Urban Decay Vulnerability Mitigation Strategies Against Earthquake;Case Study: Imamzadeh Hasan Neighborhood in Tehran

Vulnerability of cities to environmental hazards in countries with high-risk environments has become a significant challenge ahead of urbanology, engineering management, and urban planning. One of these dangers threatening many cities around the world including our country is earthquake. Necessity to reduce vulnerability to earthquakes was considered as one of the main purposes of spatial planning, urban planning, and urban design. Tehran, as the capital city of Iran with an important and critical situation, has a large zone of distressed areas most of which are located on a major fault and are considered as a serious threat to the city and its inhabitants. Therefore, it was necessary to study of vulnerabilities in old neighborhood of Imamzade-Hasan. The purpose of this study was to develop strategies for organizing these textures and to reduce their vulnerability to earthquakes using SWOT model and QSPM matrix. It is an applied- strategic research conducted by a descriptive- analytical method. In addition to several library studies, it has also taken advantage of a survey. To collect and evaluate information of the survey, Delphi technique, questionnaires, and interviews with experts and officials have been used. The findings suggest that the worn-out urban fabric of Imamzade-Hasan neighborhood needs to be pushed out of the status quo, that is, its weaknesses should be recognized, and its threats need to be addressed. Several strategies such as renovation and improvement programs, special attention on crisis management, creation of a central agency to regulate programs related to rusty textures, establishment of appropriate contexts for increasing economic activities in the neighborhood, providing infrastructure to attract investments to modernize the neighborhood, and increasing green open spaces were identified as the high priority strategies, and implementation of reconstruction and renovation programs for providing adequately wide roads necessary for ensuring improved mid- and post-crisis services was determined as the most effective strategy for addressing the problems of this neighborhood.