Evaluation is one of the important stages in the planning process, which, if targeted, can prevent the occurrence of unintended consequences and the resulting problems. In other words, the main purpose of the evaluation activities is to help decision makers create new social policies and assess the value of future programs [1]. For this purpose, urban plans should be assessed and modified prior to the implementation stage if necessary, through which the occurrence of unexpected effects and outcomes during the project is minimized. But despite the above importance, most of information in urban programs and projects in the country remains confidential until the time of implementation as a black box and makes it impossible to make a preliminary evaluation before entering the implementation phase. Therefore, considering the aforementioned issue, as well as the evaluation importance during urban projects and identifying the broader aspects of the subject after the implementation of some of its parts, the evaluation during the implementation is very important in introducing the strengths and weaknesses of the projects and can reduce the incidence of unwanted and/ or negative effects [2].
One of the large-scale projects currently pursued and implemented in Isfahan metropolis as the capital of Islamic culture and civilization is the project of the International Conference Center of Isfahan Metropolis. The idea of this national project returns to July 2009 on Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Leadership Plan (the 16th) hosted and chaired by Iran. Although it was supposed to be built in Kish, but due to the continuous pursue of management of the province and municipality of Isfahan on holding NAM Leadership Plan in the Isfahan metropolis it was transferred to the city and it was prescribed to be implemented and completed with the help of state credits (over 1,000 billion rials) on the Isfahan Shahid Keshvari site within a maximum of 3 years. But despite the mentioned agreements, due to the lack of timely allocation of national credits to this project, the mentioned project was transformed from a national project into a provincial project and by 2016 it had grown by about 68% [3].
Therefore, regarding the above-mentioned challenges, as well as the multidimensional effects on Isfahan and the research gap in this regard, the purpose of conducting this research is to assess the conference center of Isfahan in various aspects and as multi-dimensional. In this regard, first the research theoretical and empirical literature was reviewed and then the methodology of the research has been explained. In the following, according to the theoretical, empirical and methodological framework, the project has been recognized and assessed and, finally, conclusions and suggestions have been presented.
Because of the widespread use of the evaluation, there are a variety of definitions available. However, despite the diversity of definitions and controversies about it, in this regard there is a consensus that the main objective of the evaluation studies is to measure the effects and consequences of various human activities in the social, economic and environmental aspects [4-7]. Therefore, in addition to helping to maintain the characteristics of the social, economic, and environmental aspects, the evaluation facilitates the achievement of programs’ objectives.
Also, there is no specific agreement on how to assess and apply the measures for the evaluation such as the evaluation definition, and different thinkers and theorists have provided different categories for measures in the evaluation, which is due to the type of dominant approach in the evaluation of special research case. But despite this disagreement, the determination of the evaluation criteria and measures is always the most important element in the evaluation. Because the measures’ bias can lead to the results’ bias and the truth of the effects is hidden [1,8]. Hence, in this study, in order to achieve the measures and criteria of the Megaproject of International Conference Center in Isfahan metropolis, first theoretical literature related to the evaluation was described as the general concept in Table 1, and then, by referring to the national and international experiences (including “Center for International Conference of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, “Edinburgh Conference Hall” and “London International Conventions and Conferences”), in Table 2, the measures and criteria have been extracted specific for the evaluation of relevant projects.
Criterion | Description |
---|---|
Determine the extent to which the objectives of the programs and strategies are achieved |
This criterion is for post-implementation evaluation. |
Program Effectiveness |
The effects of the program on all social, economic, and environmental aspects, as well as their relationship, effective efficiency and sustainability |
Examine the rate of growth and development predicted in the program |
Planning in the future for the development of the project |
Practical level |
Are the proposed plans practical in terms of technical and physical aspects? Can they exist? Do they work? In addition to the physical and technical aspects, political and financial considerations can also be taken into consideration. |
Effectiveness and efficiency |
Are the objectives of the plan met? Specific purposes in planning enable everyone to say what is undesired in the current situation and causes dissatisfaction and identifies the solution to the problem through the application of value criteria in relation to the objectives. In addition, it provides a level of information about the current status for the beneficiaries to judge themselves. |
Performance level |
What level of performance does each program achieve? In this case, it’s better to test each program with several different levels. |
Resources management |
To what extent are the resources consistent and sustainable used according to the policies in each plan? Of course, here national resources are of paramount importance. The resources should be considered in different ways, such as providing different assumptions about the scope of resources, the financial resources, and project performance in terms of investment. |
Maintain and protect |
What is the outcome of the plan on non-renewable sources such as land? |
Mutual effects |
How the effects of policies and suggestions have been distributed to different groups? |
Uncertainty |
How the policies have been dealt with that are uncertain about the objectives and how other undefined policies have been dealt with? |
The nature and distribution of a social problem Need for an intervention Implications for designing an intervention Program eligibility Application feasibility The program morality |
The first step in planning a new program or rebuilding an implemented program involves assessing the need and program theory |
Valuation of the activities and functions of the program Assessing the usefulness and accuracy of the implementation Services based on the objectives of the program How to organize services Providing qualified customer with services Program Management Utility Use program resources |
These are after-implementation evaluation criteria that include evaluation of the program process (CPB). |
A reliable estimation of the net effects of the program and interventions carried out The desired outcomes achieved Undesired side effects |
Successful programs fully implemented that have a well-defined and structured program model that includes assessing the effect. |
Examine the relationship between the program costs and efficiency Referee options based on cost and benefits |
Completed programs that have a well-defined and structured program model, as well as program outcomes well-recognized, including an efficiency evaluation. |
Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency Energy and Atmosphere Materials and Resources Indoor Environmental quality Inovation and Design |
The program should be leading in the environmental design and energy (LEED). |
Edinburgh Conference Hall | London Convention Center for International Conference and Convention | Center for International Conference of the Islamic Republic of Iran | |
---|---|---|---|
Geographical location |
Edinburgh (the capital of Scotland) 6 miles from downtown adjoining Heriot-Watt University |
London (the capital of England) Royal Pier of Royal Victoria |
Tehran (capital of Iran) Northern side of the Tehran International Fair located on Chamran highway |
The building purpose |
Holding international conferences Holding academic meetings Holding educational and trade shows Holding special celebrations Create sustainable revenues for Edinburgh |
Economic efficiency of Victoria’s Dock closed with landscape and special weather |
Holding the Islamic Summit in 1997 Attract tourists from Islamic countries |
Internal features |
Start of the project: 1993 Completion of the project and operation: 1995 Area: 20,000 square feet (about 1850 square meters) Conference halls: 24 The area of the large hall is 7340 square feet The area of the small hall is 5446 square feet Free parking 2000 sq ft A restaurant and dining room |
Area: 10 hectares Launching its development plan in 2010 |
Area: 24,500 square meters The roof of the hall is very interesting and made of glass and aluminum Total capacity of the main hall: 1,800 persons, two conference halls’ capacity of 300 square meters: 500 persons, two u-shaped conference halls’ capacity of 300 square meters: 360 persons Two special halls for the heads of state with a total area of 400 square meters, Four conference halls with a total area of 300 square meters with wide screen (video) Its interior design includes gilding, plastering, rafting, and simple niche inspired by the ancient Iranian traditional architecture decorated with handicrafts. Earthquake resistance of 9 Richter |
External features |
Distance to airport: 3 miles Access to vehicles: train, bus, and taxi, the allocation of a space of 1000 square meters from the exhibition space to 600 representative offices as revenue for the hall management Economic interest over the next 21 years, about € 500 million |
Inclusive (several users, private and public events including exhibitions, conferences, concerts, wedding, religious and sports ceremonies since its opening in 2000) Branding (host of important events and exhibitions, including the 2009 summit) Awarded the Superbrand Business Award in 2011 |
Access to Chamran highways and public transportation lines Beauty at night like a mountain of light Simplicity in the design of the facade (facade of the brick) and avoiding any symbolism Areas with an area of about 100,000 square meters. The dome is a cone with a metal structure and the roof is sandwich panel and its height from the bottom is 36 meters. |
Fig. |
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In the following, also according to the aforementioned theoretical and empirical literature, the needed aspects, components and measures to assess the megaproject of International Conference Center in Isfahan metropolis were identified in Table 3 as the research conceptual framework.
The research conceptual framework
Aspect | Component | Measure |
---|---|---|
Physical | Function | The status of the project area to its performance |
Match the number of parking lots with the complex capacity | ||
The status of services required according to the project purpose | ||
Future development capability as needed | ||
The view from the outside | ||
The inner axis view status | ||
The status of the project’s facade to the background | ||
Route access from the entrance to the main hall | ||
The status of the project’s green space to the total area of the project | ||
The status of the project’s furniture | ||
Safety | The materials’ resistance to fire | |
The building resistance to earthquake | ||
Location | The distance from the project to the airport | |
The status of the route access of the project | ||
The slope and topography status | ||
The distance from the project to the city center | ||
Social | - | The effect of the project on the development of surrounding neighborhoods |
The effect of the project on the fixation of surrounding villages and neighborhoods | ||
The effect of the project on the price of the surrounding neighborhoods | ||
The inclusiveness of the conference hall | ||
The project effect on introducing the Iranian Islamic culture to other nations | ||
Economic and managerial | - | Matching the cost with the efficiency (budget) |
Employment rate | ||
The revnue to the cost | ||
Tourist attraction to the specified goals | ||
The achieved goals to the time specified | ||
Environmental | The program should be leading in the environmental design and energy. | The status of construction location to the environment |
In the present study. The purpose is to assess the International Conference Center of the Isfahan Metropolis in terms of various dimensions and in a multidimensional manner. On this basis, according to Johnson & Christensen classification [19], the methodology paradigm in this study is the mixed research. In this way, at the first stage in order to focus on the given subject and avoid generalization, the case study research method of the qualitative research methodology paradigm has been used. Among the existing megaprojects, the International Conference Center of the Isfahan metropolis has been selected as the case study. . at the second stage, a non-experimental research method of quantitative research methodology paradigm has been used to explain and analyze the subject (evaluation of the conference center in various dimensions).
The method of data collection is both documents (using existing project documents) and survey (interview). In this way, after determining the evaluation measures of the International Conference Center of Isfahan metropolis, through the review of theoretical and empirical literature of the research (documentary study), the data required for 14 measures
Five-option Likert scale
Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Meaning | Highly improper | Improper | Moderate | Proper | Highly proper |
Outranking approach, merit point system, linear goal programming, multiple attribute utility theory, AHP, regime method, convex cone approach, hierarchical interactive approach, aspiration-level interactive method and Bayesian analysis [20-22 Cited in 23].
Flexibility, possibility of hierarchical organization of the elements of a system, the possibility of using quantitative and qualitative criteria simultaneously, the ability to control the logical adaptation of the judgments used in determining the priorities of the methodology of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and Expert Choice software were used to determine the weights of each measure and finally the analysis and conclusion.
The idea of the International Conference Center of Isfahan metropolis project returns to July 2009 on Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Leadership Plan (the 16th) hosted and chaired by Iran. Although it was supposed to be built in Kish, but due to the continuous pursue of management of the province and municipality of Isfahan on NAM Leadership Plan in the Isfahan Metropolis it was transferred to the city and it was prescribed to be implemented and completed with the help of state credits (over 1,000 billion rials) on the Isfahan Shahid Keshvari site within a maximum of 3 years. But despite the mentioned agreements, due to the lack of timely allocation of national credits to this project, the mentioned project was transformed from a national project into a provincial project and by 2016 it had grown by about 68% [3].
The hall, which is being built on a site of about 70 hectares, is located at the end of Shahid Rouholamin Street near the eastern highway of Isfahan, and is surrounded by Shahid Keshvari, Radan, Fizadan, Ashkhavand, Sarv and Isfahan townships [3].
Regarding the external and internal features of this project, it should be noted that according to the designs, the internal uses have been defined in the three main zones along with public spaces described in Table 5.
The use and activities of the site of the International Conference Center of Isfahan metropolis and assigned levels [3]
Zone | Use | Occupancy level (m2) | Land area (m2) | The plan site of the International Conference Center |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | International Conference Center (including the main hall, multi-purpose hall, cinema, hall, plaza) | 49000 | 118000 |
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2 | The site of the VIP villas | 3200 | 89000 | |
3 | Commercial, office and hotel complex | 48000 | 137000 | |
Facilities and Services | 4500 | 11000 | ||
The main passages network and parking | 94000 | 94000 | ||
Landscaping and tree planting | 177000 | |||
Total | 198700 | 627000 |
Also, the architecture of this complex, shown in Figure 2, has been presented by taking into account some of the principles of the school of Isfahan (the principle of balance, the principle of simplicity, the principle of complexity, the principle of proportionality) and the integration of this architecture with modern architecture, while the main hall is like a hemisphere that indicates the slogan “Isfahan, half of the world”.
According to the aspects, components and measures introduced in the research conceptual framework, and taking into account the recognition of the documentary and survey study (interview), the Megaproject of the International Conference Center of Isfahan Metropolis can be scored as the following Tables.
Assess physical aspect
Aspect | Component | Measure | Description | Fig. | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Physical | Function | The status of the project area to its performance | The project’s size is about 70 hectares compared to Edinburgh conference hall (1850 m), London ExCeL Hall (10 hectares), and the Hall of the Leaders Summit of Islamic Countries (2.5 hectares), but because it provides other services such as VIP homes it is suitable. |
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4 |
Match the number of parking lots with the complex capacity | The project consists of two parking lots: a 9500 m2 parking lot with a capacity of 212 cars and a back door entrance to the main hall with an area of 3250 square meters and a parking lot of 19,000 square meters with a capacity of 560 cars |
|
5 | ||
The status of services required according to the project purpose | Inter complex uses in the three main zones of International Conference Center, VIP homes’ site, commercial and hotel complexes, with public spaces for facilities and services, main passages’ network and tree planting |
|
5 | ||
Future development capability as needed | The site intended for this project from the north is confined to the Shahid Keshvari township, from the east to the highway, from the south and west to the military lands, but it should be considered that the land area considered is 70 hectares which is about 7 times of London hall and no development is required. |
|
5 | ||
View and landscape | External view status | Limited external view of the project from Abshar St. by Shahid Keshvari buildings |
|
2 | |
Intra-axis view status | View axis imbalance from the inside of the site from part 1 by commercial buildings |
|
2 | ||
The view of the project to the background | Non-index of the project’s view due to the same color of the bachground |
|
2 | ||
The status of the route from the entrance to the main hall | Considering 3 routes for the lecturer, reporter and spectator |
|
5 | ||
The status of green space to the project’s total area | Considering 17.7 ha for green space about 28% of the project’s total area |
|
5 | ||
Safety | The status of the project’s furniture | Considering proper furniture for all parts of the main hall, reception hall and etc. |
|
5 | |
Materials’ resistance to fire | Using GFRC panels for the main façade materials with high resistance to fire |
|
5 | ||
The building resistance to earthquake | Design and engineering of the complex in a way as resistant to earthquake |
|
5 | ||
The distance from the project to the airport | 30 min |
|
5 | ||
Location | Access to the main route | The project’s entracne and exit from Abshar St. to Isfahan east highway |
|
5 | |
The status of the slope and topography | About 2% to south and southwest | - | 5 | ||
The distance from the project to the city center | 30 min |
|
5 |
Assess the social aspect
Aspect | Component | Measure | Description | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
Social | - | The project’s effect on the development of surrounding neighborhoods | The implementation of the project has resulted in the creation of one of the traffic circles of the fourth traffic ring as well as the extension of the eastern highway of Isfahan to this area. | 5 |
The effect of the project on the fixation of the population of the surrounding villages and neighborhoods | According to interviews with real estate consultants in each neighborhood, the implementation of the project has led to a steady increase in the citizens’ tendency to settle and invest in this area, and the population of neighborhoods of Radan and Ashkavand (preventing migration) but not affecting other neighborhoods. But it should be taken into account that the change in the plan from the national to the provincial has also led to a reduction in the immigration of neighborhoods. | 3 | ||
The effect of the project on the price of neighborhoods | With the construction of the project in Isfahan, especially the south-east of the city, in terms of urban development, since the time of presenting the plot, significant effects have been found in terms of increased property price. | 4 | ||
The inclusiveness of the conference hall | Due to the change of the plan from national to provincial, the center can attract all sectors by providing services. | 5 | ||
The effect of the project on the introduction of Iranian Islamic culture to other nations | Due to the fact that this project will host the guests of other countries in the future, Iranians will become acquainted with different peoples’ cultures and different nations and will introduce Iranian Islamic culture to other nations. | 4 |
Assess the economic and managerial aspect
Aspect | Component | Measure | Description | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
Economic and managerial | - | Cost matching rate to efficiency (budget) | The total contractual amount considered for the project was 306 milliard toman, of which only 20 milliard was provided by the government. And the rest (286 milliard) will be provided by the municipality, which is equal to 53% of the budget of 2011 of the municipality of Isfahan. With these interpretations, if the municipality does not allocate half of its budget to any other part of the city in 2011, the project will be completed, indicating the ineffectiveness of the cost. | 1 |
Employment rate | With the implementation of the project by 34 contractors, employment has been created for thousands directly or indirectly, also by the operation of the project regarding creating a commercial part in the project the employment will be created for thousands directly or indirectly. But it should be kept in mind that by setting up the commercial part, the business of the neighborhoods will reduce and cause the emigration of the people. | 3 | ||
The amount of money earned to the cost | The project has three parts of the conference hall, commercial complexes and VIP homes, the project revenue is by renting conference halls for meetings, ceremonies and celebrations, as well as building commercial complexes and rental houses. | 4 | ||
The tourist attraction rate to the goal specified | Given that the project changed from national to provincial, ambassadors from other countries did not enter this hall and did not realize the tourist’s attraction as intended in the project’s objectives. | 2 | ||
The extent to which goals are achieved to the time specified | The project implementation time was at the end of 2010 and it was planned to open the project by the end of 2012, but given that government credits were not provided on time and the project changed from a national project to an international project until 2016 about 68% of the project has been completed, and the project is expected to be operational in the summer of 2017. | 1 |
Assess the environmental aspect
Aspect | Component | Measure | Description | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
Environmental | The program should be leading in the environmental design and energy | The status of construction location to the environment | There is no pollutants inside the project and the pollution of construction activities during the implementation of the project has been carefully controlled and kept low. |
5 |
Water consumption rate | The project foresees the use of groundwater resources and rainfall for irrigation of green space. |
5 | ||
Energy consumption rate | chiller and air-conditioning unit for air transfer from the outside to the building and the ventilation system inside the building |
5 | ||
The rate of using environmentally friendly materials | Not using recycled materials systems anti-moisture and anti-fire walls, zipper panel ceiling cover and acoustic insulation in cinema for sound Wooden materials used only for interior decoration | 3 | ||
The quality of indoor spaces in terms of energy consumption | Intelligent control system smoke channels in the wind direction and its intelligent control | 5 | ||
Inventions and innovations in terms of energy consumption | Landscaping of green space and plant in the environment | 2 |
Then, in order to achieve the weights of each measure, and finally, the analysis and conclusion, the methodology of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert Choice software were used, using the opinion of the relevant experts, and the weights available according to the obtained score, the final value of each of aspects and components as well as the final value of the Megaproject of the International Conference Center of Isfahan metropolis was obtained according to Table 10 and it was determined that the mentioned project in the physical, social, economic, managerial and environmental aspects has obtained a score of .71 out of 1, which is slightly higher than the pass mark.
The final value of the megaproject of the International Conference Center of Isfahan metropolis
Aspects | Components | The weight of aspects / components | Total score of aspects / components’ measures | Normalized score of aspects/components’ measures | Total value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Physical | Function | .11 | 19/20 | .95 | .10 |
View | .08 | 21/30 | .7 | .06 | |
Safety | .05 | 10/10 | 1 | .05 | |
Location | .10 | 20/20 | 1 | .10 | |
Social | - | .12 | 21/25 | .84 | .10 |
Economic and managerial | - | .38 | 11/25 | .44 | .17 |
Environmental | LEED | .16 | 25/30 | .83 | .13 |
Total | 1 | 150/165 | .71 |
The purpose of this paper was to assess the project of the International Conference Center in Isfahan metropolis that is considered as one of the national projects in terms of the importance and one of the megaprojects in terms of the scale. The obtained results indicate that the international Conference center in Isfahan metropolis, despite its positive physical and functional features, such as location and relatively proper architecture (with a mean score of 0.875 out of 1), as well as relatively proper social features due to the positive effect of the project on the development of surrounding neighborhoods, the inclusiveness of the Conference center and the ability of the project to introduce the Iranian Islamic culture to other nations (with a mean score of 0.84 of 1), as well as relatively suitable environmental features such as minimizing construction pollution and maximizing energy efficiency (with a mean score of 0.83 out of 1), the project had economic and managerial weaknesses and has encountered problems such as non-matching of costs with efficiency and non-achievement of objectives over the specified time (with a mean score of 0.44 out of 1). The fact that this project has become obsolete suggests that the implementation of the project of International Conference Center of Isfahan Metropolis has often been viewed as one-dimensional and lacking comprehension. In addition, some problems in the field of the vision from the outside, the axis of vision from the inside and the status of the project view to the background also need to be addressed.
Hence, due to the mentioned problems during the implementation of the Megaproject of the International Conference Center of Isfahan Metropolis, it is suggested to complete it as soon as possible along with reforming the project implementation process, such as reinforcing the inner-axis of vision from the project by partitioning the path using the commercial complex walls wall and creating a balance at the entrance to the center by creating side buildings facing the commercial complex and strengthening the outer-axis of vision by creating a long flag, focusing on the brand and index of Conference center for the public, especially investors, as well as providing investment facilities and motives for the private sector, so that the mentioned project can achieve their original goals, including holding national and international Conference and meetings and faster return of capital.
In general, also this study emphasizes the need for assessing projects in general, and especially megaprojects in particular, due to the profound and multidimensional effect, as well as high cost of launching, at the three stages before, during and after implementation and in different economic, managerial, social, physical and environmental areas. This is especially true for underdeveloped and developing countries, because in these countries, generally, the sources of cost financing, including foreign and domestic private sector investments, are more limited and, in terms of the management, less capital is considered strategically and with the logic of prioritizing projects.