Implementation of Land-Use Policies to Promote Urban ResilienceCase Study: Rudbar City

Due to the unexpected nature of accidents and the need to make the right decisions and take appropriate action to reduce vulnerability, increase safety and resilience of settlements; management and planning are essential. In the meantime, land-use planning has a high potential in improving the conditions of human settlements and increasing the resilience of cities against risks. Land-use planning is a key to reduce risks according to the dimensions of spatial structure and the impact of its analytical tools and policies on the intensity and type of development. Unfavorable situation of physical elements and inappropriate use of urban lands, inadequate urban communication network, high urban densities, situation of infrastructure installations and inefficient distribution of urban spaces play an essential role in increasing the rate of urban damage. Because land-use planning, which is based on foresight, risk-taking, and decision-making and based on preventive measures, focuses on changing the vulnerabilities of cities, thereby reducing the impact of disasters and preventing them. On the other hand, recognizing resilience can help determine the traits and characteristics that increase the capacity of communities to deal with disasters and suggest tools to help the process of reducing vulnerability. Therefore, it can be said that if land-use planning and recognition of resilience is done properly, disaster risk for cities can be promising. In fact, the purpose of this study is to apply land-use planning policies in order to optimize and use the capabilities and resilience of the city against natural hazards. Accordingly, the main question of the research is as follow:-Which of the land-use planning policies are effective on reducing natural hazards and promoting urban resilience?

The present research is applied in terms of purpose and is descriptive-analytical in aspect of method. The purpose of this study is to apply land-use planning policies in order to optimize and use the capabilities and resilience of the city against natural hazards. Data were collected through documentary-library studies and questionnaire tool. The statistical population of the study was citizens living in Rudbar city which 384 samples have been calculated by using of the Cochran's formula. Convergence validity of the extracted mean variance (AVE) should be higher than 0.5 and the reliability of the questionnaire was calculated by Cronbach's alpha test of 0.915. SPSS and Smart-PLS software programs were exerted to analyze the statistical data of the questionnaires to prepare models between the dimensions of land-use planning policies and urban resilience. The land-use planning policies in the research have a multidimensional structure that includes: physical, social, economic and environmental policies.

Regression analysis showed a significant difference. The land-use policy variable has 68% ability to estimate the improvement of the institutional index, 61% economic, 57% physical and 55% urban resilience dimensions. Also, the beta coefficient of the variables is from the highest to the lowest. Institutional 0.826, physical 0.761 and social 0.724, these positive coefficients show that if a standard deviation from the variable of physical land use policy in Rudbar increases, the amount of housing diversity according to the implementation of housing policy between vertical and horizontal development will be different. Technology is on the rise in the city. The physical policy of maintaining a balance between vertical and horizontal development will also apply, as well as housing diversity in terms of resilience in the city. Accordingly, environmental policy to prevent land degradation of the existing transportation network in the city can increase service responsiveness as well as the usability of existing land.

What a city does before a hazard determines what happens after it, so the amount of casualties and damage from natural disasters depends on how well the local community is prepared for the event. Inadequate physical condition of the city, such as improper distribution and shortage of public open spaces, inefficient and inadequate road network, increased urban density, dilapidated and vulnerable buildings have a significant impact on the amount of damage caused by earthquakes and natural disasters and increase the city's recovery time. Examination of research criteria in the city of Rudbar, indicates the unsatisfactory situation of most criteria in the city. These issues indicate further damage to these areas in the event of earthquakes and natural disasters; therefore, this area is one of the priorities for action in the city and the preparation of plans to reduce the risk in these areas is very necessary. With the development of the city to the surrounding area, manifestations of urban planning and land use planning (narrow streets, better distribution and increase the extend of open spaces as a result of more access to open spaces, etc.) in the urban texture are visible. Finally, by comparing some of the indicators of urban resilience with the dimensions of land use policies, it was determined that if the land-use policies in Rudbar city are implemented according to the prepared plans, the resilience indicators of Rudbar city can also be improved. It seems that urban management and planning in this sector has remained at the level of plans and has only paid attention to factors such as suitable climate, ease of sewage disposal, the presence of barren land, etc. in the development of the city and ignores the infrastructure of future development of Rudbar city. It can be said that the nature of earthquakes and natural disasters in comparison with other risks and economic, social and political considerations cause the local government to refrain from this action despite its ability to prevent risky development and improve the quality of it.