پهنه بندی آسیب پذیری شهرهای مرزی استان آذربایجان غربی با رویکرد آمایشی ـ دفاعی

The present study aims to spatially analyze the border cities of West Azerbaijan province with a view to defense planning. The study area, due to its geographical (mountainous and difficult to pass) and economic characteristics, has significant potential for development in various sectors. The descriptive-analytical method has been used in this study. The required data were collected through library studies, documents, and expert questionnaires, and ArcGIS and Excel software were used to analyze the data. It is necessary to explain that in this study, using 14 indicators in two natural and man-made sectors affecting the security-defense factor with a defense planning approach, the spatial situation of border cities located in the nine border counties of West Azerbaijan province has been examined. The results showed that with the defensive planning approach, 66.5 percent (1275 square kilometers) of the entire study area (total natural and anthropogenic indicators) is at a very low vulnerability level, 49.25 percent (5736 square kilometers) is at a low vulnerability level, and 67.19 percent (4426 square kilometers) is at a medium vulnerability level. Also, 06.36 percent (8114 square kilometers) of the study area is at a high vulnerability level, which can raise concerns about security and the need for protective measures, and 13.1 percent (2949 square kilometers) is at a very high vulnerability level and requires special attention and immediate action. These results indicate the need to better examine and manage resources and infrastructure in areas with higher vulnerability levels in order to prevent potential crises and threats. Also, paying attention to areas with a lower level of vulnerability can help strengthen infrastructure and improve living conditions in these areas.
 
Extended Abstract
 
Introduction
The most important issue of the studied areas (in this research) is border and remote border areas that suffer from a lack of basic facilities for development such as communication routes, sanitary water, welfare and university facilities and have not been able to attract sufficient population and even in some sources those areas are referred to as forgotten lands. Security is a vital phenomenon in human life, without which the continuation of human life will face serious difficulties. In other words, it can be said that security is the first step towards achieving cultural, economic and political development of a region. The vast West Azerbaijan encompasses parts of the watersheds of Lake Urmia, Aras and the Small Zab and, based on the physical divisions of the country, together with the provinces of East Azerbaijan and Ardabil, forms the physical region of the northwest of the country. According to the latest political divisions of the country, West Azerbaijan province has 17 cities, 40 districts and 113 rural districts (Population and Housing Statistics, 2016). This province is located in the northwest of Iran, between Azerbaijan in the north, Turkey and Iraq in the west, and the provinces of Zanjan, East Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan in the south and southeast. This province has 858 kilometers of borders (water and land borders) with neighboring countries, and within this border area there are 13 urban settlements. Therefore, the main purpose of the present study is to investigate and analyze the spatial conditions of the border cities of West Azerbaijan province with a view to defense planning. During the research, an attempt will be made to answer the main question of the study, namely, what is the spatial vulnerability status of the border cities of the province based on the defense factor?
 
Methodology
This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature. For theoretical development, library studies, searches in online sources, theses, and reputable Persian and international articles were used. Field methods were employed for preparing maps and collecting spatial information. The main focus of the study was the spatial analysis of the border cities of West Azerbaijan Province with regard to defense planning. In the first stage, key parameters and information layers were identified through literature review and expert interviews. Subsequently, these parameters were weighted using expert opinions through questionnaires and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The information layers were categorized into two groups: anthropogenic and natural indicators. Finally, the Weighted Sum method in ArcGIS software was applied to integrate the layers, creating the final map and enabling the overall spatial analysis.
 
Results and Discussion
The study of natural parameters used showed that 11.22 percent (2526 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a very low vulnerability level in terms of natural indicators with a defensive planning approach. 20.98 percent (4720 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a low vulnerability level, 25.03 percent (5631 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a medium vulnerability level, 24.98 percent (5620 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a high vulnerability level, and 17.77 percent (3998 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a very high vulnerability level in terms of natural indicators with a defensive planning approach. Also, the study of man-made parameters used showed that 9.5 percent (2149 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a very low vulnerability level in terms of man-made indicators with a defensive planning approach. 19.35 percent (4376 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a low vulnerability level, 26.52 percent (5995 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a medium vulnerability level, 26.98 percent (6101 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a high vulnerability level, and 17.62 percent (3984 square kilometers) of the total study area is at a very high vulnerability level in terms of human-made indicators with a defensive planning approach.
 
Conclusion
The overall results of the present study showed that the southern and northern parts of the border counties of West Azerbaijan province have a more vulnerable situation than the central parts of the study area. In general, the results showed that 66.5 percent (1275 square kilometers) of the entire study area is at a very low vulnerability level in terms of overall indicators (total natural and man-made indicators) with a defensive planning approach, and based on the results, it can be said that none of the urban areas studied are in this zone. 49.25 percent (5736 square kilometers) of the entire study area is at a low vulnerability level in terms of overall indicators with a defensive planning approach, and the most important cities located in this zone include Sarv city (Urmia city), Ghoshchi (Urmia city) and Nazk Olia city (Poldasht city). On the other hand, 19.67 percent (4426 square kilometers) of the entire studied area was at a medium vulnerability level in terms of general indicators with a defense planning approach, and the cities of Qatur (Khoy County) and the cities of Urmia and Silvana (Urmia County) are located in this zone. Also, on the other hand, 36.06 percent (8114 square kilometers) of the entire study area was at a high vulnerability level in terms of general indicators with a defensive planning approach, and the cities of Rabat, Sardasht and Mirabad (Sardasht County), Gerdkeshaneh (Piranshahr), Noushinshahr (Urumiah), Firorq, Zarabad and Ayvaghli (Khoi County) and Poldasht city (Poldasht County) are located in this zone. 13.1 percent (2949 square kilometers) of the entire study area was at a very high vulnerability level in terms of general indicators with a defensive planning approach, and the cities of Maku and Bazargan (Maku County), Siah Cheshme and Avajiq (Khoi County), Khoy and Dizj Diz (Khoi County), Salmas and Tazeshahr (Salmas County), Nalos and Oshnavieh (Oshnavieh County) and Piranshahr (Piranshahr) are located in this zone.