Locating Optimum Centers of Rural Development and Designing Suitable Hierarchical Pattern in Villages (Case Study: Koohsaran Rural District from Ghaemshahr)

Any scientific research is required to use methods, instruments and having specific and regular procedure. Geographical Information System has been applied in this research. As one of the main obstacles present in the way of sustainable development of villages is rupture of special organization and lack of suitable hierarchy based on interactive relation among the dwelling-places. In this research, it has been tried to locate better rural centers and design suitable hierarchy dwelling-places and create cohesiveness and reasonable relation among these centers in order to recognize the center villages to provide services for surrounding villages. Through these services, all needs of villagers can be provided. To reach this goal, this study by considering standards and criteria applied Centrality Index Method, Distance Methods and Direct Relation of Matrix Method via GIS having theoretical foundations related to this research subject and effectively collect data. Then, the present conditions of optimum rural centers were evaluated to pave the way to suggest other centers. The results have shown that the study of optimum centers of rural development and presenting hierarchical pattern in both rural mountainside villages "Kutna" and "Rikandeh". Therefore, these two villages are recommended as the main center to provide services to subgroup villages in order to equip and develop necessary facilities and services villages are scattered throughout the district to prevent the dependence process and migration of villagers into cities.