Homa Jalili Safarian - Post graduated of regional planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Islamic Azad Univ.Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.,

Population spatial pattern is one of the main issues in spatial structure analysis of metropolitan regions. Studying population changes in these regions is the starting point for analysis of spatial structure changes and driving forces that affect spatial organization of human population. With this in mind, this article aims to analyze the changes in population spatial patterns of Mashhad Metropolitan Region (MMR), as the second largest city of Iran during 1976-2011. For this aim, the spatial structure of population in MMR was examined using four dimensions of distribution, density, concentration, and centralization and analyzed with the models connected to each dimension. Then, the models were classified and integrated using cluster analysis method. Despite the results indicating that MMR was mono-centric region, the clustering of indexes revealed that the region is moving towards polycentric form. The results, also, implied that, in 2011,Torghabeh and Shandiz zones have attributed similar quality as to Mashhad metropolis. Specifically, it seems that the emerging structure is influenced by planning attempts to increase sprawl and metropolitan development. Emergence of the suburbs in MMR is influenced by factors- such as development of transportation infrastructure, improvement of public facilities and services, and rapid urban growth.

Population Spatial structure, Mashhad Metropolitan Region (MMR),Polycentric form