- All Journals
- Al-Qadisiyah University
- Basrah University
- Kirkuk University
- Mosul University
- The Iraqi Borad for Medical Specialization
- University of Anbar
- University of Technology
- Al Mustafa University
- Al-Zahraa University for Women
- Alnoor University
- Kunooz University
- Misan University
- Ninevah University
- Tikrit University
- University of Al-Hamdaniya
- University of Kerbala
Assessing the suitability of land for agriculture in Babylon Governorate using multi-criteria spatial analysis in GIS | ||
| Kirkuk University Journal: Humanity Studies | ||
| Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2026, Pages 645-676 PDF (1.47 M) | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.32894/1992-1179.2026.170352.1376 | ||
| Author | ||
| Lamia ABD Taha* | ||
| Faculty of Arts Department of Geography and Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Abstract | ||
| This research aims to assess the suitability of land for agriculture in Babylon Governorate using Multi-Criteria Spatial Analysis (MCDA) within Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The study problem stems from the clear absence of a comprehensive and systematic assessment of the suitability of agricultural land in the governorate, leading to suboptimal utilization of natural resources and a significant decline in agricultural productivity. This problem is exacerbated by unplanned urban sprawl encroaching on fertile land, soil degradation, and water scarcity. The research posits that natural criteria, such as soil and water, are the most influential factors in determining land suitability for agriculture, and that applying the MCDA methodology using GIS will enable the identification of areas with high agricultural potential with greater accuracy and reliability. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to determine the relative weights of each criterion based on the opinions of a group of experts and specialists in the agricultural and environmental sectors. Subsequently, these weighted criteria were integrated using the Weighted Overlay technique within a GIS environment to create a final map illustrating the levels of land suitability for agriculture in the governorate. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Geographic Information Systems; Spatial Analysis; Agricultural Land Suitability; Babil Governorate; Analytic Hierarchy Process | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 10 PDF Download: 4 |
||