An Assessment of the Role of Geomorphologic knowledge in urban planning and sustainable development (Case Study: Qom city)

Establishment and development of the city depends on environmental conditions and geographic location. Because the natural phenomenon has a crucial effect on the selection of the site, distribution and urban physical development. Thus the first step of planning and implementation of urban sustainable development is to identify the city systematically and inclusively. Cities located in arid and semi-arid regions are special cases in natural issues especially geomorphologic issues that need to be considered planning of them. In the past, the planners often considered geomorphologic and topographic units static and thought unevenness forms were almost static and unchangeable. While today it has been proved these units are not static and relate to natural dynamism. And lack of attention to morphologic principles and mechanisms, will interrupt morphologic and dynamic balance and also may cause irreparable damages. In this study, it determines systematic attention to the city is one of the main performances in planning by the use of cross-sectional method, studying the characteristics of one of the cities located in arid and semi-arid regions of the country and assessment of its potentials and strengths in the form of a planning method (SWOT). According to necessary investigations, it is proved although Qom has environmental limitations, it has many opportunities in natural tourism, usage of natural resources and etc. And if they are taken into consideration, not only cause to increase the economic potential of the region but also prevent the probable problems and damages as much as possible or reduce its damages by the proper and purposeful planning