# An Online Multicriteria--Spatial Decision Support System for Public Services Planning
## 4 Prototypical Implementation
### Analysis Results  
The resulting map visualisation (Figure 8) can be displayed in grid cells or as a heat map. The map example in the upper part of the figure shows the supply situation according to the selected infrastructures, parameters, and restrictions in a colour ramp from green (good) to red (bad) in a grid representation with an edge length of 100 metres. A ranking of the cells can also be derived as the characteristic values of each grid feature take on values from 0 to 100. The value 100 (green) can only be reached for a cell if all selected infrastructures (step 3) from this cell have the best accessibility (step 5 has very good supply situation until 2 min). Another comparative visualisation option is the heat map, as shown in the lower part of the figure. Although values are represented much less accurately, the advantage is that spatial distribution patterns (e.g., hotspots) are better visualised. The user can switch between the two visualisations. Now, the planner has the possibility to readjust parameters in the user interface. After completing this process, the planner can identify suitable residential areas according to their preferences and model parameters. The map will help to recommend the most suitable areas. In our example of the designation of new development areas for single-family homes, these can now be located near the areas marked in green, as this is where the supply situation is best according to the settings made.  
Figure 7: Step 7 and step 8 of the user interface.  
Sections 4.1 and 4.2 presented the planning case _support in the designation of settlement areas_. However, we would also like to use Figure 8 to establish a link to the use case _review of basic and (partly) centralised provision_. In the figure, we have used a blue symbol to represent _municipalities with function in medium supply_ (circle) and _municipality's with function in basic supply_ (triangle). As can be seen in the map, the location, which from a planning perspective should fulfil the function of basic supply, is valued in practice (or at least in the analysis) with a rather low supply performance. In this context, other municipalities that have not been designated as \"central\" in planning appear to be better connected in terms of supply (in this case better connected to discount stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, general practitioners, kindergartens, primary schools). Planners tasked with this analysis would certainly define different parameters, criteria, and distance weightings for the accessibility of infrastructure. The statement may therefore not hold up to specialist viewpoints. With this example, however, we want to demonstrate the technical and analytical possibilities. The aim is to demonstrate the methodological diversity thanks to flexible customisation options. The example thus serves as a showcase for the developed tool, which is useful for a wide range of applications in the spatial planning context.  
Figure 8: One of the many options for analysing the result of an area of interest. The better the suitability of the area, the stronger the shade of green. Above: criteria map of the overall result. Below: heat map showing only the suitability areas in green.