Multi-criteria Analysis to Determine the Suitability for Network Centric Anti-Poaching System (NCAPS) Installation

Abstract

Network Centric Anti-Poaching System (NCAPS) is a system for monitoring forest resources to protect the area from illegal logging and wildlife following the measures from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation that interception before illegal loggers succeed at felling trees. The location of the camera trap in the system is installed based on threat factors from smart patrolling. This study was applied the analysis hierarchy process (AHP) to determine weighted scores of criteria and used a Geographic information system to analyze the suitability area for NCAPS installation to prevent illegal logging at Khao Phanom Bencha National Park. There were 2 cases; case 1 including distance from valuable tree, distance from public roads, distance from patrol road, distance from guard unit, distance from community, distance from illegal logging case in the past, cell phone signal strength coverage and slope; case 2 excepting cell phone signal strength coverage. The result shows that the cell phone signal strength coverage was high impact criteria in case 1, and distance from patrol road was high impact criteria in case 2. The most suitable area for NCAPS
installation is in the areas outside of the coverage of cell phone networks. This study will be used to determine the location for NCAPS installation in other forest areas and to improve their system.