Zoning of Natural Hazards of Rural Settlements in Guilan Province Using Geographic Information System (GIS)

Natural hazards such as earthquakes and floods, especially in rural settlements, is often associated with enormous loss of lives and properties. Therefore, identifying areas vulnerable to natural hazards can help planning to mitigate the adverse effects of these events. This study aims to perform a zoning of natural hazards of rural settlements in Guilan province using a geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate their vulnerability to earthquake and flood hazards. This is an applied study that uses a descriptive-analytical method for data collection. The basic research data was obtained from the preliminary studies conducted by the Housing Foundation of the Islamic Revolution as well as the results of the ۲۰۱۶ General Population and Housing Census in rural areas of Guilan province. The results suggest that ۲۴۲۰ villages (i.e. ۸۳.۳% of rural settlements in Guilan province), which are positioned in the foothills and mountains, are built in areas with relatively high and high risk of earthquake. Also, ۳۲۰ villages are located in a ۱۰۰۰-meter radius of earthquake faults, particularly in the eastern Guilan province and cities of Rudsar, Amlash, Lahijan and Siahkal. Most of the rural settlements in the plains of Guilan province are also at flood risk so that ۱۱۶۰ villages (۴۵.۶%) in this province, are at the risk of flood. These villages are mainly distributed in cities of Rudsar, Lahijan, Astaneh Ashrafieh, Rasht, Bandar Anzali, Soomehsara, Talesh and Rezvanshahr. Observing technical and engineering principles in buildings new constructions, preventing constructions in high risk areas, inhibiting the physical expansion of villages at the foothill and mountainous areas with steep slopes and building villages in the course of floods and rivers are the most important solutions to cope with natural hazards in rural settlements of Guilan province.

کلیدواژه ها:

Rural Settlements ، Natural Hazards ، Vulnerability ، Zoning ، Risk Management ، Guilan Province ، Iran