Evaluating the Equity of Access to Urban Services: A Hybrid Spatial-Non-spatial Approach(Case Study: Urmia City)

Volume 22, Issue 152
February 2026
Pages 61-72

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Iran

2 Department of Environmental Studies, Research and Development Institute for Humanities,Tehran (SAMT), Iran

Abstract
Problem statement: This research significantly emphasizes the importance of a two-pronged approach to accessing urban services. It demonstrates that a sole focus on spatial criteria (such as distance and density) without considering non-spatial dimensions (such as social equity, diverse user needs, and civil rights) cannot lead to an equitable distribution of urban services.
Research objective: The aim of this research is to present a new concept of access equity by integrating spatial and non-spatial methods.
Research method: This study utilized a hybrid approach (spatial and non-spatial) to explain the equity of access to urban services in the city of Urmia. The data analysis was conducted using GIS, GeoDa, and SPSS software.
Conclusion: The findings of this research indicate a significant difference between the spatial and non-spatial dimensions of access to urban services. With a correlation coefficient of 0. 51 between these two indicators, only 26% of the variations in non-spatial access are explained by spatial factors (spatial access). This result suggests that the individual and social characteristics of users (such as economic status, age, gender, and behavioral preferences), as well as the quality and suitability of the facilities, play a significant role in determining the level of equitable access—factors that are often overlooked in purely spatial analyses. These findings highlight the importance of considering both spatial and non-spatial aspects of access in urban planning.

Keywords

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