Demand-Driven suitable sites for public toilets: a case study for GIS-Based site selection in Debre Markos Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopian cities, the lack of public toilets, which satisfy all the sections of the society and which can be utilized at any time, is obvious. This study describes a method for selecting suitable sites for public toilets in Debre Markos town. Survey research methods accompanied by GIS (Geographic Information System) tools were applied to identify the demands of the people and to optimize the sites for the toilets in the city area. Questionnaires for 100 purposely selected respondents were the basis to get the perception about the status of public toilets and the use of those toilets in the town. Based on the results of the questionnaire survey, GIS methods were employed to identify suitable sites for public toilets. The study found that the few existing public toilets are not adequate, both in quality and in quantity, and they do not satisfy the demands of the users. Another result of this study was a map of Debre Markos indicating the levels of suitability for sites of public toilets