Analysis of Global Environmental Indices by Urban Sustainable Development Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran

2 PhD Candidate in Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
The plenty of conferences and symposiums in international and regional levels about environment show the concerns of the world about the environmental issues. There are always mutual relations between human activities and natural processes. Population growth and technological advancement are increasing the requirements of human societies. The sustainable development can be a solution for the ongoing processes. Urban expansion and development of Tehran City resulted in great changes in urban environment. The purpose of this research is to assess the urban districts of Tehran in terms of environmental indices.
Methodology
This is a descriptive analytical research. Environmental experts participated to fill the questionnaires. Some other data have been gathered by some organizational data. The criteria have been weighted using questionnaires results through Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Expert Choice. The results have been analyzed by statistical tests using SPSS. The outputs have been entered into ArcGIS for further analysis. We have also carried out Environmental Performance Index for the 22 districts of Tehran.
Results and discussion
The Environmental Performance Index for the 22 districts of Tehran is ranged from 49.2 to 72. This has indicated 10 districts are categorized as suitable and 12 relatively suitable. The highest population density is in district 10 with 36716 people in km2and the lowest is 17 with 31102 people in km2.  The worst air quality is obtained in districts of 3, 7, 10, and 18 in an order. Other indices are waste water network conditions, public health, waste management, vegetation, built area, climate, and soil water conditions.  
Conclusion
The results have revealed that the southern areas of Tehran have more proper conditions compared with northern areas. it can be said that the most important problem of the city is air pollution. The environmental conditions of Tehran can be classified into four categories. The first category is related to the problems resulted from geographical location of the city. The location is influenced by geomorphological conditions such as great height difference from north to south and problems in weather issues. The second category of problems is related to rapid immigration to this city and physical expansion.  The third category is related to social and economic functions in the city. The fourth category of the environmental issues of Tehran is resulted from organizational and institutional structure and incompetent urban management. 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Human Geography Research
Volume 50, Issue 4
January 2019
Pages 907-927

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 January 2017
  • Revise Date: 16 May 2017
  • Accept Date: 16 May 2017

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