نشریه جغرافیا و توسعه ناحیه ای
سال بیست و دوم شماره 2 (پیاپی 47، تابستان 1403)

The main goal of this research is to investigate the main factors underlining agricultural land use change in Binaloud City as one of the concerns of planners, policymakers and executive managers of this region. In this regard, the unauthorized change of agricultural land use is one of the primary challenges facing Binaloud city in recent decades due to its wide range of adverse effects on environmental sustainability. For this reason, a descriptive-analytical research method has been adopted. In this survey, using documentary analysis and interviews with experts from organizations in Binaloud city, 23 determinants of unauthorized change of agricultural land use were identified with the help of 169 rural residents and experts in the villages with the most unauthorized land use change. A Likert scale was used for this purpose followed by factor analysis in SPSS software. The results show that the identified factors could be classified into 8 primary factors that explained 65.77% of the variance. The most important factors of unauthorized agricultural land use change in the following order: tourist attractions in the region (13.16%), land trade (12.14%), proximity to Mashhad city (8.35%), poor local management (7.40), drought (6.22%), high population density (5.42%), industrial activities (5.07%) and scant agricultural lands (5.02%). The large scale of land use change in the studied area calls for the adoption of appropriate measures in fields such as tourism management with emphasis on sustainability, strengthening of agricultural fields, organization of industrial and workshop activities, and allocation of suitable places to the settlement of the surplus population in the region.

The present study investigates the role of villagers' participation in the sustainable development of rural settlements in Dolatabad area. Participation is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of rural development, alongside other influential factors. Villagers, as active contributors, are essential in providing the necessary human resources for these settlements. Accordingly, villager participation is fundamental to promoting the dimensions of sustainable development. Using a descriptive survey methodology, this study uses a questionnaire for data collection. The results demonstrate a positive correlation between villagers' participation in implemented plans and programs and the sustainable development of rural settlements. As the participation of rural people increases, the mean dimension of sustainable development also improves. Standardized regression analysis reveals a significant positive relationship between villager participation and sustainable development, with a beta coefficient of 0.897 (p=0.000). Additionally, the factor loading for participation in the sustainable development model is 0.90. Model evaluation through chi-square analysis indicates the good fit of the model and data. The values of chi-square (161.251) and the degree of freedom (87) were also calculated. The chi-square-to-degree-of-freedom ratio is 1.85, which is below the recommended threshold of 2.0. Furthermore, the fit indices support the alignment of the data with the proposed model and therefore confirm the conceptual framework. Based on the findings of the present study, it is possible to improve the participation indicators of villagers in agricultural, industrial, service and tourism projects and programs, and raise the spirit of cooperation among villagers. This will allow for the development of the environmental-ecological, social, economic, and physical-infrastructural dimensions of rural settlements.

The urban sprawl and its consequences have given rise to a range of approaches for inner-city development. One of these approaches is the urban infill development. Due to their nature, deteriorated urban fabrics are a suitable ground for this type of development, which not only alleviates inner-city areas, but also hinders urban sprawl, and promotes internal development in cities. However, it is necessary to look at the potential of the cities for such development. Accordingly, this paper aims to study the capacity of Some’e Bijār neighborhood in Rasht as one of the deteriorated urban fabrics in terms of its infill development. It is a descriptive-analytical study. The data were analyzed using document analysis and field study (land uses). A sample size of 347 households was determined by the Cochran formula. In the end, analysis was conducted using a nonparametric sign test, the AHP model, and the gray analysis. The results revealed that the study area, except for the economic dimension, has the potential for implementation of inner-city development in all social, environmental and physical dimensions from the infill development approach. However, this is worth noting that this potential varies in different blocks of the neighborhood under study Moreover, contrary to the expectation, Some’e Bijār neighborhood is relatively well prepared for the infill development. However, it seems that one of the most important issues, which calls for serious attention, is building trust among the residents of Some’e Bijār neighborhood about the optimal implementation of projects such as urban development.

Today, an appropriate and sustainable density distribution in cities is vital to enhance the quality of life and improve the urban environment within the framework of urban development. The rising urban population, resource limitations, and the need for proper utilization of existing facilities underline the importance of paying further attention to the category of high-rise construction and urban environment in cities. In this regard, the main goal of the present study is to investigate the effects of high-rise construction on changes in the urban environment of Ahvaz. The statistical population included about 1,302,000 citizens of Ahvaz, from whom a sample of n=386 people was selected using the Cochran formula. The main instrument used in this study was a researcher-made questionnaire the content and construct validity of which were as well as its reliability were evaluated and confirmed using composite reliability. Data analysis was conducted by correlation analysis and structural equation modeling in SPSS and Smart PLS software. The results of structural equation modeling showed that, given the conceptual model of the test, there was a strong and significant relationship between research indicators and the urban high-rise development trend. (p<0.05). The model fit indices also revealed that data fits the conceptual model and, therefore, the model is confirmed. Also, the results of the one-sample t-test suggested that the highest impact on the change of urban high-rise construction on the urban environment was related to the livability index, followed by the economic index infrastructure index physical index environmental index, and social index, respectively.

Even though the water shortage problem has been assigned to the gap between water demand and supply for years, evidence suggests that water scarcity in the world's water-stressed countries has been prompted by inefficient water governance. On the other hand, given that water problems are a blend of natural, social, and political factors, they are complex and interdisciplinary in nature. Such considerations undermine water management that are solely based on pure scientific or technical assessments. Hence, finding the optimal solution for such problems determines the capacity of the water governance system. Under these circumstances, the sustainable management and governance of water resources require a framework that can change our understanding of the way water resources are managed. However, the question that remains unanswered is that why after more than two decades of implementing IWRM, as the common governmental water management method in countries, there have been no remarkable changes in sectoral boundaries? The current study, with a systematic review of the evolution of water resources management in the world, explores the problems of the centralized administration of the water sector and introduces the Polycentric Governance of Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEFN) as a new alternative. According to the results of this study, the Nexus approach, which emerged in the wake of the failure of sectoral management strategies, has attracted attention as a metaphor to describe the integrated nature of resources and as a bridge to surpass the shortcomings of sectoral thinking.

One of the main potentials of any region is tourism. The preservation and development of tourism at World Heritage (WH) sites has always been a key issue. Iran, thanks to its natural resources and historical background, has tremendous tourism potential. The city of Sari, the capital of Mazandaran province with its moderate Caspian climate, is one of the most attractive tourist destinations. Sari County has many natural, cultural, economic, social, and sports attractions; however, scant attention has been paid to the development of tourism in this area. This research aims to achieve regional balance and promote the capabilities of Sari by managing development and utilizing the existing potentials in the region, the most prominent of which is tourism in Mazandaran province and the city of Sari. In this applied research, a descriptive methodology has been adopted. The statistical population consists of experts and specialists in the field of tourism in Sari City, of whom 45 were selected through purposive cluster sampling. The main data collection instrument was a questionnaire distributed among 45 tourism specialists and experts. The fuzzy DEMATEL method was used for data analysis. The findings showed that the "climate" index has the greatest impact on improving tourism in Sari with an emphasis on regional development, followed by the "globalization and competition" index. Additionally, the effect of the "Link to modern global technology (Internet)" index is also greater than that of other indices. Finally, a model is designed for tourism in Sari with a focus on regional development.

Land subsidence is a phenomenon emerging in most of the alluvial plains of Iran in the last few decades due to the gradual or sudden lowering of the land surface. It is prompted by various factors such as over-harvesting of underground water, tectonic activities, mining, etc. Neyshabur Plain is not an exception to this rule and due to the over-exploitation of underground water in the last few decades, the water level of the aquifer has dropped and the hydrostatic pressure has declined. This has led to subsidence, which has affected rural and urban areas. This plain covers an area of 3477 square kilometers, of which an area of 591 square kilometers, which is home to a population of 59,000 people and 179 villages, struggles with severe land subsidence. In this research, the relationship between the aquifer and underground water level and its compatibility with the areas facing subsidence is investigated. Research shows that for every 83-cm decline in  groundwater level, there is on average 10.5 cm subsidence in the surface of Neyshabur Plain. In this research, sentinel satellite images from October 2014 to December 2017 taken by the Mapping Organization have been used by radar interferometric method. The results suggest that the indiscriminate exploitation of underground water resources has triggered land subsidence and cracks in rural areas, especially in the periphery of the villages of Firuzeh, Abu Saadi, Birum Abad, Faiz Abad, Sarab Koushak, Urdughash, and Farrakhk which are in some cases as big as 15 to 20 cm per year. The highest and the lowest subsidence, i.e., 1 cm per year, is reported in the villages of Dasht, Mehdi Abad, and Khoresofla.

One of the outcomes of migration to cities is the formation of certain patterns of residential segregation. Although the bulk of research has demonstrated the segregation of immigrants in metropolises, this subject has not been sufficiently addressed in small towns. Therefore, the present research is an attempt to answer the question of whether in a small city like Qaen, the immigrants had resorted to spatial segregation from a spatial perspective. The data was extracted from the statistical blocks of the 2016 Census of Qaen City and entered into Geo-Segregation Analyzer software to measure segregation indicators. Also, Arc GIS was used for supplemental spatial analyses and multiple regression analysis was conducted by SPSS. The results revealed that in the Evenness dimension, IS was moderate (0.495), the entropy index (H) was low (0.26), and the Gini index was relatively high (0.685). Accordingly, it can be argued that immigrants have not been evenly distributed and concentration in some blocks is evident. The Exposure dimension measured by the xPx index was low (0.258). The Delta index and Absolute Concentration, as indicators of concentration, are both in the moderate range, but the Absolute Clustering index (ACL) is low (0.274) . Still, spatial statistics such as Global Moran's I, General G and Ripley's K Function suggest that immigrants have settled based on a clustered pattern. Also, the low Absolute Centralization index (ACL) indicates a lower tendency of immigrants to the city center. In general, as suggested by most of the indicators, the segregation of immigrants from the rest of the population is confirmed. Further, according to the multiple linear regression, immigrants tend to settle in areas with restricted access to urban services, limited residential areas, and higher population density.

Today, planners have paid special attention to regional planning as an efficient strategy to alleviate regional inequalities and imbalances. Therefore, this paper aims to design a regional development planning model for Bojnord based on a structure analysis approach. In this applied research, which is descriptive-survey in nature, an exploratory-mixed approach has been adopted. The statistical population in the qualitative section includes experts and officials of Bojnord City, of whom a sample of 20 was selected using the purposeful sampling method. In the quantitative section, the population consisted of all citizens over 25 years of age from which a sample of 384 people was selected using the available sampling method by determining the sample size in unlimited communities. The data collection tool is an interview and a researcher-made questionnaire. In the qualitative section, Grounded Theory and MAXQDA were used for coding interviews. The index was finalized using the Delphi technique. In the quantitative section, relationships between variables were assessed by the analysis of the structural equation modeling using Lisrel software. The findings show that the most important planning criteria for the regional development of Bojnord consist of 6 main factors (economic, social, natural, political, management and infrastructural) and 40 sub-factors. Therefore, in the optimal model for the sustainable development of the region, social factors (with an impact factor of 0.54), natural factors (impact factor of 0.71) as causal factors (infrastructure with an impact factor of 0.64), as background conditions, have a positive impact on strategies (political factors). In other words, the more suitable these factors are, the higher the regional development planning will be. Moreover, the management factor improves the relationship between causal factors and strategies with an impact factor of 0.64, and plays a mediating role in this regard. Finally, in the regional development planning of Bojnord City, the development of strategies with a significant impact factor of 0.85 will contribute to the development of the economic conditions of Bojnord City in North Khorasan province.

Despite the proven benefits of electronic cities, its realization faces a plethora of challenges. For this reason, many Iranian cities, including Abdanan, have failed to comply with the standards of the electronic city. In this regard, this research seeks to identify and analyze the obstacles and challenges to the realization of the electronic city of Abdanan. This is an applied study that adopts a qualitative-quantitative method. In the qualitative section, theoretical saturation was reached through interviews with a sample of 5 experts who were selected using purposive sampling method. In the thematic analysis, four indices (individual, normative-social, technological and organizational) were identified. Using the purposive sampling, 50 experts were selected. The sub-criteria were then prioritized based on the structural-interpretive modeling of ISM. The results of interpretative structural modeling showed that among the obstacles to the realization of the electronic city in Abdanan, normative-social and technological obstacles posed the highest and lowest challenge, respectively, thus exerting the most and the least impact on the realization of the electronic city in Abdanan. Moreover, the results suggested that all sub-criteria of obstacles are among linked variables with a high power of influence and dependence. To help the realization of the electronic city in Abdanan, it is suggested to hold practical trainings by drawing on media capacities, organize various seminars and conferences in the city, develop automations of government bodies, improve bandwidth and reduce the costs of the Internet for people.

One of the areas that lay a fertile ground for segregation in cities is economic distinctions created due to the unequal allocation of resources, opportunities, and services. Urban segregation poses a major obstacle to the realization of an inclusive, coherent, and integrated city. The consequences of spatial segregation not only affect poor families but also influence all citizens and the spatial structure of cities. Therefore, studying the relationship between segregation and the spatial structure of the city is one of the measures that will contribute to efficient urban management and desirable urban governance. Hence, the main goal of this research is to measure the spatial-economic segregation of the Tehran metropolis. This is an applied study that adopts a descriptive-analytical method. The results suggest the formation of a concentrated pattern of spatial structure and moderate-to-severe segregation of economic indicators in the different regions of Tehran, so that the Z-Score of the spatial distribution of the indicators is above 1.65 and the entropy and spatial segregation of the indicators are usually over 0.6. Also, the results show that the highest regression coefficient between population entropy and spatial distribution of economic indicators is found in the northern and central regions of Tehran, and the lowest coefficient is seen in southeastern and southern regions of the city. There is a north-south and east-west trend between the spatial distribution of population and economic indicators in the Tehran metropolis, which has given rise to a kind of spatial segregation and centralization in the two central and northern axes of the city. Therefore, evaluating the trend of spatial-economic segregation of the Tehran metropolis in the coming years and identifying other background factors that play a significant role in the economic segregation of this city are proposed as key strategies for explaining and analyzing the spatial segregation of the Tehran metropolis.