Land Suitability Analysis For Industrial Area Using Integrated Geospatial Tools: A Case Of Adama City, Ethiopia

Abstract

Industrial Site Selection Is The Process Of Choosing The Most Suitable Location(S) That Meets The Desired Requirements Set By The Selection Criteria And Segregation Of Incompatible Land Uses For Future Development. According To Various Reports, Industrial Areas Are The Second most Important Factor Contributing To The Global Increase In Releasing Noise Disturbance And Toxic Pollution Problems. As A Result, It Is Critical To Plan And Select Appropriate Sites In Order To Minimize The Negative Effects On People And The Environment. However, Industrial Land Suitability Analysis, By Its Nature Is A Complex Process And Involves Considerations Of Multi-Criteria Evaluation, Which Considers Not Only Physical Conditions But Also Environmental, Social, And Economic Factors. Hence, This Study Is To Analyze Landsuitability For Industrial Area Using Integration Of Geospatial Tools In Adama City. Twenty factors Were Identified Are Criteria ?For Assessment. The Thematic Maps Of These Criteria Were Prepared And Standardized Using Pair Wise Comparison Matrix Known As Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). A Weight For Each Criterion Was Given By Comparing Them With Each Other According To Their Importance, The Consistence Of Comparing Matrix Were Checked By Calculating The Consistence Ratio (CR). The Consistency Ratio Of This Study Indicated That 0.068 Which Is Less Than 0.1. Thus, Consistent Matrix Was Formed Which Was Acceptable In Order To Combine All The Layers. Finally Using The Weights Of All Maps Layer Were Integrated And Overlaid To Generate Final Site Suitability Map. The Final Suitability Map Classified The Whole Adama City Into Four-Suitability Classes, Restricted, Less Suitable, Moderately Suitable And Suitable Zones. Surprisingly Unsuitable And Highly Suitable Zone Was Not Detected In The Study Area. Thus, The Second Alternative, Which Is A Suitable Zone Accounts For 63.10km2of The Study Area While About 176.01km2of The Area Was Restricted For Medium And Heavy Industrial Activity. The Other Less Suitable And Moderately Suitable Class Index Covers 73.94 Km2of The Study Area Collectively. Assessment Map Statistics Confirmed That Around 48.10 % Existing Industrial Areas And Proposed Industrial Area Are Clustered In A Restricted Class Index. To Validate Compatibility Map Assessment Of Statistics Confirmed That 9.61 Km2 (28.17%) Is Incompatible For Residential Area In Heavy Industry Where As 14.16 Km2(41.53%) Are Compatible For Residential Area In Restricted Area For industry. Result Of The Study Reveals Strong Reverse Relationship. Therefore, The Study Would Improve The Efficiency Of Using Limited Land Resources By Minimize The Negative Effects Of Industrial Development In The City On People And The Environment.