Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS)

Abstract Background and Aim: Cooperatives are the most democratic organizations on earth, whose members are the main owners, and it is expected that cooperatives can make the most of this valuable feature. The purpose of the current research is to investigate and provide solutions to increase the participation of cooperative members in the affairs related to the cooperative companies of Ahvaz city.
Methods and Material: This research was done with quantitative approach, survey method and using questionnaire technique to collect data. Based on Cochran's formula, 350 people were selected from all the members of the cooperatives as the sample size. The sampling method was a multi-stage cluster. Data analysis was done using spss software version 22.
Results and Discussion: The findings showed that there is a difference between managers' views on the importance of members' participation, the level of information about the programs related to cooperative affairs, the level of information about meetings related to cooperative affairs, the level of satisfaction with information on cooperative affairs, satisfaction with the managers' performance, There is a significant relationship between the willingness of managers to participate in meetings, the encouragement of managers to participate in meetings, and the awareness of members about the benefits of participating in cooperative affairs with the participation of cooperative members. However, there has been no significant relationship between the amount of capital of the members in the cooperative and the amount of their participation. Also, the step-by-step regression results showed that the variables of the amount of information about cooperative meetings, the importance of members' participation, and the level of satisfaction with managers' performance had the greatest contribution in explaining the participation of cooperative members in the affairs of cooperative companies. And in total, they explained 80% of the changes in the dependent variable, which indicates a very high level of explanation.

Abstract Background and Objective: Water security as a comprehensive concept that encompasses the measurement of the achievement of various water resources management goals. In other words, water security is strongly influenced by many factors, including increasing urban population, economic development, changes in living standards, increasing water pollution, overexploitation of groundwater resources, and climate change. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate and prioritize the Water Security Index (WSI) in the Qarasu sub-basins in Ardabil province.
Methodology: In this study, hydrological (H), environmental (E), life (L) and ... indicators were used to estimate the water security index. In other words, the water security index uses the combination of the aforementioned indicators and normalization to assess the sustainability of the watershed.
Results and findings: The results of the environmental criteria assessment showed that the most rangeland is in sub-basin (17) with 19.33 percent, and in terms of forest land, the most is in sub-basin (7) with 60.92 percent, and the least rangeland is in sub-basin (11) with 0.04 percent, and forest land is in sub-basins (5, 11, 14) with 0.01 percent. The results of the life criteria assessment also showed that the most human development is in sub-basins (1, 4, 5, 11, 14, 15, 17, 24, 25) with a maximum score of 1. Finally, based on the results of combining the (H, E, L) indicators, the results of the Water Security Index (WSI) showed that the highest level of sustainability of the Qarasu-Samian watershed in terms of water security is related to sub-basin (1) with a value of 0.63, which indicates the sustainability of this sub-basin in the entire area of the Qarasu-Samian watershed. Also, the lowest level of water security sustainability of the watershed was assigned to sub-basin (21) with a value of 0.03, which indicates a very high weakness of the water security of the sub-basin in the entire area of the Qarasu-Samian watershed.
Conclusion: Therefore, it is concluded that the higher the sub-basins are in terms of hydrological, environmental and life indicators, the higher the watershed will be in terms of sustainability and water security. Finally, it is suggested that in future studies, more tests, indicators and new methods should be used to assess the water security of the watershed.

Abstract Background and Objective: In recent years, climate change and human activities have increasingly intensified the global water scarcity crisis. These changes have disrupted the hydrological cycle, placing surface water resources under serious threat in terms of accessibility, quality, and sustainability.
Methodology: To assess the impact of climate change on surface water resources in the Babolrood watershed, meteorological and hydrometric data were initially collected. After addressing statistical deficiencies, removing outliers, and selecting a common temporal baseline, future climate variables (precipitation, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature) were projected for the period 2020–2100 using the CanESM5 climate model under IPCC AR6 scenarios SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 within the SDSM framework. Streamflow simulation for the future period was conducted using downscaled data processed through an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Finally, to identify trends in the projected data, non-parametric Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope estimator tests were applied using the R software environment.
Results and Findings: Trend analysis of streamflow using the Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator, and the ANN model over the period 2021–2100 revealed a weak and statistically insignificant decreasing trend across all SSP climate scenarios. The most pronounced decline was observed under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. Minimum temperature exhibited a non-significant increasing trend, potentially indicating nighttime or cold-season warming, while precipitation showed no discernible trend. The ANN model results were consistent with the statistical tests, confirming a gradual reduction in streamflow, thereby underscoring the need for sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change. These findings not only confirm the direct impact of climate change on surface water resources but also highlight the importance of employing intelligent models for long-term analysis and sustainable water resource management. Moreover, they underscore the necessity of integrated approaches and region-specific analyses in future studies.

Abstract Background and Objective: Water and water governance have attracted much attention as a political concern in recent years. In response to the growing understanding of the water crisis, the literature on water governance has been rapidly increasing over the past two decades. The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of E and L Indices on water sustainability and security in the Samian Watershed.
Methodology: In this study, environmental indicators and the life index were used to estimate the water security index. The environmental criterion focuses on environmental pressure, vegetation cover, and the percentage of protected areas in the watershed. The parameters of the life standard are related to the quality of human life and evaluate the standard of living and the human development index in the watershed. The pressure parameter is determined by the change in per capita income during the study period. In other words, the water security index uses normalization to assess the sustainability of the watershed.
Results and findings: The results of the standardization of the environmental index showed that the highest score was related to sub-basin 7 with a value of one and the lowest was related to sub-basins 5, 10, 14 and 27. Based on the results of the standardization of the human development index, it was shown that the highest level of human development was related to sub-basins 1, 4, 5, 11, 15, 17, 24 and 27. The lowest level of human development was related to sub-basins 12, 13, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 25. Finally, it is recommended to test and use other methods of estimating the Water Security Index (WSI) in future studies.

Abstract Background and objective: Geotourism is one of the branches of tourism that emphasizes geomorphology, hydrology, and geology of potential destinations and geosites, and its goal is to increase the economic power and welfare of host communities and destinations. The aim of the present study is to study and evaluate the impact of geotourism dimensions on economic development in villages of Khalkhal County (Case study: Majolan, Khojin, Kazaj).
Methodology: To evaluate the studied villages, Kobalikwa models, which emphasize scientific, educational, economic, conservation, and additional criteria, and the Violet model, which examines geotourism areas based on four criteria: origin of formation, geographical distribution, tourism, and accessibility, were used.
Findings and conclusions: The results obtained from the Kobalikwa model showed that Khojin village has taken the first place with a total score of 12.25, and the geographical diversity and biodiversity dimensions of this village have had a greater impact on the regional economy and have led to the economic development of Khojin village. Also, based on the results obtained from the Feyolt model, the village of Kazaj received an average score of 0.75 in the management rate section and an average score of 0.68 in the tourism rate section, and has taken the first place. Also, the geographical diversity and socio-political dimensions of this village have had the greatest impact on the regional economy and have increased economic power through the expansion of tourism in the region. Therefore, it is concluded that the villages of Khalkhal County have a high geographical diversity and in this respect can have a significant impact on the development of geotourism and the development of the regional economy. Finally, it is suggested that the effectiveness of geotourism dimensions in areas with potential potential be evaluated using various and new models.

Abstract Background and Objective: Location selection is one of the strategic elements in the development of a country's defense infrastructure, requiring precise analysis of environmental, climatic, and human factors using modern spatial approaches. Therefore, the objective of this research is to investigate the role of climatic and geomorphological factors affecting the site selection of military garrisons in Moghan Plain, located in Ardabil Province, by utilizing remote sensing and GIS capabilities.
Methodology: To fulfill the research objective, 14 relevant criteria were selected, including precipitation, temperature, actual evapotranspiration, elevation, slope, aspect, vegetation cover, land use, distance from rivers, faults, roads, cities, villages, and geology. The required spatial layers were derived from remote sensing data sources such as Sentinel-2 imagery, the 12.5-meter ALOS PALSAR Digital Elevation Model, and global climate datasets including TerraClimate, and were processed within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) environment. Subsequently, training sample points representing suitable and unsuitable locations were defined, and the Random Forest (RF) algorithm was trained and applied to produce the final suitability zoning map.
Results and Findings: The variable importance analysis indicated that proximity to cities and villages, slope, vegetation cover, and distance from geological faults were the most influential factors in military base site selection within the study area. The final suitability map classified the region into five categories: very suitable, suitable, moderately suitable, unsuitable, and very unsuitable. Notably, portions of the northern and eastern sections of the Moghan Plain were identified as very suitable zones. This study demonstrates that the integration of machine learning algorithms with remote sensing data offers a robust and efficient approach for spatial analysis and supports strategic decision-making in the defense and military planning sectors.
Conclusion: The findings of this study can support the optimization of military base site selection by integrating strategic, environmental, and security-related criteria. Such an approach has the potential to enhance military operational efficiency, strengthen crisis management capabilities, reduce infrastructure development costs, and minimize vulnerability to natural hazards.

Abstract The process of urban development is like a fuzzy process; Therefore, fuzzy segmentation and urban space monitoring using HR-PRS panchromatic images is one of the best tools in urban management and planning. In this study, panchromatic images of GeoEye-1 sensor related in the urban area of Qeshm has been used for analyzing the application of operation of the methods of fuzzy segmentation and clustering. Thus, for analyzing the operation of algorithms of FWS, MSA, IDF and CFM and using MATLAB software, 6 qualitative criteria has been described in three spatial categories, radiometric and spatial-radiometric. Using these methods and based on fuzzy characteristics, the input images have been fused and then, with application of fuzzy clustering method, and fusion output, which has a fuzzy nature, Thus, this article appears to study the segmentation of urban area. The result of the research confirms the efficiency of the suggested segmentation methods in terms of recognition of phenomena and man-made and spatial effects and exact exploitation of the information of satellite images. The method of FWS discloses the best performance in terms of segmentation of urban areas. Therefore, according to the research results, the use of clustering algorithms and fuzzy features is a suitable and optimal method for integrating HR-PRS satellite image information from urban area with the aim of segmentation.

Abstract Background and Objective: The optimal location of military bases is one of the major challenges in the planning and development of defense infrastructure. Selecting an appropriate site for these facilities requires a thorough assessment of various environmental, strategic, and social factors to ensure security while minimizing negative impacts on natural resources and communities.
Methodology: In this study, the optimal location of military bases in Khalkhal County was determined using remote sensing data and the Analytic Network Process (ANP) model within a GIS environment. For this purpose, 12 effective variables were considered, including distance from rivers, geology, elevation, slope, slope direction, land use, vegetation cover, distance from faults, distance from roads, distance from villages, distance from cities, and soil type. The required data were extracted from various sources, such as ASTER sensor images, GLC-FCS30D database, Sentinel-2 satellite images, and geological maps. In the ANP process, criteria were initially classified into two clusters: natural and human-made, and then, pairwise comparisons were performed using Super Decisions software to determine the relative weights of the criteria. Subsequently, the initial, weighted, and final supermatrices were formed to determine the final weight of the criteria.
Results and Findings: The results indicated that areas with medium vegetation cover, slopes less than 10 degrees, brown steppe soils, and barren land are more favorable for the establishment of military bases. Furthermore, appropriate distances from faults, rivers, and human settlements were considered as key factors in decision-making. Analysis of elevation, slope, slope direction, vegetation cover, and land use maps revealed that the central and eastern regions of the county, due to their convenient access to infrastructure and stable environmental conditions, are the best options for establishing military bases.
Conclusion: The results of this study can contribute to the optimization of military base location by considering strategic, environmental, and security criteria. This would enhance the efficiency of military operations, improve crisis management, reduce infrastructure costs, and decrease vulnerability to natural disasters.

Abstract Natural hazards are threatening accidents that cause a lot of human and financial losses. These dangers are not limited to the time of occurrence, but because of the social consequences that will affect the people of the region for years to come. In such cases where the effects of natural hazards are manifested in human life, such hazards are referred to as natural disasters and the role of these hazards in urban planning is important. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of natural hazards and crisis management in land management in Kermanshah province. The present research is a combination of "descriptive-analytical" methods in terms of applied purpose and according to the nature of the subject and the studied components, the approach governing the research process. Data collection and data has been done in two forms of "documentation and survey" and to analyze and weigh data from the FAHP model and GIS ARC software (GIS) to investigate the distribution of natural hazards.Findings from the study show that in terms of natural hazards (earthquake, flood, drought, landslide), %54 of the province in low and very low risk,%21in moderate risk and finally8.36 The percentage is in a very high risk situation.The results indicate that in terms of natural hazards (earthquake, flood, drought, landslide) Kermanshah province is in a moderate situation.

Abstract Background and Aim: Geotourism, as one of the new and developing branches of tourism, examines and uses the geological and geomorphological characteristics of natural areas in order to attract tourists. Tourism target villages can be recognized as attractive destinations for domestic and foreign tourists due to their beautiful natural landscapes, special geographical features, and rich culture. The aim of the present study is to identify the geotourism and geomorphological capacities of tourism target villages in Namin Township in Ardabil Province.
Methods and Material: The method of the present study is to use the new quantitative model of Kobalikwa and Feylot (National Park). In the Kobalikwa method, which emphasizes more on scientific, educational, economic, conservation, and additional criteria, it evaluates the study areas by comparing sub-criteria. In the national park model, geotourism areas are examined based on four criteria: origin of formation, geographical distribution, tourism, and accessibility. The tourism target villages in this study are Anbaran, Golshan, and Soha in Namin Township.
Results and Discussion: The results of the evaluation of the Kobalikwa geotourism model showed that the Anbaran tourism target village, with a score of 10.25, has the highest score among the studied areas, and the second and third places are Soha and Golshan, with scores of 9.5 and 8.25, respectively, which indicates that the Anbaran village has high potential to introduce Namin Township at the national and international levels. The results of the national park model also showed that the Anbaran region, with the highest score of 25.11, has suitable potential compared to the other studied areas. Based on the results in this model, the management and tourism rate of Anbaran was estimated to be very excellent. Therefore, it is concluded that Anbaran village is a historical, cultural, economic and ultimately geotourism village that can be recognized at the national and international levels. Finally, it is suggested that other evaluation models and the integration of natural and human factors be used in future applied studies for better evaluation.

Abstract Background and Objective: Geotourism is a form of tourism that contributes to the growth and geographical sustainability of the region, its environment, culture, historical and aesthetic heritage, and also improves the lives of its residents. Geotourism is a new movement towards rural development. The aim of this research is to assess the geotourism and geomorphological potential of protected areas in Meshkinshahr Township using quantitative models.
Methodology: The research method in this study is based on the Serrano-Gonzalez-Truba and Kobalicova models. The Serrano-Gonzalez-Truba model is suitable for evaluating geosites located in protected areas. Geosites are evaluated in this method based on three main criteria that help to evaluate scientific and management values ​​and are considered a suitable method for the study area.
 Findings and Conclusion: The results of the evaluation of the Serrano-Gonzalez-Truba model showed that the Shirvan Daresi protected area ranked first with the maximum score in terms of diversity of geomorphological and geological forms. Also, with the highest score in terms of accessibility and landscape diversity, it has a high potential for field studies and tourist attraction compared to other study areas. According to the results obtained in the second place, the Gandomin region with a score of 8.5 has suitable protected areas for field research and tourism attraction. Therefore, based on the validation of the model criteria, it can be concluded that the Shirvan Daresi protected area in Meshkinshahr with the highest score has a great potential for development. Finally, it is suggested that future studies should also use human impact sub-criteria to evaluate protected areas.

Abstract Introduction: Today, the occurrence of extreme phenomena and climate changes, along with the expansion of human activities and encroachment on natural areas, has led to an increase in damages caused by floods. Especially rural settlements due to features such as geographical location, environmental features, physical-spatial structure, and level of possession.
Methods and Material: Therefore, in this research, by analyzing the results of the field visit of 1418 villages in the country, the damage condition of the villages against the flood risk was investigated and after determining several methods presented for immunization, one of these villages has been analyzed by providing the details of the immunization study and hydrological and hydraulic modeling.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that 1169 visited villages are at risk of flooding and respectively, the organization of rivers and floodways with 31.5%, the implementation of watershed management projects in the upstream basin of the villages with 20.8% and then the operation of collecting and directing surface and underground water with 12.3%, were the most important and most frequent solutions to reduce the flood risk in the visited villages.Considering the pervasiveness of improper location selection and the development of constructions on the edges of rivers and the non-observance of the bed and flood protection limits of rivers and floodways, and especially the huge cost of action in the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase after the flood, therefor planning and action in order to prevent and reduce the risk of flooding in accordance with the national disaster risk reduction program, promoting the position of risk reduction considerations in development plans, the implementation of plans to organize and secure rivers and waterways in populated areas, as well as freeing nuisance occupations on the banks of rivers and waterways, are among the priority measures regarding flood risk management.

Abstract Background and Objective: City entrances are among the important elements of the city's appearance and landscape. But now we are witnessing cities that do not have any trace of an entrance space with the desirable characteristics that it should have. Ardabil is one of the historical cities with a prominent urban identity and history as one of the main tourist destinations. But despite its outstanding features in terms of cultural and historical burden and its prominent location, the city's entrances are among the most problematic urban spaces that are struggling with numerous and diverse disorders. The city's entrance should be a symbol of the city's face and personality. This can be achieved if effective indicators in this field are identified and the desired entrances are measured based on them. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate the components that affect the desirability of the city's appearance and landscape of the city's entrances
Methodology: The present study is applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of its method, which is classified as a dependency study conducted by survey method. The statistical population of the study consists of 20 experts who were selected by snowball method. In order to evaluate the components affecting the desirability of urban landscape and cityscape, 4 components (physical, aesthetic, functional, and identity representation) were used. LISREL and SPSS software were also used to analyze the data.
Findings and Conclusion: The results of the one-sample T-test showed that all the components under study are effective factors of urban landscape desirability because the test results of all variables were positive and scored higher than the median (3). The significance level of the variables was also observed to be less than 0.05, so the research hypothesis was confirmed at a 95% level.Considering that all the components under study had a factor loading of more than 0.4, the results of the path coefficient (β) indicate positive relationships between the research variables. Also, the RMSEA coefficient was equal to (0.074) and the chi-square coefficient was (42.36), so it can be claimed that the research model shows a good and desirable fit.

Abstract Background and Objective: Simultaneously with the rapid growth of cities and their physical development, we sometimes witness the decline in the environmental quality of urban spaces, which has caused various crises in urban life. Today, urbanization problems include a wide range of psychological disorders such as: stress, aggression, irritability, depression, boredom, and physical complaints. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to explain the public spaces of the city and its role in the mental and psychological health of the citizens of Ardabil
.Methodology:  The present study is applied in terms of its purpose, descriptive-analytical in nature, and documentary and survey in terms of data collection. In this study, two questionnaires (researcher-made and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire) were used to collect data The statistical population of the study was the elderly over 60 years of age living in District 2 of Ardabil, which numbered (10,885) people. Based on the Cochran formula, a sample size of 371 questionnaires was obtained. Structural equations and statistical tests were used in the SPSS and Smart PLS software environment to analyze the data and examine the relationship between urban environment quality factors and the mental health of the elderly.Based on the research findings,
 Findings and Conclusion: the T-statistic for all variables is greater than (1.96) and is significant at a confidence level of (95.00). The AVE for the social participation variable is (801.00), transportation and access variable (821.00), outdoor space and public buildings (781.00), and safety and convenience (922.00). In relation to the answer to the research question, it can be said that there is a significant relationship between the quality of the city's public space and the mental health of the elderly in Region 2 of Ardabil. With the information collected in the research findings, it was determined that District 2 of Ardabil city is not suitable for the elderly in terms of most aspects of design and planning, such as social participation, access to public transportation and spaces, outdoor space and public buildings, and safety and convenience.

Abstract Background and Aim: The objective of the present study is to investigate the intersection of digital marketing and sustainable urban tourism, focusing on Ardabil City as a case study. Digital marketing provides innovative tools for promoting destinations, along with advancing responsible tourism practices. Sustainable urban tourism also seeks to balance economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental management in urban spaces.
 Methods and Material:The research method is inductive and a qualitative approach based on Grounded Theory. The participants in the research process include experts, university professors, and experienced employees in the fields of tourism and marketing. Additionally, a purposive sampling method was used, and to reach theoretical saturation and development, interviews were conducted with 12 people  and analyzed using MaxQDA software.
Results and Discussion: Based on the results, the causal conditions (weakness in promoting sustainable tourism attractions, weakness in the digital ecosystem, mismatch of existing marketing methods with modern tourist expectations, and cultural and social challenges); the contextual conditions (geographical and natural features, facilities and infrastructure, and the economic and social structure of the local community); the intervening conditions (political and managerial factors, human resource training and expertise, and technological and infrastructural barriers); the strategies (utilizing digital marketing elements, integrated and interactive platform strategies, and collaboration and synergy strategies); and the outcomes (increased awareness and attraction of responsible tourists, economic and social empowerment of the community, branding of Ardabil City as a sustainable destination, and environmental results) were identified.

Abstract Background and Aim: Geotourism is a special form of tourism industry in which tourists are the center of attention. A geosite can be a landscape, a group of various forms of unevenness of the earth's surface (landforms) or a single landform, a rock outcrop, as well as fossil layers or a particular fossil. The present study is to assess the geotourism and geomorphological capabilities in tourist villages of Ardabil province.
Methods and Material: This study is descriptive-analytical-applied in terms of its purpose and uses Pavlova models to evaluate the competitiveness of the studied areas and is based on the formation of positive and negative factors and calculations related to them; The Violet model, which examines geotourism areas based on four criteria of origin, geographical distribution, tourism, and accessibility, and finally the Kobalikova model, which emphasizes scientific, educational, economic, conservation, and additional criteria, was used.
Results and Discussion: Based on the results obtained from the evaluation of the Pavlova geotourism model, these results were obtained: the geotourism areas of Biledarq, Khojin, and Sardabeh were ranked in the excellent, good, and appropriate competitiveness weights, respectively. The results obtained from applying the Violet model also showed that in the management section of the studied areas, Biledarq region was assigned a score of 0.68, and in the tourism rate section, Khojin village was assigned a score of 0.70, which indicates the relative superiority of welfare potentials. Also, based on the results of the Kobalikwa model, the village of Bileh Daragh has obtained high scores in most of the evaluation sub-indices and, with a total score of 11, has a high value compared to other villages under study. Therefore, it is concluded that Bileh Daragh village has high geotourism capabilities and potentials and can play a significant role in the growth and expansion of the tourism industry in the region. Finally, it is suggested that in order to identify the capacities of geotourism areas, they should be evaluated with different models in future studies

Abstract Background and Objective: In recent years, with the increase in the frequency and intensity of flash floods, zoning the risk of this phenomenon has become essential. The Extended Flash Flood Model (MFFPI) is one of the modern and effective methods for assessing and zoning flash flood risk in watersheds. The aim of this study is to assess the flood potential in the Kuzet-Topraqi Watershed Sub-basins using the Extended Flash Flood Model.
Methodology: In this regard, first, information layers including slope, flow accumulation, land use, rock permeability, slope curvature, and soil texture were extracted in the GIS environment using base maps, and in the next step, all these parameters were weighted and weighted maps were produced using the Raster Calculator tool. Then, by overlapping these layers, the flash flood potential map for the Kozeh-Toparqi watershed was divided and extracted into five risk categories: very low (55 km2), low (126.10 km2), medium (266.15 km2), high (219.50 km2), and very high (138.03 km2).
Results and Findings: The results show that the northern and central parts of the basin are mainly in the low to medium risk range, while the southern and western areas experience the highest flood risk. The distribution pattern of these areas can be affected by geomorphological parameters such as slope, elevation, and drainage density, as well as hydrological and land use characteristics. In particular, areas with steep slopes, low permeability, and runoff-sensitive land uses are susceptible to flash floods. On the other hand, low-slope areas, which are mainly located in the middle areas, can become critical points in the development of floods due to the accumulation of incoming runoff from upstream areas. The results also showed that sub-basins 2 and 3 with areas of 0.02 and 0.15 km2, and in contrast, sub-basins 14 and 17 with areas of 29.27 and 14.98 km2, are located in very low and very high flood risk zones, respectively.
Conclusion: As a result, flood management in this basin requires adopting solutions appropriate to the topographic conditions. In steep areas, implementing watershed management operations such as constructing sedimentation dams and developing vegetation cover can help reduce runoff velocity and increase permeability. Also, in low-slope areas, creating flood control reservoirs and appropriate drainage can play an effective role in reducing flood risks.

Abstract Background and Objective: Over the past few decades, discussions related to human development and its impact on economic growth have been of particular importance. The Human Development Index is a combination of three key components: life expectancy, per capita income, and literacy level, and is used to measure the level of development, analyze spatial justice, and regional inequality at the national and regional levels. In this regard, the aim of the present study is to investigate the economic factors affecting the improvement of the Human Development Index in Ardabil province. The type of research is descriptive-analytical.
Methodology: The method of this study is based on quantitative-spatial approaches. The research method used in this study is a combination of documentary-library methods. In the analytical section, by considering the indicators and considerations of human development in the form of 13 target indicators, the economic factors affecting the improvement of the Human Development Index in Ardabil province have been examined on a case-by-case basis. To collect the required information, the main reliance was on the documents of the National Statistics Center, and the Morris model, GIS software, and Spss were used to analyze the collected data.
Findings and Conclusion: The results show that in terms of human development index, the three counties of Ardabil, Parsabad, and Meshginshahr are in the highest ranks, and the three counties of Kowsar, Namin, and Sarein are in the lowest ranks. Also, the spatial distribution of the human development index among the counties of the province shows that the central and northern counties of the province have relatively better conditions than the southern counties. Regarding the factors affecting the human development index, the results of the article showed that the indicators of rural percentage, household size, unemployment rate, dependency burden, actual dependency burden, theoretical dependency burden, and percentage of industrial sector employees, with correlation coefficients of 0.726, 0.768, 0.245, 0.512, 0.512, and 0.598, respectively, had a statistically significant negative relationship with the human development index, and the indicators of urbanization percentage, employment rate, economic participation rate, women's economic participation rate, percentage of agricultural sector employees, and percentage of service sector employees, with correlation coefficients of 0.726, 0.245, 0.395, 0.101, and 0.435, respectively, had a statistically significant positive relationship with the human development index.

Abstract Background and Objective: The aim of the present study is to analyze and evaluate the geotourism and geomorphological capabilities of Sarein County using the M GAM model. Sarein County is located in the northwest of Iran and in the geographical area of ​​47 degrees and 48 minutes to 48 degrees and 11 minutes east longitude and 38 degrees and 3 minutes to 38 degrees and 15 minutes north latitude.
Methodology: The present research is of an applied type and its research method is a descriptive survey conducted using a questionnaire. In this study, eight geosites in Sarein County (Verghesaran Suspension Bridge, Viladreh, Alvares Ski Resort, Goldasht Kalkhoran, Gharkenzagh, Ali Darvish Valley, Saridareh Valley, and Imamzadeh Atashgah) were evaluated by providing 20 questionnaires to tourists present in the study areas and also providing 20 written questionnaires to experts and specialists in these geosites and collecting their data. In this study, first some geomorphological landforms were identified and their boundaries were determined using library studies, aerial photographs, satellite images, field surveys and interviews. Then, using the M-GAM model, the tourism potentials of the landforms were examined.
 Results and findings: The results of the M-GAM model evaluation showed that, based on the evaluation of experts and visitors to the geotourism area, the Verghesaran Suspension Bridge has the highest core value. In terms of complementary values, the highest score was for the Atashgah Shrine with a score of 91.11, and in total scores, the highest score was for the Atashgah Shrine and the lowest total score was for Villadreh. Also, the M-GAM matrix using the main and complementary values ​​obtained from the analysis shows that the geosites of Goldasht Kalkhoran, Imamzadeh Atashgah, Darreh Saridareh, and Verge Saran Suspension Bridge are located in the Z23 field in terms of main values, and in terms of complementary values, they have a high level of potential for geotourism. The Ali Darvish Valley, Ghar Kanzagh, and Alvares Track geosites also have a medium value for geotourism in terms of primary and complementary value (primary and complementary value Z22), and finally, Viladreh is at a medium level in terms of primary value and at a low level in terms of complementary value for geotourism development.Therefore, it is concluded that there is a lot of room for improving geotourism in these places, and by investing in improving the infrastructure of these geosites and improving planning and promotional activities, these areas can attract many tourists and travelers, which will create jobs and increase the income of local people. Finally, it is suggested that the geotourism and geomorphological potential of Sarein County be analyzed and evaluated based on artificial intelligence and geotourism occurrence models.

Abstract Background and Objective: Rapid technological developments (such as artificial intelligence, automation, and the digital economy), labor market fluctuations, demographic changes, and increasing societal expectations in the field of welfare require a review of new missions and mechanisms. This study aimed to conduct foresight analysis of the cooperative sector in Ardabil Province by 2031 and propose development strategies.
Methodology: The research was descriptive-inferential and foresight-oriented, employing a mixed quantitative and qualitative approach. The statistical population consisted of 58 experts, government and non-government officials, cooperative members, and researchers in the cooperative sector, selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected via Likert-scale questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and documentary studies. Various methods were used for data analysis: PESTEL analysis to identify macro-environmental factors, MICMAC method to examine interrelationships among key variables, and Shell scenario planning to develop future scenarios. Additionally, correlation analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test, SWOT analysis, TF-IDF technique, and K-Means clustering were applied for quantitative and qualitative data analysis. 
Results and Findings: The results indicated that economic factors, such as inflation rates, and political factors, such as political stability, were the most influential. Technology was identified as a key driver, and scenarios of economic stagnation and water scarcity threats were deemed the most likely futures. The absence of significant differences among respondent groups facilitated unified policymaking. Ultimately, strategies such as leveraging strengths to capitalize on opportunities, focusing on key factors, preparing for likely scenarios, and promoting technological development were proposed. These findings can assist policymakers and cooperative managers in formulating sustainable development strategies.  While numerous studies on foresight and related topics have been conducted domestically and internationally, no research has been observed specifically on the foresight of the cooperative sector in Ardabil Province.

Abstract Background and Objective: The word geothermal has Greek roots. Geo means earth and thermal means heat, which is based on geological features and water resources. Over time, it has been described as a different type of tourism that has a geological or geographical orientation. The aim of this study is to identify the potential of geomorphological and geothermal destinations in Ardabil province using the Brailles and Zoros model.
Methodology: The method of the present study is descriptive, analytical and comparative. In this study, two geotourism models, Brailles and Zoros, were used. This study was conducted in 2024 the statistical population was tourists and tourism and geology industry specialists. In this study, the Braille model refers to the median of the terrestrial diversity index sites that do not have any intrinsic or scientific value and their capabilities are measured based on their relationship with educational and tourism values. The medians were selected by four factors: reputation, integrity, geological type, security, accessibility, and beauty. In the Zoros method, scientific criteria of potential threats and usability are used to evaluate geosites, and each of the criteria used also has sub-criteria.
 Findings and Conclusion: The results of the Zoros model evaluation show that the Meshkinshahr geothermal area has the highest score (75/80). The Ardabil geothermal area is also in second place with 72/5 points. According to the Zoros model results, the Sarein region has the lowest score of 69, which indicates the low geothermal potential in this city. The results of the Braille model showed that in terms of accessibility index, Ardabil region has the highest score with an average of 2.62 and is in first place, and in terms of scientific index, Meshkinshahr region has the first place in terms of world reputation criterion with 12 points. In terms of vulnerability, Sarein region is in first place with the highest score. Therefore, it is concluded that considering that the geothermal areas of Ardabil province are affected by the Sabalan Mountains, this has caused all three geothermal areas to have different capabilities, which the aforementioned models showed that the highest thermal energy is in Meshkinshahr county. Finally, it is suggested that artificial intelligence tools be used in future studies to estimate geothermal areas.

Abstract Background and Objective: Water security is strongly influenced by many factors including increasing urban population, economic development, changes in living standards, increasing water pollution, over-exploitation of groundwater resources, and climate change. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of hydrological index on water security index (WSI) in Qarasu sub-basins.
Methodology: In this study, hydrological index (H), per capita water, and water discharge were used to estimate the water security index. In other words, the water security index uses normalization to assess the sustainability of the watershed.
Results and findings: The results of the water discharge index assessment in the Qarasu watershed showed that the highest water discharge among the 27 sub-basins studied was related to sub-basin 1 at the Namin hydrometric station with a value of 560,196,073 cubic meters and sub-basin 23 at the Nanekaran hydrometric station with a value of 305,170,988 cubic meters. The results of the per capita water assessment in the Qarasu sub-basins showed that the highest per capita water for each person was allocated to sub-basin 20 at the Nooran station with a value of 957.9733,133 liters and in the next rank, sub-basin 18 at the Baroq station with a per capita water value of 914.9249,868 liters among the sub-basins studied. Therefore, it is concluded that the higher the hydrological index in the sub-basins studied, the more suitable the basin sustainability index will be. Finally, it is suggested that executive and management measures be implemented in some sub-basins that do not have a suitable hydrological index, as the Water Security Index (WSI) is very low in them, in order to witness the development of sub-indices in all the studied basins so that the Water Security Index takes an upward trend.

Abstract Background and Objective: Multi-criteria decision-making methods combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enable the simultaneous evaluation of various environmental, infrastructural, and security criteria, assisting in the optimal selection of locations for the establishment of military bases. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to locate military bases in Meshginshahr County using the Analytic Network Process (ANP) model and GIS.
Methodology:To achieve the research objective, a survey method was first employed by designing a questionnaire to collect expert opinions on the factors influencing the siting of military bases in the study area. In the next step, necessary data layers were digitized based on existing maps, and a database was created in the ArcGIS environment. Data weighting was carried out using the ANP method. Finally, the zoning map of the study area was prepared by integrating and overlaying the selected layers.
Findings and Results: The results indicated that 15.67% of the county's area falls within the "highly suitable" class and 17.97% within the "suitable" class, mainly located in the central and eastern parts of the county. In contrast, 25.55% is categorized as "unsuitable" and 21.48% as "highly unsuitable," primarily found in the mountainous and steep western and southern regions.This study demonstrated that integrating multi-criteria decision-making models with GIS spatial analysis can significantly assist in optimizing the site selection of military bases while minimizing environmental and security conflicts.

Abstract Background and Objective Today, the use of the future research approach has been proposed as a necessity in the field of sports and especially educational sports in educational and sports institutions. Despite the long history of student sports and physical education in the country's schools, the management of student sports is still facing many issues and problems, and especially at the level of Khuzestan province, the development of student sports and planning for its future has received little attention. In this regard, the purpose of the current research is to evaluate the state of student sports in Khuzestan province, which is practical in terms of its purpose and exploratory in terms of its nature and analytical method.
Methodology: A questionnaire, Delphi technique, and documentary-library studies were used to collect data. The Delphi method and the cross-effects matrix (MicMac) were used to analyze the data.
Results and Findings: The findings of the research showed that among the 15 main factors affecting the state of student sports in Khuzestan province, 9 variables are known as key and influential. These variables have the most influence and the least influence on the future development of student sports in Khuzestan province. Also, the results showed that in terms of the direct influence of variables such as social networks with a score of 860, infrastructure and sports facilities and students' attitude towards sports with a score of 835 and 810, they are located in the first to third positions, respectively. On the other hand, the variables that have an indirect effect on the state of student sports are social networks with a score of 876, infrastructure and sports facilities, and students' attitude towards sports with a score of 872 and 796, respectively, they are located in the first to third positions.

Abstract Background and Objective: Effective urban waste management is a critical challenge in Ahvaz, Iran. The city faces growing environmental, health, and social issues due to increasing population, escalating waste generation, and insufficient infrastructure and planning. In this context, urban governance, defined as the set of mechanisms, institutions, and decision-making and implementation processes, plays a particularly crucial role.
Methodology: This applied research aims to investigate the relationship between various urban governance indicators and urban waste management in Ahvaz. Its nature and method are analytical-exploratory. From a statistical population of 1,302,591 Ahvaz citizens, a sample of 386 individuals was selected using Cochran's formula. Data collection was carried out using a researcher-developed questionnaire, which demonstrated confirmed content (face) and construct validity, along with acceptable composite reliability. The data was analyzed using correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM), employing SPSS and Smart PLS software.
Results and Findings: The results from the structural equation modeling reveal a strong and significant relationship (p<0.05) between urban governance indicators and urban waste management. This clearly demonstrates that improving urban governance in Ahvaz will directly lead to a more robust and efficient urban waste management system. Furthermore, the model fit indices indicate a strong alignment between the data and the conceptual model, reinforcing the validity and reliability of the modeling results. This confirms that the proposed model effectively explains the relationship between the variables under study.
A comparison of correlation coefficients shows that waste generation has a particularly strong and close link with waste segregation and recycling. In contrast, waste collection exhibits a weaker correlation compared to other dimensions of urban waste management. Additionally, the PLS test results ranked the urban waste management indicators as follows: waste segregation and recycling (201.658 points), waste generation (148.120 points), waste treatment and disposal (66.819 points), and waste collection (21.398 points). These findings underscore the pivotal role of urban governance, especially in strengthening the infrastructure and processes for waste segregation and recycling. This highlights the necessity of investing and giving special attention to improving urban governance indicators as a fundamental prerequisite for achieving an efficient and sustainable urban waste management system.