Urban facility location models in two-dimensional space focusing on the health benefits of walking

Facility location models for the ideal walking distance and for reducing the average mortality

Abstract

This study aims to develop models to utilize the health benefits of walking in urban planning. Specifically, assuming a uniform population distribution in a rectangular urban area, we formulated both the optimal location of single or multiple facilities to achieve the ideal walking distance and the problem of determining the length of a shopping street to keep the average mortality rate of local residents at a desirable level. It is significant that the optimal solution depends on the walking distance to be achieved and the frequency of visits to facilities, and that the results have implications for urban planning.