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Abstract
This paper presents three spatial decision-support models (Boolean logic, binary evidence
and overlapping index of multiple class maps) to perform a land suitability analysis
for sanitary landfill siting. The study was carried out in the basin of Lake Cuitzeo,
Mexico, with the objective of locating areas that comply with environmental regulations
and with the inter-municipality criterion, i.e., that are accessible by at least two
municipalities. Biophysical and socio-economic data were processed in a Geographic
Information System (GIS). The three models differ in their complexity and restrictiveness.
The Boolean logic model is easier to apply and more restrictive than the other two,
because it is based on the assessment of single attributes. On the other hand, the
binary data and overlapping index methods are relatively more complex because they
require attribute weighting. The results showed that 23 of the 28 municipalities included
in the basin have at least one area that was classified as highly suitable. The most
suitable areas covered from 63.8 to 204.5 km(2) (from 1.5% to 5%), and they are not
distributed homogeneously, but clustered around four main sites. The larger and most
suitable of these sites is located in the central part of the basin, and it can be
accessed by five of the most densely populated municipalities. The proposed approach
represents a low-cost alternative to support a common spatial decision-making process
in developing countries.