Module 6: Suitability Analysis

 Module 6: Suitability Analysis

In this weeks module we first focused on suitability analysis maps for a potential developer in Jackson County, Oregon. We needed to state the problem, break down the problem, and create a flowchart/Model Builder for this project. 

Step 1: State the Problem

Problem: How much land is suitable to build on.

Goal: Create a suitability map in raster form to find the areas that are suitable to build on.

Step 2: Break Down the Problem

Objective 1: Reclassify the land cover into suitability classes.

            Input dataset: Landcover raster

Objective 2: Reclassify the soils into suitability classes.

            Input dataset: Soils shapefile

Objective 3: Reclassify the slopes into suitability classes.

            Input dataset: Elevation raster

Objective 4: Reclassify the rivers into suitability classes.

            Input dataset: Rivers shapefile

Objective 5: Reclassify the roads into suitability classes.

            Input dataset: Roads shapefile

Step 3: Explore Input Datasets

The image below is the model builder for this scenario. These are the steps I took to finish this scenario.

Doing the three steps are helpful because you can work through the issues of the project before starting the analysis. Also, when using the model builder you can use it to create all your data at once instead of doing each step separately. We created a map with a side-by-side comparison of how the data would look if you had equal weight with all the information and if you changed the weight depending on the feature. This is helpful because it give you different scenarios of what it least to most suitable in your dataset. In the image below it shows that least suitable areas are on mountain tops and most suitable are by a river with equal weight. When you change to an unequal weight it is still the same but the kilometers square changes to being higher in group two. 

Looking at the information is able to give a better idea to the developer on the areas that seem the most suitable and the kilometers square of what they might be able to use in the areas.