Selecting sites for new settlements in arid lands: Negev case study

Arid Land stressful conditions require careful selection of the urban site. The MRRC (method of rating regional cells) uses a systematic and consistent procedure to determine the preferable areas for a site. After defining goals and objectives, determining the type of settlement to be sited, delineating regional borders, and eliminating obviously unsuitable areas, the remainder is divided into equal, square cells. Primary criteria to be mapped would include climatic comfort, physiographic, hydrologic, environmental quality, and accessibility and proximity to supplies. Values are assigned to each criterion in relation to the values assigned to all other criteria. A series of maps equal in number to the number of primary criteria is compiled by assigning numerical values to each cell, for each criterion in turn. By overlayment of maps, a professional interdisciplinary team can determine the highly rated cells from which the most suitable areas for the new settlement may be chosen. Consideration of an endless number of criteria is possible, and MRRC may be adapted for computerization.