Spatial Accessibility to Hospitals Based on Web Mapping API: An Empirical Study in Kaifeng, China

Zhicheng Zheng, Haoming Xia, Shrinidhi Ambinakudige, Yaochen Qin, Yang Li, Zhixiang Xie, Lijun Zhang and Haibin Gu
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Zhicheng Zheng: Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for Middle and Lower Yellow River Region/College of Environment and Planning Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng 475004, China
Haoming Xia: Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for Middle and Lower Yellow River Region/College of Environment and Planning Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng 475004, China
Shrinidhi Ambinakudige: Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, 355 Lee Blvd, Hilbun Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Yaochen Qin: Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for Middle and Lower Yellow River Region/College of Environment and Planning Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng 475004, China
Yang Li: Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for Middle and Lower Yellow River Region/College of Environment and Planning Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng 475004, China
Zhixiang Xie: Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for Middle and Lower Yellow River Region/College of Environment and Planning Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng 475004, China
Lijun Zhang: Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for Middle and Lower Yellow River Region/College of Environment and Planning Henan University, Jinming Road, Kaifeng 475004, China
Haibin Gu: Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, 355 Lee Blvd, Hilbun Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: The accessibility of hospital facilities is of great importance not only for maintaining social stability, but also for protecting the basic human right to health care. Traditional accessibility research often lacks consideration of the dynamic changes in transport costs and does not reflect the actual travel time of urban residents, which is critical to time-sensitive hospital services. To avoid these defects, this study considered the city of Kaifeng, China, as an empirical case, and directly acquired travel time data for two travel modes to the hospital in different time periods through web mapping API (Application Program Interface). Further, based on travel time calculations, we compared five baseline indicators. For the last indicator, we used the optimal weighted accessibility model to measure hospital accessibility for each residential area. The study discovered significant differences in the frequency and spatial distribution of hospital accessibility using public transit and self-driving modes of transportation. In addition, there is an imbalance between accessibility travel times in the study area and the number of arrivals at hospitals. In particular, different modes of transportation and different travel periods also have a certain impact on accessibility of medical treatment. The research results shed new light on the accessibility of urban public facilities and provide a scientific basis with which local governments can optimize the spatial structure of hospital resources.

Keywords: web mapping API; hospital accessibility; residential area; urban geography (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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