Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Evaluation of Spatial Components of Physical Resilience Against Earthquakes in Deprived Neighborhoods(Case Study: Darreh Garm Neighborhood, Khorramabad City)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ahmad Zanganeh 1
Amirreza Khavarian Garmsir 2
Hadis Azizi-Hasanvand 3
Mohamad mahdi Mahabadipour 4
1 Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning, University of Isfahan, Iran.
3 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
4 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
10.22034/gsma.2025.2054198.1065
Abstract
1. Introduction
Today, the analysis and enhancement of resilience against natural disasters has become a critical and extensive field, to the extent that there is currently discussion about the simultaneous and interdependent movement of sustainable development and disaster management towards increasing resilience. One of the four dimensions of urban resilience is the physical-environmental aspect, which includes communication and road networks, hazardous installations, lifelines (water, gas, electricity, and telecommunications), and urban facilities (firefighting, etc.). Resilient cities or communities are those that are resilient in all dimensions and have the minimum level of vulnerability, as all dimensions are interconnected, and the vulnerability of one dimension can directly or indirectly affect other dimensions. In the case of non-resilient urban spaces, lack of proper foresight and preparedness can lead to irreversible damages across various social and economic aspects for the residents of the neighborhood. Disadvantaged neighborhoods typically have an unfavorable status in terms of access to transportation networks and urban services, and during crises, urban infrastructures become damaged. The Darreh Garm neighborhood is one of the disadvantaged areas of Khorramabad, which due to its organic communication network, local accessibility, narrow roads, unstable buildings, illegal constructions, use of non-durable construction materials, high residential density, and fragmented land parcels, experiences damage to urban infrastructure during earthquakes, complicating rescue operations. Given that no specific studies or research have been conducted on resilience in deprived neighborhoods so far, this study aims to examine the physical dimensions and components of resilience in the deprived Darreh Garm neighborhood.

2. Methodology
The data required for this research are divided into two categories: 1) spatial data and 2) non-spatial data.
1. Spatial Data: Land use map of the Darreh Garm neighborhood.
2. Non-Spatial Data: Results from a complete census.
To conduct the research, descriptive data were first collected, and layer digitization was performed. Subsequently, based on existing conditions regarding the factors under investigation, the indices were prioritized according to the ANP (Analytic Network Process) model. Based on this, data overlaying and analysis were carried out in the ArcGIS environment and using the Super Decision software. The criterion maps were evaluated and classified according to the goals and the ANP method, with input from 15 scientific and operational experts to assess the physical resilience of the Darreh Garm neighborhood during an earthquake. In this model, the criteria are placed in a network system and compared pairwise. Finally, the classified layers were combined, and the final map was drawn in the GIS environment. The criteria involved in assessing the level of physical resilience against earthquakes include: access to facilities, number of floors, building quality, communication routes, and social aspects.


3. Results
The resilience of building quality against earthquakes in the Darreh Garm neighborhood indicates that a portion of the equestrian club and residential areas in the northwest have high resilience, while the rest of the neighborhood has low resilience. The resilience map for access to facilities against earthquakes in the Darreh Garm neighborhood shows that a small part of the north, northwest, and southwest of the Darreh Garm neighborhood has high resilience, while a large area of the neighborhood has low resilience against earthquakes. The resilience of the number of floors against earthquakes in the Darreh Garm neighborhood reveals that many parts of the north, northeast, and east of the neighborhood have high resilience, whereas the center, northwest, and south have low resilience. Social resilience against earthquakes in the Darreh Garm neighborhood shows that the northwest part of the neighborhood has high resilience against earthquakes. Overall, the physical resilience of the neighborhood against earthquakes in the Darreh Garm neighborhood indicates that the northwest and southwest parts of the neighborhood have high resilience against earthquakes. As observed in the physical resilience maps of the Darreh Garm neighborhood against earthquakes, the Darreh Garm neighborhood exhibits low resilience. This issue complicates rescue operations during natural disasters such as earthquakes, which are the focus of this study. It also results in the lack of suitable locations for emergency accommodation or, if such locations exist, they may not meet acceptable quality standards or may not be able to accommodate a large population. Additionally, since the access network in the neighborhood is predominantly local, this further hinders rescue and evacuation efforts. This situation emphasizes the urgent need for improvements in urban planning and infrastructure development to enhance the overall resilience of the Darreh Garm neighborhood against potential disasters.

4. Discussion
Today, around the world, a significant number of people lose their lives as a result of natural disasters. Moreover, the survivors of these incidents retain the bitter experience of such events in their collective memory. Our country is also among the ten most disaster-prone nations globally in terms of natural calamities. In the past 90 years, approximately 120,000 of our fellow citizens have lost their lives due to these disasters, with the majority of human casualties being caused by earthquakes. However, an earthquake, like other natural phenomena such as floods and storms, becomes a catastrophe primarily due to the vulnerability of residential complexes. This highlights the critical role that the resilience (or lack thereof) of human settlements plays in transforming a natural phenomenon into a large-scale disaster.

5. Conclusion
Resilience can be considered one of the most important and effective measures. One of the key dimensions of resilience in cities is its physical aspect, which is addressed in this article through an analysis of earthquake physical resilience in the Darreh Garm neighborhood of Khorramabad. Based on the results obtained from the spatial analysis map of the physical resilience of the Darreh Garm neighborhood, it can be inferred that the eastern part of the neighborhood (Eastern Darreh Garm) as well as a large portion of the western area, except for a small strip in the northwest and southwest, has low resilience due to unsuitable physical conditions, including building quality, number of floors, access to facilities, communication routes, and high population density.

Author Contributions
In the preparation and writing of this article, all authors (first, second, and et al) have contributed equally and jointly. All stages of the research, from study design and data collection to analysis of results and final writing of the article, are the result of collaboration and collective agreement of all authors.

Data Availability Statement
Data available on request from the authors.

Acknowledgements
We are very grateful to everyone who assisted us in conducting this research.

Ethical Considerations
All authors affirm that this research was conducted in accordance with ethical standards, with no data fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.

Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest
Keywords
resilience
physical resilience
urban infrastructure
earthquake
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Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas
Volume 7, Issue 1 - Serial Number 25
Spring
Spring 2026
Pages 65-84