Assessing Sustainable development strategies in Oil Towns (Case Study: the City of Abadan)

Among the various cities, extractive towns have special features, including a high focus on industries and mining activities; high environmental contaminants and social problems caused by the occupational migration, and cultural duality that could be the issue of instability in the environmental, economic, social - cultural and physical aspects created or exacerbated. To this end, considering the oil urban sustainable development and diversification of its economy by adopting approaches and Suitable patterns of urban development seem necessary. The results indicates that Abadan as an oil dependent-city faces strategic challenges between costs and benefits. One-dimensional and non-diversified urban economy, its economic dependence on non-renewable resources and growing depletion process are among its main weaknesses and threats. High potential for development and growth of Arvand free trade-industrial zone, maritime boundary with Littoral of Persian Gulf states to trade, commerce and services and tourism development are considered as the most important strengths and opportunities in the balanced and sustainable urban development process. Therefore, according to the resultant compilation, among the importance of internal and external factors affecting sustainable urban development, diversification Strategy is considered as the most important and most basic scenario for this city by reallocation of resources, taking advantage of the strengths and opportunities to eliminate and reduce the processing threats of Abadan oil city.