2025 • Volume 5 • Number 1

https://doi.org/10.57599/gisoj.2025.5.1.19

Walaa A. AlHyari1, Othman M. Ghnaim2

IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE OPTIMAL SITE FOR

KINDERGARTEN PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF AS-SALT USING SPATIAL
SUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Abstract: The study aimed to identify the optimal kindergarten site in As-Salt using
Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Data was collected from various sources and
experts, and three alternatives were selected from Batna neighborhood, Wadi Al-Halabi
neighborhood, and Al-Naqab neighborhood. The spatial suitability method was used to
analyze the data, determining the most suitable neighborhood for kindergartens. The
study adopted a descriptive approach and analyzed the data using GIS to ensure the
optimal site selection.
The study found that the Batna neighborhood is the optimal site for establishing
a kindergarten project, ranking eighth in the classifications . The most important criteria
for site selection were distance from main roads and proximity to residential roads,
which ranked up to 18%. The study also highlighted the effectiveness of GIS and the
spatial suitability method in achieving optimal site selection for educational facility
projects. The study recommends selecting Batna neighborhood for kindergartens due to
its high suitability for most proposed criteria and suggests enhancing GIS technology in
other educational projects. Future studies should evaluate and improve the process of
selecting kindergarten sites using GIS and the spatial suitability method.

Keywords: Selecting Optimal Site, Spatial Suitability, Geographic Information Systems

(GIS), Multi-Criteria Analysis, Kindergarten Projects

Received: 13 January 2025; accepted: 13 February 2025

© 2025 Authors. This is an open access publication, which can be used, distributed and
reproduced in any medium according to the Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 License.

1
Al- Balqa' Applied University (BAU), Faculty of Business, Department of Project Management, As Salt,
Jordan, ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2115-7440, email: alhyariwalaa@gmail.com
2 Al- Balqa' Applied University (BAU), Faculty of Business, Department of Project Management, As Salt,

Jordan, ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3737-1338, email: othmanghnaim@yahoo.com

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 Walaa A. AlHyari, Othman M. Ghnaim

Introduction with analysis of the state of the problems

Selecting the geographical site of the project is considered a fundamental factor that
balances the needs of the project itself and the advantages it provides to those around it,
so that it greatly affects the course of operations and achievement of goals in the future
(Yap et al., 2019). Selecting a suitable site for the project is one of the most important
factors that determine its success. This is evident in achieving the maximum
effectiveness of the project, meeting all the needs of the surrounding community, and
supporting its operational economy represented by managing its operations and
resources. Since the available options are not always completely ideal, it is necessary to
balance the advantages and disadvantages of each potential site against the unique goals
and requirements of the project, since the wrong selection of site leads to huge losses at
the level of the project and the national economy (Al-Husseini, 2022).
Kindergarten projects in general and in the city of As-Salt in particular are of great
importance because they focus on the early stages of a child’s life, seek to establish and
follow up on the child, and create an educational environment that stimulates healthy
emotional growth and supports intellectual growth (Al-Sayed, 2024). In order to achieve
the best selection of kindergarten project sites, it is necessary to adopt the latest
technologies and contemporary technical methods for this purpose, as is the case with
GIS technology, which is one of the latest modern technological means used in planning
and developing local communities (Okasha et al., 2022). Which in turn provides many
tools that can be used to collect and analyze data effectively, which improves the
decision-making process regarding the most suitable site for the project (Casella, 2023).
Study area. As-Salt city is located in the Balqa Governorate in Jordan, and the city is
located at the crossroads between Jerusalem and Amman (Alamoush & Kertész, 2022).
The city is (80) km east of Jerusalem, and (28) km west of the capital. Its astronomical
coordinates are (33.2) north, (35.44) east (Arabeyyat, 2021). The area of the city is
(48) km2 (Qtaishat et al., 2021). The number of families in Qasaba As-Salt District
reached (38953) families by the end of 2023, including (25975) families in the city of As-
Salt. The population of the city of As-Salt reached (120505) by the end of 2023.
The population of Qasaba As-Salt District, according to the report issued by the
Department of Statistics for the year until the end of 2023, is (183,520) (Department of
Statistics, 2024).
Study problem. Kindergarten is an educational stage that is no less important than
other educational stages, as it forms the basis for subsequent educational stages such as
the primary stage. Its importance also stems from its close connection to early
childhood, especially in the first three years of a child’s life, which form the child’s
personality in various aspects. Therefore, it necessary to select the appropriate site for
kindergarten projects so that they can play their role effectively and influentially.
Studying the selection of appropriate sites for kindergarten facilities projects is one of
the main factors that contribute to enhancing the performance of kindergartens and
ensuring the provision of their services with the highest quality (Abdul Qader, 2018).
Selecting appropriate sites for kindergarten project is a crucial step that

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 IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE OPTIMAL SITE FOR KINDERGARTEN PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF
AS-SALT USING SPATIAL SUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

achievestheir stability and sustainability. Since the decision-making process for

selecting sites for kindergarten projects by any organization involves multiple criteria
and alternatives, they should be evaluated using a set of multi-criteria decision methods
(Yap et al., 2019). It is necessary to carefully select the appropriate site, in order to
enhance the chances of success in these projects. GIS helps improve the decision-making
process and select the optimal site, through the maps and information it provides
(Okasha et al., 2022). Based on the above, this study came in an attempt to answer the
following questions:
‒ What is the importance of identifying and selecting the optimal site for kindergarten
projects in the study area?
‒ What are the criteria that affect the selection of kindergarten project sites in the
study area?
‒ How are the spatial suitability method and GIS used in identifying and selecting the
optimal sites for kindergarten projects in the city of As-Salt?
Study objectives. This study sought to achieve a set of objectives as follows:
‒ Demonstrate the importance of identifying and selecting the optimal site for
kindergarten projects in the study area.
‒ Identify the criteria that affect the selection of kindergarten project sites in the study
area.
‒ Apply the mechanism of using the spatial suitability method in the GIS environment
to identify appropriate sites for kindergarten projects in the study area.
Literature review. The study (Köse et al., 2023) evaluated the sites of primary
schools in Afyon province in Turkey based on geospatial analysis, and the results
showed that this type of analysis provides reliable evidence to support decision-making
processes in identifying and allocating needs related to service facilities. The study
(Mahdi and Al-Rawe, 2023) sought to evaluate and study the reality of educational
facilities in Al-Faw city and activate the role of the spatial organization method in
policies and planning aspects in distributing educational facilities in the city using GIS
technology and spatial analysis tools.
The results of the study (Zuqoni et al., 2022) showed that GIS technology can
effectively visualize the distribution of education quality for each region, which
facilitates visual analysis. The analysis results showed that many criteria, especially
infrastructure criteria, have the highest number of categories that do not meet national
education standards in each region drawn on the map. The study (Falih & Alyaqoobi,
2021) recommended building new schools according to distance and access criteria as
well as population and school criteria to meet the actual need for educational services in
some neighborhoods of the study area. It also recommended that school spaces be
compatible with their grades and student numbers, and recommended that typical
designs be taken into account in terms of population, green spaces, and all other
requirements.
The study (Mohieldeen et al., 2021) aimed to evaluate and study the current status
of the spatial distribution of schools and assess whether it is fair and subject to existing
standards or not in the Red Sea State. The study concluded the importance of applying

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 Walaa A. AlHyari, Othman M. Ghnaim

GIS tools in service areas, especially those related to the scope of education. While the
study (Utomo et al., 2020) aimed to determine the conditions of community needs for
facilities, spatial distribution and capacity of educational facilities in Palu City, and the
study used the survey method with the spatial approach as the basis for its analysis and
the neighborhood unit approach as the basis for mapping educational facilities using GIS
technology in data processing, the study (Xiao et al., 2019) sought to provide
a quantitative assessment of the suitability of the residential environment in Pengshi
County, and provide evidence to support development and planning based on GIS
technology. The study adopted the analytical hierarchy process (AHP).
Theoretical framework. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are defined in
different ways by different researchers. It is the science of using GIS software and
technologies to represent and predict spatial relationships (Abubakar & Bello, 2024).
It is also an information system that performs the functions of collecting, storing,
processing, and presenting information to the user in an integrated manner after it is
obtained through site-based observations (Şahin et al., 2024). GIS technology has
become more popular and widely used nowadays. It is also rapidly growing all over the
world, and there is a great demand for GIS software, products, data, and information. It
has even caught the attention of many project managers, environmental scientists,
activists, and others, as it helps them in completing work and projects and increases
their efficiency (Jebur, 2021).
This study considers that GIS technology is a system that allows for many operations
to be performed on spatial data, such as storage, analysis and display operations either
in the form of maps or in the form of spatial tables, which contributes to making
informed decisions in many areas, such as choosing the optimal site for projects.
GIS technology supports site-specific decision-making processes by facilitating the
collection, analysis, and integration of spatial data. It is also of great importance in urban
planning processes, as it enables planners to make decisions and allocate resources
efficiently (Sharifinia, 2014), and contributes to identifying the most appropriate sites
according to specific criteria and preferences. It is also used to understand, analyze, and
manage spatial data effectively in simplifying planning processes by storing and
analyzing data, including data related to sites, and spatial relationships between
facilities and population distribution appear through mapping, which helps in
identifying areas with high demand for services and areas where access is not available
and helps in improving the efficiency of services by improving the spatial distribution of
facilities and providing a database for spatial planning as well as non-spatial data (Falih
& Alyaqoopi, 2021). GIS technology provides a suitable environment for monitoring and
inventorying sites, equipped with spatial databases through spatial suitability analysis
and satellite images (Haq & Panduardi, 2020).
The use of GIS technology allows for calculating network distances and nearby
distances, and utilizing spatial data to accurately and effectively assess the accessibility
of the site, as network distances provide a more realistic representation of data within
urban areas by integrating the actual road network (Yenisetty & Bahadure, 2020).
The application of the spatial suitability method, which is one of the most prominent

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 IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE OPTIMAL SITE FOR KINDERGARTEN PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF
AS-SALT USING SPATIAL SUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

functions of GIS, allows for clarifying the current distribution of phenomena and
choosing the optimal site for them. The mechanism of the spatial suitability method is
manifested by its reliance and establishment on Criteria compatible with the nature of
the project, and it is one of the stages that takes time and effort because it is concerned
with aspects, whether theoretical, applied or scientific, in addition to requiring a group
of experts and specialists to set the criteria that are compatible with the nature of the
project (Al-Kaabi, 2023).
This study believes that GIS technology has a decisive role in determining the
optimal sites for projects according to a set of different criteria, and this is attributed to
the ability of GIS technology to understand and analyze spatial data efficiently, which
enhances the ability to make appropriate decisions regarding appropriate project sites
and planning.

Materials and methodology

The primary study data included: consulting a number of (8) experts regarding the
relative weights of the criteria, and the secondary data represented electronic and
library sources such as books, university theses, published and unpublished research,
research articles, and reports.
The study relied on the descriptive approach in achieving its objectives by
employing the spatial suitability method in the GIS environment in analyzing the study
data, where the spatial suitability model was built through spatial analysis tools, and the
criteria used in the comparison between the proposed alternatives were identified, and
appropriate weights were given to each of these criteria.
To achieve the study objective, the following research steps were adopted to create
and develop a model with an organized workflow that includes:
First: The aim of the study: The problem and aim of the study revolve around identifying
and selecting the optimal site for kindergarten facilities projects in the city of As-Salt.
Second: Determining the criteria: The study used a set of previous literature that
examines the criteria for selecting the most appropriate site for kindergarten projects to
determine the criteria and a group of experts specialized in this field to determine the
relative weights of the criteria.
Third: Consulting experts: The study identified a group of experts working in the
field of projects, municipalities, private kindergartens, and the Ministry of Education.
Their number reached eight experts and they were consulted to determine the relative
weight of the set of criteria proposed to be adopted in the comparison between
alternatives in the study area.
Fourth: Determining alternatives: The study proposed three sites (alternatives)
within the city of As-Salt to be compared among them according to the criteria that were
identified, and the alternatives for the sites of kindergarten facilities in the study area
were represented as follows (Qatishat et al., 2021; Wishah, 2020):
‒ The first alternative is Batna neighborhood, where the area of each Batna neighborhood
is 360.5 km2, and the number of families in Batna neighborhood reached 194 families.

23
 Walaa A. AlHyari, Othman M. Ghnaim

‒ The second alternative is Wadi Al-Halabi neighborhood, where the area of Wadi- Al-
Halabi neighborhood is is 310.0 km2, and the number of families reached 534
families in Wadi Al-Halabi neighborhood.
‒ The third alternative is Al-Naqab neighborhood, where the area of Al-Naqab
neighborhood is 420.2 km2, and Al-Naqab neighborhood contains 1390 families.
Fifth: Preparing the hierarchical model for the study: In light of the above, the
criteria that the study will use were determined, as well as the alternatives that were
chosen to compare between them and select the most appropriate among them.
The analytical hierarchical model was built, which includes the study objective, the
proposed main and sub-criteria, and the three alternatives that were determined to
choose the best among them, Fig. 1.

Objective: To Identify and Select The Optimal Site for Kindergarten Projects.

Environmental Site Topography Competitiven

Ease of Population Security
Access Density and Factors ess
Safety

Actual needs
of the Away from valleys and
rivers Suitable
population
Slope

Away from main roads

Stay away from

Proximity to residential areas pollution sources and Distance from
factories existing
kindergartens

Availability of infrastructure Ensure the place is

(proximity to residential roads) healthy (proximity to
green areas)

Suggested Alternatives

Al-Naqab
Batna neighborhood
Wadi Al-Halabi neighborhood
neighborhood

Fig. 1. Hierarchical study model

Source: Own elaboration
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 IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE OPTIMAL SITE FOR KINDERGARTEN PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF
AS-SALT USING SPATIAL SUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

The process of identifying both criteria and alternatives and consulting experts
regarding the weights of the criteria is followed by spatial suitability analysis using the
study model with the aim of identifying the optimal sites for establishing kindergarten
projects.
The spatial suitability method was applied according to the following steps:
1. Finding the Euclidean distance: The Euclidean distance is the direct line between
two elements or the minimum distance between two objects, and is the most
straightforward way to represent the distance between two points in two-
dimensional space. (Ghazal et al., 2021). The first step in modeling involves
calculating the Euclidean distance, where ArcMap converts all points to a spatial
extent and calculates distances from the desired phenomenon. This requires that all
layers be spatial in order for the modeling to be complete (Al-Mahdawi & Hadi,
2024). The study chose to use Euclidean distance for all criteria, as it is
a straightforward and simple method for measuring proximity or distance between
sites, facilitating spatial analysis without the need for complex data. Furthermore,
this approach ensures a unified analysis methodology for all criteria, which
contributes to their smoother integration into the weighted overlay model, yielding
consistent and accurate results.
2. Reclassify study data: The data that has been worked on is reclassified into
categories from (1 to 10), where the number ten represents the best value of the
classified data, while the number one represents the lowest value of the preferred
data. The reclassify process is carried out using the spatial analysis tools within the
GIS environment in ArcMap.
3. Determining the relative weights of the criteria: The relative importance of the
criteria is represented using weights for each criterion represented by a degree or
category, where the weights are determined to complete the process of selecting the
most suitable site for selecting to establish the project in it (Kuru & Terzi, 2018).
This process is implemented via Weighted Overlay using the spatial analysis tools
available within ArcMap, where the sum of the weights of all layers is 100%, and
this percentage is distributed over all the results of the layers that have been
reclassified.
The study sought the assistance of a group of experts working in the field of
projects, municipalities, private kindergartens, and the Ministry of Education,
numbering (8) experts, who were consulted with the aim of determining the most
appropriate relative weight for the proposed set of criteria used in the comparison
between alternatives, with the aim of choosing the optimal site for kindergarten
facility projects, as the sum of the criteria weights equals 100% and was distributed
to the criteria based on the extent of their impact and importance, as listed in
Table 1.
4. Spatial Suitability Model: The study established a model for the spatial suitability
workflow in an organized and sequential manner based on all the previous data that
were identified, collected, sorted and classified with the aim of selecting the optimal
site for kindergarten facilities projects. The process was carried out through the

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 Walaa A. AlHyari, Othman M. Ghnaim

ArcMap program, as the ArcGIS environment includes many advanced spatial

analysis models. Various geographic data can be extracted, including analysis of
suitable sites. The suitability model is represented through the flow chart in the
Model-Builder graphical user interface, which allows users to build, visualize, edit,
and implement the geoprocessing workflow, in addition to using, sharing, and
applying it to other areas (Al-Mahdawi & Hadi, 2024). The Model-Builder tool
contains all the operations that were performed on the layers that represent the
criteria for selecting the optimal site for kindergarten facilities projects, as in Fig. 2.
Table 1. Criteria weights
Criteria Relative weight
Site slopes. 3%
Distance from main roads. 18%
Proximity to residential roads. 18%
Distance from waterways and water channels. 14%
Proximity to residential neighborhoods. 8%
Distance from polluted areas. 14%
Proximity to green areas. 5%
Distance between competing projects. 13%
Actual population needs (children under five years old). 7%
Total 100%
Source: Own elaboration

Fig. 2. Spatial suitability model

Source: Own elaboration

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 IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE OPTIMAL SITE FOR KINDERGARTEN PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF
AS-SALT USING SPATIAL SUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Results and discussion

The results of the spatial suitability analysis are presented in the Fig. 3.
1. The results of the reclassification process are as follows:

Fig. 3. Reclassification process results

Source: Own elaboration

‒ After reclassifying the slope layer, it became clear that the alternative with the least slope is
the alternative of Batna neighborhood and Al-Naqab neighborhood, as they were ranked
eighth in the slope degrees, which gives an equal degree of preference, while the alternative

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 Walaa A. AlHyari, Othman M. Ghnaim

with the highest slope value is the alternative of Wadi Al-Halabi neighborhood, which was
ranked fifth in the classification.
‒ After reclassifying the main roads layer, it became clear that the alternative that is farthest
from the main roads with the best value is the alternative of Batna neighborhood, as it was
ranked third in the classification, while the alternative of Al-Naqab neighborhood is ranked
second, and the alternative of Wadi Al-Halabi neighborhood is ranked last.
‒ After classifying the roads layer within the residential neighborhoods, it became clear that
all alternatives are surrounded by residential roads, which facilitates access to them, and
makes them all have the same value of preference, as all alternatives were ranked tenth,
which represents the highest value.
‒ After the classification process for the waterways and canals layer, it was found that the
Wadi Al-Halabi neighborhood alternative and the Batna neighborhood alternative were
equal in seventh place in terms of distance from waterways and canals, while the Al- Naqab
neighborhood alternative was in sixth place.
‒ It was found that all alternatives are located within residential neighborhoods, which
indicates that they are close to residential areas, which gives an equal value preference to all
proposed alternatives, as all alternatives were in tenth place, which means that the
surrounding residential areas can reach them, and they can all serve the surrounding
community.
‒ It was found that the Batna neighborhood alternative, which obtained second place in the
classification, is the farthest from polluted areas, and the other two alternatives are equal in
the same place represented by the first.
‒ It was found that the Batna neighborhood alternative obtained the highest value in terms of
the presence of green areas surrounding it within eighth place in the classification, and the
Al-Naqab neighborhood alternative was in seventh place, the second best alternative, while
the Wadi Al-Halabi neighborhood alternative was in sixth place, which means that it is in
last place.
‒ It was noted that all the proposed alternatives have existing kindergartens in their vicinity,
which gives all alternatives equal preference value, meaning that they compete with other
kindergartens.
‒ It was found that all the proposed alternatives have a high percentage of children under the
age of five in their vicinity, which indicates that there is an actual need for the population to
establish kindergarten facilities, and gives equal preference value to all the proposed
alternatives, as they all ranked eighth in the classification.
2. The result of the optimal site for kindergarten:
After carrying out all the operations related to the criteria and giving them the
appropriate relative weight, the result of applying the spatial suitability method in
choosing the optimal site for educational facility projects and arranging the alternatives
from the most suitable to the least is obtained. We find that the alternative to the Batna
neighborhood was ranked eighth in the classifications, while the alternative to the Negev
neighborhood constitutes the seventh rank in the classifications, while the alternative to
the Wadi al-Halabi neighborhood is ranked sixth in the classifications as listed in Fig. 4.

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 IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE OPTIMAL SITE FOR KINDERGARTEN PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF
AS-SALT USING SPATIAL SUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Fig. 4. Results of the spatial suitability method

Source: Own elaboration

The study concluded with a set of results, summarized as listed below:

‒ The optimal alternative is the Batna neighborhood, due to its high spatial suitability
for most important criteria such as slope, distance from main roads, distance from
polluted areas, and proximity to green areas, where it ranked eighth in the
classification. It is followed by the third alternative, the Negev, with its good features
as well, which ranked seventh in the classification, while the second alternative,
Wadi Al-Halabi, remains acceptable but does not outperform the other alternatives
in a comprehensive manner, due to it being the least suitable alternative among the
other alternatives, which ranked sixth in the classification.
‒ The criteria that received a high relative importance were the criterion of distance
from main roads, which is one of the sub-criteria of the safety and security criterion,
as well as the criterion of proximity to secondary roads within residential areas,
which is one of the sub-criteria of the ease of access criterion, as the two criteria
received a relative importance of (18%), and this result is attributed to the fact that
these criteria improve the quality of the site and raise the percentage of its spatial
suitability. This is consistent with the study (Utomo et al., 2020). Followed of the
criteria of distance from waterways and water channels, which is one of the sub-
criteria of the safety and security standards, and distance from polluted areas,
which is one of the sub-criteria of the environmental factors standards, where the
two criteria obtained a relative importance (14%), then the criterion of the presence
of a distance between competing projects, which is a sub-criteria of the
competitiveness standard, with a percentage of (13%), followed by the criterion of
proximity to residential neighborhoods, which is a sub-criteria of the ease of access

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 Walaa A. AlHyari, Othman M. Ghnaim

standards, , with a percentage of (8%), then the criterion of the actual need of the
population for kindergartens, which is one of sub-criteria of the population density
standard, with a percentage of (7%), then the criterion of proximity areas, which is
one of the sub-criteria of the environmental factors standards, with a percentage of
(5%), and finally the criterion that obtained the least relative importance, with
a percentage of (3%), is the slope of the site, which is a sub-criteria of the site
topography standard , and the variation in the relative importance of the criteria is
attributed to the difference in their impact on making the decision on the optimal
site for kindergartens.
‒ The effectiveness of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the spatial
suitability method in achieving the optimal site selection for educational facility
projects, such as kindergartens in the city of As-Salt. This is consistent with the
study (Zuqoni et al., 2022; Mohieldeen et al., 2021). This result is attributed to the
fact that these technologies allow for a comprehensive and accurate assessment of
multiple criteria, spatial integration and data analysis, improvement in the decision-
making process, and future applications that ensure project sustainability. Thus, GIS
technology and spatial suitability contribute to providing a safe and healthy
educational environment that meets the needs of children and families, and
supports sustainable development in society.

Recommendations

Based on the above results, the study recommends the following:

‒ The necessity of establishing a kindergarten project in the Batna neighborhood in
the city of As-Salt, as it achieves the highest percentage of suitability among the
proposed alternatives for the specified criteria.
‒ The necessity of strict adherence to the criteria specified in the study when selecting
the site of kindergarten projects, in order to ensure that all environmental, health,
and geographical factors that have been analyzed are taken into account, to ensure
the provision of a safe and healthy educational environment for children.
‒ Work on developing unified and approved main standards in Jordan to select
suitable sites for establishing educational facilities projects, taking into account the
balance between environmental, economic and social development, to ensure the
continuity of these projects and achieve maximum benefit for local communities.
‒ Promote the use of GIS technology in the planning and implementation processes of
other educational facilities projects. GIS technology contributes to accurately
analyzing spatial data and providing a clear vision of potential sites, which helps in
making informed decisions supported by evidence.
‒ Conduct further future studies to evaluate and improve the process of selecting the optimal
sites for educational facilities projects using GIS technology and the spatial suitability
method. Studies should include an analysis of the impact of new and emerging variables and
standards, such as climate change and urban expansion, to ensure the continued
achievement of the best results in planning and implementing educational facilities projects.

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 IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE OPTIMAL SITE FOR KINDERGARTEN PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF
AS-SALT USING SPATIAL SUITABILITY ANALYSIS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Conclusions

The project site is an important framework for the project activities, and it is the
dynamic environment that affects how businesses are formed and developed, which
makes site study very important, including educational facility project sites. When this
type of project is established in a manner that meets the standards, this means that it
has the ability to keep pace with the development in the increasing demand for the
services it provides, and that it provides its services efficiently and without obstacles.
Therefore, it is necessary to follow the foundations and standards when choosing the
sites of educational facilities and avoid randomness in their distribution. Since the
optimal site for educational facilities in general, and kindergartens in particular, is of
primary concern to potential students and their parents, this prompts the need to apply
planning standards and principles when choosing the sites of kindergarten facilities. GIS
technology works to determine the optimal sites for projects and produce relevant maps
efficiently, as the optimal sites are determined based on various carefully selected
criteria, then reclassified, and the relative weight is given to each of these criteria
according to their importance. These maps classify the study area into ranges according
to the degree of spatial suitability for establishing projects on them. This paper presents
an application for selecting the appropriate site for a kindergarten project in the city of
As- Salt, Jordan. Using the spatial suitability method and GIS technology based on many
criteria used to compare between the proposed alternatives. The results of this study
provide information of great importance to city planners and those responsible for
following up and evaluating educational facility projects, as they can be used in
establishing kindergarten projects. They play an important role in reducing educational
gaps and enhancing efforts to improve educational infrastructure in needy communities.

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