Investigating the Role of Ruggedness in Coastal Cities Planning Using Comparison of AHP and AHP FUZZY Hierarchical Analysis Methods (Study Area of Noor City)

IntroductionCities occupy vast and extensive areas, characterized by a combination of diverse topographical and morphological units.As urban areas develop and expand, their interactions with various topographical and geomorphological units, along with associated challenges, become increasingly significant.Geomorphological units are inherently linked to the dynamics of the natural environment; thus, any actions undertaken for the development and enhancement of urban areas inevitably intersect with these dynamics and, by extension, with morphological phenomena.Failure to adhere to essential principles in this interaction may disrupt the morphodynamic balance of the environment, posing substantial threats to urban infrastructure and facilities.In certain instances, the intensity of morphogenesis may escalate to a degree that results in irrevocable consequences .In the northern coasts of Iran, improper exploitation and overutilization of natural resources have led to the degradation and modification of natural ecosystems, as well as shifts in land use within some of the region's most fertile lowland areas.These challenges persist despite the area's considerable geographical, natural, and ecological potential, ultimately diminishing its environmental advantages and generating a troubling scenario where extensive land use changes along the coastal strip have resulted in numerous issues related to shoreline access .Nour County is recognized as one of the significant cities in Mazandaran Province; therefore, this research seeks to investigate the role of topography in the planning of coastal cities utilizing the fuzzy hierarchical analysis method.This investigation will involve a comprehensive review of documents, previous research, and studies from other regions, as well as field studies and software analyses based on existing data to explore this topic within the context of Nour City. Material and MethodsIn light of the research topic, the study commenced with a comprehensive review of the literature and academic documents, including theses and both domestic and international articles, to establish the foundational framework and existing literature pertinent to the research.Subsequently, utilizing base maps and topographic data relevant to the study area, interview cards were disseminated, and data were collected within a software environment for subsequent analysis.Following the weighting provided by experts for each influential factor, the various information layers were integrated to produce comprehensive maps.To gather data, both library and field methods were employed.The library method involved the utilization of statistics, theses, articles, and books pertinent to the subject matter, while the field method encompassed direct and indirect observation, interviews, and testing for data collection.Accordingly, a questionnaire was meticulously designed for specialists and distributed among municipal employees, experts, and professors in the fields of urban planning, urban management, and urban design.Finally, the results were analyzed employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) models. Results and DiscussionA questionnaire was developed for specialists and disseminated among municipal employees, experts, and professors in the domains of urban planning, urban management, and urban design.The outcomes were subsequently analyzed using both the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model and the traditional Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model.In establishing the criteria for evaluation, both negative and positive factors were taken into account during the site selection process to ensure that the results were both reasonable and closely aligned with empirical reality.Ultimately, pairwise comparisons were executed utilizing both the AHP and Fuzzy AHP models.This paper explores the application of two Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques within the planning process, specifically examining the influence of topography on coastal city planning.The application of these two MCDM methodologies facilitated a comparative analysis of criterion rankings, the prioritization of selected options, the identification of optimal choices, and the evaluation of the stability and sustainability of results through sensitivity analysis.This research contributes a new dimension to the comparative analysis of MCDM techniques by incorporating considerations of scale and objectives in decision-making.This aspect is of considerable significance in urban planning, where the scale and scope of planning directly influence expectations regarding the delineation of the spatial extent of proposed developments. ConclusionThe results of the sensitivity analysis reaffirm the findings of previous studies, indicating that the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is sensitive to uncertainty in the decision model.However, the comparative analysis conducted in this study revealed that differences in the ranking of criteria between the two models do not necessarily result in the selection of different options as focal points; rather, the disparities in the spatial extent of the selected options are more substantial.These findings provide a new direction for the selection of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods in urban planning.If the objective of planning is to identify priority areas for development as focal points, then simpler MCDM methods such as AHP may be adequate.In this context, the use of more complex techniques, such as Fuzzy AHP, which stakeholders often perceive as a black box, does not necessarily yield divergent results.However, in more detailed planning scenarios where the identification of spatial boundaries is crucial (e.g., the formulation of a master plan), a multimethod approach employing two or more MCDM techniques would be optimal.To achieve the highest confidence in delineating the spatial extent of the preferred option, the second method proposes utilizing the intersection area between the results of the two methods as the most suitable area.The findings of this research advocate for further investigation into the impact of applying alternative quantitative methods on the extent and scale of proposed development..