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An open source GIS-based Planning Support System: Application to the land use plan of La Troncal, Ecuador

  • Inés Santé
  • , Natalia Pacurucu
  • , Marcos Boullón
  • , Andrés Manuel García
  • , David Miranda
  • University of Santiago de Compostela

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Planning Support Systems (PSS) comprise a wide variety of geo-technological tools related to GIS and spatial modeling aimed at addressing land planning processes. This article describes the OpenRules system, a PSS based on a previous system called RULES. Among OpenRules new features are its architecture, based exclusively on free and open source software, and its applicability to all land use types, including rural and urban uses. In addition, OpenRules incorporates an unlimited number of land evaluation factors and a new objective in land use spatial allocation. OpenRules has been programmed in Java and implemented as a module of the free GIS software gvSIG, with full integration between the GIS and the decision support tools. Decision support tools include multicriteria evaluation, multiobjective linear programming and heuristic techniques, which support three basic stages of land use planning processes, namely land suitability evaluation, land use area optimization and land use spatial allocation. The application of OpenRules to the region of La Troncal, Ecuador, demonstrates its capability to generate alternative and coherent solutions through a scientific and justified procedure at low cost in terms of time and resources.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)976-990
Number of pages15
JournalTransactions in GIS
Volume20
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2016

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Keywords

  • decision-making support
  • land evaluation
  • land use planning
  • spatial allocation

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