The Role of Physical Factors upon Spatial Distribution of Rural Settlements in Torbat-Jam

Lack of appropriate and thorough attention toward physical – natural factors regarding rural settlements, has led to damages and subsequent costs based upon natural events incident. This in turn dictates the need for planning measures within the framework of risk mitigation and increase in settlements sustainability. This well applies to Torbat-Jam. This study aims to investigate Torbat-Jam’s rural settlements taking into account physical and natural specifications. As such 8 physical characteristics including relief, slope, lithology, river, faults and climatic elements precipitation, evaporation, temperature known as major factors for rural settlements location factors were determined and analyzed via application GIS. This is followed by application of multi criteria analysis via logic model. This study suggests that over 85 % of Torbat-Jam’s villages are located in areas which possess good circumstances regarding those 8 mentioned physical factors. However, 15% of the village’s located in poor location as far as those physical factors are concerned. There exist three types of villages range from poor to optimum location. This in turn needs planning with regard to mitigation of natural events incidence.