Spatial Analysis


Multi-criteria evaluation is concerned with how to combine the information from several criteria to form a single index of evaluation.  In case of Boolean criteria, including the constraints, the solution usually lies in the union (logical OR) or intersection (logical AND) of conditions.  On the other hand, a weighted linear combination is a usual technique only for continuous factors.   As the criteria are measured at different scales, they are standardized and transformed all factor maps, which correlated positively with suitability.  Establishing factor weights is the most complicated aspect because the most commonly used technique is the complicated comparison matrix.

Before running MCE method, WLC determines (including casinos_fuz, hotels_fuz, landuse_rescale_suit1 (or landuse_rescale_suit2), and major_roads_fuz ) the consistency ratio, which is below 0.1.  This means that the weights assigned are logically consistent and therefore, acceptable for use as factor values in MCE.  However, the interesting thing is that the consistency ratio stays on the same as 0.06 even although both differenent factors of landuse and different constraints of average income layers are used with the same factor weight.  Click here to see WLC.

As a result, the consistency ratio, 0.06, is logically acceptable.  Then, go to run MCE with two constraints including ct96_popdensity_reclass and ct96_avgincome_30000 (then change to the file as ct96_avgincome_35000 and run again).  After that, the MCEWLC image is successfully created (table 3). Then, I go through the same procedures to run other three MCEs (table 4, table 5, table 6).  Comparing all four MCEs, they are all similar with one exception - the constraint is applied as average income that is equal or greater than $35000 and the factor is changed to landuse_rescale_suit2.  The highest value, 169, only displays on one location, where is on West Broadway between Main and Granville Streets.  Reviewing other 3 images of MCE, West Broadway area has the highest values for each image.  Therefore, according to the MCE result, West Broadway is the optimal location for building a casino.  Click here to see MCE results.

Although West Broadway area seems to be suitable for the casino, there are several limitations for starting up such a large-scale casino.  The first issue is the lack of space.  While many retail stores or buildings have already conglomerated around Broadway, particularly from Cambie to Granville Streets, it may limit the size of the casino.  The second is the traffic congestion.  This problem seems to be the worst from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.




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