Spatial Planning Framework for Development of Rural Activity Centers: Method of Location Allocation, Effect on Trip Length, and Policy Implications

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Activity center (AC) location allocation is a central concept for better quality of life, poverty reduction, accessibility maximization, and minimization of trip length and cost. An AC is characterized by p number of basic facilities present within it. The proposed framework identifies heuristically the potential locations of ACs that consist of multiple basic facilities. This article proposes a spatial planning framework to help policymakers while making infrastructure development decisions within budgetary limitations. For the application of this planning framework, a rural district in India is considered to allocate the location of ACs with four facilities: a health-care center, high school, bank, and market. The effect of AC developments on trip length is analyzed by preparing different activity chains to complete multiple trip purposes. Two cases are considered for location allocation of ACs. In the first case, we assumed that there is no facility existing in the study area; the latter case dealt with a situation where there are facilities already existing. In the case analysis, four categories of ACs are configured: AC4 with all four facility types, AC3 with any three facility types, AC2 with any two facility types, and AC1 with a single facility. Findings revealed that considerable trip cost savings in terms of trip length reduction could be realized from AC4 type activity centers over all other categories of AC. The policy context discussed in this article will not only help in maintaining uniformity in socioeconomic services over the region, but also, balance population density in physically isolated areas and densely populated areas. With the illustrated application, all the identified ACs with partial services within a region can be augmented to become full-fledged ACs in a phased manner, where infrastructure financing is constrained, particularly in lower and middle-income economies. In summary, the research framework will improve the quality of life in rural regions with a focus on better health, improved education, and an enhanced economy.