The Use of Geographic Information System to Analyze Stations Locating for Proposed Rapid Bus Route in AL KUT City.

Abstract

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) It is one of the public vehicle systems in modern cities that provides fast, convenient, and cost-saving transport services. It operates on separate lines. The activation of the BRT system depends on the locations of the stations within its route. If the stations were located in suitable locations, it would attract a large number of passengers, this contributes to an increase in the use of public transport and thus reduces traffic congestion, road accidents and environmental pollution in the city. In this research, station locations for the proposed BRT route in Al Kut city will be studied and analyzed. 10 candidate sites were selected for BRT stations. Criteria that were used to analyze the sites of these stations are the locations of government institutions, health and educational services, stopping points for current means of transportation, and the population density of city areas. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology was used to represent these criteria spatially on the map to be processed and prepared for analysis using the Services Coverage Tool (Service Area) and allocation Tool (Allocation – Location) available in the network analysis toolbar and overlay tool (intersect) in the Toolbox menu. The results of the analysis showed that the sites of (10) BRT stations are within good and reasonable services coverage areas in relation to the services distribution sites in the city and the BRT route site, as the stations cover (76) government site, (69) educational institutions, (10) health sites, and (11) stops for the current transportation lines. The results of the statistical analysis also showed that the coverage of BRT stations is 88% of the total population density in the city.