Harvesting the Hidden Value of Vacant Lands: A GIS-Based Approach to Urban Agriculture

Abstract

The study aims to determine the urban agriculture potential of vacant lands in the city center of Usak, Turkey, and to create a GIS-based urban agriculture inventory. Our analysis focuses on available vacant lands of the municipally-owned lands, foundation lands, public properties, forest lands, and pasture lands within the boundaries of the implementary development plan of the city center of Usak. The optimal urban agriculture map was created using GIS and considered different categories of urban agriculture, including small-scale agriculture, large-scale agriculture, community gardens, and impervious surface or poor soil urban agriculture. The study results showed a significant amount of vacant lands in Usak suitable for urban agriculture, with 7.32 ha being highly suitable, 80.58 ha moderately suitable, and 110.94 ha marginally suitable. Results indicate that vacant lands in the city can be utilized for urban agriculture, which can provide numerous benefits to the local food system.

Keywords

• kentsel tarım potansiyeli
• kentsel tarım
• coğrafi bilgi sistemi
• arazi kullanımı
• urban agriculture potential
• urban agriculture
• vacant lands
• geographic information system
• land use