linear Canal Suitability Analysis

[Ahmad_KhalidAmini]

Dear All,

I have only DEM and Landcover data sets and has been asked to prepare a linear canal best location from a river to a point in desert where desert is higher in elevation than the locations of river, i couldn't figure out how to proceed with this analysis, any one's help would be appreciated.

thanks

[curtvprice]

In a typical suitability analysis, you start with the criteria and then figure out how to quantify and calculate "scores" using the toolset. Some thoughts.

1. what areas should the canal be reaching?
2. are there spatial factors that will affect cost of construction?
3. Is there a maximum slope from the land surface of the target area to the existing river?

If you know the from point, this looks like it may be a classic cost distance analysis -- but you need to define a cost surface to do that. This requires that you have some parameters to define cost.

Hope this helps you get started....