Optimizing Site Selection for Construction: Integrating GIS Modeling, Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geomorphological Data Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process
Identifying suitable sites for urban, industrial, and tourist development is important, especially in areas with increasing population and limited land availability. Kharga Oasis, Egypt, stands out as a promising area for such development, which can help reduce overcrowding in the Nile Valley and De...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/14/1/3 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832588346778451968 |
|---|---|
| author | Doaa Wahba Awad A. Omran Ashraf Adly Ahmed Gad Hasan Arman Heba El-Bagoury |
| author_facet | Doaa Wahba Awad A. Omran Ashraf Adly Ahmed Gad Hasan Arman Heba El-Bagoury |
| author_sort | Doaa Wahba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Identifying suitable sites for urban, industrial, and tourist development is important, especially in areas with increasing population and limited land availability. Kharga Oasis, Egypt, stands out as a promising area for such development, which can help reduce overcrowding in the Nile Valley and Delta. However, soil and various environmental factors can affect the suitability of civil engineering projects. This study used Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and a multi-criteria decision-making approach to assess the suitability of Kharga Oasis for construction activities. Geotechnical parameters were obtained from seismic velocity data, including Poisson’s ratio, stress ratio, concentration index, material index, N-value, and foundation-bearing capacity. A comprehensive analysis of in situ and laboratory-based geological and geotechnical data from 24 boreholes examined soil plasticity, water content, unconfined compressive strength, and consolidation parameters. By integrating geotechnical, geomorphological, geological, environmental, and field data, a detailed site suitability map was created using the analytic hierarchy process to develop a weighted GIS model that accounts for the numerous elements influencing civil project design and construction. The results highlight suitable sites within the study area, with high and very high suitability classes covering 56.87% of the land, moderate areas representing 27.61%, and unsuitable areas covering 15.53%. It should be noted that many settlements exist in highly vulnerable areas, emphasizing the importance of this study. This model identifies areas vulnerable to geotechnical and geoenvironmental hazards, allowing for early decision-making at the beginning of the planning process and reducing the waste of effort. The applied model does not only highlight suitable sites in the Kharga Oasis, Egypt, but, additionally, it provides a reproducible method for efficiently assessing land use suitability in other regions with similar geological and environmental conditions around the world. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-61e22381896a45d0b69d2ed777e236c7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2220-9964 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information |
| spelling | doaj-art-61e22381896a45d0b69d2ed777e236c72025-01-24T13:34:56ZengMDPI AGISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information2220-99642024-12-01141310.3390/ijgi14010003Optimizing Site Selection for Construction: Integrating GIS Modeling, Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geomorphological Data Using the Analytic Hierarchy ProcessDoaa Wahba0Awad A. Omran1Ashraf Adly2Ahmed Gad3Hasan Arman4Heba El-Bagoury5Geology Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, Kharga 72511, EgyptGeology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, EgyptSeismology Department, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Cairo 11421, EgyptGeosciences Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab EmiratesGeosciences Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab EmiratesGeography Department, Faculty of Arts, Port Said University, Port Said 42511, EgyptIdentifying suitable sites for urban, industrial, and tourist development is important, especially in areas with increasing population and limited land availability. Kharga Oasis, Egypt, stands out as a promising area for such development, which can help reduce overcrowding in the Nile Valley and Delta. However, soil and various environmental factors can affect the suitability of civil engineering projects. This study used Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and a multi-criteria decision-making approach to assess the suitability of Kharga Oasis for construction activities. Geotechnical parameters were obtained from seismic velocity data, including Poisson’s ratio, stress ratio, concentration index, material index, N-value, and foundation-bearing capacity. A comprehensive analysis of in situ and laboratory-based geological and geotechnical data from 24 boreholes examined soil plasticity, water content, unconfined compressive strength, and consolidation parameters. By integrating geotechnical, geomorphological, geological, environmental, and field data, a detailed site suitability map was created using the analytic hierarchy process to develop a weighted GIS model that accounts for the numerous elements influencing civil project design and construction. The results highlight suitable sites within the study area, with high and very high suitability classes covering 56.87% of the land, moderate areas representing 27.61%, and unsuitable areas covering 15.53%. It should be noted that many settlements exist in highly vulnerable areas, emphasizing the importance of this study. This model identifies areas vulnerable to geotechnical and geoenvironmental hazards, allowing for early decision-making at the beginning of the planning process and reducing the waste of effort. The applied model does not only highlight suitable sites in the Kharga Oasis, Egypt, but, additionally, it provides a reproducible method for efficiently assessing land use suitability in other regions with similar geological and environmental conditions around the world.https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/14/1/3geotechnical parametersseismic datasite suitabilityAHPGIS modelKharga Oasis |
| spellingShingle | Doaa Wahba Awad A. Omran Ashraf Adly Ahmed Gad Hasan Arman Heba El-Bagoury Optimizing Site Selection for Construction: Integrating GIS Modeling, Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geomorphological Data Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information geotechnical parameters seismic data site suitability AHP GIS model Kharga Oasis |
| title | Optimizing Site Selection for Construction: Integrating GIS Modeling, Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geomorphological Data Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process |
| title_full | Optimizing Site Selection for Construction: Integrating GIS Modeling, Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geomorphological Data Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Site Selection for Construction: Integrating GIS Modeling, Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geomorphological Data Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Site Selection for Construction: Integrating GIS Modeling, Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geomorphological Data Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process |
| title_short | Optimizing Site Selection for Construction: Integrating GIS Modeling, Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geomorphological Data Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process |
| title_sort | optimizing site selection for construction integrating gis modeling geophysical geotechnical and geomorphological data using the analytic hierarchy process |
| topic | geotechnical parameters seismic data site suitability AHP GIS model Kharga Oasis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/14/1/3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT doaawahba optimizingsiteselectionforconstructionintegratinggismodelinggeophysicalgeotechnicalandgeomorphologicaldatausingtheanalytichierarchyprocess AT awadaomran optimizingsiteselectionforconstructionintegratinggismodelinggeophysicalgeotechnicalandgeomorphologicaldatausingtheanalytichierarchyprocess AT ashrafadly optimizingsiteselectionforconstructionintegratinggismodelinggeophysicalgeotechnicalandgeomorphologicaldatausingtheanalytichierarchyprocess AT ahmedgad optimizingsiteselectionforconstructionintegratinggismodelinggeophysicalgeotechnicalandgeomorphologicaldatausingtheanalytichierarchyprocess AT hasanarman optimizingsiteselectionforconstructionintegratinggismodelinggeophysicalgeotechnicalandgeomorphologicaldatausingtheanalytichierarchyprocess AT hebaelbagoury optimizingsiteselectionforconstructionintegratinggismodelinggeophysicalgeotechnicalandgeomorphologicaldatausingtheanalytichierarchyprocess |