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Applying a Modified VIKOR Method to Classify Land Subdivisions According to Watershed Vulnerability

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Abstract

Taiwan’s high population density impedes absolute prohibitions on land-use activities in watershed areas. Different tracts of land around each watershed have different levels of environmental vulnerability; Taiwan must analyze the land surrounding its watersheds in order to restrict land-use. Various multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) tools can incorporate meteorological and geographical factors into extended watershed vulnerability; in particular, this study employed a modified VIKOR method that can compromise between conflicting criteria to find acceptable solutions. This study assessed the Tseng-Wen reservoir watershed in southern Taiwan with regard to the spatial variability of its environmental characteristics. The findings were relevant to land-use restrictions for Chiayi County, Tainan County, and Kaohsiung County. We produced a modified VIKOR index \(Q_j^\ast \), which suggested that land-use in Tainan County be heavily restricted, that land-use in Kaohsiung County be lightly restricted, and that land-use in Chiayi County be moderately restricted.

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Correspondence to Chia-Ling Chang.

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Chang, CL., Hsu, CH. Applying a Modified VIKOR Method to Classify Land Subdivisions According to Watershed Vulnerability. Water Resour Manage 25, 301–309 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-010-9700-2

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