Optimization of Townscapes with Emphasize on Flood Resilience

Landscapes in general and townscapes in specific are susceptible to various natural and non-natural risks. Flooding is considered one of the primary factors that contribute to the vulnerability and problems faced by landscapes and townscapes. Although these conditions are present worldwide, they are more severe in Iran compared to other countries. On the one hand, natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes threaten this region. On the other hand, the built environments of this country are threatened by the weakness of inadequate building construction trends. In many cases, the structural systems and materials used in buildings do not meet the risk management requirements of the development process. The negative impact of the threatening development process has relatively different consequences on place dimensions. The impacts of disasters are often linked to the sensitivity of the specific features of a place. Among these features, townscapes and landscapes are particularly vulnerable to various disasters, more so than other dimensions of a place such as function and management. The future of a place is shaped by the consequences that occur in different zones and areas of communities. The measurement of vulnerability and resilience should consider the normative qualities of the environment, especially in terms of geographical contexts. The aim of this research is to assess the resilience of townscapes in relation to their environmental qualities, such as efficiency, richness, attraction, and variety, through the use of a case study approach. The research aims to assess the flood vulnerability of the Pole-Dokhtar region and city, with a particular emphasis on the spring 2019 flood. The study will use a case study approach and evaluate the resilience of the townscapes in relation to environmental qualities, such as efficiency, richness, attraction, and variety. The region of Pole-Dokhtar in Lorestan province, Iran, will be the specific area of focus.

The research method will involve the application of the development category to identify and address the major problems related to flood vulnerability. By this condition, the city engine analytical software has been used for analysis and finding trends of case study area data and information process. The research methodology involves three actions in field study techniques, which are the examination of current documents, site observation, and interviews with relevant stakeholders at the local and national levels. These studies incorporate data gathering stages. For data gathering trends, three sources have been used: 1- the information from the Pole-Dokhtar city’s master and detailed plans, as well as any written documents relating to any regional development plans and studies 2- Official data from 2019 flood variables. 3- Field survey, with emphasis on direct observation in the Pole-Dokhtar urban area. Observation trends encompass a journey to Lorestan province, Pole- Dokhtar County and Pole-Dokhtar city in spring 2020. In addition, the data has been analyzed through GIS and SPSS logic, techniques, and tools. Then, using the SWOT matrix helped researchers to compare the basic influential factors in terms of contextual strengths, weakness, threats, and opportunities.

The research has produced three main findings. Firstly, it highlights the vulnerability of areas like Pole-Dokhtar not only to floods but also to other natural and man-made disasters. Secondly, the research reveals the importance of specific attention to the land slope, river basin, and soil foundation to maintain environmental quality in urban landscapes. Lastly, the study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive examination of various planning documents at different levels, including master, structure, and detail plans.

In summary, the achievements of this study encompass various research outcomes regarding both townscape resilience and vulnerability of national, regional level and scale on various geographical contexts. In spite of this, long-term experiences in disasters like wars, earthquakes, droughts, floods and the same Iranian communities could not benefit from their valuable lessons. Learning from these valuable experiences should be the key lessons to solve and resolve ongoing problems and challenges which are essential for the comprehensive development of a country.