Response time is a primary consideration in deploying emergency response units.
This paper illustrates GIS-based allocation of response units along a transportation route using travel time impedance. A case study is presented showing potential routes for hazardous material shipment in Clark County, Nevada. Point, line and polygon coverages created in the ArcInfo environment helped represent the emergency response units, transportation network, and population impact area and emergency response unit service area, respectively. The possibility of a geologic repository in Nevada brings about site specific and transportation related issues. In the transportation aspect, selection of a safe route is one of the primary concerns.