Land use and land suitability assessment within the context of spatial planning regulation

This paper presents the results of study aimed at assessing land suitability at a regional scale, and examining spatial matching between suitability classes and spatial planning regulations for Mamminasata, one of the strategic regions in Indonesia. We focussed on assessing areas for producing food crop, in Gowa Regency, using integrated techniques of ground surveys and geographic information systems (GIS) technology. We used available soil and climate information to generate land suitability for food crops. Ground survey was carried out to verify several soil data, and SPOT XS images (resolution 20 meters) were employed to map land use in the area of interest. A set of spatial planning data bases developed by local government was used to understand planned land use types. Spatial matching procedures within GIS were performed to see the best fit between suitability classes and planned land use according to spatial planning regulation of Mamminasata region. The same procedure was also performed between present and planned land use types. The results show that some suitable areas for food crops have been allocated for residential development. Similarly, areas that should be protected according to the spatial planning scheme, in fact, have been converted or practiced for long as, intensive agriculture and residential. The results of this study may give insights into the future anticipation of land use development in this region.