A Multicriteria Decision-Making Approach for Identifying the Suitable Data Center Location in Iskandar Puteri, Johor

As demands for data storage and processing grow, selecting suitable sites for these centers has become increasingly important. This study aims to identify criteria for such selection and proposes using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) analysis. A comprehensive literature review with content analysis was conducted to determine key criteria from previous data center site selection studies. These criteria, nine in total, were categorized into those based on physical and social factors. The study conducted an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) after the questionnaire interviews with experts, revealing the high weights compared to others, which are infrastructure and utilities (0.14), disaster avoidance (0.13), and telecom network availability (0.13). Subsequently, weighted overlay analysis was conducted through the raster calculator in ArcGIS to produce the final map of suitable data center locations. The findings indicate that areas most suitable for data centers are predominantly in the northern part of the administrative area of Iskandar Puteri City Council (IPCC), including Pulai Utama, Sri Skudai, Taman Universiti, Lima Kedai, Perling, and Nusa Cemerlang Industrial Park. This research highlights the importance of these criteria in selecting data center sites. Additionally, the suitability map provides valuable guidance for authorities and stakeholders, helping to streamline the site selection process and plan future developments. In conclusion, this study offers recommendations based on the identified criteria for future data center investments or developments in Iskandar Puteri.