College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
City and Regional Planning Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in City and Regional Planning
Date
5-2020
Primary Advisor
Cornelius Nuworsoo, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, City and Regional Planning Department
Abstract/Summary
Transportation planning is important for the safety and functionality of every growing city. Planners must think analytically about the decisions they make and consider long term costs and benefits. As San Francisco continues to be a major hub for businesses, population is expected to increase significantly. This projected growth, along with the city’s susceptibility to earthquakes and fires, raises a major concern for the safety of the public. That is why in 2010 and then again in 2014, residents in the city approved an earthquake safety bond to improve and replace neighborhood police and fire stations that were evaluated to be seismically unsafe. These initiatives were aimed at improving San Francisco’s ability to handle emergencies by strengthening its facilities.
This study evaluated the physical location of each emergency service facility and provided an in-depth analysis of San Francisco’s emergency response times in the year 2018 to determine the effects of facility placement on response time outcomes. The motivation for this study is to shorten response times to emergency calls for service and to emphasize the importance of facility placement, based on the theory of maximum coverage distribution. This ensures that facilities are placed at strategic locations that would minimize travel distances and maximize access points covered by emergency responders. Evaluating the placement of these facilities before distributing millions of dollars of funds for major upgrades can significantly save costs on future relocation. Utilizing maximum coverage distribution can also improve the response time to public calls for service and overall improve public safety.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/crpsp/201