Mapping concentrated solar power site suitability in Algeria

The investment in solar thermal power technologies has become increasingly attractive, despite their still perceived high costs. Algeria presented an ambitious plan for increasing the participation of renewable energy sources (RES) in the power system, with significant investments foreseen for solar power technologies. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to identify optimal sites for the implementation of these plants, as well as others where implementation is highly inadvisable from the economic, social, or environmental points of view. The main goal of this study is to present and apply a methodology to identify adequate locations for the installation of solar power plants in Algeria. The study addressed the particular case of concentrated solar power (CSP) and proposed a hybrid approach combining multi criteria decision making and Geographic Information System. The approach allowed mapping and visualizing unfeasible areas and ranking the feasible sites. The results showed that more than 51% of the territory of the country is unfeasible for the implementation of CSP, mainly due to criteria related to topographic aspects, water availability, and distance to the grid. The results demonstrated that relying only on Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) values may result in a reductionist vision for energy planning and thus other criteria can play a fundamental role in the decision process. The model allowed also to identify the best regions for CSP investment and opens routes for more detailed studies for the exact site selection.The authors would like to thank all open source data providers and ESRI Maps for provide the background maps. Also authors thank J. R. Oakleaf et al. for make available spatial data linked to global potential for renewable energy. The authors are also thankful to experts of the research center CDER and the engineering experts who participated in the AHP for their assistance

Mapping groundwater potential zone in the subarnarekha basin, India, using a novel hybrid multi-criteria approach in Google earth Engine

Assessing groundwater potential for sustainable resource management is critically important. In addressing this concern, this study aims to advance the field by developing an innovative approach for Groundwater potential zone (GWPZ) mapping using advanced techniques, such as FuzzyAHP, FuzzyDEMATEL, and Logistic regression (LR) models. GWPZ was carried out by integrating various primary factors, such as hydrologic, soil permeability, morphometric, terrain distribution, and anthropogenic influences, incorporating twenty-seven individual criteria using multi-criteria decision models along with a hybrid approach for the Subarnarekha River basin, India, in Google earth engine (GEE). The predictive capability of the model was evaluated using a Multi-Collinearity test (VIF <10.0), followed by applying a random forest model, considering the weighted impact of the five primary factors. The hybrid model for GWPZ classification showed that 21.97 % (4256.3 km2) of the area exhibited very high potential, while 11.37 % (2202.1 km2) indicated very low potential for GW in this area. Validation of the groundwater level data from 72 observation wells, performed by the Area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve technique, yielded values ranging between 75 % and 78 % for different models, underscoring the robust predictability of GWPZ. The hybrid and LR-FuzzyAHP models demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in GWPZ mapping, indicating that the downstream and southern regions boast substantial groundwater potential attributed to alluvial soil and favorable recharge conditions. Conversely, the central part grapples with a scarcity of groundwater. It holds the potential to assist planners and managers in formulating strategies for managing groundwater levels and alleviating the impacts of future droughts

GIS-Enabled Multi-Criteria Assessment for Hospital Site Suitability: A Case Study of Tehran

In developing countries, the interaction between rapid urban expansion and population growth brings forth a host of challenges, particularly concerning essential services like healthcare. While interest in site suitability analysis for identifying optimal hospital locations to ensure equitable and secure healthcare access is on the rise, the absence of a holistic study that encompasses social and environmental aspects in the assessment of hospital site suitability is evident. The objective of this research is to introduce a hybrid methodology that combines Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) weighting methods. This methodology aims to create hospital site suitability maps for districts 21 and 22 in Tehran, taking into account socio-environmental factors. In addition to the conventional Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) weighting method, this study employs two relatively less-explored methods, the Best-Worst Method (BWM) and Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA), to enhance the analysis of hospital site suitability. In the SWARA method, there are minimal variations in weights among criteria, indicating that all socio-environmental factors (e.g., distance from existing hospitals, distance from main roads, distance from green spaces) hold significant importance in the decision-making process. Additionally, the findings indicate that the western part of the study area is the most suitable location for the construction of a new hospital. To achieve the average hospital bed availability in Tehran, an additional 2206 beds are required in the studied area, in addition to the existing facilities. Considering the ongoing urban development, population growth, and the potential for natural disasters and epidemics, it becomes essential to enhance the healthcare system by increasing the number of hospitals and available hospital beds. The sensitivity analysis showed that GIS-based SWARA-WLC was the most suitable and stable model for determining hospital site suitability in the study area. This methodology can be adapted for use in other regions and further improved by incorporating additional criteria. In conclusion, the study recommended three specific alternative sites for establishing a new hospital in the study area

Local Spatial Knowledge for Eliciting Risk Factors and Disease Mapping of Tuberculosis Epidemics

Predicting risk areas of tuberculosis (TB) epidemics needs a proper understanding of the disease transmission process in identifying holistic risk factors. This study was performed to determine the causative factors triggering the epidemics in Shah Alam, Malaysia by utilising spatial analysis techniques and participation of local-expert knowledge or local spatial knowledge (LSK) approach. LSK approach was conducted to collect data on TB risk factors by combining experienced local experts' opinions, multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) analysis, and GIS mapping. The combination of experts participatory GIS and knowledge elicitation can generate a useful spatial knowledge framework for risk assessment of local epidemics. Keywords: Local spatial knowledge, MCDM method, experts participatory GIS, tuberculosis. eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI2.2522

Planiranje okolišno prihvatljive trase šumske ceste pomoću GIS & S-MCDM

Forest roads are basic precondition for the sustainable management of forest resources. These roads entail a complex engineering effort because they can cause substantial environmental damage to forests and include a high-cost construction. Therefore, the design of forest road routes should have taken into account in terms of environmental impacts. In order to do this, the Geographical Information System (GIS) with Spatial Multi Criteria Decision Making (S-MCDM) techniques is a useful tool for creating a model. One such S-MCDM is the Spatial-integrated Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (S-TOPSIS). In this study, S-TOPSIS was applied to integrate environmental impacts into the design of a forest road route. Using the current forest road route (CFOR) and the GIS-based S-TOPSIS method, an environmentally sound forest road route (ESFOR) was determined according to environmental criteria. Five environmental criteria (avalanche, river, soil, geology and slope) were used for analysis to compare with. The results obtained from the analyses, are compared to the current forest road route. The CFOR 15.385 km in length, while the ESFOR found by S-TOPSIS was 14.385 km. If the differences in length between two roads multiplied by the width of the road (1km X 5m), the result would be 0.5 ha. The results showed that this methodology can provide environmentally sound road network also help to design quickly and less costly. These results suggest that spatial multi criteria decision making method can be more accurate in terms of environmentally sensitive forest road designing in mountainous area.Šumske ceste su osnovni preduvjet za održivo upravljanje šumskim resursima. Te ceste uključuju složene inženjerske napore, jer mogu izazvati znatnu ekološku štetu šumama i uključuju vrlo skupu izgradnju. Stoga pri izrada trasa šumskih cesta, treba uzeti u obzir i utjecaj na okoliš. Da bi se to i napravilo, geografski informacijski sustav (GIS) s tehnikama prostornog višekriterijskog donošenja odluka (S-MCDM) koristan je alat za izradu modela. Jedan takav S-MCDM je prostorno-integrirana tehnika preferiranja sličnosti do idealnog rješenja (S-TOPSIS). U ovoj studiji S-TOPSIS primijenjen je za integriranje ekoloških učinaka u izradu trase šumske ceste. Korištenjem sadašnje trase šumske ceste (CFOR) te S-TOPSIS metode na temelju GIS-a, utvrđena je ekološki osjetljiva trasa šumske ceste (ESFOR) prema ekološkim kriterijima. Za usporedbu korišteno je pet ekoloških kriterija (lavina, rijeka, tlo, geologija, nagib). Rezultati dobiveni iz analiza uspoređeni su sa sadašnjom trasom šumske ceste. Dužina CFOR-a je 15.385 km dok je ESFOR utvrđen S-TOPSIS-om bio 14.385 km. Da se razlike u dužini između dviju cesta pomnože sa širinom ceste (1 km x 5 m) rezultat bi bio 0,5 ha.Rezultati su pokazali da ova metodologija može pružiti ekološki osjetljivu mrežu cesta, te može pomoći u bržoj izradi i biti jeftinija. Ovi rezultati sugeriraju da metoda prostorne procjene višestrukim kriterijima može biti točnija u smislu izrade ekološki osjetljivih šumskih cesta u planinskim područjima

Continuous multi-criteria methods for crop and soil conservation planning on La Colacha (Río Cuarto, Province of Cordoba, Argentina)

Agro-areas of Arroyos Menores (La Colacha) west and south of Rand south of R?o Cuarto (Prov. of Cordoba, Argentina) basins are very fertile but have high soil loses. Extreme rain events, inundations and other severe erosions forming gullies demand urgently actions in this area to avoid soil degradation and erosion supporting good levels of agro production. The authors first improved hydrologic data on La Colacha, evaluated the systems of soil uses and actions that could be recommended considering the relevant aspects of the study area and applied decision support systems (DSS) with mathematic tools for planning of defences and uses of soils in these areas. These were conducted here using multi-criteria models, in multi-criteria decision making (MCDM); first of discrete MCDM to chose among global types of use of soils, and then of continuous MCDM to evaluate and optimize combined actions, including repartition of soil use and the necessary levels of works for soil conservation and for hydraulic management to conserve against erosion these basins. Relatively global solutions for La Colacha area have been defined and were optimised by Linear Programming in Goal Programming forms that are presented as Weighted or Lexicographic Goal Programming and as Compromise Programming. The decision methods used are described, indicating algorithms used, and examples for some representative scenarios on La Colacha area are given

A SPATIAL DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN CASPIAN HYRCANIAN MIXED FORESTS ECOREGION

Ecotourism, as a form of sustainable nature-based tourism, promotes conservation of ecological and scenic values. In this study, a Spatial Decision Support System, SDSS, was developed based upon Multi Criteria Evaluation, MCE, for ecotourism development in the Caspian Hyrcanian Mixed Forests ecoregion, northern Iran. For this, important criteria andconstraints for ecotourism development were shortlisted using the Delphi Method. The criteria were weighted using Analytical Hierarchy Process, AHP. The obtained results indicated that “distance from water resources”, “land use”, “slope”, “soil”, “climate”, “distance from roads”, “land cover density”, “erosion”, and “distance from residential areas” were the most important criteria, respectively. The findings suggest that GIS-based SDSS issuitable to engage the various criteria affecting the development of ecotourism destinations. This empirical research develops a new method that can significantly facilitate planning forecotourism development with respect to ecological capability of ecotourism destinations