Spatial Justice and Accessibility: Optimizing Sports Facility Allocation in Tehran

The optimal allocation of sport facilities is crucial for urban management, as it enhances public health and improves citizens’ quality of life. This study proposed a novel decision-making approach for optimizing the allocation of sports facilities in a megacity in which accessibility to sports faci...

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Main Authors: Rohollah Asgari Gandomani, Amir Rahimi, Leila Shahbazpour, Jamal Jokar Arsanjani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Land
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1318
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author Rohollah Asgari Gandomani
Amir Rahimi
Leila Shahbazpour
Jamal Jokar Arsanjani
author_facet Rohollah Asgari Gandomani
Amir Rahimi
Leila Shahbazpour
Jamal Jokar Arsanjani
author_sort Rohollah Asgari Gandomani
collection DOAJ
description The optimal allocation of sport facilities is crucial for urban management, as it enhances public health and improves citizens’ quality of life. This study proposed a novel decision-making approach for optimizing the allocation of sports facilities in a megacity in which accessibility to sports facilities is a major challenge. To achieve this, 23 criteria in three categories of compatibility, environmental, and infrastructural criteria were analyzed. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method determined the criterion weights, while the weighted linear combination (WLC) method integrated them. The results showed that the current spatial distribution of sports facilities in Tehran follows a clustered pattern, and the compatibility criterion, with a weight of 0.45, has the greatest impact on the sports facility location selection process. A spatial analysis identified 48.58 km<sup>2</sup> as being highly suitable for facility development, mainly in central and southern Tehran. These findings can assist urban managers and planners in improving spatial justice, increasing accessibility to sports facilities, and promoting sustainable urban development.
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series Land
spelling doaj-art-cf255bc2cfcc40fea19516b30282b6a82025-08-20T02:45:56ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-06-01147131810.3390/land14071318Spatial Justice and Accessibility: Optimizing Sports Facility Allocation in TehranRohollah Asgari Gandomani0Amir Rahimi1Leila Shahbazpour2Jamal Jokar Arsanjani3Department of Sports Coaching, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran 1439813117, IranDepartment of Sports Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran 1439813117, IranDepartment of Sports Management, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht 4199613116, IranGeoinformatics and Earth Observation Research Group, Department of Sustainability and Planning, Aalborg University Copenhagen, A.C. Meyers Vænge 15, DK-2450 Copenhagen, DenmarkThe optimal allocation of sport facilities is crucial for urban management, as it enhances public health and improves citizens’ quality of life. This study proposed a novel decision-making approach for optimizing the allocation of sports facilities in a megacity in which accessibility to sports facilities is a major challenge. To achieve this, 23 criteria in three categories of compatibility, environmental, and infrastructural criteria were analyzed. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method determined the criterion weights, while the weighted linear combination (WLC) method integrated them. The results showed that the current spatial distribution of sports facilities in Tehran follows a clustered pattern, and the compatibility criterion, with a weight of 0.45, has the greatest impact on the sports facility location selection process. A spatial analysis identified 48.58 km<sup>2</sup> as being highly suitable for facility development, mainly in central and southern Tehran. These findings can assist urban managers and planners in improving spatial justice, increasing accessibility to sports facilities, and promoting sustainable urban development.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1318sports facilities managementlocation-allocationGISSMCDATehran
spellingShingle Rohollah Asgari Gandomani
Amir Rahimi
Leila Shahbazpour
Jamal Jokar Arsanjani
Spatial Justice and Accessibility: Optimizing Sports Facility Allocation in Tehran
Land
sports facilities management
location-allocation
GIS
SMCDA
Tehran
title Spatial Justice and Accessibility: Optimizing Sports Facility Allocation in Tehran
title_full Spatial Justice and Accessibility: Optimizing Sports Facility Allocation in Tehran
title_fullStr Spatial Justice and Accessibility: Optimizing Sports Facility Allocation in Tehran
title_full_unstemmed Spatial Justice and Accessibility: Optimizing Sports Facility Allocation in Tehran
title_short Spatial Justice and Accessibility: Optimizing Sports Facility Allocation in Tehran
title_sort spatial justice and accessibility optimizing sports facility allocation in tehran
topic sports facilities management
location-allocation
GIS
SMCDA
Tehran
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/7/1318
work_keys_str_mv AT rohollahasgarigandomani spatialjusticeandaccessibilityoptimizingsportsfacilityallocationintehran
AT amirrahimi spatialjusticeandaccessibilityoptimizingsportsfacilityallocationintehran
AT leilashahbazpour spatialjusticeandaccessibilityoptimizingsportsfacilityallocationintehran
AT jamaljokararsanjani spatialjusticeandaccessibilityoptimizingsportsfacilityallocationintehran