Spatio-temporal analysis of fire accidents in Ardabil in 2015-2019

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Environmental Planning, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences,Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

10.22059/jurbangeo.2023.348371.1732

Abstract

A B S T R A C T
The article has studied the fire incidents that happened in Ardabil city during the five-year period of 1394-1398 with the approach of time-space analysis. In order to reduce the risks and damages caused by fire for citizens, it is necessary to adopt preventive measures and optimal allocation of resources, space-time analyzes of this phenomenon. The number of 2894 fire incidents have been mapped and analyzed in terms of time, space. Radar charts in Excel and spatio-temporal analysis techniques in the geographic information system (GIS) environment have been used to perform the desired analysis. Important parameters such as the date and time of the accidents, the number of dead and injured, and the address of the place of the accidents, have been used for analysis.The study shows that the Spatio-temporal patterns of fires vary depending on the time, types and causes. The results show that most fires occur in residential units and open and green spaces, the most common causes of which are intentional arson and vandalism. The peak of fires is right in the afternoon, at 13:00, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and in the fourth week of each month, they have the highest frequency of fires. According to this study, summer has the highest number of fires. The pattern of spatial distribution is cluster type and the intensity of fire incidents is higher in the central parts of the suburbs. In addition, the results of cluster analysis show that in the study area, fire incidents with large amounts or it is rarely accumulated in the form of hot or cold clusters. Finally, based on the research findings, suggestions for improving the management and prevention of fire accidents are presented.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In order to face the problems, threats and damages caused by urban structural fire incidents, it is necessary to investigate, recognize, analyze and interpret the reasons and their temporal and spatial dynamics. Analyzing the space-time patterns of fire incidents is one of the important steps in the prevention and reduction of damages and crisis management. This recognition requires the use of appropriate tools such as GIS and space-time analyzes in GIS, which help decision makers to improve their resource allocation by recognizing critical areas and distribution patterns of fire incidents, and make appropriate decisions for incident management and crisis management. This research has been conducted with the aim of analyzing spatio-temporal fire patterns by considering the types, location, time and causes using the city of Ardabil as a case study. Therefore, conducting this research can be used to prevent damages and risks caused by fire. The main goal of this research is the spatial and temporal analysis of fire incidents in Ardabil city. We have tried to find answers to these questions: 1- What are the main causes of fire incidents? What is the hourly, daily and monthly pattern of fire incidents distribution? Which areas of the city have the highest spatial density of fire incidents? Which areas of the city have a critical situation in terms of accidents? What is the spatial distribution of fire incidents (regular, scattered, clustered)?
 
Methodology
The data used in this research includes 2,894 incidents that were collected from April 1, 2014 to April 29, 2018 by the fire department and security services of Ardabil municipality. The data were recorded traditionally and manually, and therefore, in the first step, these data were entered into the EXCEL software. Important parameters such as the date and time of the accidents, the number of dead and injured and the address of the place of the accidents have been used for analysis. Therefore, three categories of related techniques have been used for space-time analysis. The first category is the radar charts for the temporal analysis of fires. The second category is the multi-distance spatial cluster analysis technique to determine the spatial distribution pattern. From the third category, the kernel density estimation technique is selected to determine and identify the critical zones, and the hot spot technique is chosen to analyze clusters and non-clusters as well. It has been used to help identify neighborhoods and areas with the highest concentration or the lowest concentration of incidents.
 
Results and discussion
The study shows that the spatio-temporal patterns of fire are different depending on the time, their types and causes. The results show that most of the fires happened in residential units (888 cases) and open and green spaces (565 cases), the most common cause of which is deliberate arson and vandalism with 44.47%. According to this study, summer has the highest number of fire incidents. The pattern of spatial distribution is of cluster type and the density of fire incidents is higher in the central parts and spots of the outskirts of the city. In addition, the results of the cluster analysis show that fire incidents with high value (194.54) or low value (0.0) are significantly accumulated in the studied area in the form of hot or cold clusters.
 
Conclusion
The analysis of the intensity of the spatial density of fires using the Kernel method showed that the intensity of the spatial density of fires is completely different and dynamic based on the cause of the fires. For example, while accidents caused by deliberate and vandalistic actions are scattered throughout the city, accidents caused by children's play are more concentrated in the central part of the city. In addition, the results of the hot spot method showed that the spatial distribution pattern of fires in Ardabil city is of high cluster type. That each group of fires formed a spatial clustering according to the type and cause of the fires. The concentration intensity of this clustering is high in some areas and low in others. The most important clusters have been formed in the central, northern and southern areas of the city.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.

Keywords

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Geographical Urban Planning Research (GUPR)
Volume 10, Issue 4
February 2023
Pages 101-117

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