A Spatial Multicriteria Analysis for Exploring Territorial Scenarios of Economic Attractiveness

The present paper proposes a spatial multicriteria analysis for exploring the economic attractiveness of territories as a supporting tool for the definition of policies and actions of conservation and valorisation. In particular, we consider a system of economic indicators and indices representing specific economic features that contributes to the territorial attractiveness. These are evaluated according to the Multicriteria – Spatial Decision Support System (MC-SDSS) and specific thematic maps are produced. The proposed method has been applied to a landscape in Northern Italy, that belongs to the UNESCO wine region of Langhe Roero and Monferrato (WHL, 2014): the Roero landscape. In this research work, a survey was developed, with the aim at investigating the importance of the core elements of Roero landscape. In particular, a questionnaire has been submitted to a panel of local actors and stakeholders of Roero, using the SMARTER ranking technique. Subsequently, the evaluations expressed by actors and stakeholders have been used for aggregating the several indicators into synthetic indices and then achieving an overall index of economic attractiveness. The results of the evaluation have been spatialized through a GIS software, with the purpose to visualize the most attractive areas, as well as the areas that need a territorial interventions or policies of conservation and enhancement. This appraisal model would be a useful tool for local actors and Decision Makers in order to better interpret the territorial dynamics, thus supporting the definition of scenarios of landscape conservation and valorisation.