Assessing Agricultural Potential Through Combined Land Suitability and Machinery Management: A GIS-Based Approach

Olsid Mema; Etleva Jojic; Përparim Laze; Valdete Vorpsi; Ndoc Vata; Ilir Salillari; Altin Dorri

doi:10.15157/IJITIS.2026.9.2.981-1018

Authors

Olsid Mema 1. Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania; 2. Geoinformation Centre for the Western Balkans, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5731-9499
Etleva Jojic Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3890-1944
Përparim Laze Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6700-585X
Valdete Vorpsi Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8536-4974
Ndoc Vata Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8502-2148
Ilir Salillari Agricultural Technology Transfer Center-Fushë Krujë, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Tirana, Albania https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2089-0691
Altin Dorri Energy Department, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6808-1519

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15157/IJITIS.2026.9.2.981-1018

Abstract

The evaluation of agricultural potential requires the simultaneous consideration of land biophysical capacity and mechanization feasibility, two interrelated components that are rarely integrated within conventional agricultural assessment approaches. This study addresses this gap through the development of a GIS-based multi-criteria assessment framework applied to the “Frakulla” administrative unit in southwestern Albania. The framework integrates land suitability analysis for cereal production based on soil properties, climatic conditions, slope, aspect and accessibility, together with machinery operation suitability analysis considering slope, elevation, accessibility and land characteristics. Both components were evaluated using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)-based weighted overlay analysis within a GIS environment and subsequently combined through spatial overlay techniques to generate complementary agricultural potential outputs. These outputs consist of an Agricultural Potential (AP) classification matrix that cross-tabulates cereal production suitability and mechanization feasibility classes, and a spatial AP map representing the geographic distribution of these combined conditions across the study area. The proposed framework is intended as a diagnostic and planning-oriented classification system describing existing biophysical and operational land conditions, without predictive implications regarding crop yields, future agronomic performance or land use change. Statistical validation procedures, including contingency, correlation and sensitivity analyses, were conducted to evaluate the internal consistency and robustness of the classification results. Where applied, ROC analysis was used exclusively to examine the discriminatory coherence of classification thresholds. The resulting AP map provides a practical decision-support tool for land-use planning, mechanization management and investment prioritization in Mediterranean and other heterogeneous agricultural landscapes.