Site Suitability Analysis

Problem:

Scenario

There is a problem about certain black bears in terms of human interaction in great smoky mountain National Park. Biologists want to know the most favorable, favorable and least favorable place for these kinds of bears in smoky mountain where their basic needs would be provided.

Analysis Procedure:

Weighted_overlay_data which is in Projection, UTM NAD27, zone 17, meters has been provided from  NCSU GIS 520 course.

Data-Roads, Trails, Streams, Veg_clipped_poly (for vegetation or trees including water) and elevation. Arc GIS 10.4 software has been used to analyze this problem.

One raster data of elevation for the park has been provided. I needed to use Slope (spatial analysis) tool to convert the elevation data into slope in degrees. Then I need to convert vegetation data into raster format by using Feature to Raster(conversion) tool, as all data should be in raster form to run weighted overlay analysis. Cell size of 30 meter has been chosen for all conversion. I created raster layer for vector data of roads, trails and streams by using Euclidean Distance (Distance spatial Analyst) tool. Because of different value and numbering system in 5 different raster layers,I needed to reclassify all 5 raster layers in common value of 1,2 and 3 respectively according to least favorable, favorable and most favorable criteria. Aligning all 5 reclassified raster layers in 1,2 3 range, I chose weighted Overlay analysis tool to intersect 5 raster layers in one common raster layer. I compared and reviewed the map with roads, trails, vegetations, streams and slope that the most favorable, favorable and least favorable criteria have been intersected. Most favorable spots are coincided with the streams on lowest slope and far away from roads and trails.

                           Model Builder Diagram

Result:

Application and Reflection:

Suppose I need to find out a suitable place for a new cost- effective math lesson learning center in a medium income neighborhood. First I need to find out medium income level neighborhood who can afford to pay the lesson cost for their kids, then I need to find an affordable vacant commercial place to buy an establishment. Therefore, I need to know the land use of the area, Other math learning centers. I need to collect Land use data from usgs.gov, population density data, median household income from census.gov, distance from other learning center data from local govt.organization. I need to convert the vector data in raster data, then reclassify all raster layer according to most favorable and least favorable criteria, then by using weighted overlay analysis process to combine all reclassified raster layers to see where the most favorable place intersects or overlap with each other to make a most favorable place to buy an establishment for math learning center. Free Data is available online for some county in NC, but not for some other county. NC. That is a drawback for sure.

However, in order to solve any suitability analysis, I need the define the problem, break the problem into sub models, determine significant layers, Reclassification/transformation, add/combine and analyze the outcome. Suitability analysis defines the best or most preferable location for certain phenomenon. In order to establish a new apartment complex, new store, new park or recreation facilities, weighted overlay analysis is a great tool to solve the specific needs. Most of the time the weightage or percentage has to put on raster layers according to the importance of the raster layers. Only few cases like this kind of problem, where all the criteria have equal importance, equal percentage has to set on each layer. Overall, this suitability analysis tool is a great tool to save money to explore the area in person or with team effort.

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