Geography and Urban Research

Spatial Pattern Analysis of Urban Green Space Distribution in Tabriz Metropolis Using Geographic Information System (GIS)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Iraj Teimouri 1
Parinaz Badamchizadeh 2
Ali Oskouee Aras 2

1 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Ph.D. Candidate in Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22130/gur.2026.2087141.1045
Abstract
In Tabriz metropolis, per capita green space in some urban districts falls below 3 m², while the WHO global standard is 9 m² and Iran's national standard is 7 m². Despite this significant gap, no systematic study has yet identified precisely which districts and which functional levels (neighborhood, local, district) suffer the most severe shortages. This study aims to fill that gap by analyzing the spatial distribution pattern of urban green spaces in Tabriz using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The methodology is based on precise spatial analysis using standard service radii: 300 m for neighborhood parks, 750 m for local parks, and 1,200 m for district parks. Analytical tools employed include distance analysis, overlay mapping, service radius zoning, and Gini coefficient calculation. The findings reveal a deeply unjust distribution of green space across the ten municipal districts. Districts 2, 4, and 8, with less than 3 m² per capita and accessibility coverage below 60%, are in critical condition, while districts 5, 7, and 10 show per capita green space above 7 m². The Gini coefficient in deprived districts reaches 0/43, indicating severe inequality and demonstrating that the existing distribution follows a structural and biased pattern beyond random fluctuations. Practical strategies proposed include developing small-scale green spaces in deteriorated urban fabrics (pocket parks, green roofs, green walls), creating continuous green networks, and prioritizing investment in deprived districts 2, 4, and 8. Overall, it can be concluded that without targeted, spatially-informed intervention based on spatial justice principles, the spatial gap in Tabriz will only widen further.

Keywords

Urban Green Spaces
Green Space Per Capita
Spatial Justice
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Tabriz Metropolis
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Geography and Urban Research
Volume 3, Issue 2
Summer 2026
Pages 1-23

  • Receive Date 23 April 2026
  • Revise Date 10 June 2026
  • Accept Date 27 July 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2026

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