Abstract
In the matter of sustainability, several methods have been used in setting natural, social, economic, cultural and structural growth potentials and tendencies. Quantitative evaluation and estimation methods, which were developed after 1960’s especially for evaluating the synthesis phase of planning process or presenting possible tendencies with different acceptances, have accelerated after 1980’s with the development in computer technology. This has facilitated evaluation of data in several ways and simulation in a short time. In the article, a method will be explained to develop future scenario of metropolitan cities by using natural, socio- economic and physical data. With the principle of conservation of natural structure of Istanbul, increasing quality of life and evaluation of space in a competitive way, it is planned to obtain different results by using different data. Even if Istanbul is an important service center for both Turkey and other countries of the region, it holds an important manufacturing function. While the competing force of the city is supported by economic structure, the force of urban development over natural resources undermines this competing force. Factors affecting the competing force of Istanbul are determined by literature studies, and are evaluated by using spatial data. Spatial data are used by defining factors affecting sustainability Sieve analysis is used as an evaluation method in an ArcGIS environment. By evaluating the indicators of competing force in Istanbul, the future position of the competing force of the city is presented spatially. Aforementioned steps are tested in the method by life quality point of view and the results are compared. Istanbul, the biggest city of Turkey, has been growing both economically, demographically and spatially. It threatens both natural areas around the city and the future of the city by the pressure over water reservoir areas. In defining Istanbul’s spatial development tendencies and forming future scenarios, sustainability of the natural areas should be taken into consideration.
