An Investigation of Environmental Factors and Spatial Population Patterns Affecting the Villages of Shiraz County

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor of Geography, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

 
Analyzing spatial population patterns in relation to environmental factors plays a crucial role in understanding the dynamics of rural development. This study aims to investigate the environmental and spatial factors affecting the population patterns of rural areas in Shiraz County. To achieve this goal, various datasets were used, including village population, elevation, slope, aspect, precipitation, temperature, and distance from faults and rivers. Spatial data were processed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and multiple environmental and spatial layers were generated. Subsequently, spatial statistical techniques such as Moran's I, Getis-Ord Gi*, hot and cold spot clustering, and nearest neighbor analysis were applied to evaluate population distribution patterns.
The findings indicate that the spatial distribution of the rural population in Shiraz County is clustered and deviates significantly from a random distribution. It was also found that elevation, slope, and flat plains-alongside climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation-have a significant influence on shaping these patterns. Furthermore, the presence of meaningful clusters in specific areas reveals an unequal distribution of infrastructure and services, leading to population concentration in well-equipped zones and depopulation in less-developed areas. These results can provide a solid foundation for spatial planning and sustainable rural development in Shiraz County.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Geography and Development
Volume 24, Issue 82 - Serial Number 82
January 2026
Pages 211-232

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 03 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 04 May 2025

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