f Naghdi - PhD Student, Department of Environment & Energy, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
a Nikkhah - Highly Distinguished Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

The objective was to model and establish capacities of East Azarbayjan for industrial development based on the regional eco-environment conditions. A variety of sites in the province were visited, and digital maps of ecological parameters with valuation weight for each layer were generated. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to weight the influence of several ecological parameters. Results revealed relative restrictions for industrial development in East Azarbayjan, which should be taken into account in planning prospectus industrial expansions. Based on the System Analysis Models, no provincial area was found highly suitable for industrial development, while 21% of the province was suitable, and 79% lacked any suitable potential for industrial development. The data provide novel information and insights into future management of industrial investments in light of East Azarbayjan’s ecological properties.

Ecological capacity, industrial development, systems analysis, East Azarbayjan