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Suitability Analysis Toolkit book cover
Book 3 of 4 — SM Datum Toolkit Series

Suitability Analysis Toolkit: 50+ Python Scripts for Weighted Overlay, AHP & Multi-Criteria Site Selection

Turn any set of criteria into a defensible, weighted suitability map — weighted overlay and multi-criteria scoring, AHP pairwise comparison with consistency checks, boolean constraint masking, sensitivity and Monte Carlo validation, and batch suitability pipelines, in ArcPy and PyQGIS.

What's inside

Sample from the book

# AHP weights → consistency check → weighted overlay, in three calls
weights = ahp_weights(pcm, criteria)
cr = consistency_ratio(pcm, lambda_max)
suitability = weighted_overlay(criteria, weights)
# CR = 0.016 — consistent, ready to use
# 4/4 checks passed • tested against real QGIS + GDAL

Who this book is for

Frequently asked questions

What is weighted overlay suitability analysis?

Weighted overlay combines several ranked criteria layers — each scaled to a common range and multiplied by a weight reflecting its importance — into one composite suitability surface, so a decision like site selection is based on a documented, defensible score rather than a single map.

Does the book cover AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process)?

Yes. It includes scripted AHP pairwise comparison for deriving criteria weights, along with automated consistency-ratio checks so you can confirm the weights are logically consistent before using them.

Does this work with both ArcGIS Pro and QGIS?

Yes. The suitability, AHP, and overlay scripts are provided in ArcPy for ArcGIS Pro and PyQGIS for QGIS.

What is sensitivity and Monte Carlo validation used for?

It tests how much the final suitability ranking changes if criteria weights are varied within a plausible range, which is standard practice for defending a multi-criteria site-selection result against the "what if the weights were slightly different" question.

What format is the book available in?

Kindle eBook ($9.99) on Amazon.

Try it free first

These free tools on this site cover related overlay and analysis steps, right in your browser:

Part of the SM Datum Toolkit Series

Four books, 190+ scripts total, all in ArcPy and PyQGIS.