(MCE) (Voogd 1983). In some instances, this term
has also been used to subsume the concept of multiobjective
decision-making (e.g. Carver 1991; Janssen
and Rietveld 1990). However, it is used here in a
more specific sense. An objective is understood here
to imply a perspective, philosophy, or motive that
guides the construction of a specific multi-criteria
decision rule. Thus in siting a hazardous waste
facility, the objective of a developer might be profit
maximisation while that of a community action
group might be environmental protection. The
criteria they each consider and the weights they
assign to them are likely to be quite different. Each
is likely to develop a multi-criteria solution – but a
different multi-criteria decision. The resolution of
these differing perspectives into a single solution is
known as multi-objective decision-making – a topic
which will not be covered in this chapter (see
Campbell et al 1992 and Eastman et al 1995 for two
prominent approaches to this problem in GIS).
Almost all of the case study examples in this
chapter are based on an analysis of suitability for
industrial development for the region of Nakuru,
Kenya. Nakuru is a region of strong agricultural
potential that has experienced rapid urban
development in recent years.