Site Finding in Complex Urban Landscape

This thesis develops a computational framework for small-scale urban site selection that utilizes the hierarchical approach to generate multi-criteria suitability models and illustrate urban complexity. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is one of the decision-making strategies based on the hierarchical design approach. This strategy uses a pairwise matrix method to break down the problem's complexity and help designers determine optimal weights.

As a case study, this thesis employs the example of community garden site finding for non-profit organizations in Toronto to illustrate and test the designed framework. This activity is chosen because it requires an integrated consideration of legal, environmental, social and physical systems and a need for conducting a site selection process at both neighbourhood and site scale. The research includes the co-relation study of existing community gardens, developing a neighbourhood scale suitability model using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and comparing top-scored properties.