Infrastructure-Based Regional Clustering for Development Planning: A K-Means and AHP Approach in Aceh Province, Indonesia
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Abstract
Aceh Province possesses substantial natural and economic potential, particularly in the agricultural, plantation, and tourism sectors; however, it continues to face significant disparities in infrastructure development across regions. These disparities have contributed to uneven economic performance and reduced investment competitiveness. This study aims to develop a regional clustering model of regencies/cities based on an infrastructure index and to identify priority areas for development planning. The research covers 23 regencies/cities in Aceh using secondary data obtained from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS). A total of 16 variables were analyzed, encompassing education, healthcare, housing, basic utilities, transportation, telecommunications, and productive economic sectors. The methodology integrates K-Means clustering and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The clustering results classify the regions into five distinct groups, each exhibiting different infrastructure characteristics. Cluster 1, which comprises the majority of regions, is characterized by relatively strong road infrastructure but limited basic services, such as sanitation and clean water. In contrast, Cluster 4 represents more developed urban areas with strengths in healthcare, housing, telecommunications, and service sectors. The AHP results indicate that drinking water (0.159), housing (0.141), and electricity (0.104) are the top development priorities, followed by food crops (0.083) and healthcare facilities (0.071). These findings highlight the dominance of basic infrastructure in supporting regional development. This study demonstrates that combining clustering techniques with multi-criteria decision analysis provides a robust framework for identifying regional disparities and prioritizing development strategies. The results offer practical implications for policymakers in designing targeted, equitable, and sustainable development policies across Aceh Province.
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