Urban Plan Quality Evaluation Using an Integrated Approach of ISM and ANP; Case Study: Master Plan of Pooladshahr City (2012)

Plan quality evaluation has turned to a significant approach considered by the urban studies both in order to help the success in implementation of the plan and to make better plans. Thus, the current study evaluated the "Master Plan of Pooladshahr City" as the case study and used a framework for evaluation of quality of urban development plans based on the synthesis of Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Analytic Network Process (APN) methods. In fact, after extracting indicators of theoretical studies, the network connections between indexes built using ISM and its output puts as an input in the evaluation process of ANP. The most shortcomings of this plan can be considered as lack of public participation in plan preparation process, lack of use of scientific methods and local values in visioning, and adapting it with all the elements of the plan besides lack of indicators for monitoring the success. Although the efforts of the plan producers for inclusion of such concepts as sustainable development, urban competitiveness, public participation, etc. in a reasonable methodology which cannot be seen in the conventional service description of planning, has been significant, it has not been much considered by the plan itself.