Location selection and analysis of higher education uses using geographic information system (GIS) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) (case study: Babol city)

High education institutess are a key factor in the educational process. Centers that have a suitable location and are designed in a systematic program help the development of urban society in a suitable and efficient way. However, site selection of the high education centers, including Azad University, is a complex issue that involves many evaluations (technical, political, social, environmental and economic).

Goal:

The most important goal of the research is to implement the correct and appropriate model for the location of higher education centers for the effectiveness of uses in the city.

This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical and field in terms of method and nature, and the final weight of the criteria in preparing the location map was calculated using fuzzy hierarchical multi-criteria decision-making analysis. Based on this and by applying the weights of each criteria in the ArcGIS environment, the suitability of the lands of Babol city for the establishment of new higher education centers with an emphasis on the Islamic Azad University was determined.

Geographical area of research:

Babol City is located in Babol Township of Mazandaran Province.There are 18 high education institutes (including universities and high education institutes) in this city.

According to the opinion of experts, the criterion of the distance from flood-prone areas is the first priority with a relative weight of 0.098, and the land value criterion is the last priority with a relative weight of 0.035 to influence the optimal site selection of the high education institutes. According to the site selection map of high education institutes in Babol, the most suitable land for creating these centers is in the southwest and west part of the city and in the area of Farhangian, Nilufer, Azadegan, Taleghani and Andisheh complexes, as well as the current location of the Islamic Azad University of Babol branch.

There are three important points in choosing the location of university units with a sustainable development approach:1)Identifying the effects of the components of location and spatial distribution of high education; 2)Identifying the effects of the components of the stakeholders' satisfaction with high education; 3)Identifying the effects of the spatial components of high education site selection.