Sustainable land use planning in developing countries using GIS and multi-criteria analysis: a case study of Lalitpur district, Nepal

Rapid urbanization in Nepal is lead to unplanned land development, posing significant challenges for sustainable urban growth. This study conducted a comprehensive land use suitability analysis for urban development in Lalitpur District, Nepal, using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Multi-criteria Analysis (MCA) techniques including the weighted overlay and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). By examining factors such as proximity to infrastructure which include land cover, population density, flood sensitivity, slope, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), proximity to brick factory and Central Business District (CBD), the study identified suitable areas for urban development in Lalitpur District. The study identified five suitability classes ranging from very low/restricted, low suitability, marginal suitability, moderate suitability and high suitability, with the weighted overlay method aligning more closely with real-world data using flood sensitivity and land cover data. The analysis identified five suitability classes for urban development: existing built-up area (34.36 km²), high suitability (57.66 km² ), moderate suitability (130.48 km² ), marginal suitability (106.12 km² ), low suitability (47.40 km² ) and very low/ restricted suitability (20.33 km² ). The findings of the analysis emphasize the importance of integrating environmental factors, risk factors in land use planning and urban development to preserve green spaces, protect water bodies, and ensure the long-term well-being of residents. The study provides valuable insights for decision-makers and urban planners, enabling them to make informed decisions and effective resource allocation for sustainable urban development.