https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/ Geographical Studies of Coastal Areas Journal en daily 1 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0330 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0330 https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_7796.html Sea-oriented development is one of the concepts raised in the last few decades. In fact, it is a general concept that includes all seas and oceans. This concept is especially important for maritime countries and it is a shortcut to development for such countries. Iran is also one of the maritime countries, and the Persian Gulf and the Makrān Sea are among its most important maritime areas. According to the characteristics of Māhān's sea power theory, these areas have provided a very high capacity for Iran to become a potential sea power if possible. The main question of this research was about the external and international reasons for the lack of sea-oriented development in these areas. In this study, a descriptive-analytical method was used to analyze the development challenges of sea-oriented development in the Persian Gulf and the Makran Sea area, focusing on external factors. The importance of the Persian Gulf and the Makrān Sea from a strategic, economic and logistic point of view, especially in various areas of sea-oriented development, such as sea transportation, energy, marine raw materials and minerals, and maritime tourism, is very high. In addition to paying attention to the existing theoretical and practical capacities, the reasons for the lack of development of these areas also help to facilitate the sea-oriented development and understand the conditions. In general, the lack of sea-oriented development of these areas is due to the lack of investment, especially foreign investment. This, in turn, is caused by primary factors such as international and unilateral sanctions and joining the Financial Action Task Force and following its recommendations; and secondary factors such as Iran's permanent membership in the World Trade Organization and joining and strengthening international networks centered on the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea. The importance of removing the above obstacles is related to the entry of technologies into Iran. The import of new technologies, in turn, can facilitate sea-oriented development. The possibility of Iran's development through sea-oriented development, especially by relying on the Persian Gulf and the Makrān Sea, is more feasible and potential than other ways. Therefore, in order to eliminate these factors, it is necessary to resolve the regional and international disputes and reduce the level of tension in a way that is effective in the case of unilateral sanctions, Iran's membership in the World Trade Organization, and the strengthening of corridors centered on Iran. It is also very important to join the special financial action group and follow the 40 recommendations of this financing organization. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9576.html The purpose of this article was to present and analyze the performance of regional development based on quantitative strategic planning in the coastal region of Marivān, Kurdistān Province. A qualitative-quantitative approach was used to conduct the article. In the first section, after a field and library study (future-oriented documents, plans and programs) and using the SWOT model, four key factors were extracted in the form of 85 items and were identified by experts in the field (Delphi) using weighting software, extraction weights and dimensions. The results indicated that in the underdevelopment of the studied region, internal spatial organization (strengths and weaknesses) has less weight and external factors (threats and opportunities) are more decisive; therefore, aggressive strategies were extracted. In the second section, with the help of the Meta-SWOT strategic planning model, 15 organizational goals for the regional development of the province were determined and made available to experts over a 4-year period during the Sixth Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2019-2020). After going through the steps and final summarization, the results indicated that the regional development of the region is affected by the factorial idea that one was, the other was not, and the reason for underdevelopment can be the same reason for the development of the region (contradiction in the law of dialectics); that is, according to the results obtained, 3 development strategies and 3 anti-development strategies are: 1. Government investment, attention of policymakers, planners and officials (or lack thereof); 2. Private sector interest in investing in the province (or lack thereof); and 3. Lack of large-scale development infrastructure. Ultimately, it can be said that comprehensive regional development policy towards the Kurdistān Province has always been reproduced under the influence of planning ideas. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9581.html Wood cultivation and attention to sustainable development are of great importance in countries experiencing forest scarcity. Meanwhile, demand for wood products is steadily increasing at both national and international levels. Spruce is one of the most widely cultivated fast-growing tree species and is commonly used in forest plantations. This study aimed to improve the accuracy of optical image classification using machine learning by integrating optical and radar imagery. It also represented an effort toward the monitoring, control, and spatial management of rural areas, particularly from the perspective of agricultural activities, and can be considered a novel approach to rural development in the era of the information and technology revolution. In this research, Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, including spectral bands and radar polarizations, along with a digital elevation model (DEM), were utilized. The Random Forest algorithm was employed as a powerful method for classifying large and imbalanced datasets. By integrating optical and radar satellite data and applying the Random Forest machine learning algorithm, spruce plantation areas were zoned. The area under spruce cultivation in the Ziābar Rural District was estimated at 2,650 hectares. The overall classification accuracy and Kappa coefficient were obtained as 83.2% and 0.754, respectively. Accordingly, the proposed method can be regarded as a robust approach for the monitoring, control, and spatial management of agricultural activities in rural areas at various spatial scales. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9577.html Through effective policymaking, meticulous planning, and comprehensive collaboration, urban governance can foster sustainable tourism, simultaneously delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits. However, achieving this requires identifying and prioritizing key indicators of good governance for sustainable tourism. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the indicators of good governance for sustainable tourism in Khuzestān Province. Methodologically, it was descriptive research in terms of data collection and an applied-developmental study in terms of purpose. The statistical population comprises two groups: delphi panel of 50 experts in tourism and urban management. The target population, included urban planning managers, specialists, and university professors. Data was collected using a DEMATEL questionnaire, designed through a three-round Delphi technique. To analyze the data, establish cause-effect relationships, and determine the weight of each indicator, the hybrid DANP (DEMATEL-ANP) technique was employed. The study revealed that institutional and economic indicators hold greater significance in Khuzestān Province. This implies that appropriate laws and regulations, robust economic infrastructure, and government support for the tourism industry are essential for the province’s sustainable tourism development. Conversely, while social and environmental indicators were relatively less prioritized, they remain critically important. Coastal and marine areas, as integral components of Khuzestān’s tourism potential, play a key role in attracting tourists and advancing sustainable tourism. However, environmental considerations, particularly the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems, must be rigorously addressed alongside tourism development. These findings emphasize the importance of urban governance in the development of sustainable tourism and the need to pay attention to various indicators, including institutional, economic, social, and environmental indicators. They also highlight the role of beaches and the sea in the development of sustainable tourism and the need to pay attention to environmental protection in this regard. The results of this study can be a useful guide for policymakers and urban planners of Khuzestān province in developing sustainable tourism and optimally utilizing the capacities of beaches and the sea. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9580.html The quality of life in rural communities is a crucial issue closely linked to the residents' long-term settlement and the prevention of rural-to-urban migration. The present study sought to explore the driving and inhibiting factors influencing the improvement of the quality of life in rural areas. This research was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. The required data were collected through library and field methods (questionnaire). The statistical population consisted of 4,998 rural households in the central district of Astara County. From among them 357 were selected as a sample using Cochran's formula, which was increased to 360 respondents to improve the reliability of results. The collected data were analyzed using SMART PLS and SPSS software. Based on standard estimates, the impact of driving factors was as follows: economic-institutional index (0.625), social index (0.739), environmental-ecological index (0.877), and infrastructural-physical index (0.580). In terms of inhibiting factors, the following effects were estimated: economic-institutional index (0.705), social index (0.532), environmental-ecological index (0.413), and infrastructural-physical index (0.619), all related to the quality of life. Finally, necessary recommendations were provided. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9610.html This study first evaluated the diverse perceptions of citizens regarding norm violation and crime in urban spaces. In the second step, it classified and analyzes citizens’ reactions, and in the third step, it explained the spatial, social, and economic dimensions of the various meaningful reactions exhibited by citizens in the urban spaces of Bandar Abbās. The research was applied in nature and conducted through a descriptive–analytical method. Data were collected using a survey approach (researcher-made questionnaire and two-stage random sampling) with a sample size of 407 respondents. The data were then analyzed and tested using non-parametric inferential statistical models, including Kruskal–Wallis, Kendall’s Tau-c and Tau-b, Chi-square, Spearman, Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Shapiro–Wilk, and cross-tabulation. In response to three types of violations i.e., damaging green spaces, littering, and vandalizing bus stops and signage, 60% to 80% of citizens selected the options “doing nothing” or “only giving a verbal warning.” However, when reacting to three other offenses, ranging from minor to severe (verbal harassment and catcalling, hooliganism, and harassment involving physical threat toward families), only 38%, 10%, and 4% of citizens, respectively, chose “doing nothing” or “only giving a warning.” Analysis of the relationship between education level and reactions to verbal harassment (catcalling) indicated that 52% of illiterate respondents, and 0% of individuals with a doctoral degree, were willing to engage in confrontation (limited or full). The confrontation readiness index regarding catcalling was 70% among very low-income groups and 18% among very high-income groups. Spatial distribution of reactions to hooliganism and family-related harassment showed that 82% of residents in very low-income neighborhoods and 10% in very high-income neighborhoods preparedness for full or limited confrontation conflict. Variables such as literacy, employment, social class, neighborhood socio-economic level, and place of birth were significant determinants of citizens’ reactions, ranging from complete avoidance to full confrontation. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9600.html Spatial management, through the implementation of wise land-use planning and establishing linkages among uses, aims to balance development demands with environmental conservation while achieving economic and social objectives. Within this framework, the ecological-physical, economic, and social dimensions of spatial management in the study area have presented significant challenges. Accordingly, the present research sought to examine the effects of these dimensions on changes in agricultural land use in the city of Rasht. To achieve scientific insights, a descriptive-analytical approach was employed. Data were collected through both library research and fieldwork, and questionnaires were used as the primary data collection tool. The study population included three groups: public sector managers, private sector managers, and agricultural land users (farmers) in Rasht. Using random sampling and Cochran’s formula, a total of 37 questionnaires were distributed and completed for the public sector, 105 for the private sector, and 380 for agricultural land users. To analyze the relationships among the three factors, Spearman’s correlation test was applied, while regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha in SPSS, yielding coefficients of 0.889 for the questionnaires targeting the first two groups and 0.897 for the farmer questionnaire. The research findings indicated that all three groups agreed that the negative impacts on the ecological-physical dimension were more pronounced than those on the economic and social dimensions. In other words, the indicators used in the city reflect an unfavorable condition. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9217.html Nowadays, in the recognition of cities, the classifications that are presented in statistical, political, legal or functional terms are emphasized. in Iran, the criterion of having a municipality is used to distinguish a city from a village. In this research, Shalman city in the eastern part of Guilan province has been chosen for studding the factors affecting the reclassification of this village to city. the reasons for choosing this settlement are: more than three decades have passed since it became a city, the lack of study on cities that emerged in eastern part of Guilan province unlike other regions, Shalman's location on border of three counties. Current research, is practical and qualitative, and the grounded theory method has been used for data analysis. The sample was selected by snowball sampling among local informants, and a semi-structured interview was used to obtain information. Findings show that the reclassification of Shalman into a city occurred due to the establishment of a permanent municipality in 1993 and through the synergy of 6 key components in the form of 13 main factors. These components and factors are: The presence of seignior families and the desire to seek excellency (mentality); Having basic facilities, a growing economy, having a suitable population, favorable geographical location (facilities and resources); Consolidation of several settlements (aggregationism); political administrative background and historical cultural background (background); Follow-up of trusted and elders and desire and follow-up of people (requests); Political intervention of managers and representatives and central government policies (policies). https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9257.html In this study, the relationship between monthly temperature changes of stations located on the southern coast of Iran and the teleconnection patterns was investigated. The minimum and maximum monthly temperature data of 11 synoptic stations and 14 teleconnection patterns of the Atlantic and tropical Pacific Oceans over 1985-2024 were used. The possible relationship between the two temperature components in the studied stations and these patterns was calculated using Pearson correlation analysis, analysis of variance, and regression analysis, and the spatial distribution of the correlation was plotted. The results showed that the highest percentage of correlation between the Pacific Ocean patterns and the minimum and maximum air temperatures of the coasts was with the AMO patterns (0.56), NTA (0.46), AMO (0.76), and ONI (-0.63) patterns, respectively. About 16-56 percent of the minimum temperature changes and 6-31 percent of the maximum temperature changes of the stations were explained by the teleconnection patterns. The NINO3, ONI (Tropical Pacific) and AMO (Atlas) models are more effective in explaining the minimum temperatures of the stations and the NINO3, AMO and AMM models are more effective in explaining the maximum temperatures of the stations. The highest frequency of significant correlations between the minimum temperatures of the stations was observed in January with TNA, in February with AMO and TNA, in March with NAO, in Orville with TSA, in June with WHWP, in July with TSA, in August with TNA, in September with WHWP and AMO, and in May, October, November and December with AMO. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9277.html Coastal ecosystems are highly sensitive and have experienced significant land-use changes due to urbanization, infrastructure development, agriculture, and climate change. This research investigates land-use change patterns and their ecological consequences in a coastal region of Iran from 1365 to 1400 (Iranian calendar). The study analyzes spatial-temporal trends and evaluates their impact on environmental sustainability and natural resources using remote sensing data (Landsat), GIS, and analytical models like cross-tabulation. Analysis of multi-temporal data revealed a decline in agricultural lands, pastures, and forests (agricultural land decreased from 721,000 hectares in 1365 to 691,000 hectares in 1400) and a significant increase in built-up areas (from 47,000 to 125,000 hectares), indicating rapid urbanization. Wetland and water body repurposing further reduced ecosystem services and disrupted hydrological cycles. The most significant transformations occurred in the plains and around the cities of Sari, Babol, Ghaemshahr, and Amol, while forests in the central Alborz slopes remained relatively stable. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9278.html Creative tourism, particularly in the realm of food tourism, offers valuable opportunities for urban engagement, especially on a global scale. Food tourism not only boosts local economies but also highlights each city's unique natural, geographical, and cultural attributes. It is integral to many other high-revenue sectors, especially in developed countries. Promoting a city's traditions through its food culture is thus essential. Restaurant management, a crucial aspect of the tourism industry, satisfies tourists' culinary needs while serving as a key attraction in itself. Developing effective restaurant management practices can yield significant economic, social, and cultural benefits, contributing to sustainable tourism growth. In a descriptive-analytical study focused on Rasht, restaurant owners formed the statistical population, with a sample size of 107 from the city's 130 restaurants. Data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using correlation tests, regression, and confirmatory factor analysis in SPSS and LISREL. The questionnaire's reliability, indicated by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.901, confirms its robustness. Results reveal that the service index has the highest average score (4.24), while the environment index scores the lowest (3.60). The environment index shows the highest correlation with creative food tourism (0.826), whereas the service index has the lowest correlation (0.560). Regression analysis indicates that the staff index, with a beta value of 0.402, significantly influences creative food tourism, whereas the ingredients and presentation indices, with beta values of -0.032 and -0.143 respectively, exert minimal impact. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9347.html The boom in tourism, particularly in coastal cities, plays a vital role in promoting sustainable urban development. These cities, endowed with rich natural and cultural resources, have strong potential for attracting tourists. However, population pressure, weak infrastructure, and environmental threats pose challenges to sustainable development in these areas. Examining the impact of tourism on the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of Bushehr can provide valuable guidance for policymakers and urban planners.This study applies a combination of the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and MicMac methods through a qualitative approach based on the opinions of 100 experts, professors, and informed students to analyze the effects of tourism growth on the sustainable development of Bushehr. The novelty of this research lies in integrating these methods to explore complex interactions among physical, economic, social, and environmental indicators within urban tourism and to propose systemic strategies for improving quality of life and ecological sustainability in coastal cities.The findings indicate that indicators such as “sale of local goods (C1),” “creation of employment opportunities (C3),” “improvement of living standards and services for the host community (C4),” and “preservation of traditional occupations (C5)” not only shape other components but are themselves strongly influenced by the broader systemic context, thus holding the highest importance.Overall, the analysis emphasizes adopting an integrated, systemic approach where tourism growth serves not merely as an economic goal but as a means to enhance quality of life, ecological balance, and social cohesion in coastal cities. https://hgscaj.guilan.ac.ir/article_9420.html the world has been facing the problem of the spread of the Corona virus for some time. The high speed of the spread of this virus and its effects on people's health have surprised urban communities in all parts of the world, and this issue was particularly prominent in countries such as Iran that did not have proper infrastructure to deal with such sudden crises. One of the most effective solutions during the Corona epidemic to deal with the various challenges created in different dimensions is the concept of a smart city In this research, we examined the impact of smart city factors on the conditions and quality of urban life in the conditions caused by the epidemic in Rasht city. The research method used is descriptive, survey, and data collection has been done through documentary studies, content analysis and fieldwork. The required data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed through SPSS software and statistical methods such as multivariate regression. The results of this research showed that the city of Rasht did not have a good condition in terms of the quality of urban life during the Corona era and after. It has been in a state of disarray in terms of physical, welfare, through regression, the positive relationship between the components of the smart city and the quality of urban life in the Corona era was proven, and the implementation solutions of the components of the smart city were identified and presented through the QSPM matrix