This work explores different techniques for transitioning from broad spatial suitability analysis to precision siting the individual, contiguous parcels that meet planning goals, specifically in the context of permitting mariculture farms. While Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) reliably produces general suitability maps of regulatory and environmental conflict with aquaculture, this critical second phase often involves solving for strict geometric and operational requirements to narrow down the area. We analyze spatial optimization methods that prioritize different aspects of this process, such as the importance of a specific farm shape, distances to important features, the amount of area needed, or geographic diversification to identify and rank specific locations. Instead of advocating a standard method, this study emphasizes how specific planning goals can dictate the optimal precision siting method and demonstrate the comparative performance and trade-offs of these techniques. This work builds on ever-improving methodologies that use spatial suitability modeling to help both stakeholders and regulators allocate space for sustainable aquaculture growth in balance with existing ocean uses.
Keywords: spatial suitability modeling, multi-criteria decision analysis, precision siting, spatial optimization, spatial planning