Tudor OSIESCU*1, Octavian-Liviu MUNTEAN1, Nicolae AJTAI1
* Corresponding author
1 Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Cluj-Napoca, ROMANIA
E-mail: tudor.osiescu@ubbcluj.ro; ORCID: 0009-0005-8970-2803
E-mail: octavian.muntean@ubbcluj.ro; ORCID: 0000-0003-2259-5140
E-mail: nicolae.ajtai@ubbcluj.ro; ORCID: 0000-0002-2042-1967
Pages: 174-184. DOI: 10.24193/JSSP.2025.2.06
Received: 14 October 2025
Received in revised form: 10 December 2025
Accepted for publication: 24 December 2025
Available online: 30 December 2025
Cite: Osiescu T., Muntean O.-L., Ajtai N. (2025), Integrating Environmental Suitability into Urban Planning. A Grid-Based Decision Support Framework for Cluj-Napoca Metropolitan Area, Romania. Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning, 16(2), 174-184. DOI: 10.24193/JSSP.2025.2.06
Abstract. Rapid sprawl in developing cities presents significant challenges to sustainable land-use planning, often neglecting critical ecological objectives. Spatial models that can assist decision-makers with the integration of environmental factors into the planning process are useful. This study aims to develop an environmental suitability model for suburban expansion using GIS techniques, fuzzy logic, and incorporating landslide susceptibility assessment via the maximum entropy method, using the Cluj-Napoca Metropolitan Area in Romania as a case study. To demonstrate the practical application of the suitability model, we constructed a grid-based decision support framework prioritising intuitiveness, simplicity, and transparency to enhance stakeholder accessibility. The results show that a multi-criteria suitability model can inform and facilitate territorial decision-making, especially when integrated with other parameters (social, economic, and infrastructure-related) that influence development opportunities in the metropolitan area. Future directions for this research include validating the model within a multidisciplinary team, exploring diverse visualisation and communication strategies, and testing in applied planning contexts.
K e y w o r d s: environmental suitability model, fuzzy logic, GIS, grid-based decision support framework, urban sprawl, Romania