Abstract

In this study, a geographic information system was used to determine land suitability for locating type 1, type 2 and type 3 factories in Lam Thap District, Krabi Province, Thailand. Environmental factors used to assess suitability were proximity to roads, rivers, urban areas, public areas, watershed areas, forest areas, wildlife areas, as well as land use type. Numerical weights of the main factors were assigned and suitability rankings were derived from a survey of experts as well as legal infommation relating to factory placement. A series of overlays were conducted and ranks from each layer were combined additively to form a final suitability score for all type of factories. The results from this study suggest that the total area of marginally, moderately and highly suitable land for type 1 factories was 4.42% of the total study area, 0.10 and 0.75%, respectively. The remaining area of 94.73% was considered unsuitable for factory type 1 placement. The total area of marginally, moderately and highly suitable land for type 2 factories was 2.36, 0.72 and 0.11%, respectively. The remaining area of 96.81% was considered unsuitable for factory type 2 placement. The total area of marginally, moderately and highly suitable land for type 3 factories was 2.94%, 2.45% and 0.87%, respectively. The remaining area of 93.74% was considered unsuitable for factory type 3 placement. A comparison of the area of suitable land for all factory type, reveals that highly suitable land for type 3 factories covers more area than other type of factories. High suitability (0.87%) for factory type 3 was due to the fact that much of the land is abandoned area or still far away from urban areas, public areas, forest areas, wildlife areas, roads and rivers.

Key words: Geographic information system, suitability assessment.