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A GIS-Assisted Optimal Urban Route Selection Based On Multi Criteria

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 The Iraqi Journal For Mechanical And Material Engineering, Special Issue (D)

A GIS-Assisted Optimal Urban Route Selection Based

On Multi Criteria Approach

Dr. Namir G. Ahmed Eng. Noor M. Asmael

(Assist.Prof / HWY and (Assist. Lecturer / HWY and
Transportation Department Transportation Department
Al-Mustansiriyah University Al-Mustansiriyah University
Email:dr.namir@gmail.com Email:eng.noor.moutaz@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Route planning analysis in Geographical Information System (GIS) provides

strong decision support for users in searching optimal route, finding the optimal path is
an important advanced analysis function in GIS. This paper presents the problem of
selecting route to connect two locations in Baghdad city; Alkadomiyah and Algria'at.
Four alternatives were investigated using a multi criteria approach and spatial decision
support system, (SDSS) that will assist a decision-maker, to select the optimal route for
a new road path. In ARCGIS 9.2, spatial analysis has been used to carry out the search
strategy. In general, the goal of this study is to develop a (GIS) - based model to
determine suitable route. Therefore, the required data for the proposed model building
were identified by using, land use, transportation maps, aerial photographs and
demographic features then reviewed for model development requirements. Four factors
were considered; Geotechnical, Geometrical, social and economical factors for multi-
criteria evaluation to select the best route alternative. ARC GIS 9.2 software was used
for the analysis and model building requirements. In actualizing the aim, satellite
images of the study area was provided while the land-use map was obtained from
Design Office-Amanat Baghdad. The land-use over the study area was classified into
eight different classes. A Digital Elevated Model (DEM) over the study area was
downloaded from the Global Mapper Software, used to derive the slope map over the
area of study and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used in weighting the
criterions. Finally, the case study demonstrated that GIS based on multi-criteria
approach is recognized to be used as a tool for the optimum route selection by
considering the factors affecting on the decision-maker route selection. Furthermore,
saving of money, time and effort.
‫اﻟﺨﻼﺻﺔ‬
‫ﻗﺮاردﻋﻢ ِ ﻗﻮي ِ ﻟﻠﻤﺴﺘﺨﺪﻣﯿﻦ ﻓﻲ‬
َ ‫( ﯾﻮﻓﺮ‬GIS) ‫ت اﻟﺠﻐﺮاﻓﯿﺔ‬ ِ ‫ﺗﺤﻠﯿﻞ ﺗﺨﻄﯿﻂ اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻖِ ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺨﺪام ﻧﻈﻢِ اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎ‬
.ِ‫ت اﻟﺠﻐﺮاﻓﯿﺔ ھﻲ وظﯿﻔﺔ ُ ﺗﺤﻠﯿﻞِ ﻣﺘﻘﺪّﻣﺔ‬ ِ ‫اﻟﻤﺜﺎﻟﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻧﻈﻢِ اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎ‬
َ َ‫ وﯾﻌﺘﺒﺮ إﯾﺠﺎد اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻖ‬،‫اﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻖِ اﻷﻣﺜﻞ‬
‫ ﺗﻢ دراﺳﺔ أرﺑﻌﺔ‬،‫ھﺬا اﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﯾﻌﺮض ﻣﺸﻜﻠﺔ َ اﺧﺘﯿﺎر طﺮﯾﻖِ ﻟﺮﺑﻂ ﻣﻮﻗﻌﯿﻦ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺪﯾﻨ ِﺔ ﺑﻐﺪاد؛ اﻟﻜﺎظﻤﯿﺔ واﻟﻜﺮﯾﻌﺎت‬
‫ اﻟﺬي ﺳَ ﯿ ُﺴﺎﻋﺪ ُ ﻓﻲ ﺻﻨﻊ اﻟﻘﺮار ﻻﺧﺘﯿﺎر‬، (SDSS) ِ ‫ﻗﺮار ﻣﻜﺎﻧﻲ‬ ِ ِ‫ﺑﺪاﺋﻞ ﺑﺎﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل اﻟﺘﻘﯿﯿﻢ اﻟﻤﺘﻌﺪد اﻟﻤﻌﺎﯾﯿﺮ وﻧﻈﺎم دﻋﻢ‬
‫ ﺗﻢ اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل اﻟﺘﺤﻠﯿﻞ اﻟﻤﻜﺎﻧﻲ ﻟﻠﻘﯿ َﺎ ْم‬، (ARC GIS 9.2 ) ‫ وﺑﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪة‬.ِ‫اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻖِ اﻷﻣﺜﻞ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﺎر اﻟ ﻄﺮﯾﻖِ اﻟﺠﺪﯾﺪ‬
(GIS) ‫ت اﻟﺠﻐﺮاﻓﯿ ِ ﺔ‬ ِ ‫ إن ھﺪف ھﺬه اﻟﺪراﺳ ِﺔ ھﻮ ﺗ ُﻄﻮﯾّ َﺮ ﻧﻤﻮذج ﻓﻲ ﻧﻈﻢ اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎ‬،‫ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﻤﻮم‬.‫ﺑﺈﺳﺘﺮاﺗﯿﺠﯿ ِﺔ اﻟﺒﺤﺚ‬
‫ﻮذ ِ اﻟﻤُﻘﺘ ََﺮح ِ ﺳﯿﻜﻮن ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺨﺪام ﺧﺮاﺋﻂ اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل‬ ‫ ﻓﺎن اﻟﺒﯿﺎﻧﺎت اﻟﻤﻄﻠﻮﺑﺔ ﻟﺒﻨﺎء اﻟﻨﻤ ج‬،‫ وﻟﺬﻟﻚ‬.‫ﻟﺘﺤﺪﯾﺪ اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻖِ اﻷﻣﺜﻞ‬
‫ وﺗﻢ اﻋﺘﺒﺎر أرﺑﻌﺔ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞِ ؛‬.‫ت ﺗﻄﻮﯾﺮ اﻟﻨﻤﻮذج‬ ِ ‫ ﺻﻮر ﺟﻮﯾّﺔ واﻟﺨﺼﺎﺋﺺ اﻟ ﺴﻜّﺎﻧﯿﺔ ﺗﺒﻌﺎ ﻟﻤﺘﻄﻠﺒﺎ‬، ِ‫ ﺧﺮاﺋﻂ اﻟ ﻨﻘﻞ‬،‫اﻷرض‬
‫ﺗﻢ‬. ِ‫اﻟﻤﻌﺎﯾﯿﺮ ﻻﺧﺘﯿﺎر أﻓﻀﻞ طﺮﯾﻖ‬َ ‫)اﻟﻌﻮاﻣﻞ اﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎدﯾﺔ واﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﯿﺔ واﻟﮭﻨﺪﺳﯿﺔ وﺧﺼﺎﺋﺺ اﻟﺘﺮﺑﺔ( ﻟﺘﻘﯿﯿﻢِ اﻟﻤﺘﻌﺪّ ِد‬
‫ ﺗﻢ اﻟﺤﺼﻮل ﻋﻠﻰ ﺻﻮر‬، ِ‫ وﻣﻦ اﺟﻞ ﺗ َﺤﻘﯿﻖ ھﺬا اﻟﮭﺪف‬.‫( ﻷﺟﻞ اﻟﺘﺤﻠﯿﻞ وﺑﻨﺎء اﻟﻨﻤﻮذج‬GIS 9.2) ‫اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ‬
‫اﻷرض ﻣﻦ داﺋﺮة اﻟﺘﺼﺎﻣﯿﻢ ﻓﻲ اﻣﺎﻧﺔ‬ َ ‫اﻷﻗﻤﺎر اﻟﺼﻨﺎﻋﯿﺔ ﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘ ِﺔ اﻟﺪراﺳﺔ َ ﺑﯿﻨﻤﺎ ﺗﻢ اﻟﺤﺼﻮل ﻋﻠﻰ ﺧﺮﯾﻄﺔَ اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل‬

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A GIS-Assisted Optimal Urban Route Dr. Namir G. Ahmed
Selection Based On Multi Criteria Approach Eng. Noor M. Asmael

‫اﻷرض ﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘ ِﺔ اﻟﺪراﺳ ِﺔ إﻟﻰ ﺛﻤﺎﻧﯿﺔ أﺻﻨﺎفِ ﻣﺨﺘﻠﻔ ِﺔ و ﺗﺤﻤﯿﻞ ﻣﻠﻒ اﻻرﺗﻔﺎﻋﺎت‬
َ ‫ وﺗﻢ ﺗﺼﻨﯿﻒ ﺧﺮﯾﻄﺔ اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل‬.‫ﺑﻐﺪاد‬
‫(وأ ُﺳﺘ َﻌﻤ ُﻞ ﻣﻠﻒ اﻻرﺗﻔﺎﻋﺎت اﻟﺮﻗﻤﯿﺔ ﻻﺳﺘﻨﺒﺎط‬Global Mapper) ‫( ﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘ ِﺔ اﻟﺪراﺳﺔ َ ﻣِﻦْ ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ‬DEM) ‫اﻟﺮﻗﻤﯿﺔ‬
‫ ﻓﺎن‬،ً ‫ أﺧﯿﺮا‬.‫( ﻓﻲ ﺗﻘﯿﯿﻢ اﻟﻤﺤﺪدات‬AHP) ‫ﺧﺮﯾﻄ ِﺔ اﻻﻧﺤﺪار ﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘ ِﺔ اﻟﺪراﺳ ِﺔ وﺗﻢ اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل ﻋﻤﻠﯿﺔ اﻟﺘﺪرج اﻟﺘﺤﻠﯿﻠﻲ‬
‫ت اﻟﺠﻐﺮاﻓﯿﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻨﺪ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻧﻈﺎم اﻟﻤﺘﻌﺪد اﻟﻤﻌﺎﯾﯿﺮ ﯾﻤﻜﻦ أن ﺗﺴﺘ َﻌﻤﻞَ ﻛﺄداة‬ ِ ‫ﻧﻈﻢ اﻟﻤﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎ‬
َ ‫اﻟﺪراﺳﺔ ُ اﻟﺤﺎﻟﯿﺔ ﺗﺒﯿﻦ ﺑﺄﻧ ﱠﮫ‬
، ِ‫ﻻﺧﺘﯿﺎر اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻖِ اﻷﻓﻀﻞ ﺑﺎﻋﺘﺒﺎر اﻟﻌﻮاﻣﻞ اﻟﻤﺆﺛﺮة ﻓﻲ ﺻﻨﻊ اﻟﻘﺮار ﻻﺧﺘﯿﺎر اﻟﻄﺮﯾﻖ ﺑﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ إﻟﻰ ﺗﻮﻓﯿﺮ اﻟﻤﺎل‬
.‫اﻟﻮﻗﺖ واﻟﺠﮭﺪ‬
KEYWORD: Route Selection, Geographical Information System (GIS), AHP, Land
use, DEM, Multi Criteria, Spatial Analysis.
INTRODUCTION
Route selection is a critical first step in the process of design and construction
and has a potential significantly impacting the construction and environmental of the
area. Effective route selection process is very important for minimizing economical
cost. In planning a suitable road network, planners put into consideration factors like
gradients or slope of the area, available land-use and soil type, community or national
landmarks and governmental interest. These different considerations and interest make
the planning process complex and as such there might be confusion of interest in the
decision making (Isah O. A., 2008). The use of GIS and Multi-criteria analysis has
helped planners to achieve desired and more accurate results and as such reducing the
complex nature in the planning process allowing different stakeholders to reach a
general conclusion, (Athina S.,et al, ). Deciding the location of a highway is important
during the design period. It affects not only construction costs and transportation
effectiveness but also its role in road network. (Zhang, al, 1997). Route planners
request input about preferred route characteristics in order to provide the user with the
optimal route (Hartwig H. H., 2006). Further, the relative importance of route selection
criteria for a user often depends on the route alternatives actually found between origin
and destination. It can be said that integrating the decision process of a new highway
location into GIS has a bright future (Chen et al, 2001). Spatial Decision Support
Systems are widely used in site selection studies to locate the most suitable areas which
satisfy the exclusion and preference rules that have been set by the decision makers
(Massam, 1988) . Determining the best route through an area is one of the oldest spatial
problems. Furthermore spatial decision systems ought to include methods for a
sustainable development of the environment as well as concerns which derive from the
public awareness and sensitivity about the urban or rural growth. The combination of
multiple parameters, methods and decision making techniques, creates the foundation
for a Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support System. (Athina S.,et al,). Spatial multi
criteria decision problems typically involve a set of geographically-defined alternatives
from which a choice of one or more alternatives is made with respect to a given set of
evaluation criteria (Jankowski, 1995; Malczewski, 1996). Spatial multi criteria analysis
requires information on criterion values and the geographical locations of alternatives
in addition to the decision makers’ preferences with respect to a set of evaluation
criteria. This means analysis results depend not only on the geographical distribution of
attributes, but also on the value judgments involved in the decision making process.
(James C. Ascough). Multi criteria decision making (MCDM) can be explained
generally as a tool for assisting the decision maker in deciding on the best alternative
from all of the possible alternatives under the presence of multiple choice criteria and
diverse criterion priorities (Gamze Z. D., et al,). Much of the use of GIS in planning
assumes use of a rational mode of decision-making, which entails a linear process
initiated with the identification of a problem, followed by a comprehensive search for

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Dr. Namir The Iraqi Journal For Mechanical And Material Engineering, Special Issue (D)

alternatives and concluded with the selection of the optimal alternative as indicated by
the gathered information, (Batty, 1993)
RESEARCH GOAL
The main goal of this study is to use Arcgis9.2 software with spatial analysis
support system for route planning that can be used as a tool to select the optimum route
based on multi-criteria approach. The GIS software is flexible to accept different data
sets, accommodate different suitability criteria, work with different criteria weight, and
define different land use types. GIS can help to improve the quality of decision making
through increasing the capacity of analysis, display and management of data. So the
objectives of the study are;
 To define the appropriate alternatives for Alkadomiyah and Algria'at future
transportation systems.
 To find out an optimized route to travel between Alkadomiyah and Algria'at in
each time interval, which give the minimum travel expense (including cost of
travel time) by using ArcGIS program based on multi-criteria approach.

STUDY AREA AND DATA COLLECTION

This paper describes an attempt for route planning using spatial analysis. The
objective is to help decision makers and planners to find the optimum location of the
route through a quantitative spatial evaluation and verification process. The study
investigates the options for site selection of a route in a framework of a given decision
rules. In this paper, ARCGIS program is used for digitizing, while Satellite image were
projected in Geographic Coordinate System (WGS 1984). Then, the maps were
digitized by the drawing tools of ARCGIS. The result of digitizing is a digital map in
vector form. The study location is Alkadomiyah and Algria'at which represent two parts
in north of Baghdad. Alkadomiyah lies approximately (44.389, 33.387) from east and
(44.306, 33.388) to the west. Tigris River forms the boundary of the Alkadomiyah from
west, while the east for Algria'at. Study area was approximately 34.5km2. The western
side is importance to traffic operation due to traffic attraction because the existing of
religions places, as well as it, connects of the main entrance of Baghdad from the north.
The previous studies (Scott Wilson, 1985) have estimated the number of daily trips for
the year 2015 of about 757263 which is higher as compared to the side of Algria'at
which is forecasted to be (15610 person's trip/day). Figure (1) shows the location of the
region area.

Figure 1: The Location of the Study Area

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A GIS-Assisted Optimal Urban Route Dr. Namir G. Ahmed
Selection Based On Multi Criteria Approach Eng. Noor M. Asmael

Land Use
The land-use map was obtained from Design Office-Amanat Baghdad, which classified
into eight different classes. The different land-use classes were used to present the
different terrains over the area of study and these was used in the final judgment for the
best alternative to select the best route path. Land-use map include 13.89% open area,
30.96% agriculture, 39.58% residential, 5.42% administration, 4.48% industrial, 3.37%
commercial, 1.4% utility, 0.9% transportation. Figure 2 shown the land-use map over
the area

Figure 2: Land Use of Study Area

Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

A digital elevation model (DEM) used to represent a ground surface or a terrain.
DEM is downloading from Global Mapper and present the elevations in a form of
raster. This model required variety of applications and in most cases are common basis
for digitally-produced relief maps that are used in geographic information systems
(Gallant & Hutchinson, 2006). DEM of the study area is shown in Figure 3

Figure 3: Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the Study Area

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Dr. Namir The Iraqi Journal For Mechanical And Material Engineering, Special Issue (D)

Geotechnical Consideration
Soil Surveys for highway construction entail the investigation of the soil
characteristics on the highway route and the identification of suitable soils for use as
sub base and fill materials. Since the soil conditions may significantly affect the
location of the highway. A detailed soil survey is always carried out on the final
highway location, (N.J.Garber, et al, 2002). When new bridge constructed, it must be
constructed to support structures under lateral and vertical loads. Vertical load-bearing
capacity of bridge depends mainly on site conditions, soil properties, if the soil is of
adequate strength, the footings will distribute the loads over a sufficiently large area. If
not, the footings themselves must be supported on pile foundations extended down to a
firm underlying stratum, which will be then increase cost. The properties of soil are
important to identify the process of route selection. The soil map of the area was
obtained from National Center for Construction Labs in 1986; it is digitized as shown
in Figure (4) and used for producing desired maps for soil classification.

Figure (4) Soil Properties of Study Area

Environmental Consideration
Construction of new route is critical issue due to its side effect on the
environment. New route construction or expansion project is one of the main sources
that damaged the environment ( Raeid Al-Sadeq,2006). It is very important to consider
the impact of the project on the environment. Due to lack in such data for our case
study the environmental factor cannot be considered. In general the environmental
factor plays an important role to select the suitable alternative especially in the large
study area. In this case, due to the limited study area and the similarity in the
environmental impact, the weight of environmental effect can be ignored. This opinion
matches the results of expert transportation questioners.

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A GIS-Assisted Optimal Urban Route Dr. Namir G. Ahmed
Selection Based On Multi Criteria Approach Eng. Noor M. Asmael

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

ArcGIS Spatial Analyst provides a broad range of powerful spatial modeling and
analysis features. Using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, GIS users can create, query, map and
analyze cell based raster data; perform integrated raster/vector analysis; derive new
information can derive information about geospatial data such as terrain analysis,
spatial relationships, suitable locations, and the accumulated cost of traveling from one
point to another. First, land use and road network in object area are digitized into
ArcGIS9.2 software. Topology of road network and division of traffic analysis zones
are done in the database. Second, attributes of links, is input and such as lane division,
capacity and speed in the network are surveyed and collected. In this method, taken
construction costs, economic and geotechnical aspects into account when deciding a
new highway location in road network. Then subject to the control points to location
different alternatives for the new path. The study’s main goal is to identify the most
suitable areas where new route can be established. This will be achieved through the
ESRI’s Model Builder environment. The framework for the model includes the
problem definition, the criteria selection, the parameters’ weighting, the spatial analysis
implementation, the illustration and inspection of the selected areas, and finally the
recommendation of the most suitable areas (Malczewski 1999). In this case study,
analyses are carried out on one growing centers in the religion city of Baghdad. The
selection of the research area is based on the demand of Algria'at that needs to be added
and extended to populated area. In addition, the land use meets the criteria for new
route. Since the location of the case studies, Alkadomiyah and Algria'at, are adjacent it
will be practical to integrate the allocation of route alignment in these two areas. There
are four main stages involves in the implementation of this research, which are:
Stage1: Identifying the objectives and evaluation criteria
Stage2: Implementing the multi-criteria analysis,
Stage3: The generation of alternative route
Stage4: Evaluation and selection of route
A new raster-based GIS model that combines multi-criteria evaluation and least-cost
path analysis was developed to determine the optimal routes.
The analyst might take the following steps
1-Identify the relevant map layers
2-Reclassify maps to indicate good or bad area
3-Perform a weighted analysis on the map layers
In this implementation, the best route is found. The steps to produce such a path are
outlined below and shown in Figure 5. Path is performed using ArcGIS 9.2 Spatial
Analysis Module.
1- Create Source, Destination and Cost Datasets
2- Generate A Thematic Cost Map (Classify and Weighting)
3- Perform Cost Weighted Distance
4- Create Direction Datasets and Perform Shortest Path

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Dr. Namir The Iraqi Journal For Mechanical And Material Engineering, Special Issue (D)

Figure 5: A conceptual model for optimum route

The model logic can consider multiple criteria simultaneously (i.e. land use,
elevation, distance and soil effect). Digital Elevated Model (DEM), land use and soil
layer data are overlaid in GIS using weight output from AHP to generate cost dataset,
so all processes are made on raster format. The start and destination points for the road
path was created using ArcMap9.2. The re-classed map helps to differentiate a bad
from good areas to build a road path. In the classified map, 1 value was used to
represent good areas with low cost value to build a road while 10 represent bad, which
is a high cost to build a road. Reclassified map for land use, slope, and soil are shown
in Figure (6), (7). In this model, calculate the distance as shown in Figure (9). Four
alternative paths are investigated as shown in Figure 10. The benefits of a conventional
decision support system are combined with the flexibility and the scalability which is
offered in a spatial analysis model, developed on ESRI’s Model Builder environment to
select the optimum route and is shown in Figure (11).

Figure (6) Reclassified Map of Slope Output Figure (7): Reclassified Values of
Land Use and Soil Layer.

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A GIS-Assisted Optimal Urban Route Dr. Namir G. Ahmed
Selection Based On Multi Criteria Approach Eng. Noor M. Asmael

Application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

AHP is a multi-criteria decision method is used for representing a problem by
using hierarchical structures and then for developing precedence for alternatives
according to the decision maker (Saaty, 1980). It has been shown that hierarchical
structuring and pair wise comparisons are used for weighting activities by Saaty (Saaty,
1980). There are AHP scales for pair comparisons. These scales are used in calculating
weight for each layer. Pairwise Comparison Method (PCM) has been used to determine
the comparative weight of each parameter. The number of route selection criteria is set
in AHP to derive weight for each criterion as shown in Figure (8). To prepare the
preference matrix, the nature of the study area should be considered. Accordingly, the
soil properties and the slope represent minor effect while, route length and land use
represent major effects on the preference matrix.

Figure (8) Application of AHP to Derive Weight

Selection of the Preferred Alternative
After identifying the alternative sites, selection of the most appropriate site can
be made by consideration of multi-criteria imposed by the user. Multi-criteria decision
aid supporting the choice among a set of alternatives described by values for criteria.
This study has selected four types of routes in generating alternatives. Using spatial
analysis model, all four types of routes will be evaluated against the set criteria in order
to selecting optimum route. It is important to note however, that the analysis need to
provide the capability to maximized the output to connecting strategic locations and
maximizing network. The four proposed route alternatives are evaluated on the basis of
the four criteria discussed above. Decision rules provide the basis for sorting and
ranking the decision alternatives under consideration of route attributes and user
preferences (Malczewski, J, 1999). The application of final step for Multi-criteria
procedure can be presented below by the cross-table of criteria and alternatives. The
decision maker selects the suitable score for each cell in the mention Table (1). The
normalized sum computes the sum of all factors for each alternative. Which, the higher
values are preferable than smaller values in selecting the preferred alternative.

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Dr. Namir The Iraqi Journal For Mechanical And Material Engineering, Special Issue (D)

Table (1), Summary Table of Alternative Route Characteristics

Criteria Type Path1 Path2 Path3 Path4
Geometrical
Length 10 9 6 5
Crossing 9 4 4 9
Curvature 5 4 3 6
Maximizing road network 6 4 9 7
Grade N.E N.E N.E N.E
Geotechnical
Bearing capacity N.E N.E N.E N.E
Social
Population Density, Urban Area 5 6 7 7
Economic
Construction Cost 8 8 4 4
User Cost 8 8 4 4
Maintenance Cost 8 8 4 4
Land Use 6 7 7 6
SUM 65 58 48 52
Normalized Score 29.1% 26% 21.5 23.3%
 N.E. (Not-Effective), this regarding the nature of study area.
In Baghdad city, the bearing capacity of soil seems to be similar. Accordingly, the
geotechnical factor will be not effective in this case. It is important to mention that the
scoring weight which present in Table (1), was prepare by considering the
transportation experts opinion.
Selection of the preferred alternative was based upon a review of the impacts identified
as shown in Table (1). Accordingly, Alternative (1) is selected to represent the
optimum path based on multi criteria evaluation.

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A GIS-Assisted Optimal Urban Route Dr. Namir G. Ahmed
Selection Based On Multi Criteria Approach Eng. Noor M. Asmael

Figure (9): Reclassify Distance for the Selected Control Point

Path 2

Path 1 Path4

Path3

Figure (10): Alternative Route Path

Figure (11): Model of Shortest Path

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Dr. Namir The Iraqi Journal For Mechanical And Material Engineering, Special Issue (D)

RESULTS
Based on GIS application in transportation planning, AHP is used in weighting
of different effective factors in the proposed criteria, ArcGIS 9.2 Spatial Analyst
module is applied in the optimum route selection. The present study investigates how
non-spatial and spatial data can be integrated within a multi criteria decision framework
to formulate and select best suitable route. Accordingly, and regarding the present case
study, alternative (1) was proposed to be selected as a best route to connect
Alkadomiyah and Algria'at in Baghdad city. The selected roadway is started on the
origin of an approximate coordinate of (44.337, 33.394) and the destination of an
approximate coordinate of (44.337, 33.388), with 0.7 km length. The GIS based
analysis as applied on the present case study demonstrated that; multi-criteria approach
is recognized to be used as a tool for the optimum route selection by considering
different factors those affecting decision-maker selections. Furthermore, saving of
money, time and effort. Finally.

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