Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Authors
1
Department of RS & GIS, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Environmental Planning, Management & Education, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cities, with their complex infrastructures and diverse services, require a scientific and principled approach to strategic site selection for service provision. Fire stations represent one of the most essential urban services, and inadequate research and planning for their site selection and distribution in many cities significantly increase risks to urban residents' safety and well-being. District 8 of Karaj faces rapid population growth and urban development, highlighting the urgent need for a strategic expansion of fire stations. This study aimed to propose a novel approach to assist in the optimal site selection of fire stations in this area.
METHODS: This study employed a novel hybrid method combining the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis method and Fuzzy logic with ArcGIS techniques. This integration aimed to minimize ambiguity in weighting criteria and improve the accuracy of site selection decisions. The 11 criteria were identified based on their impact on fire station efficiency and responsiveness, including industrial, commercial, storage, educational, and healthcare centers, as well as filling stations, residential areas, gathering places, road networks, population density, and office buildings. The final desirability map was created by overlaying weighted fuzzy layers in ArcGIS, visually highlighting optimal locations.
FINDINGS: The weighting analysis showed that industrial centers (0.1131) held the highest weight in fire station site selection, while educational centers (0.0735) had the lowest. The final spatial desirability map revealed that 24% of the northern and southwestern areas of District 8 had high suitability for fire station placement. The southwestern area, despite the high operational statistics at Fire Stations 125 and 3 (55%), lacks adequate fire coverage. To address this issue, three potential sites were identified in the high-desirability zone in the southwestern region, with a field survey evaluating neighborhood compatibility, access to networks, and recent urban developments.
CONCLUSION: This study presents a robust framework for optimizing fire service operations in District 8 of Karaj. Through this framework, the region was classified into five categories of desirability for fire station placement. Additionally, the analyses uncovered the unequal distribution of emergency services across the district. The results facilitated the identification of three suitable sites to enhance fire service provision. Given the effectiveness of this methodology, the study strongly recommends that urban planners adopt this innovative framework for emergency site selection, emphasizing the importance of addressing response needs and spatial factors, such as high-density areas and accident-prone centers.
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