An assessment of the role of small towns in the development of periphery population centers using network analysis

Abstract

In Iran, the new towns' policy has not been successful regarding urban and regional development. In Iran, many rural areas have become towns, particularly in the last two decades. The present town of Arjmand in Firouzkooh county is one of them. This study aims to review the role of Arjmand town as a small population center in the development of the rural areas on the outskirts. For this purpose, 7 functions in the form of 49 variables were compared and reviewed using the network analysis method and existing relations and trends in the rural district under study in two sections before and after Arjmand's urbanization. Data analysis shows that in the 1st period, rural areas of Qazqanchai district were most dependent on this town due to the concentration of most services in Firouzkooh. But, in the 2nd period, with the concentration of most of these services in Arjmand town, dependencies of rural district settlements on Firouzkooh were reduced. A review of the centrality value of Arjmand shows that in both periods, Arjmand has played a vital role as a central point in providing services to its outskirts and reduction of rural dependency on the city center.