Town and Country Planning

Town and Country Planning

Spatial Analysis of Translocal Relations of Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Lorestan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohammadreza Rezvani
Seyed Ali Badri
Fatemeh Nickravesh
Alireza Darban Astaneh
Mohammadamin Khorasani
Department of Human Geography and Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jtcp.2026.409212.670542
Abstract
Rural areas, as dynamic spaces, are influenced by social, economic, and spatial factors that shape household settlement patterns and interactions. Geographic dispersion, cultural diversity, and distance from urban centers contribute to the formation of unique translocal relations among rural households. These relations include the flow of people, goods, technology, information, and finances, reflecting households’ participation in networks extending beyond village boundaries. Analyzing such relations requires spatial and network-based approaches. This study employs a quantitative, survey-based methodology using questionnaires. The statistical population comprised 437 rural households from the counties of Khorramabad, Dorud, and Kouhdasht. Data were analyzed using one-sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA. Spatial analysis utilized global and local Moran’s I indices, Getis-Ord Gi* statistics, and kernel density estimation to identify patterns of dispersion, concentration, and clustering in translocal relations. Results indicate that the mean values of all dimensions of translocal relations exceed the theoretical threshold, with the flow of goods and technology exhibiting the highest intensity; however, the flows of people, finances, and information are at moderate levels. Spatial analysis revealed a relatively dispersed and polycentric distribution of these relations, with only a few villages serving as active nodes or relative focal points. These findings suggest that translocal networks in Lorestan Province are primarily driven by goods and technology exchanges and play a crucial role in enhancing livelihood resilience and connecting villages to broader economic and social networks. Spatial and network analyses of these relations can inform rural development planning and the design of targeted interventions in rural areas.
Keywords
Translocal Relations
Spatial Analysis
Rural Development
Goods Flow
Lorestan Province
Subjects
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Town and Country Planning
Volume 18, Issue 1
Spring & Summer 2026
April 2026
Pages 65-83

  • Receive Date 31 December 2025
  • Revise Date 16 February 2026
  • Accept Date 22 February 2026