Spatial Relationships between Urban Areas and Industrial Facilities in Gjilan, Kosovo: A GIS-based analysis

Industrial zones within urban areas today are facing various challenges, due to human activities and the rapid urbanization of cities. In many cities of Kosovo, industrial facilities are located within the urban area. Based on this, it is thought that industrial zones within urban areas should have special treatment in spatial planning. There are several methods for the spatial distribution of industry in the city, based on the location and type of industry. The objective of this paper is to analyze the relationships between industrial facilities and the urban area, as well as determine the causeeffect relationship for use as a basis. The study mainly focuses on several analyses of the state of the city of Gjilan, the distance of industrial facilities from the city center, the access of industrial facilities to streets, and the position of these facilities in relation to residential areas. The results indicate that most industrial facilities are concentrated 600–900 m from the city center. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that a considerable number of residential, educational and healthcare facilities are located within the protection zones surrounding industrial areas, indicating deviations from spatial planning standards prescribed in Kosovo. These findings highlight the need for improved spatial planning and land-use management to ensure sustainable urban development.