Analysis of Spatial Disparities in Regional Development in Iran (Case Studies: Cities of the North Coastal Regions)

Abstract Regional planning aimed at creating development and reducing inequality is one of the key issues in developing countries. Regional planning requires regional identification of each other in terms of development. Reducing inequality in utilizing resources, achievements and facilities of the community is one of the most important development criteria. The purpose of this article is to analyze the spatial inequalities and determine the level of development of coastal areas in the north of the country. The type of research is based on the applied objective and based on the nature and method of descriptive-analytic. The method of collecting library and document information. In this research, multi-criteria decision making models (SAW TOPSIS) and ARC GIS software have been used. The results showed that Tonekabon, Sinkelk, Savadkouh, Rasht, Gorgan, Sari, Bandar Gaz, Rudbar, Gonbad-Kavoos, Fereydunkenar, Chalous, Babolsar and Ramsar cities are in the category of perfect cities and cities of Babol, Kurdoki, Bandar Anzali, Langroud, Lahijan, Azadshahr, Mahmoudabad, Minoodasht, Amol, Rudsar and Behshahr. In the relatively high level, the cities of Nour, Kalaleh, Masal, Aghghala, Turkmen, Aliabad, Fouman, Ramayan, Marahtepeh, Summersa, Neka and Astaneh are named. Also, the cities of Gomishan, Golghah, Ghaemshahr, Abbasabad, Amlash, Shafts, Astara, Talesh, Galicheh, Noshahr, Rezvanshahr and Miandorud were ranked among the most deprived cities. Since the difference between the fully-deprived and completely deprived areas is very large in terms of development, it is suggested that the deprived areas are the best solution for using short and short-term programs to resolve problems.