A methodology for constructing multicriteria decision support systems for agricultural land consolidation using GIS and API: an illustration from Turkey

Abstract

Numerous multiple criteria problems related to land consolidation aide not readily amenable to conventional optimisation techniques. They require logical search procedures leading to feasible solutions that represent acceptable compromise amongst the conflicting demands of the various stakeholders. Necessary solution procedures can be designed as Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS). The commercially available Geographic Information Systems (GISs) offer an appropriate technology for data inventory, routine manipulation, and visualisation, but they lack the necessary advanced analytical capabilities and search procedures. The challenge is how to customise GIS to incorporate individual SDSS designs efficiently and at a relatively low cost. One promising approach is to customise a GIS using an Application Programming Interface (API). This paper presents the formalisation of a land related decision-making problem into a decision support framework and the subsequent customisation of GIS into a SDSS. This is made operational and tested for an agricultural land consolidation scheme in Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.