Author(s): Honghai Qi; M. S. Altinakar; Xinya Ying; Sam S. Y. Wang
Linked Author(s): Mustafa Altinakar
Keywords: Flood management; Decision making; Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM); Spatial Compromise Programming (SCP); Arc GIS; Remote sensing; Census block
Abstract: Spatial Compromise Programming (SCP) is a recently developed Multi-Criteria Decision making (MCDM) technique. In contrast to other conventional MCDM techniques, SCP has the ability to address spatial distribution of criteria values in the evaluation and ranking of alternatives. Using this technique, a new toolbox has been developed within the framework of widely used GIS software, ArcGIS. This toolbox provides a user friendly interface to build various user-defined criteria, such as loss of life and flood damage, based on two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic simulation results, classified Remote Sensing (RS) image layers, and other GIS feature layers. The SCP computations and generation of final distance-metric map are carried out using raster algebra. The capabilities of the SCP toolbox are demonstrated by solving a test case concerning the evaluation and ranking of hypothetical alternatives for 100- year flood control management of a river in southeastern United States. It is found that the SCP toolbox provides a highly versatile environment for spatial multi-criteria comparison of flood mitigation alternatives, and it may facilitate decision making process. The SCP toolbox can be easily modified for use in a large variety of planning and management applications, and multi-criteria decision making in planning sustainable use of water and land resources.
Year: 2005