Investigating the realization of spatial justice based on multi-criteria decision-making methods in a metropolis in northwest Iran

Abstract

As the urban population continues to grow, especially in densely populated cities, the demand for urban services has increased. However, many cities have not kept up with this growth, leaving some regions without adequate access to essential services. This raises important questions about spatial justice, such as who receives what services, where, and how. To address this issue, we conducted a study in Tabriz, a metropolis in the northwest of Iran. We used a spatial analytical perspective to evaluate the fairness of the distribution of urban facilities in Tabriz; for this purpose, we examined fourteen criteria, including urban services per capita and average access to these services. We weighted the criteria using the MEREC model and then ranked the areas of Tabriz using the latest multi-criteria decision-making models, such as MARCOS, COPRAS, and MABAC. According to our findings, the eastern regions of the city have a much better situation, with regions 8, 9, and 2 ranking as the top three regions, respectively.