Page 1 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 1
January 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 74
Site Suitability Assessment Using GIS: Case Study of
Taluka Maval (Maharashtra, India)
Aishwarya Borate1 Prajakta Sonar2
1 Final Year B.Tech Planning, College of Engineering, Pune
2 Final Year B.Tech Planning, College of Engineering, Pune
(Under the Guidance of Dr. Sanjay Patil, Resource Scientist and Head, Maharashtra Remote Sensing
Application Centre (MRSAC), Pune)
EMAIL: borateaishwarya@gmail.com, sonarpt12.planning@coep.ac.in
Abstract:
Planning in India lays a major focus on
urban settlements; thereby the space
between cities and their surroundings has
been growing in an unplanned haphazard
manner. Thus Planning of a region in a
holistic way becomes necessary to
ameliorate the challenges posed by
unplanned expansion, considering the
uncontrolled and rapid pace of
urbanization in India. Remote Sensing
and GIS (Geographic Information System)
have a wide range of applications in
Planning; selection of sites suitable for
urban development is one of its major
applications. Location of new sites for
urban development at regional level is
becoming challenging and can be
optimized by the use of GIS and Remote
Sensing in various stages like acquiring
data, map preparation, strategic planning
and monitoring.
The study illustrates Site Suitability
Analysis using weighted overlay tool in
ArcGIS to locate highly suitable land
parcels for urban development in Taluka
of Maval which forms a part of recently
constituted Pune Metropolitan Region
Development Authority (PMRDA). Though
the study area is of prime importance for
urban development, its environmental
aspect needs due diligence as Western
Ghats (World Heritage Site by UNESCO
and a hotspot for biodiversity) forms part
of the Taluka. In this particular region,
protection of land under forests / land
having good yielding potential, ground
water resources is as important as
prioritization of land for urban
development and this can be very well
grasped with the use of GIS in the
Planning process.
Key Words:
GIS, Planning, Site Suitability, Weighted
Overlay.
Introduction:
GIS as a tool is used by urban planners,
environmentalists, decision makers for
spatial database and also as an analysis and
modelling tool.
Planning is a continuous and complex
phenomenon which keeps on changing
with time hence planners and decision
makers need detailed information about
the development of the land and its
surrounding.
The main constraints in the use of GIS in
urban planning today are not technical
issues, but the availability of data,
organisational change, awareness and
acceptance of the technology and staffing
as stated by many institutes.
Aim:
To carry out the site suitability analysis for
locating probable future developments
considering the eco-sensitivity aspect in
Taluka Maval, Maharashtra.
Page 2 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 1
January 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 75
Objectives:
1. To prepare Base Map of Maval Taluka
(Image Digital Globe 2015, U.S.
Geological Survey)
a. Existing Water Resources- reservoirs, lakes and rivers
b. Existing Settlements-Both Rural and
Urban
c. Road network-National Highway,
State Highway, Expressway, Major
District Roads, Other District Roads
and Village Roads
2. To prepare buffer zone maps along
forests, abiding by the rules for eco- sensitivity of Western Ghats and
URDPFI Guidelines by Government of
India.
3. To prepare maps for region’s
topography, contours, hillshade
considering the elevation and terrain
4. To prepare site suitability map
considering various urban development
and physical features and verify the
results of suitability by overlaying the
final map on Google Earth.
Study Area:
Figure 1: Location Map- Taluka Maval
Source: Maharashtra Remote Sensing
Applications Centre, Pune office
The area considered for suitability analysis
is Maval Taluka located in Pune district,
Maharashtra, India. Total area of Maval
Taluka is 1131.35sq.km including total
187 villages. Complete Maval Taluka is
included in the Pune Metropolitan Region.
Western part of Maval Taluka forms a
parcel of Western Ghats Region extending
from Gujarat to Kerala. Terrain of the
Taluka is predominantly Hilly.
Figure 2: Village Boundary Map- Taluka Maval
Materials and Data:
1. Satellite Data
Existing Landcover Data consisting of
surface water bodies, transportation
network, built-up area has been mapped
using Image Digital Globe 2015, U.S.
Geological Survey (Google Earth).
2. Elevation Data
Site- Astergdem (egdem.ersdac.j
systems.or.jsp.)
Tile Number-N18 E073
3. Maps of Administrative Boundaries
Village boundary and Taluka boundary
maps were collected from MRSAC Pune
office.
4. Land Cover Data
Land Cover Data was collected from
MRSAC Pune office.
5. Census Data
Population data of 2001 and 2011
(provisional) census have been utilized for
the purpose of population projection
analysis.
D:\Summer internship\MRSAC\final maps\Location.jpg
Page 3 of 9
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 1
January 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 76
Methodology
Figure 3: Methodology
Population Projection
Arithmetic Method
This a simple method of population
projection that calculates the average
increases in population in one decade, and
to add an equal number for every year
which has lapsed since the last census. It
should be noted that a constant numerical
increase in a growing population really
implies a diminishing rate of growth
relative to population size. It can be
calculated by the formula:
PN = PO+N*R
PN = Population of Nth year
PO = Population of base year
N = No.of decades
R = Growth rate
Population for the year 2021= 4,67,040
Population for the year 2031 = 5,77,730
Analysis
The suitability of the land for urban
development is not only based on a set of
physical parameters but also very much on
the economic factors. The cumulative
effect of these factors determine the degree
of suitability and also helps in further
categorizing of the land into different
orders of development.
The assessment of the physical parameters
of the land is possible by analysing the
land use, soil parameters, slope
characteristics, geology, flood hazard,
physiography, and distance from road,
distance from the existing development
etc. and which is much amenable to GIS
analysis.
In this particular study seven such
important parameters which are most
relevant for the area under study and
accepted by urban planners, are
considered. The parameters are existing
lanuse/landcover, buffers around forests
and reservoirs proximity to built-up and
proximity to road. Also constraints such as
water bodies, forest are considered in
grading the suitable parcels for urban
development. These 6 factors are analysed
in GIS environment.
1. Landcover
Land cover is the observed physical cover,
as seen from the ground or through remote
sensing, including the vegetation (natural
or planted) and human constructions
(buildings, roads, etc.) which cover the
earth's surface
Figure 4: Land Cover-Taluka Maval
