Evaluating Active Cassava Cultivating Areas Surrounding the Factories Producing Ethanol for Energy Using GIS in Thailand

This study aimed to display, identify and evaluate the cassava cultivated area and cassava production surrounding ethanol plants in Thailand. There are seven plants in operation toproduce ethanol using cassava as a raw material. These factories are located in the Northeastern part of Thailand (KhonKaen and UbonRatchatani provinces). The ethanol plant in KhonKaen province was chosen for study because of the size of cassava cultivated area and cassava productions. The key data used to determine the active cassava cultivating area surrounding the ethanol plants was the average distance of cassava transportation truck fromKhonKaen ethanol plant. The methodology for this study consisted of collecting data from both primary and secondary data sources, plotting cassava cultivated area data on GIS (Geographic Information System) color bar map, posting the active area outline and calculating the cassavacultivated area together with cassava production within the active area outline. The result showedthat the ethanol plants in UbonRatchatani province has the highest percentage of cassava cultivated area and cassava production within active area condition, compared to the others ethanol plant location. In conclusion, the cassava cultivated area and cassava production in UbonRatchatani province was suitable for being utilized for use as raw material for producing ethanol becausethe active cassava cultivationhad been in the 550-1,100 square kilometer area. The percentage of cassava cultivated area and cassava production is the lowest in KhonKaen. Although most area in KhonKaen has moderate to highest level (200-2,500 square kilometer) of active cultivating area.