Evaluation of Ecological Capability of Orumiyeh City for Urban Development by Using ANP and GIS

The growth of cities affected by the population growth and migration has been led to the un planned and uncontrolled constructions and too much changes of the spatial structure of the physical development of cities in the unfavorable locations which necessitates the consciously direct and the basic organizing . Hence the present research aims by using ANP model in an integrated approach with GIS, evaluate Orumiyeh city's ecological potential for urban development in connection with the 10 main criteria (water sources, natural hazards, land form, soil conditions, climate, the economic and demographic considerations, the access to facilities, geology, land uses, no damages to the ecological zones) And 18 sub criteria. The descriptive – analytical method used in this research is of applied type. The results of the research is zoning Orumiyeh city areas based on the ecologic capability of urban development in five classes of inappropriate up to quite suitable. The perfect and completely appropriate areas with 13.7 percent of the region (708.12 km²) that has the highest capability for urban development, Covers most part of the eastern lands of the city. But inappropriate zones with 18.8 percent (869.8 km ²), has allocated itself the highlands and mountainous areas of the south, part of the North and most part of the West of Orumiyeh city Which includes the border areas with Turkey Country. The results show that, access to water resources and Natural hazards has the most influence on determining the ecological potential for urban development in the city. Prevention of the horizontal expansion of the city in the surrounding agricultural lands, urban development in the unused areas within the boundaries, and also the development of the city according the compact city patterns, Sustainable city and urban smart growth are the most important solutions proposed in this respect.