Use of Geotechnologies and Multicriteria Evaluation in Land Use Policy - The Case of the Urban Area Expansion of the City of Babahoyo, Ecuador

Resumen

Population growth is a phenomenon that needs to be controlled and planned over a long period of time. However, it has been demonstrated, that cities grow disorganized, expanding into unsuitable places as a result of schedules performed with obsolete cartographic thematic information and of large scale. Based on the aforementioned, through the use of geotechnologies and the multicriteria evaluation (Saaty)of the variables such as Morphological Unit, Earrings, Soil texture and, Agrological classes, it has been possible to identify feasible places for the expansion of the urban area of the city of Babahoyo in Ecuador. Taking as reference the limitations of the territory in which the city is located, the constant presence of limitations (light, moderate, severe)to accept this type of urban use has been evident. Some 29.53% of the study area has not been not suitable for this activity, while 38.01% have moderate to severe limitations, and only 21.26% appear to have slight to moderate limitations. This indicates, that Babahoyo lacks of appropriate spaces and has no limitations for human settlements. This situation has led the decision-makers to analyze the feasibility of building on the wetland that is located on the outskirts of the city.