Route planners face a complex task when designing rail networks, considering factors such as land use, slope, soil type, lithology, hydrology, and more. This complexity poses a challenge and can lead to inadequate decision-making processes. To simplify this, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) are used to help stakeholders make informed decisions. In Abuja, a Metro Rail line alignment was proposed to alleviate congestion and accidents in the Zuba, Madalla, Dei Dei, Gwarimpa, Lifecamp, Jabi and Berger areas. The analysis for the selected rail track identified a minimum GRA value of 0.438 and a maximum of 0.781 with a mean and standard deviation of 0.062 and 0.085. A histogram showed GRA values between 0.60 to 0.80 to be predominant along the selected rail route. This study successfully demonstrates the effective application of GIS and MCA principles in optimizing rail route planning for Metro Rail Transportation in Abuja.
Key words: Geographic Information Systems, Metro Rail, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, rail transportation
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