2024 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 21-43
It is essential to conduct a logical investigation of the socio-economic space and improv planning approaches according to the location potentials to achieving development sustainability. This paper focuses on regional innovation models "RIMs" and spatial development initiatives "SDI". The goal is to establish a spatial structural model by adopting a strategic cluster structures and spatial development networks approach to localize the urban-rural sustainable development in the Syrian coastal region. The research uses a mixed-methods approach. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques are utilized to analyze the available data and information. A survey was conducted on a specific sample of respondents, including experts, academic researchers, and decision-makers, to gather opinions on the keys/problems of regional development and the pattern of urban-rural spatial development. Survey results and the geospatial characteristics of the region led to proposing the missing regional links at the macro-level for clusters to overcome limitations and reap opportunities beyond their spatial reach. At the meso-level, geographic units "river basins" provide a spatial incubator for the conceptual urban-rural structural map based on a spatial cluster development networks scenario. Therefore, an ArcGIS software analysis with a multi-tier classification of the developmental advantages was used to identify high value-adding productive/effective clusters. Then, a scale-up/out process was adopted to transfer lessons learned to adjacent sub-regions by formulating a guiding regional spatial vision. Results indicated that the conceptual spatial structure maps could be helpful to decision-makers in forming a support system for regional planning assets efficiency to steer the urban-rural sustainable development and establish regional growth engines with national dimensions.
