Spatial Environmental Criteria for Siting Industries

Abstract

The paper presents the solution for identifying appropriate locations for industrial setup in Lahore district using GIS based multi-criteria decision analysis as decision support tool (DST). Several environmental indicators were used in this study including air quality index, water quality index, landcover, and built-up/settlements. Thematic layers were developed for these indicators followed by analysis in ArcGIS software’s model builder using various geo-processing techniques. As a result the study area is divided into four types of zones (e.g., not suitable, less suitable moderately suitable and suitable) depending on environmental criteria and industrial categorization. The results reveal that 52 % of district area goes to environmentally sensitive zone . In remaining areas possibility of setting industries with their pollution index is proposed. The areas are proposed considering the industry categories such as schedule I industries which are air emission industries and Schedule II industries which are effluent discharge industries as per sectoral guidelines of Pakistan.