Analysis of the distribution of emergency assembly areas according to dasymetric population density: The case of Afyonkarahisar

In urban areas, the distribution of the population is not homogeneous. Neighborhoods with high residential density exhibit higher population density, while areas with public spaces, green areas, open spaces, commercial centers, and organized industrial zones tend to have a more sparse population distribution. Similarly, emergency gathering areas designated by authorities to protect against natural disasters or to minimize their destructive effects do not show a homogeneous distribution in city centers. The urban planning and the geomorphological characteristics of the location where the city is established also influence this distribution. It is crucial for the safety of residents to have secure access to emergency gathering areas during or after potential disasters. In this regard, analyzing the existing emergency gathering centers and determining their accessibility levels is of great importance. In this study, neighborhoods in the central district of Afyonkarahisar, which is at high risk for natural disasters, were selected as the study area, and the population's access levels to emergency gathering areas were tested. Utilizing land use plans of the city center, the demographic population density was determined throughout the central district, and the gathering areas that the population could access were identified. During the analysis, various accessibility methods were employed to assess the population's access levels at the neighborhood scale in terms of both distance and time. Academic studies emphasize that access to an emergency gathering area should be provided within a maximum distance of 500 meters. According to the analysis results, while considering roads, half of the existing population can access an emergency gathering area within 500 meters; when roads are not considered, 75% of the population can reach an emergency gathering area. Additionally, it was observed that there is a portion of the population that cannot access any emergency gathering area even within a broader distance of 5000 meters. The limited number of emergency gathering areas in some neighborhoods significantly affected accessibility levels. Moreover, the proximity of the emergency gathering area's location to residential areas is another factor influencing access levels. Given the formation of new residential areas and the population concentration in these locations, it would be beneficial to revise the emergency gathering areas according to current needs. Keywords: Emergency Assembly Areas, Desimetric Population Density, Geographic Information Systems"