A decision support model proposal for location of light rail system stations: The case of Balıkesir

While the problems in the urban areas are increasing rapidly with the advancement of technologies and the overcrowding of cities, the information that needs to be analyzed in the process of solving these problems is also increasing. In the study presented, a decision support model was developed that provides systematic and autonomous solutions to site selection problems in urban areas. While developing this model, the process of transforming the rail system in Balıkesir province into a light rail system, as it remains idle and creates a barrier effect in the city center, is discussed as a field study. The study focuses on carrying out this transformation process in a way that will provide the highest benefit to the city and, in this regard, emphasizes the importance of location selection of stations. In this context, firstly, the criteria that affect the use of the stations were determined in the model developed in the determination of the stations mentioned, and these criteria were weighted by the fuzzy AHP method that enables an analytical assessment by taking into account verbal expressions. Afterward, using these weights and criterion data, the suitability scores of the alternative station points ascertained on the route were determined by using the ArcGIS software. Following the determination of the conformity scores, an algorithm that provides selection according to the specified rules through Phyton was developed and this algorithm was operated bidirectional, and thus the most appropriate station points were obtained. In the last stage, a genetic algorithm-based multi-objective optimization (Pareto) was performed through MATLAB software in order to provide the optimum distribution of these points on the rail system line. Thereby, the field study was completed by presenting the solution suggestions for light rail system station layouts. It is thought that the developed decision support model can offer data-based and systematic solutions to site selection problems in different areas for different purposes.