The Florida case study you read this week demonstrates how a LUCIS suitability model works from the bottom of the criteria hierarchy to the top. In other words, the suitabilities for sub-objectives are completed first, which then affect the determination of suitabilities for objectives, which in turn affect the determination of suitabilities for goals.


Each suitability submodel is stored as a custom geoprocessing tool (remember Model Builder from the MAD diagram?), which is added to the main model like any other tool. When the main model processes the custom tool, it runs the entire submodel behind the scenes.


The three figures below represent final plan alternatives for the five agriculture goals, six conservation goals, and four urban goals in a land use study in Florida.

MUAs - Images of a Region in FL with Goals Superimposed on Them (Described in More Detail on the Page)