Spatial Analysis of Green Infrastructure Changes in Zanjan City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Urban green networks, referred to as green infrastructure, constitute a significant component of urban ecology. They provide numerous key ecosystem services and enhance urban resilience to climate change. When properly designed, urban green infrastructures can aid in disaster risk management, enhance biodiversity conservation, and serve as economic assets. These infrastructures contribute to economic growth by increasing land and property values and supporting food production. Moreover, the physical and psychological benefits of urban green infrastructure translate into substantial economic advantages for the population.The city of Zanjan is no exception to this trend and has even been more adversely affected compared to other major cities in the country. In recent decades, Zanjan's rapid urban development has led to the conversion of agricultural lands and surrounding green spaces into gray urban infrastructures such as roads, parking lots, buildings, and other non-green land uses. This land transformation and change in usage have resulted in a significant reduction of green open spaces, posing current challenges and threatening the city's future. This study aims to explore the critical role of urban green infrastructure in enhancing the sustainability and resilience of Zanjan. It emphasizes the urgent need for strategic planning to address the ecological, economic, and social challenges stemming from the city's unbalanced development. Furthermore, the research highlights the importance of preserving and integrating green spaces into urban development plans to ensure a sustainable and livable urban environment for Zanjan's residents.
 
Materials and Methods
Research is a systematic activity aimed at discovering and developing a body of organized knowledge, carried out to solve existing problems or contribute to human knowledge in a specific field. Since the present study seeks to develop practical knowledge in the field of geography and urban planning, it falls under the category of applied research. The purpose of applied research is to find practical and effective solutions to real-world problems and improve processes and technologies in practical domains. In this study, various methods, techniques, and data analysis tools were employed to examine the spatial patterns of urban green infrastructure and its changes over time. Initially, Landsat satellite images for specific time periods (in ten-year intervals) were downloaded for the study area. The images were cropped to the boundaries of the study area, and land use maps were prepared using classification algorithms, specifically the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm, in remote sensing software (ENVI). Subsequently, spatial statistical tools and the Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation index were utilized in GIS software to determine the spatial patterns of green infrastructure (clustered, random, or dispersed) and their changes. Recognizing the impact of urban growth on changes in urban green infrastructure, the stages of city growth and development were also analyzed in parallel with the spatial analyses. Land use and land cover maps were extracted from the processed images. In the next phase, spatial data analyses were conducted to identify and investigate urban growth patterns (including infill development, edge development, and leapfrog development) over specific time periods. Changes in green infrastructure within the study area were then assessed using vegetation indices. Finally, the spatial effects of urban growth on green infrastructure were evaluated using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) methods.
 
Findings
The satellite images of Zanjan city were cropped to the study area to prepare land use maps in subsequent steps. The analysis highlighted the importance of using band combinations of satellite imagery for identifying specific zones within the region. For example, built-up areas were identified using the 7, 5, and 3 band combination, while green areas were detected using the 4, 3, and 2 combination. These techniques facilitated precise differentiation and identification of various zones, enhancing the understanding of the study area and its urban infrastructure.The analysis revealed significant changes in land use over the years. The built-up area expanded from 2,697.39 hectares in 1993 to 5,725.35 hectares in 2023, indicating substantial urban growth. Similarly, the green spaces increased from 2,167.02 hectares in 1993 to 6,071.22 hectares in 2023, reflecting a growing focus on environmental concerns. Conversely, other land uses decreased from 12,989.34 hectares in 1993 to 6,057.18 hectares in 2023, demonstrating a shift in land use patterns. The vegetation coverage index, ranging between -1 and 1, was also analyzed. Negative values (close to -1) correspond to water bodies, while values near zero (-0.1 to 0.1) typically represent barren areas such as rock, sand, or snow. Low positive values (approximately 0.2 to 0.4) indicate shrublands and grasslands, whereas high values (close to 1) signify temperate and tropical rainforests. This comprehensive analysis provided a detailed understanding of the spatial and temporal changes in Zanjan’s urban and green infrastructure, offering insights into the city’s development trends and their environmental implications.
 
Discussion and Conclusion
To analyze the impact of urban growth and development on green infrastructure, Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated between changes in construction and green infrastructure. The results demonstrated a negative correlation, indicating that the expansion of built-up areas has coincided with a reduction in urban vegetation cover. Land use maps across different periods revealed a significant increase in the extent of built-up areas. Although green zones have also expanded, their growth has been comparatively slower, highlighting the adverse effects of urban development on green infrastructure.These findings suggest that urban growth directly contributes to the decline of green infrastructure. Similarly, Villanova et al. (2024) reported analogous outcomes in their study of Madrid, showing that substantial advancements in the city's green belt planning primarily impacted larger scales, with minimal effects on the urban core.New urban development initiatives and environmental transformations, although contributing to the growth of green zones, have been insufficient in preventing the overall decline of green infrastructure. This underscores the need for more comprehensive and sustainable urban planning approaches that prioritize the preservation and enhancement of green infrastructure alongside urban development. Policies should aim to promote green infrastructure, prevent its destruction, and foster positive interactions between urban development and environmental preservation. Wojciechic et al. (2024) also emphasized the importance of improving stakeholder coordination, enhancing public participation, and increasing transparency in the regulatory process to support green infrastructure development.Overall, the study’s findings indicate that while Zanjan city has experienced an increase in green areas during the study period, the rapid urban expansion has imposed significant negative impacts on its green infrastructure. To address these challenges, it is imperative to develop sustainable urban development policies and plans that strike a balance between urban growth and environmental conservation. Future planning should ensure that city development is accompanied by the preservation and enhancement of green infrastructure, thereby improving citizens' quality of life and ensuring environmental sustainability.

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Main Subjects


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