Abstract
This study examines the spatial distribution of socio-economic vulnerability and access to emergency services in Detroit, Michigan, to identify areas of concern for hazard preparedness and urban resilience. While traditional hazard management strategies often prioritize physical infrastructure, this research emphasizes the importance of integrating social vulnerability factors into planning processes.
Socio-economic variables including poverty, unemployment, median household income, housing vacancy, and insurance coverage were obtained from the American Community Survey. These variables were normalized and combined to create a composite vulnerability index representing areas of heightened socio-economic risk. At the same time, proximity and accessibility to critical services such as hospitals, fire stations, police stations, and grocery stores were analyzed using buffer and service area techniques in ArcGIS Pro. Standard thresholds, including a 1-mile distance for grocery access and a 3-minute response time for fire services, were applied to evaluate service coverage.
The analysis was carried out using both feature-based methods and raster-based suitability modeling with multiple weighting scenarios to assess the influence of socio economic and accessibility factors. Results reveal spatial disparities where highly vulnerable populations are located outside adequate service coverage areas, highlighting important gaps in emergency response accessibility. This research demonstrates the value of integrating socio economic data with spatial accessibility analysis to support more equitable and effective hazard management planning. The findings provide a framework for policymakers and urban planners to prioritize interventions in underserved communities and strengthen community preparedness.
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Richard Lisichenko
Department/Program
Geosciences
Submission Type
in-person poster
Date
4-13-2026
Rights
Copyright the Author(s)
Recommended Citation
Osei, Ernestina
(2026)
"IDENTIFYING SOCIO-ECONOMIC AREAS OF CONCERN TOWARDS INCLUSION IN GIS HAZARD MANAGEMENT, DETROIT, MICHIGAN,"
SACAD: Scholarly Activities: Vol. 2026, Article 65.
Available at:
https://scholars.fhsu.edu/sacad/vol2026/iss2026/65
