A PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK FOR RANKING-BASED ANALYSIS OF LIVABILITY IN URBAN-RURAL CONTEXTS: A CASE STUDY OF QAZVIN CITY-REGION, IRAN

The burgeoning world population has transformed the interplay of space, human beings, and activity, leading to a decline in quality of life and livability in many places. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting livability within a new integrated urban-rural scale using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Based on the research background and context, objective and subjective indices of livability in the economic, social, and environmental dimensions were developed for both urban and rural settlements in Qazvin, Iran. Data on these indices were collected through secondary resources and questionnaires, and then analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) along with Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE), both of which are multi-criteria decision-making methods. The compatibility between these two methods—used for comparing, weighting and evaluating quantitative and qualitative criteria—sets them apart from similar approaches. The results show no complete preference both in the cities and the rural districts. Furthermore, the importance of using three dimensions is highlighted in livable communities by the fact that Qazvin city unexpectedly could not acquire complete superiority due to poor environmental function even though it is the major settlement of the region. An examination of the effective factors and indices also demonstrated that the social dimension of livability is less desirable in the whole city-region; therefore, it should be given more attention when adopting strategies and decisions. Finally, this study can offer substantial assistance to authorities and the decision-makers by employing a flexible and adjustable framework.