Comparative Analysis of Land Evaluation Systems for Douglas County
Donna Luckey
Michael N. DeMers
DOI: 10.2190/BD6C-N1TC-3J6C-G2XQ
Abstract
The USDA Soil Conservation Service LESA system is evaluated and analyzed in two phases. First, using ten years of building permits in two targeted zones in Douglas County, Kansas, a variety of LESA structures are compared. Redundant factors and the impact of different weighting systems are examined. Phase Two follows with a systematic method to determine the Site Assessment factors and their interactions. Results indicate that certain evaluation structures are more reliably consistent and that the systematic approach in Phase Two improves LESA considerably. In addition, it is concluded that the final grading mechanism needs attention, to assure proper protection. Planners are cautioned to consider these issues when implementing LESA for their area. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.