Evaluation of sense of place with an emphasis on physical and environmental factors in urban coastal areas (Case study: Boushehr Town)

Introduction Sense of place is one of the vital concepts in promoting the quality of human environment. This concept finally leads to creation of a high quality environment because of its important role in initiating interactions among the people and urban environment. The sense of place is one of the important meanings in improving the urban environment and human qualities. The feeling that an important factor in the formation of the foundation is communication of users and the environment, the quality will be ultimately leads to the creation of environments. The aim of this study is to evaluate the physical and environmental factors in creation of a sense of place in the coastal city of Bushehr and to explore the relationships between these elements. This research questions are: • What physical and environmental factors may strengthen the sense of belonging to a place on a city beach (sample)? • What is the relationship between these factors with their sense of place in an urban beach Bushehr? Therefore, in this first study of sense of place, different dimensions and its components are discussed, the physical and environmental factors and how these factors influence a sense of place has been addressed. Based on the views of experts, indicators of effective components are presented. The study is to express the sample substrate (beach Bushehr) and addressed structural elements to create a sense of place on the coast of Bushehr. The space and the type of relationship between the senses of place is discussed.   Methodology In this study, analysis and evaluation of physical and environmental elements affecting the sense of place (urban beach Bushehr) is by evidence-based documents such as maps and photos. Using registered user behavior patterns, interviews and questionnaires have been prepared. With no standardized questionnaire on the subject of the study, a questionnaire was designed. In this study, the standards are extracted through fine-reviewed assessment criteria based on a theoretical framework. The population of the study is Bushehr beach users and administrators, and urban experts. For such statistical population, the exact number usually can not be estimated and the so-called secret societies are random sampling using saturation point of interview. Accordingly, 108 questionnaires were available to users of the coastal city of Bushehr. After collecting data for their analysis, the data for the valuation metrics, statistical information and charts were examined, the relationships between the variables using Spearman correlation coefficients were analyzed in SPSS software.   Results and Discussion To evaluate the relationship between environmental factors and physical sense of place in urban area of Bushehr, public opinion survey has been used. Figures 3 to 9 represent the views of the public on environmental factors, location and access, spatial diversity, safety, human scale, visual beauty and permeability. Descriptive results of the study indicate that the environmental factors most frequently (48.15%) have chosen medium of choice. The location and access to the index, spatial diversity, aesthetics and safety are most frequent medium of choice 43.52%, 39.81%, 36.11% and 54.63%; but indices of human scale and high permeability are the most frequent options, respectively 50% and 49.07%.   Environmental factors As the correlation matrix in Table 3 can be seen, the Spearman correlation between the two variables of environment and sense of place 0.093 and the means 0.028 also shows that in 99% of the error level there is a positive relationship between these two variables. To put it simply increases in the environmental factors is with the higher sense of place.   Location and access As the correlation matrix in Table 4 can be seen, the Spearman correlation between two variables, location and access and sense of place 0.065 and the means 0.051 also indicates that 99 and smaller than 0.01 percent of error level there is a positive relationship between these two variables. To put it simply the location and access to greater sense of place in the city will be more.   Spatial diversity As the correlation matrix in Table 5 is observed, the Spearman correlation between two variables, spatial diversity and sense of place 0.227 and the means 0.018 also shows that 99% and smaller than 0.01 error there is a positive relationship between these two variables. To put it simply increases in the diversity of space in the city will be even more sense of place.   Safety As it is observed in the correlation matrix in Table 5, the Spearman correlation between two variables of safety and sense of place 0.084 and the means 0.048 also shows that 99% of 0.01 smaller than the error level there is a positive relationship between these two variables. To put it simply increases in the safety in the city will be even with more sense of place.   Visual beauty As it is observed in the correlation matrix in Table 6, the Spearman correlation between the two variables of visual beauty and sense of place 0.109 and the means 0.897 also shows that 99% and an error level less than 0.01, there is no relationship between these two variables.   Human scale As it can be seen in the correlation matrix in Table 7, the Spearman correlation between the two variables of human scale and sense of place 0.143 and the means 0.753 also shows that 99% and an error level less than 0.01, there is no relationship between these two variables.   Permeability As it can be seen in the correlation matrix in Table 8, the Spearman correlation between the two variables of permeability and sense of place 0.328 and the mean 0.000 also shows that 99% of 0.01 smaller than the error level there is a positive relationship between these two variables. To put it simply increases in the amount of permeability in the city will be even with more sense of place.   Conclusion The general goal of the research is to probe into the relationship of the environmental factors, locations, availability, spatial variety, security, human criteria, visual beauty, and penetrability with the sense of place in Boushehr. In doing so, SPSS Software and Spearman Correlation Test have been applied to evaluate the relationship between each pair of variables. The results show that environmental factors, location, availability, spatial variety, security, and penetrability have significant impacts on boosting sense of place in Boushehr.