Evaluating the Impact of Urban Sprawl on Citizens' Sense of Security Using Clustering and TOPSIS Methods (Case Study: Yazd City)

Urban sprawl is a key aspect of urban planning, resulting from the uneven physical growth of a city's infrastructure in relation to its population growth. This study aims to investigate the effects of urban sprawl on social dimensions, particularly on the sense of security among residents in various neighborhoods of Yazd city.The research is of an applied nature with a descriptive-analytical methodology. Data collection methods included documentary sources and fieldwork. The statistical population comprised all individuals aged 15 to 65 residing in Yazd city neighborhoods, with a sample size estimated using Cochran's formula. Data analysis involved the TOPSIS model to categorize neighborhoods as dense or dispersed based on population density, average residential plot size, and land use ratios. The K-Means cluster analysis model was utilized to assess the sense of security using indicators of social-behavioral, economic, and physical-environmental security on a five-level Likert scale.Findings indicate variations in the average levels of security components, making it challenging to define a universal standard for dense or dispersed neighborhoods. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct levels of security - high, medium, and low. Economic security was higher in dense clusters, while physical-environmental security was more prominent in dispersed clusters due to new constructions. Social-behavioral security levels were relatively consistent across clusters.