Advanced GIS and fuzzy logic integration for strategic fire station placement in Yanbu industrial city, Saudi Arabia

In the dynamic landscape of urban safety and emergency management, the strategic siting of fire stations emerges as a critical factor for enhancing operational efficiency and public safety. This study introduces a groundbreaking approach based on the Evaluation-Reallocation-Planning (E-R-P) method, tailored for Yanbu Industrial City in Saudi Arabia. This method transforms the decision-making process for fire station placement, offering a blend of current site evaluations, strategic station reallocation, and forward-thinking service planning. At the heart of this research lies the integration of fuzzy logic with Geographic Information System technology and location-allocation models, crafting a robust evaluation framework. The spectrum of algorithms was delved into to dissect the insights from fuzzy logic operations, focusing on three pivotal criteria: socioeconomic dynamics, infrastructure, and urban planning. The findings unveil a stark reality: Yanbu's current fire station network covers 24.8% of the city's structures. However, applying the E-R-P model boosts this coverage by an impressive 18.6%, reshaping the city's emergency response landscape. The fuzzy SUM operator emerged as a critical tool in pinpointing prime locations for new fire stations, which marked a significant stride in disaster readiness. This study redefines emergency service deployment in Yanbu and sets a precedent for other burgeoning cities worldwide. It offers a scalable, data-centric framework for optimizing fire station locations, enhancing urban safety, and streamlining city management.