Anatolian Seljuk cities reflect the morphological characteristics in terms of their spatial and functional roles in the urban network and transportation system set up in Anatolia. Within this scope of definition, (the meaning of) the concept of “the Anatolian Seljuk city” is conceived as the result of the impact of the social, cultural and economic symbiosis between Christian-Byzantine and Muslim-Seljuk on spatial organization in Anatolia. In order to establish the Anatolian Seljuk city, in terms of research sources and its methodology, it is considered that the use of original historical and manuscript sources and their spatial dimension should be used. Within this framework, the spatial organization and morphologies of Anatolian Seljuk cities are defined using maps based on manuscript sources and archaeological or architectural ruins. As a result, Anatolian Seljuk cities developed based on Byzantine urban heritage, and also organized spatially under the impact of pre-Anatolian Turkish urban culture. In this regard, three categories were defined, namely “fortified city”, “open city” and “external focused city” models, according to their distinguishing spatial and functional characteristics.

This study is about the research method of perception experiment of a settlement. The study displays the role of topography, scale, nature and mode of circulation as environmental peculiarities as well as personal characteristics such as gender, level of education, duration of residency in the perception procedure of the city. The article explains how and to what degree one could benefit from this study of methods and techniques of urban image and mental map researches.

This study aims to compare the physical activity level of people residing in traditional residential settings in the city center with those residing in mass housing units on the outskirts of the city. Two settings were selected in Izmir, Turkey; one representing traditional residential inner-city settings and the other representing large-scale housing on the edge of the city. Both were similar in terms of economic and social characteristics. A survey was conducted to determine the residents’ level of physical activity. Forty-five people (23 participants living in the mass housing units, 22 participants residing in traditional apartments) participated in the study. Participants answered questions related to; (1) demographic characteristics; (2) income and education level, household size; (3) identity and belonging to neighborhood; (4) car ownership, usage of public transportation; (5) mode of transportation to satisfy basic needs (travel to work, recreation and shopping); (6) time spent on sports. Results showed that in both settings participants’ demographic characteristics, income and education level, household size, identity and belonging to neighborhood, car ownership and usage of public transportation were similar. However, participants’ physical activity levels were different in the two settings. In the city center more participants reported that they walked rather than drove in order to satisfy their basic needs (transportation to work, recreation and shopping), whereas a greater number of participants living in the mass housing units reported that they relied on automobiles to satisfy basic needs. The findings of this study have applied value in planning and urban design.

By definition and through their practical application, conservation laws, planning and the Environmental Impact Assessment should all be important tools which serve a basic aim, namely the conservation of nature. However, in our country, despite the existence of all three tools, the “destruction of the natural environment” is a growing problem. In this case, it seems more meaningful to re-examine to what extent all these tools are serving to natural conservation aim. Within this context, this study aims to give satisfactory replies to two major questions. The first question is how functional and successful a tool for protescting the environment the Environmental Impact Assessment actually is in Turkey, given its project-orientated application. Agricultural land is a vital natural asset in this country, and this study makes use of quantative research to provide an accurate answer to this question. The second question considered in the study is, what factors in the process result in major loss of agricultural land? In this study where “agricultural land losses of the provinces” is the dependent variable, 11 independent variables, including Environmental Impact Assessment decisions, are evaluated to explain the changes in the dependent variable. The study draws two major conclusions. First, that the Environmental Impact Assessment, as it is managed in our country, does not serve a comprehensive protection function. And second, the independent variables which are used in this study put agricultural land losses at a level of 73%.