Integrating AHP with geographic information system for climate-resilient aquaponics greenhouse site selection in urban environments

Climate change in Pakistan is causing extreme events, water stress, lower crop yields, and ultimately food and nutrition insecurity. Conventional agricultural systems fail to adapt to these changes. Aquaponics, a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics, falling under climate-resilient agriculture, ensuring circular resource flow, is one such solution. The application of Geographic Information System-based land-use planning for the aquaponics greenhouse in Islamabad has not been done to date. The objective, therefore, is to apply an Integrated Geographic Information System and a multi-criteria evaluation approach for identifying potentially suitable sites in Islamabad for the establishment of a pilot aquaponics greenhouse. The study extends conventional suitability, linking biophysical factors with conceptual-practical implementation considerations, providing a comprehensive decision framework. The analytical hierarchy process was integrated into suitability mapping. Factors including built-up, natural infrastructure like waterbodies, rivers, artificial infrastructure like roads, topography, and land use and land cover were used. The key finding of the study is that 2.7% of the land in Islamabad is the best strategic site for constructing aquaponics greenhouses. The originality lies in the context-application focus, contributing to the emerging challenge of climate-induced food insecurity. Thus, providing a decision-support framework for resource management and sustainable food systems, while emphasizing integration of feasibility considerations in future research.