Spatial analysis of distribution of public services and determination of planning needs applied study on Hafr al Batin City – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using geographical information systems (GIS)‎

Author

Abd al-Karim, Ashraf Ahmad Ali

Source

The Arabian Journal of Geographical Information Systems

Issue

Vol. 7, Issue 2 (31 Oct. 2014), pp.63-92, 30 p.

Publisher

Saudi Geographical Society

Publication Date

2014-10-31

Country of Publication

Saudi Arabia

No. of Pages

30

Main Subjects

History and Geography
Civil Engineering

Topics

Abstract EN

The current study is concerned with employing Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to monitor the spatial distribution of public services in Hafr Al Batin and to evaluate such services in accordance with urban planning standards and foundations approved by Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the purpose of evaluating the extent of efficiency and fairness of service distribution, assisting in the support of making planning decision and improving the planning process management level so as to enable the city to fulfill the needs of its population from various services with some sort of fairness and equality through two clear dimensions.

The first one is the spatial dimension in which spatial and statistical analysis tools and methods shall be employed in GIS through the application of a various set of analyses, i.e.

neighborhood analysis, standard distance analysis, directional distribution tool analysis, Kernel analysis, actual rate center analysis, service scope analysis, Tyson polygons analysis and spatial convenience map analysis of public services in Hafr Al Batin.

The second one is the quantitative dimension which is represented by application of planning standards and rates recommended by Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in assessment of the current and future situation of public services in the city.

The study indicates that there are significant spatial differences in the current geographical distribution of public services in Hafr Al Batin as it is clear from investigating the site concentration factor that Al Azeezeya, Abu Moussa Al Ashaari, Al Mohammadeya, Al Baladeya and Al Khaledeya districts acquired the highest ratio of site concentration of public service categories in the category 1 : 6 as they achieved a higher concentration ratio than the other districts of the city in 6 categories of public services.

This means that such districts achieved higher public services than their balanced share while more than 40% of districts of the city obtained only one category of public services and around 25% of the districts did not achieve any concentration ratio of public service categories in the city.

The study further reveals the spatial divergence of the scope of public services in Hafr Al Batin as there are more than 78% of the total districts of the city located far from health services, around 45% of districts of the city located far from educational services, around 39% located far from religious services, around 90% located far from sports services and around 75% located far from recreational services.

Therefore, the current distribution of public services should be reconsidered.

It is further clear from the study that there is deficit in public services according to planning rates, which is currently determined by the need to establish 180 public services to be distributed among education, health, religion, security, recreation and sports.

Such services require around 114 hectares of lands to meet the current needs.

With regard to future needs, however, the study indicates that the city needs 404 public services to be established, which require around 305 hectares of lands to meet the future needs.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Abd al-Karim, Ashraf Ahmad Ali. 2014. Spatial analysis of distribution of public services and determination of planning needs applied study on Hafr al Batin City – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using geographical information systems (GIS). The Arabian Journal of Geographical Information Systems،Vol. 7, no. 2, pp.63-92.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-568213

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Abd al-Karim, Ashraf Ahmad Ali. Spatial analysis of distribution of public services and determination of planning needs applied study on Hafr al Batin City – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using geographical information systems (GIS). The Arabian Journal of Geographical Information Systems Vol. 7, no. 2 (Oct. 2014), pp.63-92.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-568213

American Medical Association (AMA)

Abd al-Karim, Ashraf Ahmad Ali. Spatial analysis of distribution of public services and determination of planning needs applied study on Hafr al Batin City – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using geographical information systems (GIS). The Arabian Journal of Geographical Information Systems. 2014. Vol. 7, no. 2, pp.63-92.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-568213

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references : p. 89-92

Record ID

BIM-568213