GIS4048 - Module 6 - Suitability Analysis (Part 1)

For this module, we were tasked with identifying areas that were the most suitable for future development using a suitability analysis method. We used a weighted overlay to assign relative ratings to each pixel in the study area based on five different criteria: land cover, soil, slope, distance to roads, and distance to rivers. 

Each one was reclassified on a 1 to 5 suitability scale, where 5 indicated the best conditions for development. I created two separate suitability maps with different weighting strategies, with the first map having all five criteria equal (each at 20%), while the second map prioritized slope (40%) more heavily, to simulate the increased cost and difficulty of construction on steeper terrain. 

Areas numbered as highly suitable (value 5) had characteristics like flat slopes, dry soils, and a far distance from water. When slope was weighted more heavily however, steeper areas were less suitable even if they had other favoring attributes. 

Analysis's like this really interest  me since its the type that could be used by developers, conservationists, or planners to assess the land value or ecological impact of an area before changes are made to it.