Applying a Modified VIKOR Method to Classify Land Subdivisions According to Watershed Vulnerability

Taiwan’s high population density impedes absolute prohibitions on land-use activities in watershed areas. Different tracts of land around each watershed have different levels of environmental vulnerability; Taiwan must analyze the land surrounding its watersheds in order to restrict land-use. Various multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) tools can incorporate meteorological and geographical factors into extended watershed vulnerability; in particular, this study employed a modified VIKOR method that can compromise between conflicting criteria to find acceptable solutions. This study assessed the Tseng-Wen reservoir watershed in southern Taiwan with regard to the spatial variability of its environmental characteristics. The findings were relevant to land-use restrictions for Chiayi County, Tainan County, and Kaohsiung County. We produced a modified VIKOR index <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$Q_j^\ast $</EquationSource> </InlineEquation>, which suggested that land-use in Tainan County be heavily restricted, that land-use in Kaohsiung County be lightly restricted, and that land-use in Chiayi County be moderately restricted. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011