Determining the areas most suitable for urban land use while minimizing impact on natural areas. The case of the Machachi Valley, Ecuador.

Due to the impact of urban growth on the environment, especially in developing countries, decision-making tools are needed to help locate the ideal areas for urban use. This study aims to identify the areas most suitable for urban use, minimizing their impact on forest land use in an area with high urban sprawl. As a new development, the study also considers the connectivity between forest-use patches and the loss of forest area as decision variables.