Today, strategic spatial planning is considered worldwide as a way to shape urban growth in response to the inefficiency of traditional planning methods. In Iran, with the preparation of strategic structural plans in the 70s and strategic urban development plans in the 80s, an attempt was made to change the attitude from comprehensive-traditional planning to strategic planning. These plans, however, were theoretically based on strategic spatial planning. But for several reasons including; Lack of knowledge of the factors affecting the application of strategic spatial planning and the lack of an appropriate theoretical model can not be sustainable and effective in the urban planning system of the country. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting the application of strategic spatial planning and to create a suitable theoretical model for the application of this type of planning. In the present study, according to the quiddity of the main research question (How is the appropriate theoretical model for the implementation of strategic space planning in Isfahan?) and its philosophical orientation, Qualitative research methods have been used and among them, the Grounded theory method with respect to abstract thinking and theorizing capabilities is selected. Data were collected through review of theoretical literature, research results on the failure of previous experimental efforts in the country and interviews with 7 urban planning experts in Isfahan and analyzed using the comparison method in three stages (open, axial and selective coding) and was analyzed. Data analysis showed that the implementation of the proposed theory of strategic spatial planning has 21 main categories in the form of 6 main categories including: 1. open access order, 2. outputs, 3. strategic spatial planning methods, 4. content and Background, 5. Institutional capacity and participation. Accordingly, the fulfilment of strategic spatial planning depends on institutional capacity building to create open access conditions by determining strategies and paying attention to the institutional context and environment of planning. Consequences of using spatial strategic planning in the form of five main categories including: social programs, documents, programs, urban management. . To be. Acceptance and reduction of transaction costs occur. The results of the research show; Legal structures, institutional capacity building and institutional arrangements, especially open access orders, have a decisive effect on the implementation of strategic spatial planning in the city of Isfahan.

The prevalence of non-spatial approaches and physical determinism in the management of spatial changes and solving urban problems in the Tehran Metropolitan has led to a situation in which urban plans such as Tehran’s Master Plan (2007) and the 22 District plans of Tehran metropolitan (2012) have been less than successful in fulfilling expectations regarding the urban spatial system and uncertainties affecting such systems. Dealing with urban problems and uncertainties affecting strategic decision-making including those associated with the planning environment, the guiding values of the planning process, and finally those associated with the decisions made by other stakeholders through strategic spatial planning in an era characterized by an accumulation of knowledge and information, would require knowledge management. Urban Planning problems due to spatial and political nature of planning will not fit into traditional information systems. This fact shifts the emphasis and application of information systems and “knowledge-management” in urban planning from a mere technical to a broader context suitable for the rationale of a strategic spatial planning. Knowledge-management as a set of procedures, infrastructures, technical and managerial tools is a designed process towards creating, sharing and leveraging information and knowledge within and around organizations. The absence of an urban knowledge management system has increased the dynamism and complexity of urban problems. In fact, creation of such a system as an important component of the efficiency of any urban planning system has been largely overlooked in both planning research and practice. This paper is an attempt to answer two basic questions: first, what challenges does Tehran’s urban planning system face from the perspective of a knowledge-based strategic spatial planning system based on the principles of knowledge management? And second, what is the appropriate management model to be applied in Tehran’s urban planning system? Dealing with these two questions will help us achieve the main purpose of this paper: enhancing Tehran’s urban planning system through application of the principles of strategic spatial planning and knowledge management (knowledge-based strategic spatial planning). To this end, a qualitative research approach based on a two-stage descriptive-analytic and analytic-prescriptive process has been adopted. Systematic review of the research literature constitutes the first stage of this methodology. The second stage deals with "progressive abstraction problem-finding", focus group method, content analysis and the “conceptual suitability”. Our findings indicate that knowledge management enhances the efficiency of Tehran’s urban planning system in the framework of the strategic spatial planning approach through the generation and application of all types of knowledge, providing the context for learning from knowledge, creating a flexible knowledge base, promoting knowledge exchange, raising public awareness and the promotion of a knowledge application culture. However, the absence of belief in knowledge management and strategic thinking within the formal institutional structures (such as the legal system, governance and organizations) and informal institutions (such as culture, history and public beliefs) constitutes the main challenge facing Tehran’s urban planning system.

Since the mid-1960s and following the implementation of three development programs and the economic transformations that have taken place in the country and led to the concentration of investments in Tehran, the issue of redistribution of growth and wealth production across different regions of the country and control of the population increase in Tehran has been raised. Until today, the topic of strategic spatial planning and its optimal utilization has been discussed at various time intervals. Sometimes, actions have been taken under the title of strategic spatial planning or other related terms. However, for different reasons, attention to the concept of strategic spatial planning within planning system and development management of the country has not been addressed. Also, the economic planning system has never allowed serious expression of the existence and serious presentation of a strategic spatial planning approach.In fact, despite about half a century since the emergence of the need for strategic spatial planning which required depopulation of Tehran and balanced distribution of population and activities across the country and maximum and balanced utilization of the diverse capabilities of various regions and areas of the country, why this issue is still not settled? are the chosen strategic spatial planning approach correct and consistent with the requirements of the Iranian territory? Or there is a failure to properly integrate economic development policies with strategic spatial planning policies? During the implementation phase, are the programs deviated, and in reality, are the existing problems related to execution and implementers, or are they related to the programs and approaches themselves? Or have the unexpected events such as the eight-year imposed war and other factors like prolonged drought, regional and international political changes, and sanctions played a role? What role has the country’s political management system and administrative system played in this regard? To what extent have public culture and subcultures contributed to this situation? How can Strategic spatial planning effectively contribute to optimal and equitable utilization of the land and the well-being of all members of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the umbrella of the Islamic-Iranian model of progress?

The present research is applied and considers the importance of the strategic spatial planning approach in the progress of the country and aims to identify the effective factors in the non-implementation of this approach in the planning and management system of Iran. It also provides necessary strategies that can serve as useful guidance for planners and decision-makers. In terms of method and nature, this research is descriptive-analytic, and the data collection method is based on library sources.

Why strategic spatial planning has not become a discourse? In this regard, we can refer to two general categories of factors including general factors: public indifference to long-term issues and focus on short-term concerns, lack of a stable strategic planning system, lack of foresight and future-oriented thinking,  conflict between long-term Strategic spatial planning and short-term management, neglect of justice in the management and planning system and specific factors: theoretical ambiguity (lack of clarity in the approach), temporal gap, lack of clear and enforceable laws and regulations, absence of a strong educational and research foundation, conceptual dispersion and varying interpretations among experts (managers, academics, specialists), failure to transform into a public demand, lack of representation of peripheral regions in the central management circle, absence of an effective and continuous monitoring and oversight system with a focus on balanced development.

Based on the findings, the following strategies are proposed to change the current situation and transform the concept of strategic spatial planning into a discourse: discourse Formation at the elite level (including executive, academic, and specialized elites), promoting and reflecting the Islamic-Iranian model as an operational translator of the progress paradigm and a fundamental document for strategic spatial planning, ensuring justice in the fabric of the country’s management and planning system, establishment of a National Institution for Progress focusing on stability, foresight, and efficiency in the country’s management system, encouraging participation at all levels of planning and implementation, unified Planning and strategic spatial planning System: designing and implementing an efficient system for national planning and management, Effective Monitoring and Continuous Observation: establishing a national institution with legal authority and necessary resources for guiding and directing strategic spatial planning, designing and implementing an efficient monitoring and continuous observation system for the country’s spatial organization.

Strategic spatial planning is presented as an approach to deal with the chronic challenges facing the sustainable use of space, i.e. the physical-spatial division and the policy-planning division. However, there are major barriers to realizing this approach in Iran, which are affected by its governance and planning system approaches. In this regard, the current research has attempted to identify and explain the major barriers to the realization of strategic spatial planning in Iran with an exploratory approach and a combined interview and targeted Delphi method. The data was collected through a semi-structured interview in the form of a targeted Delphi method in two rounds of 25 experts, and the barriers and related concepts were confirmed, extracted and described using MAXQDA software and Kendall's coefficient of agreement. The results of 405 extracted codes indicated that there are 4 major barriers to the realization of strategic spatial planning in Iran, which are: geographical-spatial barrier (6 explanatory concepts and 26% of the extracted codes), rentier political economy barrier (7 explanatory concepts and 34% of extracted codes), institutional division barrier (7 explanatory concepts and 23% of extracted codes) and structural-spatial division barrier (7 explanatory concepts and 17% of extracted codes). The present study highlights the importance of recognizing and correctly confronting and taking constructive measures against the four mentioned barriers, which are the main sources of physical-spatial and political-planning divisions in the way of realizing strategic spatial planning in Iran.

Due to the inefficiencies of the traditional approaches to regional planning in solving problems, mainly suffering from physical emphasis and increasing complexity of the relationship between activity areas, the use of more efficient approaches such as strategic spatial planning, for solving regional problems and readjust relationships within it for different purposes were scheduled on the agenda. Strategic spatial planning approach can be considered a long-term plan that will be guided by the public sector and will emphasis on spatial dimensions of regional levels. Emphasis on the principles of sustainable development and regional integration in strategic spatial planning approach ensures unisonous development in different dimensions that can be possible integration of activities in order to achieve the objectives of sustainable development provided. This research is based on the use of Analysis of Interconnected Decision Areas (AIDA) method in strategic spatial planning approach to achieve sustainable integrated development of Qazvin region. To achieve this purpose, after determining the decision areas, the scenarios were generated and were prioritized by the integrated and sustainable development approaches followed by the best scenario selection. Later policies and executive programs were produced. This research seeks to adjust activities, services and facilities distribution in an accord with settlement potential of Qazvin region and provides strategies, policies and programs for implementation in order to achieve sustainable and integrated development of Qazvin region.

Spatial planning approaches along with complication of societies are being changed. These changes and transformations have reflected themselves in increasing diversification of economic patterns, people, group, organization, and institution’s mobility. While in less developed network societies some of the concepts including “distance” and “movement “are relatively losing their importance, some fairly new ones such as “time “and “timespace convergence “are gaining ground. As a matter of fact, problems associated with spatial planning in less developing economies possess different nature. Appropriate response to these problems require application of compatible strategic planning as well as changes in planning style. Structuralfunctional approaches as a strategic planning tool regarding organization of space at different levels and scales within new social geography framework tries to explain complex aspects of spatial organization in less developed societies as well as to find solutions with respect to rooted functional-structural relation problems. The major objective of this paper is to compile the needed materials regarding such a unique strategic spatial planning.

The approaches to spatial planning change as the societies are becoming more complex. These changes show up in an increasing diversity of activity and mobility patterns of individuals, households, social groups, institutions and organizations. So, as the relative importance of some concepts like “distance” and “movement” declines in developed network societies, the importance of other concepts, as time and time-space, increase. Delivering proper response on these issues implies the development of an adapted strategic planning capacity and a shift in planning style. Structural-Functional Dynamism (SFD), as a strategic approach to the organization of space at different levels of scale, tries in modern social geographic context, to define complex issues of spatial organization in less developed communities, seeking solutions for their related structural-functional deep-rooted problems. This paper based on a comparative study of two different areas, aims to appraise the sufficiency of this `alternative' strategic spatial planning approach.

In strategic spatial planning and regional planning studies, formulation of strategies, policies as well as Division of labor between country regions based on a set of economic, social, cultural and ecological potential aspects, is the most important goals. For this reason, territorial zoning will be considered as a one of the central issues of zoning areas in spatial planning and regional planning. Therefore, during the past few decades and along with the raising the strategic spatial planning topic and national division of labor based on territorial zoning, always in the spotlight of spatial planners in the country. Unfortunately, despite the passage of many years of regional and spatial planning in the country, and raising the topics of zoning in the country, according to economic, social, political and ecological aspects, these zoning have not been operated and still continue the types of zoning have been done with political attitudes and in the division of the province. This paper classified as qualitative research that with use of content analysis method and documentary and library study tools, has been proceed to study and analyze the requirements of the territorial zoning in the country and the background of this issue in the country planning system history. On the basis of this study, while pointing out the importance and necessity of territorial zoning in the country, in summary, the types of territorial zoning has been mentioned in country, and after explaining the obstacles ahead of territorial zoning in the country, has been concerned to provide new ways of territorial zoning in the country.

Polycentric city- regions are the result of the increasing processes of growth in different spatial configurations. Such phenomena are particular type of spatial system that have their unique and distinctive characteristics. Misunderstanding the nature of Polycentric city-regions and their specific guidance and control mechanisms especially in developing countries, would prevent them of experiencing sustainable spatial development. Traditional planning approaches are unable to face challenges presented by such city- regions, while insisting on their continuation would lead to inextricable problems. This is despite the fact that the strategic spatial planning might address the challenge properly.
The purpose of this article is to explain and to clarify the concept of city- region in developing and developed countries; to thinking about the consequences of city- regions’ expansion; and to discuss the eligibility of spatial strategic planning as a responsive and applicable procedure to face the challenging nature of Polycentric city- regions.
This article is based on explanatory research methodology, which is followed by an analytical description of events in order to explain their relationship within the framework of systems approach. So, firstly, the theoretical and experimental frameworks related to the “polycentric city region” would be reviewed; secondly, the spatial strategic planning approach would be explained; then the challenges of guidance and control mechanisms in polycentric city- regions would be clarified; and finally, the key and strategic issue to address those challenges would be discussed.
The output of this article is the analysis of major characteristics of polycentric city- regions and the explanation of how the guidance and control mechanism of such city- regions can be assumed to be within a spatial strategic planning approach.

It seems that sport is as an important part of development in sustainable development. The purpose of this research was the perspective of strategic spatial planning for table tennis in Esfahan province. Statistical population consisted of sports experts in Isfahan province. 78 subjects were selected by the purposive random sampling method. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods coefficient initial questionnaire and open interviews and ratings were used for data collection and analysis. The research instrument was a self-made checklist in which respondents were asked to indicate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the sport's List, while using geographic information system (GIS) to provide descriptive-analytic model, and part of the data in the software Arc - GIS analysis to investigate. The overall result of the study showed that there is an unbalanced distribution of table tennis facilities and spaces in the province, In addition, with regard to the Matrix positioning and strategic action status table tennis in Isfahan province was competitive.