Publications
Building Resilience in Cultural Landscapes: Exploring the Role of Transdisciplinary and Participatory Planning in the Recovery of the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System
Transdisciplinary and participatory planning significantly enhances the resilience of cultural landscapes, such as the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (SHHS), against climate change risks. The study highlights that active local community involvement in developing and implementing resilience strategies is crucial for their success. Key elements like accurate identification and communication, capacity building, trust-building, and sufficient funding were found to be essential. The research combines a systematic literature review with an analysis of the SHHS's recovery process during the 2019 flooding in Khuzestan Province, Iran, demonstrating the effectiveness of these approaches in mitigating natural hazards.
Rehabilitation of the river’s role in historic urban landscape of Shushtar, Iran
Shushtar, Iran, exemplifies a historic urban landscape shaped by sustainable human-nature interactions, particularly through its renowned hydraulic system. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, the city's identity was deeply rooted in its river and water management, which facilitated nearly all aspects of daily life. However, modernization has eroded this connection, diminishing both the physical and spiritual ties between residents and their environment. This study focuses on reviving Shushtar’s unique values through landscape architecture and design, aiming to restore the city's daily life dynamics without resorting to museum-like preservation. By leveraging innovative approaches, the research seeks to re-establish the perceptual and functional relationships that once defined this historic urban ecosystem.
The technology, management, and culture of water in ancient Iran from prehistoric times to the Islamic Golden Age
Iran's ancient water management systems, particularly the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, reveal a sophisticated technological and cultural approach to water governance that spanned from prehistoric times to the Islamic Golden Age. The study highlights how centralized administration under the Achaemenids (550 BC) revolutionized water infrastructure with dams, qanats, and canals, setting a precedent for later periods like the Sassanid era. Despite challenges such as droughts, floods, and political instability, Iran's water governance thrived during these eras but declined post-Mongol invasion due to weak institutions and public support. The research underscores the need to integrate traditional and modern water management practices to address contemporary issues, emphasizing that blind adoption of foreign systems or neglect of ancient practices exacerbates current water crises.
Early Sasanian landscape modification: New geoarchaeological evidence from the Ardashir Pond in southwest Iran (Palace of Ardashir, third century CE)
New geoarchaeological evidence reveals that the Ardashir Pond, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, underwent significant enlargement at the beginning of the Sasanian period (third century CE). Sediment cores and radiocarbon dating indicate the pond's existence as a wetland complex since at least 4500 years ago, with substantial modifications during the Sasanian era. The study also shows that the pond was abandoned by the end of this period, providing one of the first detailed geoarchaeological investigations into Sasanian landscape manipulation in southwest Iran.
Water Resources Management, Technology, and Culture in Ancient Iran
Iran's water management strategies, shaped by its arid climate and uneven water distribution, evolved from ancient Mesopotamian technologies to the innovative qanat system under the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC). The study reveals that these adaptations allowed cultivation of marginal lands, boosting agricultural productivity and economic growth. However, despite advancements during the Sassanid era (224–651 AD), including the integration of Greek watermills, water governance declined post-Islam due to political instability and neglect. Today, Iran faces exacerbated water challenges from climate change and urbanization, necessitating lessons from its historical practices for sustainable solutions.
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