Investigating Land Capability for Industrial Development Using Multi-Criteria Evaluation Method and Fuzzy Concepts (Case Study: Plasjan Sub-Basin)

Industrial development is necessary to create employment and achieve welfare. Nevertheless, due to the important environmental effects of these uses, it is necessary to consider the environmental issues in industrial area land allocation. The current research used the multi-criteria evaluation method and the combination with fuzzy concepts to investigate the land capability for industrial development in the Plasjan sub-basin in the Zayandeh-rood river basin. Evaluation criteria were determined by literature reviewing and using experts' knowledge, and standard applying fuzzy method via proportional functions and weighted using the hierarchical method. The combined classification of satellite images prepared the land use and land cover map. Then, the standardized criteria were combined in the form of a weighted linear combination and the industrial development capability model was prepared for this area and classified into five land capability classes. The results showed that environmental considerations have the most weight with 0.23, and geological and soil texture criteria have the least weight with 0.06. According to the results, only 213 hectares of the region were allocated for industrial and mining use at the time of the study. In comparison, 2325 hectares of the region have very high industrial potential which shows the capability for increasing industrial areas. Also, the highest class of land capability was related to areas without the capability for industrial development with an area of 246375 ha, equivalent to 60% of the entire region, which shows the importance of conservation of the important functions of this region in water supply and ecological resources.