Livability analysis of Iranian cities and strengthening strategies (Case study: old areas of Zabol, Iran)

Abstract

Today, cities are facing many economic, social and environmental challenges. Meanwhile, population growth with an ever-increasing proportion of urbanization has led to adverse effects on cities. The continuation of this urbanization is associated with social, economic, environmental problems, leading to crisis and urban instability. In the meantime, other problems such as different types of pollution, traffic, and psychological problems greatly reduce the quality of life and, consequently, the livability of cities. Therefore, the necessity and importance of livability and sustainable development in cities is quite evident. Livability and sustainable development are approaches which ultimately result in cities free from different types of pollutions, traffic, and social, environmental, economic, and physical problems. The purpose of this study is to identify the internal and external factors affecting the livability of the old region of Zabol, Iran in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, ad threats and assess the livability capabilities. It also offers the best strategies using the time-spatial considerations in line with the sustainable development. SWOT technique was applied to identify the environmentally internal (weaknesses and strengths) and external (opportunities and threats) accelerating and slowing down factors and offer practical and scientific strategies in order to strengthen the livability in the study area. AHP was employed to prioritize the strategies. This is a descriptive-analytical field and desk studies. The results of SWOT-AHP model based on the pairwise comparison at different decision-making and hierarchical structure (tree) levels of this model (choices, criteria, and goal) show that the defensive strategy (with the score of 0.367) yields relative superiority compared to other four strategies. Therefore, livability strengthening strategies need to be determined in a way to meet the weaknesses, remove the threats, and optimize the livability status quo using a detailed and strategic planning approach.