Accessibility modelling of selected development issues

Accessibility modelling is critical for the locational planning of services and budgeting of such facilities. Traditionally, it has been associated with transport modelling and access, although lately the application of this type of modelling to socio-economic issues has increased. Accessibility modelling includes not only calculating access, but also the calculation of capacity constraints per location, distance to closest other facility, improved access for the population and various optimum locations.

The need for accessibility planning arises from the fact that no effective planning of service infrastructure takes place. Besides this, there are usually limited financial resources to implement such development. This in turn leads to few services being developed or services being located outside areas of the greatest need.

This project will aim to develop expertise in terms of accessibility modelling by using it in various fields of application. Current location of government programmes is one important such aspect. The national government has undertaken to intervene in local economic development through government initiatives at local authorities. To find out where such initiatives are actively taking place is important in terms of evaluating its impact and location. If such programmes are not optimally located, the people who are really in need of it will not benefit from it.