Conservation priority assessment of the coastal area in the Kuala Lumpur mega-urban region using extent analysis and TOPSIS

Abstract

To guarantee sustainability in urban coastal areas, it is essential to have more conservation plans in these areas under various pressures. The first large urban conurbation in Malaysia, which stretches from the central mountain spine to the west coast, has expanded and emerged as a potential mega-urban region. To evaluate its sustainability, several critical criteria and indicators must be identified. The process of choosing criteria is very sensitive. If too many criteria are selected, the focus of the plan becomes narrow, and this simplification often leads to poor decision making. The use of a limited number of criteria allows accommodation of spatial and temporal changes and also makes it easier to collect data. This paper presents an innovative, reliable method for identification of the most important criteria and alternatives using integrated extent analysis and fuzzy TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution). The weights of the criteria are determined using the fuzzy pairwise comparison of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. Criteria were also selected by interviewing thirty experts in the fields of economic, social and environmental sustainability. This set of criteria was drawn from several policies and strategies for development in Malaysia. Interviews with coastal managers, town and country planners and academic experts at the national and local levels provided information used to refine and modify these criteria. Seventeen criteria in three clusters of ecological, social and economic issues were considered in the evaluation of six alternatives sites for conservation in coastal areas, Port Dickson, Kelanang, Jugra, Pulau Indah, Kuala Selangor and Morib. Jugra was determined to be the most appropriate area for conservation.