Surveying and Assessment of Livability in Peri Urban Villages (Case Study: Varamin Township)

Livability is a concept connected with the number of concepts and terms such as sustainability, quality of environment, healthy communities, etc. Although definitions are varied in different communities, defined objectives of planning should be used for creating standard native definition for livability. It is often used for defining the dimensions of community and Common experiences. It is usually focused on human experiences of place within the specified time and place. In addition, livability as a concept could be within (expanded/limited) context in which it is defined. However, the concept of life quality is often under spotlight of this concept and includes a wide range of measurable indicators with proven components such as density, transportation, security and sustainability. Livability, however, is the concept of interconnection of economical, environmental and social forms and always one dimensional and reductive measure to prevent it. There should be a network of relationships between various domains related to livability standards. Vergunst (2003) introduced a framework for livability in Aspinge rural area in Sweden. In this context, the livability is a product of interaction between local residents, community life, service level, physical location and local economy. Local population, (the number of), demographic structure (age and gender), and lifestyle are among important factors in this regard. Service level refers to communications services, schools, homes for the elderly and stores. Local economy shows the zeitgeist and power of place in creating jobs and incomes; and physical location describes the buildings and the landscape. Like other townships in the Tehran metropolitan region, Varamin has experienced peri urban phenomena (with their effects such as accelerated environmental degradation, unplanned and changing land-uses, severe shortage of services and lacking responsiveness) and the villages surrounding the town (is settlement of lower income groups - the group suffer from negative effects from neighboring towns and villages).