Indian Journal of Science and Technology

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An Investigation of Urban Systems Using Entropy and Elasticity Measures: Case Study of North Region of Iran


Affiliations
1 Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, Islamic Republic of
2 Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University, Shiraz
3 Lecture of Art and Architecture Faculty, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, Islamic Republic of
 

Achieving a balanced distribution of population and activities over space is one of the critical goals of spatial planning profession. This paper reviews the status of this issue for the North Region of Iran including provinces of Mazandaran, Giulan and Golestan. The study applied two well-known methods including entropy and elasticity for measuring the extent of regional balance of population distribution throughout the study area. The results showed that the disorder of urban system has been increased dramatically along with fast population increase. Three capital cities of the region have experienced focal concentration whereas small cities have encountered with stagnation in population growth. Those cities with 50 thousand people and over have showed higher tendency to absorb further population. These trends have resulted in intensifying irregularity of urban system and emerging of new megacities.

Keywords

Urban System, North Region of Iran, Elasticity, Entropy
User

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  • An Investigation of Urban Systems Using Entropy and Elasticity Measures: Case Study of North Region of Iran

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Authors

Nader Zali
Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, Islamic Republic of
Ali Soltani
Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University, Shiraz
Ahmad Panahi
Lecture of Art and Architecture Faculty, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, Islamic Republic of

Abstract


Achieving a balanced distribution of population and activities over space is one of the critical goals of spatial planning profession. This paper reviews the status of this issue for the North Region of Iran including provinces of Mazandaran, Giulan and Golestan. The study applied two well-known methods including entropy and elasticity for measuring the extent of regional balance of population distribution throughout the study area. The results showed that the disorder of urban system has been increased dramatically along with fast population increase. Three capital cities of the region have experienced focal concentration whereas small cities have encountered with stagnation in population growth. Those cities with 50 thousand people and over have showed higher tendency to absorb further population. These trends have resulted in intensifying irregularity of urban system and emerging of new megacities.

Keywords


Urban System, North Region of Iran, Elasticity, Entropy

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst%2F2011%2Fv4i9%2F30251