. بر این اساس، الگوی ریخت‌شناسانه پیشنهادی در قالب پهنه‌بندی عملکردی (A تا D) ارائه شد که بر تقویت زیرساخت سبز پیوسته، تنظیم تراکم و بازآرایی اقلیم‌محور اراضی بایر تأکید دارد. پژوهش حاضر با تلفیق تحلیل توپولوژیک، شاخص‌های کالبدی و داده‌های دمایی در مقیاس محله‌ای، چارچوبی بومی برای ارتقای تاب‌آوری اقلیمی ارائه می‌کند.

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