Nearest Location Analysis- Boston Public Schools and Fire Stations

Using ArcGIS Online, this project was performed using the Nearest Location analysis. For this project, it was determined which public schools in Boston were nearest to fire stations. As Table 1 shows, each fire station has at least one school nearby, with most fire stations having multiple schools, as many as nine in some cases. Figure 1 shows the physical map showing the fire stations, with high lighted routes to the nearest schools. This analysis created helpful information that can put minds at rest knowing that there are an adequate amount of fire departments nearby to schools in the event of an emergency. Data was obtained from Boston Open Data. 

Table 1.



Figure 1.

Drive- Time Analysis in Boston- Fire Stations

This map shows Boston, Massachusetts, and the location of all of the fire stations within Boston. Using ArcGIS Online, several analyses were run. One analysis was run for a five minute drive time from any fire station. The second analysis was run with a five minute drive time from any fire station, in a situation where it is a Monday with traffic at 8am. When looking at both of the layers, it can be seen that there is actually almost no difference with no traffic and with traffic at 8am on Monday. The data for Boston and the fire station locations was collected from Boston Open Data.