The presentation depicts how Spatial Analyst in GIS can be used to identify suitable areas to resettle refugees.

1. GIS AS A DECISION SURPORT TOOL FOR
(CLIMATE) REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT.
EMMANUEL MWENJE
Consulting Urban Planner & Resilience Expert
University of Nairobi Enterprises Ltd
Email: e.mwenjeh@gmail.com
5th July 2021

2. Decision Support Systems (DSS)
 Decision Support Systems DSS are interactive computer-based systems and subsystems intended to
help decision makers use communications technologies, data, documents, knowledge and/or models to
complete decision process tasks.
 About 150+ DSTs for sustainable urban development EXIST!!
 Across various domains and disciplines:
 Urban land use (Spatial analyses)
 Water,
 Transportation,
 Mega infrastructure,
 Waste management,
 Environmental protection (EIA/SEA/ESIA),
 Health/safety (e.g. disaster management/resilience),
 Employment hotspots,
 Urban growth modelling, etc.
https://www.gdrc.org/decision/dss-types.html

3. Categories of DSS:
• Communication-driven DSS
Mostly for internal teams, including partners to collaborate. They web or client server. Examples: chats and instant
messaging softwares, online collaboration and net-meeting systems.
• Data-driven DSS
Most data-driven DSSs are targeted at managers, staff and also product/service suppliers. It is used to query a database or
data warehouse to seek specific answers for specific purposes. It is deployed via a main frame system, client/server link,
or via the web. Examples: computer-based databases that have a query system to check (including the incorporation of
data to add value to existing databases.
• Document-driven DSS
Document-driven DSSs are more common, targeted at a broad base of user groups. The purpose of such a DSS is to
search web pages and find documents on a specific set of keywords or search terms. The usual technology used to set
up such DSSs are via the web or a client/server system. Eg digital library.
• Knowledge-driven DSS:
Knowledge-driven DSSs or 'knowledgebase' are they are known, are a catch-all category covering a broad range of
systems covering users within the organization setting it up, but may also include others interacting with the organization
- for example, consumers of a business. It is essentially used to provide management advice or to choose
products/services. The typical deployment technology used to set up such systems could be client/server systems, the web,
or software running on stand-alone PCs.
• Model-Driven DSS
Model-driven DSSs are complex systems that help analyse decisions or choose between different options. These are
used by managers and staff members of a business, or people who interact with the organization, for a number of purposes
depending on how the model is set up - scheduling, decision analyses etc. These DSSs can be deployed via
software/hardware in stand-alone PCs, client/server systems, or the web.
https://www.gdrc.org/decision/dss-types.html

5. DSS Components :
DSS components may be classified as:
 Inputs : Factors, numbers, and
characteristics to
analyze.
 User Knowledge and Expertise
: Inputs requiring
manual analysis by the user.
 Outputs : Transformed data from
which DSS
"decisions" are generated.
 Decisions : Results generated by
the DSS based on
user criteria.

6. DSS PROS & CONS
DSS PROS :
1. Time savings
2. Enhance effectiveness
3. Improve interpersonal communication
4. Competitive advantage
5. Cost reduction
6. Increase decision maker satisfaction
7. Promote learning
8. Improves personal efficiency
DSS CONS :
1. Monetary cost.
2. Assumption of relevance.
3. Transfer of power.
4. Unanticipated effects.
5. Obscuring responsibility.
6. False belief in objectivity.
7. Status reduction.

7. SAMPLE DSS Applications
 Urban planning and development (eg GIS,ILWIS, QGIS, etc)
 Agricultural production.
 Resilience (Disaster Risk Assessments and mitigation/adaptation) (eg CRiSTAL, FEMA)
 Environmental planning and management (eg Integrated Land and Water Information System-
ILWIS)
 Logistics and fleet planning/management (Spatial analyst models)
 Medical diagnosis.
 Business and Management.
 Forest management [(eg Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)].
 ETC

8. Typical steps in (Spatial) decision making
Step 1: Identify the problem/decision and why you need a decision..
Step 2: Gather relevant information. ...
Step 3: Public participation/consultation
Step 4:Identify the alternatives. ...
Step 5: Weigh the evidence. ...
Step 6: Choose among alternatives. ...
Step 7: Stakeholder validation
Step 8: Take action. ...
Step 9: Review your decision & its consequences.

9. RAPID & EFFECTIVE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
 Refugees, displaced people, arise due to many factors eg.. climate
change hazards/disasters (floods, landslides, rising sea levels, drought
etc)
 Most of them find themselves in foreign land, either internally or
internationally/across country boarders.
 The main challenges include: effective housing, service access,
integration/cohesion, acceptance..
 How can we Rapidly, Effectively, Efficiently and Logically resettle
(climate) refugees??

10. Refugee Housing Process (Reception To Integration)
Council of Europe (2014)

11. CRITERIA INDICATORS DESCRIPTION /ASSUMPTION
PROXIMITY
TO SERVICES
Proximity to retail stores Retail stores are significant for the refugees to buy daily clothes, groceries, and any other necessities
hence areas near retail areas are more suitable than areas that are far (Un-Habitat, 2014) and (Vaz et
2017).
Proximity to health care The healthcare facilities are important for refugees care, health promotion and prevention of diseases
hence areas near health facilities area more suitable that areas far from the facilities (Un-Habitat, 2014)
Proximity to religious center This may be important for inclusivity and community involvement especially to find groups of similar
similar interest and beliefs in a new place hence areas near these sites are more suitable (Un-Habitat,
2014).
Proximity to police station Police stations areas depict safety to residents and refugees a well hence the closer and area is to the
police station the more suitable.
Proximity to bus stop Refugees rely on public transit especially for first few years hence the closer areas are to stations the
more suitable (Un-Habitat, 2014) and (Vaz et al., 2017).
Proximity to train station
Proximity to fire station This helps for emergency cases hence areas near these areas are more suitable (Un-Habitat, 2014)
(Vaz et al., 2017).
Proximity to Recreational Area
and Sport area
Sport facility and recreational area can be a medium for refugees and asylum seekers to integrate with
their new environment
LOCATIONAL
CONSTRAINT
Ecological preservation area
Infrastructure (Roads, Rail, Waste dump, Reservoir etc.)
Agriculture and Forest Land
Recreational Area (e.g. lake, nature and another recreational area)
Business, Industry and Offices
Public Service Area (including cemetery, fire station, railway station)
SUITABILITY ANALYSIS CRITERIA

12. SPATIAL PATTERN ANALYSIS
Dimension Land use type Rationale
Service industry Public Services Rail Infra Retail and
Hotel Restaurant Cafe (catering)
Social Cultural Road Infra Sports.
The area provides not only the basic material
needs as well as the spiritual demands of the
residents.
Employment Business Industry Office The area provides rich job opportunities for
residents.
Environment Forest Inland water Park Public
garden
The area provides enough open spaces for
residents
Residential Residential The area can promote residents ' daily
communicating and assimilation.
Others Agriculture Allotment Building site
others
The area has little or no direct impact on the
residents' daily life.

13. Socio-Economic Indicators
Indicator Description Description and assumptions
Population diversity index Population Mix: country of
origin, race..etc
The higher the population diversity the higher rate of integration hence
suitability for refugee housing.
% of age group
Active class
Population of age groups
24-64
Active age group for higher chances of integration.
Population density Number of persons per unit
area
High density is associated with low-income neighbourhoods hence if a
neighbourhood has high density it is more likely to accept construction
of refugee housing.
% of immigrants Number of immigrants within a
neighbourhood
High immigrants in a neighbourhood imply less resistance to the
housing compared to areas with low immigrants (OECD, 2015).
Average property value Average value (x1000 Euro) of
properties
High property values depicts high income and expensive thus less likely
to be used for refugee housing as compared to low property value
neighbourhoods.
Number of business
establishments
Total number of business and
commercial establishments
within a neighbourhood.
Presence of many economic and business establishments within a
neighbourhood is an indicator of availability of job opportunities and
makes a neighbourhood more suitable for refugee housing location.
Availability of
recreational, sports
educational and health
Number of recreational,
education, health and sports
facilities.
Sports and recreation facilities are very essential for integration and
increases the suitability for location of the refugee housing project.

14. Spatial analysis METHODOLOGY using GIS

15. DATA NEEDS

16. SUITABLE REFUGEE RESIDENTIAL AREAS

17. SUITABLE AREAS FOR REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS

18. Accessibility analysis

19. THANKS
Email: e.mwenjeh@gmail.com

20. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 ARAMPATZIS G. et al. A GIS-based decision support system for planning urban
transportation policies. European J. of Operational Research, 2004, 152(2), 465-475.
 DALE V. H. and ENGLISH M. R. Tools to aid environmental decision making, Springer,
New York, 1999, ISBN: 0387985565.
 KAPELAN Z. et al. CoDeS Scoping Study - WP2 Literature Review: Decision Support
Tools for Sustainable Urban Development. University of Exeter, Exeter, 2005, No.
2005/01.
 POLLARD S. J. T. et al. Integrating decision tools for the sustainable management of
land contamination. Science of the Total Environment, 2004, 325, 15-28.