Integrating multiple perspectives in marine spatial planning using the GIS-based Logic Scoring of Preference method

Marine spatial planning processes require integrating diverse opinions, knowledge, and goals of multiple stakeholders as well as large volumes of environmental data. Multicriteria evaluation (MCE) methods have been used to combine spatial data in a way that represents stakeholder preferences; however, conventional methods are limited in their ability to represent and integrate multiple stakeholder perspectives. The main goal of this research study is to implement a generalized multicriteria evaluation method, Logic Scoring of Preference (LSP), integrated with geographic information systems (GIS) to represent different perspectives on the suitability for conservation areas for endangered killer whales (Orcinus orca). Both two and three dimensional (3D) criteria have been used for killer whale acoustic refugia suitability analysis in the study region of the Salish Sea between British Columbia, Canada and Washington, USA. Resulting suitability values were then combined in an overall integrated suitability analysis (OISA) to represent different decision-making outcomes such as consensus and trade-offs, logically defined by LSP aggregators, between stakeholders’ perspectives. The results demonstrate the ability of the Logic Scoring of Preference method to derive overall integrated suitability maps using a variety of logical aggregators. This method can be applied to facilitate marine spatial planning by enabling stakeholders and decision makers to explore, analyse and visualize possible decision scenarios and their trade-offs.