Integration Hybrid Multi Criteria Decision Making of GIS, AHP and TOPSIS in Evaluating Suitable Locations for CNG Fuel Stations: A Case of Bonab City, Iran

As the demand for vehicle usage continues to surge, the strategic placement of fuel stations within urban areas has become a topic of significant consideration. The location of a fuel station is a critical factor in ensuring accessibility and efficiency. Landslides stand out as one of the most destructive hazards in natural terrain areas, emphasizing the need for reliable susceptibility analysis methods to aid policymakers in facility placement. This chapter investigates the applicable criteria for the location of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel stations, using standards and expert opinions. The study employs Geographic Information System (GIS) as a quantitative technique for landslide susceptibility, integrating a comprehensive dataset. The research focuses on extracting potential alternatives through GIS and ranking them using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and a hybrid TOPSIS-AHP method. To assess the practicality of the framework, the model is implemented in Bonab City, East-Azerbaijan, Iran. Eight potential locations for CNG stations in Bonab are identified using GIS, and they are subsequently ranked through three multi-criteria decision-making methods. The results indicate that locations C and G, situated on Bonab-Tabriz road and Bonab-Maragheh road, respectively, are optimal for constructing a fuel station.