GIS Multi-Criteria Analysis by Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA): Toward an Integrated Citrus Management Strategy

Hasan Zabihi,Mohsen Alizadeh,Philip Kibet Langat,Mohammadreza Karami,Mohamad Nor Said,Saro Lee,Himan Shahabi,Anuar Ahmad

doi:10.3390/su11041009

Abstract

This study proposes a site location assessment model for citrus cropland using multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) and the combination of a set of factors for suitability mapping and delineating the suitable areas for citrus production in Ramsar, Iran. It defines an incorporated method for the suitability mapping of the most appropriate sites for citrus cultivars with an emphasis on the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) process. The combination of geographic information system (GIS) and a modified version of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) based on the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) technique is also emphasized. The OWA is based on two principles, namely: the weights of relative criterion significance and the order weights. Therefore, the participatory technique was employed to outline the set of standards and the important criterion. The results derived from the GIS–OWA technique indicate that the cultivation of citrus is feasible only in limited areas, which make up 6.7% of the total area near the Caspian Sea. This investigation has shown that the GIS–OWA model can be integrated into MCDA to select the optimal site for citrus production. The present research highlights how multi-criteria in GIS can play a considerable role in decision making for evaluating the suitability of selected sites for citrus production.

Highlights

Land suitability evaluation is a procedure for assessing the prospective use of land for alternative purposes
In the geographic information system (GIS)–multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) approach, two basic methods are used for environmental assessment: the weighted linear combination (WLC) operators and the Boolean overlay operations
The study adopted a GIS-based framework based on the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach to examine the suitability of citrus cropland on a regional scale in Ramsar, Iran

Summary

Introduction

Land suitability evaluation is a procedure for assessing the prospective use of land for alternative purposes. The use of land for agriculture is considered critical areas in the scientific literature [1,2,3,4]. Land evaluation is the process of assessing the performance of land when used for a given purpose [5,6,7]. An evaluation of the climate, soil, and topographical components, along with an understanding of the biophysical constraints, are used to determine land suitability. The evaluation process is a crucial stage in the advancement of agricultural activities. The principal objective of the suitability evaluation of agricultural land forecasts the land’s prospects and constraints of the land for the production of crops [8,9,10,11]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion