Integrating GIS Accessibility and Location-Allocation Models with Multicriteria Decision Analysis for Evaluating Quality of Life in Buraidah City, KSA

Abstract

The present study was aimed at evaluating the quality of life in the districts of Buraidah city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, based on provided services in terms of distance and time parameters. This was achieved by integrating Geographic Information System (GIS)-based network analysis and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) techniques. The service area analysis technique of the GIS Network Analysis tools was applied to the available services in the districts of Buraidah city. Twelve services were investigated with regard to their coverage within 5, 10, and 15 minutes of travel time: universities, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, hospitals, health centers, ambulance facilities, government services, religious services, security services, sports services, and recreational services. GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis (GIS-MCDA) was implemented in the study to obtain a spatial suitability map of the standard of living quality in the various districts in Buraidah city. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique was used to determine the criteria weights. The location-allocation model was used in the study as well for suggestions of new service locations to improve the spatial distribution of services and enhance the quality of life in the districts. The results of the final suitability map to determine districts with the best standard of living according to the provided services show that the living standards in the city are very good, with very high and high levels in around 51 districts, representing 72.9% (449,235 people), and about 19 districts with moderate, low, and very low levels, representing 27.1% (56,765 people). Narrowing the quality of life gap and improving spatial planning requires correcting the current deficiency in services, which is estimated in this study to be 16 services: one high school, one elementary school, one middle school, two universities, one sports service, two security services, two courts, two hospitals, one health center, one park, and two ambulance facilities.