Analysis of land suitability for urban development in the eastern fringe of Dhaka city: an application of multicriteria evaluation technique

Abstract

Urban development is a complex process, which is a multiple function of different socio-economic and physical factors. The fringe area for this study is taken from eastern fringe where it would be easier than other fringes to find the difference of development type. This large area is in between the built-up legal limits of the metropolitan and the largely rural or agricultural land surrounding it. Multi Criteria Evaluation (MCE) is a technique to select the best one from a set of alternatives on the basis of a number of criteria. It may serve as an approach for urban planners while decision-making is involved. The research has been designed to study the urban fringe area and it's trends of development from the urban planning point of view. At the same time it studies the applicability of MCE as a part of planning process. Grossly the area about 500 acres of the eastern fringe has been taken as a case study site. The research was conducted on the basis of information collected through a primary survey. observations, interviews, and finally the author's judgments and experience. Setting criteria for MCE on study area was a difficult part of the job. There are a number of criteria to be dealt with. Due to the limited scope of the study many criteria has been simplified or even ignored. The study includes trends of urban fringe' development and its characteristics, past and present strategies related to urban fringe development on the basis of a brief review of plans prepared for Dhaka city. The current trend of fringe area development does not follow any specific method. This research aims to high light several phases of development issues that should be considered while development takes place. Finally it has suggested a set of policy and standards for fringe area of Dhaka. The present study has developed a concept of MCE to understand its use for land suitability analysis. Based on literature and interview with local experts possible factors underlying every kind of land use type were identified with help of MCE and it's application for landuse suitability analysis. The land use pattern of eastern fringe is generated for different alternatives. However, the results still need care to interpret because of limited data. MCE is proved a good tool to understand the spatial pattern of land use suitability especially in fringe area development.