Spatial Suitability Analysis for Sustainable Urban Growth Using the AHPGeoTOPSIS Model. A Case Study in Guelma, Algeria

Abstract

As urbanisation continues to expand globally, the demand for land for urban purposes is on the rise. Without proper management, valuable land that could be utilised for more profitable endeavours, such as agriculture, runs the risk of being underutilised. Additionally, certain urban developments have the potential to pose threats to both the environment and the well-being of local residents. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct land suitability analyses before progressing with urban planning initiatives. The primary objective of this paper is twofold. Firstly, it aims to propose scenarios for sustainable urban growth locations in Guelma, with a focus on minimising the consumption of agricultural land and preserving high-potential forested areas. Secondly, this research contributes to the existing literature by introducing a hybrid methodology that combines GIS (Geographic Information System), GeoTOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) for the purpose of selecting suitable urban growth sites in the Guelma region.In this study, we employed a combination of AHP and TOPSIS methods to conduct the analysis. Ten criteria and constraints were established for the study, utilising spatial data acquired through GIS. These criteria include proximity to forests, soil fertility, land use and land cover (LU/LC), distance to rivers, a Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), distance to the urban centre, proximity to roads, population density, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and slope. The analysis revealed that approximately 19.47 square kilometres of the Guelma region's land area are most suitable for urban land use. The findings of this study hold significance in terms of mitigating potential urban instability and guiding the government's decisions regarding sustainable urban development.