Site Suitability Analysis for Urban Development: A Case of Ranikhet, Uttrakhand

Identifying potential sites for urban development in hilly regions is a crucial aspect of planning. Conducting site suitability analysis is essential for determining appropriate locations for various developmental projects, particularly in the challenging terrain of hills. Unregulated and disorganized urban expansion, driven by population pressure, is a widespread issue in many cities within developing countries, leading to urban sprawl that encroaches on natural environments. As a result, selecting suitable areas for urban development while maintaining ecological balance has become a critical component of effective urban planning. This work demonstrates the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) technique for identifying appropriate sites for urban development in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand. The aim is to identify optimal locations for future urban growth that minimize impacts on natural features. The work also calculates the potential transfer of land suitability from various land use and land cover categories, a unique aspect of this research. Eight criteria distance from roads, land use/cover, distance from water bodies, slope, elevation, soil, geological formation, and population density were used for land evaluation. The thematic maps generated for these criteria were standardized using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which involved creating a pairwise comparison matrix. Each criterion was assigned a weight based on its relative importance, leading to the creation of a final site suitability map with five categories: very high suitable, high suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, and restricted or not suitable. The study highlights the potential zones within the study area and offers valuable insights for sustainable urban development planning. The results are expected to assist planners, stakeholders, and policymakers in identifying the most suitable locations for future intensive development projects.