GEO 533 - Multicriteria Decision Analysis Supported by Geographic Information Systems

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is going to provide:
1. Knowledge about spatial data/information, spatial problems, and the function of GIS in multicriteria decision making process,
2. Knowledge about spatial analysis functions of GIS and the concept of spatial multicriteria decision analysis,
3. Knowledge about criteria determination, criteria weighting, and decision rules’ applications in spatial multicriteria decision analysis and structuring sensitivity analysis in GIS environment
4. Knowlegde about integration of GIS and multicriteria decision analysis approaches in the scope of numerical examples, homework and term project.
5. Knowlegde about explaining the overall procedures from problem definition to analyses intented for solving a spatial multicriteria decision making problem by project groups established.

Course Description

The fundamental objective of GIS is to support decision making process. Course content consists of spatial data/information, the relationship of spatial information and decision making, spatial problems; the use of GIS in decision making process, the framework of spatial multicriteria decision analysis, evaluation criteria, criterion weighting, carrying out decision rules, the concept and implementation of sensitivity analysis in GIS environment, building spatial decision support systems, and the integration of multicriteria decision analysis methods and GIS.