The Investigation of Sustainability in the Distribution of Spatial Development in Cities of Khuzestan Province

Whenever development in spatial aspect could provide some certain guidelines for convenient and just satisfaction of service needs of residents, it could be a sustainable one. In this study, by recognizing the pattern of development spatial distribution in Khusetan cities, we try to find out whether they are in a sustainable path or not. The study is a practical one and based on a descriptive-analytical method. Our data have been gathered from Statistical Annual of Khusetan in 2011. The results suggest that development spatial distribution in Khusetan cities are not according to the goals and principles of sustainable development. All analyses show that development spatial distribution in the province is so unequal and completely against the spatial justice rendered by sustainable development. Inequality has been occurred in different levels Inequality between Ahvaz (center of province) and surrounding cities, between populous and thinly populated cities of the province, and inequality between northern and southern cities in one side and eastern and western ones in the other side. Besides, the current pattern of development in the province is against the wholistic view and systematic conduct of sustainable development in a way that sectional view of spatial development is so clear and evident.