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Article

RTC Location Selection and UAM-Based Service Area Analysis for Improving Emergency Medical Services in Local Areas

의료취약지역에서의 응급의료서비스 개선을 위한 RTC 위치 결정 및 UAM 기반 서비스 권역 분석

Seyoung NOH1
,
Myungsik DO2*
노 세영1
,
도 명식2*
1Master Course, Department of Urban Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon 34158, Kroea
2Professor, Department of Urban Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon 34158, Kroea
1국립한밭대학교 도시공학과 석사과정
2국립한밭대학교 도시공학과 교수
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2025. pp. 512-522
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Abstract

Limited access to emergency medical services in underserved areas poses a critical threat to patients requiring urgent care, often resulting in delayed treatment due to inadequate infrastructure and transportation constraints. This study explores strategies to enhance emergency medical accessibility using Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology. A comparative analysis was conducted between conventional ambulance-based and UAM-based transport systems, focusing on spatial coverage and operational efficiency. The Chungcheong region was selected as the study area, and optimal locations for Regional Trauma Centers (RTCs) were identified using GIS-based spatial analysis and a location-allocation model. Results indicate that deploying five RTCs enables approximately 90% of the population to receive emergency care within the golden hour, increasing to over 95% with seven RTCs. The introduction of UAM reduced average transport time by up to 24%, demonstrating its effectiveness, particularly in areas with severe ground traffic congestion. The study also examined the trade-off between travel time reduction and population coverage as RTC numbers increase. While time-saving effects diminish beyond a certain threshold, population coverage continues to improve, suggesting that both efficiency and equity should inform facility planning. Additionally, the study proposes a hybrid emergency transport model integrating ground ambulances with UAM-based eVTOL systems, offering a more flexible and adaptive approach to emergency medical response. This model shows potential for enhancing response time and service coverage in geographically constrained areas.

Keywords
emergency medical services
location-allocation model
regional trauma center
smart region
urban air mobility

의료취약지역의 응급의료서비스 접근성 부족은 긴급한 치료가 필요한 환자의 생명을 위협하는 중요한 문제로 대두되고 있다. 특히 의료 인프라가 부족한 지역에서는 응급상황 발생 시 적절한 시간에 의료 서비스를 받기 어려우며, 교통체증과 지리적 제약으로 인해 이송시간이 지연되는 문제가 빈번히 발생하고 있다. 이러한 한계를 극복하기 위해서는 기존의 지상 기반 응급이송체계를 보완하고, 보다 신속하고 효율적인 이송수단의 도입이 필요하다. 본 연구는 도심항공교통(Urban Air Mobility, UAM) 기술을 활용하여 의료취약지역의 응급의료서비스 접근성을 향상시키는 방안을 모색하고자 한다. 특히, 기존 구급차 기반 이송 시스템과 비교하여 UAM 기반 응급이송체계가 가지는 공간적 효과와 운영 효율성을 분석하고, 이를 통해 새로운 응급이송모델의 효과를 평가하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 연구 대상 지역은 충청권으로 설정하였으며, 응급환자의 골든타임 확보를 위한 새로운 권역외상센터(Regional Trauma Center, RTC)의 최적 입지를 분석하였다. 분석 방법으로는 GIS 기반 공간분석 및 입지-배분(Location-Allocation) 모델을 활용하였으며, RTC의 입지별 서비스 커버리지와 UAM 도입에 따른 이동시간 단축 효과를 정량적으로 평가하였다. 연구 결과, RTC를 5개소 배치할 경우 충청권 인구의 약 90%가 골든타임 내 응급의료서비스를 받을 수 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 7개소로 확대할 경우 서비스 커버리지가 95% 이상으로 증가하였다. 이는 RTC의 적정 개수 및 입지 최적화가 응급환자의 치료 가능성 향상에 핵심적인 요소임을 시사한다. 또한, UAM을 도입할 경우 평균 이동시간이 최대 24% 단축되는 것으로 분석되어, 특히 지상 교통망의 혼잡도가 높은 지역에서 높은 효과를 보일 수 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구는 의료취약지역에서의 응급의료 접근성을 향상시키기 위한 실질적인 전략을 제시하며, 향후 응급이송체계의 고도화에 있어 도심항공교통 기술의 활용 가능성을 제시하고자 한다.

키워드
응급의료서비스
입지-배분 모델
권역외상센터
스마트 리전
도심항공교통
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Transportation
  • Publisher(Ko) :대한교통학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
  • Journal Title(Ko) :대한교통학회지
  • Volume : 43
  • No :4
  • Pages :512-522
  • Received Date : 2025-03-31
  • Revised Date : 2025-04-16
  • Accepted Date : 2025-04-16
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7470/jkst.2025.43.4.512
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