Spatial Analysis of the Indices of Life Quality in the Surrounding Neighborhoods of Zahedan City Using VIKOR Decision-Making Model

One of the important investigations for urban planners is to identify the level of life quality in the scale of urban neighborhoods and the inequality among them. Nowadays, fair distribution of quality indices -including housing quality, transportation and communications, access to everyday needs, urban facilities, also security and safety in the urban neighborhoods, have been regarded by managers and urban planners. Accordingly, the objective of the present study is to investigate and rank the life quality, from the objective/subjective indices perspective, in surrounding neighborhoods of Zahedan City. The statistics population of the study consists of the Zahedan citizens older than 18 years old, among which 400 participants were selected for the sample, using random sampling and Cochrane's formula. The method employed in the study is descriptive-analytical and the data collection method is survey study. Data obtained via questionnaires were analyzed by Entropy weighting method, and using VIKOR model. The findings of the research indicate relatively high inequality in life quality, among 19 surrounding neighborhoods of Zahedan, in such a way that 8 neighborhoods (11-5, 10-5, 6-1, 9-5, 11-2, 1-2, 5-1, 10-1) are in a ultrahigh-developed state, 1 neighborhood (1-3) in a upper-moderate developed state, 3 neighborhoods (11-3, 6-3, 7-5) are in a moderate developed state, 3 neighborhoods (8-4, 6-5, 4-4) are in a lower-moderate developed state, and 4 neighborhoods (5-5, 6-4, 5-4, 11-4) are in a ultralow-developed state. Accordingly, it is necessary that during a short-term plan, ultralow-developed and lower-moderate developed neighborhoods be considered. In the next phase, moderately developed neighborhoods and upper-moderate developed and ultrahigh-developed neighborhoods should be planned and spatially developed.