GIS-Based Decision Support System for Smart Project Location

In recent years, leading sustainability rating systems have extended the sustainability certification beyond buildings by introducing neighborhood level rating systems. The rationale is that sustainable buildings start with suitable site location and how well they integrate with their neighborhood. This paper discusses a Geographic Information System (GIS) based decision support system that aids owners, developers, and other stakeholders to analyze the project site location and its integration with the neighborhood in a sustainable manner. This decision support system uses four criteria to evaluate the project site location, a) connectivity to existing urban infrastructure; b) integration within current neighborhood; c) connectivity to transportation network; and d) environmental and agricultural land status. After reviewing literature on project site location in relation to neighborhood level sustainability rating systems, this paper discusses the results of preliminary test conducted using a neighborhood case study.