Analytic network process for criteria selection in sustainable coastal land use planning

• Published in: Ocean & coastal management Vol. 53; no. 9; pp. 544 - 551
• Main Authors: Pourebrahim, Sharareh, Hadipour, Mehrdad, Mokhtar, Mazlin Bin, Hj Mohamed, Mohd Ibrahim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geomorphology, landform evolution; Marine; Marine and continental quaternary; Surficial geology; planning; land use; management; pressure; indicators; networks; frame structure; policy
• ISSN: 0964-5691; 1873-524X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2010.06.019

The coastal lands are very important boundaries in the natural system. But these areas are under pressure that has threatened their health by short-sighted planning policies. The management options have focused on economic production and human benefits rather than the natural systems that guaranty sustainability of them. Evaluation of sustainability in coastal lands needs some critical criteria and indicators. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate an innovative reliable method for identification of the most important criteria and indicators using multi criteria techniques, especially the Analytic Network Process (ANP). Analytic Network Process as a new approach has potential to be applied into the field of coastal land use development. This is the first time ANP has been used for criteria selection to ensure sustainability in coastal land use planning. The integration of social, economic and environmental criteria within the planning framework in this paper has provided a holistic approach for integrated coastal land use development.