A Geographical Analysis of the Distribution of Educational Facilities in Urban Neighborhoods from the Perspective of Spatial Justice (Case Study: The City of Ardabil)

Document Type : Scientific-Research

Authors

behnam bagheri ¹

Mohammad taqi Masoumi ²

¹ Assistant Professor in Geography, Payam-e Noor University, Tehran, Iran

² Assistant Professor in Geography and Urban Planning, Branch Ardabil, University Azad Islamic, Ardabil, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jgusd.2024.85394.1359

Abstract

Spatial justice in the spatial distribution of schools is one of the important issues for planners. This research was conducted with the aim of analyzing the geographic differences of school placement and its research method is descriptive-analytical. In this research The average nearest neighbor, the coefficient of variation and the Lorenz curve were used to analyze the spatial pattern of the distribution of schools. the standard deviation ellipse was used to measure the directional distribution of schools. the hot spot analysis was used to prepare a cluster map and finally Kernel density was used to estimate the density of the spatial distribution of schools. The results of the analysis show that the distribution of schools in Ardabil city follows the cluster spatial distribution pattern and spatial inequality prevails in access to schools in the city. The center of gravity of the distribution of schools is located in the neighborhoods of district 1 of the municipality. The map of school clusters shows the presence of hot spots in the city center and cold spots in two neighborhoods of District 3 of the municipality. Kernel's density map of school distribution shows the deprivation of neighborhoods and suburban areas in having schools more clearly. In order to achieve spatial justice and manage the problems resulting from spatial inequalities caused by human decisions, locating and building new schools in the peripheral areas of the city such as JaamJam, BeheshtZahra, IranAbad, JinKandi and newly constructed towns such as Niayesh, Naderi, Kausar, nirouye entezaami, is recommended.
Keywords: Spatial Justice, Pattern Analysis, GIS, Schools, Ardabil.
 
Extended Abstract
1.Introduction
Education is the fundamental component of development and the primary architect of a society's future human capital. Understanding the city as a “living organism” necessitates a rigorous comprehension of its morphology, in which the interplay of functions is articulated through form. Johnston’s Dictionary of Human Geography defines the geography of education as a scientific discipline that studies spatial variations in the provision, uptake, and output of educational facilities and resources. Amongst the most vital public services demanded by urban inhabitants, educational infrastructure is of particular importance. Consequently, numerous nations have pondered strategies to achieve educational equity. Evaluating the efficiency of these services is a multifaceted mission covering quality, availability, and dispersion. The spatial accessibility of households to educational services directly influences the distribution patterns of schools, which ultimately dictates the degree of spatial justice regarding access to pedagogical environments. Since attaining provincial center status, Ardabil has experienced rapid demographic growth. Thus, this research analyzed the spatial distribution of schools across Ardabil's districts to identify existing inequalities in educational service provision. Specifically, this research examined the spatial distribution of schools in Ardabil. Moreover, it sought to identify which neighborhoods are marginalized in terms of educational accessibility.
 

Method

This applied study used a descriptive-analytical method. The objective was to identify the characteristics of the spatial distribution of schools in Ardabil's neighborhoods. Positional data for schools were extracted from the city’s land-use maps and stored as point layers. To achieve the research objectives, the spatial analysis capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were leveraged in two distinct phases: 1. Identification of spatial distribution patterns. This was conducted using a suite of spatial metrics, including average nearest neighbor, the coefficient of variation based on Thiessen polygons, the geographic concentration index, and hot spot analysis; 2. Analysis of dispersion characteristics and density. The intensity and directional trends of school distribution in this city were examined using kernel density estimation and the standard deviational ellipse.
 

Results

Access to public utilities in disparate locales is a fundamental prerequisite for the actualization of spatial and social justice. This study tried to analyze the spatial differentiation of school placement in the neighborhoods of Ardabil. To identify and clarify these disparities and expose the manifest lack of spatial equity, various metrics measuring the spatial distribution of phenomena in a Geographic Information System (GIS) were used. The empirical evidence clearly shows that neighborhoods in the urban core, corresponding to the city’s oldest municipal district, have a significantly higher concentration of educational facilities than peripheral areas. The emergence of statistically significant hot spots in the central neighborhoods of District 1, just adjacent to cold spots in several outlying sectors, indicates a systemic imbalance that requires urgent scholarly and administrative attention. Moreover, high Kernel density values in central neighborhoods, in contrast to sparse values in distant locales, give a clear depiction of spatial injustice in educational access.
 

Discussion and Conclusion

This research was conducted to analyze the spatial differentiation of school establishment from the perspective of spatial justice. Analysis of the spatial distribution patterns using the average nearest neighbor index revealed a distinctive clustered pattern for educational facilities in Ardabil. This finding was shown by the coefficient of variation, which further substantiates the clustered nature of school distribution. Moreover, the Lorenz Curve analysis showed a profound disequilibrium over the neighborhoods, with the highest concentration of schools in District 1 of the municipality. Based on the outputs of Kernel density, the neighborhoods of District 1 show greater homogeneity in terms of educational provision and are predominantly categorized as well-served. Conversely, Districts 2 and 3 showed high variance, embracing a heterogeneous mix of neighborhood types. District 4 consists of moderately served neighborhoods, while District 5 is characterized by poor or deprived areas. The focus of school distribution lies in the neighborhoods of District 1, while the significant disparity between the major and minor axes of the standard-deviational ellipse showed a pronounced directional trend in the spatial layout of schools in this city.
 

Keywords

Spatial Justice

Pattern Analysis

GIS

Schools

Ardabil

Subjects

• urban planinnin

---

References

1. امان‌پور، س.، محمدی ده‌چشمه، م.، و پرویزیان، ع. (1397). سنجش آسیب‌پذیری مراکز آموزشی از منظر پدافند غیرعامل، (مطالعه موردی: مدارس ابتدائی کلان شهر اهواز).جغرافیا و مطالعات شهری و منطقه‌ای، 7 (27)، 60-43.  
2. بافقی‌زاده، م.، آبیار، ش.، و شریفی، ع. (1393). ارزیابی تناسب مکانی کاربری آموزشی با استفاده از تلفیق مدل FDAHP در محیط GIS مطالعه موردی: دبیرستان‌های منطقه 2 و 4 شهر اهواز.فصلنامه علمی پژوهش‌های بوم شناسی شهری، 5(10)، 9-28.
3. پورمحمـدی، م.، عســــاکره، م. (1391). ارزیابی مکان‌یابی کاربری‌های آموزشی (مدارس ابتدایی) شهر شادگان.فصلنامه علمی و پژوهشی پژوهش و برنامه ریزی شهری، 3(9)، 1-20.
4. حدیدی، م.، نادری، ک.، مرآتی، ا.، و سوزنی، ب. (1396). بررسی و تحلیل الگوی بهینۀ پراکنش مراکز آموزشی با استفاده از روش تصمیم‌گیری چند‌معیاره (MADM) در محیط GIS مورد شناسی: آموزش ‌و ‌پرورش ناحیۀ یک کرمانشاه. جغرافیا و آمایش شهری منطقه‌ای، 7(22)، 159-178.
5. درخشان‌زاده، م.، و دادرس، ب. (1397). تحلیل فضایی و مکان‌یابی مراکز آموزشی (مدارس متوسطه) با استفاده از سیستم اطلاعات جغرافیایی (GIS) شهر دهدشت استان کهگیلویه و بویر احمد، جغرافیا و روابط انسانی، 1(2)، 18-1.
6. سلیمی‌سبحان، م.، و منصوری، ک. (1399). تحلیلی بر توزیع فضایی مراکز آموزشی و ساماندهی مناسب آن (مطالعه موردی: شهر پیرانشهر). مهندسی جغرافیایی سرزمین، 4(2)، 445-459.
7. شجاعیان، ع.، علیزاده، ه.، و نقیبی رکنی، س، ن. (1395). مکان یابی بهینه فضاهای آموزشی در منطقه 6 شهرداری کلان شهر اهواز با استفاده از روش تحلیل سلسله مراتبی دلفی فازیFDAHP و تحلیل  Cut fill.  آمایش محیط، 9 (2)، 109-124.
8. غضنفرپور، ح.، کریمی، ص.، خبازی، م.، و پورخسروانی، م. (1400). تحلیل وضعیت فضاهای آموزشی مدارس ناحیه 2 کرمان. کاوش‌های جغرافیایی مناطق بیابانی، 9 (1)، 86-56
9. فصیحی، ح. (1398). تحلیل توزیع فضایی و دسترسی به مدارس در منطقه ۲۰ شهرداری تهران. نشریه تحقیقات کاربردی علوم جغرافیایی، ۱۹ (۵۵)، ۲۴۹-۲۶۴
10. ملکی، س.، پیوند، ن.، و اسدی کلمتی، ا. (1397). آسیب شناسی محل استقرار مراکز آموزشی با استفاده از سیستم اطلاعات جغرافیایی (نمونه موردی: مدارس ابتدایی منطقه 7 شهر اهواز). جغرافیا و مطالعات شهری و منطقه‌ای، 7 (28)، 32-19
11. یزدانی، م. ح.، و سعیدی‌زارنجی.، س. (1402). تحلیلی بر پراکنش فضایی مدارس در محلات منطقه 2 شهرداری اردبیل. جغرافیا و روابط انسانی، 5(4)، 351-329
12. Al-Enazi, M., Mesbah, Saleh., & Amani, A. (2016). Schools' distribution planning using GIS in Jeddah City. International Journal of Computer Applications, 138(1), 33-36.
13. Bian, J., Chen, W., & Zeng, J. (2022). Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Traditional Villages in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4627.
14. Chen, W., Yang, Z., Yang, L., Wu, J., Bian, J., Zeng, J., & Liu, Z. (2023). Identifying the spatial differentiation factors of traditional villages in China. Heritage Science, 11(1), 149, 1-13.
15. Chen, Y., Jinguo, X., & Yang, Y. (2019). Geographical Distribution of Characteristic Towns in Zhejiang Province. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science,  300, (2), 1-7.
16. Cohen, B. (2006). Urbanization in Developing Countries: Current Trends, Future Projections, and Key Challenges for Sustainability Technology in Society, 28 (1–2), 63–80.
17. Hussein, A. M., & Mohameed, A. J. (2020). Spatial Analysis of School Using Geographic Information System (GIS) Case Study AL-JIHAD Scoter. PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 17(5), 1713-1729.‏
18. Jia, A., Liang, X., Wen, X., Yun, X., Ren, L., & Yun, Y. (2023). GIS-Based Analysis of the Spatial Distribution and Influencing Factors of Traditional Villages in Hebei Province, China. Sustainability, MDPI AG, 15(11), 9089.
19. Jun-Yuan, Zh. (2018). Research on Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Mechanism of 4A Level and Above Tourism Scenic Spots in Henan Province IOP Conf. Ser..: Earth Environ. Sci. 186 012043.
20. Kumar, V., Kumaraswamy, K., Rudhravel, K., & Thiagarajan, D. (2013). Spatial Distribution of Schools and Identification of Unserved Spatial Gaps Using Geographic Information System: a case Study of Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu. Indian Geographical Journal, 88(1), 12-24.
21. Li, M., Ouyang, W., & Zhang, D. (2022). Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Traditional Villages in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Sustainability, MDPI AG, 15(10), 632.
22. Ramadan, M. S., Khairy, N., Alogayell, H. M., Alkadi, I. I., Ismail, I. Y., & Ramadan, R. H. (2022). Spatial Equity Priority Modeling of Elementary and Middle Schools through GIS Techniques, El-Taif City. Saudi Arabia. Sustainability, 14(19), 1-21.
23. Ravichandran, V., Kantamaneni, K., Singh, A., Nair, A., Janakiraman, A., Kumar, S. P., & Choudhury, S. D. (2023). Mapping hotspot clustering: An approach to study the spatial pattern of quality of living households in India, Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 31, 101007.
24. Soja, E. W. (2009). The city and spatial justice. Justice spatiale. Los Angeles: University of California.
25. Sumari, N., Tanveer, H., Shao, Zh., & Kira, E. (2019). Geospatial Distribution and Accessibility of Primary and Secondary Schools: A Case of Abbottabad City, Pakistan. Proceedings of the ICA, 2, 1-11
26. Wang, M., Liu, S., & Wang, C. (2023). Spatial distribution and influencing factors of high-quality tourist attractions in Shandong Province. PLoS ONE, 18(7), e0288472.
27. Wazzan, K. (2017). The Spatial Distribution of the Basic Education Schools in Lattakia City (Syria). Journal of Educational and Social Research, 7(1), 71-79
28. Wedley, W. C. (2002). Qualitative and Quantitative Factors and Analytic Hierarchy Approach, Socio-Econ. Sciences, 24(1), 57-64
29. Zhang, Z., Luan, W., Tian, C., Su, M., & Li, Z. (2021). Spatial Distribution Equilibrium and Relationship between Construction Land Expansion and Basic Education Schools in Shanghai Based on POI Data. Land, 10(10), 1-17
30. Zhao, B., Wu, X., & Du, J. (2023). Study on the Spatial Pattern and Influencing Factors of Scenic Villages in Shandong Province. Journal of Innovation and Development, 3(3), 67–73.