Module 1A: Suitability Analysis

     As part of our lab this week, we were required to create two suitability rate rasters and compare them. The resulting rasters are depicted in the above map layout. To create these rasters, I used the Slope tool in ArcGIS Pro to create a slope raster from a DEM. I also used the Polygon to Raster tool to create a soils raster. The Euclidian Distance tool was also employed to create two rasters, a distance to rivers and distance to roads. I then used the Reclassify tool to reclassify these four rasters and a land cover raster into suitability ratings. Finally, the Weighted Overlay tool was used to produce the two rasters in the map layout above. The settings for the Weighted Overlay tool were changed so that the five rasters were of equal weight in one scenario and of varying weights in the other.
     The equal weight scenario resulted in much fewer least and most suitable (2 &5) locations than the alternative, while also having more 4 rated and slightly less 3 rated locations.