Evaluation of ICT development in Isfahan’s region by Topsis method

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Department of Geographical Science and Planning

2 PhD Student of Geographical Science and Planning

Abstract

Information technology by removing the barriers and omitting geographical boundaries washes out the physical distances and dissolves many problems. But at the same time this concern is existed that information technology causes more separation between social classes and so creates a society that divides into two groups that one group is "possessed" and the other "do not possessed" the technology. Accordingly, one of the main challenging issues that social universe has encountered with, is inequality of information and communication technology indicators among regions, which called "digital gap". In order to achieve standard development and to provide geographical and spatial justice, removing the digital gap between regions, and equal and public accessibility of geographical units must be considered as the main priority of planning in field of ICT. The presented research by purpose of spatial analysis and ranking of counties in Isfahan province tries to improve information and communication technology and reduce digital gap. The research method is descriptive- analytic and for ranking and rate of difference among counties the Topsis algorithm is used. The results show that level of possessing ICT was not equal among counties in a way that counties divided into four groups of very high, medium, low and very low, that only the counties of Isfahan is located in very high  group. The dispersal coefficient between counties is 5% that confirms the difference in spatial distribution of indicators. And also there is a direct relationship between development of ICT and population and urbanization percentage, in a way that most of facilities are located in a counties with high percentage of urbanization. At the end some solution is suggested in order to remove the digital gap between counties.

Keywords