Analyzing the Spatial Distribution of Specialist Physician Offices in Ilam City and Determining Suitable Zones to Propose a Desirable Pattern

Using the traditional methods for planning the special physician offices to give health and care services is wasting time and paper. Nowadays, GIS or Geographical Information System works as a means to create a proper and efficient bank of information. One of the uses of this positioning system is the land use for special physician offices. This study aims to evaluate the spatial distribution of specialist doctor offices in Ilam City and to determine suit able zones in order to provide a desirable pattern using a descriptive-analytical method. Data collection in this research has been done through library and field methods. The statistical population of the study consists of urban management experts, 20 of whom are selected through available sampling. The research questionnaire is distributed among them. Data analysis is performed using fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and integration with digital layers in Expert Choice and ArcGIS software. The stages for determining the locations of specialist doctor offices included preparing information layers in raster format for each criterion, classifying each information layer based on the value by using FUZZYAHP, combining all the information layers, applying the final coefficients of the FUZZYAHP model, and preparing the final map. After performing the necessary calculations and evaluations, the highest weight was given to the criterion of “population density and vulnerable population” (0.303), while the lowest weight was given to the criterion of “distance from commercial usages” (0.016). Considering the weights of the criteria and the overlap between the layers, ultimately the highly suitable areas with an area of 43 hectares, the zone with suitable location with an area of 176 hectares, the zone with relatively suitable location with an area of 225 hectares, the zone with unsuitable location with an area of 131 hectares, and the zone with highly unsuitable location with an area of 269 hectares for the establishment of specialist doctor offices in Ilam City were determined. The most suitable locations were in Area One of Ilam City Hall, zones 2 and 3; in Area Two of Ilam City Hall, zones 1 and 2; in Area Three of Ilam City Hall, zones 1, 2, and 3; and in Area Four of Ilam City Hall, zones 1, 2, and 4Expanded.