GIS-based analytic hierarchy process as a multicriteria decision analysis instrument: a review

GIS-based analytic hierarchy process as a multicriteria decision analysis instrument: a review Imtiaz Ahmed Chandio, Abd Nasir B. Matori, Khamaruzaman B. WanYusof, Mir Aftab Hussain Talpur, Abdul-Lateef Balogun & Dano Umar Lawal Arabian Journal of Geosciences ISSN 1866-7511 Arab J Geosci DOI 10.1007/s12517-012-0568-8

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Author's personal copy Arab J Geosci DOI 10.1007/s12517-012-0568-8

ORIGINAL PAPER

GIS-based analytic hierarchy process as a multicriteria decision analysis instrument: a review Imtiaz Ahmed Chandio & Abd Nasir B. Matori & Khamaruzaman B. WanYusof & Mir Aftab Hussain Talpur & Abdul-Lateef Balogun & Dano Umar Lawal

Received: 24 January 2012 / Accepted: 15 March 2012 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2012

Abstract Information and communication technology, which has been incorporated and provided in the Geographic Information System (GIS), is valuable and effective geospatial information for the decision makers in improving their decisions in planning and development. The integration of this GIS using the multicriteria decision analysis approach provides an environment to the decision makers in citing areas using land suitability analysis procedures. This review paper particularly examines the GIS-based analytic hierarchy process as a multicriteria analysis/evaluation technique in land suitability analysis by means of literature reviews and surveys. Keywords GIS . MCA/MCE . Land suitability analysis

Introduction Development of the Geographic Information System (GIS) has made possible the storage of data, establishment of the integration of data management, and improvement of public I. A. Chandio (*) : A. N. B. Matori : K. B. WanYusof : M. A. H. Talpur : A.-L. Balogun : D. U. Lawal Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Seri Iskandar 31750 Perak, Malaysia e-mail: [email protected] A. N. B. Matori e-mail: [email protected] K. B. WanYusof e-mail: [email protected] M. A. H. Talpur e-mail: [email protected] A.-L. Balogun e-mail: [email protected] D. U. Lawal e-mail: [email protected]

participation. Many developments have been achieved in the evolving information technology that has changed with time: (1) data during the 1960s, (2) information during the 1970s, (3) knowledge in the 1980s, and intelligence in the 1990s (Brail and Klosterman 1997). Since the 1970s, GIS technology has given the distinctive capability of automating and analyzing a variety of spatial data. It has also evolved into a mature research and application area concerning various fields, namely geography, civil engineering, computer science, land-use planning, and environmental science (Church 2002). At present, the GIS is a powerful tool in spatial modeling (Peuquet and Marble 1990; Klosterman 1995; Yaakup et al. 2004) which involves a large number of spatial decision problems (Malczewski 2006a) providing alternative scenarios (Yaakup et al. 2005; Ludin and Yaakup 2006) in the context of maps. Spatial decision problems have extensively increased being applied in land suitability using the GIS-based multicriteria analysis (GIS– MCA). Therefore, integration of the GIS and the multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) will provide a unique and useful solution to problems associated with (Vaidya and Kumar 2006) analyzing spatial decision problems. The objective of this paper is to highlight extensively, the use of the GIS-based MCDA in land suitability analysis and in various spatial problems. Land suitability mainly deals with a large amount of data and involves multifactors. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is a classical land suitability analysis procedure, which gives a systematic approach in making proper decisions for site selection. It also suggests the integration of the GIS-based land suitability model for site selection (Mendoza 1997). In addition, GIS-based land suitability analysis techniques are useful to decision makers, engineers, and planners to provide a framework for land development as pointed out in the technical literature (Banai-Kashani 1989; Collins et al.

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2001; Marinoni 2004; Mohit and Ali 2006; Steiner et al. 2001). This paper shows that the GIS-based AHP technique can be beneficial for future research work and will help in different fields such as engineering and planning. Engineers and planners can get an in-depth sight and understanding of the extent of the AHP in a land suitability analysis. GIS in land suitability analysis The AHP provides a framework for the decision-making process and deals with the integrated GIS spatial analysis for the relative suitability of land. It is now a well-established an integrated GIS-based MCDA method is used in spatial analysis for suitable site selection (Mohit and Ali 2006). Examples of land suitability approaches are used for locating different facilities (Basnet et al. 2001; Chandio et al. 2011), e.g., land fill site selection (Alfy et al. 2010; Yahaya et al. 2010; Hussin et al. 2010; Abdullah et al. 2011) and land suitability analysis (Carr and Zwick 2005; Jafari and Zaredar 2010; Lotfi et al. 2009; Tudes and Yigiter 2010). However, Tudes and Yigiter (2010) described the GIS and MCDA as an important pace in site selection that employs a sustainable land-use planning approach. GIS in urban planning and development The rapid urbanization process in developing countries has increased because of development goals. At present, there cannot be long-term measures for future consequences due to uncontrolled and uncontrollable development. However, the physical, environmental, and socio-economic aspects in fact are being suffered at the largest level. It seems that the planning system has an important role in managing and controlling the development trends. AHP is a widely used technique in the MCDA method for urban planning and management in land suitability. Currently, the development of the GIS has a large influence on the dynamic nature of urban and regional development. Application of the GIS for strategic planning in high-level strategic planning refers to the National Physical Plan, Regional Plan and State Structure Plan and local planning level (Yaakup et al. 2005). The GIS provides an integrated land-use assessment (ILA) for planning and monitoring urban development. However, Whatif? The Planning support system GIS software is applied in ILA model. There are two types of analysis of ILA, namely the land resource assessment and the land capacity assessment (Yaakup et al. 2004). The spatial analysis function of the ArcGIS supports, i.e., identification and collection of spatial data, weighting with AHP, data integration and GIS analysis, and output evaluation. The ArcGIS platform is used to overlay the factors to make a composite map which acts as a suitable land for any development (Uy and Nakagoshi 2008).

AHP as an MCDA tool There are two possible ways in multicriteria decision analysis research itself. It has distinct characteristics about results and draws conclusions from observations on the various subjects—object and feelings or an idea. The first task is to analyze and study the different properties of subjects then summarize the results and draw conclusions about the observations. The second task is compared with other similar entities to analyze and correlate these comparisons (Saaty 2008). The AHP is an eigenvalue technique to the pair-wise comparisons approach. It provides a numerical fundamental scale, which ranges from 1 to 9 to calibrate the quantitative and qualitative performances of priorities (Saaty 2008). Table 1 enlists the references regarding decision making using the AHP as a multicriteria analysis. A structured decision making approach using expert judgments is as follows: 1. Define the problem 2. Develop a hierarchy construction of the problem at different stages to determine objectives and outcomes of the problem based on the aim, criterion, and alternatives 3. Weight against each criterion using numerical pair-wise comparison scale 4. Perform computations to find the maximum eigenvalue, consistency index, consistency ratio (CR), and normalized values for each criteria/alternative 5. If there is any matrix with an unacceptable CR value or composite weight, i.e., >0.10, the expert is required to make a judgment on that matrix repeatedly till these values lie in a desired level (Lee and Chan 2008) The AHP manages to ensure involvement of group decisions. The principle considered in the AHP to solve problems is to build hierarchies. The hierarchy allows for the assessment of the contribution individual criterion at lower levels made to criterion at higher levels of the hierarchy. The general purpose of the AHP is to assist the decisionmakers in selecting the best alternative from the various possible choice alternatives under the presence of multiple Table 1 References on the topic of “AHP” Series Ref. no Authors no.

Application areas Methods used

1 2 3 4 5 6

Decision Decision Decision Decision Decision Decision

50 51 52 53 54 55

Saaty Saaty Saaty Saaty Saaty Saaty

(1980) (1985) (1994) (2003) (2007) (2008)

making making making making making making

MCA/AHP MCA/AHP MCA/AHP MCA/AHP MCA/AHP/ANP MCA/AHP

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The analytic hierarchy process (Saaty 1980) is a multiple criteria decision-making instrument which combines spatial analysis functions of the GIS (Chandio et al. 2011) in land suitability analysis producing suitability maps. In this regard, the most important AHP and weighted linear combination (WLC) method is one integrated with different GIS data layers. It can produce suitability models in any kind of decision making analysis for land-use suitability evaluation (Zhou et al. 2005), Parks Suitability (Chandio et al. 2011), evaluation of urban development suitability (Youssef et al. 2010), site suitability for waste disposal (Mahini and Gholamalifard 2006), urban land-use management (Soltani et al. 2011), landfill site selection (Hussin et al. 2010), and site selection for a new city (Aly et al. 2005). The purpose of this paper is to give a clear role of the GIS and multicriteria decision making methods and provide framework for integrating the GIS with the MCDA in a land suitability analysis.

Is there a problem or an opportunity for change?

Design Phase

What are the alternatives?

Choice Which alternative is best?

Fig. 1 Three stages of decision making process. Source: Rahman et al. (2008)

Ahmad et al. (2010) applied the GIS in the environmental risk assessment of hillside developments to evaluate projects at the initial level. The parameters were chosen based on standard geotechnical reports, slope gradient, soil profile, rock quality designation, plastic index, shear strength, and land-use suitability. Each parameter is classified into risk ratings based on existing standards and guidelines. Based on risk ratings, risk probability was analyzed. The site should be selected keeping in view where the risk probability is “very low risk area” approved for developments. Pradhan and Lee (2010) used the frequency ratio, logistic regression, and artificial neutral network models called statistical models combined in the GIS to determine land susceptibility and triggering factors associated with landslide prone areas. To assess landslide areas, the factors used were topographical, geological, soil types, and the normalized difference vegetation index. The landslide hazard map was produced using the three models above. The purpose was to measure the best hazard map by using various modeling techniques. The obtained results indicated that the logistic regression model was the most accurate and was

Intelligence

GIS and multicriteria analysis in spatial problems Problem Definition

Since the last three decades, GIS technology has grown tremendously as a new geographic information technology processing tool which has a potential in managing and analyzing various kinds of spatial data for example, natural resource management, environmental pollution and hazard control, regional planning, urban development, and utilities management (Jankowski 1995). Carver (1991) referred to the basic concept of the multicriteria analysis technique as “to investigate a number of choice possibilities in the light of multiple criteria and conflicting objectives” (Voogd 1983). The final goal of the GIS is to inject a spatial decisionmaking process. The spatial decision-making process has been categorized in three stages: intelligence, design, and choice as presented in Fig. 1 and the structure for spatial multicriteria decision analysis is shown in Fig. 2.

Evaluation Criteria

Decision Matrix

Constraint

Alternatives Decision Maker’s Preference

Design

Weighted linear combination method

Intelligence

Decision Rules

Suitability analysis

Recommendation

Choice

priorities. There are different applications of the AHP, i.e., Vaidya and Kumar (2006) described applications of the AHP in different subjects. The author has performed these AHP applications favorable—these applications have been categorized into three classes, namely (a) applications based on a theme (selection, evaluation, benefit–cost analysis, allocations, planning and development, priority and ranking, and decision making); (b) specific applications (forecasting, and medicine and related fields). Nevertheless, there is a gap in his article that he has not highlighted and that is multicriteria analysis in spatial decision problems, such as land suitability analysis. Currently, this is a sustainable approach selecting suitable sites using a GIS-based MCA.

Fig. 2 Framework for spatial multicriteria decision analysis. Source: Rahman et al. (2008)

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more realistic than the frequency ratio and the artificial neutral network models. Dai and Zhang (2001) used the GIS-based MCA to evaluate the geoenvironmental for land suitability incorporating criteria, i.e., topography, surficial and bedrock geology, ground water conditions, and historic geologic hazard factors. In this regard, the AHP was performed using the pair-wise comparison matrix for assessing the weights of factors. The computed weights of factors were used in the WLC model to create a suitability map. Conventionally, geoenvironmental evaluation and mapping is cumbersome terms of time. Nevertheless, the combined GIS methodology with the AHP is able to provide the opportunity for assessing optimal sites for development using land suitability approach to protect the natural environment. The aim of the geoenvironmental evaluation is to draw attention and assistance to policy makers, planners, and developers in making best land-use alternatives for determining potential land parcels for development. The GIS provides a scale of accuracy and great potential in geoenvironmental evaluation for urban development. Ayalew et al. (2004) demonstrated land susceptibility mapping using a GIS-based WLC method. They mentioned six landslide-controlling factors including lithology, slope gradient, aspect, elevation, plan curvature, and profile curvature. These factors are commonly contributed in landslide risks. Each factor was assigned weights by using a pair-wise comparison matrix for calculating factor weights. This approach is called the multicriteria analysis and is used to combine a set of factors to produce a suitability map accordingly. The obtained factor weights were incorporated in the GIS by using the WLC method to produce a landslide susceptibility map, which is useful for determining landslide spatial prone areas. The GIS has been applied to land susceptibility areas and determined hazard areas using the combined MCA statistical modeling as depicted in Table 2. Baban et al. (2007) discussed the geoinformatics approach when applied in hillsides development and how to manage Table 2 References on the topic of “hazard susceptibility”

development in the same situation. This causes environmental, social, and economic problems. They developed a questionnaire to collect existing data layers about the specific criteria for land-use development, namely topography, critical slope, land-use/land cover, watersheds, agricultural land capability, settlements, hazard susceptibility, road networks, and environmental-sensitive areas. Land development problems can be managed using by geoinformatics management tools, which are effectively being used in land-use development, such as the GIS, remote sensing, and global positioning system. These tools determine the appropriate capacity of the land suitability analysis for built development on hillsides despite poverty information. Youssef et al. (2010) described that the GIS-based multicriterion analysis AHP approach is the best way of assessing land suitability of urban development in different environments. They used WLC which combines various kinds of data types. Therefore, the contribution of the AHP is well known to determine site suitability in different modes of development, namely urban, industrial, and tourist. To avoid environmentally prospective risk areas, a GIS-based AHP attempts to provide a blue print at the beginning stage for commissioning any kind of development projects to the decision makers. Tudes and Yigiter (2010) mentioned that fast growth of urban areas is a serious dilemma in developing countries due to rural to urban migration. This leads to multiple new sites for accommodation of the growing population. In this context, it is essential to find out optimal sites; such sites should be evaluated based on geoenvironmental factors with the purpose of a sustainable environment and avoiding natural hazards. However, the AHP as an MCA integrated with GIS is a great approach for determining suitable sites. It deals with a complex spatial decision tree, where scientific aspects are to be applied to optimize land-use planning using WLC. Gul et al. (2006) proposed the MCA for valuating suitable locations for urban forests. The MCA is an important

Series no.

Ref. no.

Authors

Application areas

Methods used

1

2

Ahmad et al. (2010)

Statistical/GIS

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6 14 19 22 33 44 48 66 72

Ayalew et al. (2004) Chan (1998) Dai and Zhang (2001) Gahgah et al. (2009) Lee and Pradhan (2007) Nicoll (2010) Pradhan and Lee (2010) Westen (2000) Zolfaghari and Heath (2008)

Environmental risk assessment Landslide susceptibility Environmental hazards Geoenvironmental Landslide hazard Landslide hazard Hazard vulnerability Landslide hazards Landslide hazards Landslide

WLC/GIS – MCA/GIS Zonation map/GIS Statistical and GIS Overlay/GIS Statistical/GIS Deterministic models/GIS Probabilistic/GIS

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method, where urban areas have a lack of green spaces. The idea was new using the MCA for suitability of urban forests in

cities. On the other hand, the MCA is widely used in land suitability from different aspects for urban area development.

Table 3 References on the topic of “MCA” Series no.

Ref. no.

Authors

Application

Methods used

1 2

47 3

Pourebrahim et al. (2011) Al-Shalabi et al. (2006)

Coastal land-use development LSA in housing

ANP/GIS MCA/GIS

3

5

Aly et al. (2005)

Site suitability Of urban development

AHP/GIS

4 5

7 8

Baban et al. (2007) Bakhtiarifar et al. (2008)

Land suitability Land-use changes

MCA/GIS MCA/AHP

6

9

Banai-Kashani (1989)

Site suitability

AHP

7 8

13 15

Carver (1991) Chandio et al. (2011)

Site selection Parks suitability

MCE/GIS AHP/GIS

9

16

Chen (2009)

LSA in agriculture land

MCA/AHP/GIS

10 11

17 18

Church (2002) Collins et al. (2001)

Location science Land-use suitability

GIS Overview

12

20

Dong et al. (2008)

Urban development suitability

AHP/GIS

13 14

21 23

Duc (2006) Gul et al. (2006)

Land-use suitability Land suitability of urban forest

AHP/GIS MCA/GIS

15

24

Hossain et al. (2007)

Land-use classification

AHP/GIS

16 17

27 28

Jankowski (1995) Joerin et al. (2001)

MCDM Land-use suitability

MCDM/GIS MCA/GIS

18 19

29 30

Kalogirou (2002) Klosterman (1995)

Land suitability evaluation Land information system

Land Classification/GIS GIS

20

11

Brail and Klosterman (1997)

PSS

PSS

21 22

31 32

Laaribi et al. (1996) Lee and Chan (2008)

SDSS Urban renewal

MCA/GIS AHP/GIS

23 24 25

34 37 38

Lotfi et al. (2009) Malczewski (2006a) Malczewski (2006b)

Urban development suitability MCDA Land-use suitability

AHP/GIS Review GIS/MCA OWA/GIS

26 27 28

39 40 41

Marinoni (2004) Mendoza (1997) Miller et al. (1998)

Land-use assessment Land-use suitability Greenway land suitability

AHP/GIS AHP/GIS MCA/GIS

29 30 31

42 43 45

Mohit and Ali (2006) Nas et al. (2010) Peuquet and Marble (1990)

Urban development Landfill site General

AHP/GIS MCA/GIS GIS

32

46 49

Phua and Minowa (2005) Rahman et al. (2008)

57 58 59 60 61

Steiner et al. (2001) Store and Kangas (2001) Trung et al. (2006) Tudes and Yigiter (2010) Uy and Nakagoshi (2008)

Forest conservation planning Site selection SW Land suitability Habitat suitability LAND-USE PLANNING Land-use planning LSA urban green space planning

MCDM/GIS MCA/GIS Suitability analysis MCA/GIS MCE/GIS AHP/GIS MCA/AHP/GIS

62 63 67 67 69 70 72

Vaidya and Kumar (2006) Voogd (1983) Yaakup et al. (2005) Yaakup et al. (2004) Ying et al. (2007) Youssef et al. (2010) Zhou et al. (2005)

AHP (MCA) General Urban planning Land-use assessment Eco-environmental quality Urban development Suitability evaluation of land

Review – PSS/GIS PSS/GIS AHP/GIS AHP/GIS MCA/GIS

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

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Series no.

References

No of references

%

1 2

Papers Books

58 4

3

Conference

10

13.89

Total

72

100.00

80.56 5.56

Percentage

Table 4 List of referred references

90.00 80.00 70.00 60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 20.00 10.00 0.00 Papers

This approach was based on three multiple scenarios, i.e., initial, feasibility, and suitability phases. It was hoped that if this approach is incorporated in future development plans, it would be viable for meeting the future demand of urban expansions. Miller et al. (1998) described that green corridors are essential in order to protect natural environments and to give recreational advantages to the urban areas. They designed a greenway suitability analysis with integrated GIS analysis to find out suitable sites for greenway development. The purpose was to restore the concept of landscape planning, to improve the built environment, and to enhance the recreational facilities for the society. It is very necessary for preserving open spaces and natural habitats to make a balanced ecosystem. Table 3 illustrates the multicriteria analysis/evaluation methods in land suitability for various kinds of planning and development.

Concluding remarks An effort has been made in this paper to review the existing research literature and it has observed that AHP is proven as a developed decision making instrument in finding optimal land for development. Table 1, for instance, describes the importance of AHP in decision making as a multicriteria analysis and evaluation which breaks the problem at the bottom level. The aim is particularly useful for various kinds of spatial problems like land susceptibility, land-use planning, land suitability analysis, and site selection as shown in Tables 2 and 3. Table 4 shows the list of referred references in this paper and the distribution of review papers over the years are depicted in Table 5.

Books

Fig. 3 Number of referred references in paper

The general purpose of the AHP is to support the decision-makers in selecting the best alternative from the various possible choice alternatives under the presence of multiple priorities (Jankowski 1995). Figure 3 highlights the extent of the referred references in this review. Figure 4 provides a percentage distribution of the review papers and books in various time scales. The literature survey shows that the GIS-based AHP application in spatial problems has been increasing for three decades. From 2001 to 2010, breakthroughs have been made for an integrated use of the GIS-based MCA. It validates the realization of researchers for the need of a GIS-based MCDA. Nowadays, computer technology is widely used as a decision support tool. Hence, there is an urgent need for GIS technology to be integrated in the decision-making process towards achieving sustainable development. Based on the aforementioned reason, the following questions were raised in the context of the GIS-based AHP, which leads to the conclusion of this analysis: 1. How and why have researchers focused so much emphasis on the use of computer technology with modified methods in land suitability of any kind of development? 2. To what level are the existing planning and development processes delivering such an emphasis on land-use development? If they are incapable, what kind of 3% 4% 5% 1980-1985 8%

Table 5 Distribution of referred references over the years

Year

No.

Percentage

1980–1985 1986–1990 1991–1995 1996–2000 2001–2005 2006–2010 Total

3 2 4 6 17 40 72

4.17 2.78 5.56 8.33 23.61 55.56 100.00

Confer.

1986-1990 1991-1995 1996-2000

56% 24%

2001-2005 2006-2010

Fig. 4 Distribution of review papers and books over the years

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modifications may be required in resource allocation for successful development? 3. What are the likely motivations that will turn the usage of the GIS into as a policy making tool, whether it is successful or not? These questions explain the sustainable nature of the development process. Another question is “How are hazards at the beginning levels reduce?” In addition, for the sustainable approach, it is crucial that we use computer technology in planning and development decision-making process to reduce the intensity of future hazards at the beginning level. The sustainable site selection is considered as a component of sustainable development, which is stated by the World Commission on Environment and Development as that form of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (WCED 1987). This review paper articulates the augmentation of the GIS–AHP as a multicriteria analysis tool for existing and future complex scenarios, e.g., hillside development. However, land-use planners always deal with complex decisions within a short time period, when they must take into consideration sustainable development approaches in order to utilize land suitability models (Maps) in decision making. GIS technology has been used to determine suitable sites incorporating the multicriteria analysis approach (Joerin et al. 2001). Therefore, the integration of the GIS with the AHP has been found useful in considering the land suitability analysis for development. AHP applications demand the use of professional computer application skills in a complex environment. In this regard, Expert Choice is the most successful computer software package that can overcome the complexities of land suitability analysis models. Lotfi et al. (2009) stated that the MCDA provides a bright platform to analyze a huge number of criteria/factors which can play a significant part in determining optimal locations of various types of land uses. The GIS-based MCDA for land suitability models has been proven to facilitate efficiency from the economic point of view as compared to the traditional methods. The authors think this review can contribute and will be helpful as a prepared reference for those who wish to integrate GIS with AHP as a multicriteria decision analysis instrument for various land-use analyses.

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