Ecological City of Bojnourd Based on Scenario-based Future Studies

Abstract

The ecological city approach is one emerging of area, which has provided different perspectives on cities in terms of environmental and social dimensions. This approach is considered to provide a comprehensive and integrated way of achieving the sustainability goals with a focus on the environment, the economic development, and social justice. Such a city is supposed to be coherent with and in line with the natural order and tune. Since Bojnourd has a significant natural context, it is a good case for study and use of the ecological city approach. A number of rivers and underground reservoirs have provided for a variety of local vegetation. The present study aimed to provide a suitable model for the future development of Bojnourd based on the aforementioned approach. The method used here is descriptive-analytic and explorative. Our focus has been on future studies, and we have attempted to discover the driving forces and the uncertainties in order to present a number of scenarios for the future of Bojnourd. In the GBN method, we had to contemplate on at least three uncertainties. We have used the Delphi interview method to gain a more comprehensive knowledge of the basic issues of Bojnourd. Then, using scenario planning, three key factors including systematic and controlled urban development, environmental protection, efficient public transport, and intelligent and efficient use and consumption of energy, and development of a smart city based on utilization of information and communication technology were shown major factors influencing the future of the city.

Keywords

• bojnourd
• ecologic city
• future studies
• scenario planning
• uncertainties