Analyzing Optimal Spatial distribution of CNG Station Locations (Case Study: Ardabil City)

One of the main goals of all governments and organizations controlling urban management is to balance spatial distribution of resources and services in cities. Equal distribution of services needs pinpointing the locations of services and facilities in a way that all citizens have equal access to them. Providing CNG fueling stations in urban areas (with the emphasis on their accessibility) is one of the major urban services that has attracted a great deal of attention. Since Ardabil city is also the center of Ardabil province, it has experienced the increase in population density and growth that has led to insufficiency (due to the imbalanced distribution of services) in providing urban services such as CNG fueling stations in different areas. This study aimed to evaluate present condition of CNG fueling stations, to locate new stations optimally and to increase citizens’ access to these stations. Due to its nature and objectives, research method is descriptive-analytical. Hence in this study CNG fueling stations were pinpointed using data from descriptive analysis and field observations; moreover, criteria (12 criteria) for locating these stations in Ardabil city were assessed through AHP model and the urban areas with no or limited access to these stations were identified. The results of zoning in Ardabil city to locate CNG fueling stations indicated that the most unsuitable and suitable zones contained 22.5 % and 15.8 % of the areas in Ardabil city, respectively. Moreover, the obtained results indicated that through establishing 6 new CNG stations we can optimize providing services to the citizens. In this regard the suggested CNG stations were studied through TOPSIS model and utilizing 8 effective criteria for their optimal spatial distribution, then they prioritized. The results indicated that the existing CNG fueling station in Ardabil city are not in line with urbanization standards and besides providing undesirable services they don’t match with land use around them. This is in turn defines the need to reconsider the position of CNG fueling stations and establishing new stations in Ardabil city