Abstract:
Urban development and planning, with residential construction based on land suitability, has
recently become a prominent trend in both developed and developing countries. This research
conducts an analytical study on the residential land suitability of the Kurunegala urban area
using Geographic Information System (GIS). Kurunegala urban area is presently experiencing
rapid urbanisation, land scarcity, and uncontrolled development and has created a critical need
for sustainable land use planning. The principal research problem is addressing the lack of spatially
based strategies for assessing residential land suitability. The research questions are: what
are the best suitable areas in the Kurunegala urban area for residential development? The aims
of the study are to evaluate land suitability with spatial techniques and support sustainable residential
planning. Primary data were collected using a questionnaire survey, while secondary
data were collected using research papers and from relevant institutions. The methodology
combines GIS and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in order to perform a Multi-Criteria
Decision Analysis. Slope, drainage, land use, roads, population, and forest were considered
factors. These were ranked by expert judgment and superimposed using a Weighted Overlay
Analysis in GIS. Results showed that approximately 0.04% of the Kurunegala urban area is
highly suitable for habitation purposes, 3.60% is relatively suitable, and 49.17% is unsuitable
based on environmental constraints or limited access to services. The most appropriate land is
found in the central and south-west parts of the region, with gentle slopes and well-developed
infrastructure, though the northeast parts are restricted by slope inclination and ecological sensitivity.
The study concludes that GIS-based AHP models can be useful tools to identify the best
areas for residential expansion, thereby assisting in more harmonic and ecologically sustainable
urban development. These findings are of practical use to local governments and city planners
to make zoning and infrastructure development decisions. The study also informs policy formulation
targeted at sustainable urban development. Future research can incorporate dynamic
factors such as land value trends and community needs in order to facilitate more advanced
planning.
