Researchers believe that population density is defined as the estimation of the amount of population and their activities. Put it differently, it is equivalent of spatial congestion. This concept is measured based on some environmental indexes. Also, it is closely related to the environment`s design style and culture and environmental indexes. Thus, the environment has a substantial influence on the perception of density which is assessed as spatial configuration. As a result, the environment has a great impact on density perception, which we consider as a spatial configuration. Configuration, in other words, is a set of relationships between spaces that exist in a particular situation in time and affect the perception of density by citizens and environmental quality. In this regard, the present study was conducted with the aim of using condensation tools in urban planning and trying to create a favorable environment for the residents of Shahid Beheshti residential town of Hamadan. The type of research is applied and its method is descriptive. The information is collected through observation and questionnaire adjusted with the Likert spectrum. The statistical population of the study in Beheshti town of Hamedan is 7652 people, and the sample size is 366 people using Cochran formula. Data analysis was also performed through Spatial Distance Index (SOI) calculations and one-way ANOVA and multiple regression (HMR) tests. Finally, it was found that the lower the spatial distance index (SOI), the more enclosed and compact space, the lower the environmental quality, and the higher the SOI, the higher the openness and extent, and ultimately the higher the environmental quality. As a result, the present study has presented a conceptual framework for planning and designing standard and appropriate spatial configuration of urban space with respect to the level of citizens' perception to improve the quality of the urban environment.

The qualitative study of the urbanization process indicates that inappropriate development has caused a great deal of damage to the urban landscape structure. The problem solving tool is planning the ecological networks as matter and energy pathways. Planning natural elements of the structure, including green and open spots and corridors, will guide the researcher toward achieving research goals such as the conservation and restoration of natural resources and the improvement of cybernetic forces to enhance performance sustainability, structural equilibrium, and habitat variability. The methodological model of research in the Karaj metropolis identified flexible elements to strengthen ecological processes. Then, adopting the ecological-sociological approach and forming the urban habitat network, it was applied for sustainability. GIS software was used to map and digitize the data, RS to capture satellite images, and FRAGSTATE 4.2 to analyze the metrics changes in the years 2008 and 2018. The results of Bayer spot changes were -7.98% for CA, +5.79% for NP, and -1.5% for Cohesion, while residential spot changes were -24.15% for CA, +26.16% for NP, -3.96% for Cohesion, and green-space spot changes were -38.8%  for CA, +275.5% for NP increase, and -34.0% for Cohesion. These indicated increased discontinuity, decreased natural bedding connectivity, and decreased ecological performance along with its adverse effect on social structure. Thus, using a nature-based planning, we can witness the network dynamics of natural/man-made communication/isolation networks over time, and by establishing a holistic, bio-ethical culture, we can overcome social vacuum. This way, Karaj can move in the excellent sustainable development path.

The discussion of environmental change is currently one of the most important challenges which the international community faces. This issue comprises one of the most extensive scientific, economic, social, and even political debates at different global levels. Severe and sustained droughts have threatened many parts of the globe at different times and have led to rapid and profound changes at the economic and social development levels. The Middle East, especially Iran, has been no exception in this regard. The drying up of water resources, including lakes, is a prominent feature of these changes that has caused problems for the surrounding habitats. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the status of development indicators in 22 cities in Urmia Lake catchment area. In recent decades, water level has decreased significantly and drought level has increased in this lake. This study is an applied research project in terms of purpose and a descriptive-analytical one in terms of methodology. Data and information were collected from sources and documents of the Census Bureau for the years 2006 and 2016. Also, Vikor method and Moran's spatial autocorrelation index in Arc Gis software were used for the data analysis. The results of the statistical calculations showed that the development levels in the catchment area have transformed dramatically over the last 10 years, from the cluster distribution of 2006 to the dispersed distribution pattern of 2016. Moreover, the employment rate has declined and the unemployment rate has increased.Comparing the various statistics, one can clearly see the negative effects of the Lake water level decline on catchment area counties over the last 10 years. The gradual decline in the Lake water level (followed by a decrease in the employment rate and an increase in the unemployment rate) is the main reason for the imbalance in the development of the region.

As the most essential element of life, water has long been regarded as an indicator of development because it is inextricably linked to the sustainability of human societies, especially the socio-economic function of rural settlements. The main purpose of this study is to explain and root out the causes of groundwater resource draw-down in relation to the socio-economic structure of rural areas. The main issue is that as population growth and demand have increased (to meet the needs of rural communities), excessive exploitation and pressure on groundwater resources have been on the rise. The research data were collected through document analysis and field study. Next, the longitudinal statistics of 40 observational wells (1984-2014) were combined with quantitative observations and interviews with subject matter experts. These were then analyzed through descriptive-analytical methods using inferential statistics and GIS software. Research findings show that the implementation of land reform program, the increase of number of farmers, deep well drilling, the development of irrigated area, and the change of production method had a relationship with unnecessary exploitation and draw-dawn in groundwater level in the research area. The result of the study illustrates the fact that as the population has increased threefold in the living space of the plains, the farms have been fragmented, and numerous deep wells have been drilled, the groundwater level in the aquifer has drawdown to -22 m.

Ports in most parts of the world play a great role in creating integrity between the prosperous of the regions and balancing the supply chain (production, distribution, and consumption). This article is to analyze the spatial interaction between the southern ports of Iran and local-regional hinterlands and explain the role of ports in shaping the spatial structure. For this purpose, a network analysis of commodity flows method is used in 1996, 2006 and 2015. The findings indicate that southern Iran's ports are often the importer of consumer goods in the populated centers, located in regional hinterlands, and, at best, have exported energy sources and raw materials. While urban centers, located in local hinterlands, do not play an effective role in the production and delivery of goods to ports, they are often dependent on the regional center (Shiraz) to meet their consumption needs. It revealed that although the process of spatial inequality has been moving towards greater balance over the past two decades, the development of medium-sized ports and local nodes in the contiguous hinterlands and forelands has led to a balanced monocentric spatial structure in this region.

By predicting land use changes, the extent of the expansion and destruction of resources can be determined, and future policies can be pushed in the right direction. The aim of this study is modeling the land use changes process in Mashhad by using Landsat satellite images related to 1989, 2008, and 2014. Initially, based on the hybrid method (unsupervised and supervised classification combination), land uses were classified into six classes. Then, by using the Markov chain, the transmission matrix between 1989 and 2008 was calculated and by applying it in the Markov-CA model, the land use map for 2014 was predicted. In the following, the predicted land use map for 2014 with the actual 2014 land use map was compared with the Crosstab table, and the total Kappa coefficient was 0.91. Accordingly, the accuracy of the predicted Markov-CA model was confirmed. Finally, this model was used to predict land use in 2030. Therefore, by entering the 2014 reference map as the base map, the 2030 land use map prediction map was extracted. The results showed that from 1998 to 2030 there will be an increasing trend in urban and arid lands and a decreasing trend in agricultural lands and gardens. The results indicate that the Markov-CA model can contribute to the design of a sustainable urban system.

Identifying tourism attractions is a basic requirement in the local and national community toward balanced and harmonious development of land potential. This study aimed to evaluate the tourism attractions of Gharahsoo watershed in Golestan province, northeast of Iran, based on the impact and effectiveness of environmental criteria. After determination of criteria and preparation of layers, criteria analysis was done based on the impacts and effectiveness of the criteria using DEMATEL method. Entropy Shannon method was used for weighting criteria. Finally, the spatial analysis was done by employing the TOPSIS method. The results showed that landform and plant density, in terms of the impact, and access to facilities, in terms of the effectiveness, have priority over the other criteria. Also, the criteria weighting results showed that the criteria access to facilities, landform and plant density with the value 0.229, 0.147 and 0.123 are a priority to the other criteria, respectively. Finally, the results showed that, in terms of tourism attractions, the areas of the southern of Gharahsoo watershed are in suitable conditions and the rest of the area, especially the northern parts, has unsuitable conditions.

Land cover always has changed due to human activities and natural phenomena,. Intensive and variety of these changes in urban environments are more than others. The objective of this research was assessment of the temporal and spatial changes for two coastal cities (Chalus and Babolsar) and two non-coastal cities (Ghaemshahr and Amol) in Mazandaran province with the view to compactness, complexity and centrality of urban form using landscape metrics. The research methodology was a quantify method and the land use maps were produced in three classes (urban, cropland and water) by maximum likelihood classificationusing Landsat satellite images. For landscape change analysis 12 landscape metrics were used in the class and landscape level. The results show that the NP for cropland in four cities increased, which represent fragmentation, loss of continuity and interference in cropland. Additionally, increasing trend of number of patches was observed in two cities Ghaemshahr and Babolsar in landscape level that showed fragmented structure in these cities. Also, ENN-MN decreased only for Ghaemshahr that means high centralization was occurred in this city. Generally, the significant difference was not observed between coastal and non-coastal cities with the view to compactness and complexity.

Planners always face a set of spatial conflicts in allocation of land to a particular activity; this implies that a land may be used for two or more parallel applications. Currently in Town and Country Planning programs recognizing priorities in the land allocation process are modeled independently without considering the role of other land uses, and as potential land-use conflicts are an issue that has been ignored. The purpose of this study is to introduce and use the LUCIS model to identify land allocation priorities along with conflict modeling. To implement the model, with using the Python programming language an ArcGIS toolbox has been developed. Due to the developed system, defining inputs, weights and stakeholder priorities, land use modeling will be done automatically. Finally, priorities and also major conflicts in the study area have been identified. Results of this study show that, in addition to having the capabilities of other models in land suitability analysis, LUCIS can properly model existing conflicts. Therefore, it is recommended that a separate part under title "Identification of land suitability conflicts"  be specified in the descriptive setting of Town and Country Planning programs.

Plan quality evaluation has turned to a significant approach considered by the urban studies both in order to help the success in implementation of the plan and to make better plans. Thus, the current study evaluated the "Master Plan of Pooladshahr City" as case study and used a framework for evaluation of quality of urban development plans based on the synthesis of Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Analytic Network Process (APN) methods. In fact, after extracting indicators of theoretical studies, the network connections between indexes is built using ISM and its output becomes as an input in the evaluation process of ANP. The most shortcomings of this plan can be considered as lack of public participation in plan preparation process, lack of use of scientific methods and local values in visioning, and adapting it with all the elements of the plan besides lack of indicators for monitoring the success. Although the efforts of the plan producers for inclusion of such concepts as sustainable development, urban competitiveness, public participation, etc. in a reasonable methodology which cannot be seen in the conventional service description of planning has been significant,  it has not been much considered by the plan itself.