Linking objective and subjective modelling for landuse decision-making

This paper describes a landuse modelling approach developed for the Makilin g Forest Reserve in the Philippines. The process includes application of th e analytical hierarchy process (AHP) but extends this approach to include o bjective process based modelling - in the form of the universal soil loss e quation (USLE) - in the subjectively oriented framework of AHP. A geographi c information system was used for data assembly and to define decision zone s and a PC based interface developed to accommodate interactive application of the AHP and USLE models. Having successfully combined the objective and subjective elements for evaluation of landuse alternatives, the paper expl ores the options for landuse allocation based on the suitability assessment s of a participating decision group. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.