A Study and Analysis of Physical-Spatial Development of Tehran Metropolitan Area between 1986 and 2016

Having embedded most of the economic, social activities and decision-making bodies within them, metropolitan cities are creating regional centralization and urban accumulation which leads to the development of core-peripheral model. Although Tehran metropolitan city has been a population attraction in a county and regional level, it has been unable to distribute facilities and population to other surrounding residential areas. Considering the mentioned factors, this paper is aimed at identifying and analyzing the effects of the development of Tehran metropolitan area through growth-development and structure-form approach. Having done so, the explanation of how Tehran city has developed and affected the surrounding areas between 1986 and 2016 is also provided. The indexes used in these two approaches are as follows: Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve, Shanon entropy, Heldern model, population density, constructed and total area ratio, Herfindahl index, Henderson index, Geary coefficient, and Moran coefficient. The last one on the urban scale of Tehran is used in this study. The findings show that the trend of development and distribution of Tehran urban complex between 1986 and 2016 is towards west and south, including Karaj, Islamshahr, Robat karim and the construction of informal residential areas on Tehran-karaj and Islamshahr-Robat karim routes. Other regions of the area did not play a key role in spatial distribution of population.