Abstract

Author:

Jisan Kebede, Paramasivam Chellamuthu Ranganathan

Doi: 10.26480/magg.01.2025.20.29

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

This study employs GIS-based multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to identify optimal locations for new school sites in Bule Hora, West Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The analysis incorporates five criteria: land cover, slope, proximity to roads, existing schools, and vegetation. Each criterion plays a crucial role in determining the suitability of potential school sites. The methodology prioritizes accessibility, with sites near major roads receiving higher scores due to their ease of service. Specifically, the study excludes areas with steep slopes (5.93°–15.91°) as they scored poorly, focusing instead on flat or gently sloped lands. The final selection identifies a site of approximately 11.13 hectares, representing 0.11% of the study area, as the most suitable location for a new school. This site is located on bare land near the western roads of Bule Hora, offering both accessibility to transportation and distance from existing settlements. The weighted criteria show that bare land and proximity to roads are most influential, whereas steep slopes, dense vegetation, and built-up areas are less favorable. This approach ensures that the selected site is optimal in terms of both accessibility and land suitability, addressing the educational infrastructure needs of the community.