Evaluation of Geomorphological Capabilities and Constraints and Their Role in the Physical Development of the City (Case Study: The Coastal City of Bandar Abbās)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty member of Geography Department, Islamic Azad University, Larestan Branch, Iran

2 PhD student

3 Associate Professor of Department of Geography, Islamic Azad University, Larestan Branch, Iran

10.22124/gscaj.2025.28328.1319

Abstract

This study examined the geomorphological processes and phenomena of the city of Bandar Abbās, as well as its physical development, between 1991 and 2021. The required data were collected from various sources, including remote sensing data, and were transformed into the necessary informational layers using GIS. These layers include: earthquakes, proximity to epicenters, flooding and inundation, rockfalls, landslides, faults, land subsidence, tides, sea waves and marine storms, dust storms of external origin, wind erosion, and sea-level changes (regression and transgression). To standardize these layers for analysis, fuzzy logic theory was applied. Furthermore, in order to extract the relative importance of each layer in identifying geomorphological zones, the Fuzzy ANP was employed. After determining the relative weights of the informational layers, the layers were integrated using the SAW method. Additionally, to examine the degree of alignment between urban expansion and geomorphological suitability over recent decades, the physical growth of Bandar Abbās from 1991 to 2021 was extracted from Landsat satellite imagery. After matching with land use maps, the urban expansion trend within the specified period was analyzed using the Crosstab method. The findings indicated that the greatest urban expansion has occurred in areas with lower geomorphological suitability. This highlights the necessity for more effective management and strategic planning to guide the physical development of Bandar Abbās toward zones with favorable geomorphological conditions.

Highlights

  • The geomorphological phenomena influencing the physical development of Bandar Abbās include: earthquakes, floods, rockfalls, landslides, faults, land subsidence, slope, tides, sea waves and marine storms, dust storms, and wind erosion.
  • The southern and southwestern parts of Bandar Abbās are exposed to minimal geomorphological hazards and offer a suitable foundation for the city's spatial expansion.
  • The lands located in District 3, as well as the old neighborhoods and deteriorated urban fabric situated along the central and eastern coastal strip of Bandar Abbās, are not suitable for urban development due to their high exposure to geomorphological risks

Keywords

Main Subjects

Geographical Studies of Coastal Areas Journal
Volume 6, Issue 4 - Serial Number 23
November 2026
Pages 101-123

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics