Spatial Dynamics of Urban Sprawl in Tabriz andIsfahan Cities

In recent years, the growths of population and urbanism have led to the urban sprawl in many great cities of developing countries. Sprawl growth is one of the major challenges of urban planners in most of the countries. In fact, sprawl growth is opposite to the urban sustainable development principles since this issue has imposed many economic, social, physical and environmental consequences on cities. In Iran, most of the great cities have utilized sprawl growth pattern as their growth pattern. Therefore, the aim of this study was determining the growth pattern, its causes, and consequences as well as controlling sprawl growth methods in Tabriz and Isfahan cities. This study was an applied research, which had used descriptive-analytical research method. Statistical data was used for measuring the growth pattern of Tabriz and Isfahan cities. Moreover, to analyze the statistical data, Moran, Geary, Holdren and Shannon entropy models were utilized and GIS software was also used to draw the maps. The results of the study indicated that the growth pattern of Tabriz and Isfahan cities had a sprawl growth pattern making environmental, economic and social problems in these cities. Finally, to control the sprawl growth in Tabriz and Isfahan cities, following approaches could be used: smart growth principles, new urbanism principles, having metropolitan area, reusing inappropriate applications, redevelopment of nuclear areas inside the cities.

Keywords:

Sustainable development , Urban form , Sprawl growth , Isfahan and Tabriz metropolitans