Comparative study of spatial structure from urban network balance point of view

The firs step for planning is recognition of current situation. In other word it is necessary to recognize geographical conditions. In this paper the situation of urban network in Khorasan Province (Northern, Southern and Razavi) has been studied, determined and evaluated. The methodology of this research is descriptive-analytical and data gathering is based on documentary method. The results show that domination is northern Khorasan is by medium and small cities, and this condition has led to relative balance in spatial structure in this Province. While there is primacy status in Razavi Khorasan Province and the metropolis of Mashhad is primate city. Urban network is relativity balanced in Southern Khorasan based on entropy model. The main reason for this status is lack of metropolis in this Province and the largest city located in medium cities rank, So it is possible to mitigate difference between large and small cities by development of investment in infrastructures and pulling the population to them. This process is effective step for balancing the urban network and reducing gap between development levels in large cities in one side and medium and small cities in province in other side.