An Investigation of Sprawl Phenomena in Neighborhoods and their Impact on Physical Activity (Case Study: Ahvaz City)

Urban sprawl phenomenon is a multidimensional phenomenon that has many consequences, especially in social and public health aspects. The purpose of the present research is to investigate the sprawl phenomena in neighborhoods and their impact on the physical activity in Ahvaz. The research is applied in terms of purpose and in terms of method it is descriptive-analytical. Survey data in the scattered section for 116 neighborhoods were extracted from the statistical block and from land-use layer of Ahvaz city. 17 indices including population density, housing density, household density, net residential density, number of mixed land use parcels per neighborhood…. were used. The data were analyzed using ArcGIS software and DEMATEL (weighting) Vikor (ranking) techniques. In the second part (citizens' physical activity) a questionnaire was used to collect data. The statistical population is the residents of two neighborhoods that are in the first and last ranks in the sprawl form. The results show that Kianshahr neighborhood and Zeytoon Karmandi neighborhood are in the last place in terms of sprawl rate. The results of the physical activity questionnaire in these two neighborhoods showed that physical activity and sport activity of Zeytoon Karmandi neighborhood were higher than Kianshahr neighborhood. Therefore, sprawl in Ahwaz city reduces physical activity.