Organizing the Rural Settlements of Damavand Based on Regional Network Indicators by Using TOPSIS Technique

In the past decades، development policies in the country have caused negative effects on regions. These policies have caused the mass evacuation of rural settlement and the imbalance hierarchy of settlements. The reflect of these policies are visible in the rapid and uneven growth of large cities and eliminate loops linking between cities and rural settlements from the highest levels، to lower ones. Survey the development on the rural community in past shows that the rural sectors faced with the basic difficulty in the socio-economic and ecological aspects in national and local levels، so that the continuity of this situation confronts them with problems such as intensifying of regional in equalities، massive evacuation of human and financial resources in villages، declining in per capital food production and emerging food crisis، accumulation of population in urban communities، extension of marginalization، unemployment and social damage. Present study with the purposes of 1) prevent the rising trend of rural migration and make order of settlement pattern in activity and population، 2) creation and establishment hierarchy in the settlement of Damavand and 3) offer variety activities in rural settlements، consider these questions: 1- What factors are effective in the optimal distribution of population and activities in an area? 2- What is the order of spatial distribution settlements and their functions in the Damavand district and which of Damavand settlements have the ability and capability more for local and regional development?

This research is investigating on policies that have been proven throughout the world such as regional network to provide better facilities and services in rural settlement of Damavand. These policies focus on using the present facilities and join them to new strategies of regional and national development. The analysis process of rural settlements and the importance of the proposed indicators are done by using the Topsis technique and the Principal Component Analysis. For this purpose، collecting information have done by attention to the national documents، and using scientific articles، books، reports and available information in the organs and government agencies. Other information is also provided by the processing of maps، photographs and slides. The statistical society of this study includes 83 permanent rural settlements of Damavand with more than3 families and 39 indicators according to the Dimensions of the regional networks approach.

The result of the study shows that Sarbandan، Vadan، Jaban، Marai، Sadat Mahaleh، Arou، Mosha، Mehrabad، Seyd Abad، Garmabsard، Islam Abad and Ahran villages with a score higher than 0. 4 have been in grades 1 to 13 and Shater M. Sofla، Jafar Abad، Mendank، Ajan، Jozdar، Homand Kouhan، Shah Belaghi، Hossein Abad، Rostam Abad، Ozoun Dare، Saleh Abad، Gandak، Homnad Kylan and Yalaqan Dareh villages with scoreless than 0. 15 are located in the lower echelons of the rankings. According to the result of the ranking، some parts of the region that used natural، economic، social and physical capabilities have more concentrated population and boomed economic activities، which has been a high level of development of settlements. However، the boom may be made by only one of the basis strengths. For example in some parts، some rural such as Sarbandan and Jaban in Abarshive district، Vadan in Jamabroud and Sadat Mahale in Abali district are located adjacent to the communication paths. These villages، with use this features and create service centers، have reached to a higher level of development.

Proper utilization of the natural، social، economic and physical factors has caused boom economic activity، attract population and prevent irregular migration. These conditions will make hierarchical order of rural settlements based on their power and capabilities. Lack of proper communication between rural and urban settlements in Damavand district have caused poor performance and low-density of rural settlements. If good communication of manufacturing and service facilities exist between adjacent settlements، it will help to link rural and urban settlements together to get the better performance. In addition to، the complementary relationship between activities of agriculture، industry and services provide the grounds of further development. Finally، according to descriptions provided in settlements classified; in order to access available services and facilities of rural settlements in the district and promote the level of that، 4 System villages are suggested in this essay.