نشریه اطلاعات جغرافیایی (سپهر)
پیاپی 85 (بهار 1392)

Information is the main ingredient of scientific research and an efficacious research depends on information processing. Naturally, such a tool and environment with such dimensions and features creates fundamental changes in the realm of scientific researches.
Geographic information system (GIS) provides an appropriate context for the simulation of any situation and space. It also creates the necessary 3d environment for the constant investigation and evaluation of urban plans with its analytic ability in modelling. Except for data used in the analysis of environmental and systematic information, other geographic information will be integrated into the selected site model according to the subject. As an instance, information necessary for urban management includes:Digital aerial imagery and satellite pictures, precipitation data and isohyet points, information about humid and arid lands, soil and its resistance, map of radiologic pollution, water/soil/weather pollution, digital earth model (DEM), vegetation and typology, topographic information and slope, population information and density, access network information, digitalized information of infrastructure and facilities, the situation of watersheds and aquifers in the area (identifying streams and rivers), ground and underground waters, geologic and geotectonic situation of the area, information related to the known faults in the area.
Other information like water table information, depth of underground water, geography of surface, etc. are evaluated according to the subject and used in urban planning, locating, designing and constructing.
After collecting the mentioned information, saving and organizing are performed in GIS environment and data base platform.
In geographic information systems, spatial data and descriptive information are stored as a coverage for vector and raster data. Features of each information model should be considered before being integrated in the selected site system.
The structure of geographic information base is constructed in 2 different ways:a) Stratification of information, spatial model of data digitalization, overlapping
b) Objective method based on spatial position of the phenomena, smartification of the phenomena
In the process of evolution, automation reached from digital production of graphical elements and the ability to integrate, aggregate, regulate, correct, distinguish and synchronize to create spatial and geographic data base and smartification of the graphic components. So that in addition to the ability of producing digital information, it has the necessary conditions for selection and logical decision making.

In recent years, rapid development of urbanism and dramatic increase in urban population have resulted in numerous problems like devastating urban environment, lack of appropriate access to public urban services, incompatibility of urban land uses, lack of social justice, etc. Thus, the necessity of urban planning and management were introduced. So that, new patterns of planning, different social, economic, ecologic and management aspects are reviewed and sustainable development strategies for decreasing problems are proposed. The present article seeks to investigate the importance and role of development in decreasing urban problems, appropriate application of social justice resources and consequently improving the quality of urban life. The study is applied in nature, documentary investigation and standard ranking methods are used.
Finally, it is concluded that applying sustainable development prevents environmental devastation, social injustice, destroying and changing land uses, incompatibility with other land uses. This will in turn provide the necessary context for appropriate urban development and citizen comfort. Planning based on the urban environment is the first step for the implementation of this goal.

Urban environment has always been considered a context influenced by different economic-political processes, and a place for the emergence of phenomena like injustice, lack of healthcare, unemployment, class difference, etc. rooted in economic policies. In other words, human environment somehow represent the dominant idea of that society. In the background, dominant ideology guide these changes. Regarding the significant influences of these opinions on urban environment, it is necessary to investigate them. The present study explores the influence of neoliberalism policy on the urban environment focusing on cities in the United Kingdom. Neoliberalism emerged in 1970s and 1980s as a leading policy. This idea was born by the capitalistic world. Here, the concept of globalization is a context for this idea. What is known as neoliberalism first began in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The present study seeks to investigate the influence of this ideology on British urban space. The research method used is descriptive-analytic.

Today, tourism industry is one the most important ways by which governments can make money and related organizations and offices try to develop this industry. Regarding its particular geographic situation, Iran possess diverse vegetation and animal life which along with an investment on tourism industry can provide beautiful views for visitors. Kavir national park is one of these areas. Due to its particular geographic position, Kavir national park has the potential of turning into an important tourist attraction. Diversity of vegetation, animal life and land forms have changed it into an ideal place for eco-tourists. Moreover, well-known Qasre-Bahram, Ein-ol Rashid caravanserai and its water supplying system have increased the attractions of the park. It is located near Tehran and Garmsar and this is of great value for those people who more than ever need to go into nature and refresh. Those who know Siah-kuh and Qasre-Bahram will never forget the memories of National park nights with that sky full of stars. The present article investigates the opportunities and limitations of the area and suggests completing routes to the area with the cooperation of public and private sections and taking necessary steps to disclose the area for eco-tourists. So that the necessary requirements for developing the area and sustainable development of tourism industry will be provided. Moreover with the introduction of this treasure of the desert, we can increase the number of those interested in the intact nature of Iran.

Across the earth, many different ecosystems exist in water and land. Six ecosystems are visible just in land, desert ecosystem is one of which.
Nowadays, desert is one of the most sensitive ecosystems of the world. Since it has the required situation of life and living creatures, so that human beings could adapt themselves with the situations and continue their life.
Since this ecosystem covers a vast expanse of our country, it is necessary to consider and investigate it. Every year, many animals and plants die and the residents of this ecosystem emigrate due to human negligence.
In this regard, the present article introduces and investigates desert ecosystem in Iran to clarify its status in the country. It also focuses on the importance of this ecosystem in Iranian natural environment and encourage the authorities to prevent the destruction of this ecosystem.

During the last decades, uneven urban growth and development and wrong urban policies have resulted in the depression of urban textures especially residential textures. This urban texture has been devastated more than ever, due to the socio-economic changes and formal and applied inconsistencies which have happened as a consequence of the development of neighboring residential spaces. Moreover, penetration of business land uses, reservoirs and industrial workplaces into the depth of these texture and its overlap with the residential area have resulted in the isolation of residential blocks. This process has gained such diverse dimensions that question civil identity and life in this urban spaces as a place for human growth and development. While, old textures can provide an appropriate and vital context for the life of citizens. Regarding the issues facing old residential textures, restructuring and renovating these textures will gain more importance. Some of the advantages of renovating old residential blocks include: reducing number of housing applicants, preserving previous urban identity, saving building materials, helping the economy and avoiding any disturbance in social communications of the residences.
The present article seeks to focus on the necessity of renovating old neighborhoods and residential blocks. Descriptive-analytic research method is used. Library and on-line references were used to collect necessary data and information. The goal of the present article is to consider issues in old and residential urban textures of Iran and to focus on the necessity of renovating and reconstructing these urban textures.

Specific geographic conditions, climatic diversity and special topographic and geomorphic situation of Iran shows unique potentials for ecotourism which is mainly based on the natural extent of geographic areas in western parts of Iran. Yet, tourism and especially nature tourism (eco-tourism) has not been well-developed in this country which shows diverse potentials for the development of ecotourism. Therefore, it is beneficial to consider this issue at local and national level and provide the possibility of changing the poor and isolated areas of western Iran which act as the traditional supporter of their surrounding area.

Cities, as the largest collection of human traces, contain different elements, components, spaces, functions. Nowadays with the population increase in large cities and problems caused by limited space in those cities, urban engineers and experts have decided to build new towns to settle population overflow and decrease problems. Yet unfortunately, these urban engineers have ignored a crucial issue which is the city inhabitants and their need to create an identity, to feel survival and attachment. Imitating “aesthetic principles” of others, they have constructed an artificial environment and resulted in alienation and identity crisis. This has caused some problems for the settlement in new towns. Specifically in Iran, population settlement plans in new towns have not been successful and people do not show any tendency for living in these towns unless they do not have any other choice. Today, these cities have turned into a sort of dormitory without any functional and social interaction. New towns not only failed in attracting population overflow of metropolis, but also they failed in attracting emigrants due to lack of a defined identity and function. The present article seeks to provide solutions for dynamizing the environment of new towns, attracting larger population, creating an environment in which people feel comfortable, safe and emotionally attached. Descriptive-analytic method is used and data collection is performed in the form of documentary, secondary research. The findings of the research includes the physical structure of city and creating an identity in new towns, changing urban plans with the aim of bringing people closer and increasing their interactions and encounter.

Precipitation is the first important parameter in studying dry and wet years. It has a direct relation with precipitation systems entering Iran and the sources of humidity which inject humidity into those systems.
Studies performed on Sudanese system indicate that precipitation in southern parts of the country have a close relation with the activities of this system in cold days of the year and it plays the most important role in heavy rainfalls. Reviewing synoptic maps of high and low precipitation reveals that two different dominating patterns exist in the area. In the high precipitation pattern, Sudanese low pressure is located on the South West of the Red Sea and continues toward North East and influences South and South West of Iran.
This pattern dominates South East of the Arabian Peninsula. It inject heat and humidity from the Oman Sea and the Arabian Sea on one hand and the Adan Gulf and the Red Sea on the other hand to the mentioned systems. Then, this heat and humidity enters Iran Southern area with the Sudanese system. Due to the deepening of east Mediterranean trough, and the falling of cold weather from eastern latitudes in the Sudanese system, the system becomes extremely powerful and changes into dynamic status, creating a heavy rainfall on the area. In the weak precipitation pattern, Sudanese low pressure system is extremely weak and it crosses the southern areas of the Arabian Peninsula in east-west direction. Moreover in this pattern, a cyclone system covers South Eastern areas of the Arabian Peninsula.

Geomorphology is a very good guide for urban planning. Geomorphologic maps not only propose new ideas regarding the variables of the perspective, but also indirectly facilitate evaluation of resources in an environment. The present article demonstrates the capability of satellite data in identifying main geomorphologic units in an industrial area like Korba city. Moreover, it is possible to identify the importance of the area using geomorphologic maps along with other geo-information like Lithology and geology structures. Each area is appropriate for a special kind of development and urban planning. The present article emphasizes on how a simple perspective like logical accumulation of geomorphologic and geologic information can provide valuable input for urban planning and development.

Fault is a kind of break which happens due to pressure on the crust and following the displacement of layers. It has different forms (Shayan, 1997, P.128).
The study area is located in Azarbaijan Sharqi, Northern and North Eastern Tabriz. It borders Tabriz plain in South and South East, and Aji chay main basin, Khaje and Shirinje Daghi in North. Due to slight activity of Northern fault system in Tabriz, geomorphologic forms are consequently affected by such activities like landslide in hillside, or landslide in different surfaces and scales. The present article aims to study geomorphology of Northern Tabriz fault which is in constant natural interaction with Tabriz city. Fault line scarps with steep slope is a dominant characteristic of the area. The main area in the study is 67 km2 and the highest point with 1900 m altitude is located in ‘Un ibn ‘Ali elevations and central part of the study area.
It should be noted that ‘Un ibn ‘Ali elevations which include the most important part of study area cover Northern and North Eastern sections of Tabriz plain, from Baghmishe in South East to Tabriz airport in North with a North West-South East direction. Furthermore, studies and investigations in different parts of this fault indicate the presence of different morphological traces caused by tectonic activities

Field studies and statistical investigation indicate that Shahr-e Kord (capital city of Chahar-Mahal va Bakhtiari province) has experienced a significant physical-special development. So that during the last 50 years, its annual population has increased 3.6 percent and the city area has enlarged about 5 percent. This increase in area and population which is mostly due to immigration, has resulted in the emergence of self-growing urban neighborhoods, agricultural land use changing into residential ones, destruction of environment and increasing environmental pollutions, lack of infrastructure and inconsistence urban development, etc. The present article aims to perform spatial analyze on the quality and quantity of inconsistence physical development in Shahr-e Kord during1956-2006. Descriptive-analytic survey and Shannon and Holdern Anthropic models are applied. Results and findings indicate that the city had linear physical development during this time period. Before the revolution (1956-1976), this linear development had a slow trend. Yet, physical development of city have had a dramatic linear trend from 1981 onward due to irregular immigration of villagers to cities, settlement of nomads, refugees in Iran-Iraq war. Results of Shanon entropy model performed during 1996-2006 confirm the linear trend of city development and according to Holdren model around 82 percent of the city physical-spatial growth during 1956-2006 was due to the population increase and 18 percent is related to horizontal and spiral growth of the city. This happened due to lack of control and surveillance by urban managers and a codified program for the consistence development of the city.

Growth in urbanism and industry have provided the urban environment with many recreational possibilities and citizens can spend their free time in different clubs, computer game centers, etc. Yet, using natural environment, green space and parks will always be interesting and desirable due to human nature. Providing a quiet, beautiful and healthy life for the citizens need a creative thinking. Creating beauty needs a beautiful mind, which in turn is created in a beautiful space. Decorative flowers in beautiful vases, soft sound of water, green trees and grasses, comfortable benches, appropriate statues create a peaceful space in the park in which urban raucousness is replaced with peace of mind. In order to develop urban parks into appropriate spaces without stress and unnatural elements, some standards and principles seem essential. Considering some standards in building benches, water tanks, lightening, etc. help us in achieving main goals of urban planning (health, tranquility, beauty). Although green spaces play an essential role in maintaining the balance, they cannot prevent damages threatening suburban spaces. Considering this, it is clear that without a general plan green space cannot have the necessary efficiency in reducing environmental pollution. Unfortunately, some items and issues are seen in parks surrounding Zayande Rud whose status is lower than the standard, among which we can refer to most of rest rooms, water tanks, children playing areas, etc.

Recently, the necessity of considering natural resources as the basis and foundation for the development of economic infrastructure in developing countries (like ours) has become quite clear. The necessity of decent development and management, allocating facilities, using domestic potentials and knowledge of natural geographical spaces are among the priorities of the country management.
Nowadays, planning has been accepted as the most influential tool in facing complex problems and providing key solutions for managing crisis and allocating facilities. This requires a holistic and complete knowledge of the geographic area on one hand, and integrated, synchronic analysis of all influential elements in that area. This knowledge and analysis needs a system which can store all spatial features in an information bank and represent them according to the needs of the planner in the form of map and information tables.
Geographic Information System (GIS) has been introduced in the last decades as one the most influential planning tools in collecting, analyzing and representing information visualy. The present article seeks to investigate the status and role of information system in different studies on natural resources and its influences.

Human beings have always sought to find ways for coping with their routine life issues and predict future plans which guarantee their future and enable them to exploit surrounding space in the best possible way. Therefore, they innovated and created new things to accomplish their goals and realize their fantasies.
We can refer to the invention of computer and subsequently Internet as some of the instances which have caused a wonderful change in the world.
Now, we face a situation in which different countries, even the small and unimportant ones, have passed traditional and old methods and reached towards planning large-scale economic goals with a special emphasis on information technology and e-tourism to attract customers and exploit its enormous benefits for the economic development of their countries.
Due to rich cultural, artistic, historical and climatic resources, our country possesses a huge potential in attracting tourists which with a purposeful planning and appropriate introduction of potentials in tourism, can provide the requirements for employment and economic flourishing.
The present article considers nature and concept of electronic tourism and focuses on different dimensions of this kind of tourism. Results indicate that regarding abundant potentials in tourism and numerous technical, technological and human force possibilities, Iran must use tourism development, especially electronic tourism, to reach economic and social sustainable development.

In the present article, uniformitarianism is discussed as one of the theories related to the changes in geology phenomena. Furthermore, its contrast with neo-catastrophism, catastrophism and evolution will be presented using a documentary method.