Spatial Decision Support System for Efficient School Location-Allocation
Marios Batsaris | Dimitris Kavroudakis | Euripides Hatjiparaskevas | Panagiotis Agourogiannis
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Corresponding Author Email: m.batsaris@aegean.gr
Published: 2021/12/21 DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.m.bat.12.4.031.044
Open Access
Keywords: Spatial Decision Support System, Location-Allocation, P-median, GIS, Spatial optimization
Abstract
In Greece, a lack of a planning strategy was identified in the context of allocating students to schools. Particularly, the Secondary Educational Management of Lesvos Prefecture along with school Principals decide upon student allocation based on empirical knowledge and approximation techniques. As a consequence, during the school season of 2018-2019 capacity and proximity limitations were violated. This study introduces a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) to assist school location-allocation decisions in future seasons. The objective of the proposed SDSS is to minimize commute-to-school distance concerning capacity and proximity limitations. For this purpose, a capacitated P-median approach is adopted and formulated as a mixed-integer linear problem. The SDSS is further evaluated using actual data for students' transition from primary to secondary education in the city of Mytilene, Greece. Evaluation of current allocation practices carried out and further compared to those obtained by the SDSS. The results indicate a decrease of 8% in total distance whereas proximity and capacity constraints were respected accordingly. The results may be potentially useful for school planners to assist the allocation decisions in the city of Mytilene.
Highlights:-Use of the P-median Problem with Capacity Limitations to Minimize Commute-to-School Distance
-Development of an SDSS Suitable for School Location-Allocation Decision-Making
-Traveling Distance Decrease by 8% in Comparison with Current Student Allocations for the School Season 2018-2019
