Application of DPSIR Conceptual Framework for Analyzing the Impact of the Type and Level of Physical – qualitative Changes on Urban Construction1

Diversity and complexity of the process of physical changes in urban environments makes conceptual framework to be considered as a tool to simplify changes understanding in identifying indicators and variables affecting changes and changes types resulting from in classifying variables and indices. The conceptual framework can be used to identify levels of study and kinds of variables as well as to analyze, and illustrate their impact on environmental change. Research ahead, with the aim of introducing a functional tool able to describe and classify variables affecting such physical changes in urban areas, regarding kind and level of effectiveness, has adopted structure of DPSIR conceptual framework. This conceptual framework is considered one of the most common analytical tools in environmental studies. DPSIR is the acronym for Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts, and Responses. In this study, the causes of physical changes occurred in the study area (Region 11 of Tehran Municipality) and the implications they have, have been identified through the study of content analysis of the urban plans and methods of field data collection (such as questionnaires and interviews), on the basis of DPSIR conceptual framework by the level and type of influence of each variable on the descriptive analysis method. The results of the analytical- descriptive diagnosis shows that in the area under study four variables of intention to reside , immigration, ethnic orientation and expanding markets for goods and services are the key drivers of change in the status of the physical and social structure of the area.

Keywords:

DPSIR , Land Use Change , Environmental Impacts , Spatial Quality Change , Region 11of Tehran Municipality