PUREVSURENBOLD TSERENDOLGOR
Evaluation of the Development Potential of Ulaanbaatar Using GIS Based on Local Experts' Experience 
Kazushi SANO
Ulaanbaatar is the capital city of Mongolia. The city has monocentric structure, and the lack of development of other areas of the city has become one of the main reasons for the current traffic congestion and the inconvenience of living in the city. To solve the issue, developing other parts of the city as sub-city centers is essential for alleviating the burden on the city center. 
Spatial multi-criteria analysis is a widely used method for determining suitable locations for industrial zones, and hospitals, schools, and other forms of facilities. This study adopts a comprehensive approach that integrates location-evaluating spatial analysis and qualitative data-based evaluation techniques, based on local experts’ experience, to find the appropriate sub-city center locations. This approach aims to bridge the gap between large-scale and small-scale studies of a similar nature in urban planning efforts. This study (1) identified and analyzed the key attributes and factors that are critical for evaluating optimal locations, and (2) developed an expert system capable of determining the most suitable locations based on selected criteria. 
To achieve the objectives of the study Analytical Hierarchy Process was applied to develop an expert system that captures and structures local experts’ judgment. Weighted Linear Combination was used to integrate the selected factors with Geographic Information System platform, enabling spatial visualization and evaluation of optimal locations for sub-city centers based on the expert input. 
The results show that, given the city’s limited budget, the availability and condition of engineering infrastructure emerged as the most influential factor in determining suitable locations for sub-city centers. In contrast, due to the limited role of the airport and railway in daily public mobility, were considered the least influential factors. Moreover, the study found that the perceived importance scale of factors varied by experts’ professional backgrounds, highlighting the need to incorporate multiple stakeholder perspectives in the urban planning decision making process. The differing evaluations, shaped by each expert’s field of expertise, underscore the value of systematically integrating diverse knowledge and opinion into spatial planning.