Site suitability evaluation for urban development using remote sensing, GIS and analytic hierarchy process (AHP)

Abstract

An accurate and authentic data is prerequisite for proper planning and management. If one looks for proper identification and mapping of urban development site for any city, then accurate and authentic data on geomorphology, transport network, land use/land cover and ground water become paramount. In order to achieve such data in time satellite remote sensing and geographic information system techniques has proved its potentiality. The importance of this technique coupled with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in site suitability analysis for urban development site selection is established and accepted worldwide too and to know the present actual status of environmental impact in surrounding of urban development site. Remote Sensing, GIS, GPS and AHP method is a vital tool for identification, comparison and multi criterion decision making analysis of urban development site’s proper planning and management. Now keeping in view the availability of high resolution data of IKONOS satellite, cartosat and IRS 1C/1D LISS—III data has been used for preparation of various thematic layers in Lucknow city and its environs. The study describes the detailed information on the site suitability analysis for urban development site selection. The final maps of the study area prepared using GIS software and AHP method, can widely applied to compile and analyze the data on site selection for proper planning and management. It is necessary to generate digital data on site suitability for urban development sites for local bodies/development authorities in GIS & AHP environment, in which data are reliable and comparable. © Springer Science+Business Media Singapore 2017.