Geographical Research

Objectives and Background: Balanced spatial distribution of urban services and infrastructure is a key requirement for effective urban management. In recent years, appropriate siting of CNG fueling stations has become increasingly important due to their role in improving transportation safety, operational efficiency, and environmental protection. Mahabad city, because of its central position and rapid population growth, faces challenges in the equitable distribution of urban services, particularly within the CNG station network. This study aims to identify suitable locations for establishing CNG fueling stations in Mahabad city.

Methodology: Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were employed to determine optimal locations. Relevant spatial layers were prepared based on effective criteria, including land use, topography, soil type, distance from roads, faults, fire stations, and rivers. Pairwise comparisons of criteria were conducted using AHP, and weights were calculated through Expert Choice software. The weighted layers were then integrated in the GIS environment to generate the final suitability map.

Findings: The results indicated that distance from urban roads (0.20) and distance from fire stations (0.16) were the most influential criteria in selecting suitable sites, whereas elevation, distance from green spaces, and rivers had the least impact. The final suitability map showed that 33.27% of the city area lies in highly suitable zones and 26.92% in suitable zones, meaning nearly 60% of Mahabad has moderate to high suitability. Spatial comparison also revealed that all four existing CNG stations are located within suitable or highly suitable areas.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that Mahabad city has considerable potential for expanding CNG fueling infrastructure. The integrated GIS–AHP approach provides a reliable scientific framework for optimizing fuel distribution networks and supporting sustainable urban planning.