Exploring the overall urban form quality at neighbourhood level in Tehran metropolis, Iran

Recognising that urban form is a complex, multi-level concept evaluated using various indicators at different levels, this study employs a composite index based on measurable indicators at a single level to investigate the overall urban form quality. The hybrid factor analysis and analytic network process model addresses the issue of mutual geography between indicators and facilitates discussion of synergies and trade-offs between different indicators at the given scale, thereby enhancing understanding of the overall quality of urban form. The empirical application of this method at 368 neighbourhoods of Tehran metropolis in Iran unveil three distinct clusters depicting a range of compactness through neighbourhoods from 36 measurable indicators. This versatile approach, applicable across various scales, serves as a tool for identifying the quality of multi-dimensional and multi-scale phenomena, including urban form. It provides invaluable insights to practitioners and policymakers on how indicators influence and shape the quality of urban form.