دانشگاه رازی جغرافیا و پایداری محیط 2322-3197 16 1 2026 03 21 Identification and Prioritization of Effective Criteria for Establishing Sponge Cities Using the Intuitionistic  Fuzzy SWARA Method شناسایی و اولویت‌بندی معیار‌های مؤثر بر ایجاد شهرهای اسفنجی با استفاده از روش سوارای فازی شهودی 1 28 3931 10.22126/ges.2025.12324.2887 FA زهرا تنگستانی بخش شهرسازی، دانشکده هنر و معماری، دانشگاه شیراز، شیراز، ایران 0009-0006-7245-6527 حسن ایزدی بخش شهرسازی، دانشکده هنر و معماری، دانشگاه شیراز، شیراز، ایران 0000-0002-9635-7076 مجتبی آراسته بخش شهرسازی، دانشکده هنر و معماری، دانشگاه شیراز، شیراز، ایران 0000-0002-0081-6494 Journal Article 2025 06 12 Sponge Cities have emerged as an innovative strategy for managing surface water and mitigating its impacts in China. This approach, which integrates natural systems with urban environments, seeks to enhance urban resilience, improve the absorption and storage of runoff, and reduce the risks associated with urban flooding—particularly those intensified by climate change and development patterns dominated by impermeable, hard infrastructure.Despite the growing international attention to Sponge Cities, domestic research has yet to provide a comprehensive and integrated analysis of the criteria required for their effective implementation. This gap underscores the need to identify and evaluate the key factors that influence their successful adoption. Accordingly, the present study aims to identify and prioritize the criteria shaping the establishment of Sponge Cities using the intuitionistic fuzzy SWARA method based on circular logic. Relevant criteria were extracted from both domestic and international scientific literature, and their weights were determined through the expert judgments of nine specialists. The results indicate that among the 36 identified criteria, rainfall intensity, the availability of comprehensive data and information systems, the permeability of urban spaces, runoff monitoring systems, and the integration of gray, green, and blue infrastructure received the highest weights, marking them as the most critical factors in realizing Sponge Cities. These findings provide a robust scientific foundation for urban planners and policymakers, enabling them to advance the implementation of Sponge Cities in Iran more systematically and purposefully by identifying and prioritizing the essential criteria of this approach.   <strong>Extended Abstract</strong> <strong>1-Introduction</strong><strong> </strong> Rapid population growth and accelerated urbanization in recent decades, combined with the impacts of climate change, have created significant challenges for water resource management and urban livability. These trends have increased impervious surfaces, intensified surface runoff, triggered more frequent flash floods, and contributed to the formation of urban heat islands—all of which have negatively affected quality of life and the sustainability of local ecosystems. Consequently, the need for efficient management of surface runoff and urban water resources has become increasingly urgent. In response to these challenges, innovative urban water management strategies have emerged worldwide, with the Sponge City approach standing out as one of the most prominent. This approach strengthens urban resilience to climate change by enhancing runoff absorption capacity, improving water quality, and reducing the risk of urban flooding. Despite its widespread adoption in many countries, Iran still lacks a comprehensive scientific framework for identifying and prioritizing the criteria necessary for effective implementation of this approach. To address this gap, the present study identifies key Sponge City criteria through an extensive review of domestic and international literature and applies the fuzzy SWARA method with circular logic—used for the first time in this field—to rank these criteria. The primary objective is to determine and prioritize the factors that influence the establishment of Sponge Cities. Accordingly, the study seeks to answer two fundamental questions: What are the effective criteria for developing Sponge Cities, and to what extent does each criterion contribute to the realization of this approach?   <strong>2-Materials and Methods</strong> This research is applied in its objective and adopts a descriptive–analytical design, implemented through a mixed-method (qualitative–quantitative) approach. The statistical population comprises university professors with specialized expertise or credible research backgrounds in Sponge City approaches. Sampling was conducted using a purposive non-probability method. After extracting relevant criteria from various scientific articles, their importance was evaluated through a researcher-developed questionnaire, whose validity was confirmed through face validity. Expert judgments were expressed using linguistic terms, which were subsequently converted into circular fuzzy numbers through the fuzzy SWARA method based on circular logic. The weighting of the criteria was then carried out following a six-step analytical procedure.   <strong>3- Results and Discussion</strong> This study was conducted to identify and prioritize the criteria that most significantly influence the establishment of Sponge Cities. Through a content analysis of relevant scientific literature, 36 key criteria were extracted. To evaluate the importance of these criteria, expert judgments were gathered using a researcher-developed questionnaire, and the weight of each criterion was calculated using the fuzzy SWARA method with circular logic. The results indicate that rainfall intensity (weight: 0.0340), the availability of comprehensive data and information systems (weight: 0.029829), the permeability of urban spaces (weight: 0.02924), runoff monitoring systems (weight: 0.02939), the integration of gray, green, and blue infrastructure (weight: 0.02899), and the efficiency of urban infrastructure related to runoff management (weight: 0.02961) represent the six most influential criteria in advancing the Sponge City approach. Conversely, the criteria receiving the lowest weights were the presence of permeable external building layers (weight: 0.024021), urban green systems such as green roofs and walls (weight: 0.025218), the existence of campaigns and programs aimed at increasing public awareness (weight: 0.025583), the resilience of urban spatial forms against runoff (weight: 0.025699), the optimal distribution of permeable and impermeable surfaces (weight: 0.025699), and collaboration among citizens, planners, and central government institutions (weight: 0.025917).   <strong>4- Conclusion</strong> The present study aimed to identify and prioritize the key criteria influencing the establishment of Sponge Cities. The findings demonstrate that the successful realization of Sponge Cities depends on careful consideration of critical factors related to surface water management. Elements such as rainfall intensity, the permeability of urban spaces, the efficiency of runoff‑related infrastructure, and the integration of gray, green, and blue infrastructure constitute foundational components of this approach. The prioritization results further reveal that certain criteria remain underutilized due to implementation challenges, technical complexities, or high associated costs. To advance the effective implementation of Sponge Cities, it is necessary to formulate supportive policies, develop comprehensive data and information systems, ensure active engagement of urban institutions, and employ modern technological tools. Future research should concentrate on optimizing implementation models, conducting cost–benefit analyses, and assessing the practical applicability of these criteria at the urban scale. Such efforts can help establish a more robust foundation for the sustainable development and long‑term success of Sponge Cities.   شهرهای اسفنجی به‌عنوان یک راهکار نوین در راستای مدیریت آب‌های سطحی و کاهش اثرات آن در کشور چین مطرح گردید. این رویکرد که با تلفیق عناصر طبیعی با عناصر محیط‌های شهری انجام شده بود به دنبال افزایش تاب‌آوری شهری، بهبود جذب و ذخیره رواناب‌ها و کاهش خطرات ناشی از سیلاب‌های شهری است تا اثرات منفی تغییرات اقلیمی و رویکرد توسعه‌ای مبتنی بر زیرساخت‌های سخت و غیر قابل نفوذپذیر را کاهش دهد. باوجود توجه گسترده به شهرهای اسفنجی در مطالعات بین‌المللی، تحلیل جامع و یکپارچه‌ای دررابطه‌با معیارهای اجرایی آن در پژوهش‌های داخلی ارائه نشده است. این خلأ، ضرورت تعیین معیار‌های مؤثر بر اجرای آن را برجسته می‌سازد. به همین منظور هدف پژوهش حاضر، شناسایی و رتبه‌بندی معیار‌های مؤثر بر ایجاد شهرهای اسفنجی با استفاده از روش سوارای فازی شهودی با منطق دایره‌ای است. در همین راستا در مطالعه حاضر، معیار‌های مرتبط با شهر اسفنجی از مطالعات علمی داخلی و خارجی استخراج و با دریافت نظر ۹ متخصص، وزن‌دهی آن‌ها انجام شده است. یافته‌های پژوهش نشان داد که از میان 36 معیار مستخرج شده، شدت بارش، وجود پایگاه‌های جامع داده اطلاعات، میزان نفوذپذیری فضاهای شهری، سیستم‌های سنجش میزان رواناب و یکپارچگی میان زیرساخت‌های خاکستری؛ سبز و آبی با بیشترین میزان وزن تخصیص‌یافته، از مهم‌ترین عوامل مؤثر در تحقق شهرهای اسفنجی محسوب می‌شوند. یافته‌های این پژوهش می‌تواند مبنای علمی قابل‌اتکایی برای برنامه‌ریزان شهری و سیاست‌گذاران فراهم کند تا با شناسایی و اولویت‌بندی معیار‌های کلیدی این رویکرد، فرایند اجرایی شهرهای اسفنجی را در ایران به‌صورت نظام‌مند و هدفمند پیش برند. https://ges.razi.ac.ir/article_3931_158763a4c0422524d2326c6a4a36615c.pdf