Explanation of Effective Urban form Factors on Households Fuel Consumption in Transportation Sector

Reducing consumption of fossil fuel, is a key effort to promote sustainable development. Transportation sector is one of the most important parts of fuel consumers. Urban form is one of the most important and effective factors in fuel consumption in transportation sector. Urban form includes some criterions such as density, mix land use and internal development of city. In order to reduce fuel consumption in transportation sector, urban form should be changed. This issue is more necessary due to increasing urban population and urban sprawl. Resident’s use of private car increases with distance from city center and lack of proper public transport system. This not only causes increasing of the fuel consumption, but also it increases emission of greenhouse gases, noise pollution and traffic congestion. The present study has followed explanation of relationship between urban form and energy consumption in transportation sector. For this purpose, the theory of urban form, including compact city, transit-oriented development and Neo-traditional development and studies in other countries are surveyed and analyzed. Research findings indicate that socio-economic characteristics and physical variables and urban form are affected the usage of private car and fuel consumption in transportation sector. This study which is based on the findings of survey and analysis, seeks to develop a general conceptual framework for understanding the effective factors in Households Fuel Consumption in Transportation Sector.