Explaining the Sustainability of the Urban Space System by Formulating, Determining and Prioritizing Urban Development Strategies; Case Study: Kashan

Today, cities encounter major urbanization and instability problems in innumerable dimensions, and traditional patterns in the form of urban development plans have not been able to lessen the disorder and instability of the urban space system. Thus, traditional approaches failure to deal with urban problems has led to the formation of a strategic attitude. Regarding the issue, Kashan is one of the cities that has feasibly accompanied with many physical, economic, socio-cultural disturbances influenced by high physical growth and its incompatibility with the capacity of urban infrastructure and ultimately inefficiency of urban development plans that caused the development of the city towards imbalance and spatial stability. In line with the previous studies regarding the pattern of scattered urban growth and the inability of urban development plans to meet the needs and deal with the problems of Kashan, this research is to proceed with explaining the stability of Kashan spatial system by formulating, determining and prioritizing urban development strategies within the framework of a specific conceptual structure. In terms of purpose, the type of research is applied-developmental and concerning the method, is descriptive-analytic. The approach of the present study is also a strategic attitude based on a systemic approach. The results of the research show that the type of strategy applied to stabilize the space system of Kashan is a defensive strategy. While in the evaluation provided in prioritizing strategies using the VIKOR model and choosing the optimized strategy, showed that “Developing the economic development document of the city in accordance with the capabilities and comparative and competitive advantages, especially in the field of industry, tourism and agricultural products” should be considered a priority in urban development programs as a superior strategy by city officials and managers.