Measuring the pattern of sprawl and identify areas of action for infill development (Case study: Ahwaz city)

Spatial - physical growth of cities in recent decades is one of the features in developing countries that Cause Destruction of agricultural land and increasing the cost of municipal administration and citizens. Attentions to infill development capacities in city can also avoided impose the destruction of agricultural lands and heavy costs and cause the dynamism and vitality textures and urban inefficient areas (brownfield). In this regard understanding the pattern of urban growth is very important and identifies the infill development capacities city. Therefore the purpose of this study is to measure the pattern of sprawl and identify areas of action infill development in Ahvaz city. This study in terms of goal is an applied and in terms of research method is descriptive – analytical and based on documents and library resources. To measure the pattern of sprawl in Ahwaz Initially using data related area and population in recent decades and processing them it was shown Spatial – physical changes. Using by Spatial Statistics (Moran I, General (clustering of high / low, local Moran, analysis of hot spots) Distribution of Population was investigated. The second part of the study was that related to identifying areas of action infill development in Ahwaz city was investigated using by data land use city. Results statistics and models showed Ahvaz city since 1335 to the present had Spatial – physical changes that cause to the formation the pattern of sprawl in the city. Also is identified textures in order to infill development inclusive Old texture, dilapidated texture, texture marginal, vacant lands and urban inefficient areas (brownfield) respectively, With an area of 1101.96, 68.59, 2051, 5773.11, 2323.03 and to Separation urban inefficient areas (brownfield) inclusive Military areas, prisons, industrial land, cemeteries, land, warehouses and terminals respectively, With an area of 543.84, 23.07, 1463.21, 5.87, is 302.85.