Establishing a Spatial Database for Decision-Making in the Identification of Rural Development Centers - Case Study "Babil Governorate"

The establishment of a spatial database to evaluate planning processes and measure suitability and development contributes to supporting decision-making in identifying appropriate centers for rural development. The research relies on a-multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) method integrated with geographic information systems (GIS) to assess the suitability of land for two main development sectors: agriculture and industry. The study model is the Al-Musayyib and Al-Hashimiyah districts in Babil Governorate, Iraq. The study identifies a set of spatial criteria for measurement, such as soil type, topography, natural resources, and proximity to infrastructure, based on available data to assess the potential of each area. However, the findings revealed that Al-Musayyib district was most suitable for agricultural development because of its fertile alluvium soil and availability of water resources. In terms of industrialization. Al-Musayyib district is most appropriate due to strategic location, ease of transportation and compact infrastructure. The study concludes that combining the spatial analysis and multicriteria decision-making creates a strong basis for supporting rural planning policies. The recommended spatial database is an important tool for the local government to locate better allocation of resources and in protecting sustainable development in the village.