Evaluation of Land Suitability Index per Capita Using Overlap Model and Spatial Analysis in GIS Environment (Case Study: Ardabil City)

Rapid physical and population development and growth in recent decades has caused many problems in cities, and Ardabil city has not been exempted from this due to its historical antiquity and high population and physical growth. This research examines and evaluates the land suitability index per capita in Ardabil city using the overlap model and spatial analysis in the geographic information system (GIS) environment. The main purpose of this study is to determine the per capita suitability of land for different urban uses and provide solutions to improve planning and sustainable urban development. For this purpose, first, spatial and descriptive data related to urban land use were collected from different sources and then processed using spatial analysis tools in GIS. The research results show that the use of this model can help identify suitable areas for future developments and optimize existing uses. The findings of this research show that there is an inequality of compatibility among some urban uses such as residential areas with more than 42%, educational use with more than 35%, administrative use with 38%, medical use with 25% and sports use with 16%. They have neighboring uses. Tourist use with more than 80%, religious and cultural use with more than 75%, and commercial use with more than 70% are in completely compatible and relatively compatible conditions with their neighboring uses and have the least incompatibility with other uses. Therefore, urban planners and designers should pay special attention to the proper distribution of neighboring uses based on spatial-spatial components, while allocating the best space to the uses needed to solve the current shortage, in the programs related to future development. This study provides practical suggestions for improving urban planning policies and land management in Ardabil, which can be used as a model for other cities.