An integrated intuitionistic fuzzy framework for emergency response center location planning in industrial areas

Emergency response centers are critical facilities for managing emergencies caused by both natural and man-made disasters, particularly in industrial zones where risks such as fires, toxic substance exposure, and explosions are prevalent. The selection of an appropriate location for emergency response centers is vital to ensuring rapid and effective emergency responses while addressing the inherent uncertainties and complexities of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) processes. This study presents a comprehensive location selection analysis for emergency response centers in industrial zones, leveraging intuitionistic fuzzy sets to incorporate uncertainty and expert hesitation in the decision-making process. Using Intuitionistic Fuzzy SWARA (Step-by-Step Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) to determine criteria weights and Intuitionistic Fuzzy EDAS (Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution) to evaluate alternative locations, the study identifies the optimal site for establishing emergency response centers under conflicting criteria. The proposed approach effectively integrates linguistic expert judgments and quantitative assessments, offering a robust framework for addressing the challenges of emergency response center selection. The results provide actionable insights for emergency management and urban planning while contributing to the growing body of research on fuzzy MCDM techniques for critical facility location problems. This methodology ensures a realistic and practical solution to the emergency response center location selection problem.