Evaluation of the sustainability of rural areas and application of the Delphi fuzzy technique and the artificial neural network: A case study of rural areas of northern Savadkouh County

Abstract

Nowadays, paying attention to the issue of sustainability, especially in rural areas, has become a pivot in the policies and plans of countries in the world. Identifying the status of rural areas in terms of sustainability can be of great help in this regard. The purpose of this study is to assess the sustainability of rural areas in northern Savadkouh. The study used a descriptive method to analyze and collect data through a questionnaire. The statistical population of the study consisted of the villagers living in the villages of northern Savadkouh. A combination of the Delphi fuzzy technique and the artificial neural network was used to analyze the data. At the first, using the Delphi fuzzy method, the stability indices were localized. Then, using the artificial neural network method, the rural areas were divided into two clusters. The results showed that there was proper and balanced stability in the rural areas of the study area (CV = 0.062). In addition, the results of the One-Sample T-test showed a significant difference among the indexes except for the empathy index and the gender ratio. Also, in all the three dimensions of sustainability, the human and natural supports of the rural areas of the northern Savadkouh region had a good balance and equality. Finally, the findings showed that the villages of Burkhill and Ikew ranked first and second, and the villages of Hajikla and Baikorka ranked 14th and 15th in this regard