Spatial Distribution Analysis of Modern Commercial Centers of Shiraz and Optimal Positioning By Using GIS and AHP

Modern commercial complex composed of hundreds of shops and commercial units are services in urban areas. Incorrect positioning of these trade centers and lack of attention to their roles in serving the citizens is one of the common problems in many cities. Shiraz is faced with failure and lack of new commercial centers because of the failure of urban spatial structure in urban areas. The aim of study is to evaluate the spatial distribution of new urban and commercial centers in the city to the optimal location. This study is based on objective, functional and analytical method. Research variables are cover radius, population density, road network, and incompatible and compatible land use. Criteria and sub-criteria, based on the weighted carried out in the AHP, and Index overlay method by using GIS methods were used to show final map of new commercial centers. In this study, normal weight index 2/16 has the greatest impact and street network coverage radius with 0/5 has the least effect. The results indicate that the new business centers in Shiraz were not enough to serve all citizens. More than half of new commercial centers are outside of the coverage radius standard. So, placing new commercial centers in the best places of city is required to consider the presented criteria in map to cover the whole atomosphere of the city.