Spatial reflections of large cities in the process of transition to a metropolis (Case study: Rasht city)

It is believed that City, a living and dynamic existence is subject to change and transformation and its growth and development are affected in different aspects. The purpose of this study was Spatial reflections of large cities in the process of transition to a metropolis

The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive- analytical in terms of method. In this study, land use and land cover maps of Rasht city were created using satellite images in four classes and the process of change was discussed. They, also, used spatial metrics in two levels of class and landscape to calculate the Rasht city Urban sprawl surface via FRAGSTATS software.

The present study showed that; Reflections of Rasht spatial dynamics are: the changes in land use system and land cover (increase in urban land use levels in a period of 26 years (1993-2019) from 4915 hectares to 9960 hectares and in contrast, reduction of agricultural cover, paddy and forest cover), urban sprawl (The coefficient of 103% increase in urban class and vulnerability and rupture of agricultural lands and paddy fields), imbalance in the spatial organization of the network and urban hierarchy, service-rendering and the expansion of the city economy foundations.

The rapid and dramatic growth of large cities and metropolises has always imposed major changes and transformations on its peripheral areas and has led to countless spatial reflections, including changes in the user system, expansion of physical boundaries and urban sprawl. Therefore, controlling changes and managing the physical growth of the city is very important to stabilize the growth of the city.