Site Suitability Analysis

Massachusetts Biodiversity Consultants (MBC)

Becky Alper Rahul Rakshit Ben Munro Tim Currie Dong-Ha Hwang

Multi-Objective Site Suitability Analysis in Central Massachusetts

Our Targets in Central Mass.

• Protect half of the currently (1997) developable land in its natural state while: Finding the best 5,000 hectares for

additional protection from development; The best 600 hectares for new urban

areas; And the best 1,900 hectares for

additional residential land.

Biodiversity in MassachusettsIn the last 100 years• agriculture has declined • forest has increased.Forest cover:• 68% of land area.• Forests provide:

• Habitat: Black bear, beavers, moose, bald eagle etc.

• Clean water and air• Aesthetic value and tourism• Timber e.g. red oak, white pine• Protection of biodiversity in Massachusetts.

What are the factors affecting land use in Massachusetts?

• Citizens seek a higher quality of life. They want to build residences around rural landscapes, not too close to urban centers Yet residential sprawl leads to fragmented

forests and biodiversity loss

• Wildlife habitat is best in corridors and large patches

MBC’s Decision Logic

• We promote new urban and residential development close to existing development (existing urban, roads, residential areas).

• We concentrate on conservation in large reserves and around wetlands, lakes and streams to maximize biodiversity.

Constraints

1. Buffers 30.48 m (100 ft) from all streams, wetlands and lakes.

2. No urban or residential development is possible on land with slope greater than 25%.

3. Existing urban land cannot be converted to any other land use.

4. Each pixel, which represents 30x30 m on the ground, can only be used for one land use at one time.

Factor StandardizationUrban development in relation to water.

New residential land in relation to existing roads.

Factor Standardization

Protected land in relation to developed land.

Factor Standardization

Factor Weights

Multi-Criteria Evaluation

Best New Urban Area

Multi-Criteria Evaluation

Best New Residential Area

Multi-Criteria Evaluation

Best New Protected Area

Results: Multi-Objective Allocation

Discussion of Results

• According to MCE, we met all our objectives, BUT!• Contiguity vs. fragmentation issues and

its relation with biodiversity• Factor weight issues (arbitrariness) • Decision-making issues of IDRISI

Thank you for choosing

Massachusetts Biodiversity Consultants