Multi-criteria decision analysis for land suitability mapping in a rural area of Southern Italy

tSelection of suitable areas for territorial planning is a complex process and needs many diverse indicationson the basis of which a decision may be assumed. This paper focuses on the integration of GeographicalInformation Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to evaluate the potential of a ruralcoastal area, located in northern Puglia (Southern Italy), to improve its sustainable development throughthe restoration of manor farms. Comparing the results obtained using the Weighted Linear Combination(WLC) and the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) procedures, suitable sites where the restoration couldbe implemented were identified. In order to consider the stakeholders’ judgments and to reach a shareddecision in selecting the preferred alternatives, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach was usedfor prioritization, due to its relative ease in handling multiple criteria and compensating both qualitativeand quantitative data. The results highlight how the spatial distribution of suitable areas is closely linkedto the risk assumed and, consequently, to the capability of the methods in varying both risk and tradeoffparameters. Particularly, the OWA procedure shows higher potentialities in performing, with greaterdetail, the territorial evaluation and generating a wide range of decision strategies. The methodologiesdescribed and their application procedures can be extended to similar territorial contexts, in issues inwhich a notable number of territorial factors should be taken into account.