Habitat site selection on Mars: Suitability analysis and mapping

Abstract

Growing interest in extraterrestrial colonization has increasingly centered on Mars, bolstered by extensive environmental data from Mars exploration missions. However, the planet's harsh conditions—including extreme temperatures, dust storms, varied terrain, high radiation, and scarce water resources—pose significant challenges to selecting suitable sites for human habitation. This study evaluated potential habitats on Mars by considering factors such as temperature, wind, radiation, terrain, dust, and water ice. Through the development of comprehensive suitability maps, we identified potential areas for future human construction, primarily concentrated in south Arcadia Planitia, south Utopia Planitia, and the junction of Acidalia Planitia and Arabia Terra. The analysis revealed that, except for Hellas Planitia, most of Mars' southern hemisphere is largely unsuitable for long-term human habitation. This work establishes a continually expandable novel framework and offers a new perspective for interdisciplinary approaches in studying human habitation environments in the context of future Martian exploration. Moreover, it can be adjusted based on different future technological scenarios.