GIS and Processing data with SIMUS

This is a case with a real structure from a road project in Africa, but with data changed for confidentially reasons. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how a powerful tool such as the Geographic Information System (GIS), may be used jointly with a Multi Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method. This problem is addressed using both methodologies in two different and sequential steps, when the first precedes the second. Thus, GIS produces information regarding consideration spatial interrelations of all features considered. The MCDM uses that information aiming at the selection of the best alternative. In this case, GIS provides spatial information on a certain area combining about 15 different themes involving environment, social and natural features such as villages, rivers, forests, swamps, etc. Four potential paths where detected, subject to these mentioned features, and then, the selection of the ‘best’ path was implemented by a MCDM method. To analyze robustness of the result, a sensitivity analysis was also performed.

Keywords: GIS; SIMUS; Routes; Integration; Spatial features; Sensitivity analysis