Post on 16-Jan-2015
description
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