Venue: World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR 2026), 6–10 July 2026, Toulouse, France, organized by the World Conference on Transport Research Society (WCTRS) in collaboration with the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) and Toulouse Capitole University, France.
Research Paper: Development of Rural Accessibility Model for Terrain-Sensitive Settlements: A GIS–AHP Framework with Participatory Calibration (Paper ID: A82796AB)
Presenter: Dr. B. Adinarayana, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, India.
Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, proudly represented India at the prestigious World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR 2026) held in Toulouse, France. Dr. B. Adinarayana presented his research on developing a terrain-sensitive rural accessibility framework during a technical session attended by approximately 60 international faculty members, scientists, researchers, transportation professionals, and delegates. The presentation generated valuable technical discussions and facilitated interactions with leading experts in transportation research.
The conference brought together transportation researchers, policymakers, academicians, industry experts, and practitioners from approximately 140 countries, providing an exceptional platform for global knowledge exchange, scientific collaboration, and networking in the field of transportation research.
The conference was organized by the World Conference on Transport Research Society (WCTRS) in collaboration with the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) and Toulouse Capitole University, institutions internationally recognized for excellence in economics, transportation research, and public policy.
The research developed a GIS–AHP-based Rural Accessibility Model by integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), machine learning, remote sensing, and stakeholder participation to support equitable and sustainable infrastructure planning. The framework was applied to West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, covering 1,176 rural habitations with a population of approximately 501,294.
The methodology integrates terrain-sensitive travel impedance modelling, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), road network analysis, cost-distance modelling, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, Random Forest-based habitation extraction, and stakeholder-derived AHP weighting to generate realistic accessibility assessments for rural settlements.
Key Highlights
- Developed a novel GIS–AHP framework for accessibility assessment in mountainous rural regions.
- Achieved 89.7% classification accuracy in habitation mapping using machine learning and remote sensing.
- Accessibility Index values ranged from 0.130 to 0.642, indicating nearly a five-fold disparity among rural settlements.
- 57.7% of habitations were classified as having low or very low accessibility.
- More than half of the district's population experiences inadequate access to essential public services.
- 81% of the least accessible settlements are located above 600 metres elevation, demonstrating the significant influence of terrain on accessibility.
- Demonstrated that conventional road-connectivity indicators often overestimate actual accessibility in mountainous regions and highlighted the importance of travel-time-based accessibility assessment for infrastructure planning.
The research benchmarked accessibility conditions against national and international standards, revealing that West Garo Hills performs below global median levels of rural accessibility. The findings emphasize the need to move beyond simple road-connectivity measures towards comprehensive, terrain-sensitive accessibility indicators for planning rural infrastructure.
The proposed framework directly contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The research offers practical guidance for policymakers, transportation planners, government agencies, and development organizations by enabling evidence-based prioritisation of infrastructure investments in challenging terrain. Future work will focus on integrating real-time GPS data, crowdsourced mobility information, digital connectivity indicators, and seasonal accessibility analysis to further strengthen rural accessibility planning.
The presentation at WCTR 2026 provided an outstanding platform to disseminate the research findings, exchange ideas with internationally renowned experts, and establish new opportunities for international research collaboration. This work demonstrates how the integration of GIS, machine learning, remote sensing, and participatory decision-making can support resilient, equitable, and sustainable transportation infrastructure for remote and mountainous communities.
The successful presentation of this research at one of the world's premier transportation conferences highlights the growing international visibility of Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, and its commitment to conducting high-impact research that addresses global transportation challenges. The study reinforces the institute's dedication to advancing sustainable mobility, resilient infrastructure planning, and evidence-based policymaking while contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthening India's presence in the global transportation research community.
