Selection of Optimal Service Centers for the Rural Areas Development; Case Study: Gheizanieh Rural District of Ahvaz Township

Recognizing and explore the possibility and bottlenecks, an essential first step in the planning process is the rural areas development. In this respect, determining optimal points for the establishment of service centers and measure the degree of rural areas development is of special importance; which often done using quantitative methods. This study conducted using AHP method to select the best points for the establishment of service centers in the Gheizanieh rural district of Ahvaz township; then methods multiple attribute decision making of compensation as well as integrated collection were used to determine the degree of rural development mentioned rural district. This research in terms of nature and method of descriptive and analytical, in terms of purpose is practical researches. Data collection was conducted in two ways: completing the questionnaires of 30 expert rural affairs and general population and housing census data in the year 1390. Data analysis was conducted on the ArcGIS10.3 and software Expert Choice, Excel and Visual Promethee. The results show which between parameters selected study, population density criterion of 0.261 percent, most points allocated as well as access to infrastructure measures, access to health and care services and access to means of communication and transportation are important in later stages. Map overlap criteria, indicates that two villages, nearly four percent of the study area in a very suitable position, two percent in the suitable position, about 32 percent of the moderately suitable, about 52 percent in the range unfavorable and about 10 percent of the study area located also quite unsuitable position to establish of optimal rural service centers. Thus, the two villages Nezheh and Gheizanieh Bozorg as the most developed rural district, has the greatest potential for creating service centers at the district level were detected.