A soft systems methodology and interpretive structural modeling framework for Green infrastructure development to control runoff in Tehran metropolis

Abstract

Green Infrastructure Development (GID) is a well‐known method for dealing with runoff control and mitigating the urbanization effects on hydrological cycles. Other than hydrological factors, GID is obviously intertwined with many socioeconomic, environmental, and aesthetic considerations, constraints, and drivers. Human perceptions are valuable resources to distinguish these considerations and can be derived from unstructured information using a systematic method. The purpose of this article is to exhibit how the perceptions of stakeholders were derived in Tehran for a conceptual model of green infrastructure development. For this, we applied a combination of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). The results revealed the main stakeholders, their relationships and responsibility, main obstacles for GID, and the conceptual system of activities for GIs development in Tehran. Based on the results, actions for improving the current situation were proposed and categorized in 10 main components including: further research, regulation, financial support, negotiation with stakeholders, evaluation and monitoring, enhancing stakeholders' interactions, providing comprehensive database, acculturalization, managerial reform, and training of stakeholders. ISM was performed to obtain a visible, ordered, and well‐defined model of the relationships among the main components. The results revealed that the item “further research” plays the main role in actualizing three components “regulation,” “financial support,” and “negotiation with stakeholders” in the process of GID in Tehran while the realization of the rest of the components depends on the former three components.