Abstract

Implementing Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) Operators in ArcGIS Using ModelBuilder
Track: Analysis and Geoprocessing
Authors: Soheil Boroushaki

Spatial decision-making problems typically involve a set of decision alternatives that are evaluated on the basis of multiple and incommensurate criteria. Central to GIS multicriteria analysis is the integration of geographical data and judgments to provide an overall assessment of the decision alternatives. This is accomplished by a multicriteria decision rule. This presentation focuses on the implementation of the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) decision rule in ArcGIS using ModelBuilder. OWA is a family of multicriteria evaluation operators that generalizes the Boolyean overlays and the weighted linear combination procedures. Due to the non-linearity of OWA procedures, it was not possible to implement OWA within ArcGIS using its capabilities. This presentation will show an innovative approach using new capabilities of ModelBuilder that introduced in ArcGIS 10 to implement OWA. This generic structure can be used for tackling a wide range of spatial decision and management problems in various research domains of geosciences.