Qazvin

Expansion of urban area is a well-known phenomenon in developing countries with population growth and the migration from villages to cities being two major factors. Those factors reduce the influence of efforts to limit the cities boundaries. Thus, spatial planners always look for the models that simulate the expansion of urban land-uses, and enable them to prevent unbalanced expansions of cities, and guide the developments to the desired areas. Several models have been developed and evaluated for simulating urban land-use expansions. Although these models are numerous, most of them have focused to simulate urban land-use expansions in sub-urban areas. The regional models that cover wider area are equally important. In this study, a new agent-based model has been developed and implemented to simulate urban land-use expansion in Qazvin and Alborz regions of Qazvin province, which cover 1620 square kilometres. In this model, land-use developers have been treated as computer agents that move in the landscape explicitly, and assess the state of parcels for development. The environment of the model is raster. The agents are categorized based on two scenarios. In the first scenario, all agents are of similar category and in the second scenario the agents are divided into five categories with different objectives. Then, the results of the two scenarios are compared. Due to the spatial essence of the problem, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were used to prepare the environment of agents’ movement and search, and to aggregate and analyze the results. To evaluate the model, data of year 2005 were used as the input and data of year 2010 were used for checking the results. By calibrating the parameters, the most desired configuration of the model was found in the second scenario, since the results were close to the reality as the Kappa index raised up to 78.17 percent. These results showed that the precision of the model to simulate land-use developments are of considerable quality. Thus, the model is able to detect the area that faced rapid urban expansions. Moreover, a comparison between the results of the two scenarios revealed that dividing the agents into categories with different aims and parameters will improve the outcome of the model. However, it is vitally important to determine the number of the agents in each category as well as their parameters precisely.

Tourism is the driving force behind economic development. This industry is the most incredible and widespread service industry in the world in terms of economic, social, cultural and political affairs. The garden of Qazvin city from the historic cities and a hundered years old Iranian capital of the Safavid era as the center of the province with unique monuments (works of the Sassanid to Pahlavi periods), the cultural (calligraphic capital of Iran) and natural (Alamut area with geotouristic capabilities) Is a beautiful and tourism city in our country. The aim of this research is to evaluate the tourism sites of Qazvin city using urban tourism criteria for introducing tourism markets. The research methodology is a descriptive-analytical type that, after the preliminary studies of thirteen sites based on selected criteria, is selected through eleven tourism criteria, including distance from communication routes, hotels, urban squares, community spaces, terminals, number of tourists, The variety of attractions, the level of attractiveness, the level of advertising and services, the number of points of view and the difference of vision, was evaluated. These criteria were weighed through the AHP hierarchy method and, in combination with the information of each site, for each criterion, was determined by the Copras decision method and the final value of each site. The results of the research showed that the sites, the Chehelsotun Museum Palace, Saad al-Saltanah Palace, Head on top of the Qapo, Atiq Jamaat Mosque are the best and most prestigious sites in the planning process.

This study investigates the feasibility of implementing smart water supply systems as part of the broader smart city initiative in Qazvin, Iran. The research aims to analyze the relationship between smart water supply systems and urban smartness, focusing on the potential benefits and challenges associated with their integration. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study combines qualitative interviews with experts in urban planning and quantitative surveys targeting municipal managers and water supply authorities. The findings reveal that smart water supply systems can significantly enhance urban infrastructure by improving water management efficiency, reducing waste, and increasing citizen engagement. However, challenges such as financial constraints, lack of technical expertise, and insufficient regulatory frameworks hinder the successful implementation of these systems. The study concludes that while the potential for smart water supply systems in Qazvin is promising, strategic planning, investment in technology, and stakeholder collaboration are essential for overcoming existing barriers. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on smart cities and offers practical insights for policymakers and urban planners aiming to foster sustainable urban development through innovative water management solutions.

Purpose - The development of wind energy in rural areas of Iran is a promising solution to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing farmers’ willingness and intention to participate in the development and advancement of wind energy. By reviewing the literature and employing an intuitively developed method, the hypothesized influential statements were identified. Design/methodology/approach- The research sample consisted of 189 participants selected through random sampling. The internal validity of questionnaire indicators was assessed by checking Cronbach's alpha coefficient and loading scores through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient fell within an acceptable range. Finding- The results of the study revealed that externality directly and significantly affects perceived sensitivity ( β = 0.40, p = 0.001). In addition, negative externalities have a significant positive effect on perceived severity, with a path coefficient of 0.41 ( β = 0.41, p = 0.001). The attitude towards the electricity distribution company also has a direct and significant effect on the willingness to participate in the development of wind energy ( β = 0.35, p < 0.001). The functional rationale (β = 0.17, p < 0.05) and the urgency rationale ( β = 0.34, p = 0.001) positively and significantly influence the willingness to engage in wind energy development projects. Willingness to participate in development plans has a positive and significant effect on behavioral intention ( β = 0.66, p = 0.001). The squared multiple correlations for sensitivity, perceived severity, desire to participate in wind energy development projects, and behavioral intention to participate are 0.16, 0.17, 0.33, and 0.22, respectively (R 2 Sensit = 0.16, R 2 Sever = 0.17, R 2 Desire = 0.33, R 2 Intent = 0.22). The results of this survey, in general, indicate that it has an impact on farmers' willingness to promote and develop wind energy. Using the transtheoretical model, it was revealed that the majority of farmers are in the stages of "increasing awareness" and "dramatic relief," while experts are in the stages of "self-reevaluation" and "self-liberation."