Exercise Suitability
Exercise Suitability
Site selection is the process of examining multiple options and assessing their
relative advantages and disadvantages. Site selection comes after the needs
assessment is completed.
o Start ArcMap
You’ll first create a new toolbox to hold the models you will create in this exercise.
You can perform your Spatial Analyst tasks by simply opening tool dialog boxes, supplying values
for parameters, and clicking OK to run each tool, one after another. A model is built by stringing
tools together inside a Model Builder window. Once your model is created, you can easily
experiment with parameter values, use different input data, run the model over and over again,
In this exercise, you will create a model to find a suitable location for a new school.
1. Right-click the Site Analysis Tools toolbox, point to New, and click Model.
Before you start to perform analysis on your data, you should set up any relevant
environment settings.
Expand Raster Analysis Settings section. Elevation dataset has largest cell size (30 m).
Click the Cell Size dropdown arrow and click Same as Layer “elevation”. The cell size
of your elevation layer will be applied to all subsequent raster outputs.
Click OK on the Environment Settings dialog box.
Click the Model menu and click Save. The model’s properties are updated.
A. Deriving Datasets
You are ready to start to process your project data to locate suitable areas for the new
school. You’ll derive the following from your project data:
I. Deriving Slope
You need to find areas of relatively flat land to build on, so you will take into consideration
the slope of the land.
2. Click and drag the Slope tool into the Model Builder window.
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4. Click the Input raster dropdown arrow and click the elevation layer. Note that layers
are denoted with a yellow icon in the dropdown list.
5. Accept the default path and name given for the Output raster parameter value. The
default path is set to the scratch workspace you set up earlier in the Environment
Settings dialog box.
6. Leave the default for the Output measurement parameter to calculate slope in degrees.
7. Type “0.3048” for the value of the Z factor parameter to convert the z values to the
same unit of measure as the x, y units (from feet to meters).
8. Click OK.
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9. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current
diagram properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
10. Right-click the derived data element for the Slope tool and click Rename.
12. Right-click the Slope output data element again and click Add To Display
When the tool has finished running, the tool element and its derived data element become
shaded, indicating that it has run and the derived data has been created on disk.
14. Check the Close this dialog when completed successfully check box if the Slope
progress dialog box is present, then click Close.
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To find locations close to recreation sites, you must first calculate the Euclidean
(straightline) distance from recreation sites.
2. Click and drag the Euclidean Distance tool into the Model-Builder window.
3.
5. Accept the default path for the value of the Output distance raster parameter, but type
“EucD_rsites” for the name.
Instead of specifying a set distance from each point to use when calculating the output,
you’ll accept the default value for the Maximum distance parameter—the edge of the
output raster is used as the maximum distance. The cell size is taken from the environment
setting that you set up previously to be the same as your elevation data. In this exercise,
the Output direction raster is not required.
6. Click OK.
7. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current
diagram properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
8. Right-click EucD_rsites derived data element for the Euclidean Distance tool and click
Rename.
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9. Type “Distance to recreation sites” in the Enter new element name text box and click
OK on the Rename dialog box.
10. Right-click Distance to recreation sites derived data element and click Add To Display.
11. Right-click the Euclidean Distance tool element and click Run to run the process.
To find locations away from existing schools, you must first calculate the Euclidean
(straight-line) distance from schools.
1. Click and drag the Euclidean Distance tool from within the Distance toolset into the
Model-Builder window.
2. Right-click the Euclidean Distance (2) tool element and click Open.
3. Click the Input raster or feature source data dropdown arrow and click the schools layer.
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4. Accept the default path for the value of the Output distance raster parameter, but type
“EucD_sch” for the name.
5. Click OK.
6. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current
diagram properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
7. Right-click the derived data element for the Euclidean Distance tool and click Rename.
9. Right-click the Distance to schools derived data element and click Add To Display.
10. Right-click the Euclidean Distance (2) tool element and click Run to run the process.
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B. Reclassifying Datasets
After deriving the necessary datasets, you are ready to combine them to locate suitable sites
for the new school. It is not possible to combine the datasets you have derived and land use
in their present form.
To combine the datasets, they need to be set to a common measurement scale. That
common measurement scale is what determines how suitable a particular location— each
cell—is for building a new school. Using the Weighted Overlay dialog box, you can weight the values
of each dataset, then combine them at one time.
You will reclassify each derived dataset to a common measurement scale, giving each
range a discrete, integer value between 1 and 10. Higher values will be given to attributes
within each dataset that are more suitable for locating the school.
I. Reclassifying slope
It is preferable that the new school site be located on relatively flat ground. You’ll reclassify
the slope output, slicing the values into equal intervals. You’ll give a value of 10 to the
most suitable range of slopes—those with the lowest angle of slope—and 1 to the least
suitable range of slopes—those with the steepest angle of slope—and rank the values in
between linearly.
2. Click and drag the Reclassify tool into the Model-Builder window.
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4. Click the Input raster dropdown arrow and click the variable Slope output.
5. Accept the default for the Reclass field parameter so the Value field will be used.
6. Click Classify.
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9. Click OK.
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You want to reclassify the slope layer so steep slopes are given low values, since these
are least suitable for building.
10. Click Reverse New Values so that ranges of values representing less steep slopes
receive a higher new value, since these areas are more suitable for building.
11. Accept the default path for the value of the Output raster parameter, but type “Rslope”
for the name.
13. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current
diagram properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
14. Right-click the derived data element for the Reclassify tool and click Rename.
15. Type “Reclassed slope” in the Enter new element name text box and click OK.
16. Right-click the Reclassed slope derived data element and click Add To Display.
17. Right-click the Reclassify tool element and click Run to run the process.
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The school should be located as close as possible to a recreational facility. You will
reclassify the distance to recreation sites output, giving a value of 1 to ranges of values that
represent areas far from recreation sites—the lease suitable locations—giving a value of
10 to ranges of values that represent areas close to recreation sites—the most suitable
locations—and ranking the values linearly in between.
1. Click and drag the Reclassify tool from the Reclass toolset into the ModelBuilder
window.
2. Right-click the Reclassify (2) tool element and click Open.
3. To connect the output from the Euclidean Distance tool as input for the Reclassify (2)
tool, click the Input raster dropdown arrow and click the variable Distance to recreation
sites.
4. Accept the default for the Reclass field parameter so the Value field will be used.
5. Click Classify.
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8. Click OK.
You want the school to be close to a recreational facility, so you will give higher values to
ranges of values that represent locations close to recreational facilities, since distances that
are close are most desirable.
9. Click Reverse New Values so that distances close to recreational facilities receive a
higher new value, since these areas are more desirable.
10. Accept the default path for the value of the Output raster parameter but change the
default name to “Rdist_rec”.
12. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current
diagram properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
13. Right-click the derived data element for the Reclassify (2) tool and click Rename.
15. Click Reclassed distance to recreation sites derived data element, move the cursor over one of
the blue handles surrounding element, then click and drag to resize element so all text can be
seen
16. Right-click Reclassed distance to recreation sites data element and click Add To Display.
17. Right-click the Reclassify (2) tool element and click Run to run the process.
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III. Reclassifying distance to schools
It is necessary to locate the new school away from existing schools to avoid influence on
their catchment areas. You will reclassify the Distance to schools layer, giving a value
of 10 to areas farthest from existing schools—the most suitable locations—and giving a
value of 1 to areas near existing schools—the least suitable locations—and ranking the
values in between linearly. By doing this, you will find out which areas near and far from
existing schools.
1. Click and drag Reclassify tool from the Reclass toolset into the ModelBuilder window.
3. Click the Input raster dropdown arrow and click the Distance to schools variable.
4. Accept the default for the Reclass field parameter so the Value field will be used.
5. Click Classify.
8. Click OK.
You want to position the school away from existing schools, so you will give higher values
to ranges of values that represent locations farther away, as these locations are most
desirable. As the default gives high New values— more suitable locations—to high ranges
of Old values— locations farther away from existing schools—you do not need to change
any values this time.
9. Accept the default path for the value of the Output raster parameter, but type “Rdist_sch”
for the name. Click OK.
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11. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current
diagram properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
12. Right-click the derived data element for the Reclassify (3) tool and click Rename.
14. Right-click the Reclassed distance to schools derived data element and click Add To Display.
15. Right-click the Reclassify (3) tool element and click Run to run the process.
You are now ready to combine the derived datasets and land use to find the most suitable locations.
The values of the derived datasets representing slope, distance to recreation sites, and distance to
schools have all been reclassified to a common measurement scale (more suitable cells have higher
values). The land use dataset is still in its original form because you can weight the cell values for
this dataset as part of the weighted overlay process. Values representing areas of water and
wetlands will be restricted. You’ll also mark slope values the least suitable because they are too
steep as restricted so these values can be excluded. If all datasets were equally important, you could
simply combine them, giving each equal influence; however, you have been informed that it is
preferable to locate the new school close to recreational facilities and away from other schools.
You will weight all the inputs, giving each a percentage of influence. The higher the percentage,
the more influence a particular input will have in the suitability model.
Landuse: 20%
2. Click and drag the Weighted Overlay tool into the Model-Builder window.
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The default evaluation scale is from 1 to 9 by 1. A scale of 1–10 was used when
reclassifying datasets, so before adding input rasters to the Weighted Overlay tool, you’ll
set the evaluation scale from 1 to 10 by 1. This means you will avoid having to update the
scale values after adding your input datasets.
4. Type “1”, “10”, and “1” in the From, To, and By text boxes.
5. Click the Add Raster Row button to add the input rasters.
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6. Click the Input raster dropdown arrow and click the Reclassed distance to schools
variable.
8. Click the Add Raster Row button again to add the next input raster.
9. Click Input raster dropdown arrow and click Reclassed distance to recreation sites
10. Accept the default value for the Input field parameter and click OK.
The raster is added to the Weighted Overlay dialog box. The Field column displays the values of
the Reclassed distance to recreation sites output. As with the Reclassed distance to schools input,
the Scale Value column mimics the Field column because the evaluation scale was set to
encompass the range of values in each input raster. You could modify the scale values for each
class at this point, but again, for this input, the values were already weighted appropriately at the
time of reclassifying.
11. Click the Add Raster Row button again to add the next input raster.
12. Click the Input raster dropdown arrow and click the Reclassed slope variable.
13. Accept the default value for the Input field parameter and click OK.
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Again, for this input, the values were already weighted appropriately at the time of reclassifying.
However, you know you definitely do not want to build on greater slopes, even if all other
conditions are perfect. You’ll make values from 1 to 5 restricted.
If there are no inputs to the Weighted Overlay dialog box with cells of NoData, you could use
NoData as the scale value to exclude certain values. However, if you have NoData cells in any of
your inputs, it is safest and essential to use Restricted instead. Potentially, you could have a result
from the Weighted Overlay dialog box that contains cells of NoData that have come from one or
more of the inputs (NoData on any input equals NoData in the result) and Restricted areas that you
intentionally excluded.
NoData and Restricted values should not be confused. Each serves a specific purpose. There may
be areas of NoData where you don’t know the value but that are actually suitable areas. If you use
NoData to exclude certain cell values and there is NoData in one or more inputs, you will not know
whether a cell of NoData means the area is restricted from use or there was no input data available
in that location.
15. In the Scale Value column for the Reclassed slope raster, click the cell with value of 1.
19. Click the Input raster dropdown arrow and click the land use layer.
20. Click the Input field dropdown arrow and click Land use.
21. Click OK.
All input raster’s are now added to the Weighted Overlay dialog box.
You’ll now weight the scale values of the landuse layer so they are comparable with the
other inputs. A lower value indicates that a particular landuse type is less suitable for
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building. The scale values for Water will be set as Restricted, since they cannot be built on
and should be excluded.
23. Change the default scale values for the landuse layer to the following values:
Open land—10
Waterbody-----restricted
Residential area—9
Forest—6
24. In the Scale Value column, click the cell next to the landuse type Water.
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You’ll now assign a percentage of influence to each raster, based on how much importance (or
weight) each should have in the final suitability map.
26. In the % Influence column, type the following percentages for each of the input rasters:
Land use--------------------------------------------- 10
27. Accept the default path for the Output raster parameter value, but type “suitable_areas”
for the name.
29. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current
diagram properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
30. Right-click the derived data element for the Weighted Overlay tool and click Rename.
32. Right-click the Suitable Areas derived data element and click Add To Display.
33. Right-click the Weighted Overlay tool element and click Run to run the process.
34. Examine the layer added to your ArcMap display. Locations with higher values indicate
more suitable sites—areas that are on less steep slopes of suitable land use types, closer
to recreational facilities, and away from existing schools.
You’ll use a conditional expression in the Con tool to extract only the optimal sites. It
has been decided that those sites that are considered optimal must have a suitability value
of 9 (the highest value in the suit_areas output). In the conditional expression, all areas
with a value of 9 will retain their original value (9). Areas with a value of less than 9 will
be changed to NoData. Or you can assign other value to have more options. Make it 8
2. Click the Con tool and drag it into the ModelBuilder window.
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4. Click the Input conditional raster dropdown arrow and click the Suitable Areas
variable.
5. Click the Input true raster or constant value dropdown arrow and, again, click the
Suitable Areas variable.
If the condition you’ll enter is true of the cells in the Input conditional raster, the value of the
cells of the Input true raster or constant value will be applied to the cells of the output raster.
6. Leave the value for the Input false raster or constant value parameter blank. The default
will be applied—any value in the Input conditional raster that doesn’t meet the
condition you’ll enter will be given NoData in the output raster.
7. Accept the default path for the Output raster parameter value, but change the default
name to “opt_areas”.
9. Click OK.
10. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current diagram
properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
11. Right-click the derived data element for the Con tool and click Rename.
12. Type “Output optimal areas raster” in the Enter new element name text box and click OK
on Rename dialog box.
13. Right-click the Output optimal areas raster derived data element and click Add To Display.
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14. Right-click the Con tool element and click Run to run the process.
15. Examine the layer added to your ArcMap display. These are the optimal locations for siting
the new school.
There are many single cells representing optimal locations. You’ll clean up the result, removing these
small areas, using the Majority Filter tool.
16. In the Spatial Analyst Tools toolbox, expand the Generalization toolset.
17. Click the Majority Filter tool and drag it into the ModelBuilder window
18. Right-click the Majority Filter tool element and click Open.
19. Click the Input raster dropdown arrow and click the Output optimal areas raster variable.
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20. Accept the default path for the value of the Output raster parameter, but change the
name for the output raster to “opt_areasM”.
21. Click the Number of neighbors to use dropdown arrow and click EIGHT.
22. Accept the default to use the MAJORITY as the replacement threshold. Five out of
eight connected cells must have the same value for the present cell to retain its value.
24. Click the Auto Layout button, then click the Full Extent button to apply the current
diagram properties to the elements and place them within the display window.
25. Right-click the derived data element for the Majority Filter tool and click Rename.
26. Type “Output filtered optimal areas raster” and click OK.
27. Right-click the Output filtered optimal areas raster derived data element and click Add
To Display.
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28. Right-click the Majority Filter tool element and click Run to run the process.
Compare it to the layer opt_areas. Many optimal areas that were considered too small in
area have been removed.
Note: If you want to remove areas of multiple cells, you would use the Nibble tool.
You’ve discovered where the optimal sites are for building the new school. All the locations
in the opt_areasM layer are suitable. The last step in this exercise is to locate the best site
out of the alternatives.
Then you’ll locate the best site based on area. Example: An optimal school site you need
may be greater than 2 hectare. You’ll first convert the opt_areasM raster to a feature class
inside a geodatabase so you can use the area field that is generated.
3. Click Input raster dropdown arrow and click Output filtered optimal areas raster layer.
6. Type “opt_areasM” for the name of the feature class, then click Save.
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7. Leave the default checked to Simplify polygons. The polygons will be simplified to
reduce the “stair-step” effect when a raster is converted to a polygon.
8. Click OK.
The final_site layer displays the location of the optimal site for the new school.
Open attribute table of optimal area and “add field” name it as area_ha, then calculate
the area by hectare. Finally by using select by attribute option select ‘suitable site
for new school with area greater than or equal to 5 hectare.
Click File on the Main menu and click Save to save the map document.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!