Criteriageographic

Criteriageographic is an adjective used to describe a framework or methodology that applies explicit decision criteria to geographic data in order to classify, select, or evaluate locations or regions. It combines defined criteria with spatial information to support decision making, often through geographic information systems (GIS) and related analytical tools. In practice, criteriageographic approaches produce maps, rankings, or selections that reflect a structured evaluation of geographic options.

Etymology and scope: The term blends criterion or criteria with geographic, signaling a focus on criteria-driven analysis of spatial phenomena. It tends to appear in planning, environmental management, and spatial decision making, where practitioners seek transparent, repeatable processes for comparing places or zones. It does not refer to a single standardized method but to a family of approaches that share a criteria-first perspective.

Methods and workflow: A typical criteriageographic workflow starts with the explicit definition of decision criteria (for example, economic viability, environmental impact, accessibility). Spatial data are collected and prepared, criteria are weighted or prioritized, and locations are scored. The scores are aggregated to produce maps or rankings that support selection or prioritization. Methods commonly employed include multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and GIS-based spatial aggregation.

Applications: Used in site selection for facilities or services, conservation prioritization, urban and regional planning, hazard and risk assessment, and public health geography. It supports transparent comparison across candidate sites or regions.

Limitations: Outcomes depend on chosen criteria and their weights; data quality and spatial scale influence results; subjectivity can affect rankings, underscoring the need for documentation and sensitivity analysis.

See also: GIS, spatial analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis, site selection, spatial decision support systems.