Multi-criteria facility location for emergency medical services using AHP and GIS: Public sector supply chain case in Riyadh

This study presents an industrial engineering–oriented framework designed to evaluate, plan, and prioritize Emergency Medical Service (EMS) facility locations through an integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approach. Urban EMS networks operate as time-sensitive logistics systems, where effective facility placement is critical for reducing response times and improving access equity. Rooted in facility location theory and multi-criteria decision-making, the proposed framework assesses eight spatial and demand-driven factors through five AHP weighting schemes. These are validated using Area Under the Curve (AUC) metrics and applied to the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) network in Riyadh. The results highlight priority zones for infrastructure expansion that align with public service goals and operational efficiency. In addition to its methodological foundation, this study demonstrates how industrial engineering principles-particularly those from operations research, spatial analytics, and systems evaluation can support evidence-based planning and enhance the long-term resilience of public health logistics.