The structure of urban development planning in our country has non-flexible, inefficient foundations, and the functional geometric approach that theoretical and methodological inadequacy of its paradigm, namely planning focused on its weaknesses and inefficiencies, is transparent, confirms it more and more. In this process, the strategic planning approach, with transforming the planning structure within two parts of the decision-making and decision taking, has proposed some flexible, transparent, and participatory foundations in the field of urban development design. Exercising this approach requires recognizing the priorities, influences, and challenges ahead to understand its existing reality in the urban development process. In this regard, the present study has been carried out with the "application-development" nature and with the "descriptive-analytical” methodology. The sample population of the research is 50 experts and elites related to the research topic selected in a targeted Delphi manner. The analytical tool of the research, due to the goals, is the FLLS model and the structural equation modeling AMOS. The results indicate that: policymaking is the most important stage in the strategic decision-making structure; the stage of reforming and reviewing the plans is the most important stage of the decision-taking strategic structure. These two possess the highest priority for structural changes in Isfahan metropolis. Explaining the Structural Relationship of the Structural Steps to explain the Strategic Planning Implementation in Isfahan's Metropolitan Area shows the significance of the structural relationship and the weighted regression coefficients achieved in this process. It shows the importance of the stage of the reforming and reviewing of the plans in explaining the structural relationship rather than other stages.

One of the important strategies that have been taken into consideration in the last half-century to counter regional imbalances, caused by the increasing growth of large cities, is the creation of small cities. Due to the availability of some facilities and services, small cities are considered as one of the important centers for bringing balance to regional development. The method of the present research is a descriptive-analytical one, and the purpose of this research is to study the status of changes in the urban system of the small cities of Alborz province in order to bring balance to the regional sustainable development. In order to find out the status of small cities in the urban system in a 30-year period (1986-2016), rank-size models, as well as entropy and balance sheets models were used, and then their role in bringing balance to the regional development was evaluated. The results of the study show that the Entropy coefficient without counting the small towns, will still have imbalances. The rank-size logarithmic model, by counting small cities with the slope of the line amounting to -1.94 and without counting small cities reduced to -1.21, indicating the undeniable role of small cities in the urban system. Also, the results of the balance sheet model show that component changes are mainly intra-class and are due to the growth of cities. Moreover, concerning the process of changing villages to cities, changes resulted from the formation of new cities can be seen only in 2006.

Foresight analysis in land-use planning lets decision makers overcome complexity and reduce uncertainty through a focus on key drivers. This study attempts to identify the most important drivers of change in land use/cover planning in Gorgan Township with the participation of managers and academic experts towards a desired future. The approach is normative and the required data were obtained through investigation of scientific literature and land-use planning documents of Golestan Province. Interviews and meetings with experts also inform the process. Following a literature review, 77 effective factors on the future of land use/cover in the Province were identified. Among these, 22 representative factors were selected according to expert opinions. Two groups, totaling 70 people, consisting of managers of organizations in Golestan Province with links to land use planning and academic experts were asked to answer an online or in-person questionnaire of the effective factors. The structural analysis and cross-impact matrix were applied to the data. According to the result, the factors “Imperative policies”, “Technology”, “Governmental Services” and “Transportation and energy infrastructure” are the key drivers of change in land use/cover and affect the implementation of land-use planning in Gorgan Township. Both groups approved the "Imperative policies" as the most significant key driver which can affect other factors.

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.

Distribution of production activities and establishment of industrial units in different regions depend on the decision of firms regarding their location, but there are many important factors that affect the decision-making process. This research main goal is to understand the relationship between industry specialization, diversity of industries, competition between industries, and the concentration of industries over time. The research method is quantitative and follows the method employed by Glaeser et al. (1992). The effect of specialization, relative diversity of industries and competition between industries on industrial concentration have been investigated using geographically weighted regression method. The result of this assessment shows that during the study period with the increasing specialization of industries in the county, in most industrial sectors, increasing industry concentration has occurred. But between the relative diversity of industries and industrial competitiveness and the geographic concentration of industries no significant relationship in the counties was observed.

Integrity and connectivity of habitats are among the important factors for the conservation of plant and animal populations within protected areas, particularly when the habitats are connected. Investigating on the integrity of these areas could help interconnecting islanded patches and preventing the negative impacts of fragmentations. This study aimed to quantify the fragmentations of different regions within the protected area of Jajroud. Land-use map was extracted using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. The acquired data were employed to study the fragmentation of the regions considering the landscape metrics. The results indicate that the northern parts of the region, including the national parks of Khojir and Sorkheh Hesar, in general, possess larger patches and a higher level of connectivity, while the southern part is tending towards small-grain structure. In addition, results support the applicability of landscape metrics in assessing the management of the protected areas and identifying the protection patches in order to prioritize the protection of landscape patches.

Relationships between urban network cities are shaped by demographic trends and the factors affecting it. This research, using two concepts of occupation distribution and urban network, seeks to study the effective factors in the occurrence and intensification of inequalities in the Isfahan city spatial network. In the same way, the changes and transformation of the Isfahan network (including 37 cities of Isfahan approved by City-Region Plan) are considered by employment indicators as well as distance between cities, using network mapping in social network analysis software (Gephi) in three periods: 1996, 2006, 2016. The research method is applied in terms of purpose and application. The data were gathered through library studies and review of documents. The data analysis method is also quantitative. For employment at any time, a separate network is mapped and analyzed. The results indicate that in Isfahan city network at the time of research, demographic changes in populated cities and low population centers do not directly correlate with the shift of employment in the urban network, while there is a direct relationship between cities with a moderate population and the flow of employment. In addition, the metropolis of Isfahan, with a significant percentage of facilities, resources, financial flows, political power, and population flows, does not have decent employment flows rank in urban network cities.