GIS- based Land Suitability Analysis Using AHP for Public Parks Planning in Larkana City

Abstract

Optimal locations for public facilities such as public parks are significant issues in the urban planning of Larkana city. Therefore, specifically, Larkana city of Pakistan is selected as the study area where the land suitability model was applied to determine suitable land for public parks. This study was carried out within the framework of an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a multi-criteria evaluation approach by integrating it with the Geographic Information System (GIS). Decision support system software called Expert choice 11.5 was used to calculate the weights based on three alternative scenarios. Computed composite weights were inserted into the spatial analysis function of GIS and produced three scenarios of suitability maps, i.e.: (a) land availability, (b) land value and (c) population density. Hence, based on the analysis and findings made in this research, finding suitable locations using the land suitability model for future park development is highly helpful. Results can be useful in the planning of public facilities and future land use planning in Larkana city. Keywords: GIS, AHP, Expert choice, Land suitability, Optimal locations 1. Introduction A built environment represents a high level of interference in the ecological system, changing the landscape and intervening with natural processes permanently. Parks are classified into two major categories, such as provision of recreation, services to society and conservation of natural values (Maruani and Amit-Cohen, 2007). Keeping in view, parks and green spaces control the rising temperature in urban areas and provide a healthy urban environment (Barbosa et al. 2007). In addition, less attention is paid to protect the urban parks (Thompson, 2002) and their sustainability (Chiesura, 2003). Uncontrolled human activities have increased tremendously. As a result, the existing parks and open spaces are encroached into a built environment in developing countries like Pakistan's cities (Adeel, 2010). Hence, the main objective of this paper is to identify and evaluate the existing public parks in Lankana City by finding the most suitable site to locate the public park based on an integrated GIS multi-criteria evaluation technique. There are various methods used in GIS in evaluating land suitability, e.g. Murrey, 2003 applied a location model; Graymore et al., 2009, produced an index of regional sustainability spatial decision support system; Saaty, R.W., 2003 and Abadi, 2007, used an analytic network process; and Mohit and Ali, 2006 integrated an analytic hierarchy process with GIS. In this study, a GIS-based AHP was used to determine land suitability for parks, which has been a very useful method over the years. GIS plays a vital role in planning for many decades of land-use suitability mapping and modelling (Malczewski, 2004 and Malczewski, 2006). This paper addresses a scientific approach to determine suitable land for healthy urban development. This www.ccsenet.org/mas Modern Applied Science Vol. 5, No. 4; August 2011 ISSN 1913-1844 E-...

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