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Abstract
This research illustrates the potential of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in analyzing pedestrian accessibility to educational institutions in the Municipality of Craiova. By integrating spatial data from official and open-source platforms, thematic databases and digital street networks were created to model pedestrian service areas. The analysis allowed for the delineation of zones covered according to travel times and the identification of neighborhoods insufficiently served by educational infrastructure. Understanding accessibility is crucial not only for primary and secondary schools but also for high schools and universities, as distance and travel time significantly affect educational equity and institutional attractiveness. The scientific literature emphasizes the importance of accessibility in educational planning, while also pointing out methodological limitations and the scarcity of detailed urban-level analyses in Romania — gaps that this study aims to partially address. The results demonstrate the usefulness of GIS for local public administration, both in supporting urban planning decisions and in optimizing the transport network and the location of future educational units. The study thus underlines the role of modern digital tools in fostering sustainable urban development and improving equitable access to educational services.
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