Spatial Distrubution and Impact of Fuel Station on Traffic Flowi in Addis Ababa
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Date
2023-11-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
As cities grow and expand traffic flow also increases in cities this phenomenon may results in traffic congestion which is a major problem for urban mobility. This research study investigated the spatial distribution and impact of fuel stations on traffic flow in Addis Ababa city. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches and other forms of data collection techniques. Names and street addresses of the filling stations were obtained from government bodies. Global positioning System (with in a mobile phone device) was used to capture the location of the filling station. Arrival rate of Vehicles, service rate and number of servers were acquired on field by keeping track of when cars arrived at Fuel Stations and the amount of time it took to serve each car. The geographical data were imported to Arc Map environment of ArcGIS 10.5 and analyses for spatial distribution were performed in the Arc Map environment using spatial statistics, spatial analyst and proximity tools available in the software. For the traffic impact analysis M/M/s queuing theory method is used. The findings revealed that there are 131 Fuel Stations in Addis Ababa and 75 Fuel Stations are found on PAS (Principal arterial street) road type, 40 Fuel Stations are found on SAS (Sub arterial street) road type and 16 Fuel Stations are found on CS (Collector street) road type Furthermore, utilizing the M/M/S Queuing System, the study reveals that traffic intensity in sampled Fuel Stations in the CS road type, SAS (Sub arterial street), and PAS (Principal arterial street) road types is significantly higher than one, indicating high demand. However, in CS (Collector Street) road type none of the stations have traffic intensity below 1. In contrast, 19 of the sampled 22 Fuel Stations in the SAS (Sub Arterial Street) road type have traffic intensity greater than one. The majority of Fuel Stations in the PAS (Principal Arterial Street) road type have traffic intensity less than one. Analysis from arc gis software showed that fuel stations along the city road are not evenly distributed, rather they are more concentrated together at different centers. In conclusion this Fuel Stations have a significant impact on the flow of traffic during rush hours. In light of these findings, the study recommends the development of urban planning standards, zoning regulations, and traffic impact assessments to optimize fuel station distribution. Operational Efficiency and Traffic Management Strategies are essential components of sustainable urban mobility in Addis Ababa City.
Key Words: Fuel Station, Traffic Impacts, Spatial Distribution, Traffic Intensity, Queuing Model, ArcGIS.