Physical Expansion Pattern of Bushehr City, Iran

Evaluating and monitoring the urban physical expansion structure to understand the development process and the problem is an important step toward optimal city management. This study aimed to investigate the physical expansion pattern of Bushehr city from 1984 to 2022.

This study is carried out in two parts in Bushehr city, 2022. The physical expansion structure of Bushehr city between 1984 to2022 was studied using satellite images. The impacts of urban growth were identified using field studies and desk studies and were analyzed using a questionnaire. The initial questionnaire was revised in two steps by the 30 experts. Content validity of the questionnaire was calculated using the opinions of 30 experts. The CVR and CVI of the questionnaire were higher than 60%. Then, the questionnaire was distributed among 250 urban management and planning experts in Bushehr city. The data were analyzed using the t-test and Vicor's weighting method.

The structure of Bushehr city has 4 main nucleus. The most important effects of this multi-nucleus development are summarized in economic, social, and environmental indicators and 16 dimensions. It is needed to pay attention to the dimensions of green space deterioration and energy efficiacy improvement in the environmental indicator, unique cultutal crafts protection and social integration along with local cooperation in the social indicators, and the promotion of tourism and functions' diversity in the economic indicator in order to solve the problems of the city's multi nucleus growth and optimal urban management.

The pattern of horizontal expansion of Bushehr city was a multi-nucleus structure.