Evaluating and measuring the level of readiness of institutions influencing the integrated management of Tehran's peri-urban areas in the establishment of spatial data infrastructure (SDI)

Tehran peri-urban areas encounter with several institutional and instrumental dispersions. Undoubtedly, spatial management requires a spatial decision support system that is dynamic and interactive. Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) is an effective approach in spatial information management which has made great progress in recent years. This research, while recognition the influential institutions in the integrated management of the capital's peri-urban areas, evaluates the factors and criteria of readiness for the establishment of spatial data infrastructure. Data collection was done through interviews and questionnaires, used the SDI readiness index method. 25 selected public and government institutions were evaluated in 16 evaluation criteria and institutional readiness index and readiness index was calculated. In general, the two factors of Technology and Information, in comparison with the three factors of Organization, Human Resources and Financial, face less challenges and problems in establishing a spatial data infrastructure, but overall, no significant difference was observed between the factors. In a more detailed analysis, the criterion of private capital and return on investment are not very good compared to other criteria. Also, in this research, four institutions were found to be more ready and three institutions were less prepared than others to implement SDI. The readiness index in the peri-urban influential institutions was calculated as 0.47, which is slightly below the average. At the end, in order to remove the obstacles, suggestions were presented focused on: strengthening the private sector, increasing public awareness and managers, reforming the attitude of governance and data power and expanding the culture of information dissemination, promoting inter-institutional cooperation, focusing on data infrastructure projects instead of creating inefficient systems.