Open AccessEvaluating healthcare access in informal settlements using satellites and neural networks
Author(s) -
Ishika Pal,
Arati Siddharth Petkar
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the institution of civil engineers. smart infrastructure and construction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2397-8759
DOI - 10.1680/jsmic.21.00006
Subject(s) - human settlement , government (linguistics) , informal settlements , jurisdiction , artificial neural network , business , computer science , geography , environmental planning , artificial intelligence , economic growth , political science , philosophy , linguistics , archaeology , law , economics
The right to affordable access to hospitals, clinics and dispensaries is one of the major priorities of government authorities. The constant migration towards cities and consequent growth of informal urban settlements make it imperative to consider the ‘grid of influence’ of such facilities. An attempt is made to understand this influence through satellite imagery and neural networking. Parameters such as distance from access roads and different types of informal settlements were analysed to understand their significance. These parameter models were then used as inputs for training a neural network in a case study area. Statistical plots helped understand the weight of the parameters, and accordingly, a spatial probability map was prepared. The results of the study could aid development officials in their various plans and proposals for their urban jurisdiction, helping increase accessibility to health facilities using modern predictive tools.