Prioritizing of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province Rural Districts Based on Population Density- First Step towards Disaster Mitigation Measures

Demographic data on crucial information regarding disaster management، particularly the Early Warning Systems are considered to be the basic requirements of disaster preparedness and mitigation measures. Population density information in developing countries is of critical importance but extremely scarce and mostly appears in the public. Demographic census information often lacks spatial or location coherence in smaller scales، in a way that is not beneficial and useable in processes such as vulnerability assessment relating to the geographical limitations. Since rural areas play an important and undeniable role in agriculture، economy and production as well as revitalization of vast areas in the country and since they are more vulnerable for cultural and underlying causes، they are the focus of attention in the planning system of the country. Taking into consideration the rural demographic information، including population density is very important in adopting mitigation and preparedness measures in the development of rural physical settlements، guidance plans and enhancement and retrofitting of rural texture. Population density can help in targeting mitigation and preparedness measures. In this research، statistical data of population census were used for determining rural districts with high population density. Raw population data were gathered and evaluated، furthermore needed information was extracted from evaluated data and processing by using GIS soft ware. Demographic distribution and density in the area of Chaharmahal va Bakhtiyari province has been investigated in this study. Population density map of rural districts has been provided and according to this، the rural population density was 25. 61 persons in 1 km2 and it was allocated eighth position in the ranking of Iranian provinces. The villages of this Province have been prioritized in terms of population density into 5 groups، in order to implement rural housing retrofitting plans and large scale disaster management programs، especially mitigation، aiming at reducing human causalities in a significant manner.