Land Suitability Evaluation to Determine the Appropriate Areas of Development: A Case Study of Hormuz Island

Abstract

One of the basic prerequisites for the development of spatial programs and policies is evaluating the land suitability for future land uses based on the principals of ecological sustainability. This analysis is critical in islands due to special characteristics such as limited natural resources, interdependent and more complex ecosystems, high vulnerability to natural hazards, climate change and economic vulnerability. Accordingly, this paper based on the eco-logical approach and using Geographic Information System software package and Analytic Hierarchy Process and developing appropriate criteria has ana-lyzed the land suitability of Hormuz Island. The findings clearly show the land suitability to develop industrial, agriculture, tourism land uses and can be the basis for planning the future development of the island based on the ecologi-cal sustainability.