Building non-motorized accessible communities for heterogeneous demand: A facility location and network design...

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning
• Transportation Engineering
• Public Health

Background:

• Non-motorized accessibility is crucial for accessing essential services like education and healthcare.
• Current road networks and facility locations often neglect non-motorized users and diverse abilities.
• Infrastructure improvements require systematic approaches for efficient resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an optimization model for identifying optimal locations for new facilities and accessible road segments.
• To maximize non-motorized accessibility to services, considering users with different walking abilities.
• To support strategic decision-making for enhancing urban non-motorized accessibility.

Main Methods:

• An optimization model was proposed to address network design and facility location challenges.
• A randomized greedy algorithm was developed to solve the complex problem.
• A case study in Bangkok's Huai Kwang district was used for illustration.

Main Results:

• The proposed model can identify optimal locations for facilities and road segments to improve non-motorized access.
• The methodology effectively considers the diverse needs of a heterogeneous population.
• The case study demonstrates the practical application of the model in strategic urban planning.

Conclusions:

• The optimization model provides a systematic approach to enhance non-motorized accessibility.
• Strategic placement of facilities and accessible paths can significantly improve service access.
• This research supports evidence-based planning for more inclusive urban environments.