Geospatial Assessment of the Distribution of Fire Stations and Market Accessibility for Disaster Management in Akure South, Ondo State, Nigeria.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/Keywords:
fire station, GIS, spatial analysis, emergency response, disaster managementAbstract
Access to fire station is crucial for the effectiveness of emergency responses and public safety in urban areas. This study investigates fire station distribution patterns and their proximity to commercial market centers in Akure South Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria, using proximity analysis in a GIS environment. The study deploys satellite imagery, kernel density analysis, nearest neighbor statistical analysis, and Euclidean distance in the ArcGIS 10.4.1 environment. This study directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 11 by examining spatial inequities in emergency response coverage and contributing to more resilient and sustainable urban communities. The findings revealed significant spatial disparities in fire station accessibility. Market distribution showed statistically significant clustering (NNR = 1.426, p = 0.014), particularly at Oja Oba 1 and Oja-Oba 2, while fire station distribution exhibited highly dispersed patterning (NNR = 36.022, p < 0.001), indicating inadequate coverage. Euclidean distance analysis quantified critical service gaps, with average distances of 3.7 km to the nearest fire station and maximum distances exceeding 8.7 km. Hotspot analysis identified southern and eastern areas as critical service deficits requiring infrastructure expansion. Proposed fire station locations were evaluated through service area analysis and travel distance modeling, demonstrating substantial improvements in coverage equity and response time reduction. The study demonstrates that GIS can be practically and effectively deployed to identify emergency infrastructure challenges and support evidence-based disaster management planning, thereby providing actionable recommendations for optimizing fire station placement and improving disaster resilience in Akure and similar urban areas.
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