The effects of spatial clustering of public facilities on social equity and urban congestion in the city of Batna (Algeria)

Abstract

This study explores the anarchic situation in the distribution of public facilities in the city of Batna, and their negative impact on motorized mobility (travel, the influx in the city center, urban congestion, etc.). To analyze this situation a geographic information system (GIS) and geographical database were developed. For this purpose, we used the Unified Modelling Language approach to design an operational model for our GIS. Several spatial indices commonly used to explore the concentration of public facilities in the city center and their effects on urban congestion were examined, including the Hot spot (Getis-Ord Gi*), Ripley’s K function, and the average nearest neighbor. The results obtained show that 197 facilities (35%) are clustered on 13% of districts often characterized by small area (856 ha) and low density of population (118 inhabitants/ha), while 246 facilities (44%) are dispersed over an area of 1875 ha with more than 141 inhabitants/ha. These results obtained in the study could be used as an efficient method for urban studies and strategies.