Evaluation of Geographic Accessibility in Areas without Road Infrastructure through GIS Simulation

Abstract

Spatial accessibility to services allows for the assessment of people's access to opportunities, especially in disadvantaged areas. This study employs the simulation of hypothetical scenarios using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze future accessibility to healthcare services, aiming to evaluate their potential impact and contribute to long-term strategic planning that reduces spatial inequalities. The proposed methodology models hypothetical hospital locations in areas with high levels of marginalization and no road infrastructure. In this context, Euclidean distance was used as an alternative to estimate proximity since, although road-based distance provides more realistic data, its application is limited in these regions. The scenario results show that the strategic location of new healthcare facilities in disadvantaged areas can significantly improve accessibility levels in the future, thereby contributing to a better quality of life for the population.