Multicriteria Assessment of the Response Capability of Urban Emergency Shelters: A Case Study in Beijing

Abstract

Urban emergency shelters play a crucial role in providing safety and support during times of crisis. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate their emergency response capabilities. This study aims to propose a scientific criteria system for assessing urban emergency shelters on a smaller scale, employing the analytical hierarchy process and multisource data. By considering six key perspectives—site safety, spatial accessibility, demand matching, shelter facilities, operation, administration and maintenance (OA&M), and public awareness—a hierarchical structure of evaluation indicators for assessing the emergency response capability of urban emergency shelters is presented. Specifically, we examine 17 primary indicators and 28 sub-indicators, utilizing hierarchical analysis to determine the weights of each indicator. To demonstrate the practicality and scientific validity of the proposed indicator system, we apply GIS analysis to evaluate the Yuandadu Park Emergency Shelter in Beijing. The findings validate the effectiveness of the indicator system and its potential for assessing individual shelters comprehensively. Moreover, this study establishes a foundation for further research on a larger spatial scale, offering insights to enhance the capacity of urban emergency shelters.

Keywords: Urban emergency shelter, Response capability, AHP, Multicriteria assessment, GIS