Investigation of natural and human hazards and vulnerability of historical fabric in Ferdowsi neighborhood of Tehran

Urban planners consider historical fabric as the beating heart of cities. However, cities and specifically their historical fabrics are constantly under influence of natural and human-induced hazards.  This study aimed to assess the vulnerability of Ferdowsi neighborhood as an example of Tehran’s historical fabric. The data was obtained from geographical information system (GIS) files and a survey, as well as historical contexts and documents were analyzed as part of this study. Ten municipal experts were also asked to provide a score of 1 to 5 for each of the 29 indicators compared to standard levels. The mean value of these scores was then used to evaluate the role of each parameter in the vulnerability of this neighborhood.  Study findings indicate a high potential for the occurrence of natural and human-induced hazards in the study area. The abundance of unstable multistory buildings and derelict electricity and water networks, storage of flammables in warehouses, and lack of sewage network for half of the buildings were the most significant factors contributing to the vulnerability of this ancient fabric. Problems such as insecurity, drug abuse in public spaces, overcrowding and daytime congestion have also led to rapid relocation of neighborhood residents, who subsequently were replaced by commercial activities and warehouses. In conclusion, numerous problems are contributing to the vulnerability of historical fabric of this neighborhood and such problems are highly likely to be applied to other urban historical fabrics in Tehran.