Spatial analysis of school areas and selection of potential locations for public sector facilities using the example of the city of Novi Sad (Serbia)

Abstract

It is essential to prioritise the protection of children and employees in primary and secondary schools in the City of Novi Sad is essential to ensure the sustainability of a healthy society. This study employs Network Analysis methodology in ArcGISPro to explore spatial connectivity and analyse service accessibility in the City of Novi Sad, focusing on emergency medical services, police, and fire departments. By utilizing tools such as Service Area and Location-Allocation, the study assesses the coverage and response times of these vital services. Data from ArcGISOnline, geofabrik.de, and geosrbija.rs are processed to identify optimal service locations and address spatial challenges. The results reveal spatial disparities in service coverage, particularly in outlying settlements, necessitating the establishment of new facilities to improve accessibility. The proposed locations for emergency services and police stations aim to enhance response times and coverage, addressing critical gaps identified through spatial analysis. The study underscores the importance of spatial planning and data-driven decision-making in providing optimal public services while acknowledging the need for comprehensive data collection and ongoing analysis to adapt to evolving spatial dynamics and service demands. The findings of the study indicate the need for emergency medical services in settlements including Kać, Čenej, Budisava, Begeč, Futog, Kisač, and Stepanovićevo, while fire stations are required in settlements of Ledinci and Bukovac. Additionally, a police station is required only in the settlement of Kovilj.

Keywords

• network analysis
• service area
• location-allocation
• arcgispro
• services