Urban Development from the Perspective of Military Cartography (Case Study: Military Maps of Tehran in 1948 and 1952)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 school of architecture and environmental design, Iran university of science and technology, Tehran, Iran.

2 AJA Command and Staff University, Tehran, Iran.

10.30484/ganj.2025.3286

Abstract

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to examine the position and analytical capacity of military maps in urban studies and to reveal spatial, physical, and infrastructural details that are often underrepresented in conventional civilian maps.
Method and Research Design: Employing a historical research methodology and a descriptive–comparative approach, this study analyzes three military maps of Tehran produced within a limited chronological framework: the 1948 map prepared by the Iranian Army Geographic Circle; the 1948 joint map produced through technical cooperation between the Iranian Army and the United States Army; and the 1952 town plan prepared by the British War Office. These documents were identified through systematic searches in domestic and international archival collections using keywords related to military cartography and urban mapping. The maps were selected based on criteria including scale comparability, historical simultaneity, diversity of military origin, cartographic accuracy, and the richness of physical and infrastructural content. The comparative analysis focuses on three urban zones—the University of Tehran, Bagh-e Melli, and Amjadieh Stadium—in order to examine differences in the representation of street networks, block structures, land-use patterns, and infrastructure.
Findings and Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that each map reflects distinct institutional objectives and technical priorities. The 1948 Iranian Army map contains the most comprehensive street-naming data; the 1948 joint Iran–US map documents technical–military cooperation with an emphasis on circulation networks; and the 1952 British War Office map presents the most complete mass–space structure and infrastructural details, including qanat networks. Overall, the results indicate that military maps, by accurately recording the physical and infrastructural layers of the city, constitute valuable resources for interpreting patterns of urban development. Integrating these maps with other historical documents provides a more comprehensive understanding of development trends in Tehran during the mid-twentieth century.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Ganjine-ye Asnad
Volume 35, Issue 3 - Serial Number 139
September 2025
Pages 33-60

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History

  • Receive Date: 24 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 31 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 06 September 2025

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