Evaluating spatial pattern and providing an optimal pattern for locating sports centers (Case study: Tehran metropolis)

A review of current global developments suggests that the city and urbanization have fundamentally experienced some qualitative and quantitative changes. One of the most important consequences of such changes during the recent decades is the disturbance of service system’s distribution and their concentration in a particular location. The proper management of the growing need for sport will never be possible without having enough information, tools, and modern methods in different levels of neighborhood, district, region and city. Easy and quick access to sport services, cost saving and optimal allocation of resources require scientific methods and related criteria to support the management of cities. Accordingly, the present study evaluates the spatial pattern and presents an optimal model for locating sports centers in Tehran. The research method is a combination of descriptive and analytical methods and its type is applicable. To analyze the data ArcGIS and Super Decisions software are applied. Also, Average Nearest Neighbors index, ANP model and fuzzy logic are used for analyzing the data related to locating sport spaces. The results of this study showed that according to the cluster pattern of the distribution of sports spaces in Tehran and also the lower per capita sport spaces of this city than the minimum number of inhabitants, access to these centers is not suitable in the current situation. The results of the fuzzy model showed that the situation in the central regions of Tehran is more inferior in this regard.