Based on 25 candidate locations, the following geospatial analysis was conducted:

A DEM was calculated to show cells with a prescribed acceptable slope range of 10-50%. To eliminate points with no connecting cells of acceptable slope, focal statistics were calculated with a 3x3 rectangle radius which examined the 8 neighbouring cells. A new raster was created which only preserved cells in the raster of acceptable slopes and with a focal statistic sum greater or equal than 2. A zonal statistic table was created for each buffer which, which was used find the percentage of cells with acceptable slopes in each development zone.

The zonal mean of the total January precipitation value was determined in millimeters from a precipitation raster, to represent snowfall. 

Amenities in the area were given in a table, which was converted to points and spatially joined to each of the candidate resorts. Summary statistics were calculated to find the total count of amenities near each resort.

The proposed sites were also intersected with polygons representing protected areas; by summarizing within, the total protected percentage area of each proposed location was calculated, as well as geodesic distance from the resorts to the nearest protected area and nearest road access.From all of these indicators, the 5 most suitable sites for ski resort development were chosen.