Interpretive Structural Modeling of Urban Form Elements for Developing a Theoretical Framework Grounded in Modern Construction Technologies

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
elham ramezani 1
reza mirzaei 2
mohsen vafamehr 3
seyed moslem seyedalhosseini 4
1 PhD Candidate in architecture at Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch, Birjand, Iran.
2 assistant professor of the Department of Art and Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch, Birjand, Iran.
3 Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran / Faculty of Art and Architecture, Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Khorasan Razavi, Iran
4 Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Khorasan Razavi, Iran
10.48311/bsnt.2026.117575.82893
Abstract
Rapid technological advancements have instigated fundamental transformations in urban landscapes, posing challenges to the alignment with indigenous and cultural concepts. This paper aims to re-evaluate theoretical frameworks of urban form by modeling the structural-interpretive components of the urban landscape through the lens of innovative construction technologies.The research methodology employed is mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative), utilizing theoretical analysis to extract key components and concepts related to urban form and innovative construction technologies. Subsequently, these components were refined and finalized through the Delphi method and expert consultation. The theories of Giddens, Bourdieu, Castells, and Heidegger were adopted as the foundation for analysis. To analyze the relationships between components and determine a hierarchical structure, the Structural-Interpretive Modeling (ISM) approach was utilized, resulting in a model presented across six levels.The findings indicate that innovative construction technologies play a driving role in shaping the urban landscape, exerting the greatest influence among other components. The resulting model demonstrates a multi-layered structure, with innovative technology positioned as a fundamental variable and a driving component at the foundational layers.Consequently, technology serves as a pivotal component in redefining spatial identity, cultural representations, and collective memory within the urban landscape. Furthermore, understanding architectural history, analyzing the current situation, and assessing the impact of modernity, supported by architectural theories, alongside the proposed theoretical framework, can be effective in improving urban environments. The presented theoretical framework can serve as an analytical basis for understanding the relationships between construction technology and urban form components, as well as for improving the current state of cities.

Keywords

Subjects

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  • Receive Date 09 November 2025
  • Revise Date 26 February 2026
  • Accept Date 28 February 2026