A GIS and Civil Engineering-Based Evaluation of Land Suitability in Anbar, Iraq: Towards Sustainable Construction Development

This study utilizes a GIS-based multi-criteria analysis to evaluate land suitability in Karma District. It is instructive in two ways: firstly, it integrates the terrain constraints of elevation, slope, stream networks, proximity to water, and land use/land cover with the soil and climate indicators into one operational suitability surface; secondly, it provides a geospatial database that transforms heterogeneous inputs into actionable planning layers regarding construction and settlement. Key findings are in line with a promising development potential notwithstanding desert conditions: 94% of the area has gentle slopes (≤2.9%) at elevations of 44-52m mean sea level, thus supporting erosion control and infrastructure layout. Hydrological modeling revealed well-distributed flow paths and accumulation zones that enhance irrigation reliability. In addition, > 78% of the land is barren or fallow, indicating a substantial reclamation opportunity. The quality of groundwater (pH 7.0-8.5; TDS ~500 ppm) is suitable for irrigation and general human purposes; soils are low-salinity and mostly medium-textured. Climate analysis confirms aridity (142 mm/yr), with developments that require supplemental irrigation. The final suitability map indicates that 25% of the study area is highly suitable for vegetation and green spaces, in addition to construction development. It also shows that 63.5% is of moderate suitability for building, and 11.5% is of lower stability. Beyond mapping, the work provides a replicable, policy-ready spatial decision support approach for arid regions that advances the field by connecting terrain, hydrology, water quality, and land cover into a coherent model that directly informs sustainable land-use allocation and building and green-belt development.