Site Suitability Analysis Using a Network-Based Service Area Analysis
When selecting the best location for a new business, public service, or facility, it's not just about where a place is it's about where people can reach it. That’s where Network-Based Service Area Analysis becomes a game-changer in site suitability analysis. Unlike straight-line (as-the-crow-flies) buffers, network-based service area analysis accounts for real-world travel routes, such as roads, speed limits, and traffic patterns. This approach identifies areas that are truly accessible within a set travel distance or time say, all the neighborhoods within a 10-minute drive from a potential site. In a recent GIS project, I used this method to evaluate several candidate locations for a new coffee shop. By mapping 5-mile driving service areas for each site and overlaying population data, we could see which location had the greatest potential customer base. The Downtown location stood out, thanks to its central position and high surrounding population within easy driving rea...