The role of geography in terms of emergency management: Eskişehir case

The utilization of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in acting in emergency cases and in problem solving brings significant benefits in times when seconds and moments are rather limited for human life. Howewer, one of the most important usage areas of GIS is that it enables us to determine the areas of influence which are likely to be under danger with analyses in the surroundings of factors of danger before events happen and offers us optimum solutions in acting early. This function of GIS is used in developed countries and owing to that, the loss of life and property is minimized.Recently, Eskişehir has gone to through a process of rapid urbanization. In the meantime, it started to attract populations from the cities and towns around it and new houses and roads began to be built. This situation started complex network of transport. In order to drive in this network of transport and to be able to act in emergency cases, various plannig, first of all, the present situation and the potential of the area should be determined. Analyses made by using GIS enable the succestions which are to be developed for planning to create a strong basis.One of the most essential factors in acting in emergency cases is the evaluation of reasons which affect cases in the limits of geographical rules. For this reason, during the study of thesis, it was stated that in the location of emergency institutions in Eskişehir, population, climate, settlement, topography and transport factors are bound to be taken in to consideration.Key Words: Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Network Analysis, Emergency Management, Buffer Analysis, Thiessen Polygons