site suitability analysis

16
Massachusetts Biodiversity Consultants (MBC) Becky Alper Rahul Rakshit Ben Munro Tim Currie Dong-Ha Hwang Multi-Objective Site Suitability Analysis in Central Massachusetts

Upload: rahul-rakshit

Post on 16-Jan-2015

559 views

Category:

Technology


8 download

DESCRIPTION

 

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Site Suitability Analysis

Massachusetts Biodiversity Consultants (MBC)

Becky Alper Rahul Rakshit Ben Munro Tim Currie Dong-Ha Hwang

Multi-Objective Site Suitability Analysis in Central Massachusetts

Page 2: Site Suitability Analysis

Our Targets in Central Mass.

• Protect half of the currently (1997) developable land in its natural state while: Finding the best 5,000 hectares for

additional protection from development; The best 600 hectares for new urban

areas; And the best 1,900 hectares for

additional residential land.

Page 3: Site Suitability Analysis

Biodiversity in MassachusettsIn the last 100 years• agriculture has declined • forest has increased.Forest cover:• 68% of land area.• Forests provide:

• Habitat: Black bear, beavers, moose, bald eagle etc.

• Clean water and air• Aesthetic value and tourism• Timber e.g. red oak, white pine• Protection of biodiversity in Massachusetts.

Page 4: Site Suitability Analysis

What are the factors affecting land use in Massachusetts?

• Citizens seek a higher quality of life. They want to build residences around rural landscapes, not too close to urban centers Yet residential sprawl leads to fragmented

forests and biodiversity loss

• Wildlife habitat is best in corridors and large patches

Page 5: Site Suitability Analysis

MBC’s Decision Logic

• We promote new urban and residential development close to existing development (existing urban, roads, residential areas).

• We concentrate on conservation in large reserves and around wetlands, lakes and streams to maximize biodiversity.

Page 6: Site Suitability Analysis

Constraints

1. Buffers 30.48 m (100 ft) from all streams, wetlands and lakes.

2. No urban or residential development is possible on land with slope greater than 25%.

3. Existing urban land cannot be converted to any other land use.

4. Each pixel, which represents 30x30 m on the ground, can only be used for one land use at one time.

Page 7: Site Suitability Analysis

Factor StandardizationUrban development in relation to water.

Page 8: Site Suitability Analysis

New residential land in relation to existing roads.

Factor Standardization

Page 9: Site Suitability Analysis

Protected land in relation to developed land.

Factor Standardization

Page 10: Site Suitability Analysis

Factor Weights

Page 11: Site Suitability Analysis

Multi-Criteria Evaluation

Best New Urban Area

Page 12: Site Suitability Analysis

Multi-Criteria Evaluation

Best New Residential Area

Page 13: Site Suitability Analysis

Multi-Criteria Evaluation

Best New Protected Area

Page 14: Site Suitability Analysis

Results: Multi-Objective Allocation

Page 15: Site Suitability Analysis

Discussion of Results

• According to MCE, we met all our objectives, BUT!• Contiguity vs. fragmentation issues and

its relation with biodiversity• Factor weight issues (arbitrariness) • Decision-making issues of IDRISI

Page 16: Site Suitability Analysis

Thank you for choosing

Massachusetts Biodiversity Consultants