Managing development in the hillsides of Trinidad and Tobago using geoinformatics

Abstract

An increase in the unmanaged development of hillsides is causing environmental, social and economic problems in Trinidad and Tobago. Improved environmental awareness and deepening environmental concerns in recent years have focused attention on the need to move towards a more sustainable pattern of development. Scientific criteria for managing hillside development do not seem to exist and attempts in this regard are seriously compromised amongst other things by the lack of effective and reliable information base for decision making, i.e. information poverty. This paper advances a geoinformatics based methodology for determining suitability for built development on hillsides and to develop and implement a simple scientific criterion strategy for managing hillside development in Trinidad and Tobago whilst enduring information poverty. Additionally, a case study is presented to highlight the applicability of the concept to Tobago. The results showed all potential areas suitable for hillside development in Tobago and also identified areas not suitable and the reason(s) for disqualifying these areas. The proposed approach is adaptable, scientifically justifiable and open to scrutiny, and will lend itself to public acceptance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

GIS – Based Land Suitability Analysis in Cigli District

“…The method of suitability analysis has found an application area with the development of GIS and has also been one of the most practical and effective of tools [2]. Also, the spatial information technologies such as GIS are often preferred in different studies related to the mapping techniques and spatial data analysis [45].…”

Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemi Kullanılarak Sivas Kenti ve Yakın Çevresi İçin Yerleşim Açısından En Uygun Alanların Belirlenmesi

“…Bu kısıtlamalar, topografya, jeolojik yapı, iklim koşulları, sismoloji, hidrojeolojik özellikler, yapı malzemeleri, zemin kalitesi, mineralojik ve jeokimyasal özelliklerdir [11]. Yerleşim alanları için en uygun alanların belirlenmesinde CBS, en pratik ve en etkili araç olduğu kanıtlanmıştır [12]. CBS uygulamaları, çoklu katmanların birleştirilmesinde ve mekânsal olarak daha geniş kapsamdaki verilerin yönetilmesinde üstün bir yeteneğe sahiptir [13].…”

GIS-based Multi-criteria Decision Analysis of Land Suitability for Hillside Development

“…However, Penang Island is facing future economic development and built environmental challenges due to its hilly topography and limited flat land [4]- [6]. The Geographic Information System has proven practical throughout the world and effective when used for determining suitable lands for a built environment [7]. This is, above all, a fact; GIS can take advantage of spatially related factors to influence the built development of the hillsides.…”