Analysis of the spatial distribution pattern and service coverage of pharmacies in the areas of Rasht using spatial analysis and spatial statistics capabilities in the ArcGIS environment

Tahami, Seyed Ali Asghar; Ghafari Gilandeh, Ata; Kouhi Heris, Abolfazl; Yazdani, Mohammad Hasan

Analysis of the spatial distribution pattern and service coverage of pharmacies in the areas of Rasht using spatial analysis and spatial statistics capabilities in the ArcGIS environment

Document Type : Article extracted from dissertations

Authors

Seyed Ali Asghar Tahami ¹

Ata Ghafari Gilandeh ²

Abolfazl Kouhi Heris ¹

Mohammad Hasan Yazdani ²

¹ MSc of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil

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

Abstract

Background and Objective: Optimal land use and physical organization of cities based on efficiency, environmental protection, social justice, and equitable access to services are among the primary goals of urban planning. Therefore, the location and spatial distribution pattern of urban land uses should be aligned with meeting the needs of all social groups, aiming to improve the welfare and comfort of citizens. In this context, qualitative and quantitative evaluation of land uses in the spatial structure of the city and examining their locational suitability across defined zones are of particular importance. Pharmacies are among the units that play a significant role in meeting the diverse needs of citizens in the fields of health, treatment, and wellness. Due to this role, their spatial distribution pattern greatly impacts the level of pharmaceutical service coverage. Given the inter-neighborhood nature of pharmacies, this study investigates their spatial distribution at the level of the municipal areas of Rasht city.
Methodology: To achieve the research objectives, various spatial analysis models within the ArcGIS environment were used, including hot spot analysis, frequency weighting, spatial autocorrelation analysis, population density in relation to the number of pharmacies, and Thiessen polygon analysis.
Findings and Conclusion: The results indicate a high frequency weight of pharmacies in areas 1-3, 3-2, and 2-2; a statistically significant condition in district 2-1 based on high Z-scores in hot spot analysis; a rate of 7.27 pharmacy units per 10,000 people in district 2-2; the representation of proximity-based pharmacy access through Thiessen polygon analysis; and finally, the outcome of spatial autocorrelation analysis showing a random distribution pattern of pharmacies across the areas of Rasht. Each of these findings reveals aspects of spatial distribution patterns across the city, which are discussed further in the full article.

Keywords

Spatial Analysis

Rasht City

Geographic Information System

pharmacy

Subjects

Urban Planning

Ahadi, Fazel, Nazmfar, Hussain, Masoumi, Mohamad Tagi, & ABRAVESH, AKBAR. (2020). spatial analysis of social poverty in ardabil city. BASIJ STRATEGIC RESEARCH QUARTERLY, 22(85 ), 151-179. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/387959/en (in persian)

aftab,ahmad,Soleimani,Alireza,hassanpour,negin. (2018).Analysis of the Spatial Distribution and Location of Pharmacies Under Nightly in the Past (Case Study the City of Urmia).Journal of healthcare management,9(1),33-45. https://sanad.iau.ir/fa/Article/806035?FullText=FullText (in persian)

Jafari, Zahra (2018), Introduction and Fundamentals of Pharmacy Technician, Including a Comprehensive List of Over-the-Counter (OTC) and Natural Medicines in the Country, Top Researcher Publications. https://bookpb.ir/ (in persian)

ZIARI, K.. (2002). URBAN LAND USE PLANNING (CASE STUDY: MINAB). GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH, 17(2-3 (65-66)), 0-0. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/361194/en (in persian)

Dolatyarian, K. , Yazdani, M. H. , Ghafari Gilandeh, A. and Dolatyarian, K. (2026). Geographical analysis of indicators and examples of a happy city with emphasis on Ray Oldenburg's third place theory (Case Study: Khorramabad city). Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS), 7(1), 44-72. https://www.srds.ir/article_219235.html (in persian)

Seraydar, N. , saeidirezvani, N. and ziari, K. (2023). Measurement of Spatial Justice in the Distribution of Health Care Services based on Justice-Oriented City Indicators the Case Study of Arak city. Sustainable city, 6(1), 89-109. doi: https://10.22034/jsc.2021.250675.1324 (in persian)

salehian, S. and Nazmfar, H. (2024). Investigation and analysis of the spatial distribution of pharmacies in the neighborhoods of Ardabil city. Geography and Human Relationships, (), -. doi: https://10.22034/gahr.2024.472711.2233 (in persian)

Asgari, A. (2011). Spatial Statistics Analysis with ArcGIS, Publications of Tehran Municipality Information and Communication Technology Organization, First Edition. https://tmicto.tehran.ir (in persian)

ALIJANI, BOHLOUL. (2015). SPATIAL ANALYSIS IN GEOGRAPHY STUDIES. JOURNAL OF SPATIAL ANALYSIS ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARTS, 2(3 ), 1-14. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/264790/en (in persian)

Ghazanfarpour, H. , Mehrabi nejad, A. and Moslemizadeh, A. (2022). Locating Pharmacies and its Optimal Spatial Distribution in Sirjan City in Line with the Desired Access of Citizens. Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement, 12(45), 79-106. doi: https://10.22111/gaij.2022.39011.2940 (in persian)

Ghafari Chandanagh, Navid. (1401). Analysis of the spatial-spatial distribution of dry cleaning and laundry units in the city of Ardabil using spatial analysis capabilities in the GIS environment, Master's thesis, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir/#/articles/27ca579ed86cc3333ab962fd851a181a (in persian)

Jahani Dolatabad, E; Mohammadi, Ch. (1402). Explaining the Happy City from the Perspective of the Citizens of Ardabil City, Quarterly Journal of Welfare Planning and Social Development, 14 (54), pp. 317-348. (DOI): https://10.22054/qjsd.2022.64231.2261 (in persian)

Ghaffari Chanzanaqh, N. , Ghaffari Gilandeh, A. and Safarian Zengir, V. (2024). Investigating the Accessibility and Spatial Distribution of Urban Services Using Geographic Information System (GIS) in Ardabil Urban Neighborhoods (Case Example: Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Units). Urban Economics and Planning, 5(1), 106-118. doi: https://10.22034/uep.2024.454750.1479 (in persian)

Fatemi, Zohreh. (1402). Investigating the distribution and dispersion of bakery units in Ardabil city using spatial analysis capabilities in ArcGIS environment. Master's thesis, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir/#/articles/65d73ede7b5034ccb2fc13ec57c982ab (in persian)

Fasihi, H. (2019). Analysis of the spatial distribution of pharmacies in District 20 of Tehran. Human Settlement Planning Studies, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp. 904-891. https://sanad.iau.ir/Journal/jshsp/Article/1031882 (in persian)

Ghahrudi Tali, M; Babaei Fini, U. (2015). An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems. Eighth Edition. Tehran: Payam Noor University Press. https://digibook.pnu.ac.ir/ (in persian)

MOLAEI HASHJIN, N., & Ghalambor Dezfouli, R. (2021). Settlement Pattern of Immigrant Population with Social Ecology Approach in Rasht City. , 12(45), 117-136. doi: https://10.30495/jupm.2021.24039.3423 (in persian)

Yaghfouri, H., Fotouhi, S., & Beheshtifar, J. (2013). Application of GIS in The Analysis of The Spatial Distribution and Localization of Pharmacies (case study: pharmacies of Jahrom city). , 4(14), 1-20. 20.1001.1.22285229.1392.4.14.1.7 (in persian)

Vaezi, H. (1403). An analysis of environmental risk reduction with emphasis on community-based crisis management components (Case study: Ardabil city). PhD thesis, Mohaghegh Ardabili University. https://ganj.irandoc.ac.ir/#/articles/0a4a8892f3ca48e1af85a6aa8184b410 (in persian)

Chen, X., & Suen, I. (2023). Analysis of spatial disparity of pharmacies in Virginia, USA. Journal of Urban & Regional Analysis, 15(1). DOI:10.37043/JURA.2023.15.1.5

Esri ArcGIS 10.8.2 help. (n.d.). Environmental Systems Research Institute. Retrieved from, https://support.esri.com/en-us/knowledge-base/arcmap-continued-support-000029721?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Fernandes B. D., Foppa A., Almeida P., Lakhani A., Lima T.(2022). Application and utility of geographic information systems in pharmacy specific health research: A scoping review. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, VOL.18;P.p:3263-3271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.11.004

Sukamdi, D. P., Lazuardi, L., & Sumarni, S. (2015). ANALYSIS OF PHARMACY DISTRIBUTION WITH GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM. JURNAL MANAJEMEN DAN PELAYANAN FARMASI (Journal of Management and Pharmacy Practice), 5(1), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.22146/jmpf.29

SuperMap Software Co., Ltd. (2024). SuperMap iDesktop Tutorial. https://help.supermap.com/iDesktop/en/

Suri, N., Zakiah Oktarlina, R., Aulia Ramdini, D., Miswar, D., & Rahman, M. B. (2024). Mappingof Pharmaciesin Bandar Lampung Municipality: Nearest Neighbor Analysis and OverlayApproach. DOI:10.37090/jfl.v13i1.1356

Vilcea, C., & Avram, S. (2019). Using GIS methods to analyse the spatial distribution and public accessibility of pharmacies in Craiova city, Romania. Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, (45), 125-132. DOI:10.2478/bog-2019-0028

Wong, T.-C., & Yuen, B. (Eds.). (2011). Eco-city planning: Policies, practice and design. Springer. DOI:10.1007/978-94-007-0383-4