An analysis of the spatial distribution pattern of social-cultural services and their equitable physical organization using the TOPSIS technique: The case-study of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate the way various districts of Tehran are treated considering social-cultural indicators in order to detect the degree of areas inequalities. In this research, the distribution pattern of social-cultural services in Tehran Metropolis is analyzed based on educational, recreational, cultural, social, sports, religious, and tourism criteria using the Average Nearest Neighbor. The obtained results highlight the necessity of the proper organization of the social-cultural services in the districts under study. Then, the current condition of social-cultural services in each district is examined and organized via the TOPSIS technique. The findings indicate that the social-cultural land uses are not distributed in a balanced manner across the districts of Tehran Metropolis; in other words, there is a significant difference in the development of social-cultural services in these districts. In the current study, to provide a equitable distribution, the areas with a high priority for social-cultural services are marked for each district on the map.