Assessment of capacity adequacy and accessibility of post-disaster assembly areas: The case of Merkezefendi district (Denizli)

In recent years, an increase in the frequency and severity of natural, anthropogenic, and technological disasters has been observed. It is widely acknowledged that disasters, whose timing remains unpredictable, will continue to persist both today and in the future. Considering Türkiye's geopolitical position, the country has faced—and will continue to face—disasters across its diverse geographical regions for many years. Denizli province is known to be in a first-degree earthquake zone and is among the regions at high disaster risk. This study aims to investigate the capacity adequacy and accessibility levels of post-disaster emergency assembly areas in Merkezefendi District, one of the central districts of Denizli province. Within this scope, the assembly areas in Denizli's central districts are initially examined, then narrowed down to a single district, and finally, three neighborhoods (Karahasanlı, Karaman, and Muratdede) are selected for detailed analysis. Data are obtained from relevant institutions and analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools, particularly ArcGIS. The findings indicate that the capacity and accessibility of the assembly areas are evaluated based on predefined criteria: a gathering area requirement of 2.5 m² per person and accessibility constraints defined by 5-, 10-, and 15-minute walking distances (250–500 meters). The results revealed that while the emergency assembly areas in Karahasanlı neighborhood are sufficient in capacity, pedestrian access to these areas is partially inadequate. In contrast, the disaster gathering areas in Karaman and Muratdede neighborhoods are found to be insufficient in both capacity and pedestrian accessibility. However, the study also demonstrates that, when considering service proximity, some assembly areas can serve populations beyond their administrative boundaries, covering adjacent neighborhoods. Conversely, certain areas remain underserved in terms of pedestrian access. This outcome highlights the necessity of calculating assembly area capacity based not solely on administrative boundaries but on the population within their service area. From city planning perspective, the findings underscore the need for a holistic approach in designing emergency assembly areas, ensuring accessibility and population coverage at both neighborhood and district levels. Overall, the study emphasizes the critical role of urban planning in disaster and risk management, particularly in pre-disaster planning, and demonstrates how such planning influences the functionality of emergency gathering areas post-disaster.