Introduction

Natural hazards are natural processes or phenomena that constitute a threat to human life, property, livelihoods, and services, which might trigger a disaster (Kavoosi & et al., 2018). Among these threats that are most hazardous, most damaging, and, when occurring at great scales, least forgiving in terms of resulting in human casualties and financial losses are earthquakes. Earthquakes that strike urban areas bring devastation to a nation's urban development efforts and pose widespread damages across various levels. Thus, reconstruction and rehabilitation stand out as very important methods in mitigating urban earthquake vulnerability.
Studies show that cities in the Gilan Province harbor the highest levels of human resources, investments, economies, and infrastructures. However, excessive centralization; unprincipled placement of risky land uses, such as fossil fuel stations, airports et cetera; collapse of access standards (suitability of structures and pathways); prevalence of quite a number of bridges (underpasses, river-crossing bridges); neglect of river boundaries and climatic elements (prevailing winds, precipitation in construction); and the lack of balanced and standardized access distances regarding the distribution of emergency and rescue centers such as hospitals, fire stations, etc., impose major security threats and vulnerabilities on its cities.
city of Talesh is no exception to these problems. Located in the western region of Gilan, Talesh occupies 25% of the Gilan area, being surrounded on three sides by the Talesh Mountains (which form part of the Alborz range) and on another side by the Caspian Sea. Traditionally, since its inception, this city has suffered from natural disasters, floods and earthquakes chiefly among them. Lying next to a fault line, the city is susceptible to earthquakes. Hence, the researcher will address the various factors that affect the urban fabric's vulnerability reduction to earthquakes in the case of Talesh while focusing on reconstruction and renovation strategies. The above provides an insight into the central question the authors want to address:
What is the causal, contextual, and intervening factors influencing the reduction of urban fabric vulnerability in Talesh to earthquakes with an emphasis on reconstruction and renovation? And which hold the greatest significance?
 

Methodology

This study is applied in nature, with an interpretive and analytical essence. It combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. Information analysis is performed using the grounded theory method and the FARAS model. The statistical population includes experts and specialists in the study field. The sample community was collected through purposive sampling, resulting in 30 participants.
 

Results

Based on the findings, the causal factors for a decrease in physical vulnerability in the city of Talesh against earthquakes are decentralized urban development planning, increased institutional and physical resilience, and integrated management across different organizations. Contextual factors include building a database for Talesh, increasing awareness toward earthquake vulnerability in the physical environment, technical facilities, promoting dialogue and knowledge sharing for vulnerability reduction, and taking reconstruction and refurbishment into account for urban fabric security against earthquakes. Intervention factors identified included documentation and performance evaluation of organizations for physical vulnerability reduction, drafting regulations and overall strategies among relevant organizations, and forming specialized committees. The FARAS fuzzy model results indicate that integrated organizational management (weight: 0.420), dialogue and knowledge exchange (weight: 0.430), and drafting unified regulations (weight: 0.426) are given the highest importance for decreasing Talesh vulnerability to earthquakes.

Discussion

Integrated management across organizations emerged as the key causes for reduction of earthquake vulnerability for Talesh. There are numerous decision-making centers that create strong obstacles on the path of earthquake vulnerability reduction in Talesh which further emphasizes the necessity of decreasing the number of these centers. In context, effective factors are exchange and ideas, whereas specialists mention benefits in the shared knowledge of executive managers between organizations like the governor's office and municipalities. This collaboration could become a major strength in reducing physical vulnerability. Finally, it's more important than any other impact factor to formulate general legislation on renovation and reconstruction of urban fabrics.
 

Conclusion

Identifying causal, contextual, and intervening factors enables recognition of Talesh city's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats concerning earthquake risks. Implementing the necessary strategies can minimize financial and physical damages to the city.
 
Acknowledgments
This article is derived from the doctoral dissertation of Mr. Dariush Mohammadi-Outari, which was defended at the Ardabil Branch of the Islamic Azad University.