Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Bahareh Farahani ¹
• Kianoosh Zakerhaghighi ¹
• Mehrnoush Hassanzadeh ²

¹ Department of Urban Planning and design, St.C.Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

² Department of Urban Planning and design, St.C.Branch, IslamicAzad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Despite ecological and historical necessity, the restoration of Tehran's Qanats is confronted with complex socio-political obstacles. Purely technical approaches are insufficient for ensuring sustainability, as they overlook hidden dimensions such as power dynamics, conflicting expectations, stakeholder interests, and socio-cultural identity. This practical gap necessitates investigating the restoration of Tehran’s Qanats through the lens of Urban Political Ecology, utilizing advanced quantitative methods to uncover its multidimensional structure. Data was collected in two stages: a qualitative phase involving content analysis of documents to extract key indicators, and a quantitative phase utilizing Likert-scale questionnaires administered to 34 local and institutional stakeholders. The research focused on the Mehrgerd Qanat (District 12) and the Naseri Qanat (District 11) in Tehran. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. The research findings revealed the latent structure of Qanat restoration through three factors: 1-Operational-Participatory Achievements, 2- Macro-Planning Challenges, 3- Socio-Cultural Identity of Qanat. Furthermore, the Mann-Whitney U test indicated a statistically significant discrepancy between the perspectives of residents and officials regarding tangible components such as "genuine participation" and "distribution of benefits." Conversely, no such gap was observed in broader components like "attention to development projects." Interpreted through the framework of Urban Political Ecology, successful restoration of urban Qanats requires a shift beyond technical fixes toward a holistic integration of functional-economic, macro-policy, and social identity dimensions. Emphasis is placed on the design of institutional mechanisms to guarantee effective community participation and the integration of indigenous knowledge with modern planning.

Keywords

• Urban Political Ecology (UPE)
• Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)
• Qanat Restoration
• Tehran
• Power Dynamics

Main Subjects

• ًQanat and aquifer