GIS as a Decision Support System in Urban Planning Ashish Arora RMSI, A-7, Sector 16 Noida 201 301, UP, India Tel: +91 120 251 1102 Fax: +91 120 251 0963 ashish.arora@rmsi.com Ajay Goel RMSI, A-7, Sector 16 Noida 201 301, UP, India Tel: +91 120 251 1102 Fax: +91 120 251 0963 ajay.goel@rmsi.com Abstract: Planning and management is a continuous process and are based on a generic problem solving which starts with problem identification, involves various forms of analysis which also might include data simulation and modeling, moves to prediction and finally to prescription or design which mostly involves the evaluation of available alternative solutions to the problem. Today, planning means dealing with a constant change and helping the societies to manage that change. Recently, a new trend is emerging where GIS systems are combined with analytical, mathematical models to form spatial decision support toolkits. In these integrated systems the GIS is being used to handle the spatial data and provide a decision and management functions that lie at the heart of the planning process. This paper is a GIS based approach to understand the various problems and potentials of town "Rayya" popularly known for its grain market in Punjab. In this, we will discuss spatially its regional linkages, growth patterns, employment status, education status, work place relationship, market areas, transportation networks, demographic features, and economic factors etc., which are affecting its growth in one way or the other. Finally we will see how GIS as a decision support system can help in optimally utilizing the existing resources of this town to make it more socio-economic efficient. 1. Introduction: The world is becoming more and more urban with the passage of each century. India is no exception to this phenomenon and has experienced rapid urbanization during the last five decades. India’s urban population of 62 million spread over 2845 urban centers in 1951 has increased to 285 million in over 5161 UA (Urban Agglomerations) in 2001. The level of urbanization during the same period has increased continuously from 17.3 per cent in 1951 to 27.8 percent in 2001. Urban areas, particularly cities are viewed as engines of growth and centers of social and cultural diversity and carried opportunities. In a developing country like India where 73% of the population resides in rural area and 27% in urban areas, we need a very structured planning procedure such that the development activities and infrastructure facilities are available at both urban and rural area. However, in such a condition where majority of people living in rural area and are provided with the least infrastructure facilities, creates a regional disparities in development, causing the migration of population from rural to urban areas. On the other hand, the quality of life in urban areas is deteriorating due to in-migration and inadequate urban services and facilities. The gap between demand for urban services and facilities and the supply of these services is widening as a result of which urban planning processes have become increasingly complex and sophisticated. We are, truly, living in the information age and thus should have within reach the dream of planning in such a way that our communities can prosper without sprawl, grow without destroying the environment. An important factor in improving the delivery of urban services is through the investment in spatial information systems (also known as Geographic Information Systems or GIS). The value of the information and the effectiveness of the decision-making and planning processes are closely related to the quality and completeness of the information or the data and the manner in which it is made available. Hence administrators, planners or decision-makers require an efficient GIS based tool, which will assist them to get the updated scenario of the region. 2. GIS and Decision-making in Planning: A decision is a choice between alternatives. The alternatives may represent different options of action based on different hypotheses among which a choice is desirable based on some criteria. Much of the use of GIS in planning assumes use of a rational mode of decision-making, which entails a linear process initiated with the identification of a problem, followed by a comprehensive search for alternatives and concluded with the selection of the optimal alternative as indicated by the gathered information. The decision support field is the development of approaches for applying information systems technology to increase the effectiveness of decision makers in situations where the GIS technology can support and enhance human judgment in the performance of tasks that have elements, which cannot be specified in advance. The present study emphasizes the power of GIS technology as a Decision Support System in Spatial Planning for which block Rayya of District Amritsar was taken as a case study covering 83 villages. The administrative maps were digitized and non-spatial attribute data, prepared on MS-Access, were incorporated to each of the villages in spatial data. 2.1 Study Area: Block Rayya is one of the 15 development blocks of Amritsar District, situated along National Highway No. 1 in the northeastern part of the district and at a distance of 43 km. from Amritsar city. Rayya block consists of 83 villages and having an area of 296 sq. km. out of the district area of 5087 sq. km.  MAP: 1 Location Map 2.2 Scope of Study: In a GIS based system any analysis can be done and its output can be shown in a much better way only by integrating non-spatial data with spatial data. In present case our main emphasis was to derive such indices, which reflects the level of infrastructural development of block and identifies the gaps. Simultaneously we also analyzed whole block in the light of intra village imbalances, which includes –
2.3 Regional Linkages: Rayya is well connected with the state as well as District Headquarters through the National Highway, State Highway and Major District Road (MDR) passing through the block. The villages of block Rayya are growing radially and connected with each other through these radial links. Although no such proper road hierarchy is present but these radial links connects the villages with National Highway, State Highway and MDR passing through the block which also provides block’s connectivity to its surrounding areas.  MAP: 2 Road Network 2.4 Land Utilization: The total Geographic land of block Rayya is categorized under five heads as shown in table no: 1.  Source: Statistical Abstract Punjab 2000, Village Directory Rayya 2000.  Source: Village Directory Rayya 2000. Rayya is dominated by small size villages and having total population of 1,66,171 in 2001 spread over 83 villages. As far as population size is concerned, 52 % of the villages have population size below 1500 and only 6 villages registered a population above 5000.  MAP: 3 Population Growth Population growth rate of 20 – 30 per cent is observed in villages situated near the National Highway, State Highway and major District road. The average population density of the block is about 527 persons per sq km. however close to the National Highway, State Highway and Major District road, the density increases from 10-20 persons per hectare to 20-30 persons per hectare during 1991-2001. This indicates the concentration of infrastructure along these roads. A low density exists in the peripheral areas of block, which is mainly because of more agriculture area.  Source: Census of India. 2.6 Economy: There are total five Focal points in block Rayya, which are:
Conclusions: Basically the whole block is agrarian in nature but there are some villages, which are having some religious importance, and some are having trade and commerce activities. The spatial analysis of past trends and the current status points that block Rayya is suffering a huge amount of intra village disparities. Although the block has well developed agriculture and allied activities, but it was witnessed only marginal industrial development. Rayya has very good transport infrastructure facilities, which connect it to the rest of the country, but its intra village linkages are not much stronger as a result of which, the major economic activities are not diversified. The concentration of various services and facilities only in few villages and that too in villages, which are near to highways, results in the regional imbalance. References:
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