This research aimed to evaluate the qualitative land suitability for irrigated cultivation of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv Kabkab) using FAO (parametric -the second root formula) and Multi-criteria approaches. The FAO approach has been used by many scholars in different parts of the world and Iran for land suitability assessment. In this approach, the most commonly used method is the parametric method. The FAO approach uses Boolean logic to assess land suitability. This logic has been criticized by a number of land evaluation researchers. Because it does not take into account the continuous nature of the soil variations along the earth's surface and the uncertainty in the measurements. To overcome these shortcomings, the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) was presented to determine the land suitability classes. Land suitability should be determined based on a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process, in which, unlike the Boolean logic, unequal importance of different land characteristics and continuity of soil variations are considered.

The studied area is located in Kheshet and Komaroj plain, Kazerun County, Fars province, southwestern- Iran; between latitudes 29º 32΄ and 29º 36΄ N and longitudes 51º 20΄ and 51º 22΄ E. Its surface area is 5000 ha. The mean annual rainfall and temperature are 377mm and 23 °C, respectively. The soil temperature and moisture regimes are hyperthermic and xeric, respectively. The physiographic unit is river alluvial plain with a very gently sloping. The entire Kabkab date palm plantation of Fars Province is located in this plain. To fulfill the objectives 10 date palm groves, each with an area of at least 0.5 ha and palm date (Kabkab cultivar) cultivation, aged between 20 and 25 years, identical in soil management and vary soil characteristics were selected. A soil profile was dug randomly in each date palm grove, with dimensions of 1.5 (length), 1(width) and 1.5 (depth) meters and described, using soil profile description (Soil Survey Staff). Soil samples were collected from each horizon. After pre-treatments soil samples were analyzed and some physical and chemical characteristics were measured using standard laboratory methods. The profile site was chosen to have a date palm tree in each of the four corners of the profile. The yield of the four trees in four corners of each profile was measured and their average yield was considered as the yield of the corresponding profile. Meteorological data was collected for a period of 10 years from the nearest synoptic station (Kazerun). Land indices were calculated, using soil and climatic data and FAO (parametric-second root formula) and fuzzy AHP and AHP methods. Weighted average of the climatic and the soil data were used and a land index was calculated for each soil profile. In the fuzzy AHP and AHP methods, relative weight of each of the studied criteria was determined by analytical hierarchy analysis using a pair wise comparison matrix. In the fuzzy AHP method the membership degree for each soil and climatic criteria was determined through an appropriate membership function and finally, land suitability class for each soil profile was determined. Landscape characteristics such as slope, drainage and soil depth were not considered in the land evaluation, because these characteristics did not show any limitation for the date production in the studied area. Finally the accuracy of the methods was compared.

The results of qualitative land suitability evaluation based on FAO (parametric-second root formula) method showed that about 10 and 90 percent of the studied area were classified as S2 and S3, respectively. Based upon fuzzy AHP method, 100 percent of the studied area was classified as S2 and according to AHP method about 90 and 10 percent of the studied area were in S1 and S2, respectively. According to the results, the suitability classes resulted from AHP method was higher than of the fuzzy AHP and FAO methods. Correlation coefficients between the measured yields and the calculated land indexes showed that the fuzzy AHP method results were more correlated to the measured yield than of the other two methods which indicated that the fuzzy AHP was the most appropriate method for land suitability assessment for Kabkab Date palm plantation compared to the FAO (parametric-second root formula) and AHP methods.

According to the results of this research, the fuzzy AHP was the most appropriate method for qualitative land suitability evaluation for Kabkab Date compared to the other two methods in Fars province, Iran

Groundwater resources have long been used by humans as a reliable alternative due to their higher reliability and lower fluctuations, and have declined quantitatively and qualitatively in recent decades due to over-harvesting. In this study, the potential of groundwater resources in Urmia Lake basin was studied using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and hybrid model of fuzzy logic- Analytical Hierarchy Process. It is necessary to reduce the negative interaction between the lake and the surrounding groundwater resources as much as possible by managing the abstraction of groundwater and identifying the sensitive areas of the aquifers of this basin and identifying the harvestable areas. First, the effective layers in groundwater potential (layers of height, slope model, land use, river distance, river density, geology, precipitation, evaporation and groundwater level) were prepared by ArcGIS. The results of study showed that in the AHP and the combined model of fuzzy logic, about 18.9% and 25.33% of the region's surface have high potential and are suitable for drilling wells, respectively. Finally, the ROC curve was used to determine the accuracy of the final maps. The accuracy of the final maps prepared by the AHP method and fuzzy logic-AHP was 0.775 and 0.812, respectively, and Fuzzy logic-AHP method had better performance in groundwater potential finding than Analytical Hierarchy Process.

In this paper two technics of, definitive analytical hierarchy process and Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process are compared. By this means a practical instance of fuzzy and definitive analytical hierarchy process is proposed for defining the priority of production of crops in farms of babolsar city. In a definitive approach‚ by the use of Eigen vector and the expert choice software‚ the final weights are calculated for each matrix. In the fuzzy approach‚ by the use of young changes extend analysis method‚ in which the used Triangular numbers are fuzzy, the final weights are calculated. the purpose is to define priority of producing rice‚ wheat and canola‚ with considering two quantitative criterions of benefit and efficiency per hectare plus two qualitative criterions of expertise and buying guaranty from the view point of agriculture sector reporters. Results indicate that in both approaches of fuzzy and definitive analytical hierarchy process‚ the importance of rice is more than canola and wheat. But fuzzy analytical hierarchy process makes the decision maker reach a more trusted final priority appointment (because of more difference in the weights).

The purpose of this research is Landslide hazard regionalization using analytical hierarchy method and GIS technique. For this purpose affecting factors were binary compared using analytical method by indicating the weight of each factor as indicator for their effects in occurrence of landslide. Accordingly, the landslide regionalization hazard map was prepared to the use of weighed information layer and weighted coefficient of each factor. Results of this study show that the analytical hierarchy method is precise method for evaluation of landslide potential due to the use of binary comparison affecting factors and considering numerous factors for landslide evaluation at the same time in comparison to the other prevalent method and the results indicates that the percentage of high hazard class is 25 percent in AHP method.

It is important to assess the environmental sustainability in order to achieve the goal of sustainable development. For this purpose, in this study the environmental sustainability of some of the Iranian provinces has been evaluated and compared using two methods of AHP and TOPSIS in the years of 2007 and 2012. Based on the results from AHP, the most stable and the least stable provinces in 2007 were Kermanshah and Markazi, while in the year 2012 East Azerbaijan and Kerman were the most and least stable provinces. Based on the TOPSIS results, in 2007, Golestan and Ardebil and in 2012 Golestan and Kerman were the most and the least stable provinces in Iran. The results show that even though both AHP and TOPSIS methods are appropriate at prioritizing provinces, but the results from the AHP are the preferred ones.

Management and planning, distributing the economic and social activities as well as clearing hidden capacities in terms of the land’s potential and needs are the main goals of Land use planning. MOLA was used in order to zoning and planning Gorgan and Aliabad cities in eight major Land-uses. The method of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and analytic network process (ANP) and the experts’ experiences were used for weighting the three main factors including ecological, economic and social factors. Compare zoning based on two ways AHP and ANP weighting also was evaluated. The results showed that the integration of applications based on AHP and ANP different weighting methods. According to the results of the integration of applications based on ANP method compared to the AHP with respect to slope, height, density of vegetation, rainfall and erosion ability in general is more appropriate. The results showed that according to total Kappa values (0.9151), spatial Kappa (0.9524), standard Kappa (0.9323), and chance agreement (0.1111), MOLA based zoning based on AHP and ANP weights had a similarity A lot. But the difference in the use of the AHP and ANP was 88663 pixels (7979 ha). For this purpose, statistical data on slope, height, vegetation density, precipitation and erodibility were extracted based on the weight of the two methods of AHP and ANP. According to the results, the placement of land use based on the ANP method in comparison with AHP is more appropriate in general. This means that the method has better performance in the ANP have been weighted to land-uses. The results of this study, the relationship and the importance of all aspects of ecological, economic and social planning and land use planning notes.

Due to high cost, risk and time consuming nature of field operations and mineral explorations, the discovery of probable mineralization area is profoundly important. Thus, preparations of potential mineral map by means of GIS techniques for compilation all exploration factors is an essential matter. Various methods of mineral potential assessment have been developed. One of those most efficient techniques, based on nature of geology and mineral phenomena, is Analytical Hierarchy process (AHP) and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy process (FAHP). In this investigation, in order to prepare probable porphyritic gold copper zones map in 1:100000 sheet of south of Sehchangi, AHP and FAHP have been implemented. In the study area, the witness layers including geology layers (thermal source rock and host rock), alteration, tectonic and geochemical layers depending on target (porphyritic gold- copper mineralization) are weighted and then compiled by aid of AHP and FAHP. In final compiled map resulted by two mentioned methods, the anomalous zones are separated by fractal method. The comparison of final maps of probable porphyritic gold - copper mineralization zones indicate that the results derived byFAHP is significantly more precise than AHP. Anomalous zones derived by this method (FAHP) are evaluated, anomalous zone 1 derived by FAHP is approved by previous analysis. The analysis results of mineralized samples of anomaly 2 indicate that samples have experienced copper enrichment and moreover, gold and arsenic elements are enriched as well. The results presented here and results of previous analyses approve mineral potential assessment derived by Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy process (FAHP).

There is no perfect and precise procedure when selecting the type of road pavement, but you must take many factors into account when choosing the type of street pavement, here are some of them: traffic density, cost, type of soil, climate conditions, materials, durability, repair and maintenance, and environmental issues. This research aimed to technically and economically evaluate and compare Rolled compacted concrete, with Asphalt pavement. In this study, we used hierarchy analysis model and fuzzy hierarchical analysis model for technical comparison, and Executable map issued by department of transportation of Mazandaran province, for economic comparison. These criteria include pavement effective life time, effective exploitation, durability, resistance, performance speed, performance procedure, cost of performance (economical), repair and maintenance, and environmental issues for technical comparison. Finally ,hierarchy analysis model and fuzzy hierarchical analysis model, dually compared  and showed that Asphalt pavement with less weight took the second place, and Rolled compacted concrete with almost three times more weight took the first place as the better pavement and better choice. Prioritizing technical parameters in hierarchy analysis model and fuzzy hierarchical analysis model were as follows: durability as the first priority, resistance as the second, cost as the third, effective life time effective exploitation as fourth, repair and maintenance as fifth, environmental issues as sixth, performance speed as seventh, performance procedure as the last one. Comparing economical cost of Rolled compacted concrete with Asphalt pavement according to executive map issued by General Directorate of roads and urban development of Mazandaran Province, showed that performing Rolled compacted concrete costs 45% less than asphalt pavement.

The central area of any cities is of critical importance in the process of urban sustainable development. Diversity of land uses is an inevitable characteristic of a lively and dynamic urban center. These various land uses should support each other and need to be located in appropriate locations. In urban centers with different activities, public green spaces underpin urban sustainability and increase quality of life. In fact, nowadays there is an increased need for qualified and well-located public green spaces, in particular parks, in these areas. Therefore, green space site planning is amongst the most important of all management decisions for environmental and urban planners in a city. Reliable site planning is indispensable to the decision-making processes involved in developing urban green spaces supporting sustainable development. If making the decision reflects on a rationale based on proper information and research, then a higher level of community satisfaction is expected. In fact, if an appropriate site is selected based on a comprehensive integrated approach which considers all feasible effects, most of citizens' aspirations will be fulfilled. However, the multi-criteria nature of site selection for such spaces makes this issue so much complicated that it cannot be resolved using conventional managerial methods and tools. Considering the multidimensional structure (like social, economic, environmental, ecological or planning dimensions) and multi-functionality ( (such as utilization, employment, preservation, etc.) of green spaces, green space site planning is a decision under a variety of factors and can be viewed as a multiple criteria decision-making ( (MCDM) problem. Therefore, with reference to the use of multi-criteria decision-making process for urban green space optimum site planning along with a more sustainable development path, a very important role is played by the Analytic Hierarchy Process ( (AHP) and by its generalization to feedback networks, the Analytic Network Process ( (ANP). In addition to AHP and ANP approaches, which are both comprehensive to harmonize and deal with different aspects of sustainable urban green space site planning, GIS is also best suited for handling a wide range of criteria data at multi-spatial, multi-temporal and multi-scale from different sources for a multi-criteria analysis. Finally, from the viewpoint of all the above approaches and their benefits, this article studies the development of urban green spaces in the central area of Shiraz metropolitan area, Iran based on a comparison of different sites by developing a decision support system using a three-stage procedure based on integrated GIS Analytic/Hierarchy Process. Moreover, in order to select the alternatives, the methods of analytical hierarchy process and analytic network process have been comparatively studied. The results indicate that the models would yield the same output; however, the analytic network process works more on efficiently for this purpose. Overall, empirical findings indicate that the research approach can be used for future sustainable development in establishing standard decision-making procedures in urban green planning and management. Therefore, urban planners and managers can use this research result for choosing a more comprehensive mathematical tool for complex decision and rational judgment around the selection of land use location choices.Keywords: Green space, Site planning, Multi-criteria decision-making, Shiraz