دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی جغرافیا و توسعه فضایی 3060-7523 3 2 2026 08 01 Design and Validating a Conceptual Model for Smart Urban Growth in Ardabil City with Emphasis on Integrating Peripheral Villages: A Qualitative Approach طراحی و اعتباریابی الگوی مفهومی رشد هوشمند شهری در شهر اردبیل با تأکید بر ادغام روستاهای پیرامونی با رویکرد کیفی 1 18 4697 10.22098/gsd.2026.19847.1131 FA حامد کیخسروی گروه شهرسازی، واحد تبریز، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تبریز، ایران داریوش ستارزاده گروه شهرسازی، واحد تبریز، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تبریز، ایران Journal Article 2026 03 12 A B S T R A C T The main objective is to design and validate a conceptual model of smart urban growth in Ardabil city with an emphasis on integrating peripheral villages according to a qualitative approach and its validation. The research method is qualitative, data-based. The study population consists of selected experts, including university professors and urban managers who have gained valuable experience in urban management for many years. A total of 28 participants were selected for the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and the resulting data were analyzed using MaxQDA software to construct the research model. The interview texts were first analyzed through open coding. Initial codes were then grouped to form concepts, and these concepts were subsequently linked to generate categories, ultimately resulting in the final model. This model was designed with the focus on environmental qualities by specifying causal conditions, strategies, background conditions, intervening conditions, and consequences. The validity of the model was also confirmed using the Corbin and Strauss acceptability index. The research results indicate that the development of vertical green space based on promoting the biological sustainability of Tabriz city consists of 7 selected chapters consisting of transportation and communications, housing quality, density and intensive development, local economy, environmental qualities, physical texture, local community, and their central codes, which are effective in forming the research model. Extended Abstract Introduction In Iran, cities have witnessed rapid physical growth and uncontrolled physical expansion in recent years. This urban expansion has mainly taken place through the merger and annexation of surrounding villages, which has brought about numerous spatial, economic, social, and environmental consequences. Smart urban growth has been proposed as a new paradigm in urban planning in response to the challenges posed by the horizontal expansion of cities and urban sprawl. In the case of Ardabil city, studies demonstrate that in the last two decades, more than 15 peripheral villages have been incorporated into the urban area, which has been done without integrated planning and attention to the principles of smart growth. However, the successful integration of peripheral villages into the urban structure requires a deep understanding of the cultural, social, and institutional dimensions of this process, which can only be achieved through qualitative approaches. Therefore, the study seeks to answer this core question: how a conceptual model for the development of smart urban growth in Ardabil city with an emphasis on the integration of peripheral villages should be designed and how its validity should be assessed? Methodology This research is applied in nature. It adopted a qualitative approach to investigate the subject and employed a conceptualization method. Therefore, to identify the concepts, first the relevant scientific documents were studied and then the opinions of urban experts were used in the qualitative section. Finally, based on the results, a tool was developed for the quantitative stage. The statistical population in the qualitative stage included experts and managers who have had more than 10 years of management experience. Sampling was purposeful in this stage of the research. Accordingly, snowball sampling was employed as the sampling technique at this stage of the research. In this research, qualitative data collection was carried out through interviews with a general guidance approach and in a semi-structured manner. Since in this research we are looking to design a model or theory derived from data, the method of data-based theorizing (grounded theory) is a systematic approach (Strauss and Corbin). Results and Discussion In the research modeling, the central category (environmental qualities) is a function of causal conditions (housing quality components and local community conditions), contextual conditions (transportation and communications and the need for density and intensive development), and intervening conditions (local economic conditions). These factors provide the conditions for implementing actions and interactions (smart public transportation system, affordable housing, vertical development, support for small businesses, reconstruction of old textures, educational and health services, and community participation) that lead to consequences (planned integration of surrounding villages into the city of Ardabil based on smart urban growth criteria and living dimensions improvement in the suburbs). Conclusion This research aims to design and validate a conceptual model for developing a smart urban growth model in Ardabil city with an emphasis on integrating peripheral villages according to a qualitative data-based approach. Applying a data-based approach to 52 concepts derived from both the literature and expert interviews, the analysis identified 21 factors during selective coding. These were subsequently organized into seven main categories through axial coding, which served as key indicators for the development of a smart urban growth model in Ardabil city focused on peripheral village integration. Informed by the research literature, these seven factors were designated as follows and incorporated into the final model: transportation and communications, housing quality, density and intensive development, local economy, environmental quality improvement, physical texture improvement, and local community. In general, in accordance with the pattern obtained in the research, the following suggestions should be made for the development of a smart urban growth mechanism in the city of Ardabil with an emphasis on the integration of peripheral villages: The urban administration of Ardabil should, in order to develop a smart urban growth mechanism in the city of Ardabil with an emphasis on the integration of peripheral villages, conduct comprehensive studies and knowledge in this field, and through infrastructure investments and public consultation, provide basic planning to improve environmental quality and living conditions for residents of the urban suburbs, and also supervise the integration of peripheral villages and control the horizontal expansion of the city in accordance with the criteria of smart urban growth. Awareness of the status of the urban and rural peripheral society in the context of developing a smart urban growth mechanism in the city of Ardabil with an emphasis on the integration of peripheral villages is very important both in terms of citizen participation and in terms of the sustainability of the community and the local economy. In this regard, the establishment of consultative workshops at the city neighborhood levels is of fundamental importance. The urban administration should, in cooperation with other supporting organizations, help create home businesses in the suburbs of the city among households and local communities, to improve and sustain its local economy. Funding There is no funding support. Authors’ Contribution All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper. هدف اصلی این پژوهش، طراحی و اعتباریابی یک الگوی مفهومی برای رشد هوشمند شهری در شهر اردبیل، با تمرکز بر ادغام روستاهای پیرامونی و رویکرد کیفی، می‌باشد. روش تحقیق، کیفی و از نوع «داده بنیاد» است. جامعه آماری شامل کارشناسان منتخب، ازجمله اساتید دانشگاه و مدیران شهری با تجربه‌های ارزشمند در زمینه مدیریت شهری، بوده است که از میان آن‌ها ۲۷ نفر به‌عنوان نمونه برای تحلیل انتخاب شدند. برای استخراج مدل پژوهش، از مصاحبه‌های نیمه ساختاریافته بهره گرفته شد و داده‌ها با استفاده از نرم‌افزار MAXQDA تجزیه‌وتحلیل گردید. تحلیل داده‌ها با کدگذاری باز آغاز شد و سپس با کنار هم قرار دادن کدهای اولیه، مفاهیم شکل گرفتند و در نهایت مقوله‌ها با ربط دادن مفاهیم به یکدیگر ترسیم شد تا مدل نهایی حاصل شود. مدل طراحی‌شده، محوریت خود را بر کیفیات محیطی قرار داده و عناصر آن شامل شرایط علّی، راهبردها، شرایط زمینه‌ای، شرایط مداخله‌گر و پیامدها می‌باشد. اعتبار مدل نیز با استفاده از شاخص مقبولیت کوربین و اشتراوس تأیید گردید. نتایج تحقیق نشان می‌دهد که توسعه فضای سبز عمودی با هدف ارتقای پایداری زیستی شهر، از هفت فصل کلیدی شامل: حمل‌ونقل و ارتباطات، کیفیت مسکن، تراکم و توسعه فشرده، اقتصاد محلی، کیفیات محیطی، بافت کالبدی و اجتماع محلی به همراه کدهای محوری آن‌ها تشکیل‌شده است که در شکل‌گیری مدل پژوهش نقش مؤثری دارند

https://gsd.uma.ac.ir/article_4697_2e5204efa24d1e6dbea25f03dfb76a62.pdf

دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی جغرافیا و توسعه فضایی 3060-7523 3 2 2026 08 01 Physical Quality Assessment and Strategic Prioritization of Urban Furniture with an Emphasis on Spatial Analysis Approach: A case study of District 2, Ardabil ارزیابی کیفیت کالبدی و اولویت‌بندی راهبردی مبلمان شهری با تأکید بر رویکرد تحلیل فضایی مطالعه موردی: منطقه ۲ اردبیل 19 36 4796 10.22098/gsd.2026.20156.1141 FA فریدون بابائی اقدم گروه برنامه‌ریزی شهری و منطقه‌ای دانشکده برنامه‌ریزی و علوم محیطی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران ایرج تیموری گروه برنامه‌ریزی شهری و منطقه‌ای دانشکده برنامه‌ریزی و علوم محیطی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران علی اسکوئی ارس گروه برنامه‌ریزی شهری و منطقه‌ای دانشکده برنامه‌ریزی و علوم محیطی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران پریناز بادامچی زاده گروه برنامه‌ریزی شهری و منطقه‌ای دانشکده برنامه‌ریزی و علوم محیطی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران Journal Article 2026 03 12 A B S T R A C T Urban furniture shapes public space and quality of life. Ardabil's District 2, despite good roads and tourism potential, suffers from decay, visual discord, and no integrated furniture pattern.This study aims to assess the current situation and propose an optimal urban furniture model with an emphasis on the physical dimension. This applied research adopted a descriptive-analytical methodology. Data were collected from field surveys conducted across 44 streets and 22 parks using a checklist of 12 physical indicators, as well as an AHP questionnaire administered to 15 experts. Data analysis was performed by integrating the SWOT matrix, AHP, and the Furniture Quality Index (MQI). Global Moran's I tested spatial autocorrelation of furniture quality across land-use and street layers. Findings indicate that the ‘extensive road network’ (weight: 0/375) represents the most significant strength, while ‘inadequate paving’ (weight: 0/296) constitutes the most critical internal weakness. Among threats, ‘lack of integrated management’ (coefficient: 0/400) has the greatest negative impact. According to the MQI, only 2/2% of streets and 4/5% of parks are in ‘excellent’ condition, whereas 52/3% of streets and 50% of parks are rated as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor.’ The Moran analysis revealed that the land-use pattern of the district exhibits significant positive spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I = 0/384, z-score: 1613/39, p-value < 0/01), with High-High clusters concentrated mainly in the central and northern parts. Street quality overlay shows 'excellent/good' streets near HH clusters; 'poor/very poor' streets in LL clusters or low-high outliers. With no significant internal–external difference, the precautionary principle favors a conservative strategy. Extended Abstract Introduction Urban furniture – including benches, lighting, waste bins, signage, paving, railings, public transport stations, green spaces, sports equipment, shading, and identity/artistic elements – directly influences physical comfort, psychological well-being, social interactions, and life quality. Well-designed urban furniture contributes to place identity, tourism attractiveness, and sustainable urban development. Numerous Iranian cities suffer deteriorated, visually incoherent, and climatically inappropriate furniture. District 2 of Ardabil – a historic northwestern city with >130 freezing days annually, home to Sheikh Safi al-Din World Heritage Site, with extensive road networks, parks (Shurabil, Safaviyeh, Nastaran, Saba, Qods, Banovan), and cool summer climate – exhibits dilapidation, disharmony, poor accessibility, frost-degraded materials. Preceding national studies focused on distributional inequality (Ghaffari Gilandeh et al., 2015), aesthetics (Asli Fallah & Dehghan Talebi, 2016), or vandalism (Ghanbari et al., 2016); few addressed cold climates; none combine quantitative assessment, expert weighting, and spatial autocorrelation. International studies (Grabiec et al., 2022; Nadour & Dahou, 2022) examined materials/sustainability but did not account for the contextual specificities of Ardabil. This research evaluates physical quality via MQI, identifies/weights factors via SWOT-AHP, examines spatial patterns via Moran's I, and proposes an optimal context-sensitive model. Methodology This applied research adopted a descriptive-analytical methodology. Study area: District 2 of Ardabil (~7°C, >130 freezing days). Data collection: field surveys across 44 streets and 22 parks using structured checklist evaluating 12 indicators (paving, lighting, benches, waste bins, drinking fountains, signage, railings, public transport stations, green space, sports furniture, shading, identity elements) scored 0-3 Likert; AHP questionnaires from 15 experts (municipal specialists, university faculty, consultants) with pairwise SWOT comparisons (CR<0.1 all matrices). Analysis: MQI = Σ(indicator score × AHP weight), classified into excellent (0.80-1.00), good (0.60-0.79), moderate (0.40-0.59), poor (0.20-0.39), very poor (0.00-0.19); SWOT-AHP total weighted scores, strategic positioning (x: strengths-weaknesses; y: opportunities-threats); Global Moran's I (inverse distance) and Anselin Local Moran's I (cluster/outlier) with street quality overlay. Results and Discussion A) Weighted SWOT: Strengths: road network/accessibility (0.375), cool summer climate (0.270); Weaknesses: inappropriate paving (0.296), deterioration (0.197), insufficient lighting (0.182); Opportunities: municipal improvement schemes (0.421), climate-resilient technologies (0.263); Threats: lack of integrated management (0.400), limited finance (0.261). Total scores: strengths=3.425, weaknesses=3.385, opportunities=2.979, threats=2.950; differences 0.04 and 0.029. Strategic position: central SWOT; conservative (WT) strategy preferred, hybrid possible. B) MQI: Streets (44): Excellent 1 (2.2%, 0.85), Good 7 (15.9%), Moderate 13 (29.5%), Poor 16 (36.4%), Very Poor 7 (15.9%, <0.20). Worst: Arsalī (0.16), Bāqerpūr (0.17), Payām (0.18), 27 metri Rāzī (0.19). Parks (22): Excellent 1 (4.5%, 0.85), Good 2 (9.1%), Moderate 8 (36.4%), Poor 4 (18.2%), Very Poor 7 (31.8%). Qods=0.00, Bānovān=0.08, Nastaran=0.19. Gaps: paving (1.2/4), freeze-thaw resistance, lighting (1.8/4), maintenance/management, ergonomic/cultural design. C) Spatial: Global Moran's I=0.384 (z=1613.39, p<0.01) > expected (-0.000027) → positive autocorrelation, clustering. HH clusters central/north (dense residential/commercial); LL clusters southwest (low-density); HL/LH outliers. Overlay: excellent/good streets adjacent HH; poor/very poor within LL or LH outliers → strong spatial correlation, inequitable distribution. Despite favorable strengths, >52% streets and 50% parks are poor/very poor. High weights for paving (0.296) and management (0.400) indicate systemic managerial failures, not merely cosmetic. No unified maintenance, inspection, or citizen feedback; Ardabil lacks integrated management and institutionalized participation (vs. Barcelona Superilles, Paris participatory budgeting). This research is the first in Iran to methodologically integrate the MQI, SWOT-AHP, and Moran's I spatial analysis. Near-equilibrium (0.04, 0.029) demands cautious strategy: conservative (WT) with low-cost, high-impact interventions (durable paving, basic lighting) on worst streets (Arsalī, Bāqerpūr) and LL clusters, plus integrated management system. Spatial injustice: southwest fringe (LL) requires priority resource reallocation. Conclusion Main findings: (1) Conditions largely unsatisfactory – only 2.2% streets and 4.5% parks excellent; 57% streets and 50% parks poor/very poor; paving, lighting, climatic incompatibility worst deficits. (2) Strategic position: central/near-equilibrium SWOT; conservative (WT) preferred over aggressive (SO). (3) Root problem: managerial – T5 (0.400) and W4 (0.296) indicate piecemeal interventions futile without institutional reform. (4) Spatial: Moran's I=0.384 confirms clustering and clear quality-land use association (good near HH central/north, poor in LL southwest), demanding equity-oriented interventions. Optimal Three-Axis Model: - Physical-Infrastructural: Immediate paving/lighting rehabilitation with frost-resistant materials (wood, wood-plastic composites, frost-resistant concrete, insulated seating), prioritize Arsalī/Bāqerpūr and LL clusters; leverage O1/O3 opportunities, start low-cost pilots. - Managerial-Institutional: Integrated management system: digital inventory, scheduled maintenance, citizen reporting platform, clear accountability – counters T5; phased implementation due T2 constraints. - Design-Aesthetic: ‘Local urban furniture design guide’ with Safavid/Sabalan cultural symbols, climate-appropriate colors/forms, universal accessibility; engage citizens (S3) and leverage O5 via participatory workshops. Future Research: Pilot on Arsalī or Bāqerpūr with 6-month MQI reassessment; longitudinal studies on vandalism, pedestrian activity, tourism satisfaction; comparative studies with other cold-climate Iranian cities (Tabriz, Hamedan); geographically weighted regression (GWR) for spatially varying relationships. Funding This article is derived from a research project entitled "Comprehensive Plan for Organizing Urban Furniture in Ardabil with Design Patterns (Case Study: District 2)" under contract number 16/792342, dated 2025/05/06, which was conducted with the financial and spiritual support of Ardabil Municipality. Authors’ Contribution Fereydoun Babaie Aghdam: Conceptualization, methodology design, theoretical framework development, final writing and editing; Iraj Teimouri: Quantitative analyses (MQI, AHP, SWOT), spatial analyses (Moran's I and Getis-Ord Gi), and preparation of tables and maps; Ali Oskouee Aras: Field data collection, questionnaire administration, fieldwork (checklist and photography); Parinaz Badamchizadeh: Literature review, source extraction, initial drafting of the introduction and theoretical foundations, and language editing. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Ardabil Municipality for their invaluable support. مبلمان شهری به‌عنوان مؤلفه‌ای کلیدی در فضاهای عمومی، نقشی تعیین‌کننده در کیفیت زندگی شهروندان ایفا می‌کند. منطقه ۲ اردبیل با وجود شبکه معابر گسترده و پتانسیل گردشگری، با بحران فرسودگی، ناهماهنگی و فقدان الگوی یکپارچه مبلمان شهری مواجه است. هدف پژوهش، ارزیابی وضعیت موجود و ارائه الگوی بهینه مبلمان شهری با تأکید بر بعد کالبدی است. پژوهش حاضر کاربردی و توصیفی-تحلیلی است. داده‌ها از مطالعات میدانی در ۴۴ خیابان و ۲۲ پارک با چک‌لیست ۱۲ شاخص کالبدی و پرسشنامه AHP میان ۱۵ کارشناس گردآوری شد. تحلیل داده‌ها با تلفیق SWOT، AHP و شاخص MQI انجام گرفت. برای بررسی الگوی فضایی کیفیت مبلمان، تحلیل خودهمبستگی فضایی (شاخص موران جهانی) روی لایه کاربری اراضی و کیفیت خیابان‌ها انجام شد. یافته‌ها نشان می‌دهد «شبکه معابر گسترده» (وزن 345/0) قوی‌ترین نقطه قوت و «کف‌سازی نامناسب» (وزن 296/0) بحرانی‌ترین ضعف داخلی است. در میان تهدیدها، «فقدان مدیریت یکپارچه» (ضریب 400/0) بیشترین اثر منفی را دارد. بر اساس MQI، تنها 2/2 درصد خیابان‌ها و 5/4 درصد پارک‌ها عالی، اما 3/52 درصد خیابان‌ها و ۵۰ درصد پارک‌ها در وضعیت ضعیف و بسیار ضعیف قرار دارند. نتایج موران نشان داد الگوی کاربری اراضی دارای خودهمبستگی فضایی مثبت و معنادار است (۳۸۴/۰ = Moran's I) و خوشه‌های High-High عمدتاً در بخش‌های مرکزی و شمالی متمرکزند. تطبیق کیفیت خیابان‌ها با نقشه خوشه‌ها نشان می‌دهد خیابان‌های «عالی» و «خوب» در مجاورت خوشه‌های HH و خیابان‌های «ضعیف» درون خوشه‌های LL قرار دارند. با توجه به عدم معناداری اختلاف عوامل داخلی و خارجی، با لحاظ اصل احتیاط، استراتژی محافظه‌کارانه منطقی‌تر است.

https://gsd.uma.ac.ir/article_4796_80cf7411647fedfdb9322ab7d91cbe7d.pdf

دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی جغرافیا و توسعه فضایی 3060-7523 3 2 2026 08 02 Investigating the Smart Pattern of Urban Energy Consumption Reduction with a Sustainable Development Approach: A case study of Najafabad City بررسی الگوی هوشمند کاهش مصرف انرژی شهرها با رویکرد توسعه پایدار مطالعه موردی: شهر نجف‌آباد 37 52 4800 10.22098/gsd.2026.20367.1146 FA فرامرز عیدی وندی گروه جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی شهری، واحد مرند، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، مرند، ایران ابراهیم تقوی گروه جغرافیا و برنامه ریزی شهری، واحد مرند، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، مرند، ایران Journal Article 2026 03 13 A B S T R A C T In recent decades, unbridled urbanization and escalating energy demand have posed critical environmental and economic challenges globally. Cities, as primary energy consumption hubs, account for over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. The concept of sustainable development, emphasizing a balance between present needs and resource preservation for future generations, necessitates a transition from traditional consumption patterns toward the smart city paradigm. Najafabad, a significant developing city in Isfahan Province, faces serious energy resource management challenges due to its specific climatic conditions, industrial status, and population growth. This study aims to investigate the smart pattern of urban energy consumption reduction in Najafabad with a sustainable development approach. Employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize energy optimization indicators and the SWOT analysis to evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, the findings revealed that the "Infrastructural and Physical" criterion (weight: 0.632) and the "Environmental and Sustainability" criterion (weight: 0.502) were identified as the most significant factors. The SWOT analysis yielded a total internal factors score of -0.199 and a total external factors score of +0.181. Consequently, energy consumption optimization in Najafabad is feasible only through an integrated smart city and sustainable development approach, adopting a defensive (W-O) strategy that emphasizes overcoming weaknesses by leveraging opportunities, including the modernization of deteriorated infrastructure, synchronization with renewable energy technologies, and enhancement of public awareness to reform consumption patterns. Extended Abstract Introduction In recent decades, unbridled urbanization and escalating energy demand have emerged as one of the most critical environmental and economic challenges worldwide. Cities, as primary hubs of energy consumption, account for over 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Within this context, the concept of "sustainable development" serves as a fundamental strategy, emphasizing a balance between present needs and the preservation of resources for future generations—a balance that necessitates a transition from traditional consumption patterns toward the "smart city" paradigm. Najafabad, as one of the significant and developing cities of Isfahan Province, faces serious challenges in energy resource management due to its specific climatic conditions, industrial status, and population growth. Preliminary investigations indicate that the absence of smart patterns in urban infrastructure, heating and cooling systems, and distribution network management has resulted in considerable energy waste within the city. Despite existing potentials, no coherent, scientific, and technology-driven model has yet been formulated for optimal energy management in Najafabad. Accordingly, the central research question of the present paper is: How can an indigenous and practical pattern for energy consumption reduction in Najafabad be designed through the integration of smart technologies and sustainable development indicators? The absence of such a model at the urban management level perpetuates inefficient practices and renders the city more vulnerable to energy price fluctuations and environmental crises. Consequently, this study seeks to provide a pattern that, through precise recognition of the current situation and analysis of strengths and weaknesses, not only reduces energy costs but also enhances citizens' quality of life and safeguards sustainable resources for future generations in Najafabad. Methodology This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature, conducted through a multi-criteria decision-making approach and strategic planning. The research process comprised four main stages: (1) identification of indicators affecting urban energy consumption reduction; (2) prioritization of indicators using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP); (3) analysis of the internal and external environment utilizing the SWOT model; and (4) formulation of smart city development strategies. Data were collected from two sources: library-based and field-based. In the library-based section, scientific articles, urban development documents, Najafabad Municipality reports, and studies related to smart cities, sustainable development, and energy management were reviewed. In the field-based section, required information was gathered through AHP pairwise comparison questionnaires and SWOT internal and external factor evaluation questionnaires. The statistical population of the study comprised experts in the fields of urban planning, urban management, energy, architecture, and faculty members from relevant universities. The research sample was selected through purposive sampling, as only individuals possessing specialized knowledge and executive experience in the domains of smart cities and energy management were eligible to participate in the decision-making process. The number of participating experts was 20. Results and Discussion The findings of this research demonstrated that infrastructural and physical criteria carried the greatest weight in designing the smart pattern for energy consumption reduction in Najafabad. This outcome indicates that the realization of a smart city is not feasible solely through the deployment of information and communication technologies; rather, it necessitates the modernization of urban infrastructure, enhancement of building energy efficiency, development of smart electricity grids, and establishment of an integrated urban data management system. In effect, technology can lead to energy consumption reduction only when applied within a context of adequate infrastructure, efficient governance, and coherent spatial planning. Field investigations and available documentation reveal that extensive areas of Najafabad's urban fabric, particularly in central and historic neighborhoods such as Abbasabad and Mahmudabad, comprise deteriorated structures with inadequate thermal insulation (windows, walls, and roofs), resulting in substantial energy waste during both cold and hot seasons. Furthermore, electricity and water distribution networks in certain parts of the city are dilapidated, and energy loss during transmission is clearly observable. These realities substantiate the high priority assigned to the infrastructural and physical criterion in designing the energy consumption reduction pattern. Conclusion The integration of analytical findings with the objective realities of Najafabad indicates that the W-O strategic pattern, based on overcoming structural weaknesses through the utilization of existing opportunities—particularly solar energy potential, a young population, and the city's developing structure—can be proposed as the most effective strategy for reducing energy consumption in this city. Its implementation necessitates the simultaneous modernization of physical infrastructure, integration of information systems, investment in smart technologies, and enhancement of public awareness through educational and incentive programs. The research findings indicate that the realization of a smart city in Najafabad should not be confined solely to the development of information technology infrastructure; rather, this process must be pursued within the framework of integrated urban planning. Within this framework, the development of smart transportation, optimization of energy consumption in public buildings, deployment of smart consumption monitoring systems, utilization of renewable energy sources, and enhancement of citizen participation must be simultaneously placed on the urban management agenda. This approach aligns with the recommendations of UN-Habitat (2024) and the ISO 37122 standard, which conceptualize the smart city as the product of interaction among technology, governance, environment, economy, and social participation. Funding There is no funding support. Authors’ Contribution All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work. Conflict of Interest Authors declared no conflict of interest. Acknowledgments We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper. در دهه‌های اخیر، رشد بی‌رویه شهرنشینی و افزایش تقاضای انرژی به یکی از بزرگترین چالش‌های زیست‌محیطی و اقتصادی در سطح جهان تبدیل شده است. شهرها به عنوان کانون‌های اصلی مصرف انرژی، بیش از ۷۰ درصد از انتشار گازهای گلخانه‌ای را به خود اختصاص داده‌اند. در این میان، مفهوم «توسعه پایدار » به عنوان راهبردی اساسی، بر ایجاد تعادل میان نیازهای امروز و حفظ منابع برای نسل‌های آینده تأکید دارد که لازمه تحقق آن، گذار از الگوهای سنتی مصرف به سوی «شهر هوشمند» است. شهر نجف‌آباد به عنوان یکی از شهرهای مهم و در حال توسعه استان اصفهان، به دلیل موقعیت خاص اقلیمی، صنعتی و رشد جمعیت، با چالش‌های جدی در زمینه مدیریت منابع انرژی مواجه است. بررسی‌های اولیه نشان می‌دهد که عدم استفاده از الگوهای هوشمند در زیرساخت‌های شهری، سیستم‌های گرمایشی/سرمایشی و مدیریت شبکه توزیع، منجر به اتلاف قابل‌توجه انرژی در این شهر شده است. از این رو هدف اصلی از مقاله حاضر بررسی الگوی هوشمند کاهش مصرف انرژی شهرها با رویکرد توسعه پایدار در نجف آباد در نظر گرفته شده است. این مطالعه با بهره گیری از روش تحلیل سلسله مراتبی AHP و روش تحلیل SWOT مورد ارزیابی قرار گرفت. نتایج بدست آمده از این تحقیق نشان داد مجموع عوامل داخلی معادل 199/0- و مجموع عوامل خارجی معادل 181/0 بدست آمده است. بدین ترتیب بهینه سازی مصرف انرژی در شهر نجف‌آباد، تنها با رویکرد به مفاهیم شهر هوشمند و توسعه پایدار با الگوی راهبردی و استراتژی محافظتی(W-O) به معنای غلبه بر ضعف‌ها و استفاده از فرصت‌ها امکان پذیر است.

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