GIS-BASED MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS OF SUITABLE LOCATIONS

This study addresses the challenge of unsustainable solid waste management in Edo South, Nigeria, by integrating Geographic Information System (GIS) technology with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). The research focused on five critical criteria such as distance to road, slope, soil type, distance to water bodies, and proximity to residential areas, which were weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Road accessibility was determined to be the most critical factor, receiving the highest weight at 30%, emphasizing its role in operational
logistics and cost efficiency. A Weighted Overlay Analysis was performed to synthesize the standardized spatial layers, generating a final suitability map. The key findings reveal robust land availability: 34.6% of the Edo South Senatorial District was classified as Highly Suitable, 64.8%as Moderately Suitable, and only 0.5% as Least Suitable. The optimal, highly suitable sites are strategically concentrated in the outlying and less urbanized Local Government Areas (including Ovia South-West, Ovia North-East, Uhunmwonde, and Orhionmwon), confirming the necessity of siting new facilities away from the dense urban core. The final map serves as a reliable, data-driven planning tool, guiding policymakers and urban planners toward sustainable landfill
placement that ensures compliance with environmental standards and mitigates the public health and pollution risks associated with current improper waste disposal practices in the region.