Historic city centers are cultural archives where built forms and spatial practices hold the collective memory of generations. In Baghdad, the concept of Cultural DNA (C-DNA) is a tool to understand how cultural codes are the generative rules that shape the evolution and persistence of the historic urban fabric. This research explores the role of C-DNA as a trigger of urban morphogenesis in Rusafa, the historic heart of Baghdad, by looking into how cultural values underpin spatial continuity, change, and adaptability. The study uses Space Syntax methodologies with DepthmapX, supported by historical maps, surveys, and field observations, to analyze two morphological stages of Rusafa: 1850 and now. Through axial analysis, the research measures integration, connectivity, choice, and control to evaluate key urban characteristics: centrality, hierarchy, privacy, and territoriality. This comparative approach highlights both continuity and disruption in the historic fabric. The results show that cultural nuclei (mosques, markets, khans, and schools) are still the central points of the city, anchoring movement and interaction across centuries. Despite the disruption caused by modern interventions like Al-Rashid Street, the organic urban fabric still holds the capacity to sustain privacy, territoriality, and hierarchical spatial arrangements. The findings prove C-DNA is not a metaphor but an operational system that generates urban order and resilience. The study concludes that understanding C-DNA is crucial for developing sustainable revitalization strategies in Baghdad and similar Islamic historic cities. By treating culture as the city’s genetic code, planners and policymakers can design interventions that preserve cultural identity while accommodating urban needs.
This research aimed to develop a simulation traffic model for an urban street with heterogeneous traffic capable of analyzing different types of vehicles of static and dynamic characteristics based on trajectory analysis that demonstrated psychophysical driver behavior. The base developed model for urban traffic was performed based on the collected field data for the major urban street in Baghdad city. The parameter; CC1 minimum headway (represented the speed-dependent of the safety distance from stop line that the driver desired) justified in the range from (2.86sec) to (2.17 sec) indicated a good match to reflect the actual traffic behavior for urban traffic streets. A good indication of the convergence between simulat
... Show MoreThis research explores the intricate relationship between environmental sustainability and urban design in Al-Jumhuriya Neighborhood, Baghdad, reflecting urban development challenges and opportunities. It highlights the need to balance growth, functionality, and quality of life with environmental responsibility in urban areas worldwide. The research includes a literature review on environmental sustainability in urban design and the utilization of multifunctional land in contemporary cities. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Survey results show a diverse range of perspectives, indicating concerns about air quality and local regulations but also positive views on co
... Show MoreUrban wetlands are one of the complex systems that provide many economic, social and environmental services to the city. In this research, the most important services provided by urban wetlands from the point of view of the urban planner were reviewed, and the types of these lands and their divisions according to the type of services provided by each type were presented. Environmental is represented in its ability to reduce the dangers of floods, mitigate the climate and reduce its negative impacts, purify water and deplete a lot of suspended impurities and pollutants, and social services such as recreational areas and beautiful landscapes that inspire joy and reassurance in the soul, as well as cultural areas and sports activities for m
... Show MoreThe research shed light on the historic evolution of Baghdad through its long, expansive history. The starting point focuses on the geographic characteristics, and the nature of its habitation, prior to laying the circular plan of Baghdad. Then the research proceeds to cover the stage of building the round city of Baghdad. The research continue to cover the expansion and sequential growth across the banks of Tigris river.
A concentrated attention is devoted to analyses the morphological, geographical and above all the makeup of present day city of Baghdad, pinpointing the apathetic plans, decisions, and actions which completely disfigured the image, and tradition of the old city of Baghdad, behind the delusive slogans of “comprehens
In the nineteenth century, a new type of cities appeared, known as new cities located on the edges of major cities, and these cities began to decentralization, urban studies turned to this type of cities to find out the most important reasons for the emergence of new cities and find out what those cities will become . Therefore, we will discuss in this research how the urban emergence of these cities (edge cities) occurs, so the research formulates its problem : The need to know the stages that edge cities go through, ending with their emergence, and the mechanisms that cities take within their context ( regeneration or adaptation ), Assuming that edge cities are a
... Show MoreMany urban and rural areas fall under the impact of disasters, whether natural or industrial, and with increasing complexity in urban areas, with diversity of economic, social and political components, and technological and cognitive development, the effects of disasters and wars have increased with the time, where disasters are affecting all aspects of life, causing great waste of property and lives, also displacement of populations and disruption of economic life, these effects are multiplied if they are not dealt with in sound curricula and scientific strategies.
The research aims to identify the experiences of some countries and their strategies and effective programs in reconstruction after exposure to disasters and wars wit
... Show Moreproblem of the research is the decline of the role of urban space with time as an influential system in societal relations. The research aims to define indicators for achieving social interaction in the city, and to determine indicators for achieving integration in the urban space, and to study the relationship between the integration of urban space and community interaction over time. the research assumed that by distinguishing the social interaction space from the urban space and developing urban spaces in order to be truly interactive spaces, this will help us achieve social interaction and build a positive relationship between them, which enables us to achieve integration within the urban spaces leading to social interaction. Because
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