Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Science Fen Bilimleri Dergisi (CFD), Cilt:36, No: 6 Ozel Sayı (2015) Science Journal (CSJ), Vol. 36, No: 6 Special Issue (2015) ISSN: 1300-1949 ISSN: 1300-1949 The Paradigm of Physical Development and Growth Realization in the Arena of Future Changes in Guidance and Control of the City Nikoo ABHARI 1,*, Mahdieh NAKHAEI2, Leila BADEIY2, Fereshteh BABAOGHLY2 1Young Researchers and Elite Club Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran 2Young Researchers and Elite Club, Marand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran Received: 01.02.2015; Accepted: 06.06.2015 Abstract. Physical development of cities is a dynamic and continuous process in which the physical space of the city expands vertically and horizontally. The growth of cities is one of the essential characteristics of urban societies, because change and evolution are among the fundamental and necessary features of any city. One of the problems facing humanity in the present century is increased and uncontrolled growth of cities, which has caused planners to seek a remedy. Among these problems, it can be pointed to the uncontrolled expansion of cities into suburbs where the construction is carried out without a previous plan. Physical development of cities is a dynamic process, and various natural and man-made (artificial) factors are effective in the formation and future development of the city. Achieving sustainable development requires awareness and recognition of the environment and identifying the factors affecting the development process of the city. To more deeply identify current issues and problems and make policy and plan for future developments of cities, it is necessary to recognize the factors and forces affecting the growth and development of them over the past decade. The present paper entitled “The paradigm of physical development and growth realization in the arena of future changes in guidance and control of the city” aims to investigate the factor affecting the physical development and urbanization growth in Yamchi-Iran. This study attempts to review the contribution of each of urbanization growth factors and determine the factors playing a role in the physical development and directing the urban development. Hence, the present study, based on a descriptive-analytical method and using the data available in the statistics center of Marand County as well as interview and observation, investigates the effective factors in the physical development of the city. The results of this research show that the physical development of the city has not been constructed in a balanced and principled manner; also, it can be said that the physical growth of the city has not been in harmony with the population growth; and natural and topographical factors have not played a major role in the physical development of the city. In addition, the peripheral results indicate that the initial core of the city has been formed on the Agh-Chay River which had been an old thoroughfare between Isfahan-Jolfa and has continued its growth trend. The final section of this paper addresses the localization of Yamchi and determining the direction of its urban development; the results indicate that the north and north-east directions of the city are suitable for the future development of it. Keywords: physical development, dynamic process, natural and man-made factors, urbanization growth INTRODUCTION The Formation and changes of urban texture and its development and growth can be explained within the framework of relations governing socio-economic systems and political structures of the society; and the formation of new textures will be realized in line with the above factors. Identifying and analyzing the internal and external factors and forces affecting any city, with regard to socio-economic and political structure of the city, and investigating its changes over time has led to a new concept in urban geography as urban dynamics (Chaline, 1993). Physical development of cities is a dynamic and continuous process in which the physical space of the city expands vertically and horizontally; and if the process is accomplished in a rapid and unplanned manner, it will not lead to a balanced and harmonious physical development of urban spaces; and as a result, it will causes many problems for urban systems (Farahi Bakhshayesh, 2002). The city of Yamchi, like most small towns, has faced problems for its physical development. The city has grown organically up to 2001. In 2001, the village became a city and followed a planned development in 2004 through implementing the Guide plan; however, there _____________ * Corresponding author. Email address: Nikoo Abhari Special Issue: The Second National Conference on Applied Research in Science and Technology http://dergi.cumhuriyet.edu.tr/ojs/index.php/fenbilimleri ©2015 Faculty of Science, Cumhuriyet University The Paradigm of Physical Development and Growth Realization in the Arena of Future Changes in Guidance and Control of the City is still neighborhood development in the city as well. Although, this city has become a city in the recent decade, its physical development has been very rapid and not followed a planned program. The results of this study give a clear and logical model for understanding the complex and changing issues in the city; it can also provide a means for managers and planners involved in municipal affairs to take into consideration all effective factors to forecast the future development of the city; in other words, it provides them a systematic attitude in this regard. The present paper entitled “The paradigm of physical development and growth realization in the arena of future changes in guidance and control of the city” aims to investigate and evaluate the role of natural barriers and other factors affecting the physical development of the city and finally propose the optimal directions of the future development of Yamchi-Iran. The research objectives 1- To investigate the physical development of Yamchi in terms of being in accordance with the planned program, detailed studies and predetermined goals. 2- To investigate the population growth and its influence on the environmental factors in physical development. 3- To identify causes of the emergence, growth, and expansion of Yamchi. 4- To identify the factors affecting the physical development of Yamchi and offer suggestions for the logical development of it. The research methodology The present study is a descriptive-analytical research in terms of its purpose while it is an applied study considering its type. The sample under study is the city of Yamchi which has been purposefully selected. The research has been conducted according to the three major steps as follows: First step: using library studies to collect information required for the research. In this regard, the information of scientific websites has been used; also, the required statistical information has been obtained from the statistics and statistical yearbooks of the Statistics Center of Iran. Second step: using field studies, the supplementary information has been collected through observation and imaging. Third step: proposing the optimal directions of the future development of Yamchi through evaluating the natural, economic, social, and physical potential of the city along with the integration of different layers of processed information as well as investigating the current bottlenecks and the physical development of Yamchi in past periods. The geographical location of the region under study (the city of Yamchi): Yamchi (the center of Yamchi District) is located in the north west of the city of Marand as well as in the west of the Isfahan-Jolfa and north of the Marand-Khoy transit roads. From the north, the city is limited to the Aras River and the central part of Marand, and from the south and east to the central part of Marand, and from the west to Koshksaray and Qarah Zia Od-Din. The distance of the city from Marand is equal to 18 km and from the Chercher station is equal to 10 km. The city is located in a plain with an area of 843.2 square kilometers, whose height from 179 ABHARI, NAKHAEI, BADEIY, BABAOGHLY sea level is 1140 meters. The seasonal river of Agh-Chay (also known as Zenouz Chay) passes through the city and the river of Zilbir Chay crosses its lands. Yamchi is connected to the Marand-Khoy road by an asphalt road located at a distance of 13 km from this road; and from the north-west, it is connected to the Khoy three-way by an asphalt road with a length of 15 km. Since the city is located on a plain, it has not been overshadowed much by natural elements; instead, it can be said that factors such as physical studies and socioeconomic factors play an important role in the development of the city. Figure 1. The location of Yamchi in the country, province and County levels. Source: the detailed plan of Marand, 2006 The physical development process of Yamchi Road networks should be deemed as one of the most important causes for the emergence of cities; and factors such as water and fertility of lands are the other factors involved in the creation and survival of them. Also, having a central and passage location compared to the surrounding villages can be considered as another reason for the formation and development of cities. The initial core of Yamchi has been formed on the Agh-Chay River which is a tributary of the Zilbir-Chay River; due to the absence of topographical constraints, the city has developed around the river and communication ways by following the alleys; also, the city has been located in a thoroughfare between Isfahan and Jolfa, which had been used as a place for livestock replacement. The initial core of the city has developed towards the south and north. The growth and development of the main and old core of Yamchi, like other old cities of Iran, has begun from the village.