Using GIS for calculating the accessibility to hospitals in the city of Bucharest and its metropolitan area (Romania)

Abstract

The application of geographical information systems (GIS) to the assessment of accessibility to hospitals has been investigated for an important growth pole in South-East Europe, respectively Bucharest and its metropolitan area. The calculation of accessibility at an intra-regional level is essential, taking into consideration the major role as a capital city, as well as the magnitude of the influence exercised over its hinterland. The territorial dynamics, characterizing a metropolis and also the attraction on a constant number of people, may raise a number of issues such as overcrowding of the main access roads into the city, the pressure put on the public transportation network, the rise of the number of personal cars, which is linked to the longer time needed to travel to various services areas.