Volume 11, Issue 41 (Fall 2022 2022)
2022, 11(41): 165-188 |
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Vaghri Moghaddam M, Vaziri V, Asghari S. Locating the carpet industrial cluster of Ardabil county with an economic development approach using the analytical network process model. SPACE ECONOMY & RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2022; 11 (41) :165-188
URL: http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3869-en.html
URL: http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3869-en.html
1- Master of Architecture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran , minoo.vm@gmail.com
2- Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
3- Professor of Geography, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2- Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
3- Professor of Geography, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Abstract: (1211 Views)
Introduction
Appropriate distribution of urban land use is one of the essential issues in the urban planning of cities with a sound and vibrant economy. Each activity in the city requires a suitable space to meet the requirements, and it is only possible to establish them in some areas. Therefore, it is a very important issue in urban planning to decide on the appropriate location for land use. This paper provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of promoting industry clusters as an industrial development alternative for rural areas. On the other hand, previous studies and experiences indicate that when different parallel production units and stores in the same industry are brought together in one geographical area and are organized in the form of an industrial cluster, it leads to the organization of small and medium-sized industries. Thus, it brings benefits to the owners and employees of these units. Accordingly, it leads to huge savings for companies due to teamwork and increasing collective efficacy. Determining an industrial cluster to achieve a particular product is a successful and examined method for aggregating small to medium-sized industrial enterprises, which eliminates the disadvantages of these industries and increases advantages such as diversity and flexibility.
Iran is a pioneer in the production of original and high-quality hand-woven carpets. However, over the past few decades, the economy has stagnated. As a result, exports and income generation of the carpet industry have decreased due to neglecting this valuable cultural production, increasing production costs and problems, insufficient support for carpet weavers, producers, and exporters, as well as increasing competition from other countries such as India, China, and Pakistan. Besides, due to the deficiencies in the structural, organizational, managerial, and primarily commercial fields, global market sales of Iranian hand-woven carpets have declined and are experiencing critical situations.
Due to the dependence of Iranian villagers' livelihoods on agriculture and the lack of income sources other than agriculture, the rural area has a weak and vulnerable economy. Moreover, an income increase in the agricultural sector is not very possible because of the limited lands which are not augmentable. Therefore, considering the strengths and obstacles of each region of the country, it is necessary to find other sources of income to diversify the economics of the rural economy and to increase the maintainability of the village population or, in other words, the stability of the rural community.
In this regard, carpet weaving is one of the skills of the people in Ardabil city, which has had a significant impact on their economy over the years; hence, locating and spatial design in the title of "carpet industrial cluster" in Ardabil county can lead to progress in the industry, and more trade of this ancient commodity, and subsequently improve the quality and living standards of the villagers.
Methodology
The current research aims to identify the best areas for establishing the hand-woven carpet industrial cluster in Ardabil county with the rural economic development approach. In other words, the goal of the current research is to select and introduce the best possible places for constructing carpet clusters in Ardabil County so that a study can be presented regarding the development of the economy of the towns and villages of this city. In order to achieve this goal, the library and documentary sources and the descriptive-analytical method for data collection were used, so influential factors for the location of the carpet industrial cluster as well as basic information for the design of the questionnaire, were obtained. Then, considering this information and indicators, the researcher created the questionnaire. The sample of this research included the significant producers of hand-woven carpets in urban and rural areas of Ardabil city, professors and researchers in this field, small weavers, sellers of carpets, and the workers of the carpet administration and Ardabil carpet cluster. Next, the interview with these experts was done, and the results were collected. Then, the effect of each item and their relationship with each other were investigated. In the next step, the collected items were classified into three categories: natural, physical, and manufactured. Then, the spatial information using the analytical network process model was analyzed, and the layers were overlapped and assessed. Then the weight of criteria and related sub-criteria was obtained. The layer related to each sub-item was defined in the GIS regarding the weights. Finally, the suitable location for the establishment of the carpet industrial cluster in Ardabil county was determined.
Discussion and conclusion
The criteria obtained in this research can be divided into two categories: first, criteria with a geographical study layer, and second, criteria without a study layer which requires field studies, interviews, and library studies. According to this, the first category criteria using the Arc GIS program and applying the weight percentages showed the regions of Ardabil city to locate the carpet cluster of Ardabil city with the rural economic development approach regarding each criterion. Furthermore, the final map that shows the most suitable places for establishing the carpet cluster was obtained by overlapping and aggregating the zoning maps related to climatic characteristics, topography, and human activities (Figure 1). Based on the map, it is clear that the central regions of Ardabil city are the best area for this research, and the western and southeastern regions of Ardabil city are the wrong places for establishing this cluster. Therefore, regions of the cities and villages located in the central part of Ardabil county can be considered to respond to the project's goal.
The result of the research showed that most of the regions of Ardabil county, especially the central urban and rural areas of the county, have the potential to locate the carpet industrial cluster to improve the economic development of the villages. Therefore, the construction of such an industrial space based on human labor has a significant effect on the region's economy, and it will lead to the development and economic growth of the villagers and increase their living standards.
Appropriate distribution of urban land use is one of the essential issues in the urban planning of cities with a sound and vibrant economy. Each activity in the city requires a suitable space to meet the requirements, and it is only possible to establish them in some areas. Therefore, it is a very important issue in urban planning to decide on the appropriate location for land use. This paper provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of promoting industry clusters as an industrial development alternative for rural areas. On the other hand, previous studies and experiences indicate that when different parallel production units and stores in the same industry are brought together in one geographical area and are organized in the form of an industrial cluster, it leads to the organization of small and medium-sized industries. Thus, it brings benefits to the owners and employees of these units. Accordingly, it leads to huge savings for companies due to teamwork and increasing collective efficacy. Determining an industrial cluster to achieve a particular product is a successful and examined method for aggregating small to medium-sized industrial enterprises, which eliminates the disadvantages of these industries and increases advantages such as diversity and flexibility.
Iran is a pioneer in the production of original and high-quality hand-woven carpets. However, over the past few decades, the economy has stagnated. As a result, exports and income generation of the carpet industry have decreased due to neglecting this valuable cultural production, increasing production costs and problems, insufficient support for carpet weavers, producers, and exporters, as well as increasing competition from other countries such as India, China, and Pakistan. Besides, due to the deficiencies in the structural, organizational, managerial, and primarily commercial fields, global market sales of Iranian hand-woven carpets have declined and are experiencing critical situations.
Due to the dependence of Iranian villagers' livelihoods on agriculture and the lack of income sources other than agriculture, the rural area has a weak and vulnerable economy. Moreover, an income increase in the agricultural sector is not very possible because of the limited lands which are not augmentable. Therefore, considering the strengths and obstacles of each region of the country, it is necessary to find other sources of income to diversify the economics of the rural economy and to increase the maintainability of the village population or, in other words, the stability of the rural community.
In this regard, carpet weaving is one of the skills of the people in Ardabil city, which has had a significant impact on their economy over the years; hence, locating and spatial design in the title of "carpet industrial cluster" in Ardabil county can lead to progress in the industry, and more trade of this ancient commodity, and subsequently improve the quality and living standards of the villagers.
Methodology
The current research aims to identify the best areas for establishing the hand-woven carpet industrial cluster in Ardabil county with the rural economic development approach. In other words, the goal of the current research is to select and introduce the best possible places for constructing carpet clusters in Ardabil County so that a study can be presented regarding the development of the economy of the towns and villages of this city. In order to achieve this goal, the library and documentary sources and the descriptive-analytical method for data collection were used, so influential factors for the location of the carpet industrial cluster as well as basic information for the design of the questionnaire, were obtained. Then, considering this information and indicators, the researcher created the questionnaire. The sample of this research included the significant producers of hand-woven carpets in urban and rural areas of Ardabil city, professors and researchers in this field, small weavers, sellers of carpets, and the workers of the carpet administration and Ardabil carpet cluster. Next, the interview with these experts was done, and the results were collected. Then, the effect of each item and their relationship with each other were investigated. In the next step, the collected items were classified into three categories: natural, physical, and manufactured. Then, the spatial information using the analytical network process model was analyzed, and the layers were overlapped and assessed. Then the weight of criteria and related sub-criteria was obtained. The layer related to each sub-item was defined in the GIS regarding the weights. Finally, the suitable location for the establishment of the carpet industrial cluster in Ardabil county was determined.
Discussion and conclusion
The criteria obtained in this research can be divided into two categories: first, criteria with a geographical study layer, and second, criteria without a study layer which requires field studies, interviews, and library studies. According to this, the first category criteria using the Arc GIS program and applying the weight percentages showed the regions of Ardabil city to locate the carpet cluster of Ardabil city with the rural economic development approach regarding each criterion. Furthermore, the final map that shows the most suitable places for establishing the carpet cluster was obtained by overlapping and aggregating the zoning maps related to climatic characteristics, topography, and human activities (Figure 1). Based on the map, it is clear that the central regions of Ardabil city are the best area for this research, and the western and southeastern regions of Ardabil city are the wrong places for establishing this cluster. Therefore, regions of the cities and villages located in the central part of Ardabil county can be considered to respond to the project's goal.
The result of the research showed that most of the regions of Ardabil county, especially the central urban and rural areas of the county, have the potential to locate the carpet industrial cluster to improve the economic development of the villages. Therefore, the construction of such an industrial space based on human labor has a significant effect on the region's economy, and it will lead to the development and economic growth of the villagers and increase their living standards.
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