Vulnerability factors in small islands and environmental carrying capacity by the AHP method. Case Study: Weh Island, Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

This study was intended to investigate the effects of land use change and land cover processes on Weh-Sabang Island, Aceh, Indonesia. The LULC change process was analyzed using Google Earth and ArcGIS imagery from 2008 to 2018. Through observations of satellite imagery, it was detected that the green space area had been greatly reduced on Weh island and turned into a built-in area that served as a tourist area and urban environment. Increased land use in ten years from 2008 to 2018 can cause changes in morphology and typology of the city of Sabang. Through the method of calculating the Land Diversity Index, as a criterion and sub-criteria for the Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, land changes will be monitored in the period of the last 10 years. In plain view, coastal areas experience more land use changes than hilly areas, towards LULC changes on Weh Island. This paper focuses on areas with high vulnerability to the occurrence of disasters on Weh Island using ArcGIS software. It is expected that the results of this study can contribute to the government of the city of Sabang - Weh Island in controlling changes in land use that are experiencing land degradation, and making input in carrying out an analysis of the carrying capacity of the environment on small islands in Indonesia.