Site Suitability Analysis for Urban Development Using GIS Based Multicriteria Evaluation Technique

Identification of suitable site for urban development in hilly areas is one of the critical issues of planning. Site suitability analysis has become inevitable for delineating appropriate site for various developmental initiatives, especially in the undulating terrain of the hills. The study illustrates the use of geographic information system (GIS) and multicriteria evaluation (MCE) technique for selection of suitable sites for urban development in Mussoorie municipal area, Dehradun district, Uttarakhand. For this purpose Toposheet and IKONOS satellite data were used to generate various thematic layers using ArcGIS software. Criteria using five parameters, i.e. slope, road proximity, land use/land cover, land values and geological formation were used for site suitability analysis following land evaluation. The generated thematic maps of these criteria were standardized using pairwise comparison matrix known as analytical hierarchy process (AHP). A weight for each criterion was generated by comparing them with each other according to their importance. With the help of these weights and criteria, final site suitability map was prepared.     

南昌市建设用地适宜性扩展路径研究

快速城市化过程中，建设用地持续吞噬优质土地资源，造成生态环境恶化。本文以移动窗口法获取建设用地源地，选取经济和社会因子构建阻力体系，生成MCR面，通过自然断点分级法获取适宜性分区，通过ArcGIS中的Hydrology扩展模块获得适宜扩展路径、生态隔离带和生态关键点，为未来城市建设用地扩展方向和生态建设提供借鉴。结果表明：①南昌市70%的区域属于允许建设区，对于维持城市生态环境的重要区域，应当重点保护，兼顾经济-生态共同发展；②利用Hydrology扩展模块对南昌市MCR面进行进行特征提取，发现主城区北部和西部较适宜建设用地扩张；③生态关键点对于维持城市生态环境具有重要作用，未来规划中应重点保护，限制开发。     

Incorporating sprawl and adjacency measures in land‐use forecasting model: A case study of Collin County,TX

Sprawl measures have largely been neglected in land‐use forecasting models. The current approach for land‐use allocation using optimization mostly utilizes objective functions and constraints that are non‐spatial in nature. Application of spatial constraints could take care of the contiguity and compactness of land uses and can be utilized to address urban sprawl. Because a land‐use model is used as an input to transportation modeling, a better spatial allocation strategy for more compact land‐use projections will promote better transportation planning and sustainable development. This study formulates a scenario‐based approach to normative modeling of urban sprawl. In doing so, it seeks to improve the land‐use projections by employing a spatial optimization model with contiguity and compactness consideration. This study incorporates urban sprawl measures based on smart growth principles together with a mixed‐use factor, and adjacency consideration of nearby land uses. The objective function used in the study maximizes net suitability based on imposed constraints. These constraints are based on smart growth principles that enhance walkability in neighborhoods, promote better health for residents, and encourage mixed‐use development. The formulated model has been applied to Collin County, TX, a fast‐developing suburban county located to the north of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The suitability of land cells indicates the probability of conversion, which is calculated using spatial discrete choice analysis with Moran eigenvector spatial filtering for vacant cells at a resolution of 150 × 150 m employing factors of the built environment, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. This study demonstrates how spatial proximity between land uses, which has been ignored to date, can be used to control sprawl, resulting in better mixing of different land uses based on constraints imposed in a spatial optimization problem.     

基于栅格尺度的土地利用适宜性评价研究

土地利用适宜性对于土地利用规划和管理具有重要的现实意义。本文基于栅格数据,以黑龙江省嫩江县为研究区,利用在高程、坡度、坡向方面的分布特征,采用层次分析法确定指标权重,通过模糊综合评价法对已确定权值的指标进行综合评价。研究结果表明,研究区土地利用主要分为宜农区和宜林区,宜农区中中度宜农区所占比例最大,宜林区中中度宜林区所占比例最大,研究区土地利用适宜性分布具有明显的空间特征。     

Geospatial Approach in Assessing Agro-Climatic Suitability of Soybean in Rainfed Agro-Ecosystem

The present study demonstrated the methodology to assess agro-climatic suitability of the soybean crop through integration of crop suitability based on FAO framework of land evaluation and biophysical (water limited) yield potential in the rainfed agro-ecosystem. A long term climatic database (1980–2003) was prepared to compute decadal rainfall and temperature variations of 13 IMD stations in part of Madhya Pradesh state. The climatic database was used in soil water balance software–BUDGET to compute crop specific length of growing period (LGP) and biophysical production potential such as water limited crop yield potential of each soil types for soybean crop. Water limited crop yield potential of soils were found to be varied from 33 to 100 and LGP ranged from 65 to 180 days in the area. FAO based land suitability was analyzed in association with the water limited yield potential for better appraisal of land potential and assess their suitability in rainfed area. FAO based land suitability indicated 2.45 % area as highly suitable and 57.49 % area as moderately suitable. However, integration of water limited crop yield potential with FAO based land suitability lead to agro-climatic suitability analysis indicated 17.60 % and 40.03 % area, respectively as highly suitable and moderately suitable. FAO based land evaluation showed 88.13 % of plains as moderately suitable whereas agro-climatic suitability indicated only 47.79 %. Agro-climatic suitability analysis revealed undulating plateau and undulating plains as most suitable for soybean crop.     

“一带一路”倡议下老挝沙湾区土地适宜性评价

为了对老挝沙湾区土地适宜性进行评价,本文选择了地形、土壤、水利、区位和生态5类13项指标,建立了老挝沙湾区土地适宜性评价指标体系;将层次分析法(AHP)与GIS技术相结合,对老挝沙湾区农业用地、林业用地和建设用地进行适宜性评价。研究结果表明:宜农用地占土地面积的30.16%,主要分布在海拔较低、坡度较小的沙湾拿吉大平原以及湄公河沿岸;宜林用地占土地总面积的60.07%,主要分布在东部和北部山区;宜建用地占土地总面积的4.62%,主要分布在平原地区,湄公河沿岸,以及交通较发达地区;不适宜用地占总面积的2.32%,主要分布在甘蒙省西北部以及东部。研究方法和研究结果可以为老挝沙湾拿吉省土地利用规划和相关研究提供科学依据与支持,同时为老挝今后的土地资源开发奠定基础。     

Accessibility Futures

This study uses accessibility as a performance measure to evaluate a matrix of future land use and network scenarios for planning purposes. The concept of accessibility dates to the 1950s, but this type of application to transportation planning is new. Previous research has established the coevolution of transportation and land use, demonstrated the dependence of accessibility on both, and made the case for the use of accessibility measures as a planning tool. This study builds off of these findings by demonstrating the use of accessibility‐based performance measures in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. This choice of performance measure also allows for transit and highway networks to be compared side‐by‐side. For roadway modeling, zone‐to‐zone travel time matrix was computed using stochastic user equilibrium (SUE) assignment with travel time feedback to trip distribution. A database of schedules was used on the transit networks to assign transit routes. This travel time data was joined with the land use data from each scenario to obtain the employment, population, and labor accessibility from each traffic analysis zone (TAZ) within specified time ranges. Tables of person‐weighted accessibility were computed for 20 minutes with zone population as the weight for employment accessibility and zone employment as the weight for population and labor accessibility. Maps of accessibility by zone were produced to show the spatial distribution of accessibility across the region. The results show that a scenario where population and employment growth are concentrated in the center of the metropolitan area would produce the highest accessibility no matter which transportation network changes are made. However, another scenario which concentrates population growth in the center of the metropolitan area and shifts employment growth to the periphery consistently outperforms the scenario representing the projected 2030 land use without any growth management strategy.     

基于千米格网的区域城市土地开发适宜性评价

本文选择黑龙江省哈大齐地区(哈尔滨-大庆-齐齐哈尔)为研究案例,在区域尺度上基于千米地理格网进行了城市土地开发适宜性的评价。在明确评价指标选取原则的基础上,结合研究区实际,从自然适宜性、生态重要性、开发潜力性和政策调控性4个方面建立了区域城市土地开发适宜性评价方法体系,并采用主成分分析法进行了适宜性评价。结果表明,哈尔滨、大庆和齐齐哈尔城市核心和周边地区为最适宜或适宜开发区,面积占4.67%,该结论可直接为区域规划和主体功能区规划提供空间决策参考。     

Simulating urban growth in a megalopolitan area using a patch‐based cellular automata

Although traditional cellular automata (CA)‐based models can effectively simulate urban land‐use changes, they typically ignore the spatial evolution of urban patches, due to their use of cell‐based simulation strategies. This research proposes a new patch‐based CA model to incorporate a spatial constraint based on the growth patterns of urban patches into the conventional CA model for reducing the uncertainty of the distribution of simulated new urban patches. In this model, the growth pattern of urban patches is first estimated using a developed indicator that is based on the local variations in existing urban patches. The urban growth is then simulated by integrating the estimated growth pattern and land suitability using a pattern‐calibrated method. In this method, the pattern of new urban patches is gradually calibrated toward the dominant growth pattern through the steps of the CA model. The proposed model is applied to simulate urban growth in the Tehran megalopolitan area during 2000–2006–2012. The results from this model were compared with two common models: cell‐based CA and logistic‐patch CA. The proposed model yields a degree of patch‐level agreement that is 23.4 and 7.5% higher than those of these pre‐existing models, respectively. This reveals that the patch‐based CA model simulates actual development patterns much better than the two other models.     

Land suitability analysis for cereal production in Himachal Pradesh (India) using Geographical Information System

Land suitability analysis is prerequisite for sustainable agriculture and it plays a pivotal role in the niche based agricultural planning in mountain regions. In this paper different parameters viz. climatic (precipitation and temperature), topographic (elevation), soil type and land cover/land use have been used in order to perform land suitability evaluation for cereals food-grain crops in Himachal Pradesh using Geographic Information System (GIS). The suitability analysis was performed by digital processing of geo-referenced data (elevation, climate, soil and landcover) and calculating potential production areas by combining different types of geographical data through decision rules framed for each crop in ArcView spatial analyst. Suitable areas have been delineated for cereal crops in the form of land suitability maps. In comparison to the actual area under cereal crops, the possibility of further expansion under each cereal crop was determined. These discriminated areas appear suitable for growing these crops and can be harnessed efficiently for achieving long term sustainability and food security.     

Spatial modelling of site suitability assessment for hospitals using geographical information system-based multicriteria approach at Qazvin city,Iran

Due to the population growth and continuous migration of people from rural areas to urban areas, it is important to identify the suitable locations for future development in order to find suitable sites for various kinds of facilities such as schools, hospital and fire stations for new and existing urban areas. Site suitability modelling is a complex process involving various kinds of objectives and issues. Such a complex process includes spatial analysis, use of several decision support tools such as high-spatial resolution remotely sensed data, geographical information system (GIS) and multi criteria analysis (MCA) such as analytical hierarchy process (AHP), and in some cases, prediction techniques like cellular automata (CA) or artificial neural networks (ANN). This paper presents a comparison between the results of AHP and the ordinary least square (OLS) evaluation model, based on various criteria, to select suitable sites for new hospitals in Qazvin city, Iran. Based on the obtained results, proximity to populated areas (0.3) and distance to air polluted areas (0.23–0.26) were the two highest important criteria with high weight value. The results show that these two techniques not only have similarity in size (in m²) for each suitability class but they also have similarity in spatial distribution of each class in the entire study area. Based on calculations of both techniques, 1–2%, 25%, 40–43%, 16–20% and 14% of study areas are assigned as ‘not suitable', ‘less suitable', ‘moderately suitable', ‘suitable' and ‘most suitable' areas for construction of new hospitals. Results revealed that a 75% similarity was found in the distribution of suitability classes in Qazvin city using both techniques. Nineteen per cent (19%) of the study area are assigned as ‘suitable' and ‘most suitable' by both methods, so these areas can be considered as safe or secure areas for clinical purposes. Moreover, almost all (99.8%) suitable areas are located in district 3, because of its higher population, less numbers of existing hospitals and large numbers of barren land plots of acceptable size.     

Urban land use mapping and zoning of Bombay Metropolitan Region using remote sensing data

Bombay Metropolitan Region covering an area of about 4,360 sq. km. was selected for urban land use studies and for urban land use zoning. Urban land use mapping was carried out using SPOT multispectral linear array imagery on 1∶25,000 scale employing visual analysis tehcniques. Fifteen maps were prepared depicting the spatial distribution of various urban classes in the Greater Bombay and New Bombay regions. Sixteen urban land use maps were also prepared using Landsat TM data showing the distribution of land use pattern on 1∶50,000 scale for the entire metropolitan region. Urban land use zoning was carried out based upon suitability index on 1∶250,000 scale. This map provides information on the areas to be used for construction and areas to be kept under green belt in the metropolitan region. This study is a joint venture of Space Applications Centre with Bombay Metropolitan Development authority.     

A web‐based visualization tool for exploring stakeholder conflicts in land‐use planning

This article describes an open source web‐based visualization tool for exploring stakeholder conflicts in land‐use planning. It implements a multi‐criteria, decision‐analytic framework which solves a conflict‐constrained knapsack problem in order to find Pareto efficient combinations of actions which maximize public value, given the conflict constraint. The user interface is centered around an interactive map in which geographical subareas are color‐shaded in proportion to the mean strength of preference for a particular chosen action within the population in the selected area. The aim of this work is to investigate the use of web technologies and formal problem‐solving methods for improving public participation in land‐use planning and support local governments in the pursuit of improved decision‐making. The tool was developed using the free statistical programming language R and the web application framework Shiny. Its usefulness is demonstrated through a case study in Upplands Väsby municipality in Stockholm County, Sweden. The article ends with a summary together with some ideas for future research and development.     

An open source GIS‐based Planning Support System: Application to the land use plan of La Troncal,Ecuador

Planning Support Systems (PSS) comprise a wide variety of geo‐technological tools related to GIS and spatial modeling aimed at addressing land planning processes. This article describes the OpenRules system, a PSS based on a previous system called RULES. Among OpenRules new features are its architecture, based exclusively on free and open source software, and its applicability to all land use types, including rural and urban uses. In addition, OpenRules incorporates an unlimited number of land evaluation factors and a new objective in land use spatial allocation. OpenRules has been programmed in Java and implemented as a module of the free GIS software gvSIG, with full integration between the GIS and the decision support tools. Decision support tools include multicriteria evaluation, multiobjective linear programming and heuristic techniques, which support three basic stages of land use planning processes, namely land suitability evaluation, land use area optimization and land use spatial allocation. The application of OpenRules to the region of La Troncal, Ecuador, demonstrates its capability to generate alternative and coherent solutions through a scientific and justified procedure at low cost in terms of time and resources.     

基于格网单元的土地利用总体规划生态环境影响评价

开展土地利用总体规划生态环境影响评价实证研究,能够为不同城市的土地利用总体规划修编和生态环境保护提供依据。本文从土地利用结构和布局的角度,以格网为评价单元,运用生态系统服务功能价值评估法,对土地利用总体规划的结构调整所带来的生态服务价值的变化做了空间上的定量预测;并运用生态环境敏感性评价和GIS叠置法从土地利用布局上评价建设用地布局的生态合理性。以鄂城区为例,划分了702个格网,规划实施后生态系统服务功能总价值减少了414.54万元;建设用地布局具有较好的生态适宜性,只有0.23%分布在高度敏感区内。因此,鄂城区土地利用总体规划从生态环境保护角度是可行的,但还应注重对森林和水域等重要生态用地的保护。     

Evaluation and development of sustainable urban land use plans through spatial optimization

Along with rapid global urbanization, cities are challenged by environmental risks and resource scarcity. Sustainable urban planning is central to address the dilemma of economic growth and ecosystem protection, where the use of land is critical. Sustainable land use patterns are spatially explicit in nature, and can be structured and addressed using spatial optimization integrating GIS and mathematical models. This research discusses prominent sustainability concerns in land use planning and suggests a generalized multi‐objective spatial optimization model to facilitate conventional planning. The model is structured to meet land use demand while satisfying the requirements of the physical environment, society and economy. Unlike existing work relying on raster data, due to its simple data structure and ease of spatial relationship evaluation, this research develops an approach for identifying land use solutions based on vector data that better reflects the actual shape and spatial layout of land parcels as well as the ways land use information is managed in practice. An evolutionary algorithm is developed to find the set of efficient (Pareto) solutions given the complexity of vector‐based representations of space. The proposed approach is applied in an empirical study of Dafeng, China in order to support local urban growth and development. The results demonstrate that spatial optimization can be a powerful tool for deriving effective and efficient land use planning strategies. A comparison to results using a raster data approach supports the superiority of land use optimization using vector data as part of planning practice.     

Investigating the Promotion Possibility of No-Hunting Areas to the Protected Areas- a Case Study

Protected areas are established to conserve unique features and biodiversity of the nature. Accordingly, wherever has one of the natural, ecological and/or cultural values it should be considered a protected area. Kave-Deh No-hunting Area is located on extremely east of Tehran Province in an area of 94,961 ha. Due to rich and diverse land cover, distinctive wildlife species, and unique monuments the area was selected as a case study to examine the possibility of its promotion to the protected area using Spatial Multi Criteria Evaluation (SMCE) Method. For this purpose, the relevant criteria were identified by Delphi method. After finalization of the most important criteria by Delphi panelists, the map layers were prepared at the scale of 1:100000, in the environment of GIS Software. Afterwards, the map layers were divided into factors and constraints of which factors were standardized by S-shaped membership functions of fuzzy logic. The dimensionless factor maps were weighted using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Method in the environment of Expert Choice Software. Subsequently, a mathematical equation was extracted to conduct the land suitability analysis. The Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) Method was applied to overlay the map layers and obtain the final ‘nature conservation’ land use map. The final land suitability map showed that 34,687 ha of whole study area (equal to 37 %) have the potentiality for promotion to the protected area.     

基于目标规划与模拟退火算法的土地利用分区优化方法

以兰州市榆中县为实验区,选取分区适宜性、规划协调性和空间紧凑性作为分区目标,基于目标规划和模拟退火算法对实验区进行土地利用分区优化。结果表明,不同情景下的分区方案能很好地满足决策者设定的目标偏好值;从空间特征分析的结果看,本分区方案较原有分区方案对各个分区目标进行了优化,更好地满足了农业生产、经济发展以及生态保护的要求。     

Spatial pattern of urban functional landscapes along an urban–rural gradient: A case study in Xiamen City,China

Since there is an increasing demand for integrating landscape ecology and urban planning theories to study complex urban ecosystems and establish rational and ecological urban planning, we introduced a new concept-urban functional landscapes which can be reclassified based on detailed land use data to fulfill the various urban functions, such as residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure purposes. In this paper, urban functional landscapes were defined based on urban land use data produced from Pleiades images, and then landscape metrics and population density were combined to identify the urban functional zones along an urban–rural gradient. The features of urban functional landscape patterns and population density were also analyzed, and their relationship has been explored. The results showed that the pattern of urban functional landscapes and population density in the urban functional zones (Urban center, Urban peripheral area, Landscape barrier, Satellite city and Far-suburb) along the urban–rural gradient in Xiamen doesn't totally conform to the classical theories in spatial and social aspects. Urban functional landscapes is potential of acting as bridges between the landscape ecology and urban planning theories, providing scientific support for rational urban landscape planning and urban land use policy making.     

Impact Assessment of GIS Based Land Resource Inventory Towards Optimizing Agricultural Land Use Plan in Dandakaranya and Easternghats Physiographic Confluence of India

GIS based land resource inventory (LRI) with fine resolution imagery is considered as most authentic tool for soil resource mapping. Soil resource mapping using the concept of soil series in a smaller scale limits its wide application and also its impact assessment for crop suitability is controversial. In this study, we attempted to develop LRI at large scale (1:10,000 scale) at block level land use planning (LUP) in Dandakaranya and Easternghats physiographic confluence of India. The concept of land management unit was introduced in this endeavour. The impact assessment of LRI based LUP was exercised to develop efficient crop planning with best possible management practices. The study area comprised six landforms with slope gradient ranging from very gentle (1–3%) to steep slopes (15–25%). The very gently sloping young alluvial plains occupied maximum areas (19.95% of TGA). The single cropped (paddy) land appears to dominate the land use systems (40.0% of TGA). Thirty three landscape ecological units were resulted by GIS-overlay. Eighteen soils mapping units were generated. The area was broadly under two soil orders (Inceptisols and Alfisols); three great group (Haplaquepts, Rhodustalfs and Endoaquepts) and ten soil series. Crop suitability based impact assessment of LRI based LUP revealed that average yield of different crops increased by 39.2 and 14.5% in Kharif (rainy season) and Rabi (winter) seasons respectively and annual net returns by 83.4% for the cropping system, compared to traditional practices. Productivity and net returns can be increased several folds if customized recommended practices are adopted by the farmers. Informations generated from the study emphasized the potentiality of LRI towards optimizing LUP and exhibited an ample scope to use the methodology as a tool to assess in other physiographic regions in India and abroad.