This research aims to assess the suitability of land for agriculture in Babylon Governorate using Multi-Criteria Spatial Analysis (MCDA) within Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The study problem stems from the clear absence of a comprehensive and systematic assessment of the suitability of agricultural land in the governorate, leading to suboptimal utilization of natural resources and a significant decline in agricultural productivity. This problem is exacerbated by unplanned urban sprawl encroaching on fertile land, soil degradation, and water scarcity. The research posits that natural criteria, such as soil and water, are the most influential factors in determining land suitability for agriculture, and that applying the MCDA methodology using GIS will enable the identification of areas with high agricultural potential with greater accuracy and reliability. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to determine the relative weights of each criterion based on the opinions of a group of experts and specialists in the agricultural and environmental sectors. Subsequently, these weighted criteria were integrated using the Weighted Overlay technique within a GIS environment to create a final map illustrating the levels of land suitability for agriculture in the governorate.
Lamia Taha (Mon,) studied this question.