Optimal Location Selection for Agricultural Areas Using Remote Sensing Data and Analytical Hierarchy Process (Case Study: Ardabil County)

Document Type : Origional Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Ph.D Student, Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Abstract
Background and Objective: Optimal location selection for agricultural areas refers to the process of identifying the best lands for crop cultivation while considering various factors such as climatic conditions, soil properties, and water resources to enhance productivity and sustainability. This study aims to identify suitable agricultural areas in Ardabil County by utilizing remote sensing data and the Analytical Network Process (ANP).

Methodology: In this research, environmental factors influencing agriculture were first identified and classified into four main categories: topography (elevation, slope, aspect), climate (temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration), water resources (surface runoff, soil moisture, groundwater reserves, distance from streams), and land cover (soil texture, land use, NDVI). Satellite data from reliable sources such as MODIS, CHIRPS, GRACE, Landsat 8, and TerraClimate were used, and necessary analyses were conducted within the Google Earth Engine environment. The weighting of criteria was carried out using Super Decisions software and ANP analysis. Finally, the optimal agricultural area map was generated using ArcGIS software.

Findings and Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the western and southeastern regions of Ardabil County have high potential for sustainable agriculture due to favorable climatic conditions, adequate water resources, and suitable topography. In these areas, factors such as elevation, precipitation, soil moisture, and slope have had positive impacts on agricultural growth and productivity. In contrast, the central and eastern regions face more challenges in agriculture due to reduced precipitation, low elevation, and limited water resources. The increase in evapotranspiration and the lack of groundwater reserves highlight the need for modern irrigation methods and the cultivation of drought-resistant crops in these areas.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 February 2026

  • Receive Date 22 December 2024
  • Revise Date 03 February 2025
  • Accept Date 10 March 2025
  • First Publish Date 12 March 2025
  • Publish Date 20 February 2026