GIS-Based Suitability Analysis of LPG Refill Stations Using Weighted and Boolean Overlay Approaches: A Case Study of Nairobi, Kenya

Rapid urbanization in African cities has increased demand for safe and reliable energy infrastructure, with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) emerging as a leading option for clean cooking. In Nairobi, Kenya, the siting of LPG refill stations is critical to minimizing safety risks and protecting public health. This study applied a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to identify suitable areas for LPG stations. The analysis integrated land use, elevation, slope, geology and soil data with regulatory and planning constraints. Two approaches were compared: Boolean analysis, which produced a strict exclusion mask identifying 33 restricted zones and weighted overlay (with the exclusion mask applied), which yielded 2439 feasible locations across varying levels of suitability. Peri-urban neighborhoods in Embakasi ward consistently emerged as the most favorable. Validation using high-resolution imagery confirmed the contextual appropriateness and regulatory compliance of selected sites, with weighted overlay achieving 87.1% accuracy and Boolean analysis 85.7%. The findings show that weighted overlay combined with an exclusion mask provides a more flexible and comprehensive framework than rigid Boolean methods balancing safety with regulatory requirements. The study provides evidence-based guidance for expanding LPG infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing cities supporting strategic urban planning while reducing environmental, social and safety risks.