A correlation analysis between land use and number of customers of Michi-no-eki in Kyusyu region

Abstract

Michi-no-eki is a roadside station, which provides information, offers facilities and space for taking rest, and promotes local cooperation in order to improve road and traffic environment and develop local economic activities in Japan. Recently, many new constructions of Michi-no-eki are planned to build. Unfortunately, the managerial performance of part of Michi-no-eki is not as expected because the number of customers is small and facilities are getting old. Obviously, the number of customers is one of the key factors of the development of Michi-no-eki. With the aim of finding the appropriate locations of Michi-no-eki, a correlation analysis between land use and the number of customers of Michi-no-eki in Kyusyu region is implemented in this paper. Seven prefectures of Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima are included in Kyusyu region. Ten different categories of lands are divided in this paper. They are rice field, other agricultural lands, forest, wastelands, building lots, road, railway, other sites, river and lake, and beach. The implication of the relationship between land use and the number of customers are discussed.