Optimal positioning of fire stations by using GIS (case study: Kermanshah)

With breakdown of the former structures and the acceleration of urbanization process in recent decades, cities need careful planning in order to provide citizens needs including safety city. Thus, one of the major tasks of planners and urban managers is to determine the proper location for the establishment of fire stations. In this descriptive-analytic study, given that most of the criteria have sub-criteria, effective measures were determined in selecting fire stations sites. In the next step, location and descriptive information of each criterion were collected; then by using ArcGIS software, layers needed to shape file format was created after changing urban plans DWG format. However, criteria and sub-criteria weighted based on AHP method and creating layers were reclassified. At the end, by using overlapping indexes the final map site selecting of fire stations in Kermanshah obtained. According to the results, hotel and gas station as the compatible land use have the lowest and highest role in selecting fire stations sites. In addition, intercity terminal and health and care land uses have the lowest and greatest impact in selecting fire stations sites. The results show that the existing stations are not sufficient and some of them have been built in the wrong place. The output plan represents the optimal locations for the establishment of fire stations in Kermanshah.