Typology of Spatial Expansion New Sprawl Pattern (Case study: Urumia urban region)

Spatial expansion and land use changes in agricultural lands are among important factors contributing to environmental damages and disabilities of productive economy in the region, especially in agricultural aspects. This trend is common in developing countries. These changes in land use usually occur by those who target agricultural lands for speculations and other abusing forms of economy. In addition this trend also affects environment likewise economy which is attributed as sprawl. Urumia urban region has valuable agricultural lands which plays a key role in both environment and economy. During the past two decades, according to excessive construction in the region these areas are turned out to be more of a recreational site for affluent families which has decreased agricultural functions there and also has damaged beautiful landscapes of the villages. Recent condition is resulted from not being cost effective agricultural activities and inefficiency of the market supplemented with not supporting agricultural activities. This has leaded that Urumia urban region goes through a spatial expansion which differs considerably with urban sprawl. This paper is aimed to analyze effective factors on land changes and the following sprawl by it. Moreover there are two main questions that should be answered: first, which factors contribute to spatial expansion in agricultural areas? How is the sprawl dominating Urumia urban region attributed? In order to analyze and produce status qua and current relationship between Urumia city and agricultural lands, a descriptive and analytical method were used and in order to analyze the development process the documents were considered and finally in order to examine occurred changes from satellite photographs and cartographic photos in different periods were used. After gathering data and statistics and classification, in the second stage, through observing it was tried to perfect the statistics. The results showed that the absence cost effectiveness in agricultural activities and speculation in land and of the differences between users and speculators have resulted a new form of sprawl in Urumia which differs considerably with its common forms. This new sprawl has features which sustains affluent interests.

Keywords:

spatial expansion , Land Use Change , Sprawl , Urumia urban region