Geographic Information System for Optimal Route Determination Under Navigation Limitations

The article explores both theoretical and applied aspects of developing an autonomous geographic information system (GIS) for determining optimal routes in urban environments, particularly under conditions of restricted or absent navigation services. In the context of modern challenges facing Ukrainian cities–such as military threats, air raid alerts, infrastructure disruptions, or technological failures–the ability to generate safe and effective routes for urban mobility becomes critical for protecting civilians and supporting the work of emergency responders. The research presents a methodology for building a structured geospatial database that integrates data from open sources and municipal registries, including layers for road networks, civil protection shelters, public transport stops, and objects of critical infrastructure. Special attention is devoted to the selection and verification of spatial data, ensuring its relevance and completeness under dynamic crisis conditions.The technological workflow is described in detail, with a focus on practical implementation in the QGIS environment. This includes data import and harmonization, spatial analysis for shelter accessibility, road network assessment, creation of buffer zones, and the design of offline routefinding algorithms that prioritize both distance minimization and safety. Scenarios for user interaction are presented, ranging from individual city residents to local authorities and volunteer groups. A comparative analysis is conducted with international approaches to autonomous GIS deployment in crisis management, highlighting best practices in data updating, user communication, and multi-format delivery (digital, print, mobile).Key limitations, such as data incompleteness, the necessity for regular updates, digital literacy barriers, and information security risks, are critically examined. The results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed system for increasing urban resilience, enabling timely evacuation, and improving the preparedness of local communities. The article concludes with recommendations for integrating such solutions into the broader emergency response framework of Ukrainian cities and suggests directions for further research, including the development of mobile applications and integration with official alert systems. This work may serve as a methodological reference for municipalities, rescue services, and researchers working on urban safety and crisis GIS applications.