Industrial Zoning of East Azarbayjan Province of Iran using Multicriteria Evaluation Modeling: Ecological and Nonecological Analysis

Industrialization potential and industrial zoning dependence on bioenvironmental conditions has been under special research focus. The objective of this research was to evaluate East Azarbayjan's industrialization potential and to establish its industrial zoning in light of ecological and none ecological conditions. Having analyzed national and global standards and models, 22 ecological and human related parameters affecting industrial zoning were selected and evaluated. Then, information layers and digital maps were generated. The layers were statistically analyzed and compared within evaluation models of WLC, SAW and TOPSIS to determine each model's sensitivity in industrial zoning. Zoning outcomes by different evaluation models demonstrated that sensitivity to ecological parameters were different among the models. The three models diagnosed differing regional areas that were suitable for industrialization. The statistical comparisons of different 5 categories among the evaluation models showed that the total areas suitable for industrialization varied by model. The total areas suitable for industrial development obtained by TOPSIS method was less than that found by WLC and SAW methods. This was due to prioritizing human related factors in weighing different parameters for industrial zoning by TOPSIS vs. WLC and SAW. Despite the model's differences in the total area suitable for industrialization, the types of areas were widely common among the models. In all models, Myaneh, Shabestar and Charoymagh regions were specified to be suitable for industrialization. It is implied that the above regions should be given priority in policy-making and future investment programming for industrial expansion. Such a priority stems from specific ecological, social and economic properties, their current industrial infrastructures, and suitable population density in these regions.