Comparison and validation of land use optimization approaches using new algorithms in the city of Gorgan

The most important thing in the land use planning is conflict between opposite or rival land uses in one place that should be done by allocation of land uses according to the utility of land and taking into account economic, social and environmental impacts. For this purpose, different approaches are formed which each of them has made efforts to resolve this conflict. This study compared the two optimization approaches such as Multi Objective Land use Allocation (MOLA) and the Multidimensional Choice (MDCHOICE). The maps were prepared using two approaches for the city limits of Gorgan. Then, maps were compared using the statistical methods of land uses utility and ecological assessment by landscape metrics. Results of this comparison based on statistical and ecological parameters showed the superiority of multi-objective the allocation of land use to multidimensional choice approach. Map by the MOLA approach as a reference map and another map by MDCHOICE approach as a comparative map was used in order to validate the results of the previous stage. Finally, the similarity and agreements of maps were evaluated with various algorithms in the software IDRISI and MCK. The results obtained from the use of any of algorithms offered useful indicators like comparing the class to class, cell to cell, and other types of kappa coefficients such as Histo Kappa, place and fuzzy Kappa that additional discussion of comparison methods is raised. Finally, this study suggests that to compare maps that are modeled in different ways or to validate the maps that use different type's kappas that show the agreement on number and place instead of the usual or standard kappa coefficient.